Cambridge, Iowa The First 150 Years


Cambridge, Iowa The First 150 Years

Expanded Table of Contents

From the Beginning 1

 

* The First People - 1

* Early Settlers - 2

* Cambridge is Born - 2

* The Norwegians Come - 4

* Growth and Decline - 6

* Elwell - 10

 

Skunk River13
Transportation17

 

* Early Travel - 17

* * Roads - 17

* * Stagecoaches - 18

* Railroads - 19

* * Chicago Milwaukee & St Paul - 19

* * Rock Island - 23

* * Newton Northwestern - 25

* * Train Wrecks - 26

* * * August, 1909 - 26

* * * September 1, 1932 - 27

* * * March 27, 1963 - 27

 

City Living29

 

* City Officials - 29

* * City Government - 29

* * Cambridge Mayors - 30

* * Law Enforcement - 31

* * Health Officer - 31

* * Fire Department - 33

* Improvements - 36

* * Water - 36

* * Telephone - 37

* * Electricity - 38

* * Senior Housing Project - 38

* * Town Men - 38

* * Post Office - 40

* * Cambridge Memorial Library - 40

 

Education41

 

* Country Schools - 41

* Cambridge Independent School District - 46

* Ballard Community School District - 49

* Sports - 50

* * 1933 Boys State Basketball Team - 51

* Cambridge Alumni Association - 52

* Cambridge High School Graduates - 52

 

Churches59

 

* Palestine Lutheran Church - 59

* Nazareth Lutheran Church - 61

* Lutheran Helping Hand - 62

* United Methodist Church - 63

* Faith Baptist Church - 64

* * United Brethren Church - 64

* * Bible Presbyterian - 65

* * First Baptist - 65

* Open Bible - 66

* Other Area Churches - 66

 

Cemeteries67

 

* Cambridge Cemetery - 67

* Center Grove Cemetery - 67

* Walnut Grove Cemetery - 68

* Palestine Cemetery - 68

 

Business69

 

* General Stores/Dry Goods/Groceries - 69

* Meat Markets/Lockers - 69

* Restaurants/Bakeries - 69

* Clothing - 70

* Drug Stores/Pharmacies - 70

* Furniture/Undertaking - 70

* Taverns/Pool Halls - 70

* Hardware/Lumber/Coal - 70

* Contractors/Builders - 71

* Dray Lines/Trucking - 71

* Garages/Gas Stations - 71

* Automobile - 71

* Livery Stables - 71

* Implement Dealers - 71

* Livestock/Grain Dealers - 71

* Harness - 72

* Feed Dealers - 72

* Blacksmiths/Welding - 72

* Hotels - 72

* Attorneys - 72

* Banks - 72

* Insurance - 72

* Photographers - 72

* Barber/Beauty Shops - 72

* Jewelers - 73

* Real Estate - 73

* Miscellaneous - 73

* Cambridge Newspapers - 73

* Ads and Pictures

* * Barbers & Drug Stores - 74

* * Butcher Shops - 75

* * Banks - 76

* * Restaurants - 77

* * Auto Repair Shops/Filling Stations - 78

* * Hotels - 79

* * Hardware and Lumber - 80

* * Grocery Stores - 82

* * General Merchandise - 83

* * Trucking and Delivery Service - 84

* * Farm Implements - 85

* * Other Businesses - 86

 

Agriculture87

 

* Early Ag Business - 88

* * Chandler/Grafton Mill - 88

* * Other Mills - 88

* * Canning Factory - 89

* * Grain Dealers - 90

* * Strautman Tree Farm - 91

* * Spencer Apiary - 91

* * Century Farms - 91

* Livestock - 92

* * Swine Genetics - 92

* * Veterinarians - 92

* * Cambridge Creamery - 93

 

Doctors and Dentists95

 

* Doctors - 95

* * William Hill Grafton - 95

* * David Datus Hayes - 96

* * Marshall Clark Keith - 96

* * James M Brown - 96

* * Arthur Stuart Aplin - 97

* * Nathaniel Robinson - 97

* * Frank Thompson - 97

* * J F Snoke - 98

* * Harry Paul Hanson - 98

* * Frances Ward Glann - 98

* * Claude G Dickey - 99

* * Orvil Burl Christie - 99

* * Arnold Oswald Wirsig - 99

* * James Howard Mason - 100

* * C W Bufkin - 100

* * W H Betts - 100

* * Horace Jarret Patchin - 100

* * A O Clark - 101

* * P V Ketchum - 101

* * Homer Schultz Elmquist - 101

* * Donald H. Nord - 102

* Dentists

* * A. U. Edwards, D.D.S. - 102

* * Annie E Mitchell, D.D.S. - 102

* * David G. Houser, D.D.S. - 103

 

Military105

 

* Civil War - 105

* Ersland Post 234 - 105

* * Members of Ersland Post 234 - 106

* Veteran's Reunion - 107

* World War I - 107

* * Floyd H Mathis - 108

* * Willard Densmore Wire - 108

* World War II - 109

* * Kenneth P. Christiansen - 109

* * Virgil Cory - 111

* * Virgil Emerson - 111

* * Hugh Griffith - 111

* * Warren Hanks - 111

* * John Hill - 112

* * Craig Nelson - 112

* * Homer Gurton Nelson - 112

* * Owen Newgaard - 113

* * Claude Orlo Poole - 113

* * Clyde Spooner - 113

* * Chester Yeager - 113

* Korean War - 114

* * Gerald E Gord - 114

* * Paul Jacobson - 114

* Vietnam - 114

* Mathis/Wire Post 233 - 115

* * Veterans Memorial History - 116

* * Legion Building Mural - 117

* Veterans of World War I - 118

* Veterans of World War II from the Cambridge Area - 119

* Korean War Veterans - 120

* Veterans of the Vietnam War - 120

 

Entertainment121

 

* Parks - 121

* * Cambridge City Park - 121

* * Nelson Park - 121

* * Elliott's Park - 122

* * Heart of Iowa Nature Trail - 122

* * Askew Bridge/Cambridge Pond County Park - 122

* Jubilee Days - 124

* Chautauqua - 125

* Sports - 126

* * Baseball - 126

* * Volleyball - 126

* * Basketball - 127

* * * 1948 American Legion State Champs - 127

* * Roller Skating - 127

* The Arts - 128

* * Opera House - 128

* * Movie Theatres - 128

* The Scott Sisters - 129

* Hollywood - 130

* * Twister - 130

* * Rain - 131

* * Cora Unashamed - 131

* House of Knowledge - 132

* Hunting and Fishing - 134

* Old Settlers Picnic - 134

* Clubs and Organizations - 136

* * Fraternal Organizations - 136

* * Military Organizations - 136

* * Hobby/Leisure - 136

* * Civic - 136

* * Children's - 136

* Santa Comes to Cambridge in an Airplane - 138

 

Centennial139

 

* The Centennial Belles Fashion Show of July 26 - 140

* Whisker Club Winners - 141

* Parade Prize Winners - 142

 

News145

 

* May 8, 1885, Cambridge Herald, It Was Beer! - 145

* January 8, 1887, Story Country Intelligence, Fire at Cambridge - 147

* April 18, 1890, Cambridge Garland, Eric McCollister Fatally Shot By Constable J. A. McKee - 148

* March 25 1909, Three Buildings on the East Side Destroyed - 149

* April 16, 1914, Cambridge Leader, Young Boy Has a Sad Experience Remains Two Days and Nights Squeezed Into a Nine Inch Hole Without Food - 150

* February 1920, Cambridge Leader, Bank Robbery - 150

* February 12, 1920, Cambridge Leader, Downtown Fire - 151

* July 4, 1929, Cambridge Leader, Original Notice - 152

* June 6, 1946, Cambridge Leader, New Library to Open Saturday Afternoon - 153

* January 10, 1952, Cambridge Leader, Television Program Featured Cambridge People Thursday - 154

* January 15, 1959, Cambridge Leader, William E. Hawks Leaves Small Fortune - 154

* March 25, 1976, Tri-County Times, Cambridge People Remember Skating Rink and Town Band - 155

* 1979, Lake County Tribune, Cambridge Pair Nearly Self-sufficient - 157

* March 20, 1980, Lake Country Tribune, Cambridge Residents Prepare to Oppose Ames Sewage Plant - 158

* March 19, 1981, Tri-County Times, Cambridge Girl May Be Youngest Commercial Pilot in U.S. - 159

* December 29, 1983, Tri-County Times, return Appearance for Griffiths at Cotton Bowl Parade - 160

* February 24, 1989, Tri-County Times, Bank Explosion - 162

* August 10, 2000, Tri-County times, Cambridge, Story County Says No to Plant Iowa Cattleman's Association also Says No to Cambridge - 163

 

Centenarians164

 

* Emily J. Ruby - 164

* Ida Griffith - 164

* Andy Buland - 164

* Allie Hanks - 164

* Julia Dahl - 164

* Mae Wilson Donaker - 164

 

Plat Maps165

 

* 1902 Plat Map of Union Township - 165

* 1919 Plat Map of Union Township - 166

* 1967 Plat Map of Union Township - 167

* 1985 Plat Map of Union Township - 168

* 2003-2004 Plat Map of Union Township - 169

 

Bibliography170

 

* Books/Pamphlets/Papers - 170

* Newspapers - 170

* Miscellaneous Sources - 170