History of Bronson, Iowa

PART I - HISTORY OF EARLY FLOYD TOWNSHIP

     Floyd township was created April 5, 1871. The bounderies of Floyd are as follows: Concord and Banner to the north, Grange on the south, Moville on the east and Woodbury township on the west.

     One of the best sections in Woodbury County, Floyd, has a diversified surface. It has much bottom land and considerable bluff or upland formation. Soil in the township is rich and well watered. Elliott Creek, Big Whiskey Creek and minor branches traverse the township at all points.

     In 1890 - 91, Floyd township had no church, no tavern, no mill and no physicians but did have numeruos farms and ranches.

      The census records of 1885 show that Floyd township had 81 dwellings and 60 families. This included 170 males and 133 females, a total of 303 people. Of these people, 15 were born in England, 9 in Ireland, 9 in Canada, 4 in Sweden, 5 in Germany and 3 in Denmark, with 258 being native born.

     Population in Floyd township from 1900 - 1970 are: 1900 - 650 people, 1910 - 776, 1920 - 799, 1930 - 896, 1940 - 863, 1950 - 734, 1950 - 734, 1960 - 778, 1970 - 722.

     In the early Floyd township history, a Country Literary Society was formed around Floyd Center School. The Society met usually only in the winter months on Tuesday nights. From a voted tax, one to Elliott School and one to Floyd Center School. Each year the schools exchanged books. Later, the Onstot School was also given a turn. Eventually, the library became obsolete.

     Three early families in Floyd township were the Elliots, the Laws, and the Fessendens. Alexander Elliott came to Floyd township in 1856 and purchased 320 acres of land in section 29, later adding 1280 acres. When Alexander came to this area, the praire was wild land with deer and wolves roaming all around and in fact, there was no frame house where Sioux City now stands. Alexander was married to Harriett E. Todd of Sioux City in 1863 and they had nine children. William Elliott also came to farm in this area.

     John Law came to Woodbury County in 1865. He was born in England in 1824 and came to America in 1851, locating in Greene County, Illinois. Altogether, he worked 400 acres of land. John was married to Jane Murphy in 1856 and they had six children.

     Alfred Fessenden came tothis county in 1878 purchasing 200 acres of land which he farmed untill 1883 when he died.   Unlike the Elliotts, who came from Ireland, and the Laws from England, Alfred was born in the United States. He served with Company C, 32nd Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War. Alfred married Rachel Semple in 1865 and they had four children.

     Later Settlers in Floyd township were: Jacob Amick, Edward Haffke, Henry, Jacob and William Onstot, George Anderson, T.M. Joesphs, Byron N. Johnson and James M. Bookhart, who was noted as a hog caller.

PART II - BEGINNING OF BRONSON

     In August, 1901, William Elliott sold 23.03 acres of land to the C. & M.W. railroad for $100.00 an acre to lay the first railroad tracks. Then in October of 1901, more Elliott land was sold to the Western Town Lot Company, and incoporated company of Clinton, Iowa, for plating and laying out town lots for sale. On November 21, 1901, the erection of the telegraph poles on the exstension & fencing on the right of way begun. The sale of lots in Bronson was held Monday, November 25th, at 11:00 am.

     The first train through Bronson was Novemember 25, 1901. It left Moville at 7:20 a.m. and arrived in Bronson at 8:30 a.m.

      Most people believe that Bronson was simply named by the railroad. However, conflicting ideas have arisen. First of all, in the History of Woodbury County, put out by the Federal Writers Project, it states that Bronson was named for Ira A. Bronson, am imigrant from Port Scott, Kansas. Secondly, a grave in the Floyd Township Cemetery contains this grave; Myron Bronson - son of Rachel & R.A. Bronson - died April 1886 - age 16. On his death certificate it says he died of ruptured bowels due to a kick by a horse. Thirdly, a letter from Mrs. Leretta Bronson Warren of Lydon, Kansas reveals that she believes Bronson was named fo her greatgrand parents, Revilla Adolphus Bornson and Rachel Bronson, who must have lived in this area in the 1870's

     The questions remains: if the town were named for the Bronson family, what was there importance in this area?

PART III - EARLY BUSINESS

     In 1904, Bronson had a population of 75 and Marion ( M.G. ) Smith was it's first postmaster. The second postmaster, Frank Oertel, began the job in 1915 and held the postion for 30 years.

     Early Storekeepers were: Alexander and Geroge Elliott, Marion G. ( M.G. ) Smith, and David D. Semple, Elmer Mauritz and Harry J. Johnson, and C.E. Abraham, who owned the store in 1925 when it burned down.

     Frank Oertel was the druggist in Bronson for 56 years, from 1901 - 1958.

     First President of the Bronson Savings Bank was P.G. Reidesel annd cashier was D.C. Killian. In later years, Alexander Elliott, John Law, Frank H. Oertel, Frank Shumaker, Harry Adams, E.T. Haggblade and Ollis Smith were associated with the bank.

     Dan Copenhaver and Dave Law were blacksmiths in early Bronson

     The hardware store was run by David D. and Isaac W. Law and later Phil Onstot.

     Edward Harris, Walt Copenhaver and Harley Semple were all in the barber and pool hall at one time.

     Bronson's early hotels were run by Andrew Copenhaver and Mike Brassfield.

     The elevator was owned and operated by Nye, Schneider and Fowler Co. and was managed by various people, including Joe Bardsley, Neihaus and Hildreth.

     At various times, Harry Daniels, Charles Baird and Bill Shipley ran the machine shop.

     The early lumber yard was managed by Howard Onstot.

     The first telephone was a toll station located in a booth at the drug store. The contract dated September 18, 1903 between Brooks and Oertel and the Iowa Telephone Co. was discontinued around 1905 when Bronson Telephone Com. was formed. Early operators were Jane Lighthall and Hazel Young. It was later operated for many years by Mr. & Mrs. Harold Langstaff.

     John Wissinger, in 1904, ran a livery and hotel. Later Andrew Copenhaver ran the livery.

     Other early businesses were:
                  Agricultural Implements - J.C. Clary and F.E. Todd
                  Minsiter - Andrew Herron
                  Railroad Agent - Elisha Daniels
                  Carpenters - Joame and Marion Horr
                  Railroad Foreman - Frank Fitch
                  Doctors - Moore and Glann
                  Butcher - Anton Haberman
                  Garage - Andrew Rasmussen