CHAPTER XXI.
GROVE TOWNSHIP.

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT.

When Atlantic was incorporated, in 1870, it had a population of 1,200; in 1875 this had risen to 1,800, in 1880, to 3,600, and the present figures are in the neighborhood of 6,000. Although the city suffered somewhat from a fire in February, 1871, the chief set-back to its progress was the serious conflagration of December 25, 1880, when an entire block was swept away on Chestnut street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. As all the buildings destroyed however, were of wood, it was considered by some as a blessing in disguise, as the structures which took their places were usually of brick or stone and a credit to the city.

INDUSTRIAL GROWTH.

During the first decade of the town's history its business houses increased rapidly in numbers and trade, and in the early 'eighties a marked activity was noted in the founding of various industries. Previous to that period the most important manufactories established in Atlantic were the Atlantic Steam Flour Mill and the planing mill of Hamilton & Martin. The flour mill stood upon the site of a former establishment, which was destroyed by fire in 1875, and rebuilt the same year by G. W. Norton & Co. Its original daily capacity was about 175 barrels; it turned out both patent and fancy flour, and at the time was considered entirely modern. Hamilton & Martin's planing mill, built in 1878, was forty-two by thirty-two feet, and run by a fifteen horse power engine.

Although there had been several blacksmith shops prior to the 'eighties, the foundry business was established as one of its industries by H. H. Salisbury, in January, 1880. At that time he purchased the blacksmith shop of Mr. Brackett, entered into partnership with him and erected a two-story building, the foundry portion of which was forty-four by thirty-two feet. In 1882 were organized the Atlantic Packing Company, whose president was J. H. Needles and whose plant had a capacity of 600 hogs per day; the Atlantic Alcohol Company (S. B. Milner, president), operating a distillery which used about 2,700 bushels of corn per day, and was then the second largest establishment of the kind in the State; and the Atlantic Canning Factory, which is now said to be the largest corn canning factory in the world. The original building of the last named, forty by one hundred feet, was erected by a company composed of S. F. Martin, J. A. McWaid and R. D. Wilkin.

In 1882 was also established the Atlantic Creamery by a stock concern in which Frank H. Whitney, J. A. McWaid and William M. Nichols were interested, and J. H. Needles erected a large brick building for a wagon and carriage manufactory and depository, the business having been founded by himself and Mr. McWaid, a dozen years before. Both Messrs. McWaid and Needles were extensively interested in all the infant industries of Atlantic and accomplished much in their development.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 232-233.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2018.