The railroad reached the new town in the spring of 1869 and was extended to Bloomfield and, by the year just named, there were the following inhabitants and business firms at this trading point: Thomas McAchren, druggist; William Lowry, dry goods and groceries; James G. West, James E. Jennings, Andrew Ogden, Levi David, M. V. Howell, James P. Smith, James Norris, laborers; Joseph Jurd, John Burdett, carpenters; and two or three others. All of these men had families with the exception of William Lowry.

The beginning of salient events in the village was about as follows: The death of Thomas Mulock, in 1869, was the first visitation of its kind to happen there. The first marriage was that of Wilson Nycum to Miss Norris. The first school in the village was taught in the Christian church by Thomas Haughey and wife, in the winter of 1869-70. Before this the children attended the district school near the corporation line. In 1872, the firm of Edwards & Davis built a steam flouring mill and filled a long-felt want, not only of the villagers, but of the surrounding country. It was well patronized and was deserving.

SECURE ANOTHER RAILROAD

In 1873, the people of the village and contiguous country were called upon to assist in bringing into Moulton the extension of the Burlington & Southwestern railroad. The project appealed to the growing citizenship of the village and $25,000 was given for the improvement, which was built through the town and is now part of the great Burlington system.

In 1869, the firm of Aaron & Son erected a steam flouring and woolen mill, investing in the enterprise $25,000. The mill prospered for a time, but as a woolen mill it is a thing of the past.

THE FIRST BANK

A. J. Morrison was the first person to establish a bank here. He conducted the institution for some little time. His successor was Major Moore, who gave up the enterprise in 1878, having been elected clerk of the courts, which necessitated his removal to the county seat.

MOULTON IS INCORPORATED

In the spring of 1869, Moulton was incorporated as a village and notice of its election for village officers was published May 3, 1869. The petitioners for the incorporation were Peter Fees, Samuel Leeburger, Jacob Neal, Wilson Nycum, and Thomas McAchren.

The territory incorporated was one mile square and included the south half of the northwest quarter of section 14, southwest quarter of section 14, south half of the northeast quarter and southeast quarter of section 15, north half of the northwest quarter of section 23, and the north half of the northeast quarter of section 22.

The election took place at the store of A. Hart, May 18. Jacob Neal, Thomas McAchren and Wilson Nycum were the judges; Samuel Leeburger and Peter Fees, clerks. There were polled seventy-five votes and Green Hazelwood's was

the first to be cast. C. H. Walker was elected mayor; S. B. Thompson, recorder; O. Gillett, marshal; M. V. Howell, J. C. Thompson, G. Faris, J. Q. Lane, A. Harter, councilmen.

The ordinance book covering this period is lost, hence no data can be given of the early laws passed for the municipality. It is known, however, that a place for lawbreakers was built in the spring of 1871 and is still called the calaboose.

Prior to this, in 1870, a cemetery association was formed, but eventually the management of the burial place was turned over to the village authorities. In June, 1873, the mayor was authorized to appropriate such amount of money as might be needed to put the grounds in order, and $320 was expended for that purpose.

A sidewalk system was adopted in 1871, which has been maintained to the present day; consequently, Moulton has many blocks of fine cement walks. The schools and school buildings are excellent and are treated in a chapter covering the schools of the county.

Transportation facilities are good, two lines of railroads entering the place— the Keokuk & Western, which is controlled by the Burlington system, and the Wabash. By these roads, grain and stock can be moved readily and connections with main lines of the Burlington, Wabash and Rock Island are easily attained. Being in an excellent farming district the village of Moulton enjoys a large trade from a prosperous class of people, who come from well cultivated farms to sell their grain, live stock and other products of the soil, which afford them the means to buy generously. Moulton's population, that part of it lying in Washington township, is 1,233; in Wells township, 190, making 1.430 in all.

POSTOFFICE

A postoffice was established at Moulton, March 2, 1868, with Jacob Neal as postmaster. His successors have been: Thomas L. C. McAchran, December 29, 1868; John W. Carey, March 30, 1870; James G. West, April 12, 1871; Nelson W. Edwards, March 1, 1875; Almer Swift, February 15, 1878; Jacob M. Willett, December 21, 1885; Wilbur F. Garrett, August 31, 1889: Almer Swift, March 26, 1891; Thomas W. Killion, November 4, 1893; Charles M. Marshall, January 10, 1898.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK

The First National Bank is a continuation of the Moulton Bank, a private concern established in 1887 by W. C. Stickney, which he conducted until 1891. At this time, William Bradley purchased Mr. Stickney's interests, erected a building for the purpose on the corner of Main and Fourth and ran what was known as Bradley's Bank. The elder Bradley died in 1895, but his sons continued the business until 1901. In July, 1901, a national charter was secured by J. A. Bradley and his mother, Amanda T. Bradley, and the institution began business as the First National Bank, with a capital of $25,000. Other charter members were: D. C. Bradley, a son of William Bradley: Joel S. Gregory, George W. Blosser, George O. Holbert, now deceased; and August Post. The first officials chosen were: J. A. Bradley, president; George W. Blosser, vice president;

W. C. Stickney, cashier; E. L. Stickney, assistant cashier. In 1904 Mrs. Bradley died and her interest in the bank went to her sons. Previous to this and in 1902, the capital of the bank was increased to $35,000, and on November 1, 1904, E. L. Stickney succeeded his father as cashier.

On the 12th day of December, 1910, the stock of the First National owned by J. A. and D. C. Bradley was purchased by August Post and E. L. Stickney. This change resulted in Mr. Post becoming president, and two new directors were elected-Dr. W. L. Downing and Samuel Richardson. In the summer of 1906 a beautiful building was erected on the site of the old one. Its style of architecture follows Grecian lines and the appointments of the interior meet the requirements and tastes of modern banking institutions. The cost was $12,000.

The officials are: August Post, president; J. S. Gregory, vice president; E. L. Stickney, cashier; J. J. James, assistant cashier. Capital, $35.000; surplus and undivided profits, $11,000; deposits, $210,000.

MOULTON STATE SAVINGS BANK

Although but a few years have passed since the establishment of the Moulton. State Savings Bank, the concern is a strong competitor for the business of a wide field and is growing at a pace that is highly satisfactory to all concerned. The bank was organized in February, 1903, by M. S. Edwards, L. S. Elam, G. L. Bovard, Mary C. Hamilton, E. T. Printz, A. H. Stickney, S. A. Carr, William Logan, president State Savings Bank, Keokuk, Isaac Guinn, W. C. Guinn, James Craig, C. A. Powers and G. A. Singley. The capital stock was $30,000, and first officials were: M. S. Edwards, president; R. B. Carson, vice president; C. A. Powers, cashier. In 1902 a substantial two-story brick building was erected, on the corner diagonally from the First National, constructed of St. Louis red pressed brick, at a cost of $14,000. The bank fronts on Main street and in the rear end of the building, facing Fourth street, is the post office.

In 1904 A. H. Corey was elected cashier, and remained in that position until the close of 1906, when he was succeeded by J. B. Snead, the latter assuming his duties in January, 1907, and continuing there something over a year. In the spring of 1908, G. A. Singley was elected cashier. The present officials are: M. S. Edwards, president; R. B. Carson, vice president; G. A. Singley, cashier; I. G. McQueen, assistant cashier; Cecil Dooley, teller. Capital stock, $30,000; surplus and undivided profits, $8,000; deposits, $200,000.

METHODIST CHURCH

The first Methodist class in Moulton was formed in 1869, by John Couch and wife, D. M. Norwood and wife, E. M. Carpenter and wife, Jonas Sutton and wife, Aaron Moore and wife and a few others. Meetings were first held at the homes of members and in the schoolhouse, but in 1870 a house of worshipa frame-was erected, at a cost of $2,400. However, the society met with reverses and in 1876, the church property was about to fall under the sheriff's hammer. for debt, when Rev. Freeland and W. R. Marshall, by strenuous efforts not only saved it from such ignominy, but also cleared the property from all incumbrances. The first church was the meeting place for the Methodists of Moulton and