Our Yesterdays

West Liberty (Pleasant Valley / Tyrone) was the smallest town ever to be officially platted. It consisted of just two blocks and three streets. It held three names at different times. In 1856 a frame church building was erected costing $2,168. Pastors included Rev. John Tate and Rev. John Lackey. West Liberty, changed to Pleasant Valley, then to Tyrone. At one time there was a store, church cemetery, Masonic Lodge, blacksmith shop, and school, but only the cemetery remains. Rev. Samuel Sturgeon laid out the cemetery and named it Tyrone after his home county in Ireland.

Paris — Valley: Paris was the first town site platted in Dutch Creek Township. It was laid out in July, 1846 by Eleazer Kinkade. It had 15 blocks with #8 designated as the town square. John Reinhart farmed nearby the town and claimed he named the town honoring his French heritage. He was an early Democratic politician in the township and county.

On Dec. 19, 1851 the post office name was changed to Valley, because there was already another “Paris” in the state. Robert Shaw was the postmaster at the time.

Businesses in 1859 included two dry goods stores, post office, church school, and a number of private homes. By 1865 Paris had three churches — Christian, German Methodist, and Lutheran--, a general store, flour mill, woolen factory, and a population of 50. A small newspaper called the Cyclone was printed by H.V. Frank, a long time merchant in Paris.

Some of the earliest Fourth of July celebrations in the county were held at Paris, where they were celebrating as early as the mid 1840s The tradition continued into the 1940s. The name evolved from Dutch Creek Fair to Valley Fair. Activities included parades with bands, politicians, orators, prominent male citizens, competitions of physical skills, craft items, and food stuffs. The common factor over all the years was tons of food to eat. Sometimes even ice cream and ice cold lemonade. Throughout the days of the Fair, musicians of both instrumental and vocal entertained. Often a dance in the evening lasted long into the night.

In 1905 the Valley Post Office closed followed by the churches and businesses. The county Conservation department maintains a park on part of the area that once was a bustling community. The cemetery is about half a mile north of the town site.

New Haven: The New Haven post office was established along the Sigourney road on March 24, 1857, operating there until 1866. Alonzo Waterman was the first postmaster. There was a general merchandise store there (that burned in 1860), a school, a Baptist Church, and cemetery. The cemetery is all that remains.

Shupe Town: Daniel Shupe had anticipated the railroad passing through this area as it headed west of Washington. He acquired land and formed Shupetown. At least six buildings were constructed at this location. Sadly, it was not to be. The railroad chose a different direction. Shupetown disintegrated. Only a few remains of the foundations are visible on the wooded hillsides where it was located.

Dublin: Dublin is another small village. It had a post office that served residents living in the southeastern part of the township including Grace Hill, Franklin, and for those in the south part at West Chester.

The post office for Dublin was originally called Dutch Creek until 1879. Pleasant Langford was the first postmaster starting in March 18, 1845. After many postmasters and many locations, it finally settled at Swires’ Corners (the original name for Dublin). It remained the Dublin Store under various postmasters until it closed in March 15, 1905 with the convenience of rural free delivery that started in 1902.

Dublin Store was first operated by John Robertson in the mid 1840s. G.B. Holland ran a blacksmithing business in Dublin with Mark Keating having a wagon-making shop. No official town plat was ever recorded for Dublin. Just west of the Dublin corner was a brick kiln owned by Storekeeper Bennett and a Mr. Reighard. Other Dublin businesses included a hall for the Dutch Creek Odd Fellows, mitten and glove factory (from tanned animal hides), a sorghum factory, veterinarian, shoemaker and “corn comforters” made to order, egg sales, and definitely the largest of all being the cheese factory. The Dublin Store was the hub of the community and was the last remaining business when it closed in June 1964 with the death of Walter Wolfe.

Wellston: Wellston has the distinction of being the last town to be founded in Washington County. It was started in 1913 bordered by the Milwaukee tracks. It was founded by William Perry Wells who with Fred Capion owned and operated the general merchandise store named the Wellston Merchantile Co. The Wellston Savings Bank incorporated May 17, 1915 and the Farmer’s Cooperative Association. Preston Hoover was the first manager of the Union Store. Wellston was a big shipping point for many years, but gradually the businesses closed.

Talleyrand: Officially, Talleyrand sat across the county line into eastern Keokuk County. However, it was frequented by citizens mostly of Dutch Creek Township. 1854 was when the town was laid out. It claimed to be “one of the most thriving villages between Washington and Council Bluffs” in 1866. At that time, there were two dry goods stores, two groceries, a drugstore, a hotel, one cabinet maker, two wagon makers, a shoe shop, three blacksmith shops, and one physician in town, and three churches nearby. Ike Thompson may be considered its founder. There was always a tavern in Talleyrand. Likely, this is why it was such a popular trading spot. In 1887 a Dutch Creek correspondent complained that “The stout breezes of Talleyrand sweep over us strong enough to make radical prohibitionists stagger.”