| Settlers Arrived As Indians Left |
| It was in 1847 that a treaty was signed
whereby this section of Iowa, then known as the
"Neutral Ground," was relinquished by the
Winnebago Indians, but they were not actually removed
until the following year. People in the eastern states had heard much of Iowayland and its rich, productive soil that had been labeled the "biggest bargain in all history," because the United States government paid Napoleon three cents an acre for what was later discovered to be the richest farming area in all the world. No wonder then that upon removal of the Indians settlers began flocking here in large numbers. WHISKEY HOLLOW First arrivals in what later became Postville, settled in Whiskey Hollow, later known as Springfield, southeast of town. Several families by the name of Reed were among these. In 1848 Elias Topliff and Henry Noble located on farms west of here. In 1850 there came here the Stevensons (James was a brother of Mrs. Joel Post) Reuben Smith who later built the Old Stone House which still stands and is a favorite picnicking place for many, the Carrithers family, the Prescotts, including A. R. Prescott who is known to many of our older residents, and others. In 1855 Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Russell came from Rockford, Ill., and he built a house where Mrs. C. F. Radloff now lives. It is said of the Russells that they were most hospitable folks who took in many of the strangers as they arrived in this community and made them feel right at home. It was in their home that the Congregational church (now a component part of the Community church) was organized, and missionaries and ministers of all denominations and creeds found a ready refuge in the Russell home at all times. FIRST BUSINESS DISTRICT The Higbys and the Stiles family came to this section in about 1857, as did Mr. Hazelton, who was one of the first storekeepers here. Webster & Stevenson also operated a store. In that early day, most of the "business district" was centered around the present Lutheran church intersection, and George Hunt operated a store on the corner lot where Pearl Ellis now lives. Mr. Loveland owned that store and the time fixed for that ownership is 1862. It was in that section of town where shops and dwellings soon sprang up like mushrooms with the coming of more and more settlers. Also at that place was built in the early '60's a frame school house in which all religious services by the various denominations were held as well as many public meetings. THE MEETING HOUSE This was in the period of the Civil War and funeral services for soldiers who died or were killed in action were held in this old school house. There, too, was held the memorial service for the martyred president, Abraham Lincoln, of which one early historian reports, "George Henderson, Judge Edmonds and others conducted an impressive service. It was a very sad occasion and people wept as if it were for one of their own family or personal friends." Among early stores here was the one of Josiah Reed & Co., opened in 1851. A blacksmith named Draper opened his shop here in 1851 also. He sold his shop to James Roll who also built a small hotel. Things began to boom from the start in this little hamlet located on the Military road, halfway between Ft. Crawford, Wis., and Ft. Atkinson, Iowa. But the real growth started when the railroad reached here in 1864. Of that gala event and how it caused the removal of the business section "from the hill" down where it now is, we shall write next week. |
-submitter notes: From my mother's scrapbook entitled
"Postville". Her clippings are from the Postville
newspaper, but of which name it went under, I know not. She does
not have this article hand dated or who wrote it.
- source: Postville newspaper, unknown date
- submitted by Mary Durr