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Monticello Union Park Association—On the 18th day of April, 1874, a meeting was held at the office of C. W. Gurney, in Monticello and the following Articles of Incorporation were adopted and an organization effected:
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Articles of Incorporation of the Monticello Union Park Association:
I. We, the undersigned, hereby form ourselves into a joint-stock company for the purpose of purchasing forty acres of land in the town of Monticello, county of Jones and State of Iowa, fencing and fitting the same for the purpose of a driving-park and fair-grounds.
II. This company shall be known and designated at the "Monticello Union Park Association," and its principal place of business shall be at Monticello, Jones County, Iowa.
III. The business to be transacted shall be the holding of fairs and exhibitions, and leasing of said grounds to such other societies and for such other purposes as the Executive Committee shall determine.
IV. The capital stock of said company shall consist of $3,000, to be divided into shares of $100 each; each share to be entitled to one vote in the election of officers and the transaction of other business of the company. Said stock to be paid in on call of the President.
V. This Association shall commence on the 13th day of April, 1874, and shall continue twenty years.
VI. The officers of this Association shall be one President, one Vice President, one Secretary, one Treasurer and three Directors, which three, together with the President and Secretary, shall constitute an Executive Committee. The annual meeting of said Association shall be held at Monticello on the second Monday of April in each year, at which time all the above enumerated officers shall be elected, to hold their offices for one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
VII. The indebtedness of this Association shall at no time exceed $1,000.
VIII. No private property of stockholders shall be liable for corporate debts.
IX. The Executive Committee shall have power to make all by-laws and regulations necessary for the government of the Association.
Dated at Monticello the 13th day of April, 1874. Filed for record December 26, 1874. |
Names of stockholders: M. L. Carpenter, S. C. Langworthy, Hiram Tarks, G. S. Eastman, George Stuhler, Birdsall & Acker, Joseph Clark, L. Waushura, John Lorentenzen, M. M. Benedict, S. S. Farwell, Philip Kuhns, George Haines, J. W. Skelly, G. W. Lovell, C. E. Wales, Theodore Soetje, William Schoddy, Fred Grassmeyer, Gill & Noyes, S. R. Howard, N. M. Smith, John O. Duer, P. O. Babcock, A. J. Monroe, Gurney & Davidson, Henry Babbe, M. A. Rice, F. M. Hicks.
The following Board of Directors were elected for that year (1874): John O. Duer, P. O. Babcock and Joseph Clark. C. E. Wales was President, and C. W. Gurney, Secretary.
The present officers are: M. M. Benedict, President; G. S. Eastman, Vice President; John O. Duer, Secretary and Treasurer. Directors—G. Haines, M. Noyes and S. R. Howard.
The Association has purchased forty acres near the city of Monticello. The grounds are well fitted up for the use of the Association. The entire cost of purchase and preparation has been about $3,000. The estimated value of the property of the Association at this time is $4,000. |
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JONES COUNTY AGRICULTURL SOCIETY
The Jones County Agricultural Society own property, in the way of buildings, to the amount of about $1,500, on the grounds of the Park Association.
The present Agricultural Society was organized at Monticello in the year 1874, with the following officers: S. S. Farwell, Monticello, President; E. V. Miller, Viroqua, Vice President; C. W. Gurney, Monticello, Secretary; A. M. Loomis, Wyoming, Treasurer.
It is proper to state that an Agricultural Society was organized many years ago, and the meetings were held on the grounds near Anamosa. For a number of years the Society was a success, but, for some reason, the interest abated, and finally the Society failed to hold annual meetings, and virtually ceased to exist.
The present Society began without a dollar in the treasury, and now owns property to the amount of about $1,500, on the grounds of the Monticello Union Park Association. The meetings of the Society have been a success thus far, and a liberal amount of premiums have been paid to the annual exhibition.
The following are the officers for the year 1879: Wm. M. Starr, Castle Grove, President; S. L. Gilbert, Onslow, Vice President; S. M. Yoran, Monticello, Secretary; F. O. Ellison, Wyoming, Treasurer. |
THE PRINCIPAL FIRES
The first fire was that of D. S. Dewey's two-story frame saw-mill, at East Monticello, in March, 1855; loss $4,000, no insurance.
In April 1864, the two-story shop and horse-stable of N. W. Austin, was burned. Loss on building, $500; contents, horse, $100; tools, hay and grain, $100; one horse belonging to Mr. Ketchum, $100. Total $800. No insurance. The fire was the work of an incendiary. Mr. Austin had been prosecuting witness in a certain liquor suit, and is supposed to have lost his shop and barn as a result.
In May, 1864, the frame stable of G. Slade was destroyed by fire. It was Sunday evening, just after services had commenced at the M. E. Church, that the fire was discovered. Several prosecutions had been commenced against the saloon keeper for the illegal sale of intoxicating beverages.
Some parties had hid a keg of whisky in the stable, where it was found by some boys, who had been taking a "nip" from it daily, and they concluded to take a swig before attending church, and, as it was dark, lighted a match that they might see; the match fell into the dry hay, and the building was in flames in a moment. Loss on building, $500; contents, $100; one span of horses, $200. Total $800. No insurance.
July 5, 1864, the restaurant and saloon owned and kept by J. P. Sleeper, was destroyed by fire, and was a total loss of about $2,000; no insurance. The fire is supposed to have been caused by fire-works on the 4th.
A fire occurred on the 26th of July, 1868, and was supposed to be an incendiary fire. The following buildings were totally destroyed: M. M. Moulton's two-story building on Lot 503; loss $2,000. Loss to Odd Fellows' Lodge, $200; loss to Good Templar's Lodge, $200. Insurance, $800; H. D. Sherman's butter in the cellar, $500; no insurance.
H. M. Wright's bookstore; loss on building and contents, $2,000; fully insured.
C. A. Whiting's barber-shop; loss on building and contents, $2,000, also fully insured.
October 12, 1869, occurred another incendiary fire, and four buildings were destroyed, viz: W. E. Berry's saloon, loss $2,000, insured, the building was occupied by Warriner & Monroe, loss to them $200; no insurance.
McCormick & Kennady's store and contents, loss $2,500; fully insured.
N. M. Smith's drug store; loss on building and contents, $2,500; no insurance.
The building owned by Dr. Smith, occupied by J. Davidson with post office; loss on contents, $200; no insurance.
Gardiner & Dunham's building, damaged to the amount of $1,000; fully insured.
December 9, 1869, a partial loss by fire of C. A. Whiting's drug store; loss on building, $500; fully insured.
C. J. Conley's loss on contents, $1,000. This fire was supposed to be the result of incendiary causes.
January 23, 1870, C. E. Wales' residence was damaged about $1,000; fully insured.
April 14, 1870, Mr. Reiger's building was damaged by fire about $800; insured.
Damage to the Hany Building and contents (grocery), $1,400; insurance, $450.
Meat market of William Peterson, building and contents, $1,000; no insurance.
W. Stambaugh's hardware store; loss on building, $1,000; loss to M. Haran on contents, $5,000; fully insured.
December 12, 1871, E. E. Burdick's tenement house at East Monticello; loss, $800; insured.
February 11, 1872, loss by fire of Hibbard, Frost & Wood, of frame flouring-mill, $14,000; no insurance.
Dexter Page's foundry and machine-shop building; loss, $1,500; no insurance.
E. B. Kinsella's warehouse burned; loss, $500. Loss to Pat Hopkins on contents, $150; fully insured.
John Kinsella's warehouse; loss $500; also insured. Langworthy & Holt, contents in same, $1,500; insured.
Pat Washington's warehouse; loss, $700; no insurance. Hake & Rohn, grain in same, $1,000; fully insured.
A. J. Monroe's barn; loss, $150; not insured.
B. Stuart's barn; loss $100; insured for $50.
W. E. Herrick's tools in mill; loss $100. E. Grissenger's tools in mill, loss, $100. The mill was set on fire in the night.
March 28, 1872, A. J. Monroe's barber-shop and law office; loss $500; insured.
April 23, 1872, D. L. Norcross' dwelling-house; loss, $800; insured.
September 29, 1877, a dwelling that belonged to the estate of David Young; damaged by fire, $500; insured.
February 27, 1879, stone flouring-mill of H. S. Pope & Bro.; loss, $8,000; insured for $5,100.
March 28, 1879, brick residence of D. S. Kinsella; loss, $3,000; insurance, $2,500.
June 5, 1879, tin-shop of F. S. Dunham; damage to building, $500; damage to contents, $3,000; fully insured.
Dr. Myrick's office contents; damages, $50. Dr. Henry's office contents; damages, $50; no insurance.
Damage to Mrs. Derbin's dwelling, $100; damage to contents, $400; fully insured.
August 15, 1879, damage to James Young's residence, $100; insured.
There have been a few other losses by fire, but the date and amounts we were not able to get.
The above facts and figures were furnished us by M. M. Moulton, Esq. |
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