The town of Lowland was begun in 1870 by the Burlington and Missouri Railroad whose workers termed the area  a low land.  Two years later it became Farragut named after an officer in the Civil War.  In 1878 Farragut was incorporated on land owned by U. D. Coy.  The town was settled; businesses and churches were established; a school erected and the railroad provided a modern method of transportation.  The first town hall was built in 1893 costing $1600 in a shared agreement with the newly formed Odd Fellows Lodge which conducted meetings upstairs.  It was the only westside building to survive the fire later in the decade and is still standing on the southwest corner of main street.  Town water was pumped by a 60-foot windmill from two town wells during that era, but was not capable of stopping the fire which engulfed the westside of main street in August 1899.  Buildings and businesses owned by Hinkle, Jacobson, Stitt, Coleman, Chambers, Taylor, Campbell, Lyle and Robbins were destroyed.  Records show that most quickly rebuilt brick structures, secure in the growing future of the town.

The 1900’s brought progress and change with the rebuilding of the town.  Rural Free Delivery service from the Farragut Post Office relocated in half of a small bank started by H. Rogers, covered 26 route miles, 154 houses and a population of 693.  The town acquired water works for fire protection at the cost of $7,500.

In 1911 Farragut Power and Light installed electric lights.  Many of the town’s main street merchants and community-minded citizens were stockholders of this venture.  J. J. Whisler was a director of the telephone company and a stockholder of the power company.  In 1929 he merged the two companies becoming the sole owner.  At this time a town council member received payment of one dollar per meeting and the marshal was paid ten dollars per month!

1912 saw the wooden sidewalks being replaced downtown as a heavy thunderstorm flooded the south half of town and the sidewalks had floated away.  Families were evacuated by boat.  The first home in town connected to the water system built in the early twenties was owned by Dr. Stewart.  A light atop the new water tower was a beacon for miles.  Residents took part in box suppers, school activities, and social celebrations during this time of growth.  Guy Wilcoxson, the town’s early lamplighter then marshal and street commissioner, bought a machine to show movies on Saturdays on the street.  The Fremont Wool Growers Association shipped a carload of wool to Chicago from Farragut.  The bank deposits in Farragut were at an all-time high of $637,234 which placed them ahead of Essex as the wealthiest town in the state per capita.  Curb and gutters were added along main street.

In 1923 a Model T Ford fire truck was purchased by the council.  The businesses along main street all purchased flags to be flown in front of their stores.  The Community picnic was started in 1924 and has continued on a regular basis to the present day in various forms.  The Federated Woman’s Club was also started during this period.  The Community Club started in 1925 with the sole purpose to get a road built that would follow the south side of the railroad tracks to Shenandoah.  The Klu Klux Klan had several meetings in the area in the mid-twenties.  The town installed a sanitary sewer system.

The 1930s brought many changes to the main street of Farragut.  An electric sign was erected over Roberts’ grocery store.  A new oil station was installed at the south end of main street.  This was the seventh station in town.  Mr. & Mrs. George Durfey opened the hotel.  Others must have noticed the property of the town for in 1931 five businesses were robbed - Herriman’s Grocery; Hasting’s Café; Farm Bureau Service Co.; Mascher’s Garage; and Shepherd Drug.  The robbers were never caught.  An all-weather road was constructed which caused much interest and crushed rock was put on all the Farragut streets.  The CB&O cancelled the freight trains with the passenger trains now carrying freight.  During the early months of 1936 below zero temperatures cancelled train service for a week.  A coal shortage caused many problems.  In 1938 the first King and Queen were chosen during the Community picnic, a tradition which continued to the mid-60’s.  In 1939 the Community Club was formed to promote the town and continues to do so today.  New telephones were being installed which would automatically call Central with the lifting of the receiver.

In 1940 a devastating flood occurred after a 5.5-inch rain in June.  Mud was reported to be up to 17 inches in the Vaughn Service Station (later Supernaw’s).  In 1943 young men and women were in the armed services throughout the country and in foreign nations.  Those at home were still involved in the war effort with the start of the War Mothers Organization in 1944 to help those in need.  Farragut experienced ration stamps and food shortages as did other towns in the county.  In 1946 a reception and welcome for returned service men and women was held at the school.  Over 400 names of veterans were being engraved on Carrara glass to form an honor roll which was placed on the lawn of the Farragut School.  The Gold Star Post and the Auxiliary Veteran Legion Post began at this time.

The baseball team was given new uniforms and a lighted baseball field by the Community Club.  The Council donated the old park pavilion to the Community Club who used the material in it for bleachers at the ball park.

Iowa Power and Light announced a new high line running from Shenandoah through Farragut to Riverton to be completed.  The CB&O train service discontinued mail service which was taken over by trucks.  The Vocational Ag building, an old prisoner of war building from Clarinda was disassembled and moved:  Orlan Gilbert reassembled it west of the main school building.  City Hall was remodeled in 1950.  Iowa Power was offering a reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the person responsible for shooting out the street lights.  With no local paper after 1952, residents were inclined to look to the Shenandoah Evening Sentinel for Farragut news.  By 1956 Farragut telephone service dial phones.  In 1959 FARRAGUT was printed in 10-foot letters on the roof of H & K Chevrolet with yellow paint to be visible at an altitude of 3,000 feet.

In 1964 Daylight Savings Time became countrywide and went into effect in April 1966.  The new highway was being poured between Farragut and Riverton.  The town was awarded a grant for a new sewage plant in 1966 and a year later the new waste water treatment plant was in operation.  New federal housing was also ready for residents.  On November 7^th a slight earthquake was felt.

Keith Bickett, local funeral director, informed the board of supervisors that under new regulations, the ambulance service would be discontinued in 1970.  Voting machines were now used in elections.  Population figures showed growth with 521 residents who were making preparations for the centennial.

A new fire station was built between the car wash and Settell’s on the west side of main street.  It also housed a community room which could be rented for private use.  Many town gatherings were held here.  Dean and Kathryn Wing started a trailer court on the southeast corner of town.  Housing was becoming a problem due to the opening of the Eaton plant in Shenandoah.  Houses were being built to the northeast on both sides of Webster St.  A full-time superintendent for the maintenance and upkeep of the water and sewer plants was hired.

The Farragut Development Corporation was formed in an attempt to bring a doctor to town.  A medical clinic on the corner of main street across from Settell’s Motor Company was built by Orlan Gilbert with community donations.  Dr Schaaf bought the clinic and practiced in town several days a week.  A drugstore reopened at this time.  New underground telephone lines were buried around town.  A shelter house was constructed in the park with funds and labor from the Community Club. The baseball field was named Hackett Field following the death of longtime resident, teacher, and coach, Dale Hackett.

Surface water problems continued to occur in the southeast part of town.  The original “Lowlands” became a reminder of what the early pioneers found in Farragut.  Finally, ditches were dug along the streets to provide better drainage.  The medical clinic closed but the Hamburg Clinic opened a satellite office on the west side of main street providing much needed services for several years.  A water tower was constructed in 1982 and the former medical building became a City Hall.  Marilyn Phipps became the part-time clerk.  In 1987 Midwest Cable came to town.  Pagers were added in the fire department and a new truck was purchased in 1988.  Robert Henstorf retired as president after 55 years of service to the bank; at his open house he received a plaque from the council commending his 31 years of service as town clerk.  The Fire Department began a Junior Fire Fighters organization and a van was purchased for the First Alert calls by the certified medical technicians.  Tom Shull and the Council are in the process of a dewatering project to alleviate the water drainage problems which hinder the town.  The discussion of a sharing agreement for the use of a city planner is also underway.  The Community Club at the 1995 Community Day reinstated the tradition of King and Queen when Sonny Headly and Julie James were crowned.

It is the pride and spirit of our individual citizens working together which will take the community of Farragut into the 21^st century.    

 

 

Source:  “Thumbprints in Time” – Fremont County, Iowa 1996