Humboldt County
Historical Association
PO Box 162
Humboldt, Iowa
50548
DELANA TOWNSHIP
TOWN OF BODE
TOWNS and TOWNSHIPS
IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY
FEATURES
HCHA programs /
Historical features
Plat map of Delana Township
1896
Click on map to enlarge
Plat map of Town of Bode 1896
The Village of Bode
(from 1884 History of Humboldt County, pp. 757-760)
This village was laid out in November, 1881, by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Town Lot Company, and the plat thereof filed for record on the 23rd of February, 1882. This place, which lies upon the Burlington, Cedar Rapids * Northern Railroad, about five and one-half miles west of Livermore, is of so recent a birth that it has acquired but little history. The depot was built here in March, 1832, and of the sixty acres owned by the Town Lot Company on section 18, they platted about thirty south of the track, and sold twenty of the balance to M. Buhler, of the firm of Ough & Buhler, who resides in Lamoille, Ill.
The first business house erected on the site of the village was built by T. A. Rossing in April, 1882. In this, on the 10th of May following, he opened a general merchandise store. The structure was 22x60 feet in size, two stories high. The lower room he used as a store room, the upper as a place of dwelling. In October, 1882, Mr. Rossing erected another building of the same dimensions to the north of his store, and during the following winter used it as a store room for wheat and flour, exchanging flour for wheat with his patrons. He carries a large and well selected stock of goods in his line and enjoys a remunerative business.
The lumber yard was also established by the enterprise of Mr. Rossing in April, 1882, but in March, 1883, he disposed or it to J. B. Griffin, who operates it at present. It is under the management of Opheim & Gangestad, the proprietor not being a resident, and under their able administration it bids fair to become one of the leading industries of this rising town.
At the time of the starting of the town T. A. Rossing also sold coal, but he has since sold out his interest in that business to Brown & Berry. The senior partner later withdrew from the business, leaving it in the hands of W. H. Berry, who does a fair business.
On the 1st of July, 1883, E. M. Huntington opened a hardware store, with a stock that invoi8ced $2000, in the building adjoining that of T. A. Rossing, and owned by that gentleman. So far he has met with merited success and his sales are quite large and satisfactory. In connection with his general business in shelf and heavy hardware, is a tinsmith's shop, which is kept busy all the time. Mr. Huntington also handles the well known Chamberlain plow, of Dubuque, and other implements.
Opheim & Ganbgestad opened a general merchandise store in the village on the 3rd of June, 1883. They have a capital of some $4000 and carry a fine stock. The building they occupy was erected by them, for the purpose, at a total cost of $1000. It is 22x40 feet, and is one of the chief ornaments of the place. They are prospering finely and enjoy a most excellent trade.
In the northwestern part of the village stands one of the leading industries of the place, if not the chief one. This is the large steam grist mill of Ough & Buhler. This was erected during the summer of 1883 and started operations upon the 20th day of August, of that year. It is 20x58 feet upon the ground, and two stories and a half high, and was built and equipped at a cost of $7000. At present it is devoted almost exclusively to custom work, and can turn out 125 barrels of flour per week. Mr. Buhler resides in Bureau Co, Ill., and the mill is in the hands of Mr. Ough, under whose administration it needs no prophetic eye to see tat it has a great future before it, alike satisfactory and remunerative to the proprietors, and the source of wealth and growth to the Village.
The hotel at Bode was erected in 1882. In May, the structure, which is 30x34 feet, two stories high, was commenced, and it was finished that same fall. It is a good substantial building and cost about $2500. The proprietor, John Shager, understands the wants of the traveling community and is a model landlord. The train men here take their meals, and a good business has been built up by the enterprising, genial host.
Isabelle Shager has the only dressmaking establishment in Bode, and to her go the village and rustic belles to consult in regard to their outward adornment.
St. Olaf's Lutheran Church was organized in 1871, and for years held their services in the school houses of the township. It was mainly owing to the influence of that noble man. Rev. T. A. Torgerson, of Worth county that this Church owes its birth and through his instrumentality was it organized, with the following members: Ole H. Gullixson, Gullik Helgeson, Peter Williamson, Svend Anderson, Ole J. Olson, Hans A. Sorlein, C. A. Rossing, Gilbbert Anderson, A. O. Skildum, Ole Nelson Tangeland, Andrew F. Anderson, Lars Oppedahl, John Erickson, and Ole Olson.
In connection with the church, is a cemetery known as that of St. Olaf's, which comprises about an acre and a half, on the southwest quarter of section 16. This is inclosed with a good board fence, and here the dead of this little flock can rest in peace in consecrated ground.
The village has now some seven families living on the town play, a fair nucleus around which may be gathered the Bode of the future.