and, during the present year, the fine two-story brick building of G. C. Bliss has been erected on the corner.

SUICIDES.

January 5, 1877, the people of Center Point heard the horrible report that Miss Flora Hunt, a young lady of sixteen, the highly esteemed daughter of William Hunt, an old resident living three miles west, had committed suicide. She had been troubled by an unfortunate love affair, and as her parents were not willing for her to marry the object of her affections, she sought the stream of oblivion by taking strychnine, at 5 o'clock P. M., then entering the room where her parents were sitting, she threw the empty bottle at their feet and expired.

Wednesday, January 31, 1877, James Bartlett Osborn added to the tragedy by shooting himself through the heart. He left voluminous letters to all his friends, of a surprisingly cool and calm nature, stating the cause of the rash action to be the death of Miss Hunt, to whom he was devotedly attached. He was a young man of twenty years, of good family, and was well respected. He, according to request, was buried beside Miss Hunt. Thus two young and hopeful lives were, by a condition of mind which amounted to insanity, suddenly lifted from time into eternity.

CITY GOVERNMENT.

February 6, 1875, an election was held, according to notice given by L. L. Wilson, William Nevin, A. Snyder and P. P. Falkins, Commissioners appointed for that purpose, to decide upon the propriety of incorporating Center Point. This resulted favorably, and a notice of incorporation was issued by J. L. Crawford, County Clerk.

March 20, an election of officers was held at the Central House, resulting as follows: William Nevin, Mayor; T. J. Speakman, Recorder; C. O. Fisher, Assessor; J. S. Winans, L. L. Wilson, N. Nevin, G. W. Kuck and D. Serveson, Trustees; C. O. Fisher, Marshal. Mr. G. W. Kuck has filled the office of Treasurer to the present time.

In March, 1876, the following officers were elected: Mayor, T. J. Speakman; Recorder. Henry A. Cook; Assessor, David S. Cramer; Trustees, F. M. Yost, A. A. Newland, T. S. Herring, J. S. Winans; Marshal, John Cochran.

March, 1877-Mayor, Wm. Nevin; Recorder, T. J. Metcalf (afterward, B. M. Hilliard); Assessor, D. F. Cramer; Trustees, F. M. Yost, A. Manahan, William H. Glinn, Joseph B. Wayne, W. W. Hollenbeck; Marshal, John Cochran.

March, 1878-Mayor, Wm. Nevin; Recorder, B. M. Hilliard; Assessor, D. F. Cramer; Trustees, F. M. Yost, A. Manahan, J. B. Wayne, Thomas Herring, D. S. Way; Marshal, John Cochran.

A lock-up was built in 1875, between Olive and Water streets.

The town has now an indebtedness of $300. No bonds have been issued. A cornet band is maintained for the enjoyment of the citizens, consisting of nine instruments, under the charge of Prof. L. D. Porter.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

In 1875, a double two-story brick business block, known as Union Hall, was erected-one-half by H. D. Newland, the remainder by a joint-stock company. There are two excellent. business rooms below and a large public hall above. In 1878, Jacob Thomas built a two-story brick building on the south

west corner of State and Main streets, and in 1878, G. C. Bliss erected a similar building opposite the Central House. Many other frame buildings will doubtless be soon replaced by brick.

For many years an old flour and carding mill stood in the southeastern part of town, and as it proved unprofitable it was removed to Jessup by Joseph Ketchlidge & Co., in January, 1870.

The Diamond Mills, operating both by steam and water, is an old, reliable mill of the vicinity.

The Linn County Bank was organized in December, 1872, with J. A. Kuck, of New York, President, and George W. Kuck, Cashier. They transact a general banking and brokerage business, and have ample means for the requirements of the trade.

Dr. J. F. Wilson & Co., druggists, have for many years been engaged in the manufacture and sale of patent medicines-the Iowa Liniment, Iowa Pain Remedy, Cholera Remedy, Lung Syrup and Vegetable Anti-Bilious Pills. They keep from five to seven sale wagons constantly on the road, and have established a large and reliable trade.

Wilson, Keagle & Co. are manufacturing and now selling a patent of the first-named member of the firm, called the Indestructible Wharf and Fishing Lamp, which receives the highest recommendations from fishing, boating and show parties.

The present business interests of Center Point embrace the following: General stores, 7; hardware, 2; drug stores, 2; groceries, 2; milliners, 3; restaurants, 2; billiard and beer saloons, 3; art galleries, 2; furniture, 2; shoemakers, 2; blacksmiths, 3; wagonmakers, 3; meat markets, 2; cooper, 1; carpenters, 3; harness maker, 1. There are also two lawyers-W. F. Fitzgerald and H. W. Printy; and three physicians-L. S. Davis, J. S. Winans, F. M.

Yost.

WESTERN.

(College Township.)

The earliest settlers in the vicinity of Western were those who located at Hoosier Grove, five miles east, in 1838, and who are referred to in the sketch of Ely.

Wm. H. Henderson settled on the site of Shueyville, Johnson County, one mile south, at an early day, and sold to the Shueys.

Two prominent settlers located five and six miles west: Nicholas Winterstein, now of Cedar Rapids, and Benjamin Swisher, who yet resides there.

In 1848, Adam Perry, the oldest settler of Western, came to Shueyville. At that time James Howard and family lived north of Shueyville. Mr. Perry lived one year at Shueyville, then went to Hoosier Grove, and in 1854 settled on his present farm, including the north portion of the town site of Western. He moved to a cabin, on the site of his present residence, which had been erected by Lewis Wise. He purchased his farm from Mr. Wise, Hugh D. Downey, of Iowa City, and of other non-residents. Mr. Perry came from. Virginia to Stark County, Illinois, in 1836. He is now 74 years of age, though yet actively engaged in business.

Wyatt A. Wherry had married a daughter of James Howard and settled, in 1849, on the remainder of the town site. He afterward moved to Oregon.

Those constituted the only residents there, when. in 1856, Jacob Shuey, Sr., purchased 120 acres from Mr. Wherry and donated it to Western College.

Mr. Perry donated forty acres, and the remainder of Mr. Wherry's farm is now owned by H. A. Dilling. Mr. Wherry erected the first house on the town site in 1856, which now forms a portion of Mr. D. White's residence. Among the first buildings were those of Anson Ingham, now the residence of Stephen Workman; President Weaver's house, then a slab house, by Comstock; next a house by Mr. Bollenbaugh; then that of Mrs. Steward, then another house by W. A. Wherry, then a house by David Silvers, and a house on the site of the Western Hotel, by Alexander Stewart.

Mr. Bollenbaugh located there in April, 1856, and established a shoe shop and a small grocery.

He began the hotel business in 1860 in the Stewart House, and has continued as proprietor of the only hotel to the present time. He secured the first Post Office in 1857, under the name of Western College, and by which it is still called. After four years, Frederick Hill took charge of the office, then Mr. Nausdale, succeeded by W. H. Shuey, until his death, when the office was continued by Frederick Shuey, the present Postmaster.

Wyatt A. Wherry was the first Justice of the Peace.

Western was laid out July 3, 1856, on the south county line, being on the southeast quarter and east half of the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 34, Township 82, Range 7, by Solomon Weaver, Martin G. Miller, Wm. H. Shuey, Daniel Runkle and Jonathan Neidig, Trustees of Western College, by Adam Perry, Surveyor. An addition was made on the west, by W. A. Wherry.

The history of Western College embraces much of interest regarding the village. It will be found in another portion of this work.

President

In 1856, William Weed built the store room now occupied by the hardware store of J. G. Brown, and established there the first general store. Weaver soon became a partner in the business.

In 1857, John Henderson, now of the Farmer's Life Insurance Co., of Cedar Rapids, established a second store in Western. He sold to James Perry. John Todd located there the first blacksmith shop.

Joseph Wickard purchased Mr. Weed's store, then Perry & Shrader succeeded him.

William H. Shuey operated the first regular grocery. He sold to David White, who has recently sold to J. W. Bumgardner.

The first physician was Dr. Crouse, followed by Dr. W. B. Wagner, now of Blairstown. Dr. Miller was also among the early physicians. Prof. J. C. Shrader, now Professor in the Medical Department of the University at Iowa City, first began practice at Western. The present physicians are Dr. J. C. Stansbury, who has practiced there for about fifteen years, and Dr. Favour, who located in 1877.

School was first held as a primary department of the College, at which there was an attendance of twenty during the first year. A district school was then organized and held in a small dwelling now standing vacant in the western part of town. School was held there until 1861, when the present two-story brick building, about 24x40, feet in size, was constructed west of the business part of There are two rooms, now taught by Stephen I. Harrison and Miss Sadie Bowman.

town.

In 1873 and 1874 a plan culminated for the erection of a steam flouring mill by a joint-stock company. Mr. P. D. Smith came to Western, and by his efforts, principally, a three and one half story solidly built frame mill was constructed, having three runs of stone and costing about $14,000. Mr. P.