|
This town is situated in the western part of Sac
County on a branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. It was
laid out by the Blair Town Lot and Land Company in 1877. M. H. Henipen is not
only the first business man of Odebolt, but is one of the earliest
settlers, having been engaged in selling supplies to the laborers
before the town was laid out or the railroad completed. The first
house erected in the town was built by W. Van Duesen, and served
both as a store and dwelling. He was soon followed by Geo. McKibbin,
and James Ross. The railroad was completed to this town in 1877. The
first regular train reached this point November 19th, 1877.
H. T. Martin is among the early settlers of Odebolt. He
organized the first Sabbath School in December, 1877, and was the
first commissioned Notary Public in the place.
The depot was built in 1877. J. T. Martin was
appointed the first depot agent, and Miss Emma Martin was the first
telegraph operator.
The town of Odebolt was incorporated in
March, 1879, James Ross being the first Mayor, and J. M. Zane,
Recorder; J. Flanders, J. Keterer, E. Geist, C. Dalbkymer, C. B.
Hatfield, and J. Bowles served as Councilmen. James Ross still holds
the position of Mayor, W. V. Sindt, Recorder; J. Flanders, J.
Ketterer, E. Geist, H. Rheberger, J. W. Fairbanks, and C. S. Lee,
are the present Councilmen.
The population of Odebolt is now estimated
at 1,200 souls. The
Odebolt Reporter was started in Sac City in 1877, by W.W. Yarham,
and was moved to Odebolt the same year. Frank Kelley purchased the
paper from Yarham. It was afterwards bought by Taylor & Mann, and
still later purchased by A. J. Mann. G. A. Kikok afterwards
purchased the paper and sold it to F. L. Dennis in April, 1881. This
paper is republican in politics, is an eight-column quarto, and has
a circulation of 600.
The Ode bolt
Observer is a neat six-column quarto weekly paper. It was
started in July, 1880, by Martin & Bennett. Bennett soon bought
Martin's interest, and is now the sole proprietor. This paper is
Democratic, and has a circulation of 500 copies.
The Central Western
Iowa District Fair Association This comprises the counties of
Sac, Ida and Crawford, and was organized August 1st, 1881, with W.W.
Field as President, P. Coy, W. Van Duesen, H. C. Wheeler, AD. Peck,
I. S. Bailey, E. P. Masser, E. A Benenett and S. Peterson as
Vice-Presidents; P. L. Dennis, Secretary; W. J. Summerville,
Treasurer. This society owns twenty-five acres of land, situated
one-half mile north east of the town, and will hold their first fair
in the fall of 1882.
Odebolt Fire
Company The Hook and Ladder Company was organized in the spring
of 1880, and consists of forty members, all uniformed. J. Mattes,
Foreman; E. E. Hamlin, Secretary; W. V. Sindt, Treasurer; Dave W.
Flack, Assistant Foreman. Odebolt boasts of a flax mill which was
established in 1880 by Winslow & Son this is a large frame building
with steam power. John Dement is the proprietor.
Odebolt has the finest
public hall in Sac County. It was erected in 1881, by John Wright.
It is a brick structure, 50x90 feet with five hundred sittings.
The business of Odebolt may be classified
as follows: Seven general stores, three groceries, two harness
shops, two hardware stores, three drug stores, two jewelry stores,
two furniture stores, three restaurants, two banks, three hotels,
three elevators, three lumber yards, four agricultural implement
dealers, three livery stables, four blacksmith shops, two wagon
shops, three millinery stores, three barber shops, two meat markets,
one photograph gallery, two printing offices, one ready-made
clothing house, one exclusive dry goods store, three saloons, post
office. |
