In 1853, the first pioneers came to this section of the state to make homes in the then uncultivated and uninhabited wilderness--woods everywhere, and of course, no wagon roads or railroads.
There were just paths made by wild animals, and some Indian trails. McGregor was the nearest market on a railroad.
The first settler was William Smith. He came from Illinois and built a log house on the quarter section adjoining McIntire on the south. This was the only family in Wayne Township until 1855 when the following New Englanders came and took up Government claims. They were the John F. Grace, the Woodmann, the John McIntire, the Gilman, the Munson, the Charles Converse, the Livi Munson, the Rufus Ammon and other families. In 1856 more settlers reached this township, namely Will and D. W. Kimball, brother of the famous piano manufacturer, Ed Proctor, George Robinson, Charles Rich, John Lambert, Elder Abraham Griffin, Clark Gardner, Moses Page, George Barker and John Bailey. So in a short time, what had been prairie, lowlands, sloughs and the homes of wild animals became the homes of men and their families.
The early history of McIntire is closely entwined with that of the now ghost town of Bailey. Under the leadership of Austin Bailey a town was established two miles northeast of the present site of McIntire. A post office, store and church had also been established one mile east of present McIntire, by John Wentworth, the Kimballs, the Graces and others. Then the Chicago Great Western Railway Company put their line thru from Chicago to Minneapolis, and a branch line from Rochester to Mason City was planned. John McIntire then donated land for the "right of way", so the new town named for John McIntire was started. In the meantime Austin Bailey had made a bid for the location of the road if the town would be called Bailey.
The rivalry was keen and Bailey stepped out in the lead, but Mr. Bailey died of pneumonia in 1888, and then in 1889 the branch came through McIntire instead of Bailey. The building of McIntire now commenced in earnest, and the sons of the two rivals, John Bailey and Ben McIntire became residents of McIntire.
Here is a picture of the Winona & South Western Railway Depot in McIntire. The caption on the rear of the picture reads: "W&SW Ry Depot McIntire, Iowa -- Photo taken about 1892, Eng. No. 2 The 'Lamberton' -- One carton on the baggage cart is marked 'C.A. Porter, Osage.' "
From the collection of James L Rueber 312 Aurora Street Boone, Iowa 50036. [The photo, as rendered here, is smaller than it actually is. Click here to see the originally-scanned image. (30 Kb)]
Some of the buildings were moved to McIntire from Bailey. George Munson built a hardware store, R. M. Judd built a general store and he soon had competition from G.W. Griffin who did likewise. Mr. Griffin retired in 1940. Other men who were influential in the early days of McIntire, either in business or in public welfare, were L.R. Powell, F.W. McCloud, Waters Brothers, C.O. Woodman, Merill Brothers, Johnson Brothers, A. D. Granger, Niles Brothers, the Babcocks, the Graces,
the Wentworths, J. A. Grisdale, Hall Brothers, Joe Thelan, G. W. Flick, James Chase, Ed Hansen and Charles Scott.
Plot plan for McIntire.
Click here to see a large version. (135 Kb)There was an active Main Street in those days. Three fires in 1904, 1908 and 1922 took a large toll of the buildings and the property was never rebuilt.
Prior to the Winona mail service coming through, the mail was brought from LeRoy by team to a post office east of McIntire called Wentworth. But when the mail came by train the post office was established at McIntire and Wentworth was no more.
There have been three doctors in the history of McIntire, but two of them were here for only a short time, so it can be said that there was only one resident doctor and he was Dr. F. L. Anderson. He left in 1936 after undergoing the usual hardships of a small town pioneer doctor.
The first religious services were held in the spring of 1856, by Rev. Holbrook, Methodist, in the home of LeRoy Foot. Elder Griffith, Baptist, preached occasionally in homes. The Baptist Church was built in 1885 and stood on the SW corner of the Munson land. The Methodist Church was built in 1891. In 1892 the Congregational Church was built and sold to the Catholics in 1928 to be used as a church.
The first school in McIntire was taught in a log house. Then Mrs. Henry Gardner held school in the home of Mr. Averill. The first schoolhouse was built in 1859 by John Wentworth; this was east of the present site of McIntire. The first real school in McIntire was held in the upper room of Mr. Niles' carpenter shop; this was where Bob Elwood's house now stands. Amy Beebe left the Seminary at Osage in her junior year and taught the school. The last school used in McIntire first stood on the land of Elmer Grace and was moved to its present site in the 1890's.
Electricity came to McIntire in 1921.
There have been three newspapers; the Gazette, the Monitor and the Advocate. From the 1901 issues of these papers it is noted that corn is listed at 45 cents per bushel, eggs at 9 cents a dozen and butter was 18 cents a pound.
The Aetna Savings Bank was the first brick building in town. It was erected in 1899. During its history this bank has had three robberies; in two of these the guilty persons were apprehended. There is no bank in McIntire at the present time.
In the summer of 1894, McIntire planned to celebrate the 4th of July for the first time since the town came into existence. However, owing to an epidemic of disease necessitating the quarantine of two or more families, the plans had to be changed and abandoned. But later in the year, it was proposed that the town hold, instead, a sort of homecoming or picnic. August 15 was the date chosen. The affair was such a success, that it has been kept up year after year and has come to be known as the Harvest Home Festival or the "15th of McIntire".
In 1967 the branch of the Great Western railway from McIntire to Osage was abandoned. This road had been constructed in 1894. The main line of The Chicago Great Western still serves this community.
In 1917 the population was given as 600. In 1970 the census showed a population of 234 for McIntire. The business interests of McIntire today are as follows:
BUSINESS
OWNER
General Store
Myron Starry
Service Station
Vern Tetzner
Garage
Vern Tetzner
Tavern
Dwayne Suckow
Postmaster
Charles Papach
Trucking
William Eastman
Elevator
Jensen Estate
Trucking
Tom Armstrong
Portions reproduced with the approval of the Mitchell County Historical Society; from THE STORY OF MITCHELL COUNTY 1851-1973 and
MITCHELL COUNTY MEMORIES 1946-1996.
Additional material added.
LOCATION: Walnut Ave. T62 at 465th Street, Wayne Township
Please respect landowners property, ask before you enter.
Transcribed in July 2002 by Neal Du Shane
Modified in June 2004 by K.L. Kittleson
Modified in August 2004 by K.L. Kittleson
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