Linby, Iowa facts for kids
Linby is a small community located in Jefferson County, Iowa, USA. It's found a short distance southeast of Pekin in Polk Township. Linby came into existence in 1902 because of the railroads.
Linby was founded when surveyors for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad were planning a new line. This line was meant to connect Chicago to Kansas City. The new railroad tracks were finished in 1903. They ran through farms owned by William Brown, Thomas Linder, and Basil Mowrey. Another railroad, the Burlington Western, had already come through the area in 1882. This line was later sold to the C. B. & Q. railroad.
The Milwaukee line and the C. B. & Q. line crossed paths on William Brown's farm. Because of this crossing, a special building called a depot was needed. An "interlocking system" was also installed. This system helped control the trains safely and needed someone to watch it 24 hours a day.
The depot was built in 1902 on land bought from William Brown. It was a large building, big enough for a town of 2,500 people. It had a waiting room, a freight room, and a main office for the depot agent and operators. Frank Hoover was the first depot agent. Three other operators worked 8-hour shifts. Sometimes, twenty to thirty trains passed through Linby each day!
A small train called the "Fox" started running on the Burlington Western track around 1892. It got its name because it was very fast. People said it would "slip up on you" at a crossing! The Fox traveled from Oskaloosa to Burlington and back every day. This little train was a familiar sight for 10 years.
In 1902, the C. B. & Q. railroad bought the Burlington Northern line. They wanted to run wider trains, so the track was made wider. The "Fox" train couldn't run on the wider track. It sat on a side track for a while. Later, it was moved to Colorado. There, it ran on a narrow-gauge railroad in the Rocky Mountains near Denver.
The Linby depot closed in 1956 because fewer people were using the railroads. Also, automatic signals had been installed, making operators less necessary. The depot building was removed in 1958. The C. B. & Q. railroad later stopped operating in 1971. Today, the I. & M. Rail Link uses the old Milwaukee line.
After the depot was built, other businesses started in Linby. A. J. Roland set up a stockyard and an elevator. Harry Mitchell and John Smith were stock buyers.
Many other businesses opened in Linby. Lafe Dudgeon and F. R. Campbell opened a general store. S. F. Steigleder and his son also had a business. Harry and Kenneth Mower ran a lumberyard, but it was destroyed by fire in 1930. Walker Rockwell was a brick mason. He and his wife also ran a boarding house. B. E. Dark operated another general store. A millinery shop, which sold hats, was on the top floor of his store.
Mr. and Mrs. David Smith ran a restaurant in the hotel building. Guy Black had a hardware store above the Odd Fellows Hall. He also ran a livery stable, where horses could be rented. Orb Reighard operated a blacksmith shop. The Linby post office opened in 1904 but closed on April 30, 1944.
Dr. James Stepp came to Linby in 1915. He built a building next to the hotel and started his medical practice there. The Linby Bank was established in 1908. Charles Linder was the first cashier. The bank closed in 1933. A tile factory also opened in Linby in 1909. It made cement blocks and tiles that were shipped by railroad.
The Odd Fellows Lodge
The Odd Fellows Lodge was a group that held meetings in the Linby area. They decided to move their building to Linby. However, the building was destroyed during the move! So, a new building for the lodge was built in Linby in 1917.
Linby Baptist Church
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Kenyon felt that Linby needed a church. The town's population had grown enough to support one. The railroad superintendent allowed services to be held in the depot until a church building could be built.
In 1905, a meeting was held to discuss forming the Competine Mission Chapel. A committee was chosen to look into building a church. William Brown had left two lots in his will for a church. Mrs. Kenyon also donated a lot. Construction on the church began in 1905. It was officially opened on June 3, 1906. Reverend M. C. Alexander led the dedication.
The church's name was officially changed to Linby First Baptist Church in 1909. It was connected to the Farson church until 1910. The church building was destroyed by fire on February 2, 1958. Reverend Daniel P. Hill was the minister at that time. A new church building was built, and the first service in the new building was held on March 1, 1959. Linby Baptist Church still holds regular services each Sunday.
Linby Today
Linby was a fast-growing community around the early 1900s. This was mainly because two railroads crossed there. It was even thought that Linby might become a major town of 2,500 people or more.
Today, Linby is much smaller, but it is still a community. About 40 people live there. You can still see sidewalks that once lined the main street. Some old buildings are still standing, like the former restaurant and hotel, and a doctor's office and home. The restaurant was on the first floor, and hotel rooms were on the second.
Dr. James Stepp built his office south of the restaurant. Later, he added living quarters to it. An early history of Linby mentions that the first house moved to Linby became a boarding house. In 1902, a store building that held the post office was built.
Foundations of some early buildings can still be seen. New homes were built as the town grew. This led to the need for a school. Children used to go to schools in Belleville and Pleasant View. Thanks to Dr. Stepp's efforts, a school was built in Linby in 1915. It served the community until schools were reorganized. Now, students from Linby attend schools in the Pekin Community School District.
Roy Lewis bought the old Linby school building. It is now an addition to his garage and filling station. While Linby has become smaller, it remains a home for its residents. Barbara Hall operates a beauty parlor there. The Zepher Club, organized in 1920, is still active with 17 members.
