WALNUT ITEMS FROM THE AVOCA DELTA
BEFORE WALNUT HAD ITS OWN NEWSPAPER
WALNUT. Improvements for 1875. (Continued from July 2022 ACR)
J. H. Henry, buys grain.
Hardenbrook Bros., are selling groceries, just started.
Exchange Bank of E. R. Hinckley, C. R. Hinckley Cashier is also a thriving institution, and a
decided advantage to the town.
Wm. Motter has just opened a furniture store and proposes to make it red hot in that line.
A steam flouring mill is kept running daily.
Three blacksmith shops sound their anvils in the town.
Henry Ott whoops it up in the furniture business.
Three hotels dispense hash to the weary traveler, and seven saloons furnish the fluids.
The town also has a harness shop and a tonsorial establishment.
Drs. Hanna, Dolter, and Whitacker, are its complement of physicians. Dr. Hanna is the oldest
physician, and has an extensive practice. The other gentlemen are also doing well.
The town has an extensive trade in dry goods, groceries, hardware and lumber.
The following are the freight receipts and shipments in the town of Walnut for the year 1875:
As will be seen there has been received 3,530,000 feet of lumber during the year. At present
there is about 500,000 feet in the yards, consequently there has been consumed in the town and
country around it the enormous amount of 3,000,000 feet of lumber in one year. We defy any
town in Iowa, of equal size, to produce as good a showing. In the matter of coal, there has been
received and sold 4,340,000 pounds or 2,170 tons, for which $10,850, has been paid—these
figures represent what has been received and sold, and does not take in what their dealers have
now on hand. This with the lumber received and sold, makes the large sum of $727,850 paid out
by the citizens of Walnut and that section for coal and lumber alone—which is, perhaps, the
strongest and most gratifying evidence of the prosperity of the town and the country that supports it, that could be produced, and makes our assertion that Walnut had become “a place of
no mean pretensions as a business point,” a self-evident fact.
One thing Walnut stands sadly in need of, and which has become an indispensable necessity to
her business interests, is a telegraph office. Why they have not one, we are at a loss to
understand, since we believe the business would support one well.
Finally, Walnut stands ahead of any town on the line of this road, of equal size, as business point
and its business men, for live energy and enterprise, will compare favorably with those of larger
towns. For its present growth and prosperity, it is largely indebted to the indefatigable exertions
of Mr. E. R. Hinckley, who has, from the time he stepped upon the bleak prairie in the spring of
1871 left no stone unturned that would in any way to conduce to its growth and prosperity.
In closing our brief history of this enterprising village, we tender our thanks to its citizens for
their kindness and hospitality to us while engaged in this work. (January 6, 1876, p. 4)
There will be a grand ball given at Green’s Hall at Walnut Friday evening Jan 14, 1876. There
will be a cake voted to the prettiest girl present. Everybody is invited to attend. Come one and
all. (January 6, 1876, p. 3)
Mr. L. Spangler of the popular firm of Packard & Spangler, dealers in general merchandise
Walnut returned to his native heath last Tuesday, after a six weeks’ absence in Pennsylvania
visiting friends and relatives. Pack, looks as if that country had agreed with him. (January 13,
1876, p. 3)
It is reported that Walnut is soon to have a printing office. The Council Bluffs Bugle is soon to
be removed to that place. (January 20, 1876, p. 3)
A young married man, of Walnut got with the “boys” one night last week, and did not get home
until midnight, propped himself on the outer wall and warbled “Come humble sinner in whose
breast” under the delusion that his wife would believe that he had been attending the revival
meeting. (February 3, 1876, p. 3)
Rev Jefferson of Walnut is holding a protracted meeting at the Walnut Creek school house.
(February 10, 1876, p. 3)
Walnut Kernels.
BY KAINTUCK.
DEAR DELTA: Since the visit of those very unpretending newspaper men Young and Hubbard,
nothing has occurred to mar the serenity of our quiet town. The former you know is the father of
the bill recently introduced in the legislature having for its object the annexation of the better-
half of old Pottawattamie county to the tall en lo Cass (?). However, much injustice there may be
in the YOUNG man’s grand annihilation scheme, we will give its author credit for having more
cheek than is usually possessed by ordinary mortals. On his first visit here he told the dear people
that a remandrance (?) against his bill would do no good. A second trip was made for the sole
purpose of saying that we would never have an opportunity of voting on the division question.
The remark in so YOUNG a gentleman was decided. Wonder if he has a ‘corner’ on the business
of the House this session? We will see when the proper time arrives what Messrs. Wright and
Hunt will have to say on this subject.
The latter named gentleman though not so deeply interested in the welfare of his neighbors as the
aforesaid Y, still he has an eye to business. His proposition was to establish in our midst a lively
weekly newspaper, but, of course he could not consent to move his immense pherapherlamia
[paraphernalia] including type, &c, without some assistance upon the part of the people, which
assistance he proceeded to raise by a direct taxation the most part of which was paid over.
Although the Treasurer has some funds on hand, together with a carefully constructed printing
office, still the Enterprise appears not on our streets to the great disappointment of the news boys
and sundry stockholders. So we are now prepared to turn for consolation to the Delta, our tried
old friend and first love.
Our businessmen are getting ready for spring trade. Agricultural implements are strung out on
every street and corner.
Walnut is to have a brick block erected the coming summer.
Land men are arriving daily. James Ledwich & Co are doing a lively business.
Grandfather Hinckley had a stroke of paralysis on Tuesday last that lasted about two
hours—during the time he could not move a single muscle in his body.
Our people have no officials to alienate out of office, so everybody are attending strictly to their
own private affairs. (February 17, 1876 p. 3)
NEW BOOT AND SHOE SHOP,
WALNUT, IOWA.
CHARLEY MERRILL wishes to inform his patrons and the public generally that he is better
than ever prepared to do all kinds of work in the boot and shoe line. He defies anyone on the
slope to beat him on a sewed boot. Orders promptly filled and satisfaction guaranteed.
(February 24, 1876, p. 3)
As our readers will remember, we referred to a cattle stealing case in our last issue, but did not
give the names of parties to the transaction. Since then Mr. Jo. Crow and Harry Leroy were
arrested at Vinton, in Benton county and brought here for trial charged with the theft. They took
a change of venue from here to Walnut, where they were tried on Monday, and it appearing in
the testimony that they had stolen and butchered eight head of cattle which they. . . the people of
Shelby, they were bound over in the sum of $500, each for their appearance at the next term of
court. It is a sad case, and we hope the boys will be able to clear their skirts of the fearful charge
now pending against them for their own sakes and that of their family and friends. (March 2,
1876, p. 3)
The agricultural store room of Bigelow & Carrier was destroyed by fire in Walnut on Saturday
night, about 11 o’clock. Loss $4,000. There were $800 insurance on the building. The cause of
the fire is unknown. (March 23, 1876, p. 3)
F. M. Gardiner, is running a bakery at Walnut. Walnut is building sidewalks all over town. Her
citizens are contributing and doing the work. Is this not an example for Avoca to follow? (March
30, 1876, p. 3)
For Sale.
I offer for sale my farm consisting of 160 acres three miles northwest of Walnut on the Shelby
county line. It has living water, a stream that never goes dry—two wells one for stock and the
other at house. A grove of 300 young trees, a good frame house with cellar 16×26 with L 12×16,
a good frame barn, sheds, outbuildings, &c. This is both a grain and stock farm. I will sell on
long or short time, with or without crop—give possession at any time. Call on our address.
C. WALKER, Walnut, Iowa. (March 30, 1876, p. 3)
Layton township has been divided and a new township formed and christened, Lincoln, in the
south portion of the township. (April 13, 1876, p. 3)