Mulberry Center

Mulberry Center

by

Martin E. Nass

Philip H. Morris was born in Wisconsin, went to common school during the winter months, and worked on the family farm during the spring, summer, and fall. When he was 19 he joined Capt. Montgomery's company, which was engaged in border warfare on the Kansas border. This conflict was to separate the free forces from the slave forces. Morris vigorously opposed slavery and nearly lost his life several times. After Kansas was admitted as a free state, he returned to Wisconsin and married Fanny Whitney in 1863.

The couple moved to Minnesota to farm and later moved to Wright County, settling near the community of Waterman. Morris served as postmaster of Waterman. During this time, much of the land was covered with sloughs and open prairie. Most of the trading was done in Webster City, especially after the train arrived in 1869. The Morrises decided to move two miles south to Section 6, Blairsburg Township, Hamilton County. The 1902 Biographical Record of Hamilton County reported that Morris named the area Phillipsburg and assisted in getting a school built.

Mrs. Morris' granddaughter related later that her grandmother wept for days after the move because of the barrenness of the prairie and the lack of trees. To remedy the situation, Mrs. Morris ordered mulberry trees to be planted all around the farm. Later residents told that at times the barn could not be seen from the road through the trees. Some walnut trees were also planted. At this time, the school became known as the Mulberry School.

Other families moved into the area. Most notably was the J. C. Miller family, who lived north of the Mulberry Farm. The Morris farm became the center of social activities including strawberry festivals, quilting bees, and other socials. These were reported in the Hamilton Freeman during the 1870's and 1880's. Mrs. Morris continued as postmistress of Waterman. Her son, Asa, would ride his horse to Waterman, pick up the mail, and deliver it to Webster City each day. The Freeman reported that he became lost in a blizzard on one occasion. He gave his horse free-rein and it carried him back to his home, to the great relief of his mother.

The Freeman reported that travel in the winter was difficult as snow would pile up, and often the team would go right over the fences. Mr. Miller reported that it was common for all settlers in Mulberry Center to agree to go to Webster City together in the morning and return home together in the evening, which allowed for one way traffic for the sleds This was a fine example of pioneer cooperation. Coal was hauled from the Stockdale mine south of Webster City. The settlers went in pairs taking two days for the trip. The coal sold for $2 per ton. They went together to help each other in case of trouble.

A church was organized in 1886 for the many settlers in the area. Services of the Evangelical United Brethren Church were first held in the Mulberry schoolhouse. The church had 52 members at the time. The next year, 1887, a Sunday School was organized. J. C. Miller served as the first class leader, a post he continued as long as he lived in the neighborhood. Rev. Ebenezer Church was the first pastor. He was followed by Will Adams and Byron (Boy) Clark.

The group decided they wanted to build a proper church. There was barely enough money to pay the minister's salary, so the members realized building funds would be difficult to find. A building committee was formed, led by J. C. Miller and Mrs. Morris. Miller donated the acre of land at the corner of his farm for the church. The committee went everywhere raising money and came up with $525. Since the major shopping area was Webster City, they approached most of the merchants. Those contributing to the church included: J. W. Evans, L. A. McMurray, Charles Arthur, A. C. Swain, Kamrar & Boeye, J. P. Clagg, H. A. Crandall, J. D. Hunter, D. D. Chase, R. I. Burleson, S. J. Root, A. J. Brewer, J. W. Young, Louis Frank, and B. F. Derr.

The March, 1887, issue of the Freeman reported, "The church is still lacking funds. Anyone with a dollar to spare is requested to contribute to our new edifice." Using donated labor to dig the foundation, put in stones, and construct the church, the one-room building without a basement was erected in 1890 at a cost of $950. At the time of the dedication, the indebtedness was $231. The church was named the Mulberry Center Church.

On a hot afternoon in August, 1912, eight girls met in the Mulberry Center Church to organize a girls' society to help with the church finances. Some members wanted to name the club the Helping Hand Club; others wanted the name Willing Workers. The club then voted to call the club the Mulberry Center Helping Hands Club.

Officers elected at the first meeting were: Nellie Campbell, president.; Rosy Miller, vice-president.; Bertha Hoffman, secretary; and Nellie Caquelin, treasurer. The membership fee was 25 cents with a 5-cent assessment for each meeting. At a later time members paid 10 cents per meeting, and the initial fee was dropped.

After a time the club became so popular that some ladies wanted to join, so the club voted to let them become members too. Mrs. Ed Miller and Mrs. W. C. Camp were the first two to join. Later, other ladies joined.

The club had various projects: gas lights installed in the church, decorated the church interior, bought new song books, pieced quilts, tied comforters, and sewed rag rugs. They even unloaded gravel for Ed Miller and shelled beans for the Campbells. The girls charged 50 cents for an afternoon's work, but most people gave them a dollar.

To raise more money they held bazaars, oyster suppers, ice cream socials, and box socials at the homes of members. They put on two plays at the hall at Prairie Queen, located one mile west of the church. Over the years, the membership grew to 37 members. In 1962 the club took on the task of serving meals for the Farm Progress Show.