THE HOUSE ON BLACKFORD HILL

This summer we featured John and Mary (Call) Blackford in the Riverview Cemetery walk that is held each year during the Founders’ Day celebration.  The Blackfords were among the very earliest settlers of Algona.   As a part of that research project I was lucky enough to make contact with several of the Blackford descendants. They were so generous with the information they shared and even allowed us to scan and preserve dozens of photos from their collection to be preserved as part of our local history – a history in which the Blackfords played such a big part.

John and Mary (Call) Blackford Family

Even before they arrived in Kossuth County, a claim had been procured for the Blackfords to the west along the river, just outside the “city limits” of Algona at the time.  Their cabin was perched on what became known as “Blackford Hill” and it would later be replaced by the house that they would call home for the rest of their lives.  I was thrilled to find several photos of the Blackford home in the collection that was shared with us and the family has kindly given me permission to share some of the photos on my blog.

WHO WERE THE BLACKFORDS?

John Ellison Blackford and Mary Minerva Call Blackford were both born in Ohio.  When just a boy, John’s family moved to Indiana where he grew up.  His schooling was limited due to the frontier conditions, but he did attend the district school for two terms.  There he developed a love of reading and learning.

Mary was the fifth of eight children born to Asa and Mary Call.  Her father died when she was five years old, leaving her mother to raise the children on her own.  Left destitute, the family struggled to survive.  Due to her hard work and faith, their mother managed to keep them together. 

John and Mary were married September 28, 1845 in St. Joseph County, Indiana.  Their first two sons were born there.  In 1854, Mary’s two brothers, Asa and Ambrose Call, established a town located on the east fork of the Des Moines River in north central Iowa.  Soon after, the Blackfords received a letter from Mary’s brothers urging them to come and help settle the new town. 

John came from a long line of pioneers from whom he inherited a spirit of adventure.  He and Mary decided to answer the call of the frontier.  They began to prepare for trip during the summer of 1855.  They must have spent hours deciding what to take with them.  They started with a yoke of oxen and a canvas-covered wagon.  It had a good box, but no spring seat, which must have been uncomfortable for Mary who was expecting a child at the time.  The wagon carried a heavy load which included a cast iron stove, a large clothes chest made of cherry wood, and a solid wood bedstead made of beech and hard maple, along with clothing, bedding, dishes and food for the trip.  There also had to be room for them and their two boys, Edwin, age 9, and Ernest, age 3. 

The family began their journey of over 500 miles from northern Indiana in early September with a can of pine tar for the wheels swinging beneath the wagon and a long, single-barreled shotgun their lone protection.  They camped along the way and ate meals cooked over an open fire.  When they neared the Mississippi River, John traded the oxen for a team of horses and ever afterward said that he had made a very poor trade.  He had hoped to make better progress with the horses, but they did no better than the sturdy oxen.

After crossing the Mississippi near Lyons, Iowa, they began to travel by compass to the West and North, as dependable trails were scarce.  In some places John would have to go ahead to select a route along a ridge, to avoid sloughs, and when he had found it, he would place his hat on the barrel of his gun and hold it up so that Mary could see his location over the tall prairie grass and drive the wagon to him.  Their objective point was Clear Lake where they would get directions as to the best route to take to the Call settlement. 

SETTLING IN ALGONA

Although the Call settlement was almost directly west of Clear Lake, they were advised to go around the south end of the lake and across the flat country to avoid wetlands.  Near the current location of the town of Livermore, they began to follow the Des Moines River to the north, crossing the river just south of what we know as Irvington.  They finally arrived in Algona on October 10, 1855.  Although a cabin had been built for them on their claim in anticipation of their arrival, another family was living there while they were working on their own cabin.  An addition was hastily added to Asa Call’s cabin and the family moved in where they remained through the winter.  Their daughter, Ella Algona, was born there on January 18, 1856, the first white child born in Algona.   

That spring after a particularly severe winter, the family moved to their own log cabin.  Ambrose Call set up a saw mill that summer and John was put in charge as sawyer.  As new settlers came, he was kept busy providing lumber for construction.  In 1857 during the Indian scare following the Spirit Lake Massacre, he worked round the clock at the mill sawing planks for use on the fort built in Algona for protection of the settlers.  During this time he sent his family to stay with Asa and Sarah while he stayed at the mill, catching what little sleep he could.

He used to tell the story of an incident which occurred during this time.  At a meeting of area citizens, they had agreed upon the firing of two shots in rapid succession after dark as an early warning signal of the approach of Indians.  Two men who were close neighbors of the family had been away and knew nothing of the signal that had been decided upon.  While crossing the river, their guns got wet and so when they got home they fired them to clean and reload them.  John, hearing the signal, grasped his gun and told Mary to run with the children into the darkness of the brush surrounding the cabin and to remain there until he returned.

The youngest son, Ernest, refused to leave the house until his shoes were put on and laced.  Fearing an outcry which would alert the Indians, Mary held her nerves in check while kneeling on the floor, in the light of the fireplace, laboriously picking out the knots in the hard leather shoestrings and then putting on and lacing the little shoes.  Once that was done, she hurried out into the shelter of the brush until John arrived home and called to them to come out, that all was safe.

A BIGGER HOUSE

Their family continued to grow.  James Clarus was born in 1858, Mary Kate in 1862 and baby George in 1869.  To accommodate their growing family, a larger two-story home was built on the site where the log cabin had stood. 

Blackford Hill

The house was a large dwelling that stood majestically on Blackford Hill along with a barn, stable, and windmill.  Many large trees provided shade during the hot Iowa summers.  I was unable to determine the date the house was originally built, but we know that none of the pioneers remained in their log cabins for long, so I would estimate the house was constructed sometime between 1857 and 1860.

The center main section faced south with a wing on each side, all two stories in height.  A one-story addition was attached to the west wing of the structure.   We do not know if the house started smaller with additions added at later dates or if it always had the same floor plan, but the house shown in the pictures would have accommodated not only a large family, but many social gatherings as well. 

On the south side of the house were several porches separated by a sunroom with large pane glass windows.  During the long cold winters, it is likely that the sunroom provided much light and perhaps some warmth to the dreary days.  It appears that Mary was quite the gardener.  There is a picture of her standing in front of the house during the summer.  Much of the residence is covered with an ivy or a vine of some sort that grew clear up to the peak of the roof and many potted plants line the edge of the porches, soaking up the sunshine. 

The home was located on the north side of McGregor Street somewhat west of the drive now leading to Blackford Park which is on the south side of the street.  There was no entrance to the homestead from the south—in fact their drive began where West Nebraska Street ends and wandered back to their building site.  As a visitor, you would approach the house from the east, and after tying up your horse to the hitching post, climb up the steps placed in the side of the hill and then walk toward the house.  When greeted by John or Mary after a knock at their door, you would likely have been welcomed with the warm hospitality for which they were known. 

The sitting room is featured in one photo with John and Mary seated with a guest between them and George at the piano.  The room is tastefully decorated for the time with floral wallpaper, luxurious lace curtains and art work hung from the picture rail.  Mary has a large book on her lap which may be a photo album or perhaps a Bible.  From the wistful expressions on the women’s faces, I imagine George is playing a hymn or other ballad that brings them comfort or reminds them of days gone by.

Aunt Mary, as she was known to the community, was an excellent cook and housekeeper, so it is likely that she was always prepared for guests.  One can almost smell the aroma of fresh baked bread or cake coming from the kitchen.  Mary had a large garden and a flock of chickens as did most homemakers at the time and her jellies, preserves and pickles won many awards at the local fair.  Besides being a wonderful mother to her children, she helped to raise Asa’s youngest children after his wife died.  She also assisted Ambrose’s wife, Nancy, to learn the ways of homemaking after her marriage, since Nancy’s mother had died young and was not there to guide her.  Since Ambrose and Nancy’s home was nearby, whenever they needed help, they would hang a red blanket out the window and Mary would soon be at their side.

John was elected the first justice of the peace and from that point on became very involved in politics.  He served two terms as representative from this district in the Iowa Legislature.  He often commented that “My district at this time comprised seven counties and in making my canvass I frequently traveled 40 miles to see a single voter.”  He served one term as County Treasurer.  He was one of the members of the Iowa delegation to the national Republican convention that nominated Lincoln for president the first time, although he was not able to attend in person.  John was a charter member of the Grange and served as Worthy Master of the Iowa State Grange for about 10 years.  He also ran a store in Algona called “The Grange.”  It is easy to imagine that these positions did require the couple to entertain constituents or groups in their home often. 

The location of the home was a wonderland for their children.  They spent many hours running through the woods, sledding down the snow covered hills, fishing in the nearby river and playing with the other children in town.  In later years the Blackford children often spoke of the wonderful memories they had growing up in that house. 

The Blackford family relaxing

Both John and Mary were able to remain in their home until their deaths, despite failing health.  Mary died on March 30, 1905 at the age of 77 as the result of a stroke.  John passed from this life on August 20, 1911.

FAMILY LEAVES THE COMMUNITY

After the death of their father, the Blackford children who had remained in Algona gradually left the area.  Mary Kate had died of cancer in 1910 and one by one, the others moved to other locations.  In August of 1915 the Presbyterian Church held a special gathering bidding George, Ernest and Ella goodbye.  An article in the August 11, 1915, edition of the Upper Des Moines newspaper describes the message given by Ben Reed at the event. “He spoke of the social and political leadership of the father of the family in the early days and the sterling character of the mother, who sympathized with all pioneer enterprises, and expressed his regret that the Blackford family was at last to leave the community with which in had been uninterruptedly connected since 1855.”

The property on which the family home was located was sold to George Platt who resided there for a few years before selling it to Dr. J.O.F. Price, a local veterinarian, in 1920.  Dr. Price eventually razed the Blackford house and built a new home for his family.  Thus, the Blackford era in Algona came to an end – well, except for Blackford Park which still lives on, but that is a topic for another day. 

I want to thank Blackford family members, Donna and Larry and Dennis and Janice, for their desire to see the Blackford name live on in Algona and their generosity in sharing photographs and documents of great historical value to our community.  Rest assured, they will be lovingly cared for.

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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THE HOMES OF AMBROSE A. CALL, PART II

The 1860 census which was taken in July of that year finds Ambrose Call residing with his sister, Mary Call Blackford, her husband, John, and their young family just outside of Algona.  The Blackfords had followed the Call brothers to the new town in 1855.  It is unknown how long Ambrose actually lived in his log cabin after Asa and Sarah moved into Algona, but at some point he likely tired of his own cooking and solitary existence or perhaps his big sister felt sorry for him and invited him to move in.

A question on the 1860 census form inquired as to whether or not the person was married during the year to which Ambrose had checked yes so it is likely that by July Ambrose was engaged to be wed to Nancy Henderson before the end of the year.  She was the daughter of Hezekiah Henderson who had been an early settler of Algona. 

“Ki” Henderson had built a large log cabin at the site of the current AMU building on Call Street and took in boarders who slept in the spacious loft.  Nancy had been a 12 year old child when she first came to Algona.  After a year or two, her father decided to move again but Nancy did not go with him, choosing instead to go back to Illinois for further education.  She could not forget Algona, however, or the dashing Ambrose Call.  After a year of school, Nancy and her brother traveled back by covered wagon in a harrowing journey.  Although there are no written memories of their courting and engagement, we know that 26 year old Ambrose and 16 year old Nancy were married October 30, 1860, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in the presence of the Henderson family.

A FAMILY HOME

With his engagement came the realization that Ambrose would need a larger home for his wife and future children.  Picking a site for the location was an easy one.  He owned a large tract which stretched from the edge of the new little town all the way to the area now known as A.A. Call State Park where his log cabin had been located.  Ambrose chose the top of the hill located in the area we now know as the corner of Hall and College Streets.  The exact location of the house on this tract is believed to have been in almost the same spot as the mansion built many years later.  Not only did the site overlook the Des Moines River but was within view of the Blackford residence. In times of distress a red blanket was hung from an upstairs window signaling Mary Blackford to come at once.

From A.T. Andreas Illustrated Atlas of Iowa 1875

This new home would be constructed from board lumber straight from the local saw mill.  A drawing of the home was pictured in the “A.T. Andreas Illustrated Atlas of the State of Iowa” published in 1875.  Two stories tall, the main section of the house had a small front porch.  One story wings were added on either side.  It is not known if the wings were part of the original structure or were added later.  In the book “Early Algona,” Florence Call Cowles (the Calls’ oldest child) stated, “Do you know the old-fashioned plant called “hen and chickens?”  Our houses were like that plant—one more pretentious part surrounded by many additions built on here and there as necessity demanded.”

KEEPING HOUSE

Nancy was an inexperienced but eager-to-learn homemaker.  Mary Blackford took the new Mrs. Call under her wing and taught her many housekeeping skills which were put to good use.  Again in “Early Algona,” Florence described what life was like for the family:  Those were the good old days in the ‘60’s when mother made soft soap in a big kettle in the yard while the children danced around like the three witches of Macbeth.  Father melted and ran bullets in the bullet mould.  Tallow candles, too, were made at home altho almost everyone had one kerosene lamp.  Hominy was boiled with lye, washed and boiled and boiled again.  Parched corn was a treat, occasionally.  The sweet corn sometimes turned out to be partly of the dark blue, almost black, variety, and we called it “squaw corn” and roasted it over the coals.  Mush and milk made a delicious meal in those days of real appetites.

“Instead of the elk meat and venison of the ‘50’s the hired men butchered a hog and salted down part of the meat in a pork barrel. Mother made sausage, oh, so good, and so were the spare-ribs, but how we detested the day when mother “tried out” the lard!  Pies were made of dried apples and the extra crust was made into turnovers for the children. . .Mother did the sewing, for nothing could be bought ready made in those days.  In the evenings she knit the mittens, socks, and stockings.  She baked the bread, for there were no bakeries, and what bread ever tasted like mother’s!”

Children, too, had their chores.  “The children brought in the wood, picked up the chips for kindling, helped wipe dishes, set the table, turning the plates bottom side up, shook the table cloth out of the back door for the chickens, rocked the cradle, for in those days we knew no better than to rock the baby to sleep.”

Speaking of rocking the baby to sleep, one of the prized possessions of the family was a cradle that had been hand crafted by John Heckart.  It had been custom made for the family when they discovered their second child was on the way.   

As told in the poem “Eda’s Cradle” written by Florence Call Cowles, Ambrose and Nan sold a load of firewood and used the money to hire Orange Minkler and his ox team to fell a walnut tree in their timber and haul it to the Heckart home. “Grandpa Heckart” as he was affectionately known by Ambrose’s children, skillfully crafted a cradle from the old walnut tree, with smooth, even rockers, slats, spindles and knobs at each corner.  When second daughter Edith (a/k/a Eda) was born in February of 1864, the cradle was ready to welcome her.  She would snuggle down in the pillows and blankets and drift off to sleep while being gently rocked.

FIRE AND DESTRUCTION

Early in the morning of Tuesday, February 11, 1868, Nancy was busy preparing breakfast for the family.  By that time the cradle had been passed down to their youngest child, Etta.  That morn it was in the busy kitchen with Etta inside it watching her mother.  Around 7 a.m. flames were suddenly discovered on the roof and garret above the kitchen.  A stunned Ambrose began yelling “Fire” with all his might and rushed outside to grab a ladder to use to fight the fire.  Neighbors and townspeople came running with buckets in hand to help. 

In all the excitement, Nancy suddenly remembered Etta in her cradle.  She quickly seized the little girl and as she turned to leave, flaming fragments of the kitchen ceiling crashed down landing right on top of the cradle where Etta had been just an instant before.  At that moment, Lewis Smith burst into the room. Assessing the situation, he quickly hurled the burning blankets from the cradle which he then carried outside and tossed it into a snowdrift.  It was there that Ambrose found the cradle rocking in the winter wind.  While most of the household goods were saved, the house was a total loss.

The Calls received an insurance payment of $860.80 from Hartford Insurance Company to cover the loss they suffered.  They used the funds to rebuild a house very similar to the one they had lost.  The cradle once again had a home.

The final installment of this story will tell the story of the Call Mansion built in 1886.

Until next time,

Jean

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THE HOMES OF AMBROSE A. CALL, PART I

Many of you will recall the beautiful mansions that Ambrose and Asa Call and their families once called home.  I don’t remember much about Asa’s house which once stood where the Call City Park is located, but I do recollect the Ambrose Call home during its last years of service as the Good Samaritan Home.  As a young girl I accompanied my mother there to see various patients during the late 1960s.  Unfortunately I have no memories about the inside of the house.

This past summer the story of Ambrose Call and his wife, Nancy, was featured in “Voices From the Past” cemetery walk at Riverview Cemetery during Founders’ Day weekend.  I gathered a lot of research about the three homes of the Calls to be used for the preparation of the guides’ scripts.  Having gathered so much more information than we could use for the scripts, it seems only fair to share the research in a post or two.

THE LOG CABIN IN THE WOODS

The very first cabin in Kossuth County was built by Ambrose and his friend, William T. Smith.  During their initial trip to Kossuth County when they staked their first claims, the Call brothers did some strategic planning.  They decided that Ambrose would work on building a cabin in which they could live during the upcoming winter while Asa traveled back to Iowa City to register their claims and to bring back his new bride, Sarah, before bad weather struck.

With the plan in place, the brothers traveled together to Boone, where Ambrose was to procure the equipment and supplies needed for the cabin.  While there, Ambrose met William T. Smith who was fascinated by the stories of Kossuth County told by the Calls.  Ambrose knew that he could not construct a log cabin alone, so he encouraged Mr. Smith to accompany him to his new home and perhaps strike a claim for himself.  Smith agreed.  With Ambrose leading the way, the two traveled to the tract that Ambrose had claimed for his own on July 10, 1854.  Together the two built the cabin. 

The memorial near the cabin site

According to the speech given by Ambrose Call at the 1904 semi-centennial, the cabin was 14x16 feet in size and the logs, which were notched at the corners, “were as large as two men could raise.”  He goes on, “My cabin had a door made of puncheons hewn from basswood logs, a one sash window 10x12, a chimney made of sticks, and mortar made of yellow clay; the fireplace of boulders and the hearth of dirt.  In those very early days we had no sod houses.  Our cabins were all built of logs, just as our great grandfathers in the green mountain state built them, a little improvement on the cabin in which Abraham Lincoln learned to read his bible.”    

ALL ALONE

Once the cabin was completed, Mr. Smith quickly grew tired of the isolation and loneliness.  He left the country and never returned.  That left Ambrose the only white man in the whole county.  He was aware that due to the killing of Si-do-min-a-do-tah (Old Two Fingers), the brother of Ink-pa-du-tah, the whole area was unsafe and he also knew that his new cabin was only a short distance from the location where the Sioux had robbed a band of surveyors earlier that same year and driven them out of the county.  Given those facts, it must have taken a special kind of courage to stay there all alone.

Thankfully his solitude was short lived as Asa came back for a week or two in late August to mark claims before returning to Iowa City and the first band of settlers to the area arrived on August 27, 1854.  On November 4^th, Asa arrived with Sarah, and she made the rough cabin a real home.  Florence Call Cowles described her as “young, enthusiastic, adaptable, and resourceful.”

LIFE IN THE CABIN

Sarah Heckart Call herself shared the following memory about the cabin:  “It was made of poles, a stick chimney and a little clap board door about four feet high. When we first came it had no windows nor door, but we soon fixed it comfortably.  I often think of that little cabin with its great fire place and if I should travel the world over I could find no place where I could enjoy myself better than I did there.  While we lived in Iowa City we had always boarded at the hotel, so in that little cabin I took my first lessons in housekeeping.  The room was so small that when strangers came in the country and stopped with us, as they usually did, we were obliged to set our table and chairs out of doors and make beds on the floor.  Our bags of flour, coffee, beans, etc., were pitched under the beds, and our meat which was mostly elk and venison lay on the roof of the house well frozen.”

Although Asa and Sarah had been married for a few months, they had been apart the majority of that time while the Call brothers traveled in search of the location for their new city and again when Asa journeyed back to Kossuth County at the end of August.  I am sure that by November Sarah was looking forward to permanently being with her new husband and truly beginning their life together.  Although she had to be aware that the couple would be sharing the small cabin with her brother in law, I can imagine that it must have been difficult at times spending the long winter in the 14x16 foot room with both your new husband and a brother-in-law that you barely knew. On one hand you would like to have more private time with your new husband but on the other it was nice to have another male presence for protection in this untamed territory.

Alexander Brown's log cabin which sits in
Ambrose A. Call State Park

It is hard to really imagine what life must have been like in the very early days of settlement.  A description that has always fascinated me is contained in the story of the arrival of W.H. Ingham and D. E. Stine outside the Call cabin on the 24^th of November, 1854.  These two gentlemen were the first outsiders they had seen since Sarah’s arrival.  An account set out in the “History of Kossuth County” written by B. F. Reed in 1912, states:  “They were met in front of the cabin by the husband, who was wearing a silk blouse coat, white shirt and collar, and polished shoes.  The puzzling question that arose in their minds for solution was:  “What can be the object of a man of such commanding presence and evident ability living out here in the woods on the borders of civilization, dressed in such fashionable style?”  They accepted the courteous invitation to “alight and remain over night.”  Inside the cabin they were met by another surprise:  They were greeted by Mrs. Call who was tastily gowned in silk.  She stood before them, a young woman yet in her teens, and was the very picture of health and happiness.  Nature had done much in giving her both beauty and grace, but not more so than in giving her a disposition to be content with her lot and to make the most of what she found at hand.  The supper was a fine one that the two visitors in after years frequently referred to it when telling about their experience in first meeting Judge and Mrs. Asa C. Call.”

Although I have read this story many times, it was not until I was writing this story that it dawned on me that although Ingham describes staying overnight at the cabin, no mention is made of the presence of Ambrose Call, the owner of the abode.   Now there could be many explanations for this, but the romantic in me wants to believe that Ambrose wanted to give the newlyweds as much privacy as possible.  I have a feeling that quite likely there were many hunting trips that kept Ambrose away from home that winter until his older brother was able to build a log cabin in town the next spring.

Please join me for my next post which will tell the story of the house  Ambrose built for his own bride.

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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THE PICTURESQUE SIMPKINS HOUSE

One of the most distinctive homes of its day is located at 504 East McGregor in Algona.  It is another of the houses featured in the book “Picturesque Algona.”  Most recently it has served as an apartment house, but at the time of construction, it was considered a “model of architecture and an ornament to that part of our growing young city.”

The owner at the time of publication of “Picturesque Algona” in 1900 was George Simpkins and his wife, Hulda.  They had purchased the home in 1889 when they retired from the farm. 

THE VAUGHN FAMILY

The house itself began its life in 1884 when it was built by attorney H.S. Vaughn and his spouse, Ella.  Harrison Samuel Vaughn had been born in New York State in 1846.  He enlisted in Company A of the 8^th New York Heavy Artillery, completing his service as a Colonel, but not before losing his right arm at the battle of Cold Harbor.  After receiving an honorable discharge from the army, Harrison went to law school at Wisconsin State University.  He came to Algona in 1870 and hung out his shingle.  The 24 year old was soon busy building his reputation as a litigator.

Vaughn’s personal life was blossoming as well.  In 1872 he married Maine native, Ella Delano, and their lives were soon filled with a growing family.  First daughter Mary Winifred was born later that year, followed by sons, Sidney, in 1876, and Harold in 1882.  With three children, it was definitely a busy household.  The young couple also enjoyed entertaining and often hosted gatherings including ice cream socials to raise funds for the Ladies’ Aid Society of the M.E. Church.

By 1884, it was time for a larger house.  Construction began soon after the Vaughns purchased the lots.  The new residence was described as 26 x 40 foot with 20 foot posts.  The cost of creation was estimated at $3,000.  The family moved in to their new dwelling in October, just in time for the birth of daughter, Florence, on December 20^th.  One more son, Courtland, would join the family in 1888.  The home was filled with the noise of their busy, bustling clan.

They were busy in the community too.  Harrison served one term as county auditor, helped to organize the Northern Iowa Normal School and served as president of its board, was on the committee to bring the Iowa Central railroad to Algona, and was a member of both the local G.A.R. post and the Odd Fellows’ Lodge.  It was a true loss to the community when the family decided to move to Denver, Colorado in 1889.  A farewell banquet was held at the Thorington Hotel in their honor, a silver berry dish was presented to Ella by her friends as a token of remembrance, and her Sunday school class from the Methodist Church (which consisted of all young men), arranged to have their photo taken with her at the Hudson & Shadle Photography Studio.

The house next passed to Charles Dexter who, it appears, never lived in the house.  Within a few months of purchase, he rented the house to George Simpkins who desired to rent for a year before purchasing.  He and his wife would go on to reside there for 10 years.

THE SIMPKINS FAMILY

George Simpkins was born in England and traveled with this parents to Wisconsin at the age of 7.  The journey was indeed precarious.  The drunken captain caused a shipwreck while on Lake Ontario and the family lost all of its worldly goods.  Devastated by this loss, the seven children went without shoes and had very little clothing the first winter spent in Wisconsin.  All of the children who were old enough were required to work to help support the family and at a young age George got a job on a farm.  While oiling a threshing machine, his clothing became entangled and he was pulled into the contraption, severing his left arm above the elbow.  Much like Harrison Vaughn, he would never let his disability hamper his future.

On July 4, 1864 he was married to Huldah Peck in Madison, Wisconsin and they moved to Kossuth County seven years later, settling in Union Township.  They went on to acquire 400 acres of land and built a large cattle operation despite the devastation caused by the grasshopper plague in 1872-73.  The couple had four children:  Henry, Nellie and Nettie who reached adulthood and little Charlie who died in infancy. 

The family was very active in the Baptist church.  George served on the building committee in 1892 when a new church was constructed and Huldah was active in its women’s group.  George was also an enthusiastic member of the Odd Fellows for 25 years. 

After spending almost 20 years on the farm, the couple moved into the Vaughn house on McGregor Street.  They enjoyed living in the beautiful home.  Unfortunately, by 1900 Huldah’s health began to fail.  It was recommended that she move to California in the hope that the moderate temperatures would be improve her situation.  By the time the book “Picturesque Algona” was actually published, the Simpkins had sold the house to E.J. Gilmore and left for California.  The move proved to be successful.  The Simpkins enjoyed their years there until Huldah’s passing in October of 1919.  After her death, George wintered in California and came back to Algona in the summer to spend time with their daughter, Mrs. Hugh Herman, until he died in December of 1923.

THE GILMORE FAMILY

Edwin J. Gilmore had come to Kossuth County from Illinois in 1881 with his parents, settling on a farm in Riverdale township.  He married Minnie Smith in 1884 and they farmed together for a few years.  In 1888 they came to Algona where E.J. opened a grocery store.  The turn of the century was indeed an eventful time for the Gilmores.  Besides purchasing the large attractive new home, Gilmore sold his store and opened a real estate and insurance agency in partnership with his friend, Archie Hutchison. 

Ed and Minnie were described as “staunch” members of the Methodist Church in Algona where Ed served for decades on the board of trustees, had served as church treasurer for many years and also was on the committee when the present church was constructed. Minnie participated in all activities of the congregation wherever she was needed.

The two had one child, Harold Gilmore, and two very loved grandchildren, Edwin and Mary Louise. 

The Gilmores spent the rest of their married life together in the home on McGregor Street until E.J.’s passing in 1939.   Minnie moved to a smaller cottage on South Minnesota Street where she died in her sleep in December of 1950.

The house in 2016

As I research these stories there often appears one or two facts or incidents that pull at my heartstrings.  In this particular situation, I find it interesting that this home served two men with devastating disabilities—the first who lost his right arm in battle to preserve our union and the second who lost his left arm working as a child to build a better future for his family.  The lives they went on to lead are a testament to their courage and resilience. The house itself has had many other residents since their day and will likely serve many more in the future, but none more remarkable than Vaughn and Simpkins.

Until next time,

Jean

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ALGONA'S UNITED STATES SENATOR

I am not sure how many local citizens are aware that Algona at one time could boast that it was the home of a United States Senator.  L.J. Dickinson was a local attorney who first served as a U.S. Congressman before being elected to the Senate in 1931.

LESTER J. DICKINSON

Son of Civil War veteran Levi Dickinson and his wife, Willemene, Lester J. “Dick” Dickinson was born October 29, 1873 in Derby, Iowa.  He was a hard worker, milking and doing other farm labor while growing up on the farm.   He clerked at a hardware store as a high school student before graduating from Danbury high school.  He continued to work odd jobs while earning his way through Cornell College at Mt. Vernon.  L.J. dropped out of college after his sophomore year to attend a business college in Des Moines where he took stenographic training.  He then returned to Cornell and became secretary to the college president while continuing his studies.  Graduating from Cornell in 1898, Dick received his law degree from the University of Iowa the following year.

The 26 year old brand new attorney came directly to Algona and formed a partnership with Timothy P. Harrington.  Getting their law practice established took some time.  Their first year in business they earned less than $200 so their office served as their sleeping quarters as well.  Dickinson enlisted in the National Guard in which he served as a Second Lieutenant in the 52^nd Infantry between 1900 and 1902.

FAMILY LIFE

The new young lawyer must have created quite a stir among the eligible single women in the community.  Tall, broad-shouldered, good looking and friendly, it is likely that many hearts were atwitter when he walked into a room.  He only had eyes for one young maiden, however.  L.J. began to court Myrtle Call, the youngest daughter of Ambrose and Nancy Call. 

The two were united in marriage on August 21, 1901, in an 8:00 p.m. ceremony at the brightly illuminated Call home on Hall Street.  Rev. W. J. Suckow conducted the service before family and a few intimate friends with nieces Dorothy Hutchison and Florence Cowles serving as ribbon girls and nephew Donald Hutchison as flower bearer.  Unfortunately the day was not without incident.  Levi and Willemine, parents of the groom, were on their way to the ceremony from their home north of town in the middle of a thunderstorm.  It was raining heavily.  Their one horse carriage hit a bus while driving west on State Street, causing a wheel to come off their carriage.  They were thrown from the vehicle, sustaining only minor bruises and abrasions but leaving them unable to make it to the ceremony.

The following Tuesday, a lavish reception was held at the home of Gardner and Florence Cowles, the bride’s sister.  A large crowd attended this gathering including many of Dickinson’s fellow National Guard members.  It was said that the “spacious rooms were crowded by a throng of visitors” and that “elegant refreshments were served.”

In 1902, the young couple commenced the construction of a new home.  The lot chosen was just a block north of the Call family residence.  A seven room cottage with a stone foundation in a colonial style, it was outfitted with all the modern improvements of the time.  An article in the August 27, 1902 edition of the Upper Des Moines-Republican describes it as “one of the prettiest, best planned and most comfortable and convenient of the modern houses so far put up in our town.”  The beautiful home still stands at 308 South Hall Street.

POLITICAL CAREER

In addition to their busy law practice, both L.J. and his partner, Tim Harrington, were very active in local politics.  A staunch Republican, Dickinson became chairman of the county central committee in 1901.  He served as city clerk for Algona from 1900 to 1907 and then became county attorney from 1907 through 1913.  His involvement increased his exposure and he was beginning to establish a fine political reputation across the state.  Tim Harrington successfully ran for election in 1916 and served as a state legislator from 1917 to 1920.

Upper Des Moines
Republican
Feb. 13, 1918

In 1917, an opportunity presented itself and L.J. was ready.  He declared his candidacy for Congress from the 10^th district when incumbent Frank P. Woods’ seat came up for election.  In 1918 World War I was slowing drawing to an end.  Congressman Woods, Dickinson’s opponent in the primary, did not have a voting record of supporting our military.  He voted against the resolution to declare that a state of war existed between Germany and the United States; failed to support legislation to increase the standing army; and failed to appropriate funds for naval support.  Dickinson campaigned hard on these issues and received many endorsements from district newspapers. 

The local area showed him unwavering support at the primary.  Even area Democrats cast their vote in his favor in hope of having a local man represent them in Washington.  Dickinson’s primary victory was the upset of the election and made headlines throughout Iowa.

Next up was his campaign against J. R. Files, the Democratic nominee for Congress.  Dickinson had a great affinity for and was a strong proponent of farming.  After tracing his roots back to 1630, he knew that he came from a long line of farmers. In fact, he discovered that he was the first generation not to farm.  His support of the agricultural sector put him in great favor as well as his support for funding for the war.

A local editorial published in the Kossuth County Advance on October 24, 1918, said, “He is a man of congressional size in all respects, and will, with his fine oratorical ability and clear-headed, patriotic statesmanship, give the grand old Tenth a reputation in the halls of Congress that will reflect credit on Kossuth County and its people.”

He defeated Files in the November election to become the U.S. Congressman from the 10^th district of Iowa winning in every county except Carroll and Crawford, where he lost by only four votes.  He went on to serve six terms before running for Senate in 1930.  L.J. was a dark horse candidate for the office of vice president on the Republican ticket in 1924.

Dick defeated two primary opponents before winning the fall election against incumbent Daniel F. Steck by a margin of 50,000 votes.  During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Senator Dickinson was an outspoken opponent of the New Deal.  Described as a “loud, earnest orator” he had been a keynote speaker at the 1932 Republican national convention calling for “sane, honest, industrial and agricultural programs” and a return “to the ideas of our New England forefathers.” At the 1936 Republican national convention, the Senator was once again a dark-horse candidate, this time for the presidency.  It would go to Alfred Landon who was defeated by FDR.

Dickinson’s opposition of the New Deal worked against him in the 1936 senatorial election and he lost in a narrow margin in a Democratic landslide across the nation, ending his senate career after one term.  (In 2016, his seat is held by Senator Joni Ernst).  He and Myrtle moved back to Iowa, living a short time in Algona.  They then settled in the Des Moines area where their children, L. Call Dickinson and Ruth Daugherty, lived.  Following in his father’s footsteps, Call had become a lawyer and had a successful practice.  L.J. joined the same firm.

PASSING OF AN ERA

Myrtle Call Dickinson suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in December of 1955 after which she was bedridden until her passing on September 8, 1956.  She was the last surviving member of the Ambrose and Nancy Call children.  Her body was returned to Algona for burial at Riverview Cemetery.

The Senator went on to survive his wife by almost 12 years, dying on June 4, 1968.  He fell several weeks before breaking his hip which, at the age of 94, proved too much for him to endure.  He was buried next to his wife.

It is said that Dickinson always maintained a connection with Algona, coming back here to live when Congress or the Senate was not in session.  He was also proud of his agricultural roots, always trying to do what was best for farmers.  He chose not to take public appointments after he left office, opting instead to re-enter the private sector where he went on to practice law for many years.  His legacy lives on in the Dickinson Law Firm in Des Moines, one of the largest—if not the largest—attorney firms in the state of Iowa. 

Until next time,

Jean

 

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Reminder:  The posts on Kossuth County History Buff are ©2015-16 by Jean Kramer.  Please use the FB “share” feature instead of cutting/pasting.