Humboldt County
Historical Association
PO Box 162
Humboldt, Iowa
50548
HUMBOLDT TOWNSHIP
TOWN OF LIVERMORE
FEATURES
HCHA programs /
Historical features
Plat map of Humboldt Township 1896
click on map to enlarge
Plat map of Town of Livermore 1896
Click on map to enlarge
From History of Kossuth
and Humboldt Counties, Iowa.
Published by Union Publishing Co., Springfield, Ill., 1884, p 838
THE TOWN OF LIVERMORE
This town was laid out in the
fall of 1879 and was platted and filed for record on the 24th of
January, 1880 by G. W. Bassett, A. McBane and W. M. Grant, all of Fort
Dodge. George C.McCauley and George Tillson also laid out an addition to
the town a little later. It is located upon section 17, at the junction
of the Minneapolis & St. Louis, and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids &
Northern Railroads, and close to the west bank of the DesMoines river.
It is a beautiful location.
Five buildings were started here about the same time in
December 1879. The first to commence is generally conceded to be William
Davis, but the others began within a few days after he started
operations. James Goddard took the Davis building and had it finished
first. This is now occupied by C. Hamilton as a furniture store. John
Geodes finished his saloon building next. James Goddard finished the
third which was sold to John Walbillib, who started a general
merchandise store therein. J. Jeagher got his store building in running
order a few days later. Since that time many buildings have been erected
and Livermore bids fair to be a fine town, judging from the enterprise
and acumen of its inhabitants.
LIVERMORE FIRE 1882
From History of Kossuth
and Humboldt Counties, Iowa.
Published by Union Publishing Co., Springfield, Ill., 1884, p 845
"Fire! Fire!" -- These were the words that aroused our citizens
Sunday morning last about 4 o'clock, a.m. The fire started in the
butcher shop and was well under way before any one discovered it. All
attempts to put it out were futile, and in a few moments Meagher's store
was ignited and so rapid was its progress that nothing was save
upstairs, and a large amount of stock in the store was consumed. Miss
Meagher barely escaped from the upper story with her life. For a long
time it was thought that the saloon building might be saved, but
notwithstanding all the efforts of the people, it soon caught fire and
all recognized that the whole row would go, to the corner. All of
Hollenbeck's household goods perished in the flames and but little was
saved from the saloon. Most of the goods from the other stores were
carried out but in such haste that a great damage was done to the stock.
There were four families besides Meagher's and
Hollenbeck's living over the stores, including your correspondent, who
got out most of their goods but quite badly damaged. There were eight
buildings burned, and it is fair to say that the loss on the buildings
alone is about $10,000. Insurance, $3,000. The damage on stock and
household goods is full $10,000. Insurance about $7,000, beside Earley
who we understand was fully insured. Some stocks are insured so as to
cover more than the loss, while others fall far short. Probably James
Goddard, G. C. McCauley, J. M. Meagher and Hollenbeck are the heaviest
losers.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but there are many
circumstances that point to incendiary. If so, this is the fiend's
second attempt and it is our opinion that hanging is too good for him,
and were he now known we doubt if he would live long to be hung.
As the case of every large fire there was some very
much excited, and as soon as they got their arms full of goods they
would get scared and run home, and as soon as their courage returned,
they would again repair to the fire to get scared again, and it is
barely possible that these same people will get scared again. In
commendation of the citizens of our town, I will say those who had homes
left, threw open their doors to the suffering and homeless, and did all
they could to help to lighten the burden of the afflicted. All the
hotels gave free entertainment until people could get new quarters.