Part 5

The novel by Hartzell Spence tells of the wrecking of the old red brick church in 1914 and building of a tabernacle one block east of the church site where services were held until the new edifice was completed. Much of the book is devoted to the life of the Spence family in Fort Dodge, including many youthful events in Hartzell’s life told in a fictional vein.

The Rev. Mr. Spence left Fort Dodge in 1917 to take over a church in Omaha. Later he had Methodist charges in Sioux City (Morningside College) and Mason City.

THE COLBY HOME

One of Fort Dodge’s early-day residents, who for many years operated a widely-known livery business here, built the house pictured above in 1885.

He was W. H. H. Colby who came to Fort Dodge in 1870 and established a livery and lumber business. Fifteen years later he erected the home at 215 N. 15th St. which is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Hilken and family. The Hilkens purchased the property in 1963 and reside there with their children, David, Janet and Danny. Hilken is employed at the Geo. A. Hormel & Co. plant.

The one-story frame house faces the west and sets far back from Fifteenth Street. It has a living room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms, bath and a full basement. An open porch extends along two sides of the house. In past years the house has been remodeled and modernized.

Colby was born in Vermont in 1840 and came to Wisconsin in 1859 where he operated a livery business in Sun Prairie. After 11 years there he and his family moved to Fort Dodge where he established his livery and lumber business. After a short time he quit the lumber business in order to devote full time to the livery and transfer business.

Colby’s brother, Charles, was associated with him in the business under the name of W. H. H. Colby & Bros. The firm’s operations included livery, hacks, bus and baggage transfer line. Their horse-drawn vehicles met all the trains arriving at the various railroad depots in the city and carried passengers and baggage to hotels and homes.

The Colbys erected a large brick building on the north side of the City Square where they carried on their extensive business. Their address was listed in old city directories as 426-428 Central Avenue.

After building the north Fifteenth Street home, Colby purchased the half block area just to the north of the home. Old timers recall that he brought many horses from his livery barn out to this area to graze on the grassy ground.

There were two children in the W. H. H. Colby family—a son Fred G. Colby who was bookkeeper for the livery firm; and a daughter, Miss Nellie Colby.

Frank Ulish purchased the Colby home in 1936 and the Ulish family resided there until 1949 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Glen E. Yates. Owners of the property prior to its purchase by the Hilkens were Mr. and Mrs. Everett W. Mason.

THE McQUILKIN HOME

A prominent furniture dealer—A. D. (Archie) McQuilkin—who advertised “The Big Store With Little Prices,” erected this attractive home a short distance from the business district in 1911.

McQuilkin established his business here in 1902 and nine years later built this south 12th St. home. It is now occupied by Mrs. E. B. Dawson, who with her late husband, Dr. Dawson, purchased the property in 1937.

The two-story brick residence faces west at the corner of Third Avenue South and Twelfth Street. The house originally had living room, dining room, kitchen and hallway on the first floor; four bedrooms, sewing room and bathroom on the second floor. In later years some remodeling was done to the interior, including installation of 1½ more baths and paneling of the basement for a recreation area. A study area with bookcases and a workshop for the late Dr. Dawson were also completed.

McQuilkin was born in Pennsylvania in 1864. His father was a farmer and came to Iowa and located in Benton County in 1866. McQuilkin remained on the farm until 15 years of age before going to LaPorte City where he worked as a drug store clerk. Later he operated a meat market for four years and then took a job as a traveling salesman for a publishing concern.

He began his career in the furniture business in Burlington and remained there 11 years. In 1902 he moved to Fort Dodge and opened a furniture store at 817 Central Ave. As business increased he purchased the lot adjoining his first store and in 1913 erected the six-story building which the McQuilkin company occupied for many years with extensive stocks of furniture, carpets, queen’s ware and allied lines. The company continued in business until 1943 when it was sold to the Home Furniture Company which then took over occupancy of the big building. The Home later moved to 611 Central Ave.

The main floor of the McQuilkin Building is presently occupied by the Lazy M shoe store; upper floors are occupied by the Boston Store furniture department and Sperry & Hutchinson (green stamps).

McQuilkin was prominent in the affairs of Fort Dodge and was active in the First Presbyterian Church. He died in 1926 at age 62. Mrs. McQuilkin died in 1942. The McQuilkins were parents of four children—Mrs. Granger P. (Marjorie) Mitchell of Fort Dodge; Mrs. Eleanor Terrill, now deceased; and two daughters who died in infancy.

THE LEIGHTON HOME

The former E. I. Leighton home at 1120 3rd Ave. N. was built by the founder of the Leighton Supply Company of Fort Dodge. It is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Struve.

The Struves acquired the house in 1969 and have completely modernized the interior and made many exterior changes such as adding old-fashioned posts, trim and railing to the large front porch.

Leighton built the home in 1901 following plans drawn by architect J. H. Albright. The Leighton family retained ownership of the house until 1946 when it was sold to Mrs. Marie Friday, who in turn, sold it to the Struves.

Originally the house had a reception room, parlor, dining room, kitchen and pantry on the first floor; five bedrooms and bath on the second floor and three bedrooms and storage room on the third floor. The arrangement now includes reception room, living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry and utility room on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor and an apartment on the third floor with living room, three bedrooms and bath.

The entire house now has a pleasing antique motif with suitable furnishings to complement this style. All woodwork now has a natural finish—a project of the Struves. Red carpeting covers the floors in the living room, hallway and the open stairway to the second floor. The reception room has a homemade wool-braided rug. Antique furniture is used in the downstairs rooms and in the second floor bedrooms. Exterior of the house has been painted red and all trim is white.

E. I. Leighton was born in Vermont in 1867 and came to Fort Dodge in 1885 where he learned the tin and hardware trade. From 1889 to 1893 he was a partner in the retail hardware firm of Arthur & Leighton and then for seven years was with Leighton Brothers retail plumbing shop. In 1900 Leighton went into the wholesale plumbing and heating business and in 1909 organized the Leighton Supply Company. He was secretary-treasurer and general manager of the firm for many years.

The present five story Leighton building at First Avenue South and Thirteenth Street was erected in 1911 and has been headquarters since then for the firm. The company operates in northwest and north central Iowa and is a wholesaler of plumbing, heating and industrial supplies.

Leighton was prominent in state plumbing association circles and active in civic groups here including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, YMCA, Boy Scouts and the First Methodist Church. He and Mrs. Leighton were parents of a daughter, Gertrude, and a son, Lucius.

THE CHARON HOME

For 33 years this residence was the home of Louis Charon, prominent Fort Dodge merchant and his family. Built in 1905 at 1332 2nd Ave. N. it was occupied by the Charons until 1938.

Charon headed the Boston Store here from the time it was established in 1898 until his death in 1940 at age 69. He acquired the lot at the northwest corner of Second Avenue North and Fourteenth Street early in 1905 and built the home that year.

The house has living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry and large hallway on the first floor; three bedrooms and bath on the second floor and bedroom and storage room in the attic area. A large open porch originally extended across the front of the house.

The Charons sold the house in 1938 to E. G. Sear. Presently it is owned by Dr. John Sear of Alden. In past years the house was remodeled. Tan colored shingles and green shutters were applied to the exterior walls and the front porch was cut in half.

Charon was born in Germany and learned the retail trade there. He came to the United States in 1892, lived in Savannah, Ga., for two years and then moved to Sioux City where he was employed by Davidson Bros. store. In 1894 he came to Fort Dodge and opened Davidson’s store. He continued with the company until 1898 when he bought out the store and established the Boston Store with Adolph Tuerke as his partner. The store then moved to Central Avenue between Seventh and Eighth Streets.

As business increased, the need for larger quarters led to erection in 1914 of the present six-story Boston Store Building at 809 Central Avenue. A disastrous fire in 1922 destroyed the interior of the store but it was immediately rebuilt and enlarged.

Charon was married in 1902 to Clara M. Tuerke and they were parents of three children, two sons and a daughter. Maurice Charon was associated with the store for many years and was president and general manager. Another son, Louis, was secretary of the corporation. Both were with the store until it was sold in 1974. The daughter, Clara Louise, a twin of Louis, is married to Herbert Horn and resides in Webster City.

In addition to his outstanding merchandising in the retail field, Charon was active in civic affairs—was chairman of the Associated Retailers, a director of the Credit Bureau and a member of the Iowa Association of Retailers. He was also a member of the Fort Dodge school board and the Chamber of Commerce.

THE JACOB BROWN HOME

Jacob Brown Sr. started a grocery business in Fort Dodge in 1870 that continued for a record breaking 95 years and in 1896 built this home near the business district—at 510 3rd Ave. S.

The Brown Grocery began operations in a store building at 15 S. 6th St. and continued in that location until 1965 when it ended nearly a century of service to customers in the city and surrounding area. During this time it was always operated by members of the Brown family.

The Third Avenue South home is now owned and occupied by Miss Rose Brown, one of only two members of the family still living.

Brown came to Fort Dodge in 1864 from Germany and shortly after arrival here enlisted in Company F of the 11th Iowa Infantry and was in service until the close of the Civil War. Returning to Fort Dodge after the war he bought the South Sixth Street property where he first had a blacksmith shop. Later he gave up this work and opened the grocery store in 1870. The two-story brick building which housed the store is now owned by Mrs. Doris Brown, widow of John Brown.

In 1864 Brown was married to Wilhelmina Schultze and they were parents of six children—Jacob Brown Jr., Louise Brown, Mrs. Kate Etzel, Mrs. Nettie Brown, Frank Brown and Mrs. Minnie B. Leiss. Two years following Mrs. Brown’s death in 1885 Brown married Henricha Becker and they were parents of five children—Rose, Anna, Amelia, John and Christine, now Mrs. Harris of Pittsburgh, Pa. She and Rose are the only survivors of the Jacob Brown family.

The two-story brick home at 510 3rd Ave. S. has a living room, dining room, bedroom and bath and large kitchen on the first floor; four bedrooms and bathroom on the second floor. In the basement is a large brick kettle built into the chimney which was used for heating water needed in washing clothes and making soap. There is also a cyclone cave in the basement.

Brown died in 1915 at the age of 71 years. Members of his family recall that on his arrival in Fort Dodge he first made his home with the Christopher Arnold family in a log cabin located near the Wahkonsa School (now the school administration office building). This cabin is now at the Fort-Museum here.

THE THOMAS HOME

This large and attractive northside residence was for 50 years the home of Seth Thomas, former Fort Dodge High School principal and later U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge. Located at 1200 10th Ave. N., it was the home of the Thomas family from the time it was built in 1912 until sold in 1962 to Dr. Roger E. Drown.

Presently the house is owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Hancock who acquired it in the fall of 1974 from Mr. and Mrs. Don F. Carney. Carney, owner of Don Carney Used Auto Parts, and his wife purchased the Thomas home in 1965 and lived there until moving to their new home at 1227 11th Ave. N.

The two-story house is of frame and stucco construction with full basement and porches on both the east and west sides. On the first floor are living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and bath, front hall and curving open stairway to the second floor. The second floor has four bedrooms, bath and enclosed porch. The downstairs bedroom and full bath were added some years after the house was built and this addition included a garage underneath.

The west porch has been converted into a family room and the east porch is a room for social activities. The 10 upstairs windows on the main portion of the house have stained glass insets and there are also stained glass insets in the living and dining room windows.

Judge Thomas, a native of Ohio, was educated in the east and was a school teacher and principal before coming to Iowa in 1900. In 1902 he was named principal of the Washington, Iowa, high school and served there for three years. He came to Fort Dodge in 1905 and was principal of the high school here until 1909. He studied law during the summer months at the University of Michigan and received his law degree at Iowa University in 1910.

Thomas began his practice of law here with Healy & Healy and from 1910 to 1928 was a law partner of M. F. Healy. He was appointed assistant U. S. district attorney for northern Iowa from 1914 until 1921.

Later he was a law partner of Alan Loth and in 1933 was appointed solicitor of the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D. C. He served there until 1935 when he was appointed judge of the Circuit Court of Appeals, 8th circuit, with office in Fort Dodge. Thomas was a judge of this court for 19 years, retiring in 1954. He continued to make his home in Fort Dodge and died in 1962 at the age of 88.

Judge Thomas was the father of two children—Reynolds B. Thomas, a Fort Dodge attorney; and Mrs. Franz (Eleanor) Van Alstine of Pocahontas. He was prominent in legal circles and was president of the Iowa State Bar Association (1931-1932). He was a member of the Webster County, Iowa and American Bar Associations and served as president of the Fort Dodge Chamber of Commerce two years. In 1947 he received special recognition as one of the 50 prominent living alumni at the 100th anniversary of the University of Iowa.

THE SAUNDERS HOME

Dr. C. J. Saunders, a well-known Fort Dodge physician, who came to the city in 1893, built this spacious home at 1108 4th Ave. N. in 1907. During the following 23 years it was the home of the Saunders family until sold in 1930 to Dr. C. J. Jensen, a local chiropractor, and his wife, Agnes.

Dr. Jensen, who died in 1970, had his office in the house for many years. His widow now owns the property and lives in one of the apartments in the house.

When built in 1907 the Saunders house originally had living room, library, dining room and kitchen on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor and two finished rooms on the third floor. The house has been enlarged and remodeled in past years and now has six apartments.

Dr. Saunders was born in Iowa City in 1862 and graduated from high school there as valedictorian of his class. He studied medicine at the University of Iowa, graduated from medical school in 1885 and began his practice in Iowa City. In 1886 Dr. Saunders opened an office in Audubon and practiced there for one year, moving then to Clare where he was a widely-known doctor for six years. At Clare he also operated a drug store and helped organize a bank.

In 1893 Dr. Saunders came to Fort Dodge and had his first office in the newly constructed Oleson Building. After the First National Bank Building (now the Beh Building) was constructed in 1908 he moved his office there. He was a radiologist and had one of the first X-ray machines in the city.

Later Dr. Saunders had offices in the Carver Building and was associated with a number of doctors. He continued practice here until his death in 1928 at the age of 66 years.

Active in medical circles he served at one time as president of the Iowa Medical Society. He was interested in a number of Fort Dodge enterprises including the Fort Dodge Telephone Company, First National Bank, Oleson Land Company and the Street Railway System.

Dr. Saunders was married in 1907 to Lucy Merrill of Bangor, Me., and they were parents of a son and two daughters. They are: Merrill Saunders, Fort Dodge realtor; Miss Katherine Saunders, a Chicago librarian; and Mrs. Robert (Helen) Thackaberry, a university instructor in Akron, Ohio. Mrs. Saunders died in Fort Dodge in 1949 at age 72.

THE THATCHER HOME

This attractive two-story residence is one of the many fine homes erected along Tenth Avenue North after the Crawford-Armstrong Addition to the city was platted.

Built in 1916 at 1201 10th Ave. N., by O. M. Thatcher, it was the Thatcher family home until sold in 1965 to Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Hancock. The Hancocks resided there until the fall of 1974 when they sold the house to Dr. John E. Duro, Fort Dodge dentist. The Hancocks then moved across the street to the residence at 1200 10th Ave. N. which they purchased from the Don Carneys. The Carneys, in turn, moved to their newly-built home at 1227 11th Ave. N.

The frame and stucco house has a red tile roof such as used on several of the homes built in the area. The room arrangement of the house includes a living room, library, dining room, kitchen and half bath on the first floor; four bedrooms and bath on the second floor. It has a steam heating system now fired with gas. After their purchase of the home, the Hancocks remodeled and modernized the kitchen.

Thatcher was a native of the town of Grimes and both he and his wife were graduates of Valparaiso University in Indiana. After completing his education Thatcher went into the banking business at Luther and remained there until 1914 when he sold out his interest and came to Fort Dodge.

A few years after arriving in the city Thatcher was one of the organizers and officers of the Webster County National Bank and its affiliate, the Webster County Trust & Savings Bank. They were located in a large double room in the Wahkonsa Hotel Building at 919-921 Central Avenue.

Later Thatcher was in the insurance business here for many years, part of the time under the name of Thatcher & Weiss following his purchase of the firm owned by Henry Weiss.

Married in 1907, Thatcher and his wife resided in Luther until 1914. They were the parents of two sons and a daughter—Dr. W. C. Thatcher, a retired Fort Dodge physician and surgeon now living at Woman Lake near Hackensack, Minn.; Dr. Don Thatcher, who was lost on a military flight across the English channel during World War II; and Mrs. Wayne (Mildred) Warren of Humboldt. A grandson is William Jeffrey Thatcher, who was elected Webster County attorney last fall and began serving in this office Jan. 1.

The elder Thatcher died in 1968 at the age of 83 years. Mrs. Thatcher died in 1967 at age 81.

THE COREY HOME

Frank Corey, a native of Webster County, erected this large brick residence at 1238 6th Ave. N. in 1914 and it was the home of the Corey family until 1922.

The house has changed ownership a number of times since then and is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Dennis F. Mallinger and family. Mallinger is president of the Mallinger Truck Lines.

Corey sold the home to Fred E. Gamble in 1922 and it was owned later by George Schnurr, Fort Dodge industrialist and banker; Mr. and Mrs. Gus Glaser of the meat processing firm; and their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Graham. The Mallingers acquired the home in 1971.

The buff colored brick home has a red tile roof and fronts to the south on Sixth Avenue North. The first floor includes living room, dining room, kitchen, family room, half bath and large hallway. The second floor has four bedrooms, a children’s room and two full baths; the third floor has a large recreation room.

Corey was born in the Holiday Creek area southeast of Fort Dodge. As a young man he moved to Lehigh where he resided until 1903 when the family came to Fort Dodge. Corey was interested in the brick and tile business and for many years was principal owner and president of the Corey Pressed Brick Company which had its plant and office in Lehigh. The company manufactured the noted Lehigh red, buff and ornamental pressed building brick as well as sidewalk brick.

The company introduced its products in 1894 and they were widely used in Fort Dodge and area homes and in sidewalks. In addition to his brick plant operations, Corey was interested in several banks and served as their president. Three brothers were associated with Frank Corey in the brick and tile plant—Silas, George and M. N. Corey who also owned the “Morning Star Mill” at Lehigh.

The Coreys resided in a large frame house on Sixth Avenue North before their brick home was constructed. The frame house was then moved to a lot directly to the west and is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Esther K. Thorsen, 1230 6th Ave. N.

Corey and his wife, the former Caroline Tyson, were the parents of three daughters and a son. They were Mrs. Louis (Eva) Neudeck, Mrs. Paul (Roxie) Tinkham; Miss Lucile Corey, for many years a widely-known violinist and music teacher; and Frank Tyson Corey who was killed by lightning in 1923 at the Neudeck farm northwest of the city.

THE JOHNSON HOME

Johnson Place—a one-block long street extending from Twelfth to Thirteenth Streets—was platted and laid out by E. H. Johnson, Fort Dodge attorney, who also built this large brick residence.

The home at No. 5 Johnson Place was occupied by members of the Johnson family from the time of its construction in 1920 until Mrs. Johnson’s death in 1961. Since then it has been the home of Mrs. Dora Holman Tellier, Mrs. Johnson’s companion for many years and a well-known former Fort Dodge High School mathematics instructor. The house is now owned by a son, Wallace Johnson of Berkeley, Calif.

Of brick construction with red tile roof, the home has two stories, full basement and attic. The first floor includes entrance hall, large living room, sun room, dining room, kitchen, children’s room and half bath; the second floor has five bedrooms and complete bathroom.