New Boston Township (part 6 of 6)

W. E. Lemon, Aledo, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1837, son of John and Eliza Lemon, both of Pennsylvania. They came to Mercer county in 1867, and located in Aledo, where they resided till 1871, when they moved upon a farm, where the latter died in 1874, at the age ol' fifty-seven years, when the foi-mer returned to Aledo, where he now resides. Having sold his farm he now lives a retired life. He and wife were Presbyterians. W. P. was reared on the farm. His educational training was such as he could get in the district school. During the war he was a member of the home guards in his native state, and was ordered out once. He was married in 1868 to Alice Lair, native of Indiana, and came to Mercer when she was a girl with her parents. She died in 1870, at the age of thirty years. He was married a second time to Julia A. Barcroft, of Ohio, daughter of AVilliam and Anna Barcroft, both of Ohio. By this last marriage he has three children : Frank, Lena, and Earl. Mr. Lemon has a fine stock farm of 120 acres, lying upon both sides of the railroad, three and a half miles west of Aledo. He keeps a high grade of cattle, sheep, hogs and horses, the latter of the Clidesdale and Norman stock. His sheep are of the Merino breed. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Aledo.

S. A. Oliver was born in 1855 in Henry county, Illinois, and is the son of Pobert P. and Mary E. Oliver, both of Ohio, now citizens of Henry county. By vocation they are farmers. S. A. was reared and educated to the farm, which pursuit he has always followed. His early educational training was such as the common schools of his neighborhood could ftirnish. He was married in 1874 to Maggie Lyle, native of Henry county, Dlinois^ born in 1855, daughter of William and Margaret Lyle, both of Scotland. They came to Henry county with its early settlers. By this nuirriage Mr. Oliver has two children, twins : Marian and Mary. He came to Mercer county and located in 1879, where he now resides. He has a fjirm of eighty acres, fairly improved and stocked with a good grade of cattle, sheep, hogs and horses.

G. W. PrcKUP, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Iowa, born in 1848, and came with his parents, John and Mary E. Pickup, to Burlington, Iowa. -They were natives of England, and emigrated to America in 1838. They both died during the cholera scourge of 1840, tlie former before (t. AV. was born. G. W.'s mother was a member of the Episcopal churcli. In isc.l he enlisted in company D, 7th 111. Vol., ninety days* men, tlieii le-enlisted in com]>any G, l(»th 111. Vol., and served till July 4, 1865. He was in tlie siege of New Madrid ; then went to Mempliis ; was in tlie ))attles of Shiloli and Corinth ; with (tgh. E. A. Payne, wlio was sent to reinforce Xasliville; in ls<;8 was phiced in Rosecrans' division; was in the battles of Stone nver, Chickamaui^a, and was witli Sherman's division in his marcli to the sea, at (toMsboroiigli, and tlien went to Richmond, Washiiifi^ton and Louisville, where he was mnstered out of the service July 4, 1S65. He was married in 1S71 to ]\[ary E. Grithth, of Mercer county, born in 1853, and daughter of Charles and !^^artha (ii-iffith; the former of Indiana, the latter of Ireland. They came with the early settlers to Mercer county, and located in ]\[illersburg township, where the former now resides, his wife having died in 1879, aged sixty-seven years. Mr. Pickup by this marriage has one child, George A. He resides two miles south of Millersburg, on a farm of eighty acres, which is nicelv improved and well stocked. In politics lie is a republican.

Source changes here: from Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, by Bassett, Isaac Newton, published 1914; 5,495 words in this source stream.

New Boston Township

The first settlers in Mercer County located in what is now New Boston Township, April 20, 1827. William Denison and his son, John W. Denison, and their families located a half mile south of the present site of New Boston. They opened a woodyard for steamboats and soon had several men at work chopping and piling the wood. As stated elsewhere herein, the site of New Boston had been famous for many years and was known as the Upper Yellow Banks by the Indians and whites. At the time of the first settlement hundreds of Indians of the Sac and Fox tribe were encamped in the vicinity. During the next two or three years Daniel S. Witter and wife and a hired man, named Twist, and a French-Canadian trader, named Pentacosa, located near what is now New Boston. Little is known of this trading post or store, but it was no doubt established for the purpose of securing the furs obtained by the Indians in exchange for articles wanted by them, such as clothing, powder, lead, tobacco, whisky, etc. In 1833 William Drury arrived and settled at the Bluffs. The next year William Wilson came. In 1834 one Irwin had a trading post where New Boston is now located. S. V. Prentiss arrived in 1835, as did Edward Drury, M. L. Willits, John Noble, Ephraim Gilmore and others. John Roberts came in 1837. The same year J. C. Sloan, N. N. Larrance and John Davids also located in this township. In 1838 Isaac Lutz came and built a grist mill on Edwards River on section 1. This mill was in operation for many years. The same year Elias Pullen, E. A. Crapnell and Joseph Alyea arrived and settled on farms. In 1839 Jacob Beard, Charles and Chusha Rader arrived. In 1838 the Burleighs arrived. Rev. George Smith came the same year. In 1839 Rev. Thomas M. Kirkpatrick and Simeon P. Smith secured homes in the township. Other early settlers were Abraham Beard, who located near the Village of Mannon; Patrick and Woody Beard, who came the same time, and Levi W. Myers, who was an early teacher in the township. Murray and Amos Prouty came at an early date. Others who came in early were George Lowe, Adam Davis, the Crapnells, William J. Turner, Nicholas Edwards, Walter Pryne, John Histed, T. C.

Emery, Anthony Imber, Pettis Finch, Thomas Martin, Nelson Wheeler, Cutus A. Ballard and Isaac Lutz. A Mr. Pratt at a little later date conducted a flour mill on Eliza Creek. Harrison Smith and Mr. McChesney arrived before 1844. Jacob A. Swafford arrived in 1837. In the '40s came David Kirlin, Gideon Ives, Lyman H. Scudder, Isom Jackson, James P. Powley, Stephen Randolph, Thomas L. Doughty, Cyrus H. Maxwell, Doctor Prentiss and Job E. Willits. Many other Willits arrived about the same time and became prominent settlers. Sidney Chidester came in 1838. Harley Ives arrived the same year and settled one mile east of New Boston. He was the first cooper in the township. At a little later date came William Lewis, Jacob Lozer, R. S. Cramer, Dempsev Jackson, John W. Fleming and many others. E. I. Drury and Courtney Drurv came to the township at an early day. Dr. Thomas Willits was the first physician at New Boston. There were three Ives, Harley, Gideon and Gilbert. Thomas Alyea was a settler at a little later date. George Lowe, S. V. Prentiss, John Davis, John Roberts, J. M. Mannon and others came at an early date. Bv 1850 the township was well settled, nearly all the valuable land being taken up and country schools and churches were to be found in almost every neighborhood.

The township was organized in 1852 at the time the law to that effect was passed. I. N. Bassett was the first supervisor; Thomas Alyea the first town clerk; and G. W. Warner the first justice of the peace. As above stated, the Denisons selected their home on the river bank a half mile below New Boston and started a woodyard for steamboats. William Denison took a claim there, but John W. took his at what is now New Boston.

New Boston

The town, or village, of New Boston was laid out in September, 1834, and thus was the first village platted in the county. William Denison was the owner, but he sold two-thirds of his claim to Elijah lies of Springfield, and Edward Burrall of Massachusetts. Abraham Lincoln was the first surveyor. In early years New Boston was the most promising town in the county. It was located at the famous Yellow Banks, an historic point, was not subject to overflow by the river, did not have steep hills or bluffs in the rear and was made the county seat. Everything looked promising at the start. Opposite was the mouth of the Iowa River. Sturgeon Bay was a safe and large harbor already prepared. Thus the little village had many important and valuable surroundings. The county was organized in 1835 a°d New Boston was made the temporary county seat. The house of Eli Reynolds was made the voting place. The lots were offered for sale in 1835 and 1 8^6 and brought from $200 to £700 each. The lot where later stood the Drury warehouse brought $900. The first residences were those of James S. Thompson, Joseph Alyea, Dr. Mark Willits and others. In 1S38 New Boston had only twelve or fifteen buildings. It did not grow very fast during the first four years. It is said the reason why it did not grow faster was because non-residents owned many of the lots and would not sell them. The village was located on sections 31 and 32. In 1856 Turner's Addition was made and in 1859 the village was incorporated as a town under a special charter and by that time had a population of 700. In 1836 Drury & Willits opened a dry goods and grocery store and began buying pork and grain and shipping the same to St. Louis. They were the first pork packers in the village.

In 1848 Drury & Willits sold their establishment to Courtney Drury and James S. Thompson, who began business as Thompson & Drury. In 1850 William Drury started a cash store, continuing until 1853, when he sold out and thereafter spent his time in handling his large real estate interests. He was later connected with the First National Bank at Keithsburg. The other firm continued there from 1848 to 1856, when they sold out and engaged in farming. Willits & Kirlin established a lumberyard in 1853. Willits a little later went into the grocerv business. Burdick & Mannon were merchants. Dr. Thomas Willits, a prominent resident, represented the county in the Legislature in 1850. At this time the Sons of Temperance had a strong organization in the village. Doctor Willits was a member. Thomas Alyea was a druggist in the village for many years. He did not start until 1853 and was the second druggist in the village. Henry H. Roberts established a lumberyard in the '30s and built a carding machine, the first in the township. Several of the merchants engaged in the ice business. Mr. Roberts moved to Eliza Township ami engaged in farming at a later day. In 1856 he built a large three-story brick carriage and wagon factory in partnership with Joseph Graham. The firm was known as Graham & Roberts. They continued until i860, when Roberts bought Graham out and in 1869 started the Roberts House in the old factory, which he refitted. David Kirlin kept a furniture store as early as 1842. Thomas L. Doughty established a harness and saddle shop about 1842. A lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded in 1854-5 by J. L. Hartson, who was the first noble grand, Mark J. O'Brien, J. C. Bell,

C. H. Bell, D. Hines and others. John Seastone began blacksmithing and wagon making late in the '50s. T. H. Doughty was police magistrate as early as 1842. Gideon Ives was engaged in merchandising as early as 1843. Lyman H. Scudder conducted a livery at New Boston from 1855 to 1862. George Signor was a grocer in the '50s. George Gore was a banker. He did not start in business for himself until 1873 and did not start in the banking business until 1 88 1. He was at one time mayor of the city.

Of course, the Frenchman named above kept the first store in what is now New Boston. That was before the town was platted and it may not be considered fair to count it as the first. Wells Willits was a merchant at an early date and also had charge of a sawmill and became prominent in many ways; was a business man and a leader of thought and action. He bought large quantities of produce and slaughtered hogs and shipped to Chicago. Elias Willits taught school here in 1851. I. N. Bassett lived with him for a while in 1852. It was while he was located at New Boston that I. N. Bassett was elected supervisor from the township. New Boston Lodge of Masons was established about 1850. I. N. Bassett was a member. In 1852 Enos Scudder kept a hotel. Michael Poffenbarger was a blacksmith at a little later date. Cyrus A. Ballard was for many years a prominent merchant here. Ives1 store stood where later was erected the Ives Opera House. In later years Arthur W. Mannon, Anthony Imber, Clifford Dixon, James C. Bell, Benjamin F. Thompson, Joseph Bell, Richard Thomas and Mr. Hartwig and Mr. Tolle were prominent business men. George Lytle conducted a drug store and Dr. Thomas Bras practiced medicine here for many years. Charles Bras, his brother, was a lawyer. Thomas Alyea conducted a dry goods store from 1847 to 1853, but after that date took up drugs and continued selling the same until his death. He was county surveyor from 1849 to 185 1. It was in 1837 that the Legislature passed a law by which three commissioners were appointed to locate the permanent seat of justice for Mercer County. This they did and selected Millersburg as the county seat.

The original plat of New Boston was made to conform to the river bank. This placed the streets at an angle with the cardinal points of the compass. Sixteen blocks, 320 feet square, divided by streets eighty feet wide, and subdivided by alleys sixteen feet wide, comprised the original plat. There were four fractional blocks along the river bank, but they later disappeared by the action of the river.

There is another old settler of New Boston who was a very prominent man - Capt. Charles Jack, who also had a tract of land in New Boston that he purchased about 1840. Captain Jack was an able officer in the British navy, and was wrecked and came to America, but was never naturalized. He bought a large quantity of land in Henry County, Illinois, and settled in Texas before the Civil war; and remained there until the war was over, when his son-in-law, Edward Burrall, sent a man down there, and he was brought to Rock Island, and subsequently died there or in Henry County. He had three daughters. One was the first wife of Charles Harris, an attorney in Oquawka, who died leaving one son, who is still living in Chicago. Benjamin D. Ellett of Mercer County also married a daughter of Captain Jack, as his first wife, and she died leaving one daughter, who is the wife of Fredrick P. Burgett of Keithsburg, Illinois. A third daughter was married to Edward Burrall, who formerly lived in Mercer County, but removed to Rock Island and engaged in merchandise there. Edward Burrall died some few years ago, and his wife, Captain Jack's daughter, died some time during the last year, some ninety-two years old. She conveyed shortly before her death a tract of land in New Boston that Captain Jack had bought, or a part of it, to Halcion Y. Drury.

The old Jack House was one of the first hotels. The Scudder House was a prominent stopping place at a little later date. The principal school in the village in the '40s was taught by Simeon P. Smith. For many years after the first settlement Bay Island was visited by the Indians. The New Boston Advertiser was started in 1845 and was the first paper in Mercer County. It was published in connection with the Toolsboro (Iowa) Times, the editor being F. A. C. Foreman. It was devoted to foreign and domestic intelligence, arts, light literature, politics and commercial news. It was a six column, four page paper. Later the name was changed to the Yeoman of the Prairie Land, New Boston Broad Horn, the Golden Age, the New Boston Nonpareil, New Boston Reporter, New Boston Herald, the latter being conducted by C. A. Ballard in 1 872. Mercer County did not have a paper all its own until 1850, when Colonel Patterson founded the Keithsburg Observer. The Advertiser noted the presence of the steamboat Archer bound for Bloomington (Muscatine) and that S. A. Gilman conducted a ferry at New Boston. After the Advertiser the Nonpareil was published in the early '50s by Mr. Swafford. Subsequently the New Boston Vidette was issued. In 1852 New Boston was visited by a destructive fire which swept away many of its best buildings and destroyed a large amount of property. In October, 1853, New Boston Lodge, No. 59, A. F. & A. M., was organized and was the first Masonic Lodge in Mercer County. The Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 188, was organized about the same time.

Ives & Denison conducted a large store in April, 18155. They bought wheat, corn, oats, etc. At this time the little town was very prosperous. In May, 1855, the citizens of New Boston raised a purse of $200 for the publishers of the newspaper Golden Age if they would remain and continue its issue. New Boston Nonpareil was a flourishing journal in 1855. The women of New Boston turned out on election day, went to the places where liquor had been sold, searched the premises but found none. The dealers had secreted the article before the ladies appeared. During the years 1855-6 New Boston grew 50 per cent more than at any other period in its history. The New Boston Steam Works were conducted by Kirlin & Jingles in 1857. They manufactured a variety of wood products and had a large trade.

In 1857 Bell & Thompson conducted a large store here. The New Boston Reporter was conducted by Stafford in 1856-7. The Nonpareil was a democratic newspaper. H. C. Bowers sold drugs here in 1857. L. W. Myers delivered a strong address on the subject of Education before the schools of New Boston at an exhibition given in January, 1858. By January 19, 1858, the merchants of New Boston packed over four thousand hogs. Bell & Thompson were engaged in this business and paid four dollars per one hundred weight. By the 26th of the same month they had packed 6,500 hogs. Gayle & Company seem to have had an establishment here. In January, 1858, Graham & Roberts conducted a wagon factory. Bell & Thompson had a large general store in 1858. Mr. Johnson sold lumber about the same time. Holden & Tyler were owners of the Vulcan Iron Works in 1858. Smallpox appeared here in February of this year, but it was soon stamped out by the doctors. During the winter of 1857-8, for the first time in at least twenty-one years, the Mississippi River was not frozen over at New Boston. It was a rare occurrence. By the last of March navigation opened, packers held their pork even longer, waiting for an advance in price. There was not much grain of any kind at this time. The Keokuk & Rock Island Line of packets were running by March 25. The favorite boat, J. McKee, had been withdrawn. Ben Campbell and Tishamingo were the two other vessels of this line. The latter was sunk in the rapids. Flora was a Rock Island and Dunleith stern wheeler. It was wrecked at Rock Island Bridge. In the '50s the New Boston Literary Union

Society gave a public entertainment, on which occasion almost the entire town turned out. This society was composed of young men and women of the city who did not feel able to take part in debates of the public lyceum, which was organized a short time before. The young people organized for the purpose of acquiring culture in literature, independent of older organizations. They had essays, discussions and dialogues and in one of the latter fifteen young ladies took part and it was said that at i i o'clock at night the performance had not ended and vet nobodv was tired nor had gone. The house was crowded to the door.

At the town election in April, 1858, the liquor license was an important subject of controversy. The people the year before elected a liquor council who had licensed two wet groceries, with disastrous and unpleasant results. This was a convincing argument for the temperance people. During the election at least three fights occurred between the factions. It seemed that a majority of the people favored "a dram occasionally." In the spring of 1858 the Steamboat James Lyon passed down the Mississippi and up the Missouri to Leavenworth. The Burlingim House at New Boston was changed into the New Boston Hotel, with Richard Proctor proprietor at this time. In the spring of 1858 many rafts and steamboats were to be seen on the river, more than ever before. Wells Willits was a large grocery dealer in the summer of 1858. Bell & Brother had a large general store. Maddux & Anderson, of Aledo, had a branch in this city at this time. Excelsior Hall was used for Fourth of July celebrations, lectures and other large gatherings. J. K. Herbert was principal of the New Boston schools in the fall of this year. Willits & Burdick were merchants this year. Crystal Front Lodge, No. 185, I. O. G. T., was established at New Boston late in 1 8^9 with S. B. Hineman, W. C. T.

In i860 there were at New Boston, Willits & Burdick, general store; Wells Willits, produce, commission and forwarding business; Bell & Brother, general merchants; Maddux & Anderson, stoves, etc.; Vulcan Iron Works, Holden & Tyler; Samuel Gideon, clothing, and others.

In February, 1861, E. Stafford became commercial editor of the Missouri Democrat. He had previously been editor of the Nonpareil at New Boston and was chairman of the Democratic Central Committee late in the '50s.

In the spring of 1861 Z. P. Willits sold his nursery, called Bluff Nursery, near New Boston. It was an important institution in early times. It had a large variety of plants and was patronized by hun- dreds of farmers, not only in Illinois, but on the Iowa side as well. In April, 1861, F. P. Wood, mayor, A. Kirlin and C. Hall, aldermen, of New Boston, notified the public that the city had purchased the new steam ferryboat and were prepared to transport persons and equipments across the river. The ferry was under the exclusive control of the city government.

In July, 1863, the slaughter house and molasses factory of Wells Willits in the north part of New Boston was destroyed by fire. It was 100 feet long, had two steam engines, a sugar mill, two molasses pans, evaporators, etc. In December, 1863, it was noted that New Boston had seven pianos and six melodeons. The New Boston Lay Society was an important institution early in the '6os. Weekly meetings were held and lectures were limited to thirty minutes. There were also a course of short lectures of ten minutes each. They issued a weekly paper, edited by the ladies. At each meeting a few of the members were called out and required to talk five minutes on some subject given them after they had reached the floor.

In 1864 Charles M. Harris and F. B. Miller took the contract to carry the daily mail between Davenport and Fort Madison, by way of New Boston, Keithsburg, etc. The first annual picnic of the Old Settlers' Association was held at New Boston, August 8, 1864. The Steamer Maggie Reamev brought many old settlers to this reunion.

In April, 1 865, the first issue of the New Boston Herald appeared, with Henry C. Ashbaugh, publisher, and James H. Scott, editor. It was a six column folio and was issued every Saturday. In early times New Boston was an extensive shipping point. Grain was usually sent off in sacks on steamboats, but occasionally was shipped in bulk on barges. Wells Willits shipped salt meats by the barge load. Among the steamers on the river about the time of the Civil war were the following: Pembina, Canada, Lake Itasca, Sucker State, Bald Eagle, Minnesota, Lake Superior, Northwestern, Alexander Mitchell, Hawkeye, Phil Sheridan, City of St. Paul, Red Wing, Belle of LaCrosse, Dubuque, Davenport, Rock Island, Muscatine, New Boston, Burlington, Keithsburg, Rob Boy and Gem City. These boats were not included in those owned by the Diamond Jo Line.

Among the business men of New Boston in 1865 were the following: Dr. Thomas Willits; James Noonan, saloon; J. C. Bell, merchandise; Scudder House, Enos Scudder proprietor; Henry Seavers, shoe shop; Anthony Imber, shoe store; John Rolander, harness shop; James Ferguson, billiard room; A. D. Keeler, tinshop; Mr. Thornbury, jewelry store; D. Kirlin, furniture; Lewis Gradke, saloon, bakery and lunch room; Anthony Burdick, merchandise; this passed to James Mannon a little later; Richard Thomas and Frank Thompson were postmasters about this time; George Hartwig, merchant; David Tolle, bakery; M. R. Good, drug store; Jacob Harsh, barber; James Barrett, confectionery store and ice cream parlor; Myers House, which had many proprietors in a comparatively short time; William H. Dixon, tailor shop; Suiter & Stanway, doctors; Mrs. Southward, grocery store; Burlingame, meat market; G. VV. Warner, clothing; Eli Cooke, billiard room; Ives & Denison, store; Thomas Alyea, drugstore; Dr. T. H. Bras; Wells Willits, large general store; A. W. Tipton, drug store; this establishment was later owned by George Lytle; residences at this time were to be found occasionally on the business streets; Seastone & Anderson, wagon shop; Dr. O. Patterson, dentist; John Flitch, house painter; Poffenbarger, blacksmith shop ; Roberts House, kept by H. H. Roberts in 1 870 ; in the building occupied by him was the New Boston Herald, edited by James H. Scott, and Hugh Scott, his brother, occupied a part of the room with a repair shop.

In December, i860, the New Boston Musical Association, under the leadership of Mr. Weatherbee, rendered a concert in that city, on which occasion an audience of several hundred was present. All who took part in the ceremonies, particularly the little girls, were roundlv applauded for their meritorious performances. The receipts amounted to $62.50.

E. V. Wilson lectured on Shakespeare in Roberts Hall in March, 1867. Not many turned out to hear the lecture. In November, 1868, James H. Scott retired from the New Boston Herald, which was afterward conducted by Thomas Scott and James W. Merrill, with C. A. Ballard as editor. The paper finally suspended in October, 1870, for want of support. Later it was revived by Mr. Ballard and made a success.

A literary association of New Boston gave an interesting entertainment at Noble Chapel in May, 1871. There was a large audience and the performances of the young people were greatly enjoyed. In 1872 at the city election there were three tickets - temperance, antirailroad bond and anti-everything. The temperance ticket was placed before the public the day before election and all its candidates were elected.

H. C. Edwards, city marshal, about this time was stabbed by a man known as Robbins, alias Richey, from the effect of which he died. The town directly offered a reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderer and the county board in March, 1873,

Three prominent business concerns in New Boston in 1877 were Willits & Hall, lumber dealers; Kirlin & Jingles, dealers in dressed siding, dressed flooring, sash, doors, blinds, etc.; and Holden & Tyler, foundry. In 1877 tne voters of New Boston authorized the purchase of the old Methodist Episcopal Church for $350 to be used as a town hall. In 1877 the following concerns were doing business in this town: Dry goods and groceries, Bell Brothers, C. A. Ballard, Mr. Oleson, George Hartwig, George Warner; W. H. McLaughlin was the only exclusive grocer; hardware, John O'Donnell; clothing, Will Danford; drugs and medicines, T. Alyea and George Lytle; tinshop, Mr. Keeler, who was postmaster at that time; New Boston had a daily packet to Burlington, a small stern wheeler, which left every morning and returned the same evening. At that time the New Boston ferry boat was operated by H. Ives.

At the city election in 1878 George Gore, temperance candidate for mayor, had a majority of fifteen over A. Imber, candidate for the same office on the citizens' ticket. The -election of Mr. Gore meant no license. In December, 1879, H. H. Roberts announced that his ferrv across the Mississippi was ready for service day and night. A paper called the Clipper was started as an independent or neutral sheet in 1879. Later it came out as a temperance organ and still later became an organ of the saloon element. It ended its career as a democratic paper.

In December, 1880, the following were the leading business men of New Boston: C. A. Ballard, George Signor, G. W. Warner, George Lytle, W. H. McLaughlin, George Hartwig, David Kirlin. Thomas Alvea, J. C. Bell, Mr. Chamberlin, John Seastone, Hult & Peterson. At this time large quantities of ice were put up here for shipment when needed. At this date the temperance people of New Boston were well organized and met every Tuesday evening for the purpose of seeing that the law concerning liquor was enforced.

In 1881 New Boston and vicinity raised large quantities of watermelons, which were shipped mainlv over the railways to Chicago. Carloads were sent to St. Paul and other distant points. The men growing these melons were W. D. Hodson, Ellis Brothers and R. S. Cramer.

The summers were made the occasion for excursions of all kinds on the river. There were many resorts, picnic grounds and other places where amusements could be held and advantage was taken

Iay Island Lilie

In 1 88 1 during the flood Bay Island was seriously damaged. William Drury of this township owned a large park, in which he kept elk, deer and buffalo. On one occasion an elk killed one of his valuable colts, estimated to be worth about five hundred dollars. Ballard's Hall was finished and ready for use in December, 1 88 1 . C.

A. Ballard used the lower part for his store. In December, 1881, Bower Brothers of New Boston shipped immense quantities of fish, having recently caught over sixty thousand in one haul in a pocket formed by the river on a sandbar.

The New Boston Library Association was organized in June, 1882, through the efforts of Prof. W. S. Messmer. C. A. Ballard was elected president; C. W. Bras, vice president; T- H. Doughty, secretary; Ed L. Willits, treasurer. The first lot of books was purchased and the librarian, Thomas Alyea, was elected at a later date. In March, 1885, the New Boston Vidette was established, with Will

In 1885 the following business concerns were active at New Boston: Willits & Strong, general merchandise; George Hartwig, prints, dress goods, gents' furnishing goods, etc.; Pritz & Adelsdorf, dry goods and clothing; Fred Lauer, jewelry; Mrs. M. Drury, millinery; Mr. Keeler, postmaster; G. Ives & Sons, general merchandise; Pratt Brothers, meat market; P. C. Dixon, livery and feed stable; C. W. Bras, attorney; John Rolander, harness, saddles, etc.; Murray and Murphy, the Bee Hive meat market; George H. Signor, grocery; Seastone & Anderson, shingles, flooring, etc.; Roberts & Williams, hardware, stoves, cutlery, etc.; John Seastone, wagons, carriages and farm implements; William Markgraf, cigar manufacturer; George Lytle, drugs and patent medicines; A. Imber, boots and shoes; Conrad Ohlwein, tailor; U. C. Gessenmann, grocer.

The Bay Island Drainage Ditch was projected and considered in 1890. It meant a great deal to New Boston and its construction had been fought for and against for many years. In the end it was constructed. In 1891 New Boston had a considerable debt which had been greatly reduced during the previous four or five years. It was bonded and was refunded at a later date. At this time large quantities of ice were put up and marketed at the proper time.

In September, 1893, the soldiers of the One Hundred and Second Regiment held a reunion at New Boston, on which occasion 8,000 people were present. The occasion was made memorable by the greeting given the old soldiers and by the games, boat races, etc., which were, enjoyed. The New Boston creamery was established before 1893 an^ was successfully conducted for several years. It did not have sufficient cows back of it to become a permanent fixture.

New Boston Township has been called the township of bridges, owing to the numerous structures that have been built over the streams, bayous, lakes, etc. In September, 1893, Mr. Roberts succeeded Mr. Will its as postmaster.

At the spring election in New Boston in 1894, ninety-nine ladies and 133 men voted. It was a school election, Mrs. Gore receiving ninety-nine votes and Mr. Livingston 133 votes. Thus the men voted for the man candidate and the women for the woman candidate. W. C. Austin was elected mayor on the people's ticket in 1894. The candidate of the law and order party was M. Chamberlin.

Bank, Olcott, Whitham & Company ; barber, W. W. Smull ; blacksmith, Bert Poffenbarger; contractor and builder, William E. Merrill; coal and draying, F. A. Burlingame; collections, A. V. Larrance; druggist, George Lytle; furniture and undertaking, H. F. Babbitt; ferry, J. B. Robins; fish and game, A. S. Miller; grocers, Bell & Company, A. W. Mannon, N. W. Tieman; hotels, Patterson, Wade; hardware, Trask & Tolle; harness, John Rolander; justice of the peace, W. C. Austin; jeweler, E. M. Bras; livery and feed barn, F. C. Dixon; loans, D. S. Prentiss; lumber, R. H. Roberts; milliner, Mrs. E. C. Gore; merchant tailor, W. H. Dixon; meat market, Courtney Willits; notary public, M. Chamberlin; painters, W. P. Hunt, R. C. Livingston; poultry, Henry F. Kath; physicians and surgeons, E. H. Cutts, C. F. Lytle; restaurant, I. F. Patterson; stock and grain buyer, G. W. Bridger; vegetable dealer, W. D. Hodson; wagon manufacturer, John Seastone.

In 1900 Elias Poffenbarger built a large two-story brick bank building at a cost of about six thousand five hundred dollars. The bank located therein was reorganized at that time, the old concern being merged into the new. Fifty or sixty of the most prominent citizens became stockholders in the new concern. John E. Whitham was manager and cashier. A. Imber, Ed Noble, G. W. Bridger, John Seastone and H. H. Roberts were the advisory board. In 1901 New Boston began to wake up on the subject of waterworks, electric lighting, and other important subjects. Steps were taken to put all these movements in operation before many years. In 1901 the bank was doing a large business, had a capital of $21,000 and was conducted by Whitham, Olcott & Company. The leading subscribers to the stock were John E. Whitham, Hiram W. Olcott, and K. M.

Whitham. The Glenwood Ice Company in 1901 packed an immense quantity of ice which was sold to good advantage the following summer. In January, 1901, the New Boston Herald was established with Vern Mendenhall as publisher.

The people had determined to light the city by electricity and accordingly the system was commenced in 1910 and the lighting system was put in operation first in January, 1913. It was furnished by the Tri-County Light & Power Company.

The little village of Mannon has had a store, shop, school, church and postoffice for many years. It is located in the northern part of New Boston Township and its population in 1914 was 52. It has rural free delivery from New Boston. David Blaisdell is blacksmith and Omer Deeds conducts a general store.

In 1914 New Boston is a wideawake, up-to-date and progressive city. Its schools, churches, clubs, societies, lodges, etc., embrace the whole population. Its banks and business houses generally are sound and reliable. Its city water is pure; its streets are clean and well lighted; its fire department is efficient; its city administration is well and economically conducted and the city is a most desirable one in which to live and be happy.