HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.1 
 
speak ighly of his skill! as a workman, partien- 
la-ly in making and handling edged tools, 
Philander Peebles, who settled in 1842, also 
worked at the forge. He was an excellent me- 
chanio and did work hard to excel. 
John Stewart built a saw-mill on section 20, 
on, a branch of the Pecatonica river, which was 
ready for operation in 1855. Alonzo Wheeler 
was the builder. Mr. Stewart, a few years 
later, sold the property to his son, Decatur, who 
afterwards sold it to John Presher. Mr. Presher 
operated the mill until about 1868, since which 
time it has been unused. 
Ajlb Cro wel, who. settled in 1841, built the 
first house in Postville, which is now standing. 
Af fw ycars later he opened a small stock of 
g oo.gds a t hts residence. He was the first mer- 
ch -It in the town of York. He traded two or 
three years only. Some years later he was 
again in trade, in a larger way, and continued 
until he moved tQ Kansas, in 1868. 
-The next mercantile venture was that of Ed- 
ward Sendel, who erected a small building on 
section . 14, in 1848, and kept a small stock of 
goods. He closed out in about two years. 
About 1850 E. T. Gardner, in the neighbor- 
ho.d of Farmer's Grove, on section 25, opened 
a store. Two years or so later he sold hisgoods 
to Gilbert Post, and his farm to Milton Kelly. 
Mr. Post traded there until 1858, when he 
moved his stock to what was afterward known 
as Postville. Trade was continued at Farmer's 
Grove byr J. F. and W. S. Wescott, in a build- 
ingerected by J. F. Westcott for that purpose. 
This business was commenced in 1862. In 
1866 J. F. Wescott bought the interest of his 
partner, and continued the business until his 
death, in 1879. During the active business life 
of Mr. J. F. Wescott, Farmer's Grove was quite 
a point. There were two blacksmith shops 
open there, and several families living there. 
Nothing of its former business now remains 
(i8.84.) 
 
POSTVILLE. 
The growing corners began to assume the.ap- 
pearan.ce of a village in about 1858, when Gil- 
bert Post moved in from the prairie and com- 
menced trade there. Mr. Post erected a build- 
ing for a residence and store under the same 
*A 
roof. This property for many years has been 
known as the Postville Hotel, and in 1884 was 
owned by Hiram   Gabriel. Mr. Post sold his 
goods to Pascoe & King in 1874, and in 1877 
moved to Monroe. In 1883 he went to Lemars, 
Iowa. He had two twin sons-Owen G. and 
Orren C. The former left Postville in 1882, 
and the later in 1883. They also live in Iowa. 
The firm of Pascoe & King, who succeeded Mr. 
Post, was dissolved by the death of Mr. Pascoe 
in May, of the following year. His death was' 
caused by injuries received from the running 
-way of a team. The firm was changed to 
King & Crowel.- They occupied a new build- 
ing, erected by 0. S. Jones during that year.. 
The firm became King & Jones in February, 
1876. They did business until May 1, 1879,, 
when they sold to Andrew Peterson & H. Hurl- 
but. In September, 1880, Mr. Peterson bought 
the interest of his partner, and is now (1884) in 
the business.  Postville has one other store, 
which was built in 1870 by E. Sherman, who, 
the next year, put in a light stock of goods. He 
only traded a short time, and now lives at Le- 
mars, Iowa. In 1873 John W. Gabriel and R. 
M. Hurlbut stocked the store and continued in 
trade about one year, when they.sold their stock 
to H. Cunningham, who moved the goods from 
the tQwn. Mr. Gabriel now keeps a railroad 
hotel in Ohio. R. Barlow, F. E. Legler 
and R. A. Etter have successively occupied 
the building. Mr. Etter sold his stock to Hurl- 
Iut, of the old firm of Gabriel &, Hurlbut, who, 
in 1883, closed out and moved his stock to Peter- 
son, Iowa, where he is now in trade. The build- 
ing is now occupied (1884) by Gabriel & Lundy, 
boot and shoe dealers. 
Dr. A. L. Day opened a drug store in the 
spring of 1867. A year or so later he sold his 
 
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