Photographs and documents related to the history of Poweshiek County contributed by individuals. Contributions from throughout the county are welcome and include the communities of Barnes City, Brooklyn, Deep River, Ewart, Grinnell, Guernsey, Hartwick, Malcom, Montezuma, Searsboro and Victor.
Raleigh Dean Wilson and Nancy K. Kesselring were married on January 10, 1900, in Jackson Township, Poweshiek County, Iowa. This is possibly their wedding portrait. The first year of their marriage they lived with Nancy's parents (Isaac and Margaret Kesselring) on their farm in Jackson Township. Sometime between the birth of their son, Isaac, in 1901 and the birth of their second son, Raleigh, in 1905, they left Iowa and moved to Nebraska. Portrait by Fink Bros., Montezuma, Ia.
View of a rural school, possibly in Poweshiek County, Iowa. School children are posing in the windows. A bell tower with a U.S. flag is flying. The flag looks to be a 45 star flag based on the configuration of the stars.
Elderly men of Brooklyn, Iowa, dressed in suits and most with beards around 1900. Seated from left to right: Gavin Lang, Rev. Benson, Mr. Calderwood, Mr. Coon. Standing, from left to right: Wm. Morrison, unidentified, Mr. Cummings.
The Craig sisters in Grinnell, Iowa, about 1900. From left to right: Anna Katherine Craig, Theodora Craig, and Eva Pearl Craig. Eva was Edith Renfrow Smith's mother.
View of 1407 Sixth Avenue in Grinnell, Iowa. Verso of photo reads: "Under the elms -- March 15, 1901 -- 1407 Sixth Ave., Grinnell." Additional notes on verso read: "Hobart carload lumber from Chicago. 1882 first coat of paint night before cyclone. Chicken feathers driven into wood. House had to be scraped. Used as hospital for injured. Dead bodies taken to house." The Grinnell Cyclone was on June 17, 1882. Drake Community Library (Grinnell, Iowa) Archives. Miscellaneous photographs. Collection #17-5, Views of Grinnell.
Wedding portrait of Eva Pearl Craig Renfrow. Eva married Lee Augustus Renfrow on July 31, 1901, in Grinnell, Iowa. Eva and Lee Renfrow were the parents of Edith Renfrow Smith. Portrait by John W. Kester, Grinnell photographer.
The George and Eliza Craig family of Grinnell, Iowa, about 1902 with their children and some of their grandchildren. Top row, from left to right: Violet Lucas, Annie Craig, Eva Pearl Craig, Theodora Craig Lucas, Bruce Lucas. Front row, from left to right: Aaron Lucas, George Craig, Martha Lucas (one of the triplets), Eliza Jane Craig holding unidentified child in her lap, Will Goode, Henry Lucas. Annie, Theodora and Eva were the daughters of George and Eliza. Will Goode was Annie's son. Violet, Bruce, Aaron, Martha, and Henry were Theodora's children.
Letter from Mary Sulser Pilgrim to her sister, Mrs. J.H. Parratt, congratulating her on her marriage. The letter is dated January 12, 1902, Grinnell, Iowa.
View of the front of Bailey and Rinefort Hardware store in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1902. The store was located at 914-916 Main Street. Dirt streets are lined with hitching posts, and several bicycles are parked in front of buildings. Drake Community Library (Grinnell, Iowa) Archives. Miscellaneous photographs. Collection #17-5, Views of Grinnell.
Western Union Telegram from P.H. Pilgrim to Mrs. John Barrett (correct name is Parratt) advising her of the death of her sister, Mary Sulser Pilgrim, on May 3, 1902.
Two postcards addressed to Mrs. J.H. Parratt (Minnie) in Fremont, Nebraska from her sister, Elizabeth Blakely, in Grinnell, Iowa, discussing the health of their brother-in-law, Bert Pilgrim. The first postcard is dated April 8, 1903, and the second is dated April 13, 1903. Bert Pilgrim was the widower of their sister, Mary Sulser Pilgrim who died May 3, 1902. Bert died on April 15, 1903.
Winter postcard view of 1127 Broad Street in Grinnell, Iowa. This was the home of Walter Hammond and Hattie Child Hammond. The house was built in 1900 from George F. Barber's design #128, published in The Cottage Souvenir #2, revised and enlarged, 1892. A fire destroyed the house on January 18, 2013. Azo stamp box on verso with four triangles pointing up.
Letter dated December 6, 1904, from the Spaulding Manufacturing Co. to the Grinnell (Iowa) school district billing the district for the use of rooms in the Spaulding block. The bill is marked, "Approved," with the signatures of W.T. Fuller, J.P. Lyman, and S.A. Cravath.
Postcard view of the south facade of Grinnell High School in Grinnell, Iowa. Built in 1904 this section of the building was demolished when the building was converted to a community center in the 1980s. Postcard published by E.C. Kropp Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
