Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties

CHAPTER VIII.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
(Continued)

BRAYTON.

This village is the second station on the railroad south of Audubon, and was platted December 16, 1878, by John S. and John T. Jenkins. Its geographical location is a thirty-acre tract of land along the south side of the northwest quarter of section 19, township 78, range 35, west, and in what is known as Oakfield Township. It is but a short distance from the old village of Oakfield, where nothing remains in a business sense, except the flouring mill. Upon the building of the railroad the business of Oakfield was removed to Brayton, which has come to be a thriving village of between 100 and 200 people, with all the common branches of retail trade represented.

A POSTOFFICE

was established at this point in the spring of 1879. The first postmaster was John T. Jenkins, who was succeeded by O. F. Ide, October 1, 1886. Brayton was made a money-order office in August, 1882. The first order was issued August 7, to L. S. Cotton for $2.05, payable to E. S. Phelps, Galesburg, Illinois. Up to January 1, 1889, this office had issued 2,200 money orders.

BUSINESS FIRMS.

The first house erected in the place was the blacksmith shop now occupied by L. N. Beck. John Cooper was the first blacksmith to stand beside a glowing forge at this point. Mr. Beck runs a large shop, in which he makes buggies and wagons, and does general blacksmith work. The first general store was opened by R. Crumling, early in 1879. The present general stores are conducted by Reynolds & Ide, and Hanson & Bloom. The pioneer hardware dealer was J. Zimmerman, who embarked in trade in 1881. He sold to I. P. Hallock, who was shortly succeeded by John Anderson, and he sold to the present dealer, N. J. Nelson. The first to handle drugs was Burton & Kirkpatrick, who came in 1879. The drug trade is now in the hands of C. L. Bisom. Grain was first handled by Stockdale & Day, in 1878. The present dealers are Worthing & Foote, C. E. Myers & Co. The first lumber yard was owned by William Hoak, in 1878-'79. It is now controlled by the Green Bay Lumber Company. Live-stock dealers at the present time are Messrs. Jenkins, Myers & Co. The first hotel at Brayton was conducted by I. H. Jenkins, who still entertains the weary traveler in a home-like and pleasing style. The other hotel of the village is run by a Dane named Chris Hanson. The first harness-maker was named Daniel Carpenter, who came in 1886. It is now in the hands of Claus Paulson. The first shoemaker was Chris Thompson, in 1887. He is still the only one representing this branch. The meat business has been in the hands of many; the first was run by a "cow-boy" from the plains. An offer was made by Mr. Jenkins, proprietor of the town, of $100 to any society who would build a church. The Congregational people tried to avail themselves of such offer, but did not succeed. A building, however, was built by subscription, and for a time used for such purpose, as well as for a school in summer time. At present there is no church organization at Brayton, neither a regular school, except the district school outside the plat.

PIONEER ODD FELLOWS LODGE.

"Audubon" Lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 217, is the oldest secret society in the county, having been organized at an early day at the now defunct village of Louisville. The date was soon after the Rebellion closed. The lodge was then moved to Oakfield, and from there to Brayton, where the order is in a flourishing condition, owning a good bulding 22 x 46 feet, costing $1,000. The upper part is used for their lodge-room, while they rent the first story for a temperance billiard hall. The present officers are: I. N. Horton, N. G.; A. H. Early, V. G.; Peter F. Howell, Secretary; D. A. Wetherby, Treasurer. The present membership is forty. More members were taken in upon one night than were ever taken in by any other lodge in the district - six persons going in at one time. Besides this order Brayton is represented by the "Danish Brotherhood," a newly organized society, now numbering only about 2,000 in the United States. The lodge at Brayton (No. 31) was instituted October 20, 1888 by ten charter members. They have increased to seventeen. Their officers are: Jacob Bloom, President; Jacob Benedixen, Vice-President; Peter Jacobson, Secretary; Chris Christianson, Treasurer; Hans Nyman, Inside Guard; N. L. Beck, Outside Guard; Hans Hanson, ex-President. This order meets twice each month, and bids fair to become a popular society among the Danes.

SORGHUM MANUFACTURING.

No locality in Iowa at present produces more sorghum than does Oakfield Township. There are several large concerns making this product. The soil and late seasons seem to make it a certain and profitable crop to raise. Cotton Brothers, at Oakfield, run a flouring-mill, and also have extensive sorghum works, both running by water-power. During the past year (1888) not less than 40,000 gallons have been made. It commands a higher price than ordinary syrups, and will be had at twice the cost, if possible.

Prev. <=== Continue Reading ===> Next Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass September, 2014 from "Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties", Chicago: W. S. Dunbar & Co., 1889, pp. 680-681.