Pella's early growth tied to railroads and community founders
A historical sketch recalls Pella's rise from a handful of buildings and a post office to incorporation in 1855, aided by the Des Moines Valley railroad reaching Eddyville in 1861 and Des Moines in 1866. The town became a key shipping point, then faced trade shifts after two more rail lines entered Marion county. Population around 2,530 by 1875, with detailed freight and revenue figures for the era and notes on militia Company F, Third Iowa National Guard, organized 1878. Personal reminiscences mention local teachers, classmates, and family ties to Union Corner school.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pella
Des Moines Valley Railroad
Marion County
Des Moines
Pssg i
Waz Bet
Raii
Pers
van Spanckerens
Keadles and
Howell
Miss Squires
South Pella
Hamilton
Joe Porter
Miss Haslet
Mr. Sperry
Porter Welch
Emma Burns
Mary Nossaman
Lu Griffith
van Zantes
Vander Werfs
Voorhees
Porter
Clark
MacAdoos
Thomases
Richardson
Nossaman
Kimmerl
First Union Corner School
Fev Eer
Ella
Recollections of Pella settlers and Civil War losses
A reminiscence by a Pella native born 1852 recalls early Elmwood origins, family life with ten children, and Civil War service. He notes two brothers killed, one near Goldsboro, North Carolina, and mentions local merchants and landmarks such as the Walnut Grove farm and the old Pella store, plus early town figures.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pella
Elmwood
Ergenbright
Walnut Grove Farm
Theo. Thomas
P. G. Gaass
John A. Smith
Pilkey
Goldborough
N. Carolina
Iso
Tocan
Carl Corey
B. G. Bowen
E. F. Grafe
Jame Downing
Vandermueen
Days of Pure Sunshine Reflections on Pella's Memory and Heritage
A former Pella resident recalls childhood summers with grandparents, neighbors, and the town’s Holland heritage. She describes Mrs Scholte, the Nollen and Scholte-Beard houses, church life, and school days, noting thrifty care, crafts, and the enduring sanctuary of Pella in her heart.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pella
City of Refuge
Debele H. Viersen
Harry O. Viersen
Murray Cox
Carrie
Scholte
Bonniuet
Thrmsberger
EL Mbt
Thane Pio
Nollen
Nora’ Scholte
Scholte-Beard
Lincoln Park
Chicago
John Nollen
Santa Claus
Lincoln Assassination Recall Draped Flag at Pulpit
A respondent recalls Civil War era life near Pella Iowa born 1852 recounting early schooling neighbors and farms. He notes a Lincoln assassination memory when Reverend Scholte draped his pulpit with the American flag during a Sunday service and a Democratic wife covered her face to hear the sermon.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lincoln
Dominic Scholte
Second Reformed Church
P. Bousquet
Thompson
Nollen Bank
Scholte
Also Mentioned on This Page
The
Pioneer
L. M. Donal Boyden, Iowa
Grand Old Forest
I. N. GG
J. M. Cox
W. H. H. Barker
George Ross
Isaac Griffith
G. M. Hall
John Drum
W. M. Raney
John Forest
L. M. Donai
Marshall Band
Harvey
Iowa
Boyden
M. M. George Biggsville
Ill
Pearl Benjamin English
N. Vermillion
Danville, Il
Cox, Jr
United States
Harry
Renaud
Meinardi
Flora
Rebecca
Baptist Church
van der Ploeg
A. van der Meide
Orange City
Jacob van der Meide
J. Markel
Klaus Vander Linden
A. N. Vander Linden
Tunis Veenschoten
Holland
van der Linden
van Houweling
Synhorst
Niewendorp
Veenschoten
Morgan, Groenway
Kool
Aart Kool
Cyrenus Cole
Market Farm
Knoxville
Oskaloosa
Mr. Markel
Asa Markel
Tenn
Joe Markel
Skunk River
BREE
ENNA
Marion Vanden Oever
Anthony Tysseling
Pella, Iowa
NNA Jetti
SAA
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!