"CITIZENS OF APPANOOSE COUNTY

"I am now prepared to attend upon you when afflicted by 'the hand of disease'. Wishing to return thanks for years of liberal patronage, I shall take this mode of so doing; at the same time I would respectfully solicit further favors and all may rest assured I will attend them myself as I have no partner, neither do I desire one, believing that hereafter I shall be able to attend all calls pertaining to my profession."

Dr. William Sayres advertised himself as a practicing physician and surgeon of Cincinnati.

Among the legal profession whose cards appeared in The Chieftain were H. P. Welsh, office on east side of the public square; Tannehill & Cummings, west side of the public square; and Harris & Galbraith.

Of merchants, there were several who advertised in detail their wares for sale. R. N. Glenn's drug store was claimed to be the best place for drugs, and “patent medicines warranted genuine," north side of the public square, at the old stand of Wright & Glenn. Arthur Allen, successor to K. Allen, advertised drugs. and "many articles to be found in grocery establishments." Those calling attention to their stocks of merchandise at this period were:

W. Bradley, with a "$30,000 stock of fall and winter goods." Among other things for which Bradley offered the cash was 10,000 head of hogs, 3,000 bushels of potatoes, 1,000 bushels of white beans, 3,000 bushels of wheat and 1,000 green or dried hides. The store was on the west side of the public square. The "Regulator" claimed to be the friend of the people in giving those seeking bargains in dry goods, boots, shoes, etc., "prices to suit the hard times." This establishment belonged to William Wittenmyer. C. H. Howell also kept a general store in 1858. His son, Frederick, has been for some years past one of the leading members of the Appanoose bar. The firm of Clark & Rummel offered a "choice stock of spring and summer goods, exclusively for cash or ready pay." Thomas O. Wilson, cabinet maker, appears in a card, which apprised the community that as soon as he could secure properly seasoned lumber he would be enabled to furnish his patrons with anything in the line of furniture and, "having on hand well-seasoned timber suitable for coffins, I will be at all times prepared to furnish them at the most reasonable rates and on the shortest notice."

The Tremont House assured the traveling public good accommodations at reasonable rates. This hostelry was on the west side of the public square and was conducted by S. Walker.

The advertisement of the Oldham House shows the condition of things:

"OLDHAM HOUSE

George Oldham, Proprietor
North Side Public Square,
Centerville, Iowa.

Stages leave this House daily for the East and West. spared to make those favoring him with a Call Comfortable. Cheerfully given to Travellers, in regard to different routes.

No pains will be

All information

Attached to this establishment will be found a Large and

COMFORTABLE STABLE

and an abundance of the best Feed, with careful and attentive Ostlers.

GIVE HIM A CALL

The Highest Market Price Paid for All Kinds of Provisions.
Dec. 12, 1857.

32-ly."

D. L. Strickler was the pioneer photographer. His gallery was over Bradley's store and he cordially invited ladies and gentlemen to visit the studio and examine his work, which he declared to be in the greatest degree of perfection: "Ist, the plain ambrotype; 2nd, the colored ambrotype; 3d, the Melaneotype; 4th, the Parchment Photograph or Patent Leather Pictures; 5th, my Sphereotypes, the Excelsior of the Art."

In this issue of The Chieftain, George Oldham displays a desire to sell his hotel and other possessions; Strickler & Martin inform the public they are selling harness and will take in exchange for repair work pork, hides and steers' hair. There are a number of legal and estray notices. Among the former appears the following: Notice to G. M. Hinkle and Albert Howell, foreclosure; Carter & Sales vs. Thomas Malone, attachment notice; William C. McLean vs. John and Lucretia Hargrove, foreclosure. Administrators' notices; David Groom appointed administrator of the estate of Peter Groom, deceased; Humphries Roberts, of the estate of George Davis, deceased.

The estray notices will indicate in a measure the price of cattle and horses in 1858: "On the 31st of December, 1857, two light bay mares, described as follows, to-wit: One supposed to be five or six years old, both fore feet and the right hind foot white and a white spot in the forehead, and has some collar marks on both sides of her neck-13 or 14 hands high, pony made; appraised at sixty dollars. The other is 13 or 14 hands high, pony made; both hind feet and right fore foot white, has a blaze face; appraised at forty-five dollars by G. W. Wise and John Lankford, on the order of H. P. Welsh, justice of the peace."

"Taken up by Thomas Lee, of Clinton township, Wayne county, Iowa, on the 21st day of December, 1857, Four Steers as follows: One Red Steer 4 years old, with a crop off each ear, and the bush of his tail off; One Black Steer, 3 years old, with a crop off each ear and an under bit in the left; One White Steer, 2 years old, with a crop off the left ear and a slit in the right ear; One a red and white pied Steer, 2 years old, with a crop off the left ear and a slit in the right; appraised at eighty-five dollars, by W. H. Adams and Randolph E. Williams, before Elias Jennings, justice of the peace."

In the '50s many of the settlers spun the wool and wove the cloth that entered into the family's clothing. To meet the demand Charles Blasburg apprised the community of his business in the following card:

"WOOL CARDING

"At Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa. The subscriber having moved his Carding Machine from Bentonsport, and permanently located at the Flouring Mill of Talbott & Potts, in Centerville, is prepared to card all kinds of clean.

Wool in the very best style; and solicits a share of public patronage. He flatters. himself that by strict attention to business, being a practical workman, he can give general satisfaction.

"As he expects to run night and day, persons staying over night can generally get their work to go home."

The reference made in the above card to "staying over night," will be appreciated by those still living, who, at the time flouring mills were scarce in the county, would be compelled to go many miles with their grist and finding others ahead of them at the mill, were compelled to wait their turn, which in many instances meant a stay "over night," or from one to two and three days.

CENTERVILLE IS INCORPORATED

In January, 1855, a petition was presented to Judge Amos Harris, praying that the question of incorporating the town of Centerville be submitted to a vote of the citizens, which was granted, and on February 26, 1855, an election was held, the judges being 'Squire Bates, John Snell and John Potts; clerks, J. G. Brown and J. F. Stratton. The project carried and, on the 12th of March, 1855. the electors chose G. W. Wise, W. S. Henderson, D. P. Sparks, J. G. Brown and William Clark a committee to prepare a charter, which was submitted to the electors and ratified by their votes on March 26, 1855. Soon thereafter an election was held under the charter and officers chosen, but the records of this election and the minute book of the first officers of the town are lost and probably will never be found.

On October 1, 1857, the charter of 1855 was vacated and a special charter was adopted, under the provisions of Chapter 100, Acts of the Sixth General Assembly.

From 1857 on to 1870, the town of Centerville experienced many ups and downs in the administration of its public affairs. During the Civil war, from April 14, 1862, to the spring of 1865, no records of the town were made and no officers elected, and it is presumed the affairs of the town were carried on under township administration. The county judge ordered an election of town officers in April, 1865, and Centerville was under the administration of its local officers until October, 1868, when the corporation again fell under the rule of the township, and remained, strange to relate, in this condition, until its incorporation as a city of the second class in April, 1870, at which time the following officials were elected: Mayor, E. C. Haynes; trustees, T. M. Fee, Amos Harris, H. S. Gilliam, C. W. Bowen, A. Richards; recorder, M. S. Boyles; treasurer, M. L. Boyles; city engineer, Henry Shaw; marshal, John Wilmington.

In 1857, when the new charter had taken the place of the first one, C. Wentworth was elected mayor; S. W. Wright, recorder; D. P. Sparks, A. Perjue, Amos Harris, C. H. Howell, J. Knapp, and J. Lankford were elected to the council. Ordinances were passed, and chief among them was an iron clad law relative to the liquor traffic.

From 1858 Centerville continued to grow. In 1846, when the town was started, there were two inhabitants; in 1848, there were 49; by the year 1854 the number had increased to 283; in 1860 there were 820; in 1870, 1,037; by the year 1880 the population had grown to 2,475; in 1890 the number of people here had grown to 5.256; the census of 1900 showed 5,256, and that of 1910 indicates a population of 7,000.