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City of Mason City history
City of Mason City company history timeline
John RUSSELL has been a resident of Iowa since 1853.
In the fall of 1853, John L. MacMillian and James Jenkinson built the first log cabin for MacMillian’s family within the limits of what is now Mason City.
The first store was opened by John L. McMILLEN in 1854.
DOUGAN was married in 1854 to Miss E. A. NICKERSON. Of their six children three are living — Allen D., Frank and Archie.
In the year 1855 John L. McMILLEN built a log house, 16x18 feet, on what is now Commercial street.
Alonzo WILLSON, one of the settlers of 1855, is a real estate dealer, money loaner and broker at Mason City.
The first meat market was run by F. STACKHOUSE, in 1856.
The first quarterly meeting was held March 15, 1857.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by the following named eleven members, March 8, 1857: Elisha RANDALL, wife and daughter, Mrs.
About 1860 he was elected county superintendent, and served two years, organizing the first teachers' institute held in this county.
CAMERON of this sketch was educated at Franklin College, where he graduated in 1861, and immediately enlisted in the 10th regiment of New York Cavalry.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Flavious J. TUNURE was mustered into service on September 11, 1862 with Company B of the 32nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
The first furniture dealer in the town was W. S. HARDING, who opened a store in 1862.
A year later he married Catharine E. ALLYN. In 1862 he sold his business and engaged in the manufacture of wooden ware, employing as many as sixty men.
DOUD won his laurels by meritorious conduct, and was honorably discharged in October, 1864, at the end of his term of enlistment.
He participated at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, first battle of Corinth, second battle of Iuka, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, march to the sea, and at the grand review at Washington, D. C. In the fall of 1865 he was married to Mary DUNN of Kenosha, Wis.
Daniel McGRIGOR came to Mason City in 1865.
He went to Decorah, Iowa, in 1865, where he was for a time employed in the postoffice, and afterwards engaged with J. C, BLACKMAN in buying grain at Conover.
The lot upon which it was erected was purchased in April, 1866, for $30.
BRETT, Sr., went to Bremer Co., Iowa, in the fall of 1866, and took up his residence at Waverly, since which time he has been interested in land speculation, and is one of the largest holders of real estate in northern Iowa.
In 1866, the Mason City and Fort Dodge railroad line was established.
He was again married March 28, 1867, to Harriet A. HARDING, a cousin of his first wife and a native of Mt.
He opened his business in 1867, and has prosecuted it successfully since its inception.
The house was formally dedicated May 12, 1868.
As there was no church building previous to 1868, services were held in private houses at first, and afterwards in the school house or court house; but more frequently in a school house, three miles north, on Lime creek.
The third drug store was started by Doctor S. HARRIS, in 1869.
These three railways which center here were finished in the fall and winter of 1870.
The Sunday school organization was formed in 1870, in the old stone school house, with J. G. BROWN as its first superintendent, who was succeeded by Messrs.
The hardware trade was first represented by GLOYD & WALL, in 1870, in a building near where SHOKEY'S building now stands.
George H. HARDING has been a resident of Mason City since 1871, with the exception of a single year, when he lived on his farm in Lime Creek township.
The society, after purchasing the land, platted it and thus the present cemetery was opened; but not until 1871, was there much improvement made upon the grounds.
The ALLEN House, afterwards known as the DYER House, was erected in 1871 by Doctor ALLEN. The first landlord was B. SILLOWAY. The same year, the Vermont House was converted from a store into a hotel.
They have had five children, one of whom is now living — Harry E. The DYER House was built in 1871 by Doctor ALLEN, at a cost of $14,000.
It was made a Presidential office in February, 1872, and became a money order office Aug.
McCULLOUGH have five sons — Frank H., William A., Alfred H., Jesse H. and John R. In 1872 the family removed to Cerro Gordo county, where Mr.
Owing to hard times, work on the main building was suspended, a roof put to the basement, and services held therein until building was resumed in 1872.
In 1872 he patented a lime kiln, known as RANDALL'S Perpetual Lime Kiln, which has since been sold in all parts of the country, and from which he has received a good royalty.
In August, 1874, the society took the first steps towards erecting a church building their services having been held at the stone school house, Congregational chapel, and various places up to that time.
He founded his business in 1874, and has since prosecuted it with vigor.
He settled in Hardin county in 1874, and two years later removed to Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo county.
A few years later this mill was enlarged and run by E. RANDALL & Son, and in 1875 it was rebuilt and machinery put in for the new prooess plan of making flour.
In the spring of 1876 an ice gorge was suddenly formed in Willow creek, resulting in much damage.
171, was organized May 3, 1878, with the following charter members: George R. MILLER, P. W. M.; J. B. MONTAGUE, M. W.; R. D. PATTON, O.; Richard VALENTINE, recorder; F. M. RODGERS, financier; T. G. EMSLEY, receiver; C. P. SHIPLEY, guide; M. H. KLING, I. W; Ed.
In 1878 the company built their armory, which is 28x50 feet.
After a partnership of eight years Major TIFFANY sold to his brother, and in 1880 engaged in trade alone.
DOUGAN died in June, 1881.
The First National Bank of Mason City was established in October, 1881.
At the age of fifteen he secured a situation in the Cerro Gordo County Bank as book-keeper, and in 1881 was elected to his present position as assistant cashier.
S. W. KEENEY established his business at Mason City in 1882.
In the spring of 1883 he formed a partnership under the firm name of Van WIE & KISNER. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, and in political faith is a republican.
McCULLOUGH again interested himself in farming until the spring of 1883, when he established his present business, and is proprietor of the Mason City Dairy.
The firm at this time was STEWART & SARGENT. Warren A. CROSBY opened a drug store in 1883, in the FRINK & WEIR block.
The harness business was first represented by George PERKINS. In 1883 the dealers were: James WOOD, J. B. TINKER and WEIGLE & McKEEN.
About the same time BELL & RICE engaged in the business, following it until 1883, when Mr.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Anson C. OWEN died in 1892.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Horace VINTON died June 23, 1893, aged 83 years.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Elisha RANDALL died in 1897.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Alvah B. TUTTLE died on September 20, 1898.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: John WEST died on September 29, 1901.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: T.K. GALE died on January 19, 1902.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Rodolphus BABCOCK died in 1905.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: J. T. ELDER died on March 29, 1908.
The home was finished in 1908 and was the first and only Prairie School-style house designed by Wright in Iowa.
The Stockman House (1908), designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, has been restored, and the Charles H. MacNider Museum includes the puppet collection of puppeteer Bil Baird.
Large deposits of limestone and clay opened the doors for a thriving mining and cement industry, and by 1911 two large cement companies were operating in Mason City.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: John M. DOUGAN died on March 20, 1912.
In 1912, Wright's students designed homes in the Rock Crest/Rock Glen development, which is currently listed Prairie House on the National Register of Historic Places.
The city is the seat of the North Iowa Area Community College, founded in 1918 and the oldest two-year college in the state.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Dennis H. CROSS died in 1919.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Benjamin RANDALL died in 1920.
The Mason City Municipal Airport was founded in 1927 by the Mason City Chamber of Commerce and the Clausen-Worden Post of the American Legion, hence its airport code “MCW.” Charles Lindbergh attended the Mason City Airport dedication shortly after his historic transatlantic flight.
The peak Cold War years, 1945–60The Truman Doctrine and containmentPostwar domestic reorganizationThe Red ScareThe Korean WarPeace, growth, and prosperityEisenhower’s second termDomestic issuesWorld affairsAn assessment of the postwar era
In 1954 a new breed of horse was introduced in Mason City.
The musical played several theaters in the East until Warner Brothers bought the movie rights and began production in 1961.
The City Volunteer Program hit the 45,000 mark in regard to the number of hours donated by citizen volunteers to municipal projects and nearly 400 volunteer projects were completed since the establishment of the program in 2002
Additional information from WPA Graves Survey and cemetery transcriptions Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2011
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| Company name | Founded date | Revenue | Employee size | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Ankeny | 1875 | $1.1M | 350 | 10 |
| City of Ames | 1864 | $2.8M | 5 | - |
| City of Sioux City | 1854 | - | 360 | 5 |
| Minnesota State Arts Board | - | $1.4M | 50 | - |
| City of Peekskill | - | $190,000 | 1 | - |
| City of New Haven | - | $20.0M | 3,000 | 13 |
| District Heights | - | $19.0M | 10 | 4 |
| Watauga County | 1849 | $270,000 | 5 | - |
| Safe Haven Ministries | 1990 | $2.1M | 30 | - |
| Town of Chapel Hill | 1851 | $1.5M | 15 | - |
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