Palo Alto County Directories

Iowa Gazetteer and Business Directory
1884-1885



AYRSHIRE. A recently established postoffice on the D.M. & Ft. D. R.R. in Silver Lake township, Palo Alto county, 130 miles from Des Moines and 12 southwest of Emmetsburgh, the county seat and nearest banking point. Settled in 1881. Stage semi-weekly to Sioux Rapids; fare, $2. Population 35. Tel., W.U. Exp., U.S. Mail, daily. James Hall, postmaster.

EMMETSBURGH. Situated in the central portion of Palo Alto county, of which it is the judicial seat, is a flourishing town on the P. div B., C.R. & N. Ry, at the junction of the C., M. & St. P. Ry (main line and E. div). It contains Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal and Catholic churches, good schools, a steam flouring mill, a handsome court house, 3 hotels, 2 banks, 4 lumber yards, 2 grain elevators, the usual number of professional men, special and general stores, blacksmith shops, etc., and two weekly newspapers, The Palo Alto Reporter and the Pilot. The surrounding country is admirably adapted for farming and stock raising purposes, and the shipments comprise grain, produce, butter and live stock. Exp., Am. and U.S. Tel., W.U. Population 1500. Mail, daily. W.J. Brown, postmaster.
Anderson A A, artist
Crouch Flavel, restaurant
Ammon John, dairy and teacher
Crawley Jeremiah P, restaurant
Anderson J B, nursery
Cullen Katie C, teacher
Atkins Joseph, dray
Darnall Aaron D, lawyer
Atkins Norman J, sec and treas Scottish American Land Co
Darrah Miss Lena, music teacher
Bailey W F, boarding house
Davis Benjamin, agt Gilchrist & Co
Baldwin Miss Emily, music teacher
Dawson Miss Theresa, teacher
Barnhart Wm E, produce and furs
Dimler Eliza, furniture
Bennett & Blanchard (John C Bennett, Nelson C Blanchard) proprs Palo Alto Reporter
Donovan John, saloon
Bergner O E, telegraph opr
Doran John, nursery
Betche Charles, stone mason
Duffy Thomas, meat market
Black Miss Belle, teacher
Eagan Susie, teacher
Blanchard N C, real estate
Eagan Thomas F, general store
Booth Wm H H, county auditor
Ellis George M, Phys and Surgeon
Bostwick & Armstrong (Frank L Bostwick, Anderson J Armstrong), builders
Emmetsburgh Cornet Band, Frank Hubbard leader, Peter O Refsell sec
Brown M L, Banker
Emmetsburgh String Band, F W Wrate leader
Brown & Robins (Michael L Brown, John J Robins), Real Estate, Loans and Abstracts of Titles
Fitzgerald James, drugs and books
Burlingame Daniel W, Clerk District and Circuit Court, Notary Public; Depositions a Specialty
Forrest Mrs Marian A, dressmaker
Butler John N, restaurant
Foy Theresa, teacher
Cady Selden, physician
Frost Bros, milk pedlers
Cahoon Cassius E, lawyer
Gilchrist & Co (J M Gilchrist), grain elevator
Cassidy Patrick O, lawyer
Godden John H, marble worker
Cauley Miss Jennie, milliner
Godfrey Gustav, boarding
Clark A J, carpenter
Graham & Metz (Caius R Graham, Peter Metz) barbers
Clark Justus W, carpenter
Green & Turner (Mrs James Green, Mrs. Sarah C Turner), hair goods
Clark Mrs Justus W, canary birds
Grout Le Roy, Civil Engineer and County Surveyor, 24 Years Experience in Private and Government Surveying and Engineering, Lands Examined, Correct Maps Furnished
Coonan Daniel, general store
Gunsul Justus, livery
Coon Martin F, live stock
Hale Louis, boots and shoes
Coonan & Shea (Martin F Coonan, Robert Shea), druggists
Hammond John, livery
Cottage House, Near B, C R & N Depot, P F Van Gorden Propr; $1 per Day; Meals 25 Cents; Free 'Bus; Barn in Connection; Transfer to Any Part of the City at Reasonable Rates.
Harrison Thomas W, lawyer
Hart Peter C, station agent
Hartshorn Eldin J, Lawyer, Real Estate, Loans, Collections and Insurance.
Hastings Charles, carpenter
Hayes W H & P C (Wm H and Phillip C) Veterinary Surgeons, Proprs Veterinary, Feed and Sale Stables, Room for 100 Horses. We Positively Refuse to Receive on the Premises Horses Suffering from Contagious Disease
Ormsby Bros & Co (Alvin L and Edwin S Ormsby), Bankers, Real Estate and Abstracts)
Hefley John M, livery
Palo Alto County Agrl Society, Robert Shea pres, John C Bennet sec.
Heinman Thomas, carpenter
Palo Alto Pilot, H A Pike propr
Hetizman Mrs. George J, laundry
Palo Alto Reporter, Published by Reporter Co, Bennet & Blanchard Proprietors
Henry Wm G, drugs and express agent
Paulson John C, harness
Higgins James, meat market
Peddie Alexander, commissioner Scottish American Land Co (limited)
Higley Joseph, meat market
Pike Henry A, propr Palo Alto Pilot
Hinkley John H, general store
Pilcher A F, station agt B,C R & N Ry.
Howard Miss Mary, teacher
Pond Lucy S, flour mill
Hubbard Frank, photographer
Powers Henry A, physician
Imry David, carpenter
Powers Miss Nora, teacher
Jenswold John jr, lawyer
Prouty Thomas J, lawyer and justice
Johnson W W & Son (Wm W and Charles H) lumber
Reardon John, tel opr
Joint Michael, teacher
Refsell P O, cash Ormsby Bros & Co
Joyce Mathew, general store
Reporter Co, Publishers Palo Alto Reporter
Joyce Patrick, general store
Roberts Miss Annie L, teacher
Kelley Miss Gertie, teacher
Robins Wm F, jeweler
Kelley Miss Josie, tchr public school
Rowe J F, gardener
Kelly Bernard E, lawyer
Rowse Edward T, propr Waverly house
Kendall H C, restaurant and boarding
Rutledge Daniel, real estate
Kerwick Michael F, hardware
Ryan P H, lawyer
King J E & Co (James E King, Nathan E Maxon), general store
St James House, N P Wildrick propr
Kirby Wm H, carpenter
Sanders George, dray
Kletzing R A, prin public school
Schirmer Sebastian, soda water mnfr.
Kline Rev C E (Methodist
Schneider Michael, meat market
Koch Nicholas, saloon
Scott James, sorghum mill
Lake Miss Etta, teacher
Scottish American Land Co (limited), Alexander Peddie comnr, Norman J Atkins, sec and treas.
Lane Thomas & Co, clothing
Seely Lafitt, carpenter
Laughlin John T, Hardware, Stoves, Tinware, Agricultural Implements and Sewing Machines.
Shadbolt H C & Co (Herbert C Shadbolt, H Hoagland), lumber
Lovell Miss Mertie, teacher
Shaw & Jamison (John J Shaw, George W Jamison), hardware
McCarty George B, lawyer
Shea Robert, county treas
McLaughlin Thomas, grocer
Shotall Pierce, saloon
McNally John, city marshal
Skinner R B & Co (Robert B Skinner, Michael L Brown), wagon mnfrs.
McNichols Thomas, brick mnfr
Smith Clinton A, jeweler
Malloy Maggie A, teacher
Smith Rev J J (Catholic)
Martin J L, agt J J Wilson
Soper, Crawford & Carr (Erastus B Soper, Thomas R Crawford, George H Carr), Attorneys-at-Law.
Meehan Katie, teacher
Spencer Rev G M (Congregational)
Messic Charles, carpenter
Stedman Bros (Pratt H and Warren B), harnessmakers
Miller Maggie J, teacher
Steil John, saloon
Mills Miss Carrie, teacher
Stevens W A, carpenter and builder
Moffett Henry P, drugs and books
Taub Abraham, clothing
Mohan Maggie, teacher
Taylor Bros (Charles E and Allen W), blacksmiths
Moncrief Thomas, justice of peace
Taylor & O'Connor (Thomas F Taylor, Thomas O'Connor), lawyers
Moses Wm J, shoemaker
Telephone Exchange, W A Weaver mngr.
Music Hall, Ormsby Bros. proprs.
Nestor Miss Mary E, teacher
Nolan John F, farm impts.
Nolan Patrick, live stock
Nolan Patrick V, sheriff and live stock
North H W, carpenter and builder
Thomas Erastus F, dentist
Tobin James, saloon
Tobin & Neary (Thomas H Tobin, John F Neary), general store
Todd John F, lawyer
Travis Melville, painter
Van Antwerp Rev Archibald L (Episcopal)
Van Gorden Philo F, Propr Cottage House
Walker John L, physician
Walsh Thomas, county recorder
Warnke & Moore (Frank Warnke, Henry Moore), blacksmiths
Waverly House, E T Rowse propr
Weaver W A, books and stationery
Wells A A & Co, well borers
White Mrs J P. dressmaker
White Miss Maggie, teacher and milliner
White Miss Mary, teacher
Wildrick N P, propr St. James House
Wilson John J, lumber and coal
Wrate Frank W, Dealer in Butter, Salt and Butter Tubs.


CURLEW A village on the D.M. & Ft. D. Ry and on Beaver creek in Rush Lake township, Palo Alto county, 124 miles northwest of Des Moines, 19 south of Emmetsburgh, the county seat and nearest banking point. Ships grain and flax. Population 75. Tel., W.U. Exp. U.S. Mail daily.
Harriet A. Tressler, postmaster.
Easton S A, hotel
Flinn F M, grain and coal
Jones B H, dentist
Keenan & O'Brien, general store.
Mattheson H, saloon
Perry I, justice of peace
Tressler S W, carpenter.


FERN VALLEY. Palo Alto county. Name changed to Rodman.


LAKE VIEW. A discontinued postoffice in Palo Alto county, 14 miles southwest of Emmetsburgh, the county seat.
Send mail to Ayrshire.


MALLARD. A village on the D.M. & Ft. D.R.R. in Rush Lake township, Palo Alto county, 120 miles northwest of Des Moines, and 18 of Emmetsburgh, the county seat and nearest banking point. Settled in 1882. Ships grain. Population 100. Tel., W.U. Exp. Am. Mail, daily.
Wm. Hachenberg, postmaster.
Hachenberg Wm., General Store.
Nickerson S T, tel, railroad and exp agt.


RODMAN. A country postoffice on the Des Moines river and on the P. div. B., C.R.& N. Ry in Fern Valley township, Palo Alto county, 130 miles northwest of Des Moines, and 13 southeast of Emmetsburgh, the county seat and nearest banking point. Hay is the principal shipment. Population 17. Tel., W.U. Exp., Am. Mail, daily.
Wm. Sloan, postmaster.
Bandy G F, railroad and exp. agt.
McComb Rev. D S (Presbyterian)
Sloan Wm, General Store.


RUTHVEN. A village on the C. M. & St. P. Ry. and the present northern terminus of the D.M. & Ft. D. Ry, in Highland township, Palo Alto county, 137 miles northwest of Des Moines and 12 west of Emmetsburgh, the county seat. Settled in 1879 it contains Methodist and Christian churches, a bank, etc., and ships grain and livestock. A newspaper, the Free Press, is published weekly. Population 400. Tel., W.U. Exp., U.S. Mail, daily.
Thomas B. Stokes, postmaster.
Alger & Constable, grain and coal.
Baldwin Gilbert, physician.
Banfield Stephen, general store.
Barlow W H, carpenter.
Bender Bros, live stock and grain.
Brewer N, builder.
Cauley Jennie, dressmaker.
Constable C. O, railroad agent.
Coonan W H, saloon.
Coonan & Tobin, druggists.
Edwards Frederick, barber.
Fish J, blacksmith.
Free Press, C.M. Whitman, propr.
Gickering & Wilson, wagonmaker.
Goldsworthy J T, Banker.
Groat E.J.. livery.
Hagan S, shoemaker.
Harper E, shoemaker.
Knudson Thomas, blacksmith
McNary John, general store.
McNary Wm furniture
Mickish C J, railroad and express agent.
Miller L A, hotel.
Montgomery R F, coal.
Nolan P J, general store.
Nolan & Ryan, hardware.
Paulson J C, harnessmaker.
Perrine & McCormac, lumber.
Richards Frank, carpenter.
Ruthven Alexander, justice of peace.
Ruthven Bros, live stock and grain.
Ruthven Bros & Co, general store.
Shartle H H, hotel.
Skevington Thomas, general store.
Sporan & Olson, hardware.
Stokes Thomas B, Notary and Collection agent.
Whitman C.M., propr Free Press.
Woolsey Rev. J. W., (Methodist)


SHERLOCK. A discontinued postoffice in Palo Alto county, 8 miles southwest of Emmetsburgh, the county seat, to which point mail should now be sent.


WEST BEND. A village on the P. div. B., C.R. & N. Ry, in West Bend township, Palo Alto county, 120 miles northwest of Des Moines, and 18 southeast of Emmetsburgh, the county seat and nearest banking point. Settled in 1882. Ships livestock and grain. Stages daily to Rolfe. Population, 200. Tel., W.U. Exp., Am. Mail, daily.
Benjamin Franklin, postmaster.
Amos W M, justice of peace.
Amos & Gray, Lumber, Grain, Coal and Live Stock.
Bachman E D, physician.
Bagley E C, hardware
Bellard C H, harnessmaker.
Crisman F M, hotel propr.
Evans Bros, creamery.
Falb R, meat market.
Franklin E, druggist.
Gallagher J G, saloon.
Hampton L H, general store.
Hazen Scott, painter
Hazen S W, wagonmaker.
Hofstetter Lewis, blacksmith.
Jacobs H H, general store.
Johnston James, livery.
McFarland & Son, general store.
Smith E S, railroad and exp agt.
Wickman Fred, saloon.



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