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Newspaperman, early CC citizen’s 50th birthday recognized

Influencer Hildreth born 200 years ago

Azro Benjamin Franklin Hildreth, born on Feb. 29 200 years ago, is the founder of the Charles City Press.
Azro Benjamin Franklin Hildreth, born on Feb. 29 200 years ago, is the founder of the Charles City Press.

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

Throughout Charles City’s history, prominent citizens have left their mark shaping our beautiful river town. One of these men would celebrate his 50th birthday this leap year, if he wasn’t born 200 years ago — Azro Benjamin Franklin Hildreth.

The Floyd County Museum Hildreth Collection tells his story.

Born in Vermont, Hildreth tried his hand at farming, then teaching and finally learned the fine art of printing and publishing. A businessman, Hildreth saw opportunity in the West. In 1856 he sold his New England paper and traveled to Iowa where he settled in a town which was then called St. Charles.

Once settled, Hildreth wrote numerous letters to his former home, speaking highly of his discovery of this small Iowa town.

“If one can muster the resolution to leave the home of the early days, and has the energy to remove to and build a new home in this western world, I honestly believe he may find it to his advantage,” he wrote. “In my opinion, Illinois and Iowa are ever to be the two great agricultural States of the Union.”

Hildreth especially appreciated the character of the people he met, calling them “straight-forward, commonsense people.”

Upon moving to St. Charles, Hildreth wasted little time in establishing a town paper: St. Charles Republican Intelligencer. On July 31, 1856, the first copy of the Republican Intelligencer  was published. Such was the excitement to have the first written chronicles of life in St. Charles, that as the first copy of the Intelligencer rolled off the press it was auctioned and sold for $20 to the Firm of Duncan & Ferguson.

In the first issue, Hildreth wrote to his readers: “We herewith present you the first number of the St. Charles Republican Intelligencer. It is expected that you will peruse it attentively and possibly you will criticize it closely. Faultless it is not, but such as it is we offer it to the public and solicit for it a generous patronage.”

As a “newspaperman” Hildreth’s opinion became highly influential and sought after in St. Charles and Floyd County. Hildreth did not disappoint and became active in key positions throughout the community serving as a director and vice president of the First National Bank of Charles City, president of the St. Charles Cemetery Association and serving as Floyd County Draft Commissioner — to name a few.

Being a printer and publisher, education and reading materials were of great importance to Hildreth. Hildreth was active in bringing the first public library to Charles City. He also played a role in establishing a law that all public schools be supplied a Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary.

Hildreth worked to improve education not only in Charles City where he served on the school board, even acting as president, but also across the state. Despite opposition, Hildreth influenced legislative efforts creating a law requiring the State University of Iowa to admit women.

One of Hildreth’s major accomplishments helped to quite literally put Charles City on the map. Past efforts in directing a railroad through Charles City had failed. When Hildreth took up the cause, he was able to secure a land grant allowing construction of a railroad from McGregor, Iowa, to Charles City.

Another was the 1893 construction of the three-story Hildreth Hotel and Opera House at 401 N. Main St. It was destroyed by fire in the 1930s.

“The Hildreth is the finest block in Charles City and it contains the best appointed hotel and opera house in northern Iowa,” says the book “A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Volume 2” published in 1896.

Hildreth was not a native Iowan; however, his love and passion for Charles City was palpable in the vigor he took on community positions in an effort to improve our town.

Thank you and happy birthday, Hildreth.

 

 

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