Ottumwa's Beginnings
Ottumwa is located in southeastern Iowa. The city drapes across the beautiful Des Moines River Valley, its earliest shelters dotting the surrounding bluffs and
hills. Ottumwa was first occupied by settlers in 1843. Prior to that, however, it
was home to three Native American villages: those of Chief Wapello, Chief Keokuk, and
Chief Appanoose.
Its name is of Native American origin, and was originally “Ottumwanoc” (“noc” being the suffix for “place.”)
For a time in 1844, Ottumwa was called “Louisville,” a name suggested by the commissioners who presided over the
opening of the territory to white settlers. The Appanoose Rapids Company (a group of pioneers who laid out the town)
objected to this name change, however, and their opinion won out. Today Ottumwa bears its original name “Ottumwa”
because of these pioneers. There is some controversy over what the Native American name “Ottumwa” actually means.
There are two opinions: place of swift water or rapids, and place of perseverance or self-will.
Ottumwa Around 1900
Around the
turn of the last century, Ottumwa had a population of approximately
22,000 people. Located in the heart of the Iowa coal fields, Ottumwa was a prosperous and progressive city.
It boasted of having seven banks with deposits of over $3,000,000, and was a major
railway center.
Among the
manufacturing businesses in operation were:
- Morrell Packing Plant
- Dain Manufacturing Company
- Manufactured hay equipment and was later sold to John Deere
- Ottumwa Iron Works
- Phillips Box Car Loader Company
- Invented a machine to load coal into box cars.
- Hardsocg Manufacturing
- Made tools for the building trades
- Little Wonder Drill Company
- This company's drills were used in projects such as the Panama Canal and the New York City subway system.
- Hall Candy Company
- 16 different cigar manufacturers
- Our cigar manufactureers employed more than 400 people. Among the
most famous were the Julius Fecht Cigar Company and Pallister Brothers.
Ottumwa Today
Today Ottumwa continues to be a
regional center for shopping, health care, education, and cultural activities. Ottumwa's population is around 25,000 people (2000 census) and growing. From
its beautiful parks to its warm, friendly people, Ottumwa beckons visitors and
residents alike to enjoy the best of life in southeastern Iowa.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 05 March 2007 )
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