Humboldt County
Historical Association
PO Box 162
Humboldt, Iowa
50548
WEAVER TOWNSHIP
GILMORE CITY
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Plat Map of
Weaver Township
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Memory of
Humboldt County, Town of Pioneer
by Herman Dodd
I was born on a farm east of
Pioneer, Iowa, Weaver Township on March 24, 1905. While I lived there,
Pioneer was a busy town.
First known as Pioneer Hay Camp, wild hay was cut and bailed. It was
shipped to Chicago Stockyards. Pioneer had a population of over 100 with
business places, stockyards, a lumberyard, two grain elevators, two
implement stores, blacksmith shop, two general stores, bank, café,
butcher shop, pool hall, hotel, livery barn, two churches, school and
post office. Pioneer shipped more grain and livestock than any town on
the rail line.
I left the farm at Pioneer in 1928. I have made Humboldt County my
home most of my life.
Gilmore
School Fire in Winter of '43 Recalled
High school principal perished in the
blaze
By Carolyn Saul Logan
Dec. 14, 1943, was bitterly cold; nearly
10 degrees below zero. It was recess time for third graders at Gilmore
City's Public School. It was the usual school recess scene-kids chasing
each other, kids hanging on the duty teacher's arms, kids taking turns
on the equipment.
Suddenly it all changed. "We could see flames through the windows that
were below the stage area in the gym," reports Larry Lynch. "We kids
were directed to safety in a house northwest of the school."
Lucille Christensen Weydert remembers that she was in first or second
grade and was "being led with my class out of the building to a home
across the street. We were all crying and so frightened. I remember how
happy I was when my parents came to pick me up."
Betty Pisel "happened to be in home economics class in the grade school
building. We were rushed into neighboring homes to get warm." Betty goes
on to tell that her Dad was one of the men who worked to rescue
equipment from the burning building. "It was truly one of the saddest
days of our lives."
"We watched as people came and helped carry out all the grade school
desks and equipment. But they had to stop when the fire jumped the
firewall between the gym and high school," said Larry Lynch.
Bob Ellsworth was teaching a class in biology when the fire bell
sounded. "I excused my students and, in an orderly fashion, they joined
their other classmates and were escorted to the north side of the
building by the high school principal, Mrs. Alma Edgington."
Ellsworth and teacher, Marv Christensen, met in the hall to see if all
the students were gone and to check the restrooms. They met Mrs.
Edgington and she told them that the ceiling in the gym was burning and
the velvet curtains on the stage were on fire, too.
"She had returned to the building," Ellsworth said, "to pick up some of
her personal belongings. She had her coat, purse, and typewriter in her
arms."
Ellsworth and Christensen went into the old part of the school to go out
through the west door. "As we started down the steps, we could feel a
blast of hot air. We told each other that we should take a deep breath
and hold it until we were outside." The two teachers made it to safety
but not unscathed-the hair on the back of their heads was singed and
they had blisters on the backs of their ears.
Harold Granner, the superintendent, was standing by the gymnasium doors
phoning the fire department when the explosion occurred. His face,
hands, and lips were blistered and his hair singed. The fire truck
arrived but the firemen were hindered by low water pressure and the
bitter cold. The fire hydrant northwest of the school was frozen solid.
Firemen from Gilmore City were aided by the Humboldt and Pocahontas
firefighters.
Great clouds of black smoke rolled into the sky and flames shot upward
some 30 to 40 feet at the height of the fire. Amidst the rush to control
the blaze, rescue equipment and shepherd the students to safety in
nearby houses, it became clear that Mrs. Edgington was missing.
"When Marv and I got out of the building," Bob Ellsworth said, "we were
asked if we had seen Mrs. Edgington. We said yes we had and told them her
precise location." A fireman was sent up the north steps with a mask and
a rope around his waist. He returned alone. "She was caught on the
northeast entrance about halfway down on the landing," said Marv
Christensen. "The same blast of heat caught Bob and I as we were going
to the west entrance."
Eventually the fire was brought under control but the building was a
total loss. "The last thing I saw come down and burn was the school bell
and tower. The bell tower stood on solid wooden beams and it took some
time for the fire to burn through," said Marv Christensen.
Mrs. Alma Edgington's body was found at the head of the fireproof
stairway in the newer section of the school. It was assumed that she was
overcome by smoke.
Superintendent Granner and the school board worked hard during the
Christmas vacation to make arrangements for classes to be held. "We went
to school in various buildings uptown for at least four or five years
before a new school was built," recalls Lucille Weydert.
"It was seven years before we had a [school] building," said Larry
Lynch. "We had classes in church basements and other buildings during
that time."
Marv Christensen thought it was "just like going to college. The
students moved from one building to another to attend classes. My, when
the class period was over and the students changed classes there were
students all over Main Street. Strangers that came into town, especially
if they drove a car, wondered what was happening."
"That was a different experience," remembers Zola Pisel. "going from
building to building through the winter. We usually had time to stop at
Shimon's Drug Store for a fountain soda and occasionally a stop at the
Pool Hall-John Naeve was running it-for pop."
Bob Ellsworth reports, "I vividly remember teaching in four different
buildings on Main Street, and some teachers taught in churches. Some of
the students would go into the grocery store to purchase a candy bar
between classes, or buy something for lunch. [After school,] the boys'
gathering place was at 'Hot Dog' Benson's gas station."
Teacher Velma Baker thought the campus style living had many
shortcomings. "Distractions were commonplace. Turning students out to go
to class in windy, rainy and snowy weather was not too pleasant. Heating
numerous buildings was a nightmare for the janitors with furnaces and
oil heaters to care for-it was a tremendous responsibility. The town did
some work on the streets and the air hammer was not exactly conducive to
concentration!
One day we watched the Juelfs drive sheep through Main Street to ship
them on the railroad to New York. The mice population in the old theater
kept quite healthy munching on song books." Baker concluded, "Teaching
was not easy under the conditions . . . but all of us were determined to
make the best of a difficult situation."
Eventually a building was erected just east of the old school's
burned-out basement and the new school opened in September of 1949.
Education in Gilmore City Public School was back to normal.
Today the students and teachers who experienced the 1943 fire have
different memories of the event. However, I think they would all agree
with Bob Ellsworth when he said, ". . . we will always remember the
fire."
Published in The Humboldt Republican
.............
Excerpt from History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa. Union Publishing Co., Springfield Ill., 1884, pp. 902-904
This new but rising little town was surveyed and platted on the 15th of July, 1882, and the plat filed for record by E. L. Garlock and L. L. Taylor. It is laid out upon forty acres lying on Section 6.
The first building put up on the site of the present town, in Humboldt county, was a store building erected in October 1882, by E. P. Jackson, a native of Chenango County, N. Y. This structure is forty feet square, one half of which he occupies as a store, the other, as a dwelling. His stock is of a general merchandise character, and would invoice, at its inception, about $1500. He is still in the same business, and has a very flourishing trade.
About the same time John Champion and brother opened a general merchandise store in a building erected by their father, William Champion, of Malcolm, Poweshiek county. They are in the same trade at the present, and carry a stock of about $4000. In February, 1883, they sold out to Mulholland & Gaughen, who are doing an extensive and lucrative business.
J. J. Mulholland was born in St. Louis, MO, Oct. 5, 1863. His parents are Dennis and Margaret (Mc Ewen) Mulholland. His father is buried in Webster Col, Iowa. His mother lives in Pocahontas Co., Iowa. When three years of age his parents removed to Allamakee Co., Iowa, remaining there about seven years; thence to Pocahontas county. He settled in Lake township, remaining there until March, 1883, when he engaged in the general merchandise business with P. J. Gaughen in Gilmore, carrying a stock valued at about $5000. They also deal in agricultural implements. Mr. Mulholland was married Oct. 17, 1883, to Mary Nolan, daughter of Nicholas Nolan, of Pocahontas county.
P. J. Gaughen was born in Wisconsin, Jan. 12, 1857. He is the son of John and Ann (Murphy) Gaughen, who now reside at Fort Dodge, Iowa. In 1872 he went to Fort Dodge and engaged in farming until 1881, when he removed to Pocahontas county; thence to Manson, Iowa, where he clerked in a store one year; thence to Gilmore, and engaged in business with J. J. Mulholland. They do general merchandise business, carrying a stock valued at about %5000. He was married on the 2nd of May, 1881, to Isabelle Brady, daughter of John and Catharine Brady, of Webster county. They have one child--Lillie, born March 12, 1882. Mr. Gaughen is a member of the Catholic Church, In politics he is a democrat.
During the fall of 1882, W. A. and W. H. Pollock put up a meat market, which they operated until in June, 1883, when they disposed of it to the present proprietors, Sheffer & Root.
Samuel Wallace put up a flour and feed store in 1882, which he still operates.
Samuel Wallace was born in Northumberland Co., Canada, Sept. 7, 1851. He is a son of David and Mary (Baggett) Wallace. His father lives in Washington Territory. His mother is buried at Jackson County, Webster Co., Iowa. When seventeen years old he removed with his parents to Pocahontas Co., Iowa. He was reared on a farm, and followed farming until 1882; when he engaged in the real estate business. Soon after locating in Gilmore, he was unfortunate in Losing his house, furniture and team by fire. It was a sad loss upon him, but his indomitable will and perseverance brought him through all right, and he is now one of the leading business men in Gi9lmore. In connection with his real estate business, he handles flour and coal under the firm name of Wallace & Co. He was married Feb. 7, 1880, to Mary E. McLarney, of Fort Dodge, Webster Do., Iowa, daughter of John and Ellen (Ford) McLarney. Two children have been born to them. He is a republican in politics.
The next building was put up by A. J. Weize, who in the fall of 1882 opened therein a restaurant, which he is still running.
Bryant & Brown started a furniture store in the fall of 1882, but shortly disposed of it to Mr. Mulholland, and he to L. Firkin, and in July, `883, it was absorbed into the general merchandise stock oaf O. D. Legg, one of the enterprising merchants of this flourishing little city.
J. H. King established a furniture store in June, 1883, in a building erected by Samuel Wallace, but in the fall moved into his own building. He is building up a most excellent trade in this town, and fids fair to achieve an easy competency by his labors.
In November, 1882, Root & Fitch established their present hardware business, building the finest store in the town. This was 24x40 feet in size, but has since been enlarged to 40x49 feet. It is eighteen feet high, and is covered with a tin roof. They carry a large stock of heavy and shelf hardware, agricultural implements and buggies, and transact a large business.
The drug business was begun in November, 1892, also, by Cooper & Smith, in a building 16x24 feet, put up by them. In October, 1883, T. J. Smith purchased the interest of his partner, and is the present proprietor.
Bothwell & Rice erected a building 20x40 feet, in November, 1882, which they opened as a billiard hall and saloon, which is at present operated by John Lanan.
The real estate business is in the hands of tow enterprising competitors, Samuel Wallace and Levi Garlock. Both of these gentlemen are men of more than average ability and integrity, and devote their energies to the building up of their town and the surrounding country.
Levi Garlock, real estate dealer at Gilmore, was born Sept. 4, 1847, in Marshalville, Montgomery Co., N. Y. His father, a native of the same county, born in 1917, was a farmer, and in 1849 moved to Otsego county of the same State, where he purchased a small farm, upon which was an old mill. He put the mill in repair and engaged in sawing lumber, at which he soon did quite an extensive business.
When quite young, Levi went to live with his grandparents near Canajoharie, Montgomery County, where he remained a number of years, during which he attended a school, taught by the same teacher who had instructed his mother in her childhood. At the age of twelve years, he was "champion" of all the spelling matches in that part of the country, and a source of much pride to his grandparents. At the death of his grandfather, he carried on the farm two or three years, then his grandmother sold her property and went to live with her daughter, Mrs. Garlock, who in the meantime, had removed with her husband and family, to De Kalb Co,. Ill.
Levi accompanied her, and remained with his parents six months, then went to Ottawa, Ill, and soon after to Janesville, Wis., where he resided four years. In 1869 he removed to Osage, Mitchell Co., Iowa, and engaged in the livery business. While here, he became acquainted with Ella C. Porter, to whom he was married, July 21, 1869. After marriage he moved to West Mitchell, and in 1870 to Pocahontas county, where his parents and brothers were then living. His father, Ephraim Garlock, was then engaged in farming, about two and a half miles from Fonda, where he still resides. His brothers, M. E. and A. O Garlock, were engaged in farming and stock raising.
In 1872 A. O. Garlock was elected county auditor, and served four terms, after which he became a member of the banking firm of McEwen & Garlock. Levi Garlock purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he lived eighteen years, and then moved to Manson, Calhoun county and invested in Norman horses. In 1879 he was induced by his brother, A. o. Garlock, to try the real estate business, which, however did not, until 1882, prove very profitable In that year he sold 12m000 acres of wild and unimproved land. He then moved to Gilmore, and in 1883 did an immense amount of business, selling in commission , land and town property, to the amount of $124,000 which was much the largest business of that kind in the vicinity.
Mrs. Garlock was born May 23, 1853, at Sandy Creek, Oswego Co. N. Y. where she resided until 1869, when she came with her grandfather, Noah Woosey, to Osage, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Garlock have five children--Minnie C., born in 1872; Henry O., born in 1875; Franklin W., born in 1878; Roy E., born in 1880, and Maud H., born in 1882. Mrs. Garlock is the owner of a large portion of the town site of East Gilmore, which she sells, on lots or blocks, to suit purchasers. She is an energetic and enterprising woman.
The nursery was established in January, 1884, by W. E. Garlock. This includes some ten acres, on section 6, joining on to the town plat in the east, and although in its infancy, is to be made a success, if energy and knowledge can make it so.
The first blacksmith was Henry Frazer, who located here and building a shop opened for business in the fall of 1882. He moved away the next year. He was succeeded by Chris Johnson, a Dane, in the spring of 1883, who also built a smithy. He is now in Dakota Territory. The business is at present in the hands of Joseph Kinchin, a worthy son of Vulcan, who started here in August, 1883.
The skating rink, a neat commodious build, 30x60 feet, erected for that business, was put up in December, 1883, by the present proprietor, David Mulholland. This is the grand rendezvous for old and young, and is the source of much pleasure to all.
The following
is a brief directory of the remaining business firms of this go-ahead
little burg, but whom space forbids a more extended notice:
General merchandise and produce--L. E. Childes.
Collection agency and justice of the peace--F. E. Beer.
Architect and builder--H. Hanson.
Grain--T. H. Miller & Son.
Lumber--Jackson & Robinson, and S. T. Jackson.
Millinery--Miss Pavey, Mrs. Legg and Mrs. H. Mason
Dress-making--Mrs... J. H. King.
Practitioner--Dr. Lewis
There is at present no church edifice in the town but there will be soon. Levi Garlock has just purchased a lot on Main street, for $200, and donated it to the Catholic congregation, down the creek, which is under the ministry of Father Norton, if they would build in the town. A large subscription was taken up and the plans adopted for the erection of the edifice in the early spring. This will be 30x60 feet, and will be an ornament to the village.
Services are held by Rev. R. Persons, a Baptist clergyman living in Rutland, and by Rev. Mr. Gray, a Presbyterian, but ho church of either denomination exists as yet.
On the town plat are the following residences, erected in the order in which they are placed: That of James Bothwell, J. W. Gregg, L. Taylor, M. S. Ish, Joseph Kinchin, and H. C. Jordan.