Ocheyeden, Iowa

Iowa became a state in 1846, and people living in the East were becoming interested in seeking fortunes farther west.  This territory in northern Osceola County was barren grassland, and with no trees, Indians had lived here and called it Acheya, which meant a mourning ground.  The town later was called Ocheyedan, and the big rise of ground southeast of town became known as the Ocheyedan Mound.

About 1871, a few pioneers came. Life was very difficult due to the cold weather, and the grasshoppers destroyed crops in the summer.  In 1884, the Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Northern railroad crossed the north side of Osceola County, and settlers began coming with dreams and determination to start a new settlement.  The town location is excellent, as it is on a gradual rise from the railroad tracks.  The first settlers were of German and English descent, and they began building small houses and shops to meet their needs.

From 1891 to 1916, marks the first twenty-five years after Ocheyedan became incorporated.  Many improvements were needed, and now there would be elected officers to manage the tax money.  W. E. Ely was the first mayor, and Marshal Rupner was responsible for the law and order.

This period proved to be a very busy time for the early Ocheyednites.  Two churches, Methodist and Congregational, were already establishes; and in 1903 a new school was built, which was used until 1985.

In 1891 the first newspaper was printed by D.A. Perkins.  Everyone was happy to get news of neighbors and friends, and the paper was very successful.

The Masonic Lodge was started here in 1892.

A telephone business started service here in 1902.  A local operator made the connections, and the telephone was rung by hand.  In the country, several families would be on one line, but it was better than having no communication.

The Rural Free Delivery of US Mail was begun in Ocheyedan in 1904.

The Ocheyedan Cooperative Elevator Company was formed in 1906, and has remained a thriving business.

The women in the town felt a need for more social life, and the Eastern Star was organized in 1906.

Dr. G. B. Kinney came to Ocheyedan in 1910, and had a dentist office here for fifty years.

The first fire department was a real necessity, and it was manned by volunteers.

A town library was started in 1912, and was used by young and old.

World War 1 began in 1914, and eighty men were in the service from this area.

After twenty-five years of incorporation, Ocheyedan had many needed businesses that now no longer exist.  There was Arend's Shoe Store, two livery  barns, a harness shop, a furniture store, a blacksmith shop, a meat market, a hotel, and a jewelry shop.

From 1916 to 1941 was the period of time that brought Ocheyedan to fifty years of incorporation;  and during this time many of us may have been pioneers, but we didn't realize it.  The railroad continued to be very important to our town.  It was a good way to travel, the mail arrived and was dropped off at the depot, and our groceries came by train.

Supplies of coal came by rail, and local folks with drays or wagons emptied the boxcars and moved the coal to the school and to the lumberyards, where it was sold.  Albert Maske had a dray, and he also kept a bobsleigh for winter use.  Sometimes he could be hired to take people out for sleigh rides.

The people in Ocheyedan have always been very progressive, so in 1919 the water tower was put in place, and  many of the streets were torn up while trenches were dug for laying the water and sewer lines.  Much of the digging was done by hand by local people.  Residents soon began planning for bathrooms, and kitchen sinks with running water.  The old outhouses gradually disappeared, as did small pens of chickens; and the yards were made more attractive by adding flowers and shrubbery.

The year 1920 brought Prohibition by federal law, so the saloons were closed.

Dr. J. B. Padgham came to our town in 1920, and in 1924 he opened the first hospital here.

Unity Circle, a study and social club, was organized, and it became a part of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, a national and international organization.  Mrs. Lennie Fletcher was the first president, in 1921.

Main street welcomed the new town hall built in 1940.  J. H. Kout was the mayor at this time.  For many years this building housed the town library and was used for many meetings and activities.

Ocheyedan now had five churches:  Methodist, Congregational, St. Peters Lutheran, the Christian Reformed Church, and the Zion Lutheran Church north of town.

After fifty years of growth and industries, Ocheyedan was known as a thriving town, and the residents were proud to be a part of it.

The years from 1941 to 1966 marked many changes.  World War 11 was in progress, and we all worried about our involvement.

In 1942, Gus Ostermann and Sons were asked to help build the Alcan Highway in Alaska.  Their heavy equipment was shipped by rail to Seattle, Washington, and then on by boat to Alaska.  About forty local men were hired to help with the work there.

Farming has always been an important part of our locale, and this period saw the shift from horse-drawn machinery to the use of tractors.  Corn shelling was a new business, but horses were still used for power.

Car dealerships were busy on main street, and several gas stations were operating.

Pool halls were popular meeting places for games and lunches.

With the improvement of the roads, several straight trucks were available for taking cattle and hogs to markets in Sioux City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  A load of livestock was trucked this distance for about sixteen dollars.  Ocheyedan's first livestock semi-trailer was bought by Bill Timmons in 1942.

Pasteurized milk was delivered to the homes in glass bottles, and milk was later sold in the grocery stores.

World War 11 ended in 1945, and our servicemen began returning to Ocheyedan.  Peace time was short-lived, though, as in 1950 many of our men were called to serve in the Korean War.

In 1955 fire destroyed Carlson's Drug Store, the US Post Office, Lighter's apartment, the Masonic Temple, Turner's Market, and Falks Locker Plant.  It was a shocking disaster, but all of the business places relocated and continued to operate.

In July of 1961, Deanne Ostermann was selected to be Iowa's Queen for the year, so the town celebrated "Miss Iowa Day" in her honor.  A parade with floats and bands entertained a large crowd.

The Christian Reformed School was completed in 1963, and is still in use.

In 1965 the Vietnam War was in progress, and once more young men from this part of the county were in service far from home.

Archie Stillwell and Orville Lee were operating their barbershops, Erma Lee's Gift Shop was a welcome addition to Main Street, and some beauty shops were in business.

A banner year for Ocheyedan was 1966, as our town was now seventy-five years old.  All of the organizations and local leaders thought this called for a Diamond Jubilee Celebration.  Everyone got busy, and a fine pageant depicting past events in Ocheyedan was presented east of the school building.  A large parade with floats and bands added to the fun, and a dinner was served at the school gym for all the high school classes and former teachers.  Many folks who had lived here at some time returned to greet old friends and neighbors and to join in the fun.  The local women wore dresses made in styles of the past, and many of the men grew beards.  Everyone recalls the celebration a huge success.

We must thank the early settlers for planning a wide Main Street, which changed from dust and mud to the present hard surface we now have.  The board walks have been changed to cement sidewalks, and some of the oldest buildings on Main Street have been taken down.

A nice library was erected in 1970, and it has a large circulation.

Ocheyedan's Main Street boasts a new post office building and the fire department's up-to-date structure (also housing our ambulance service); and we are happy to have trained emergency medical technicians on call here.

The Ocheyedan Savings Bank has a new brick building and continues to serve our community well after ninety-nine years.  A Production Credit Association building, now used by Hertz Insurance and Paul Dorr, is a fine addition.  The Senior Center was built on the site formerly occupied by the theater.  Dinner Date meals are served there.

The Ocheyedan Press-Melvin News has relocated on the west side of Main Street.  Their site is attractive, and the Reistes are looking forward to celebrating the newspaper's one hundredth birthday in 1991.

The Ocheyedan Cooperative Elevator will also be proud to complete 85 years of active continuous service in 1991.

The Betterment Committee, sponsored by the Unity Circle, raised funds and donated street signs to our city.

Swenson's Service Station and Dee's Flower Shop are kept busy, as in the Co-op Station.  Customer's Choice, a beauty shop operated by LaDonna Bosma, is a popular business.  We have a car wash service owned by Gary Rost, Mark Kruger manages the Quality Starter and Alternator Repair shop, and Lawrence Hedges operates an auto repair shop.

Turner's Grocery Store provides our food supplies, and Timmons Antique Shop has been in business for many years.  Timmons discontinued their antique business in the fall of 1990.  They sold their building to Gordon and Gwen Vickery who have established "Moo's House".

The Print Shop, run by Rick Scott, and Will's Repair are the two newest business in Ocheyedan.

Bakers Income Tax Service, near Main Street, has been a helpful service for many here.

The Corner Club, Don and Jo's station, Howard's Country Cafe, and Jim's Drive-In provide excellent food for those in our area.

As we near our hundred years of incorporation, we can look with pride at what has been accomplished here.  Yesterdays make great tomorrows, and we will always be proud of Ocheyedan.

-Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner


Osceola County Iowa Genealogy - The IAGenWeb Project