MINBURN.

     This town is a station on the Des Moines and Fort Dodge railroad, situated on sections 7 and 8, in Sugar Grove township, and is the only town in the township. It is situated in the midst of a good farming community, and surrounded with a class of active enterprising, well-to-do farmers. It is a prairie town, and the bountiful products from the rich broad prairie flow into it abundantly, making it one of the best shipping points for grain and stock and other agricultural products, of any town of its size and age on this railroad.

     The town was laid out in 1869, by J. B. Hill and D. F. Rogers.

     The first house was built by F. H. Baker, who was also the first merchant and postmaster of the town.

POST-OFFICE.

     The post-office was established the same year (1869). In all it has had three postmasters since its establishment. A. O. Nims succeeded Baker, who kept it but a short time, and was followed by the present incumbent, John Warford.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

     This town has two general stores, John Wafford and A. J. Knowles. Two hardware, G. F. Brayton & Bro. and Jesse Pilbean.

Drug Store.- William Seidler.
Physician-E. R. Aiken.
Restaurants.-Joel Cushman, William Mitchell. Blacks1niths.-Frank Edmunson, V. W. Beeson, Brown & Gosselin. Livery Stable.-John Oklund.
Hotels.-Frank Knowles and John W. Gillan.
Grain Buyer.-M. W. Gribben.
Saloon.-M. M. Maurer.

     They also have a Cornet Band, conducted by William Osborne.

     The population of the town is about 300.

     They have shipped from this point during- the year 1878:

Corn ............................................ 110,000 bushels.
Oats ...............................................25,000 "
Wheat ..............................................4,000 "
Hogs .................................................7,500 head.
Horses ....................................................18 "
Butter and Eggs. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35,000 pounds.

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STEAM SAW MILL.

     This mill is owned by Osborne Bro's. It was formerly set up on the North Raccoon river, and moved to its present location three years ago. It has a capacity of from 3000 to 6000 feet.

     The same firm have also a planing mill and lumber yard in connection with their saw mill, and are also contractors and builders, at which business they have quite an extensive custom.

PUBLIC SCHOOL.

     Minburn is an independent school district, and has two frame buildings devoted to school purposes, one room each.

     There are eighty-three pupils enrolled, and the schools are in good condition.

     Two teachers are employed: Principal-S. H. Lauder; Assistant - Sophie Burnent. The principal receives $42.50 per month, and the assistant $30 per month. The present principal has been in charge of the school for two years.

THE M. E. CHURCH

     Of Minburn was organized first at a school-house near Minburn, in the year 1859. When the town was laid out the place of meeting was moved to Minburn, in the year 1870. In the summer of 1869 Rev. J. Hestwood, pastor at Adel, preached at Minburn and organized a small class, consisting of the following named persons: Rhoda A. Hill, Minnie J. Knowler, Abbie Baker, Mark J. Newley and Margaret Newley. These two organizations were united in the year 1870, and known as the Minburn Society.

     The following pastors have served the society: Rev. I. Mershon, in 1810; Rev. W. C. Smith, in 1871-2; Rev. D. Lamonte, in 1873; Rev. J. R. Osborne, in 1874; Rev. B. F. Shetterly, in 1875; Rev. Wm. Abraham, in 1876-7, and Rev. W. C. Smith, returned in 1878, and is the present pastor, to whose kindness we are indebted for these statistics.

     One of the first officers in the church was Edward P. Vail. The present officers are: Mathew Crawford, Albert Birdsall, George Blackman, William Mortimer, Rhoda A. Hill, and Lizzie Minnis. The present membership is fifty-three.

     The society is in a prosperous condition, growing encouragingly, and is free from debt.

      The church building is a neat, substantial, frame structure, erected in 1877, and dedicated in February, 1878. It is 30x48 feet, cost $1,400, and will seat about two hundred and twenty-five persons comfortably.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

     Of Minburn, was organized in August, 1869, in a log school-house, two miles south of the present town site, before the town was laid out.

     The church was organized by Rev. W m. Campbell, formerly of Adel. The names of the original members are William Luellen--to whose kindness we are indebted for these particulars-Eliza Luellen, Lizzie Luellen, Ruth D. Rogers, J. M. Porterfield, Clara Porterfield, and William McFarland, making six in all.

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     The names of the various pastors and, stated supplies who served this church, are as follows: Rev. H. H. Kellogg, Jr., 1869, who served the church one year.

     During the year 1870 the church was supplied only occasionally. In 1871, Rev. George K. Smith supplied for four months, and in the fall of the same year, Rev. Wm. Reed commenced his labors with it, and served until the spring of 1873. In December of the same year, Rev. P. H. Jacobs was employed, but only preached two Sabbaths, when he was suddenly stricken down with a stroke of paralysis, and the church remained without regular preaching until July, 1874, when the Rev. W. H. Goodison commenced his labors with it and continued with them for four months, when it was again left vacant until May, 1875. On the last mentioned date, Rev. J. M. Smith served as a stated supply for four months, and then returned to the Theological Seminary, finished his course there, and returned to the church in May, 1876, continuing with them as a stated supply until May, 1877, when he was ordained and installed as their pastor, and remained as such until the fall of 1878, on account of ill-health. The pastoral relations were dissolved, and since that the church has had only occasional services.

     The following officers were elected at the time of organization:

Elder-William Luellen.
Trustees-William Luellen, Samuel Edmundson, William McFarland.
March 24, 1875, J. A. Thompson was elected an elder.
Joseph A. Thompson was elected trustee in the spring of 1871, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the removal of Wm. McFarland out of the bounds, and in 1875 D. F. Rodgers was elected, vice S. Edmundson, resigned. The above constitutes all the officers up to the present date.

     The present membership is twenty-three; the number deceased, one; the number dismissed by letters, five.

     The church, at present, though without any regular preaching, carries on a good Sabbath-school, which has been kept up all winter with a good average attendance.

     The building was erected the summer of 1871, at a cost of $2,000, and has never yet been dedicated. It is a frame structure 28x42 feet, and will seat one hundred and seventy-five persons comfortably.

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BOONEVILLE.

     This village is a station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, being the second station west of Des Moines. It is situated in the valley of the main Raccoon, in the bend of the river, on section 29, township 78, range 26, and is therefore near the southwest corner of Boone township.

     Though it is the only town in the township. it is so near Des Moines, and so completely surrounded with other towns that its chances for growth have not been very favorable, and as a consequence it has never attained any very great size. It has good facilities for shipping by means of the important railroad passing through, and considerable grain and stock are shipped annually from it, being brought in from the surrounding country, as the most convenient point at which a good many extensive farmers in Dallas and Madison counties can reach this through line to the eastern market; but on account of the small scope of country it commands and the limited amount of trade it receives because of its proximity to other towns

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in more favorable situations, its first flush of prosperity has not been very permanent, and its growth has been hardly perceptible during the past few years.

     The land on which Booneville is now located was formerly owned by Mrs. Susannah Boone, wife of the William D. Boone whose name appears frequently in the early history of the county. The township in which this village is situated also derived its name in the same way, as Mr. Boone owned a large property within the township bounds which fell to his widow and family after his death; and he was also among the first settlers in the township, settling at first near the present site of Booneville, where he died some years ago.

     The town of Booneville was laid out in 1871, A. J. Lyon, surveyor, and the plat was filed for record June 6, 1871. The first house in the town was built by George Baldwin, on the same site on which W. H. Baldwin's store now stands: Other dwelling houses and store-buildings were soon afterward erected, and places of business were opened, until the place became quite a village, and for a time it showed fair prospects of an even race with its neighbors; but of later years its prospects of becoming a city have not been so favorable.

     The town has never been incorporated, and therefore there is no list of town officers to be herein recorded; but before another decade shall have passed, it is to be hoped that Booneville will have reached that position of dignity, and become numbered with the incorporated towns of Dallas county.

     Booneville has a number of business houses of which we note the following:

W. H. Baldwin, general stock of merchandise, also keeps the post-office. J. Winter, drugs, groceries and notions.
Dr. Tidball, physician and surgeon; Dr. Morgan, physician and surgeon. Mr. Jones, proprietor of hote1.
S. H. Benson, stock-dealer.
S. M. Cook, blacksmith; Jones & Baldwin, wagon and blacksmith shop; J. Y. Pace, wagon-maker; S. M. Cook, blacksmith shop and farming implements.

I. O. O. F.

Forest Lodge, No. 292, I. O. O. F.-This lodge was organized under .charter, October 14, 1874, with eleven charter members whose names are as follows: L. Lambert, O. Gurnsey, S. S. Parker, Adam Heck, of. M. Evans, J. B. Harper, H. McConnell, Joe Winter, D. H. Fitch, E. Treefry and D. M. Flinn.

The first officers were: L. Lambert, N. G.; S. S. Parker, V. G.; J. Winter, Secretary.

The present officers are: Simpson Flinn, N. G.; S. M. Cook, V. G.; William Hoeye, Secretary.

The present membership is thirty-eight or forty. They hold their regular meetings every Saturday evening, in "Grange Hall." The charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

The lodge is reported as being now in a prosperous condition.

We are indebted to Mr. W. H. Baldwin of Booneville, for the above statistics regarding the lodge.

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WAUKEE.

     This town is a station on the Des Moines and Fort Dodge railroad, situated on the north half of section 33, township 79, range 26. It is a prairie town, surrounded by a broad scope of farming land, and about fifteen miles from Des Moines. The junction of the Des Moines, Adel and Western railroad with the D. M. & Ft. D. R. R. is made at this point, which affords excellent advantages for shipping, and when the Narrow Gauge is extended on westward, it will make Waukee an important point as the junction of the two roads so near the Capital city.

     Considerable grain and stock are shipped from it annually.

     Waukee was laid out by L. A. Grant, now of Des Moines, in 1869, who formerly owned the land on which it stands.

     The first house in the town was built by L. A. Grant, and stood near where the water-tank now stands.

     The first goods sold in Waukee were sold by W. J. Johnson, soon after the town was established.

     The first birth was Minnie, daughter of James Parker, November 25, 1869. The first death was that of Mrs. A. Tyler, January 26, 1870. It is supposed that John M. Atkins and Miss Dora Taylor were the first couple married in the town. The marriage ceremony was performed by C. F. M. Clark, J. P.

     The town was incorporated in 1878. B. F. Halstead, G. S. Whalen, M. Sines, C. C. Tyler and C. F. M. Clark were appointed the committee on corporation and corporation election.

     The following officers were elected who were both the first and present officers of the town:
Mayor-C. F. Howe.
Recorder- W. E. Humphrey.
Assessor-J. E. Huston.
Marshal-Samuel Shearer, vice L. Hubbard resigned.
Councilmen:
C. C. Tyler,
Patrick Hogan,
A. T. Blackman,
W. Wood,
Taylor Bates,
O. F. M. Clark.

     The present population of the town is about two hundred and fifty.

POST-OFFICE.

     The first post-office was established in October, 1869, W. J. Johnson being appointed postmaster, who held that office until 1870, when he was succeeded by C. F. M. Clark in 1870, who has held the office ever since, and is the present postmaster.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

General Stores.-A. T. Blackman, C Middlekauff.
Groceries.-Mrs. B. M. Snow; How, & Duncan.
Hardware.-Tyler & Huston.

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Drug Stores.-C. F. M. Clark, W. A. Carter.
Lumber Dealers.-Tyler & Huston.
Coal.-C. C. Tyler.
Real Estate.-Miles Sines.
Grain Dealers.-Herbert & Carrell, C. C. Tyler.
Blacksmiths.-Charles Robinson, John Olke.
Hotels.-Thomas J. Sloan, James Parker.
Livery.-Thomas J. Sloan.
Physicians.-J. K. L. Duncan, George L. Piper, S. W. Aldridge.
Lawyers.-B. T. Halstead, Geo. A. Smith.
Flourinq Mill.-Gurnsey & Treefry.
Harness Maker.-Geo. S. Wharton.
Restaurant.-R. McDougal.

PUBLIC SCHOOL.

     This building is a two-story frame structure, 26x40 feet in size. There are two good school rooms and two recitation rooms. The cost of the building was $2,300. They employ two teachers. Principal--A. O. Phillips; Assistant--Sarah E. Randall.

     The average attendance of pupils is about eighty-five.

     Waukee is an independent school district. The members of the school board are: President-A. T. Blackman; Secretary-C. F. M. Clark; Treasurer-C. Tyler; George Bass.

THE BURYING GROUND

     Is located one-half mile south of town, contains two acres, is owned by a joint stock company. President-M. Sines; Vice-President-John Wragg; Secretary-C. Robinson; Treasurer-A. T. ,Blackman. Directors-M. Sines, J. Wragg, C. C. Tyler, George Bass and A. T. Blackman.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

     Waukee also has a library association, and quite an extensive library, which is being kept in good shape, and being added to more or less every year, and is becoming a very profitable institution in the town. The particulars regarding this were to have been furnished, but have not been sent in, which omission we regret.

SHIPMENTS.

The following shipments were made from this station during the year 1878:

Corn ..................................146,000 bushels.
Oats .....................................12,600 "
Wheat ..................................10,400 "
Hogs...................................... 3,000 head.
Cattle .......................................260 "

     Waukee is becoming quite a shipping point for grain and stock, having quite a large scope of good farming country around it, which is becoming pretty well settled. But there is still considerable vacant land and open prairie in the township.

     A great quantity of corn is now cribbed at this station, and still more is coming in, an of which is to be held over until the coming summer.

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I. O. O. F.

Waukee Lodge, No. 311.-This lodge was organized, under charter from the Grand Lodge, on the 14th day of March, 1875. W. W. Moore presided as the installing officer, and the following persons were elected for the first term of office: L. Swearengen, N. G.; D. Bates, V. G.; O. W. Robinson, R. S.; T. Bates, Treasurer.

The following officers were appointed: E. L. Carrell, C.; W. M. Cribbs, W.; J. W. Blackman, O. G.

The lodge is in a very flourishing condition at the present, having a fine suit of rooms, well furnished and fitted up, in which they hold regular meetings with good attendance, and the members take great delight in promoting its growth and prosperity as one of the important institutions of their town.

We acknowledge indebtedness to Mr. C. F. M. Clark for the above statistics regarding the lodge.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

     This church was first built by the Episcopalians, who for some years had quite a flourishing organization in the town, but afterward became so reduced by emigration and death of membership that the organization became disbanded, the most of the members going into other organizations, and finally sold their church building to the M. E. Church, who now occupy it, having service every other Sabbath. The M. E. Church of Waukee is united with the Fairview Church, in Boone township, a few miles south, in one charge, with Rev. Vail as pastor, who resides at Waukee. Each church has quite a large membership, and they are making encouraging progress.

WAUKEE CIRCUIT.

     "In 1874 the annual conference held at Des Moines organized the Waukee circuit, and A. J. Barton was appointed preacher in charge. On a beautiful eminence about two miles east of Booneville was located the only church edifice on the charge. This was called Fairview, and it was at this place, in 1849, that the Rev. E. M. H. Fleming organized the first Methodist society in Dallas county.

     "The year was prosperous, and closed with an increase of membership from eighty-six to one hundred and fifty-five.

     "At the next conference, held at Indianola, Brother Barton was re-appointed to the charge.

     "During this year the society at Waukee purchased of the Protestant Episcopal church, the lot and church then being built, and completed the same at a cost of twenty-three hundred dollars.

     "At the conference of 1876 Rev. D. Lamonte was appointed to the charge, and served one year.

     "In 1877 the present incumbent, Rev. E. P. Vail, was appointed preacher in charge, and on the 28th of April, 1877, the church at Waukee was dedicated, and the entire indebtedness of the church property, ten hundred and sixty dollars, was liquidated."

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

     The First Presbyterian church of Waukee, Iowa, was organized April 24, 1870, by Rev. William Campbell, who was appointed a committee for that purpose by the Presbytery of Des Moines. "

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     "Twenty-one persons composed the organization. Rev. George Pierson was the first stated minister to this church. He began his labors here in May, 1871, and closed in May, 1876. The present pastor, Rev. R. J. Hughes, commenced preaching here in June, 1876.

     "The first ruling elder in this church was J. A. Wick. In December, 1873, Mr. A. Tyler was elected elder. In January, 1878, Mr. Wick resigned, and Mr. J. R. Elliott was elected in his place. The present session consists of Mr. Tyler and Mr. Elliott. The first board of trustees consisted of J. A. Wick, Jacob Snyder and -. Subsequently M. H. Baugh, William Cribs and T. K. Duncan composed the board. At present N. Nish, C. R. Storrs and T. F. Howe constitute the board of trustees.

     "The church edifice stands in the southwest part of town. It is a frame building, in size 28x40, and will seat two hundred persons.

     "The house was built in 1870, at a cost of $1,600. All but $400, which was given by the Board of Church Erection, was raised by the members of the church and the residents of the village. The lot on which the building stands was donated by General L. A. Grant, of Des Moines.

     "In 1871 the church edifice was dedicated to the worship of God, Rev. T. O. Rice, then of Des Moines, preaching the dedicatory sermon. During the summer of 1878 the house was painted, the foundation penciled, the windows furnished with shutters, and some repairs made inside, the whole costing $100. The present membership of the church is forty-seven.

     "There is a Sabbath-school in connection with this church, held during the summer season only. It has an enrollment of sixty scholars and six teachers."

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XENIA.

     This is a small village in the northern part of Des Moines township, located on section 4, township 81, range 26, near the northeast corner of the county, and about one mile and a-half west of the Des Moines river. It was laid out as a town many years ago, and made something of a growth in that direction for several years, but being left far to one side by the railroad, without any prospect of ever getting one, and being situated so near the corner of the county, with so many towns springing up near and around it in much more favorable circumstances, its growth soon ceased, and its prospects for becoming a city of considerable dimensions vanished, leaving it a small inland village, with ten or a dozen houses. There is still one store in the village, kept by Messrs. Learning & Parks, which has quite a local trade; one boarding house, J. Casebeer, proprietor; two physicians, Dr. Sanks and Dr. Brooking, each of whom has a good country practice, having a large scope of territory at their command, in much of which are thick settlements; and there is a Methodist Episcopal church in the village, a neat frame structure, neatly finished and comfortably arranged for the accommodation and convenience of the village and country people around in that vicinity.

     There is also a post-office in the place, a blacksmith shop, and a good school-house.

     It is an old settled place, and has a good country and farming community around it, composed chiefly of industrious, sturdy, well-to-do farmers.

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