Early Town History

The iron horse was slow in reaching southern Iowa. For nearly twenty years after its first settlement, Clarke County communicated with the outside world only by stage lines. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad came into Clarke County in 1867. It was decided to steer its course through the natural valley south of the town of Ottawa. In days of slow transportation, this inconvenience of a mile was a hard blow for the merchants. Most of the merchants and residents immediately moved to Woodburn. In July of that year, the railroad came as far as what is now Woodburn, at the fork of the Brush and Gooseberry creeks. It is said that the little town that sprang up around the railroad station was called Woodburn because of the great piles of wood that were placed along the track near the station to fuel the engines. This was the only station in Jackson Township. The first train arrived in Osceola from the east on January 15, 1868.

The town, containing 22 lots, was laid out in the autumn of 1867 on 40 acres of land owned by the railroad and became known as Sigler’s Addition. Sigler’s Addition was named after H.C. Sigler, the first banker in Osceola, who was perhaps the one who had the greatest influence in bringing the railroad through this part of the county.

The first building in Woodburn, according to Clarke County history, was a store owned by J.L. Tedrow and O.L. Palmer. Later, W. J. Smith bought out Palmer. The first hotel was built by Haywood in 1868. John L. Morrison was the first blacksmith, and later built Swan’s Hotel. T.E. Johnson, J.R. Felger, and W.S. Randolph were the first carpenters. John W. Boden owned the first harness shop, established in 1873. D.N. Smith built a grainhouse in 1868 and also sold salt. J.L. Tedrow was the first grain buyer. The first residences were built for J.L. Tedrow, Irwin Parmenter, J.E. Chapman and Alf Hardin. The first school was taught by E.M. Lash.

On June 11, 1878, the town of Woodburn was incorporated. The Mayor was E.T. Knight who served until 1881. The Trustees were C. Blythe, Henry Garris, H.R. Means, G.W. Smith, and W.S. Lowe. The Recorder was C.P. Garris and Postmaster was Joseph L. Tedrow, who served for 10 years.

Excerpts from the Town Council Minutes
compiled by Cora Cottrell at the time of the Woodburn Centennial, 1968

June 11, 1878

First meeting of the incorporated town.  Officers elected:  Mayor - E.T. Knight; Trustees, Dr. C. Blythe, 1 yr.; Henry Garris, 2 yrs.; H.R. Means, 2 yrs.; G.W. Smith, W.S. Lowe.  Recorder - O.P. Garris; Marshall - T.W. Holloway.  Holloway reported he would not accept, and C. Blythe moved Mr. Cole Barber be appointed Marshal.

It is ordained by the trustees that said Corporation shall hereinafter be known by the legal name as the Town of Woodburn.

A petition was presented and read that was signed by 21 citizens of Woodburn and vicinity asking the council to pass an ordinance restraining hogs from running at large in the town limits.  Ordinance #1 passed July, 1878 making it unlawful for any owner of any hog or hogs to allow them to run at large in town.  Marshall impounded notices as to the description of the hogs.  After 10 days they will be sold to the highest bidder, unless claimed.  The cost:  Marshall receives 25 cents for each impounding, 10 cents per head for posting notices and 10 cents for the sale of each plus the cost of keeping and taking care of the hogs at a rate of 5 cents per day per head.  The remainder arising from such sale shall be paid to the town treasurer who shall pay the same (except a penalty of 25 cents per head to be reserved as a penalty) to the owner on his application to the treasurer.  All stock to be restrained from running at large or to be staked out.

 September 1878

“Be it ordained by the town council of the town of Woodburn, Clarke County, Iowa, that the sale of wine and beer within the incorporated limits of said town shall be and is hereby prohibited, except by license duly granted by the council of said town.  Any violation of this ordinance shall be punishable by fine not exceeding $10.00.”

June 1880

An ordinance to tax dogs was repealed.

1881

Requests from John Ryan of Lucas for a license for a saloon and W.A. Lewellan for the privilege to run a billard room were both tabled.

The town marshal was hired in 1881 for $50 per year.

M.T. Martin moved that one person talk at a time and to take the floor.

The resolution granting the sale of wine and beer for $100 is repealed.

Treasurer is allowed 3% of all money coming into his hands.

Committee on the site for a “calabuse” reported, report recinded and committee discharged.

Ross Gray allowed $2 for burying six head of hogs.

License was granted for billard and pool table, combined is placed at $15 per year, payable in advance.

Resolved to cancel without cost a certain judgement against Julia McCann for a fine imposed for delivering her hogs from the town pound illegally.

No slaughtering in regular place or no slaughter house shall be established within the lots of the Incorporation.

October 1881

T.V. Bailey is to see to putting up hitching posts around the town. 

A bill was allowed Joseph Martin $5.40 for poles and post furnished to put up hitching posts.

G.W. Leach allowed 70 cents for bolts for hitchracks.

T.V. Dailey was allowed 25 cents car fare for an old lady to Lucas.

1886

The mayor collected $900 in fines.

The street commissioner is allowed $2 for each day he works.

1887

It was moved and seconded that an ordinance be passed to prohibit boys from jumping on or off moving trains.  Later it was tabled indefinitely.

June 1889

An appropriation of $50 was made for assisting in purchasing band instruments for the Woodburn Cornet Band, provided a suitable contract is made and signed by both parties.

The rule established for board sidewalks was:  All sidewalks shall be 4 ft wide laid with boards not less than 1-1/2” in thickness and not less than 6” in width to be laid crosswise of three stringers 2” thick and 4” wide laid on edge lengthwise of the street.  Said boards to be well nailed to said stringers with sixteen penny nails. 

April 1890

Motion carried that the assessment of Geo. Mikesell’s blind horse be lowered $10.00.

November 1890

The council met to devise a plan to light a portion of the town.  Ordinance 37:  The private citizens shall furnish lamps for lighting of the streets to the number of six.  Town shall furnish oil to run lamps.  Lamps shall be lighted each night by 7 p.m.  It is the duty of the marshal to light or cause to be lighted said lamps.  Failure shall be of 10 cents for each not lit.  He shall receive $2 per month for lighting, payable quarterly.  Allowed Bill J. Crowley $8.05 for oil and can.  T.V. Dailey 35 cents for wicking and setting posts.  Mr. Martin $2 for dressing and painting lamp post.  Geo. Lanham 50 cents for making ladder for lighting lamps.  H.C. Shinn was allowed $1.25 for night watch on the night of Dec. 24, 1890 during the time of the fire at the depot. 

June 1892

J.T. Stewart was allowed $5.90 for putting up a hitchrack.  Moved that W.A. Clark to put back the hitchrack that he took down.  Carried by four yeas and W.A. Clark nay.

 June 1894

Declared ball playing on the streets of Woodburn to be a nuisance.

August 1896

Motion to put in a sidewalk on Maple Street commencing at John Coppock’s lumber yard and running to the Christian Church.

January 1898

J. VanScoy was allowed $1.50 for the use of a room as a jail for a prostitute.  John Cochran was allowed $1.50 for guarding a prostitute.

April 1900

A representative of the Woodburn Horse Co. came before the equalization board and claimed that their horses were assessed too high, and the board made a reduction from $14 to $12 each, amounting to $2400.

March 1901

The citizens presented a petition asking to establish a curfew law and that a bell be rung each night for the purpose of warning minors off the street.  Motion carried.

W.M. Duke, Wm. Carpenter and N. T. Walker to draft and estimate the cost of building a jail.

May 1903

Bought a steel cage No.1 for $130.  Fischbach had a bill of $3.75 for work on the jail. 

Dr. Bowen was appointed health officer.

October 1903

Report of the Health Officer:  There have been about 75 cases of whooping cough, 1 typhoid fever, 1 septicemia.  All streets and alleys are to be cleaned of manure and other refuse, pig pens are to be kept clean, all privies are to be disinfected with lime and carbolic acid, and all pools of stagnant water must be drained or filled up by order of the Health Officer.

June 1904

W.L. Westbrook was paid $6.25 for marshal fees and feed for tramps.

April 1906

A committee to investigate the cost of fire protection most convenient and best for the town and send the men to Lucas to investigate their fire equipment and estimate the probable cost of it at the present time.

March 1907

Purchased a bed tick for the jail for $1.00.

September 1908

Voris, Critchfield and Hayes are appointed to investigate the question of lighting the town by electricity by running a wire from Osceola.

November 1910

Dr. Bowen reports that upon further development and diagnosis that he has now to report that the cases in town supposed to be scarlet fever are an epidemic of measles.

June 1911

A speed law was passed to not exceed 10 miles per hour of all automobiles and motorcycles operating on the streets and alleys within the town.  Anyone found guilty is subject to a fine not to exceed $100 and stand committed to jail, not to exceed 30 days.

August 1913

Two dozen buckets and ladders are to be investigated and bought for fire protection.

 November 1917

Notified the South Iowa Electric Co. that several complaints are being filed that the picture show pulls down the lights very bad and they were notified to erect street lights at the corner of Valley and Smith as per petition.

 October 1918

Accepted the State Board of Health order that all public gatherings be forbidden:  all theaters, schools, churches, movies, lodge rooms, and everything that brings people together in numbers (and this includes public funerals) must be closed.  To be continued until it is advisable to release this order.  Travel is not banned, but people must use reason.  Health Officer Willey reported 23 cases of Spanish influenza. 

 July 1924

All dogs shall be muzzled, vaccinated, or tied up.  All dogs not found muzzled, vaccinated or tied up shall be shot at once.