The Early Days


The early history of our community - Page B

Images from the first decade in the 20th Century
(images without a border may be clicked to enlarge)

1900

The population of Ellsworth was listed as 396 in the 1900 census.

The following paragraph is taken from a 1900 edition of the local paper.

When Cares Overtake You, Come to Ellsworth and Smile.

Ellsworth is located in the rosy end of Hamilton county, and Hamilton county is in the garden spot of the universe. About 500 inhabitants make up the town and they are all people that can be depended upon to do as they agree. There are no get-rich quick artists here. No one here need worry about the high cost of living as the merchants all work the “small profit and quick return” business method, and by so doing, have gained the confidence of their customers so it is unnecessary for them to compare their prices with those of the catalogue houses. Rent is very reasonable, considering the scarcity of houses and with an up-to-date water system, three churches, a first grade school, and no saloons, the town is certain to prosper. There are no “blind pigs”, no disreputable characters, yet no one is in the would-be angelic class. If you want to live in a town where everybody smiles, COME!

Click to view advertisements published January 25, 1900 in the Ellsworth Chronicle.

The Fire Station

As early as 1885, a cistern system designed to help put out fires in the town of Ellsworth was dug at different points on the east side of Main Street. One large cistern was dug in fromt of lot 25, blick 4, another in front of lot 28, block 4, and the third cistern in lot 11, block 5. The water was pumped by hand for fire purposes. This early system was called the Ellsworth Fire Brigade.

The first Ellsworth Fire Station was built in the early 1900s. It was used as a city hall, fire station, water works with a 30,000 gallon tank on the north side of the building. There were two wells and an electric light plant. The first fire hydrants in town were installed in 1910. This Fire Station was dismantled and replaced by a newer one in the 1930s.

An early Memorial Day Celebration

Click the above Ellsworth Chronicle paper header to see a page of advertisements found in a 1902 Ellsworth Chronicle.

Ellsworth Chronicle news article from December 11, 1902:

Ordinance No. 35

Be it ordained by the town Council of the Incorporated Town of Ellsworth, Iowa, that all hitching posts shall be removed from DeWitt Street between Des Moines Street and Dubuque Street, and hitching posts be set on north side of Dubuque Street on south side of block four and block five and on south side of Dubuque Street commencing east of InterState Elevator Co. weigh scales and running east to the warehouse, said hitching posts on Dubuque Street to be furnished and maintained by town under direction of the Street Commissioner.

This ordinance to be in full force and effect in five days after its publication in the Ellsworth Cronicle.

W.M. Price, Mayor O.A. Cragwick, Clerk


Telephones in Ellsworth Ida Fjetland was seen at the switchboard from 1919 through 1966. On April 19, 1902, a citizen's meeting was held at the Ellsworth City Hall to discuss the erection and operation of telephone lines south, east and west of Ellsworth. John H. Sparboe was the temporary Chairman and M. H. Brinton, Secretary. They were later elected as President and Secretary with Charles Knudson, Vice-Prsident and M. H. Brinton as Treasurer, also. The seven men elected as Board of Directors were: A. O. Braland, Charles Knudson, Dan Knudson, Carl Sparboe, O. M. Sexy, J. H. Sparboe and M. H. Brinton. Articles of Incorporation and by-laws were drawn. Each member was to hold equal shares and pay $10.00 so work could be started. Dan Knudson was named Manager. The annual meeting was to be held the first Tuesday in February. The company was incorporated under the laws of Iowa with capital of $10,000.00. Nine Directors were elected - one Director for each line and two for the town. These were: Holden Thompson, J. H. Sparboe, O. M. Lyders, Berney Peterson, John O. Anderson, Dan Knudson, F. R. Dalbey, John P. Holt, and M. H. Brinton. The hours of service were 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Patrons' names were listed on cardboard for the use of the other patrons. Stromberg-Carlson phones were used. A. G. Watts was the lineman and Bessie Watts was the operator. This telephone switchboard may be seen in the History Room of the Ellsworth Library. Read the rest of the story of telephones in Ellsworth.

Buggies and Early Cars

The Ellsworth Livery Barn, located at the south end of Main Street, on the west side

This structure would later be used for use as the Ellsworth lumber yard.

Chris Christenson and Hal Keesee are seen at an earlier Livery Barn with the team
and dray wagon ready to pick up freight to haul to the railroad station for shipment.

It was in 1911 that Jesse Johnson, owner and driver of his team with a new rubber-tired buggy, had this picture taken at his father's farm, later the farm of Philip Hemphill.

The earliest automobile in Ellsworth was in 1901, when Will Hanson drove a car from Linsing, Michigan to Ellsworth. It is told that in order to secure gas for the operation of his car, he had to siphon gas from a barrel.

Harold Keesee was Ellsworth's rural Mail Carrier 1901-1933.

click to enlarge

This Ellsworth image of an early car in town is from an old postcard.

The next page shows more early images.
(Page C)

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