While eastern and central Iowa had rivers for transportation, with settlements forming along the riverbanks, western Iowa was almost totally dependent upon railroads or wagons. Railroads were the major link this area had in bringing in supplies and carrying out livestock, grain, and other marketable items; coal and water stations for the trains became the natural place for communities to develop.

The Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad laid tracks through the central portions of Carroll and Crawford Counties in 1866, giving birth to Carroll, Glidden, Tip Top and Denison. Tip Top was named by the railroad crews, as it was the high point between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The name was changed to Arcadia in July, 1871. Vail and Westside were laid out in 1869 and Audubon and Harlan originated in 1879.

In December, 1880, the Carroll Herald reported that the Chicago & NorthWestern would build a branch line from Carroll to Harlan. Stations along the line had already been selected for their vantage points as coal and water refueling stops; these would be Halbur in Carroll County, Manning in Crawford County, and Irwin in Shelby County. "Manning would be in Carroll County," the Herald noted, "but it was not possible to procure the land where the railroad company desired at a reasonable price."

It was also announced that the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was making plans to run a line from Marion to Council Bluffs, through the proposed town plat of Manning. "Should this road be built, Manning will make one of the best towns in this part of the state."

The site for Manning was eventually moved, due to problems foreseen in having the rail lines cross a hilly section to the south. Meanwhile, more announcements came: The Iowa Southwestern would extend through the area to Harlan in 1881, and the Southwestern would create a branch line to Audubon in 1882.

As the rail companies began to criss cross this area, more and more towns were born: the Carroll Herald recognized Templeton May 31, 1882, Dedham June 28, 1882, and a new site for Coon Rapids August 16, 1882.

The history of these surrounding towns relates closely to the history of Manning. The rail lines provided the earliest ties; interaction has been continued through the churches, organizations, schools, telephone lines, and businesses. Therefore, to adequately tell the history of Manning, we present the history of our four closest sisters, Aspinwall, Botna, Gray and Templeton.

Aspinwall was laid out in August, 1882, at the time the railroad was built through the valley. The residents voted to incorporate October 5, 1914, with the 25 voters coming to the Ehrichs Store. Louis Schroeder was elected mayor, Peter Christiansen clerk, Andrew Boyens treasurer, and councilmen were Carl Otto, Emil Ehrichs, Jurgen Carstens, H.C. Hansen, and Christ T. Hollander. Named as commissioners were J.J. Useling, Jurgen Carstens, E.D. Brady, Carl Otto and Bernard Ehrichs. Incorporation came October 22, 1914.

Many businesses settled here, including a drug store, a doctor, a combination hardware store and cream station, a dance hall, saloon, post office, and the railroad's depot. Aspinwall also had its own grade school, with one teacher having as many as 40 pupils. The school was later divided into two rooms with two teachers, but by the time the school closed in 1960, there was again just one teacher. Aspinwall is now part of the Manilla School District.

Lutheran Church services were held at the school house, with services conducted by the late Rev. J.M. Ansorge of Manning. The Aspinwall Lutheran Ladies Aid originated in March, 1929, with the first meeting held at the home of Mrs. Emil Ehrichs. Members were Mrs. Max Schultz, Mrs. H.L. Schroeder, Mrs. Louie Ehrichs, Mrs. Pete Siem, Mrs. Emil Ehrichs and Mrs. Herman Sinow. Monthly meetings were held in the members' homes until 1955, when the group moved to Manning and the name changed to the Zion Lutheran Ladies Aid.

The volunteer fire department was called to duty by someone ringing the bell, which was on the roof of the jail. The first "fire truck" was a two-wheeled cart, operated manually. The Manning Fire Department now covers the town, with Aspinwall residents included in the Manning unit.

The jail was used mostly for transients wanting a place to sleep. Any tough prisoner could break out with force, while the gentle ones stayed until they were released by the town cop. One time, a

"customer" wanted a place to sleep overnight on a Saturday afternoon. He was completely forgotten about until Monday forenoon, when he was released.

The stockyards, owned by the railroad, was a busy place. Cattle would be herded to Aspinwall by farmers on horseback, and the hogs would arrive in wagons or sleds, depending on the time of year. The depot was torn down in 1956.

In the mid-1950's, the town dug a well and a supply tank was erected, furnishing the town with water. Many homes were then modernized with indoor bathrooms being the order of the day. Today, the West Central Iowa Rural Water Association, based in Manning, supplies all the water needs.

In 1966, the first free Pork Barbecue was held, which has become a yearly event. As many as 4,000 people have been served the free pork sandwiches, potato chips, pickles, beans, coffee and milk. In 1975, the Emma Rowedder property was bought by Carl Musfeldt, who in turn sold it to the Community Club. The Club was officially incorporated at this time, with a nine member board elected. The Rowedder house was razed in 1976, and the building of the hall was started, with the proceeds coming from the celebrations of the previous ten years. The building is 46 feet wide and 96 feet long, and includes two restrooms, store room, kitchen and a huge recreation hall. It was built mostly by volunteer help, and is used for wedding receptions and private parties. Air conditioning was installed in 1980.

A Women's Auxiliary to the Community Club was organized in March, 1978, with the 35 active members raising their first funds through a bake sale. The objective of the Auxiliary is to serve at weddings, barbecues, and other occasions, and they have purchased many useful items for the building, including tables, chairs, and a double door refrigerator.

Present businesses in Aspinwall include a grocery store, post office, garage, tavern, blacksmith shop, beauty parlor, body shop, rendering service, feed and grain cooperative, and a car wash, which was built in the summer of 1980.

Although the population of Aspinwall is now only 63, the town still has a lot of action.

Botna, a Shelby County community located three miles west and three south of Manning, had its beginnings in 1881 when the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad extended its lines southward. The Chicago Great Western tracks were added in 1903; at one time, as many as six passenger trains, in addition to freight trains, made daily stops there.

Originally known as Rochdale, the town was platted by the Western Town Lot Company August 1, 1884. By the early 1900's, there were three grocery stores, operated by the McCarty's, Andrew Wilfong and Arvin Rosabaugh; a drug store run by D.R. Palmer; two blacksmith shops, operated by Louie Minor and John Steepleton; a rug weaving business run by John McConnell; two depots; and two churches, the United Brethren and Nazarene.

Lumber for the first buildings was hauled by team and wagon from Harlan and Westside.

Growth was rapid in the town. By 1915, additional businesses included S.A. Bladt's general merchandise, A.T. Ramsey's groceries and dry goods, the Updike Grain Co., with Fred Ruhs as manager, the Neola Grain and Lumber Co., with C.G. Long as manager, and two stockyards.

Ellen Ramsey was postmistress in 1915, and her son Charles H. Ramsey was mail carrier. He continued the job for 44 years, serving under ten other postmasters. The last was Earl Walters, who had the job for 20 years; the Botna post office was discontinued in 1968. Walters, like several other postmasters, operated grocery stores which housed the post office.

Later businesses have included a garage, first operated by Charlie Vanderman and later by his son Merle; lumber yards run by John Heasley and Ott Hinz; a dance hall; a fur buying station run by Charles Ramsey; and a broom factory and shop, with the brooms made by Harry Ramsey. Ramsey, who was blind, was taken by his daughter Trella, house-to-house to sell the brooms, first by horse and wagon and later by car.

Electricity came to Botna in 1930, 25 years after Manning's plant opened, and just five years before farms to the north began receiving electrical power.

Baptist services were held in Botna from 1955, when Louis Miller was ordained as minister, until the congregation purchased the former Lutheran Church in Manning in 1964.

In 1931, the broom factory, Harry Klindt's grocery store and Harry McCarthy's barber shop were destroyed in a fire. This was the beginning of the town's loss of business.

Today, this once active town has diminished to just one business, Justice Feed and Trucking. The population of 12 lives in four homes.

M&I Dehy

Gray is located in section 12 of Lincoln Township, near the north line of Audubon County. The land was originally owned by George and Fannie Gray, who were the owners of over 5,000 acres in Audubon and Carroll Counties. The town plat was filed for record August 10, 1881, in anticipation of the construction of a branch railroad line from Carroll to Audubon, by way of Manning. The Chicago & Northwestern line was completed early in 1882.

Within four months, Gray had a general store, hardware store, livery, meat market, boarding house, and a physician, Doctor Warner. Doctor Frank Hinsdale arrived in 1882, and Alfred Brooks, M.D., came in 1883. A blacksmith, hotel, two lumber yards, and another general store were built before the town's first anniversary.

George Gray built a 33,000 bushel steam elevator in 1881 or 1882, at a cost of $10,000. He also owned two large warehouses at Audubon and one at Ross, and continued to farm his land and raise horses, cattle and hogs.

A post office was established in Gray January 30, 1882, with William Stotts serving as the first postmaster. Vickie King fills that capacity today.

School classes were first taught in the town in 1883, by Miss Billie Johnson; a schoolhouse, which stood in an adjoining county district, was moved into Gray in 1887. An addition to the building was made in 1888, giving it two departments. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1901, which cost $2,500. By 1915, there were three teachers and 68 pupils.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1886, at a cost of $1,500. The United Brethren also had a society in the neighborhood, and held services every other week in the Methodist building.

The first newspaper was published by a Mr. Jones in 1881-82. The "Western Blizzard" was started in 1887, but a year later merged with the Audubon "Advocate". A third paper, the "Gray Eagle", was printed about 1889-90.

The "Easter Sunday" tornado, which caused extensive damage in Omaha, swept through the Gray area March 23, 1913. The town was on the edge of the damage area; Mrs. Chet Dustin was bedridden, and witnessed a heavy plank driven through the wall of her bedroom by the force of the storm.

February 7, 1922, a fire wiped out all of the businesses on the north block of Main Street. This included a pool hall and barber shop run by Bill and Albert "Butts" Signal, Jim Rutherford's grocery store, Walter Audas's drug store, Harry Rostermundt's grocery store, and a hardware store owned by Louie Groteluschen and Charlie Garmire. The only house left standing was at the northwest corner of the block; it was owned by B.A. Swart.

The elevator which George Gray had built burned July 6, 1927. The light of the fire could be seen for miles, and the odor of burned corn lingered for along time.

Businesses in the late 1920's and early 1930's included a garage and car dealership owned by John Shaw, grocery stores owned by Harry Raebel and Tom Signal, Casey Porter the blacksmith, and an elevator owned by Charley Dozier of Templeton and run by George Dozier.

In the 1920's W.F. and Glenn Aikman had a hog and cattle buying station; the Green Bay Lumber Company was managed by Frank Murphy; a barber shop was owned by Bill and Butts Signal; Mike Liken had a hardware store; John Welsh and his wife ran a restaurant; Herb Rudnick ran a garage. Chris Jensen launched a dray service using horses and a flat wagon; he later progressed to a model T truck. Depot agent Herman Bakken would take the mail from the train station to the post office with a two-wheeled cart.

A consolidated school was built in 1924, which had 12 grades until 1957. It then became a part of the Audubon School system, and now only grades one through six are being taught in Gray.

Transportation changes over the years have been felt by the community. With the paving of Highway 71 and increased use of cars, travel habits changed; rail service was discontinued June 14, 1952.

As Gray enters the 1980's, it has fewer business places. The directory now lists the Gray Produce and Feed Store, owned by Roy Gittens; the Wagon Wheel, a restaurant owned by Doug and Jan Hilsaback, and Larry Kendle's Standard Bulk Station. There are also two truckers, who do long distance hauling, and two plumbers, who work out of town.

Weekly church services continue at the two churches, the United Methodist and Assembly of God, which are located in the mid-part of Gray's Main Street. The town also has an active fire department with a ladies' auxiliary, which sponsors a yearly town celebration.

Before the railroad came to this area, there was a stage coach stop and post office on the route from Panora, Audubon and Carroll. This was a Welsh settlement, and such pioneer names as Shoemaker, Hodges, Hughes, Hoyt, Schrum, Campbell, and Seyller were early land owners.

Church services were held as early as 1874 in the open on the John Schlichte farm northwest of the future town. A frame church was built on the farm; after the town began, the church was dismantled in sections and moved into the community.

Templeton began in 1881 when a branch line of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad was built through the area. The land was bought from William Overmire, and had been an immense corn field. Lots were laid out in April, 1882, with a depot, post office/dry goods store, general store, and restaurant/hotel being the first buildings. The first social event was a dance in the dry goods store owned by William Pexsie; 50 couples attended.

R.B. "Doc" Hamilton, James Hart, F.W. Pexa, George Overmire, Frank and Conrad Meis, Dominic Keffeler, Peter Neu, John Scharwarth, John Schimek, Albers and Seger, John Roth, L. Eicke, Nelson and Frank Seyller, Robert Anderson, Henry Windish, and the Montgomery Bros. owned businesses in Templeton before 1885.

The town was incorporated in December, 1883. Officers were: Conrad Meis, mayor; T.C. Wolfe, Frank Meis, William Overmire, Frank Seyller, George Umphrey and Peter Neu, councilmen; L.E. Stanton, recorder; John Schimek, assessor; and Thomas Groat, marshal. Overmire was also serving as a county supervisor, having been elected in 1882 with 73 votes from Eden Township.

The first fire department was established in 1886. A public school was started in 1883 and a Methodist Church was built in 1884, with services conducted by preachers from neighboring towns.

The Catholic Church moved from the Schlichte farm was dedicated October 7, 1883, with over 100 teams and wagons lining the streets for the occasion. A parsonage was added in 1884, at a cost of $4,000. A Catholic Fair held February 8-10, 1887, raised over $1,000 for the congregation. The only black priest then in America conducted Memorial Services in neighboring Hillsdale (Roselle) in 1887, with many from this area attending.

By 1899, Templeton had a Catholic congregation of about 150 families. A parochial school, attended by about 125 children, was taught by the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The new church, the one used presently, was built in 1900. It was 57 by 136 feet, with a spire 150 feet high, and four flanking towers 60 feet high. The spire and towers have since been removed.

By the turn of the century, Templeton had two grain elevators, two lumber yards, three general stores, two hardware stores, one bank, two furniture stores, two implement shops, one dry goods store, two doctors, one shoe store, one "Ten Cent" store, two blacksmiths, one wagon maker, two livestock dealers, one butcher shop, two barber shops, three livery barns, one hotel, two saloons, one billiard hall, and one photographer, besides masons, carpenters and brick layers. The town's population was about 400.

The first jail, 8 by 12 feet, was built by Joe Nutt in 1885; it cost $62.60. Two cisterns, 12 by 12 feet, were also built that year to store water for fire protection. Four street lamps were installed in 1894, with Joe Walderman hired at $4 per month to light them every evening.

The Templeton City Hall was built in 1924, the streets graveled in 1928, and the first electroliers were installed in 1929.

During the Prohibition Years of 1920 to 1933, Templeton was known from coast to coast for its bootleg rye whiskey. Many giant stills were operated in the vicinity, and as Templeton basked in its illegal glory, a small brown jug was suspended across the Main Street.

Highway 71, to the east and south of Templeton, was paved in 1931, when the town's Main Street also received its paving.

The Catholic Church continues to be the mainstay of the community, with over 220 families included in the congregation. Halbur, Roselle, and Templeton are joined as a school unit for the parochial students, with 116 students in grades 5 through 8 currently enrolled in the Templeton facility, which was erected in 1936.

Protestant students are transported either to the Carroll or Manning Community Schools.

The business directory today includes one grocery store, one hardware store, two taverns, a television business, a bank, two grain and feed firms, and a lumber/carpet /home repair store which is located in a large new building. Also on Main Street is a federally funded firehouse.

Each year there is a community celebration noted for its excellent hamburgers. Receipts from the event are divided between the church and the community, with some funds used to upgrade the city park facilities. Tickets are raffled for cash prizes.

State Farm