Humboldt County
Historical Association
PO Box 162
Humboldt, Iowa
50548
LAKE TOWNSHIP
TOWN OF HARDY
FEATURES
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Historical features
Plat Map of Lake Township 1896
Plat map of Town of Hardy 1896
From
History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa.
Published by Union Publishing Co., Springfield, Ill., pp. 850-851
THE VILLAGE OF HARDY
This embryo town was laid out on section 4, on the 5the of August,
1881, by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Town Lot Company,
and the plat of the same filed for record on the 29th of February 1882.
In the fall of 1881 the depot was erected, being the first building in
the place. The pioneer structure devoted to mercantile pursuits, was put
up by W. F. Foley & Co., in April, 1882 . This is 22x30 feet in
dimension, one a d a half stories high. In this, the enterprising young
firm who had built it, opened a general merchandise store. They carry a
good clean stock, and by industry and attention to the wants of their
patrons are building up a good business.
The next building erected was the residence of E. B.
Squires. This gentleman is the partner in the business house of W. H.
Foley & Co.
The stock business is in the hands of J. H. Foley &
Son, and is growing in importance.
The school house here was erected in the fall of 1883,
and cost about $600. The first and only teacher is Mary Garahan. She has
now some seventeen children in attendance.
The post office was originally located at the house of
J. H. Foley, in Vernon township and was then known as Viona. But it was
moved here in April, 1882, and J. H. Foley still continued in the office
of postmaster, although the business is attended to by W. H. Foley, his
son.
William H. Foley, merchant, of the firm of Foley & Co.,
located at Hardy, is a native of Kane Co., Ill., born July 6, 1861. He
is the son of J. H. Foley, an old settler of Vernon township. His youth
was spent and education obtained in this county, as the family came here
in 1864. He spent his younger days upon a farm and made agriculture a
business until 1882, when, with Mr. Squired, he engaged in mercantile
trade at Hardy. Although a very young man Mr. Foley has business
qualifications which fit him for his chosen trade, and he stands high in
the opinion of the community in which he lives.
The Church history of this village and township
ante-dates the life of the village. In 1865, Rev. John Robbins, of
Goldfield, Wright county, came to this neighborhood and held services in
an old log school house, just south of the residence of John Foley.
These meetings were not regular, but in 1866 this was made an
appointment of the Methodist Church, and was filled regularly by the
pastor of the Church at Goldfield. The following is a partial list of
the original and early members of this Church, which was organized in
1866, and was then known as the Goldfield Church: J. E. Flaherty and
wife, J. H. Foley and wife, E. F. Hartwell and wife, W. L. Saxton and
wife, J. Bartholomew and wife, M. Narshall Fleming and wife,
Ebenezer McLaury and wife, A. G. Stevenson and wife, Mrs. Olden, Mrs.
Mary Stage, Mrs. Butler, Wesley Spooner, Eliza Spooner and Mrs Baker.
The church remained connected with the Goldfield congregation until
1874, when, in September of that year, it was attached to the Irvington
circuit and Rev. F.Fanklin became the pastor. In 1875 and 1876
Rev. C. W Clifton was in charge of the infant Church, and was succeeded,
in 1876, by Rev. L. B. Keeling, who filled the place for that and the
next year. Rev. F. Franklin was again put in charge and held it during
1878-79. This was about the time known as the Viona circuit, Rev. L. B.
Keeling having built a small parsonage on the southwest corner of the
southeast quarter of section 34. In 1881, Rev. G. H. Cheney was in
charge and the circuit was known as that of Livermore. During his
administration the church edifice at Hardy was commenced and nearly
completed. In 1882 the circuit was called that of Hardy, and Rev. C. W.
Clifton placed in charge, and he is the present incumbent of the pulpit.
The church building is a handsome frame edifice, 26x44 feet in size, and
is an ornament to the town. The parsonage is not in use, as the pastor
resides in the village. Revival meeting have been held at various times
in the Church, with varying success.
Abner G. Stevenson, a representative farmer of this
county, is a native of Champaign Col, Ohio, born Feb. 5, 1822, and there
lived until ten years old, when the family removed to St. Joseph Co.,
Ind., and Abner there spent his youth upon a farm, and continued in that
business until 1837, when he emigrated to Boone Co., Ill.., and remained
until 1855, then went to Winneshiek Co., Iowa, residing there until 1869
when he came to Vernon township, this county, where he remained until
spring of 1883, then located in the town of Hardy , Lake Township, where
he now lives. He still owns a farm in Vernon township, consisting of 169
acres. He was married Dec. 10, 1850 to Sarah A. Tongue, a widow, whose
maiden name was Rockwell. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company D,
38th Iowa Infantry, swerved twenty-six months, and was discharged in
September, 1864, on account of disability. Mr. Stevenson has for many
years been a local preacher of the M. E> Church, and is a prominent
worker in the cause of religion. He is present justice of the peace for
Lake township.