Ambrose A. Call
"Asa invited me to join him on a trip through the West, Iowa or Nebraska, to look for a desirable location. Athough I had but little money, I had an abundant supply of good health and ambition and promptly accepted his invitation. I was not quite twenty-one years old at that time." Ambrose Call
In 1854, Ambrose Call left Minnesota and met his older brother, Asa Call and Asa's wife, Sarah, in Illinois. They were heading west to look for land in Iowa or Nebraska where they could start a city. When they reached Iowa City, they found a hotel room for Sarah and headed east to Fort Dodge. They were warned to stay away from land north of Fort Dodge because of unrest among the native Sioux. Nonetheless, the brothers decided to go ahead as they had heard that the land had plenty of timber and rich soil.
On July 9, 1854, the Ambrose and Asa reached the area that is now Call State Park and spent the night. The next day the brothers headed north into what is now the town of Algona. They reached the area where the courthouse now stands and Asa said, "Ambrose, I believe this is the place for our city."
On July 11, 1854, the brothers returned to Fort Dodge. Asa went onto Iowa City to register his claim. Ambrose headed back to "Call's Grove" with William Smith. The two men built the first log cabin in the area. Asa rejoined him for a short time and then went back to Iowa City to fetch his wife, Sarah.
Ambrose went onto become a newspaper publisher and a government mail contractor. He also farmed over 2000 acres of land. Ambrose married Nancy Henderson in 1859. They had seven children.
In 1854, Ambrose Call left Minnesota and met his older brother, Asa Call and Asa's wife, Sarah, in Illinois. They were heading west to look for land in Iowa or Nebraska where they could start a city. When they reached Iowa City, they found a hotel room for Sarah and headed east to Fort Dodge. They were warned to stay away from land north of Fort Dodge because of unrest among the native Sioux. Nonetheless, the brothers decided to go ahead as they had heard that the land had plenty of timber and rich soil.
On July 9, 1854, the Ambrose and Asa reached the area that is now Call State Park and spent the night. The next day the brothers headed north into what is now the town of Algona. They reached the area where the courthouse now stands and Asa said, "Ambrose, I believe this is the place for our city."
On July 11, 1854, the brothers returned to Fort Dodge. Asa went onto Iowa City to register his claim. Ambrose headed back to "Call's Grove" with William Smith. The two men built the first log cabin in the area. Asa rejoined him for a short time and then went back to Iowa City to fetch his wife, Sarah.
Ambrose went onto become a newspaper publisher and a government mail contractor. He also farmed over 2000 acres of land. Ambrose married Nancy Henderson in 1859. They had seven children.
Fast Facts: Ambrose Call established the first newspaper in Kossuth county. It was called the Pioneer Press. Ambrose and Asa purchased the printing press (needed to print the paper) from a man in Des Moines for $475.00. They brought it to Algona on an ox cart.
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