Part 6

Johnson was born in Raritan, Ill., in 1877 and died in Fort Dodge in 1940 at age 63. He moved with his parents to a farm in the Coalville area in 1891 and lived there until the family moved to Fort Dodge in 1901. He was educated in schools here and then attended Drake University where he completed his law studies. Returning to Fort Dodge after being admitted to the bar he began a law practice here that continued until 1940.

After acquiring property between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets and Second and Fourth Avenues North Johnson platted the area in 1910, had a street cut through and named it Johnson place at the suggestion of a member of the City Council.

Johnson sold lots along the street and built his first home there at No. 8 Johnson Place. Later he erected the house at No. 5 Johnson Place in 1920 where the Johnsons’ family of a son and two daughters were reared. They included Wallace of Berkeley, Calif.; Eleanor, known by her stage name Eleanor Prentiss during her theatrical career and presently in public relations work in New York City; and Olive, now deceased, who was married to Carlton Coveny of Los Angeles, Calif.

Wallace is a prominent industrialist and engineer and president and principal owner of UP-RIGHT, Inc., of Berkeley, a pioneer company in the manufacture of portable aluminum scaffolds, radio towers and wine grape harvesting machines. He served as mayor of Berkeley for two terms and has authored two books—“Responsible Individualism,” and “The Uncommon Man in American Business.”

E. H. Johnson was prominent in church, Masonic Orders and Republican circles here. He served on the school board several years.

THE CHUMLEA HOME

This large frame and stucco house is now the home of Dr. and Mrs. Paul L. Stitt, but for many years it was known as the Chumlea home.

Located at 605 N. 13th St., it was built in 1914 by Miles P. Chumlea, who came from Sioux City to take over as vice president and general manager of the Lehigh Sewer Pipe & Tile Company.

The Fred Hagans acquired the residence in 1936 and resided there with their family until 1951 when the home was sold to Dr. and Mrs. Stitt. The Stitts have occupied it since that time.

The house has a large living room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook (formerly the pantry), sun porch and powder room on the first floor; four bedrooms, sleeping porch and two baths on the second floor; bedroom, bath and storage area on the third floor.

Dr. and Mrs. Stitt have four children—two sons and two daughters. They are: Dr. Michael W. Stitt, associated with his father in the practice of medicine here; Marc P. Stitt of Fort Dodge; Mrs. Dan (Beth) Culver, a junior high teacher in Moline, Ill.; her husband teaches in Augustana College; and Mrs. Mark (Jane) Anderson of Des Moines, a teacher in Van Meter special education school; her husband is attending the College of Osteopathic medicine in Des Moines.

When the Lehigh Sewer Pipe & Tile Company was sold by E. J. Breen, the company founder, to George Avery of Sioux City, Chumlea came to Fort Dodge in 1914 to take over management of the company.

For many years the company had its offices in the First National Bank Building, later moving to First Avenue South and Eleventh Street in the building now dismantled but formerly occupied by the Laufersweiler Funeral Home and the Union Trust & Savings Bank. The clay plant was sold in 1964 to the W. S. Dickey Clay Manufacturing Company and offices were moved to Lehigh.

Chumlea continued as an official of the firm until his death in 1917. Roy Dallam, who had been associated with the company for many years was then named general manager and continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1955.

THE HAWLEY HOME

The attractive Hawley home at 604 N. 13th St. is probably the only Fort Dodge residence with the date of its construction—1912—set in large figures in the brick work on one of its exterior walls. The home was built by A. W. Hawley, who engaged in diversified farming but specialized in Royal Belgian draft horses.

The home has changed ownership only twice since it was built in 1912. In 1942 it was sold to Forrest Hagerman, an official of the Tobin Packing Company. The Hagermans occupied the residence until 1953 when it was sold to D. E. McTigue and his wife, Elizabeth (Betty). Mrs. McTigue continues to reside in the home since the death of her husband in 1965. There are three sons in the family—Michael, Brian and Dennis.

A. W. Hawley was born in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1875 and after a few years in the banking business made a trip to Iowa and settled in the Pioneer area. He brought out a large supply of nursery stock and planted many homesites around Pioneer. In the late 1890s Hawley established his home in Jackson Township of Webster County. He was married in 1902 to Martha Waller.

Hawley made several trips to Belgium to purchase breeding stock for his Belgian draft horse operations. His farm was known as “Whip Tree” because of a cottonwood tree that grew there by chance. Mrs. Harold B. Freeman, the former Susan Hawley Atwell now living in Whittier, Calif., recalls that her father had groves, orchards and various plantings on the farm.

The Hawleys built their home in Fort Dodge and moved here so the children could attend city schools. The house has undergone interior remodeling since it was built. Room arrangements on the first floor now include reception hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, den, powder room and sun porch. The upstairs has four bedrooms, full bath, large walk-in closets and screened-in porch.

Hawley continued active farming for six years after moving to Fort Dodge. Later he managed a number of farms he owned, judged horses at the Iowa State Fair and showed his prize horses at various fairs and shows. For a time he was in partnership in the horse business with Roy Ives who farmed near Duncombe.

The Hawleys were parents of three children—Mrs. Harold B. (Susan) Freeman of Whittier, Calif.; Mrs. Louis (Betty) Kelso of San Mateo, Calif.; and Richard (Dick) Hawley, a retired Pan-American pilot now living in Seattle, Wash. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hawley are now deceased. Mr. Hawley died in 1932 at age 57; Mrs. Hawley died in 1942.

THE HELSELL HOME

F. H. Helsell, prominent Iowa lawyer, jurist and banker occupied this large brick residence at 1003 6th Ave. N. for many years. Judge Helsell and family acquired the house in 1919 and retained possession until 1943.

The house stands at the southeast corner of Sixth Avenue North and Tenth Street. Built in 1906 of brown brick, it has two stories, attic and basement. A large porch extends along the north and west sides.

The home has living room with fireplace, vestibule, dining room and kitchen on the first floor; five bedrooms and bath on the second floor. The attic is completely paneled and carpeted for a recreation room.

Present owners and occupants are Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Pett who acquired the house in 1970 from James and Mildred Kempley. Pett is with the Georgia Pacific Corporation. Other earlier owners were Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hughes and Mr. and Mrs. Fred S. Thornley.

Judge Helsell was born in Ohio in 1857 and came to Iowa with his parents in 1864. After completing his education and legal training he began the practice of law in Sioux Rapids in 1882. In addition to his private practice he was local attorney for five railroads—Chicago and North Western, Rock Island, Milwaukee, Missouri & St. Louis and Illinois Central.

In 1898 Helsell was elected a district court judge. He left the bench after two and a half years and became active in banking, helping to organize a number of northwest Iowa banks. He was an officer and director of these banks.

Helsell was married in 1880 and he and Mrs. Helsell were parents of five children—a son and four daughters. They were Charles A. Helsell, who was his law partner here for many years; Glenora, married to Don G. LaGrange; Corrine, married to John Q. Adams; Laura, married to Roy L. Liddel; and Miss Virginia Helsell.

Judge Helsell and son Charles were in law practice together until the father’s death in 1927. Following his death Charles was named district attorney here for the Illinois Central Railroad and later was promoted to solicitor general of the railroad with offices in Chicago. B. B. Burnquist then succeeded Charles Helsell as district attorney here.

Judge Helsell was active in the Masonic orders, Knights of Pythias and the Elks. A prominent Republican he was a delegate to the national conventions of 1888 and 1896.

THE MUELLER HOME

The “Mueller home” at 615 3rd Ave. S. stands on an historic site that dates back to the early days of Fort Dodge. It was at this location the congregation of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church erected its first house of worship—a small building constructed of gypsum rock and familiarly known for many years as “the old stone church.”

The congregation was organized in 1863 and the following year built the stone church on Third Avenue South property purchased from Fort Dodge’s founder Major William Williams. Although the present St. Paul’s edifice was erected in 1885-1886 the congregation continued ownership of the stone building until 1895 when it was sold to J. M. Mulroney.

The present house at 615 3rd Ave. S. was built in 1896 on the church site. When the old stone church was torn down some of the gypsum rock was used in the foundation of the house. Records show that J. R. Mulroney acquired the property in 1911 and resided there until 1913 when the house was sold to William F. Mueller, Fort Dodge hardware dealer.

The home has been owned and occupied by members of the Mueller family since 1913 and is presently owned by a daughter, Miss Ruth Mueller. The house has been remodeled in past years and now has four apartments—two on the first floor and two on the second floor. Miss Mueller resides in one of the downstairs apartments.

William F. Mueller was born in Fort Dodge in 1877 and began his hardware career in a store owned by Harry Vincent. Later Vincent formed a partnership in the hardware business with Mueller, Franz and Bruno Thiede and the firm began operations in 1911 as the Thiede-Mueller Hardware Company at 516 Central Avenue. After some years the store moved to the Thiede Building at 815 Central Avenue and later returned to the original site at 516 Central. The Ferguson True Value Hardware store is now located in the building where the Thiede-Mueller firm had its beginning more than 60 years ago.

In 1951 Mueller retired and sold his interest in the firm. He died in 1955 at age 77. He was prominent in hardware circles and served as president of the Iowa Retail Hardware Association and was a director of the Iowa Hardware Mutual Insurance Association for more than 30 years. During his business career Mueller was a member here of the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, the Chamber of Commerce and the United Commercial Travelers.

He and Mrs. Mueller (the former Emma Thiede) were parents of seven children: Ruth, Mrs. Ray (Helen) Adamson, Mrs. Robert (Wilma) Ackerson, William J. Mueller, Mrs. Frank (Dorothy) Barry; and Mrs. Carl (Gertrude) Tunwall and Frank Mueller, both deceased.

THE COLLINS HOME

The residence at 1307 3rd Ave. N. is probably the only one in Fort Dodge with concrete wall construction—somewhat of a novelty when it was built in 1911. The two-story house was constructed by E. W. Collins, a coal dealer here for many years.

Collins came from a Webster County family whose members pioneered in the coal mining and gypsum industry in this area and were of an innovative turn of mind. He had an idea for a house that would be built differently than the usual run of houses and put the idea into practical use in 1910 after buying the Third Avenue North lot in 1909.

The house has double-wall concrete construction, giving it both exceptional structural strength and an insulating air space between the two walls. Wood forms were made for the walls and concrete poured into them. Facing of the exterior concrete walls is unique. Instead of making the walls flat, Collins devised forms so that the poured concrete would simulate wood siding. This gave the house an outward appearance of an ordinary wood siding frame home. The unusual features attracted considerable interest among those associated with home construction.

The Collins family moved into the home after it was completed and lived there until 1917 and then moved to 1245 5th Ave. N. which has since been the Collins home. The concrete home which presently has two apartments is now owned by Hubert McMahon, 1129 S. 17th St.

A brother of E. W. Collins was Tom Collins who engineered and put into successful operation the first underground gypsum mine in the area. This was shortly before the turn of the century when he and others organized the Cardiff Gypsum Plaster Company.

E. W. Collins was married in 1900 to Alice Quealy and about that time started a retail coal business in the city which he operated until his retirement in 1937. He died in 1945 at age 77; Mrs. Collins died in 1961 at age 88.

The Collins were parents of three children—two sons and a daughter. They were Edwin, deceased; Allan of Fort Dodge; and Kathleen of Rochester, Minn. Allan and his wife reside in the family home at 1245 5th Ave. N. They are parents of 11 children. Allan retired from postal service several years ago and is now employed in the office of Iowa Beef Processors here.

THE SMITH HOME

One of Fort Dodge’s first city commissioners under the present form of government owned and resided in this home at 1205 5th Ave. S. for a number of years after acquiring it in 1910.

He was C. H. (Cad) Smith, public safety commissioner from 1911 until his death in 1919. He was elected to the city council when the commission form of government was adopted. Elected at that time with Smith were John F. Ford, mayor; and Frank W. Collins, streets commissioner.

The large frame house was erected in 1891 by Charles B. Hepler, a well-known contractor here for many years. He was also associated with David Brown in the Fort Dodge Planing Mill. The lot at the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue South and Twelfth Street was part of a tract of land purchased in 1861 by John F. Duncombe, pioneer attorney and industrialist.

Smith purchased the house in 1910 from E. J. Breen and it remained in possession of the Smith family until 1948 when it was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Cooper. At that time Cooper, a plumber, converted the house into a duplex dwelling and the apartments have since been rented out.

The house originally had five rooms on the first floor—living room, library, dining room, solarium, kitchen and pantry; the second floor had four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath. The third floor attic area also had two finished rooms. The house had large front and back porches.

Smith was born in Pennsylvania in 1867 and came west as a young man to Grinnell where he attended and graduated from Grinnell College. Moving to Fort Dodge he then was employed by The Messenger until entering public service.

Smith was married in Fort Dodge to Grace Hepler, daughter of Charles B. Hepler, the contractor. They were parents of three daughters—Mrs. Margaret Lowrey of Seattle, Wash.; Elizabeth, deceased; and Mrs. Thomas (Gretchen) Porter of Fort Dodge.

Mr. Smith died in 1919 at the age of 52 years; Mrs. Smith died here in 1948.

THE HORN HOME

For many years this residence at 1201 6th Ave. S. was the home of Paul Horn, widely-known cabinetmaker, inventor and industrialist. Built in 1908 it stands on a lot generally known at that time as the highest point in the city.

Mr. and Mrs. Horn and family resided in the house as it was originally built until 1924 when it was completely remodeled. After remodeling the house included a large kitchen with breakfast nook, dining room large enough to seat 18 persons and with a built-in buffet expertly crafted by Horn which covered the entire south wall of the room. Also on the first floor were large living room with solarium, family room and powder room.

The upstairs of the house is reached by a stairway that divides at a landing. One section of the stairway leads to the area with two bedrooms and bath; the other to three bedrooms and bath. The third floor has two rooms. The Horns retained possession of the home until 1964 when Mrs. Horn moved to Friendship Haven.

Horn had many hobbies in addition to his unique skill at woodworking. These included stonework and growing of special flowers. The basement of the house was completely finished and included his hobby shop with both wood and metal working equipment. Attached to the house on the south side is a small greenhouse where Horn raised many flowers.

A native of Germany, Horn learned cabinetmaking there and came to Fort Dodge in 1902 and worked for a time at the Fort Dodge Planing Mill. In 1909 he established his own business here known as the Paul Horn Cabinet Works where he manufactured store fixtures and repaired fine furniture. It later became the Horn Manufacturing Company.

In 1922 he invented Horn Folding Partitions for use in schools and public buildings throughout the United States. Some years later—in 1938—Horn invented the Horn Folding Bleachers that were made here and installed in school gymnasiums in all parts of the country. During World War II the Horn company made and installed large airplane hangar doors for military installations throughout the US.

In 1943 Horn retired from the company and his four sons took over active management. They expanded operations and added farm equipment to their line of products. The company erected the large manufacturing facility at the southwest edge of the city which was later sold to the Brunswick Corporation and then to Avco-New Idea. It is now owned by the Kraus Manufacturing Company, a farm machinery company.

Mr. and Mrs. Horn were parents of six children: Frederic G., Herbert, Robert, Walter, now deceased; Mrs. Herbert Blaess and Mrs. John Barnes. In addition to his manufacturing activities, Horn was active in civic and church affairs here and a member of the board of Lutheran Hospital (now Trinity Regional West) for 26 years. He died in 1963 at age 86; Mrs. Horn died in 1973 at age 96.

THE LARSEN HOME

A Norwegian youth, who came to the United States in 1889 and later became manager and partner in the Oleson Drug Company here, built this house and resided there until his sudden death in 1941. He was Thorvald S. Larsen, who was 18 when he arrived in this country.

After a short stay in Minneapolis he accepted a job as a pharmacy apprentice with O. M. Oleson at his store here. That was the start of Larsen’s long and successful association with Oleson, a pioneer Fort Dodge pharmacist and noted philanthropist.

The Larsen home, a large white frame structure at 1302 4th Ave. N., was built in 1903. It is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Leo Kelleher and family who purchased it in 1953 from C. M. Bodensteiner. The Bodensteiners acquired the residence in 1944.

Interior of the home is substantially the same as it was when built. The downstairs has a large living room, library, dining room, kitchen and pantry, half bath and hall leading to the open stairway to the second floor. On the second floor are five bedrooms and bath. A large open porch extends along the south and west sides of the house.

Larsen studied pharmacy while working as an apprentice and became a registered pharmacist. In 1900 he took over management of the Oleson Drug Company store at Central Avenue and Eighth Street. The store occupied the first floor and basement of the three-story Oleson Building erected in 1894 and a downtown landmark until razed in 1971 to make way for the City Green parking lot.

Larsen was married to May Larson of Fort Dodge, daughter of Olaf Larson an early-day contractor and bridge builder. They were parents of six children—Helen, deceased; Rolf, Dr. Harold Larsen, deceased; Dr. Frank S. Larsen, Robert and Carl Larsen.

Larsen was a widely-known businessman of Fort Dodge. He was 70 years of age when killed in an auto accident at Second Avenue North and Thirty-second Street in 1941. Mrs. Larsen died in 1968 at age 89 at Friendship Haven where she resided for a number of years.

THE CARVER HOME

A well-known eye, ear, nose and throat doctor in Fort Dodge—Dr. W. F. Carver—erected this attractive home at 905 Northwood Ave., in 1920. Earlier he had maintained his office and residence in a large house at the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Tenth Street built in the early 1890s by Col. Leander Blanden. This historic structure was razed in 1915 to make way for the present Carver Building.

The two-story Snell Place house was built of buff colored brick but in later years the exterior was painted white. The first floor includes a hall, large living room with marble fireplace, sunparlor also with fireplace, dining room with built-in china closet, large kitchen and breakfast room modernized in recent years and a half bath. The second floor has four bedrooms and bath.

The large plastered attic room has been painted and made more livable. The attic has 12 large drawers for storage; these measure 36 inches wide, 12 inches deep and pull out 50 inches.

Dr. Carver purchased the Snell Place lot in late 1919 after his discharge from overseas duty during World War I and built the home in 1920. In 1938 it was sold to L. G. Shannon. Following Mr. Shannon’s death the house was sold in 1957 to Gene Gutknecht. He and his wife and family presently occupy the home. The house now has all natural birch woodwork following an extensive refinishing project by Gutknecht.

Dr. Carver was born in Madison County in 1869 and graduated in 1894 from the Louisville Medical College, a division of the University of Kentucky. He started his general practice of medicine in Murray, Iowa. Following his marriage, the couple moved to Fort Dodge in 1900. They built a home at 1420 4th Ave. N. in 1904 and lived there for a few years and then purchased the Blanden House at the southeast corner of Central Avenue and Tenth Street.

The family resided in the historic house until it was decided to raze it and erect a downtown business and office building. The first two floors of the Carver Building were built in 1915 and later six more floors were added. The Blanden house had a conservatory in the south portion where plants and flowers flourished beautifully the year around. Ceilings in the house were 13 feet in height and all wood work was solid walnut. Doors were heavy—from two to three inches thick.

Dr. and Mrs. Carver had three children—two sons who carried on the medical profession and a daughter. They were Dr. W. F. Carver Jr., now retired and living in Arizona; Dr. James Carver, now deceased; and Mrs. Susan Carver Anderson of Seattle, Wash.

THE REYNOLDS HOME

A. S. R. Reynolds, an early-day Fort Dodge merchant who constructed the three-story Reynolds Block Building at Central Avenue and Seventh Street, also erected this home at 1202 4th Ave. N. Reynolds and his wife resided in the home for many years after it was completed in 1910.