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History Johnson County Iowa
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y
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THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTO*<LfNOX
TILDE N fOUNP* : IQWI
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WESTERN HISTORICAL PRESS
PUBLISHERS
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY IOWA
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LEADING EVENTS IN
JOHNSON COUNTY
IOWA HISTORY
y
By
CHARLES RAY AURNER
Clever \\c c
Y(X> J
CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA
WESTERN HISTORICAL PRESS
NINETEEN TWELVE
Jigijizetl tyX^OOS
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
731631)
ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
R 1916 L
COPYRIGHT, 1912
BY WESTERN HISTORICAL PRESS
THE TORCH PRESS
CIDAR RAPIDS
IOWA
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TO THE PIONEER, WHOSE DARING AND FAITHFULNESS
MADE THIS COUNTY A POSSIBLE HOME, AND TO THE
VETERAN WHO BORE THE BRUNT OF BATTLE TO HONOR
THAT HOME, THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
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PUBLISHERS ' PREFACE
This volume, containing an account of the leading events in
the history of Johnson county, Iowa, is sent out with the hope
that it will, in a measure, fill a long felt want. Heretofore
the citizens of this fair county have had no permanent and
adequate record of the struggles and trials of the early set-
tlers. Nor has there been published heretofore in intelligent
and condensed form a comprehensive history of the county.
The publishers feel under obligation to the author, Professor
Aurner, for the splendid work he has done in the writing and
the compilation of this publication. In his work he had the
hearty assistance and cooperation of many of those who came
here in the early days. To all who have aided in this work our
thanks are given. Especial mention must be made of the late
Hon. Gilbert R. Irish, whose advice and counsel were of ma-
terial assistance, and without whose contributions of early
historical matter it would not have been possible to present
this work in so complete a form. We beg leave to express the
hope that the work will be found of interest and of value to all
those at present in the county as well as to those who may
make this place their home in the future.
We also desire to express our appreciation to those who by
their subscriptions to the volumes have made this publication
possible.
The Publishers
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AUTHOR'S PREFACE
It was in the year of the one hundredth anniversary of
American independence that the attention of the members of
the congress of the United States was turned for a brief inter-
val to the interests of local history. In March, 1876, a joint reso-
lution was passed which suggested the propriety of the citizens
of the different communities — the township, the county, or the
village — assembling on the following Fourth of July to hear
the reading of their local history from the first settlement. The
governor of Iowa, then the Honorable Samuel J. Kirkwood,
seconded the efforts of the national authority and issued his
proclamation in accordance therewith.
It has been said, and not without reason, that "the Ameri-
can people have rarely found time to study or make provision
for their own local records.' ' However, there were a number
of citizens in this county who were so much a part of the com-
munity that they left upon the printed page many facts which
would otherwise have been entirely unavailable. It is from
these few that the very earliest records are obtained, those
personal accounts written to satisfy their own desires, or at
the request of an interested compiler. When official records
began, an element of permanency entered into the local history
that previous to that time was not possible. It was then that
the names of those who formed the first organization for the
local government became a repetition of the names of the lead-
ing citizens who afterwards left a summary of their exper-
iences.
Frequent references are made to contributors of data of that
time, and where they have been quoted, due credit is given in
the proper place. Aside from reminiscences, which cannot be
otherwise than personal, the material incorporated in this
volume has been gathered from the public records of the coun-
ty, city, school, church, and other institutions. The thousands
of pages in newspaper files, have furnished many local items,
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x AUTHOR'S PREFACE
and the manuscripts of individuals have been a source of inter-
esting data.
There are limits to the details that may be incorporated, in
the consulting of records, and all may not agree upon the selec-
tion, but in every instance these have been consulted person-
ally, if within reach. If there appears to be a repetition in
certain portions of paragraphs it. is for the purpose of indi-
cating the connections, since to group subject matter under
the proper headings and avoid any confusion is somewhat
difficult, when it has been collected from so many sources. It
may be mentioned that in some instances the desired informa-
tion has been unobtainable because of deficient records or fail-
ure to secure any reply to correspondence. The time is fast
approaching when the records of even the smallest institution
will be considered of value for as the founders pass away
those who follow will have no definite information, as to how
it began. This may be well illustrated in the average country
church, where in many instances there is a history of fifty
years without an item on record.
The question of proper names is one of serious interest.
The various forms in which these are found upon the books
make it difficult to determine the correct one. Where the fam-
ily name is still written an attempt has been made to follow
the form now used unless the name is in a quoted article. In
the latter instance it will be used as found.
It is proper to offer in this connection the sincere apprecia-
tion of the favors that have come from all who have furnished
assistance or favored in any way the efforts of the writer in
gathering information for this volume. Had sources not been
placed at his disposal, and had many not been willing to render
aid the results would have been less satisfactory, and the labor
largely increased.
Clarence Ray Aurner
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CONTENTS
Chapter
I.
Chapter
II.
Chapter
III.
Chapter
IV.
Chapter
V.
Chapter
VI.
Chapter
VII.
Chapter
VIII.
Chapter
IX.
Chapter
X.
Chapter
XI.
Chapter
XII.
Chapter
XIII.
Chapter
XIV.
Chapter
XV.
Chapter
XVI.
Chapter
XVII.
Chapter
XVIII.
Chapter
XIX.
Chapter
XX.
Chapter
XXI.
Chapter
XXII
Chapter
XXIII.
Chapter
XXIV.
Chapter
XXV
Chapter
XXVI.
Chapter XXVII.
Pioneer Conditions
Typical Pioneers and Pioneer Experi-
ences
The Old Settlers — Their Organization
The Indian and His Claims .
County Organization and Government
The Establtshment and Organization
. op Townships
Early Events in the New Capital of
the Territory ....
The Incorporated City .
Towns and Townships .
The First Roads ....
Ferries and Bridges
Stage Routes and Railroads .
The Public Schools
College and University Beginnings
Methodist Churches
Presbyterian Churches .
The Catholic Churches
The Lutheran and Unitarian Churches
The Baptist, Christian, and Episcopal
Churches
The Congregational and United Breth
ren Churches ....
Other Religious Organizations
The Amish People in Johnson County
Early Revenues and Real Estate
Mills and Live Stock
Early Industries and the County Fair
The Enlarged Commercial Outlook
The Banks op the County .
18
42
55
62
81
117
139
157
170
186
205
236
271
295
311
341
349
360
372
383
387
393
413
427
437
445
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xii CONTENTS
Chapter XXVIII. Railroad Bonds — Public Utilities —
Comparing op Industries . . 458
Chapter XXIX. The Early Courts — Early Mar-
riages 477
Chapter XXX. The County Agent, the County
Buildings, and Some Disturbances
in which many were concerned . 492
Chapter XXXI. Johnson County in the Civil War . 505
Chapter XXXII. At Home and in the Field . . * 525
Chapter XXXIII. The Spanish-American War and the
G. A. R. Reunion .... 540
Chapter XXXIV. The Newspapers 556
Chapter XXXV. Entertainments — Lectures — Li-
braries 569
Chapter XXXVI. Societies and Clubs for Special
Study 580
Chapter XXXVII. Fraternal Organizations . . . 598
Chapter XXXVIII. The County in the Nation and State 617
Chapter XXXIX. Miscellaneous Items — The Poor
and Dependent — John Brown —
Migrations — And the Storm that
Killed Jesse Berry .... 632
References and Notes 649
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Gilbert R. Irish Frontispiece
Philip Clark 4
Ely Myers 4
Gilbert's Trading House .. 5
Pioneer Cabins 8
Old Settlers Meeting, 1910 13
Home of a Pioneer 15
First Court House 20
First Court House in Iowa City, 1842 .... 21
Mesdames Louis, Wagner, Shinn, Baker, Sueppel, Basch-
nagel, and hohenschuh 24
Old Cord Bedstead 31
Philip Clark 32
Old German Bedstead 37
Old Settlers Meeting 48
Map — Johnson County as Established in 1837 ... 56
Map — Indian Villages, Trading Houses, and First Sur-
veyed Towns 57
Building where First Legislature in Iowa Met ... 63
Old Court House 65
Monument Marking Seat op Government .... 70
General Store at Shueyville 83
Old Bowersock Homestead 87
Map — Johnson County as Defined in 1839 ... 95
Map — Johnson County as Defined in 1845 ... 96
Map — Election Precincts in 1840 97
Map — Election Precincts in 1841 98
Map — Election Precincts in 1843 99
Map — Big Grove, the First Civil Township, 1845 . . 100
Map — Civil Townships as Defined in 1845 and 1846 . 101
Map — Civil Townships after Changes in 1847 . . . 102
Map — Civil Townships after Creation of Union in 1853 . 103
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xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Map — Civil Townships after Changes in 1854 . . . 104
Map — Civil Townships after Creation of Oxford in 1856 . 105
Map — Civil Townships after Creation of Graham and
Fremont in 1857 106
Map — Civil Townships after Creation of Hardin and
Sharon in 1858 107
Map — Civil Townships after Creation of Madison in 1860 108
Map — Civil Townships in 1873 109
Map — Civil Townships in 1911 110
Old Settlers at River Junction, 1908 . . . 120
Evolution of Iowa State Capitol 122
First Slab Marking Seat of Government in Iowa City . 125
An Early View of the State University . . . . 133
Clinton Street, Iowa City 141
Clinton Street, Iowa City 143
Clinton Street, Iowta City 145
Old Palmer House 151
Early Map of Iowa City, 1854 155
Johnson County Fair 156
Views of Solon 174
Bird's Eye View from West Side, Towa City . . . 222
* * Muscatine Opposition ' ' 235
Scenes and Buildings in Iowa City 238
School at Shueyville 242
Old Fashioned Sorghum Mill 248
Lone Tree, Iowa 255
Old School Building, North Liberty 263
St. Mary's School, Iowa Ctty 264
Grammar School, Iowa City 267
Iowa City Academy 269
Facsimile Proceedings of Meeting of County Board, May
15, 1858 271
Campus, State University, at an Early Date . . . 273
Administration Building, State University . . . 275
Along the Iowa River 277
Administration Building of University Hospital . . 280
SvendiIIall 283
Medical Building Burned in 1901 286
General View of Campus, S. IT. L 286
Dental Building 288
College Procession 289
Kappa Sigma Fraternity Building 292
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xv
Old Mechanics Hall and First Mercy Hospital . . . 293
First M. E. Church, Iowa City 303
School House and Churches, Lone Tree .... 307
Old Stone Church, Iowa City 312
Swank Church and Cemetery, Fremont Township . . 315
Views in Oxford 331
Old St. Mary's Church 342
U. B. Church, Shueyville 380
Old Capitol Building of Iowa 401
Old Stone Building, Coralville 407
Coral Mills 413
Wind Mill at "Bloomington" 415
Coralville Dam 418
Old Terrell Mill 420
Terrell's Mill 423
Facsimile Early Marriage License 444
Churches at Iowa City 446
Electric Power Plant at Coralville 465
Zimmerman Steel Plant 467
Zimmerman Steel Plant 469
Wm. C. F. Zimmerman in ins Office 471
Interior View Zimmerman Steel Plant .... 473
View of Zimmerman Steel Foundry 474
View of Zimmerman Machine Shop 475
Views in North Liberty 484
22d Iowa Infantry at Reunion, Iowa City, Sept. 22-23, 1886 542
Iowa City Library 574
The Elks Building, Iowa City 606
At the Home of Governor Ktrkwood, 1892 .... 622
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Mrs. Gilbert R. Irish
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CHAPTEE I
Pioneer Conditions
/^■OTJLD the pioneers of the county be brought together from
^^ all the past and be heard at one time the topics of the con-
versation would probably fall upon the days of their arrival
in this unsettled portion of the country called, soon after,
Johnson county, Wisconsin territory. All the arrivals had
the same experiences, if these are considered as those of
' ' emigrants seeking a new home. ' J They would tell practically
the same story of the trip from the home in Ohio, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, New York, and possibly Maine, with a few from
Virginia and Kentucky. They spent weeks in making the
trip. They brought stock, driving the cattle along with the
train of wagons, and leisurely making the journey with the
intention of remaining when they finally reached their desti-
nation. It may have been that some of the "men folks" had
come on in advance and made ready a log cabin, or it may have
been, which is more likely, that some neighbor in the east had
settled somewhere in this community and the family would
take in one more until a cabin could be thrown together from
the rough logs of the timber, which then was plentiful enough
for such purposes.
The corn was shared, the shelter divided, and no one thought
of pay for such small services. The mill, if one was at hand,
was the common property of all, since they must frequently
be their own millers and eat the product without any "fancy
patent" tag attached. Faith, defined as "the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," was upper-
most in the minds of these people. This is one of the most
impressive features of the westward movement, but the ad-
venturer is not the individual that interests us at this time ;
the steady and determined, unwavering attitude of the pioneer
is the attraction that appeals to us ; that is what excites our
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2 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
admiration, and secures for him our profound respect, while
we cannot attempt to solve some of his perplexing riddles of
an economic nature, and his willingness to plant for those who
now reap. The very opportunities placed before him must
have been perplexing, if we have any sense of his environ-
ment. All the world, as far as it then appeared, to select from
and not a soul to hinder; all the natural resources of the un-
broken land, the riches of fields yet untouched ; the promises
of riches unstinted, if he but used the resources at his dis-
posal. How he did, what he did, and why can best be answered
by himself, in what he has said, written, or done to make the
record of his actions capable of interpretation.
To fix upon some line of attack in his new field of activity
the pioneer spent much time in consideration of the problem
confronting him, and laid his plans in advance. He came pre-
pared to make immediate improvements on the soil that it
might at the earliest minute produce something to feed his
family. If he came in the fall of the year he must expect to
buy, borrow, or secure by barter something to keep him until
spring. It was often possible to find the native supply of
game sufficient to furnish the meat for the winter, yet this was
not a safe proposition for in many instances the winter was
too severe to find this game, and some of those first settlers
tell today that they had no means of securing the abundant
supply that could be had otherwise.
Since that distant day the wonderful richness of the prairie
land in its game products has become a word only. In the
language of one of Iowa's gifted writers: "The creeping on
of civilization during the last seventy years has wrought many
marvelous changes. The man with the buckskin suit, the long
rifle, the double barreled shotgun, with the sheath knife and
the hand axe dangling at his belt, silent during the busy hours
except when spoken to; yet garrulous enough when over an
evening pipe lighted at the camp fire, has passed away from
the Middle West. If he exists at all, it is in the land of the
setting sun or on the borders of the frozen lakes of the almost
limitless Northwest.
"Iowa was originally part of the territory which formed a
grand hunting ground for the Red Man, with his primitive
weapons and traps, and later for the pale face with the more
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PIONEER CONDITIONS 3
modern weapons with which to kill and to capture, without
thought of the morrow, all food and fur-bearing animals com-
ing within range of his deadly gun and the lure of the con-
cealed steel trap.
1 'The fur and food bearing animals in that early day were
described in a long list, as the turkey, pheasant, wild goose,
brant, duck, squirrel, deer, otter, beaver, wolf, mink, muskrat,
raccoon, and an occasional black bear.
"Let a stream be reserved where the beaver can build a dam
and cut food woods to his heart's content; where the buffalo
may range, where the deer, the antelope, and the elk may herd
and where every animal known in former generations may
find a safe refuge from the murderous hand of man. To carry
a war of extermination on the four-footed and winged inhabi-
tants of the earth is a crime, the effects of which will be surely
felt in all coming generations ; for surely this blood wantonly
shed will be required at the hands of the American people. ' ' x
Some such experience as described by the writer above must
have been the every day life of the pioneer as he came and
went in the uncultivated and untamed prairies and woods of
the newly acquired territory of the Black Hawk Purchase and
neighboring lands. It is not possible to picture all the indi-
vidual undertakings of the first settlers ; a few will be typical
of all the others. They would tell much the same story if
called into council in the present days: a log house of one
room, often filled to overflowing to accommodate the new
arrivals ; the plainest of garments, home-spun, home-made, and
food of little variety. They traveled long distances to secure
supplies, the ox team making the trip anything but swift.
The first products of the soil had to be carried to a distant
market by any conveyance available, and the receipt of pay
was in goods only, no cash being offered. Certain kinds of
goods only at times could be secured by barter, cash in trade
being demanded by the merchant for some supplies which the
settler must have or he must do without them until cash was
in hand. He crossed the trackless prairies and forded the
bridgeless streams, taking all risks of narrow escapes in order
to keep his family from extreme want and to make a way for
the development of the real property to which he hoped to
gain a perfect title when the proper time should arrive. His
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4 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
citizenship was secure in the minds of all his righteous neigh-
bors and he had only to demand his just rights to get them
before a jury of his peers. There may have been times when
he felt insecure in regard to his property because of the pe-
riods of outlawry ; there may have been events in which he
took part to rid the county of lawless and reckless characters
who would not fear the civil law because it could not be made
effective in his case. If the full history of the individual
Philip Clark
Founder of the First Home in
Johnson Co.
Eli Myers
Who came to Johnson County
in 1836
could be told he would not in all cases feel that he was inno-
cent of any transgression, although he acted at the time up to
his knowledge of what he thought to be the best thing to do
under the circumstances. The stories of this period are not
all entertaining even if exciting, and they need to be told
briefly enough to save the feelings of any survivor, and yet
fully enough to tell the truth.
When the first settlers set out for the new lands in what is
now the county of Johnson, then included in land recently
purchased from the Indians by the United States government,3
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PIONEER CONDITIONS 5
they made for the crossing of the Mississippi at the point
nearest to the desired destination. This then was either Rock
Island, or Bloomington, or Rockingham lying approximately
in the same relation to the point of locating.
Two men are mentioned as breaking the way into this county
in the fall of 1836. They had left Indiana and made their way
to Rock Island, expecting to settle somewhere in that vicinity,
but owing to the chance meeting of a trader farther west they
moved out from the river town across the country to the valley
Built 1837 on Corner Section 35, East Lucas Township
of the Iowa river and here began the settlement of the county
of Johnson, then not organized by the territorial legislature
of Wisconsin territory, of which Iowa was a part. Both these
men, Eli Myers and Philip Clark, became leading citizens of
the county, their names appearing in many different connec-
tions as county officials and leaders in public affairs for many
years after their arrival and settlement. If their names are
frequently mentioned with a few others it is because a few men
of the time did the actual work of the entire community in the
necessary official duties of the occasion which while limited in
the beginning served to keep the record straight to some ex-
tent. It was about this time that the portion of land known
as the Keokuk Reserve, lying along either side of the Iowa
river from the mouth up to where the line of the Black Hawk
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6 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Purchase crossed it became government property. (See Map
A.) One John Gilbert kept a trading house in the Indian
country lying beyond the limits of this territory on the Iowa
river for the American Fur Company, as the name of the firm
ran. He fell in with the two travelers who were seeking a new
land for their future homes and piloted them into the valley
where he kept the trading house among the Indians. They
followed his suggestion and came from the Mississippi to the
Iowa with him. Satisfied with the future outlook in the vicin-
ity they made claim to a tract of land which lies now in Pleas-
ant Valley township, near the village of Morfordsville. This
was in the fall of 1836. They returned to their Indiana home
for the purpose of making ready to remove here in the fol-
lowing spring to take possession and to begin active improve-
ments on these claims. It was customary to arrive here in
time to plant enough land to produce provisions for the
following year. This meant the sowing of crop on new break-
ing, or of planting corn, which was probably the first crop to
be grown, if the season was well advanced, which would be
the case if they left the former home in the spring of 1837.
They brought with them, of course, the utensils of agriculture
and the needful seed. The plows were either ready to use or
they were " stocked' J here, which means that they brought the
irons with them and then mounted the irons on the wood work
themselves with tools in their possession or borrowed from a
neighbor. The " old-timer ' ' often uses terms to express him-
self that are not now in use. One of the oldest men in this
part of Iowa used this word "stocked," and it was necessary
to have him explain himself. He said that he brought the
plow irons from Davenport in 1837 and borrowed the tools to
mount them from another pioneer who had preceded him only
by a few weeks. While he was doing this the surveyors of
1837 came along with their full crew of assistants setting out
the township survey for the government of the United States.8
In making claims the limit was indefinite since section lines
were not yet run and the extent seemed to be so far as the
claimant wished to go or until he found some other man join-
ing him.4
In the same spring of 1837 another Indiana man, Pleasant
Harris, afterward known as Judge Harris, came to this at-
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PIONEER CONDITIONS 7
tractive region to make settlement. His nephew, James Mas-
sey, came with him bringing his wife and child. Both of these
made claims, the nephew on the west side of the river opposite
the claim of Eli Myers. Pleasant Harris then returned to
Indiana to bring his family, which he did the same summer, and
with him came others of his relatives and acquaintances. This
suggests the study of the causes of migration or the move-
ments from certain states to other states, and here is an ex-
ample of a movement that is typical. When one went into a
new territory and the community heard of the remarkable
advantages there the report had an immediate effect upon the
ones who remained at home. The uneasiness produced by the
going of the friends and neighbors soon resulted in an addi-
tional exodus to the same neighborhood in the new state or
territory. This is still going on among the people of the
Middle West, especially among those of American parentage.
The foreigner, or the descendant of the foreigner, holds his
farm and pays for it, while the American moves on to follow
his former neighbor, hoping to better himself in a new place.
This may be wise since it settles new lands and furnishes
usually the best material with which to begin the process of
developing a new country.
In the group referred to above we find the names of Dr. I. N.
Lesh, Jacob, John, and Henry Earhart, all of whom figure in
many later events of the county, Bill Duvall, Tom Bradley, the
Walker brothers, Samuel and James, Joseph and Henry, Eli
Summy, William Wilson, Henry Felkner, and S. C. Trow-
bridge, the latter two being among the first county officers.
William Sturgis, later one of the county commissioners,
and G. W. Hawkins and families settled about this same
time in the southern part of the county. Later in the season
John Trout, E. Hilton, A. D. Stephens, who had a claim after-
ward on the county seat quarter, Samuel Mulholland and John
Kight, whose names appear on the land afterward set apart
for the capital of the territory, settled in the county. There
was a town laid out during this summer on the banks of the
Iowa river on the present site of River Junction. It never
became anything but a town on paper, but had the Indian name
of Sepe-nah-mo, or Sepanamo, as sometimes spelled. An old
resident of the neighborhood, who is now past ninety-two, says
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8
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
she called it, or the same site at least, " Stump Town." 6 John
Gilbert probably had visions of his town becoming of some
consequence, but it failed to meet his expectations. Since
then there have been numerous towns on paper, and many
have purchased lots of the promoters without ever seeing or
realizing the prospective results. The process of erecting a
log cabin was familiar enough to the settlers of that time and
it is decidedly interesting to listen to the description as given
by one who knew all about it.
Cabin construction in the days of the pioneers, exemplified
ff*7^
Vail, \r \i ^^T^TtIHjJw^^^^K s
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Pioneer Cabins
the old adage that "necessity is the mother of invention," as
it was made of any desired dimensions, without nails, screws,
bolts, or bars, iron of any description being entirely wanting
beyond the tools with which he labored. Fireplaces and what
looked like brick chimneys were as often made without as with
any lime or brick. The preliminary work being done of cut-
ting the logs and getting them on the ground, the owner made
a " raising,' ' which meant the summoning of the entire neigh-
borhood for many miles distant. The jug was always a prime
consideration at these gatherings, and after it was sampled
the work began. Four of the best axmen were placed at the
corners of the proposed house, whose business it was to match
and adjust the logs as they were rolled into place under the
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PIONEER CONDITIONS 9
direction of the "boss." One window and one door were
allowed generally, and the last two logs laid at the top of the
house were made to project on both ends, and in these exten-
sion notches were cut to hold a log laid in them. At regular
intervals from and parallel to this cross beam other timbers
were laid, one above the other, making rafters for the roof.
Upon these the clapboards were placed, very much the same
as modern shingles, only fewer courses, as the clapboards were
about four feet long. Each course was secured in its place by
means of a heavy pole placed directly over the rafter beneath
and held in its place by means of braces. The first at the
eaves was kept in place by putting pieces of wood with one end
against the log and the other against the "staying pole."
The next pole above was stayed from this, and so on to the
top. The fireplace was built of rock or of wood lined with
rock, or of wood and a heavy covering of clay, and the chim-
neys were usually built of slats of wood lined with clay. The
door was sometimes a thatched frame work, but more often
composed of two large clapboards or puncheons, pinned to-
gether with cross pieces and wooden pins, hung on wooden
hinges and having a wooden latch. The door was opened by
means of a string which passed through a hole above the latch,
and when pulled lifted the wooden bar. Hence we have the
customary welcome expressed in the saying that, "our latch
string always hangs out. " 6
Gilbert's trading house was known far and wide after its
construction in 1837, he having left the employ of the American
Fur Company and set up for himself. He attempted to pay
the Indians for the right to build on their land by filling them
up with whiskey. All hands had turned in to help build the
trading house, and they were always supplied with the proper
amount of ' ' fire water J J while this work was going on. All the
raisings, all the bees, were made up of those who had been
accustomed to regard the consumption of so much liquor as
the proper thing and entirely in harmony with the ideas of the
best society. Only the changes of seventy-five years make
the difference in opinions. The trading house that had been
in charge of Gilbert now came into the possession of Wheton
Chase, who had for some time conducted a trading house on
the Cedar river some distance above the town of Rochester,
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10 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the first county seat of Cedar county. He conducted the bus-
iness after Gilbert had left to establish one for himself.
Labor had no organization then. It was a job here and
there, and the young men who came from their homes to begin
in the west found employment where they could. One tells
about the first winter as a time when finances were low and
they had to hustle to the river to find a job cutting steamboat
wood, as all the steamers at that time burned wood. The set-
tlement was called a "colony," which contained the claimants
on both sides of the river from the trading houses to the
southern line of the county, a scattered group but counting
themselves as one settlement. In the winter of 1837 the num-
ber of whites on the east side of the river is said not to have
exceeded twenty, and this included the women, Mrs. Chase,
Mrs. Lesh, and Mrs. Cain, with the children.
The winter season grew monotonous. There was no com-
munication with the outside world, no mail, no news of any
kind, no reading of any kind, no place of entertainment. It
was at this juncture of affairs that a meeting was called, at
the trading house of Gilbert, which was probably the first
public gathering in the county of Johnson, for the purpose of
considering what was best to be done under the circumstances.
While there were only six-present and these of three distinct
races, white, black, and red, the results were extremely sur-
prising when reported by those who had the leading part in
the meeting. The object was the discussion of the condition
of existing affairs, the want of roads and bridges, mail facil-
ities, and the way to secure these things. The leading spirits
present were Pleasant Harris, Dr. Lesh, Eli Myers, John Gil-
bert, and Henry Felkner. This was in January, 1838. The
territorial legislature of Wisconsin was in session at Burling-
ton, and it was decided to send two delegates there at once
to secure the desired assistance. The difficulty of furnishing
the proper credentials came up for arrangement and was
settled in the manner peculiar to the frontier and to the de-
mands of a present need. One might say "trust the pioneer
to find a way or make one," which is well illustrated in the
solution of this problem. Judge Pleasant Harris dictated to
Dr. Lesh the proceedings of the meeting and the regular
selections of the two delegates as if there had been a conven-
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PIONEER CONDITIONS 11
tion of six hundred instead of six, and the reading of the reso-
lutions explains the purposes of the delegation. The meeting
was described as being large and respectable, and the latter
word certainly fits the case, and it was held at the house of the
trader John Gilbert, which was also true, on a certain day in
January, in the year 1838, which was likewise true. Then
some strong language was used to state the purpose of the
organization and a great number of gentlemen addressed the
assembly of the people in able terms when the formal resolu-
tions were adopted instructing the delegates or outlining the
things they were to ask for when they should arrive at their
destination. The "whereases" in the case numbered five; the
first recited that a "great number of people had settled on the
Iowa river in the vicinity of Gilbert's trading house;" that
there would be a large influx of people in the spring was the
burden of the second ; that they were suffering great distress
on account of the want of roads and bridges and mail agencies
was expressed in the third and fourth ; while the fifth was given
because the legislature was now in session at Burlington.
Then came the body of the resolution. The two delegates were
appointed by the chair (there was no chairman selected by the
meeting) to go to Burlington and to use their efforts to secure
the establishment of roads to the Mississippi, to have the legis-
lature memorialize Congress to have mail routes established
from Bloomington to the trading house of John Gilbert, and
finally to have a post office and postmaster appointed at the
same place. Gilbert and Harris were then chosen delegates.
It was a long tramp through the deep snows of the open
prairie to the capital of the territory at Burlington where they
were to find the law makers in session. They met the gover-
nor, and he inquired particularly about the number of the
settlers on the Iowa river. One of the delegates, Gilbert, told
him that there were fifteen hundred, which of course in the
mind of Gilbert included the Red Men as well as all the whites
for the entire valley. The delegates were informed soon after
that the plans were almost completed by Congress to divide
the territory and that the new territory of Iowa would soon be
established.
In support of some conclusions made in a previous para-
graph in regard to the effect of the emigration of a few upon a
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12 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
whole neighborhood, the spring of 1838 furnishes an example.
Pleasant Harris, called Judge Harris most of the time by his
associates, made a return trip to Indiana and induced several
of his old neighbors to "come west" with him; among them
were Green Hill, John Gardner, Joseph Stover, Benjamin
Miller, and John Royal, all men with families. On the return
trip Harris came by way of Saint Louis to purchase a supply
of provisions and some special merchandise for the saw mill
of Felkner and Myers. These he shipped on the American
Fur Company's keel boat, the kind that was first used by the
trading houses on the rivers of the Indian country. The
Frenchman, Cote, kept one on the Cedar river for the same
purpose, and the later navigation of the river was probably
suggested by the custom thus established.
A new country makes many close friendships and some-
times creates intense rivalries. This can be illustrated in al-
most any group of settlers in the opening of this country.
Harris and Gilbert are said to have been the most intimate
friends in that early time and then to have grown apart be-
cause of ambitions and designs that could not always be
shared by the best of friends. The rivalry of county seats in
the state of Iowa or in any of the newer states has been com-
mon, and it began in the very first attempts to establish a town
in this county. Would-be poets have tried to put into verse
some of the things that happened to these rival establishments.
These prospective cities were laid out in the minds of the early
settlers, Harris and Gilbert, one to be called Osceola and the
other Napoleon. The sites were very nearly identical, it ap-
pears, but one secured the right of way, some say through
strategy, and that defeated the plans of the other, although
others have said there was no quarrel. This was in section
twenty-two, township seventy-nine, range six, on the river not
far below Iowa City.7 There were times, however, when rival-
ry disappeared no matter how strong it might have been.
When the pioneer fell ill, when he was in need of care because
of the lack of professional service of men trained for such
work, then the neighbor came to give aid and comfort. The
fall of 1838 was one of trial in this respect. It was not only
here but in all parts of the territory that the " fever and ague"
made life miserable for all the settlers. Some of them packed
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PIONEER CONDITIONS
13
their goods and returned to the old home in Indiana, to escape
the malady. Among these was the Stover family, according
to the story of Mrs. Benjamin Ritter, who was Miss Mary
Stover, the family remaining until 1842 before returning to
their claims. Those who attempted to stay the fever out had
a hard time. They had no other food than the regular rations
of cornbread, fat pork and coffee. No hospital diet was avail-
able, the "old home comforts" could not be had on the fron-
Old Settlers Meeting, 1910
tier. To escape the trials one must not attempt to make the
first home in a new country. Frosty and frigid weather was
said to be the best cure for the disease. There were certain
drugs that were always kept ready for such ills but it seems
nature had a better remedy, and the trouble finally passed
forever.
John Gilbert will ever remain as the "Indian trader, and the
friend of both the red and the white man" in the early history
of the county. During the excitement pending the location of
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14 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the capital of the territory, when the minds of the settlers
about Napoleon were all in doubt and uncertainty, the man
who had always been ready to advise and labor, sickened, and
the care of all the settlement was now to make him well. It
was not so ordered, for in spite of all their efforts he died in
the last days of March, 1838. Just before his passing a com-
mission had arrived, making him the postmaster at Napoleon.
A coffin of walnut was prepared by his friends, and with sad-
dened hearts both the natives and the comrades from the states
paid him the last tribute as they laid him away in the little
garden he had fenced near the trading house. No words were
spoken at this interment, but the blackened faces of the In-
dians were mute expressions of the sorrow they felt for the
loss of the man who, they said, was always honest. John Gil-
bert was a native of New York. He began life among the
Indians in Canada, as a fur trader, and continued the prac-
tice until his knowledge of the Indian became very complete.
Many years after his death his remains were removed to the
Iowa City cemetery, but the place of his grave is not now
known to any one.
Henry Felkner once related a trying ordeal through which
he passed during this time in the history of the community.
It will be remembered by many that he and Eli Myers had
built a saw mill on the creek north of the county seat, on what
is called Rapid creek. There was a time when they ran short
of provisions and the only remedy was to go after more meat.
None was found at the trading house and that meant a trip to
the source of supply at Bloomington. Mr. Felkner borrowed
a horse of Gilbert and made the trip to get his meat supply.
This was a slab of bacon weighing some seventy pounds which
was carried in a sack on the horse before him. On his arrival
Gilbert was not as cordial as he might have been, because of
the time consumed in making the trip, his horse being needed,
and for this reason the borrower refused to ask any more
favors, preferring to carry his supply of pork on his back the
remaining eight miles, which he did in spite of high water and
bad traveling. No roads, no bridges, no means of crossing
flooded sloughs but the natural one of wading made all cross
country journeys anything but pleasure trips.
Like the building of a log house the method of breaking the.
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PIONEER CONDITIONS
15
prairie sod is not familiar to many now living. The present
custom of using the traction engine with its dozen plows at-
tached if placed beside the old long-beamed ox breaker would
furnish a strange contrast. Some have seen the three horse
team hitched to the patent prairie plow of later years, but none
the kind that turned the furrow of twenty-four to twenty-eight
inches and was supported by two wheels at the end of the long
beam and required four to seven yoke of good oxen to pull
when set in the tough prairie sod. The man who remembers
his experiences when a lad in plowing the new sod for the first
time after it was broken, and before the red roots had been
well killed, can imagine what would happen to one of these big
plows when it struck one of those obstructions. He remem-
bers a sudden wrench of the plow and the twist of the body to
escape the glancing blow of the handles in the ribs and then a
"haul" backwards to cure the "balk." The big ox team did
not stop for such things ; this was left for the next time. To
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16 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
make progress at all passible it was necessary to keep the plow
sharp by filing the "lay." Sometimes the driver carried his
tools to the field and was able to "draw out" his cutting edge
before filing, thus saving a trip to the blacksmith shop. The
latter was one of the essentials of a new country and for that
reason it is among the first industries to be found and among
the oldest of establishments in any of the communities.
Horses were not used then, the oxen being much more eco-
nomical in that they could be turned loose on the grass at
night to feed for the next day. The grading on the first rail-
road in this state was prepared for by using the oxen to tear
up the sod. Some of the men' who furnished such ox teams
to assist in the work of grading the Lyons Iowa Central road
are now living.8 The sod thus turned was planted to corn to
furnish the food supply as soon as possible. This was also a
favorite soil for some kinds of vegetables, the best of garden
products being raised on new breaking if the season was favor-
able. There was no want of the opportunity to gather hay for
rough feed, since the quantity was unlimited. Many years
after this date (1838) all the farmer had to do, until the land*
was fenced or "broken out" was to cut around his claim of hay
land, probably held by some speculator, and the rest of the
neighborhood respected his right to that much hay — unless
he tried to be selfish and take more than he had just right to
have. It was not easy to care for this when tools were not at
hand. The first of the kind were all hand tools and those that
followed where other power was used required patience to
manage. The upland hay was neglected as of little conse-
quence because of such trouble to bring together. The long
slough grass was easier to handle in the prairie winds and
much more rapidly made. This was food for beast, but meant
little for man except as it furnished him something from the
animal life he fed. It gave him no immediate supply of meal
or flour. This he must secure from distant sources until he
had corn and wheat to grind and a place to grind them at his
home mill, which could be anywhere in reasonable distance.
One pleasant old lady tells of the experiences of her father
in making a trip to Illinois to mill about the year 1837. He
set out with his oxen to be gone a definite time, but the time
passed and he did not return. The family became anxious
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PIONEER CONDITIONS 17
and hungry, yet he failed to appear. The mother was frantic
with fear of accident and there were no mails to bring her in-
formation; she must simply wait the return of the missing
man. Three weeks from the time he left home he came with
his meal, the delay having been caused by his not being able to
cross the Mississippi. Similar to this experience is that of all
the pioneers. Here in the river valley they had to cross to
the other side of the big Mississippi in order to find the supply.
As one has put it in the following: "The usual method was
for a number to unite and send one of the large breaking teams
to Illinois for a load of meal for the neighborhood, which was
distributed to the stockholders on its arrival. Then corn was
the staff of life and flour ranked as one of the luxuries."
After the meal was secured the question of getting it baked
was sometimes serious enough. The oven was often borrowed
of the neighbor, or one was had in common which had to be
used in turn. These were made of cast iron and were portable.
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^J
CHAPTER II
Typical Pioneers and Pioneer Experiences
4 4 TV/TORE than one hundred and sixty years ago Marquette
^ ^ floated in silent wonder along what is now the eastern
border of Iowa, and in September, 1832, the representatives of
the United States and of the Sac and Fox nation of Indians
met upon the west bank of the Mississippi river within the
present limits of the city of Davenport and negotiated a treaty
by which the Indians sold to the United States six million
acres of land. The tract of land was bounded on the east by
the Mississippi river and on the west by a line beginning on
the north line of Missouri and extending in a northeasterly
and also northwesterly direction to the Upper Iowa river, and
being about fifty miles west of the Mississippi river through-
out its entire length.
''Within this strip of country the Indian reserved four hun-
dred square miles of land on the banks of the lower Iowa river
near its mouth for their own use. That body of land was
known as the Keokuk Reserve. In September, 1836, over one
thousand chiefs and braves of the Sac and Fox Indians met
Governor Dodge of Wisconsin near the site of the meeting of
1832 and negotiated a treaty by which the United States be-
came the owners of the Keokuk Reserve. The gathering at
the treaty of September, 1836, was remarkable in that it was
composed of the greatest number comprising all of the great
warriors and orators and chiefs of the Sac and Fox nation that
had ever assembled to treat with the white men, and for the
reason that at that time the United States gave to Antoine Le
Claire, who had acted as interpreter during the formation of
the treaty, two sections of land and this was the first transfer
of land to a private individual in Iowa.
"The treaty of September, 1836, is memorable also for the
reason that then and there originated the first settlement of
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 19
Johnson county. As nearly as is known, about 1826, the
American Fur Company established a trading post on the Iowa
river in what is now the northeast quarter of section ten, town-
ship 78 north, range 6 west, where a little stream empties
into the river from the east. John Gilbert was their agent
there for many years and with the Indians of this locality he
attended the treaty of 1836 and while there formed the ac-
quaintance of two young men who were in quest of a place to
locate homes. Mr. Gilbert invited them to come with him to
the trading post on the Iowa river, and see for themselves the
many advantages of that locality. Mounting their horses the
trader and his two guests took the deep worn trail of the In-
dians and in due time reached the trading house on the banks
of the Iowa. Impressed with the beauty of the landscape and
the evident fertility of the soil they located claims and pro-
ceeded to build cabins upon the land they had selected for
their future homes. Then as the frosts of autumn began to
fall they returned to the settlements in northern Indiana to
pass the winter and prepare for removal to their Iowa homes
in the early spring.
"Early in May, 1837, Philip Clark and Eli Myers reached
the homes selected by them the year before on the western
limits of the Black Hawk Purchase, bringing with them teams
and oxen, implements, seed for planting and food to main-
tain them until crops could be grown. Having rested their
teams, the breaking was started and by the 20th of May, 1837,
each of the pioneers had planted upon the fresh turned sod of
their new homes ten acres of corn and a goodly acreage of
potatoes and other vegetables. The farm selected by Mr.
Clark was situated southeast of the trading house and in after
years was divided and formed what was known as the Morf ord
and Burge farms of Pleasant Valley. As first staked out by
Mr. Clark it comprised about 480 acres.
"The western line of the Black Hawk Purchase entered
what is now Johnson county near the southwest corner of
Liberty township and ran thence in a straight course north-
eastwardly to a point in the corner of Cedar township where
it entered Cedar county. All west of that line was Indian
land until October, 1837, at which time the Sac and Fox In-
dians sold all their lands in Iowa. At the time Clark and
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20
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Myers made their location they were within one mile of the
Indian lands. Mr. Clark retained his first claim until 1838,
when he exchanged it for one farther up the river. (See
Map A.)
"With the increase of settlers came divided opinion as to
the location of a town site which in time would become the
county seat. One party favored a location west of the river
and they determined to name their town Osceola. The other
First Court House in Johnson County, built at Napo-
leon, 1838
From Sketch furnished by Gilbert R. Irish
party, under the lead of Gilbert and Clark, favored a town east
of the river, and they selected upon Indian land in what is notr
section twenty-two East Lucas township for a town site, and
obtaining consent of the Indians they built thereon a small
cabin and employed John Morford to live in it and hold the
claim for them when the Indians should sell and vacate the
land.
" After the treaty of 1837 the town site became government
land and Clark traded his farm located in 1836 for the Mor-
ford claim and proceeded to lay out a large town, giving it the
name of Napoleon. A court house was built, and on July 4,
1838, Napoleon became the county seat of Johnson county.
Philip Clark, after the location of the territorial capital at
Iowa City, converted the town of Napoleon into a farm and for
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 21
many years was one of the foremost farmers and business men
of the county. At the second election of county officers, Mr.
Clark was chosen as one of the county commissioners, which
position he held for many years. In January, 1840, he went
to the Dubuque land office for the county and filed a pre-
emption claim on the quarter section that had been selected as
the county seat. Later in that year he was appointed to lay
out the county quarter into blocks and lots and in much of the
early territorial and county business and many of the stirring
events of pioneer times he took a prominent part.
First Court House in Iowa City, 1842
"Philip Clark was born in Ireland about 1803. Coming to
America he formed part of the wave of humanity that, flowing
ever westward, built their homes upon the lands of the rapidly
vanishing aborigines. In 1844 he married Miss Clarissa Lee.
In the spring of 1850 he gave his brother-in-law power of at-
torney; left his wife and son and his great farm of 740 acres
in his keeping, and with Eli Myers started overland for the
gold mines of California. Soon after reaching their destina-
tion Mr. Myers died, and with varying fortunes Mr. Clark
worked in the mines until 1857, when on horseback he made
his way from Sacramento to Iowa City to find his wife es-
tranged, his great farm sold and his home destroyed by the
villainy of his trusted agent and friend. After a long contest
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22 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
with a gang of thieves and their employers he regained pos-
session of his property. Some years later he sold it and the
early county seat and the site of the town of Napoleon became
the present farm of James McCollister. Obtaining land in
Newport township, Mr. Clark there conducted a farm.
Though partially blind and much bent with age he remained
active in mind and body up to the time of his death, which
occurred at his home September 10, 1891, at the age of eighty-
seven years. One must remark here that it is not creditable
that the man who first founded a home within the county should
rest in an unknown and unmarked grave on land he gave for
the use of the church and a cemetery. ' ' 9
Searching for a home, Eli Myers came from the place of his
birth in Ohio to Elkhart county, Indiana, in 1836, where he
formed the acquaintance of Philip Clark, a man like himself
"seeking a home in a new country.' '
"Learning that the Indians were about to sell and vacate a
large tract of land west of the Mississippi river, the two young
men determined to examine the new country. Procuring sad-
dle horses and provisions they made their way to the then
four year old town of Chicago, where they found the infant
city to be only a few frail houses in the marshes at the mouth
of a fever breeding river.
"Continuing westward they reached Fort Armstrong in
time to -croas the river and witness the gathering of the thous-
and warriors, orators, and braves that met Governor Dodge
of Wisconsin at that point in September. Among the many
who attended the treaty was John Gilbert, an Indian trader
stationed on the Iowa river, and by his invitation Myers and
Clark extended their trip to his trading post, and after an ex-
amination of the country they determined to locate their homes
in that vicinity and at once proceeded to stake the boundaries
of their prospective farms and build upon each a cabin, thus
becoming the first owners of farms and houses in what is now
Johnson county.
"The land selected by Mr. Myers for a farm was about one'
mile southeast from the trading house, and in the spring of
1837 there was turned the first furrow in the county. In the
month of May of that year breaking was done for Philip Clark
and Henry Felkner. Mr. Myers improved his farm and re-
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 23
tained its ownership for many years. It was long known in
Pleasant Valley as the Myers farm.
"In December, 1840, Mr. Myers was married to Miss Sarah
A. Kidder, the daughter of John M. and Lydia Kidder of
Seneca county, New York. Some years later he became the
owner of the south half of block one in the county seat addition
of Iowa City and there built a very substantial brick residence.
In the spring of 1850 Mr. Myers and his fellow pioneer, Philip
Clark, with a splendid outfit of horse teams, left Iowa City
for a trip to the gold mines of California. Their journey was
long and eventful. They at once engaged in mining but the
long time friends were soon separated. Mr. Myers was taken
ill and died in Sacramento City, October 23, 1850, at the age
of thirty-seven years. He was survived by his wife and three
daughters. Mrs. Myers continued to reside in Iowa City for
many years, and died at the home of her daughter in Salt Lake
in March, 1891." 10
To write of Henry Felkner's early life is to write the early
history of Johnson county. He came here in 1837, having
learned something of the district through his friends Philip
Clark and Eli Myers and others who had some knowledge of
the country. In the summer of 1837 he came to the vicinity
and made a claim near those of his friends, Eli Myers doing
some breaking for him the first year. It so happened in the
following winter, as mentioned elsewhere, he became a par-
ticipator in the first "public meeting" ever held in the county,
the object being "to petition the territorial authorities for a
mail route from Bloomington [Muscatine]." This was the
meeting which in the minutes was called "large and respect-
able," and no one has questioned the latter fact even if it had
one Indian and one negro. As to "large," one must under-
stand that this is a comparative term, and "six" may be large
in comparison with some other quantity.
In 1838 Mr. Felkner, it would appear, saw the future of this
great prairie state, and entered nearly one thousand acres of
land on Rapid creek, and with Eli Myers built a dam and then
erected the first saw mill in the county, and probably the first
in this part of Iowa, if one may judge from other settlements
at the time. The machinery for this mill was brought up the
Iowa river on a flat boat, so it is said. This saw mill was in
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24 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
active operation for many years, and much of the lumber used
in the "Old Capitol" came from Felkner's mill, and some have
said he refused to sell lumber to private parties for a time, so
anxious was he to hasten the work of erecting the capitol, or
the "state house,' ' as the title soon ran. In 1865 observers
Commencing at the top reading from left to right
Mrs. Dora Louis Mrs. Catherine Wagner Mrs. Henry Shinn
Mrs. Agnes Baker Mrs. Catherine Sueppel
Mrs. Catherine Baschnagel Mrs. Theresa Hohenschuh
reported remnants of the old mill still visible. The land was
sold in 1882 to Mr. Coldren.
The old records of the county commissioners contained in
the first book, which may now be found in the auditor's office,
the names of the three men who first sat in the capacity of a
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 25
" board,' ' and one of these was Henry Felkner, who was chosen
for the position with Wm. Sturgis and Abner Wolcott at the
election of September, 1838, the first ever held in Johnson
county as a county. At the first session, on the motion of
Henry Felkner, the " eagle side of a ten cent piece' ' was made
the county seal until a permanent one could be provided. It
was during his official membership that the county seat was
located on section fifteen, on the northwest quarter, and ad-
joining the capital section on the south, the line being where
Court street is now located.
Mr. Felkner served on the first petit jury drawn in the
county, and in August, 1840, was chosen as the first member of
the territorial legislature from Johnson county. He was also
chosen for a second term, and when the first convention was
called to form a state constitution, in 1844, he was one of the
delegates. In 1850, in company with many others, he crossed
the plains to California, leaving the quiet farm life for the
excitement of the gold camp for a short time only, since he
returned within two years to the farm and mill he had left.
At the time of the organization of the Old Settlers' Asso-
ciation, 1866, he became first vice-president because he refused
the " place of presiding officer," it would appear from the re-
ports, and during his life he was an active promoter of the
interests of this organization. His death, May 7, 1885, left
but one man in the county who preceded him as a settler, this
being Philip Clark, who at this time lived on the land he en-
tered in Newport township and adjoining the land once owned
by Mr. Felkner, and where he built his saw mill. Some twenty
years before his death Mr. Felkner removed to a farm near
Downey, where he spent the remainder of his life. The testi-
mony of his neighbors and friends is the best estimate of a
man's life, and in this he was the fortunate possessor of the
confidence of all the witnesses.11
Elizabeth Lewis was a native of Highland county, Ohio, of
Quaker lineage, and from that part of the state which furnished
many settlers to the Black Hawk strip, among them Enoch
Lewis, whose daughter she was. Her coming to Johnson
county was due to her marriage with Henry Felkner, of that
group of "gallant young bachelors," as they had been called,
Samuel H. McCrory, Cyrus Sanders, Henry Felkner, Philip
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26 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Clark, and others whose cabins were the seats of hospitality
unlimited. The house of the elder Parvin, the father of Hon.
T. S. Parvin, and grandfather of the present curator of the
Masonic Library and Museum in Cedar Rapids, "sheltered,"
it is said, "this gentle and significant ceremony/ ' The Par-
vins came from Ohio, the son, T. S. Parvin, coming first from
Cincinnati in company with the first governor of the territory,
Robert Lucas, and it was quite congenial, it appears, for those
who had come from neighboring communities in the Ohio Val-
ley to be neighborly in the new valley of the Mississippi. It
was on December 31, 1843, that Elizabeth Lewis became Mrs.
Henry Felkner in what was then the town of Bloomington.
Samuel H. McCrory was another of the first pioneers of the
county, and his name is very frequently mentioned in connec-
tion with responsible positions in county affairs. Born in
1807, in the old state of Virginia, he left the home of his na-
tivity early in his boyhood to make his own way in the world,
so that his education was acquired largely on his own account
after business hours in the store of an uncle. Sometime in
1832 he came to Illinois, and for a short period engaged in
business in Peoria, but in 1837 he moved on to Johnson county,
Iowa, where he took possession of a farm on which he lived
until the day of his death in March, 1878. Very few were left
at the time of his death to recall the days forty-one years be-
fore when he came to the county and made a familiar acquain-
tance with the Red Men of the country around, trade with
whom was the principal business of the settlers. The new
social conditions then forming found in him an active agent,
and he became a part of the community as its first postmaster
in Iowa City. He was one of the trustees of the First Presby-
terian church when it was passing through its struggles, yet
he was not a member of any church. Eleven children were
present at his funeral to honor his memory.12
The name of Col. S. C. Trowbridge, who came to the county
in 1837, will always be prominent in the history of this com-
munity. A most interesting account of his appointment to the
office of sheriff of the county of Johnson, he being the first to
hold that office, is given by Hon. T. S. Parvin, who was private
secretary to Gov. Robert Lucas. It runs substantially as fol-
lows: "In the early autumn of 1838, we well remember it, a
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 27
young man some half dozen years our senior [Mr. Parvin was
not more than twenty-one years of age at this time, according
to his diary] came into the office of the governor [Lucas] and
presented to him a commission from Henry Dodge, governor
of Wisconsin territory, dated June 22, 1838, less than a fort-
night before the organization of Iowa, appointing him the first
sheriff of Johnson county, Iowa territory, which county was
yet unorganized. That paper was the only introduction of the
late Samuel Cushing Trowbridge [he died in 1888], and was
duly honored by the governor, Robert Lucas, who entered into
a lively conversation with the young man who sought the of-
fice, learning much of the county and its history from him.
He was thoroughly informed, and his intelligent communica-
tion upon matters of interest made a deep impression upon
the mind of the governor, who subsequently located in Johnson
county and became a neighbor and fast friend of Mr. Trow-
bridge. At the close of his conversation he turned to me and
directed that I, then his private secretary, make out and hand
to the young man a commission as sheriff of Johnson county,
Iowa, then having a population of about two hundred people,
and being unorganized, as mentioned. The office was soon
made an elective one and Mr. Trowbridge was elected by the
people in October, 1840. In September, 1842, he resigned,
after having held the office for four years from three different
authorities [Governor Dodge, Governor Lucas, and the elec-
tors]. In November, 1838, the first land sales were held and
the first legislature of Iowa territory met, and we got to see
much of our early acquaintance, which ripened into a warm
friendship, ending only with his life. Mr. Trowbridge spent
much of the fall and winter of 1838 in Burlington looking after
the interests of his neighbors and the people of the county as
a ' lobby member ' of the legislature.
"May 13, 1839, as district attorney of the middle district,
there being three, which middle district included the county of
Johnson, we went to the town of Napoleon, a single house, the
trading post of Phelps, managed by Gilbert, and held the first
court, Joseph Williams, the judge of the district, being a resi-
dent of Muscatine. The latter appointed John [Luke] Doug-
lass clerk, and S. C. Trowbridge was the sheriff. He held court
in the old trading house, having no window, and it kept the
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28 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
sheriff and his deputy busy keeping the doorway clear so as to
admit sufficient light to dispense justice. Samuel H. McCrory
was the foreman of the grand jury, who with all his associates,
so far as we know, preceded our friend, the sheriff, to the
gateway of the higher court. A petit jury was also empan-
neled, and we recollect that Philip Clark, the first settler of
Johnson county, who still lives [1888] hale and hearty, was one
of these jurors. When the grand jury had been sworn and
charged they were ordered to retire in charge of the bailiff.
But where to go was the question, as there was no house to go
to. We followed, as in duty bound, and seeing a sawlog in the
prairie near by, hauled there the previous winter, we suggested
that as a fit landmark, and mounting it made our first address
to the first grand jury of Johnson county. A true bill was
found against one Andrew J. Gregg, a horse thief, for ' passing
counterfeit money. ' } 9 This was the staple offense of the crim-
inals, a floating population, of that day.
Mr. Parvin at this point in his narrative concluded that the
recital of the events of that one week when he came for the
first time as prosecuting attorney and which was "so deeply
colored with the romantic facts of the early period" would
"fill a newspaper" and must be passed over. How much it is
now to be regretted that he did not fill the newspaper and con-
tinue his narration of all the matters suggested by the death of
his friend, Colonel Trowbridge. The title of colonel is inter-
esting, and has been attached to the names of other men in
adjoining counties in the same way it was attached to his
name. The Iowa militia of territorial days was commanded
by such men as Gen. Jonathan Fletcher, of Bloomington, and
the divisions included many colonels, among them Mr. Trow-
bridge, who was commissioned to this office by the governor,
whereupon he became a most efficient officer and "was the
leading spirit in the organization and early development of
Johnson county."
"In 1842, August 30, S. C. Trowbridge became postmaster
of Iowa City, the fourth to hold that office. He was preceded
in that position by James M. Hawkins, appointed September
2, 1841, Chauncy Swan, the capitol commissioner, November
14, 1839 ; and Samuel H. McCrory, the first postmaster of Iowa
City, commissioned July 4, 1839 [although appointed April
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PIONEERS AND PIONEEE EXPERIENCES 29
18, 1839, according to government records], the day on which
Governor Lucas laid the corner stone of the new capitol build-
ing. This office Mr. Trowbridge held until 1849, when he was
succeeded by James P. Bradshaw, the father of Mrs. Mozier
and Mrs. Coast, of Iowa City."
After that period Colonel Trowbridge devoted most of his
time to the cultivation and improvement of his farm near the
city. He was for several years the librarian of The State His-
torical Society, and in this capacity became "a great curiosity
from his knowledge of the specimens contained therein and
events in our history, and his quaint recital of them as the
greatest of these collected in that storeroom of old and rare
objects. ' ' He was sergeant-at-arms of the Constitutional Con-
vention of 1857, and an acquaintance of numerous public men
who had come into the county in attendance upon the legisla-
tures that met here from 1841 to 1857. His knowledge of men
and movements that had taken place in the history of Johnson
county and of the state of Iowa was pronounced "wonderful
indeed." His memory was regarded as extremely accurate,
and Mr. Parvin said : "We always relied upon him and never
but once found his memory at fault, and then he only gave in
upon the presentation of documentary evidence in proof of
our position. We do not hesitate to say that in his grave was
buried, with his sleeping memory, more of the history of early
Iowa than was ever covered by the clods of the valley as they
fell upon the remains of mortal man." Still Philip Clark sur-
vived and remained the "oldest settler in Johnson county,"
his comrades fast falling beside him.18
In the early autumn of 1838 young Dr. Henry Murray, for
many years identified with Johnson county, was attracted by
the magnetism of the great west, and he broke the ties of his
early home in the city of Cincinnati to "share the trials of
the Iowa pioneers." He was born in Dublin, Ireland, of a
Presbyterian family, and came in early childhood to the United
States with his parents who later settled in the city on the
Ohio, where the young man secured his medical diploma from
the University of Louisville. Then taking passage by steamer
down the Ohio and up the Mississippi he landed at Burlington,
then capital of Iowa territory, in the latter part of August,
1838.
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30 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
The site of Iowa City was just at that time coming into
notice as a point on the map as a possible territorial capital,
and hence capital also of the future state. It then had no
real existence beyond a mark on the map, and in the consider-
able discussion in the few papers that had ventured to become
interested in the future of the prairie state. Here the young
doctor "set his stake" and it has been said that while he lived
he was always the "first physician in the place as he had been
in that early day the first to hang up his sign — l Doctor H.
Murray. ' "
He became known far beyond the borders of Johnson
county, "rides of fifty miles" being required of him in the
scattered settlements of the new country. He was, according
to his biographer, a favorite with the Indians, who were nu-
merous in the vicinity, and they called him in their language
"Little Medicine." The family of Dr. Murray was estab-
lished here in 1841, when he married the daughter of W. M.
Leffingwell, of Muscatine, the sister of the well-known jurist,
Judge W. E. Leffingwell, of Clinton county. When the Civil
War came on, William, the eldest of the family, became a lieu-
tenant in the marine corps. Other members of the family held
honored places, and one daughter "earned a flattering repu-
tation as a portrait painter."
In 1850 Dr. Murray undertook the journey to the gold fields
of California, but returned the first year, coming by sea and
the Panama route. Again in 1861 he crossed the plains, but
with the exception of two brief absences he maintained a con-
tinuous residence for more than forty years in this community,
where he exhibited the traits of a true physician in the great
cholera epidemic of 1855 by facing the dangers without any
thought of fear. He held public office, and that often without
any regard to party affiliation. He approved of public and
Christian work of every kind and supported it with his means.
He was a Mason of high rank, and was ' * honored in the order. ' '
One must be reminded during all the research in the county
records of the presence of Dr. Murray in the affairs of the
county, for his name is among the most conspicuous.14
Surviving her husband by many years, Mrs. Walter Butler
was one of the most widely known women of the pioneer days.
Butler's "State House," one of the most frequently mentioned
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 31
buildings in Iowa City, was built by Walter Butler, and he kept
a tavern among the first established in the city. He was an
early official, being the county sheriff, and dying while holding
that office. But of the woman who shared his pioneer days one
finds the following tribute at the time of her death in 1888,
at the home of her son, J. W. Butler, in Lucas township:
"Around her table sat the pilgrims who had chosen this as
their land of promise; cheered by her kindly greetings and
cared for by her skilful and willing hands, many a homesick
wayfarer blessed the day that he cast his lot within the in-
Old Cord Bedstead
Owned by John Wagner. Wedding hat and coat. Chairs made by hand by
Henry Wieneke
fluence of this good wife, noble mother, and kind hearted
friend." At the time of her death Mr. Gilbert R. Irish, who
was a boy in those pioneer days, said: "The memories of
my early childhood bring to me the first impressions of my
friend. In those gloomy days the cheerful smiles and pleasant
words of the woman who endured the hardships of frontier life
without a murmur gave to the recipient a glow of kindly feel-
ing that time cannot efface. Much is said and written of the
men, their deeds of bravery, kindly acts and remarkable in-
tegrity, of the pioneer days, but there is yet a brighter page
in the lives of the wives and mothers of that long ago. Of
these heroines was my friend. To enumerate all her virtues
now would be but cold tribute of a friend to one who has so
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32 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
lived as to disarm death of its terrors and to dispel the gloom
of the grave."
But others began in an early day to settle in the more re-
mote parts of the county. Asbury, or, as he was familiarly
called, Asby E. Packard entered his land in what is now Hardin
township in 1838 and for fifty or more years it was known as
the Packard farm. Here he made a beautiful farm home and
established other industries, a saw mill on "Old Man's Creek* '
in 1845, and a steam saw and grist mill in 1855, which in that
day proved a great accommodation to his fellow citizens in that
part of this county and in adjoining parts. He was for some
time a member of the county board of supervisors and always
a leading citizen in the affairs of his township, having to do
with its organization when it formed a part of Washington and
finally became an independent civil township. The county
records are evidences of his activity in the affairs of his com-
munity. One is led to inquire why the township is not called
by his name. His home was in section thirty-four, and con-
tained something more than two hundred acres. The village
of Windham is on this farm.15
Cyrus Sanders came to Johnson county in 1839. Preced-
ing him in 1837 and 1838 were those other pioneers, Philip
Clark, Henry Felkner, Colonel Trowbridge, Judge Pleasant
Harris, James, Joseph, Robert, and Henry Walker, and pro-
bably a few others. At an election held in August following
his arrival he was chosen county surveyor. If one cares to
find his work in all its neatness let him examine the old road
books and land surveys in the office of the county auditor, where
the field notes and plats are as fresh and clear as if made but
yesterday, indicating the painstaking care of making all de-
tails with as much exactness as the larger phases of the work.
Early in this undertaking he purchased a claim of A. D.
Stephens, just south of Iowa City, and there made his home,
doing as mahy men did when they came west, living alone on
his claim. Then in 1845 he married Pauline Worden and most
of their lives were spent where he made his first home, as it
has been said, " where fertile fields and blooming orchards and
grazing herds have been evidences of prosperity and plenty/ '
From 1839 or '40 until 1855 Mr. Sanders was county surveyor,
with perhaps the exception of a year or two, and was once more
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Philip Clark
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 33
chosen in 1857. In 1849 he had a contract from the govern-
ment for surveying the public lands which assured correct lines
and corners. He had prepared himself for this work at Miami
University in Ohio, where he gave his time chiefly to mathe-
matics. He had some experience as a member of an engineer-
ing corps in the surveying of the "Little Miami Railway/ ' and
the practical application of this training is very evident in the
work he did in Johnson county. One cannot estimate the val-
ue of these little books containing his work, and possibly few
now living ever had an opportunity to look into them.
He came to Napoleon directly from Burlington in January,
1839, "having been induced,' ' it is said, "to locate here by
Gov. Robert Lucas.' ' It was in the following April he pur-
chased his first claim. In 1840 he bought the Stephens claim
mentioned above. When General Frierson was surveying for
the government in this locality he employed Mr. Sanders to
assist him. Under Gen. George W. Jones, who was surveyor
general in 1848, he was commissioned as a deputy surveyor for
the United States, which office he held for some time. The
minister who spoke at his funeral said: "One of the oldest
citizens said to me yesterday, ' Cyrus Sanders was one of the
best men I ever knew.' " ie
September 1, 1837, Joseph Walker, Sr., came to Johnson
county and settled in what is now Pleasant Valley township
on Buck creek. This was long before any civil township was
organized. He took up the first claim of a half section on Bear
creek also, and here he subsequently lived. He was seldom
absent from the meetings of the old settlers in later years and
was among the last of that great harvest of old settlers that
death carried away from 1883 to 1893 — although at this date
(1910) , there are some who, like the i i last leaf ' ' are still ' i cling-
ing to the bough, ' ' while nearly all their mates are gone. What
better could be said of any man than was said of Joseph
Walker: "As a neighbor he was beloved, and as a Christian
he exerted a good influence by his consistent life. ' ? 17
The following year another pioneer, James Magruder, came
to the same vicinity and settled on the Iowa river. He served
on the first jury in Johnson county at the trading house of
Gilbert, or Phelps, as it was known. He is said to have entered
the first land in the present state of Iowa at Burlington. This
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34 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
entry included a quarter section for each of four men of his
neighborhood: Kelso, Sweet, Sturgis, and himself. Mr. Ma-
gruder later acquired the entire acreage and at the time of his
giving this account in 1893, he resided on this land with his
son. He held the office of constable in the township of Fre-
mont as it was later established, under Squire Walker, who was
appointed by Governor Lucas in 1838. In the same year in
which he landed in Iowa he took a " prairie schooner" and two
yoke of oxen and made the first road, so he said, from Musca-
tine to Pleasant Valley. He bought corn and took it to the
Wapsipinicon to get it ground, but finding the water too low,
he had to continue his journey to a one-horse mill, where, using
a yoke of cattle, he ground his corn in three or four days, mak-
ing the round trip in ten days, camping on his return on Rapid
creek on the land afterwards the homestead of Sylvanus John-
son. Mr. Magruder paid the first tax in Johnson county —
fifteen cents — and probably the tax receipt is still in posses-
sion of his family. The next tax he had to pay in Washington
county, as the corner or fraction of a township in which he
lived was placed by law in that county.18 It was necessary for
Mr. Magruder to go to Muscatine [Bloomington] to procure
his marriage license.
Here the interview unfortunately ended, and one must re-
gret that the opportunity for some one to have gathered the
very richest material for "pioneer' ' history was not contin-
ued."
Wenzel Hummer came to Iowa in 1837, but not until 1839
did he settle in what became Union township on "Old Man's
Creek. 9 9 Here he took up land in 1840 and made his home for
many years. It was said that being in no wise a capitalist, he
built his own cabin twelve by fourteen, made his own chairs
and bedstead, as many others did in that day. His nearest
neighbor was ten miles away, and there was no farm house in
the township. He began with eighty acres, but left an estate
of three hundred acres, now in possession of his family. His
life was very active, like many others of his time, and he took
part in the organization of his township. i i Hummer Chapel, ' '
the Methodist church close by his home, was named in his
honor, he having been active in its work and support.20
James H. Gower left Moosehead Lake, Maine, in 1838 and
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 35
drove in a sulky with one horse to the Mississippi above Rock
Island. The journey required forty-five days, and this was
one of the most noted overland journeys made by any of the
pioneers. He settled first in Cedar county and the family es-
tablished Gower 's Ferry over the Cedar river near what is now
the town of Cedar Bluffs. Gower township in Cedar county
gets its name from this family. He soon left that vicinity for
the new town of Iowa City and became a leading citizen here in
its commercial life. There was the firm of Gower and Holt in
the early forties ; then Gower, Mygatt and Galley, Gower and
Morsman, Gower and Son, J. H. Gower, Bros., and Co., J. 0.
Gower and Co., Gower and Wilson, and Gower and Bowersox.
In 1877 the latter firm left for Lawrence, Kansas. For more
than thirty years the family were a part of the city, and one
of the sons led the first cavalry squadron to the Civil War from
this vicinity, "won his eagles and came home to die."21
James H. Gower died in Lawrence, Kansas, two years after
going to that city, and at his death it was said, "probably no
man in Johnson county was better known than James H.
Gower. ' ' His body was returned to Iowa City for burial.
One of the early land marks of the county, and a prime
necessity at the time, was Switzer 's Mill, built by David and
Joshua Switzer, who, we find from recorded data, came to
Iowa territory about the time it became such in name, in 1838.
These two entered and purchased large tracts of land in John-
son county where their homes were eventually to be for many
years to follow. The mill of the Switzer brothers was pat-
ronized by settlers from far and near who often were compelled
to wait their turn at the " grist/ ' so many being ahead that
returning the same day was impossible. In 1849, in company
with others who have ever since been called " Forty-niners,' '
David Switzer set out for the gold fields, and he was among
those adventurers who thus early crossed the plains
and who got cut off in the mountains and left all
their valuables and wagons. Only those of strength enough
escaped with their lives. He spent four years in exploring the
gold fields and then upon the urgent request of his father re-
turned to Maryland, his old home, to care for him during his
declining years. This incident is said to have been the chief
reason for his not remaining on the coast and among the gold
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36 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
hunters who went west at that time. In 1853 he returned to
Johnson county and settled permanently on his farm south of
Iowa City, which he improved from that time until he ceased
active labor. Eighty-one years of life were allowed him and he
gave the best of them to Johnson county as one of the pio-
neers.22
Fifty years or more Isaac Bowen spent in Scott township,
coming here in 1839. It was said of him that "in the momen-
tous development of this county he played a great part. ' ' His
name figures in public affairs from this early date until the
time came for younger men to shoulder the responsibility.
James Cavanagh came to Johnson county in 1839 and be-
came one of the early county commissioners, his name appear-
ing in Book II of the records of the county commissioners in
the proceedings for three years. He was county assessor
under the old law that put all the assessing of taxes in the
hands of one officer, and he was also one of the commissioners
appointed by Gov. Stephen Hempstead to locate the 500,000
acres of land granted by the federal government to the state
of Iowa. Following this he became a member of the legisla-
ture of the state, and was the last county judge when the duties
of auditor fell to him after the provision was made for a
county board of supervisors in 1861. Before coming to Iowa
from Michigan he had held office in the judiciary, having been
a justice and for four years an associate judge of the circuit
court in Cass county of that state. For forty-one years he
was actively identified with this county, and until his death at
seventy-three was regarded as a strong citizen.28
I. N. Sanders and Azariah Pinney were others who found
homes in the county in 1839, and lived here more than a half
century of its history.
Capt. F. M. Irish was one of the very first of the pioneers
of the county and a prominent figure when the capital was lo-
cated here. The records of the county mention his home as
the first meeting place of the county commissioners when they
adjourned from Napoleon to Iowa City before they had even
located the county seat. This pioneer was almost instantly
killed on the corner of Dubuque street and Iowa avenue on
February 17, 1875, through an accident. Two vehicles came
into collision in which the blind pioneer was thrown to the
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 37
ground and so injured that he never regained consciousness.
He was immediately taken to the office of the Press which his
son, John P. Irish, was then editing, and there he died, a tragic
end to a life containing many trials.
To read the memorial of a mother written by her son is not
a common thing, and when the editor of the Press was called
Old German Bedstead, 220 Years Old
Formerly in possession of F. X. Rittenmeyer, now owned by Dr. H. J. Prentiss
upon to chronicle the death of his mother it was to tell of her
life as a pioneer, one who braved more than her share of fron-
tier trials and who bore the hardships of travel over the
prairies to find a home for her family, without complaint, and
then lived a long life to keep them company.
On December 12, 1826, she and Frederick M. Irish were
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38 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
married in New York city and there began their lives together.
He had been a sailor and soon fell helpless and crippled upon
her hands. Gaining his health in a measure, he came west
into the Wabash valley where in due time the family were
united and " wrought on this frontier" for some years. Then
the home was once more broken and left to strangers while she
returned to the home of her childhood and he "took up his
journey once more" and sought the west beyond the Missis-
sippi for a new home.
Coming to Iowa City in the year 1839, soon a stout cabin,
warmed by the native woods and cheered by the hope of home,
rose under his hand, and once more she bade farewell to the
home that cradled her infancy and came the long journey
westward. This was nearly seventy years ago, and the jour-
ney was not, as now, in palace cars with all the comforts of
modern travel for this pilgrim with her small children, but
overland and "by rail a short distance, by canal packet, over
the spine of the Alleghanies, by the old i inclined plane,' by
stage and at last by steamer down the Ohio and up the Mis-
sissippi. She came to sit down in peace behind a rampart of
unhewn logs, under a roof of clapboards, content, for at last
it was home." Here the pioneer life was once more under-
taken where the flour for the family loaf was ground in. the
coffee mill and the garments that shielded her family from the
winter's cold were spun and made by her own hands. Her in-
dustry helping to earn what her frugality saved, she reared
her children in a culture the schools of that time could not give
and to her they owe the largest measure of whatever good may
come of effort in their several stations in life. So at the ripe
age of seventy-four years she rested, and the son put the con-
clusion of it all in this language : "The wildest eloquence of
sorrow, wrung from heartstrings swept by affliction, permitted
to overstep the proprieties of this page, would yet fall far short
of complete justice to her perfect life." 24
As a lad Sylvanus Johnson worked on the farm and in his
father's brick-yard, acquiring the trade of brick making, his
after vocation. When a young man he made a trip to the south
by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, spending a winter in New
Orleans, returned to the north, and after a short stay in Illi-
nois, crossed over into Iowa, locating in Jones county with the
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 39
intent of making his home. While here, in the summer of
1839, he was commissioned by Gov. Robert Lucas to raise a
company to take part in the ' i Line War ' ' then threatening con-
flict between Iowa and Missouri. In pursuance of this com-
mission he undertook to raise a company of men and with such
as could be enlisted in Jones county, he started by ox team for
the newly platted capital — Iowa City — trusting to fill up his
ranks on the way, and present a full company by the time he
reached Burlington, the seat of official government. When a
few miles north of Iowa City, he found himself hungry and
penniless. Applying at the home of a miller he stated his case,
and was furnished his dinner by the miller's wife, on his prom-
ise that when he got money he would send her a set of plates ;
it was his pride to tell that with his first earnings he redeemed
the promise ; the act was characteristic of the man. Follow-
ing the trail through the forest, he halted on the brow of the
hill that forms the northern rampart of the city and at an
isolated cabin inquired the way to Iowa City. The settler
answered, "why, this is Iowa City; you can see the stakes all
around here !"
He learned the i * war ' ' was over. The volunteers called for by
Governor Lucas were no longer needed, and the young captain
and his men found themselves in the new capital without
service, and he without money in his pocket and in debt for his
dinner. But he had energy and persistence, and he had his
trade, and there was not a brick house in the coming metropo-
lis. The brick maker had a cordial welcome ; he could not have
arrived more opportunely.
Early the next year he began work. The location of his
brick-yard is perpetuated on the map to this day, for outlot 24
is entitled "Johnson's outlot.' ' Where Mrs. Fanny Morri-
son's beautiful home now stands, then outside the new city, he
built his log cabin and opened the first brick-yard, moulding
with his own hands on April 15, 1840, the first brick made in
Iowa City. The first brick business house of the city was
erected that year on Iowa avenue ; and the first dwelling the
next year by himself at his yards. Thence came the material
for the walls of the Mechanics' Institute (of which he was one
of the founders and first trustees), and for the inner walls of
the territorial capitol, now the "Central Building" of the
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40 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
State University. Though this was the only brick-yard in the
new capital, and the demand for material was constant, his
product was good, the prices reasonable, and it was a long time
before he had active competition. The dwelling erected by
him in 1841 is in part preserved, and presents the oldest brick
wall in Iowa City. Few walls in the state are older than this.
The Mechanics' Academy was demolished a few years ago, to
make room for the new hospital of the State University.
To obtain fuel for his brick kilns he had early purchased a
tract of timber adjoining the capital city on the north, where
the "lay of the land" much resembled that of the Connecti-
cut home. In 1856 he enlarged his holdings by further pur-
chase, making in all about 600 acres of splendid farming land,
and that same year he opened a small brick-yard, where he
burned the brick for the home he erected the ensuing year,
when he gave over his avocation, and took up the life of a
farmer. This home he built on the plan of the old home in
Connecticut, a two story, great square brick house with an
"L," of high-ceiled large rooms, a double fire-place, wide hall,
and finely wrought staircase. It is one of the best examples
of the "colonial" type in the west. To Mr. Johnson and his
wife it was the old Connecticut homestead, situate on such a hill
and commanding a view like that upon which they had looked
in childhood. The pines that stand at the door, now great
trees, were brought by him as mere slips from the old home,
and planted by his own hands where they now tower upward.
The after current of his life ran smoothly. In this home
he lived an active, useful, contented, happy Christian for al-
most half a century. From his first coming he took a large
interest in public affairs, though he neither sought nor ac-
cepted preferment. His only public office was member of the
city council in the last year of his residence in the city. An
earnest advocate of education, he served on the school board,
and was a trustee of the Mechanics' Institute, the only one
perhaps who attended the first and last meetings of the board.
He was a liberal donor to the projected Iowa City Female Col-
legiate Institute, and suffered large loss in its collapse. An
enthusiastic advocate of railways, he contributed liberally to
the construction of the proposed Davenport & Iowa City Eail-
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PIONEERS AND PIONEER EXPERIENCES 41
way (now a part of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific) and
was one of its first trustees.
When the old Iowa Capital Reporter went over to the re-
publican party in the campaign of 1860, he was one of those
who contributed to the founding of the Iowa State Press, which
four years later absorbed the Reporter plant. He is believed
to be the last survivor of the original stockholders of the
Press.
His father's family was of the Baptist communion, and up-
on the organization of the church in this city he became one of
its members, and through his active life remained prominent
in its official work and helpful and liberal in its support. There
was a broad liberality in his religious opinions, and it is said
of him that he contributed generously to the erection of every
church built in Iowa City, even after he had removed to his
farm. In the widest application of the word he was charitable,
retaining to the last that cheery liberality so characteristic of
the pioneers. He never forgot that he came to his adopted
home penniless and in debt, and no case of need or suffering
ever appealed to him in vain, nor did he wait for appeal ; it
was enough for him to know that one needed aid he could give.
Possessed of an excellent voice, with more than a passing
knowledge of vocal and instrumental music as then popularly
rendered, and a meritorious performer on the "bass viol," he
was everywhere welcome and his services were in constant
demand. He was a member of the "orchestra" at the laying
of the corner stone of the territorial capitol on July 4, 1840,
and again at its "opening," as well as at the various public
functions which marked the lighter and cheerier gatherings of
the capital city's early days. The instrument he then used,
and the commission issued him by Governor Lucas have been
promised by his family for the cabinet of The State Historical
Society.25
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CHAPTER III
The Old Settlers — Their Organization
HpHE first meeting of old settlers was called in January,
•* 1861, at the court house, and the pioneers who were called
"old settlers' ' must have resided in the county twenty years.
This meant, then, that they must have come to the county in
1841 or before. The organization of an Old Settlers' Asso-
ciation and the holding of a festival in the near future was in
contemplation. The names signed to this call included the
men who practically founded the county, and its first history
must be chiefly the history of these men. Henry Felkner, one
of the first county commissioners, headed the list. Then fol-
lowed : S. H. McCrory, who held many public positions ; S. C.
Trowbridge, sheriff and postmaster ; David Wray, interested in
public improvement ; Robert Walker, one of the early settlers
of Fremont township; I. N. Sanders; John Powell; William
Kelso; N. Fellows, formerly a county commissioner; Bryan
Dennis, whose house was a polling place at the first election in
his township; H. H. Winchester; James Cavanagh, another
county commissioner; Warner Spurrier, who held the same
office ; Phineas Harris ; G. W. McCleary, county judge and an
officer of state ; James H. Gower, an early settler of two coun-
ties ; C. H. Buck, a pioneer merchant ; E. K. Morse, whose name
is retained in the town of Morse ; John West ; S. H. Bonham ;
Titus R. Fry and William Alt, whose names appear in early
county road history ; Philip Clark, county commissioner ; F. M.
Irish, whose name is inseparably connected with many events
in connection with the county seat and subsequent history;
James Magruder, a pioneer of Fremont township ; C. H. Berry-
hill, whose name is found on every book in the county records
for many years after organization ; John Parrot, county com-
missioner; Cyrus Sanders, surveyor and public servant in
many ways; A. C. Sutliff, Cedar township; Thomas Hughes;
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OLD SETTLERS— THEIR ORGANIZATION 43
Jesse Bowen, or Doctor Bowen, a personality never forgotten
by those who knew him ; David Switzer, who built the flouring
mill when the county was in most need ; Ed Worden, surveyor ;
George Paul, long a prominent character in the association,
editor and farmer; George Fesler, county commissioner; E.
Adams ; and B. Henyon. All other residents who could show
a residence of twenty years or more would be considered as
members of this organization.
January 26, 1861, nearly eighty of these pioneers assembled
at the court house as suggested by the preliminary meeting
above, and perfected their organization. Henry Felkner was
the chairman of this meeting and W. Reynolds the secretary.
The preliminary resolutions were in charge of a committee
consisting of Cyrus Sanders, Dr. Jesse Bowen, Thomas
Hughes, George Fesler, and Silas Foster. They made provi-
sion to appoint a committee on constitution and by-laws and
for another committee to arrange for the coming festival. An
invitation from the old settlers of Scott county to meet with
them during the month of February following was accepted
with hearty thanks and a similar one extended to the Scott
county pioneers. All the counties in this section of the state,
about this time, began to take some action on the subject of
securing united efforts in preserving something of their pio-
neer history. If all the addresses, formal and informal, all
the anecdotes, and reminiscences of the many meetings had
been preserved, it would furnish a complete record of the first
twenty or more years of the county's history, that part which
is now unavailable in many connections.2®
The records of the Old Settlers' Association commence with
1866, and the permanent organization appears to have been
made then. Doubtless the period of the Civil War postponed,
for a time, the regular meetings. Some have said the first
meeting should be counted at- the laying of the corner stone
for the "Old Capitol' ' and the subsequent celebration on the
same day of the nation's independence. But they were not
"old settlers" at that date, for the constitution determined
twenty years of residence as a prime qualification and that
was then a long way in the future. The first president, 1866,
was David Switzer, vice-president, Capt. F. M. Irish, second
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44 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
vice-president, Robert Walker, treasurer, Peter Roberts, and
secretary, Silas Foster.
It was more than an ordinary occasion when the old settlers
met twenty years later in 1886 to observe the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the settlement of Johnson county. The attendance
was larger than that of any similar occasion preceding this.
The number is placed at one thousand. When the roll was
called among those responding one may find the names of
Philip Clark, Mr. and Mrs. James Magruder, William Smith,
J. K. Strawbridge, Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Irish, Mr. and Mrs.
Cyrus Sanders, Horace Sanders, Ed Worden, Col. S. C. Trow-
bridge, Mrs. Jane Sanders, Jacob and Jerry Stover, Titus,
Henry, and John Fry, Henry Earhart, Mr. and Mrs. C. W.
Irish, Henry G. Reddout, Mr. and Mrs. Ford, Sam J. Hess,
Mr. and Mrs. George Paul, Mrs. Sarah A. Myers, Garrett Lan-
caster, W. D. Cannon, Sr., Samuel Magill, Hezekiah Hamilton,
and many others who were prboably more recent comers to
the county.
C. W. Irish was the speaker of the day. In his remarks
he reviewed the history of the exploration of the Mississippi
valley and the causes leading up to the Louisiana Purchase and
the opening of the Indian lands to settlement. In connection
with the early history of Johnson county he said: " About
the year 1822 American traders, taking the place of the French
traders, came to the mouths of the rivers Des Moines and Iowa,
and passing up along these streams located trading posts or
forts, as such places were then called. One set fixed them-
selves on the Des Moines river near to the present site of
Agency and Eddyville. Two of these men are now [1886]
Colonel Jordan of Ottumwa, and Capt. William Phelps. A
brother of Captain Phelps came up the Iowa river and built
his fort inside the lines of Johnson county. The ruins of this
trading post can still be seen just below the mouth of a small
creek in section ten in Pleasant Valley township, on the east
side of the Iowa river. I believe the creek is called Byington's
creek, but however that may be I should like to see the name of
that pioneer given to it. Here as early as 1826 boats from St.
Louis discharged their cargoes and took on loads of furs. Here
came the dusky inhabitants of the groves and prairies to
barter for blankets and trinkets and arms. I had intended
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OLD SETTLERS— THEIR ORGANIZATION 45
to read to you a letter from Mr. Phelps describing these early
scenes but having mislaid it I cannot do so. In 1833 there
were not over a score of white men making their homes in
Iowa, and the first permanent occupation of the country by
United States troops took place, I believe, in 1834; Meanwhile
the Black Hawk War had come to a close and by treaty a
large tract of country west of the Mississippi was thrown
open to settlement. At once venturous settlers began to
arrive upon the banks of that stream. In 1834 the war de-
partment ordered Lieut. Albert M. Lea to make an examina-
tion of the territory of the Black Hawk Purchase. This he
did, and in 1836 made a report and gave to the public the first
map of it.
"In 1836 Philip Clark and Eli Myers, pushing their way
on horseback from some point in Indiana, crossed the broad
prairies of Illinois and came by invitation of John Gilbert to
his trading post on the Iowa river, it being the same, as I
believe, as that of Mr. Phelps, the founding of which I have
already described. Near it was another owned by Wheaton
Chase. Gilbert and Chase, together with three or four other
white men, constituted the white population of Johnson county
at the time. Myers and Clark selected claims near the trad-
ing houses and soon had cabins raised thereon. The sound
of their axes ringing in the passive woods were the first
sounds of the keynote of the coming tide of civilization.
Their plowshare was the first to overturn the virgin sod of
Johnson county, and that plowshare laid securely the founda-
tion of all the wealth with which our county is teeming on this
fiftieth anniversary of their efforts. Of the noble soldiers
who with nerves of iron and heart of steel led the way let
history's page tell their deeds. One of the band, who
with Lieutenant Lea paved the way for the star of empire
within our state, still lives within its borders.
" After the expedition of Myers and Clark in 1836 settlers
flocked to the county, and soon there began to appear in the
groves and upon the prairies the cabins of the settlers. These
were golden days: privations, though great, were unfelt; a
universal feeling of security, honesty, and good will prevailed,
and locks upon doors were unknown. The stores and pro-
visions of settlers were free to all who came. We have here
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46 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Philip Clark, the first man to turn the prairie sod, the first
man to hew the timbers which gave strength and shape to our
first dwellings and public edifices. We still have among us the
men who hewed and laid the stone in our first capitol building.
We have here the man who made our first brick [Sylvanus
Johnson] and the man who traced our section lines [Cyrus
Sanders]. Some of the first county officers [Trowbridge and
Clark] , and of our lawyers there still survive a few, while in
yonder cemetery the polished shaft marks the final resting
place of many of the founders of our present prosperity.
"Let us each record what we may know of their work and
of our own to the end that posterity may know to whom it
is indebted for clearing the way for its happiness and great-
ness. If it shall prove that my effort in that direction shall
become the corner stone for such a history, then I am content.
I have endeavored to show how by slow degrees the discovery
and settlement of this country came to this our beautiful state
of Iowa. How the foundations of civilization, society, and all
their accompaniments of security, wealth, happiness, and
honor, with increased expansion were laid, and how they were
cemented by the blood of martyr, soldier, and pioneer. It is
now my hope that those who followed Myers and Clark to this
country fifty years ago, many meeting with us today, come for-
ward and recount the story of their labors. I see on the one
hand, Cyrus Sanders, the pathfinder of our county, the man
who helped to trace our section lines ; on the other I see Samuel
Hess, the man whose drum beat called together the volunteers
for the Mexican War. I well remember how the rat-tat-tat
of his drum-beat caused my heart to beat faster, and filled my
mind with visions of the tented field ; and before me stand men
and women who are the heroes of our early days of settlement,
golden days, now to become history. Let us brightly write
them on its pages.' 9
Following the address of Mr. Irish, which is worthy of
more extended study, a most pathetic scene occurred. Philip
Clark, the man mentioned so interestingly by the speaker, was
called for by the assembled people and owing to his feeble
body, he was assisted to the platform where he said :
"Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Old Settlers9
Association of Johnson County :
1 l Mr. Irish has told you how I began my labors in this county
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OLD SETTLEES— THEIR ORGANIZATION 47
fifty years ago. After I made that claim I laid out upon my
own land at another point on the Iowa river our first county
seat and called it Napoleon. The general government then
laid out the capital of Iowa territory, Iowa City, where it now
stands, and the legislature by an act removed the county seat
from my town to the territorial capital, and I was one of the
county commissioners who under the law removed the county
seat from my town to the present site, where the court house
now stands. I have opened and improved several farms — "
At this point Mr. Clark was compelled to cease speaking.
His voice trembled and became very weak, on account of his
age and enfeebled condition. This was probably his last at-
tempt to speak to an audience.
At the conclusion of this meeting T. W. Townsend secured
a picture of forty or more of the settlers in the county before
1840. It is hoped that this picture is still possessed by some
who were in that group. The notable feature of this particular
anniversary by the speakers is the emphasis placed upon the
records of those who could then give them. Following the
address of Mr. Irish, Rev. 0. Clute, who had been a pastor for
eight years in the county said: "A hundred years hence or
five hundred years hence, your descendants will look back with
interest and pride to their ancestors who were pioneers in the
county. They will read with eager eyes the old and yellow
pages wherein is told the story of your toils and privations.
Some of you smile when I say this ; you are disposed to think
that your work has no historic significance. Friends, you are
mistaken. You and your work will not be forgotten. It is,
therefore, of real importance that now, ere your gray hairs are
laid beneath the clods of the graveyard, you write out records
of your early experiences, or relate these experiences fully to
those who will write them out in order that they may preserve
a faithful picture of our country's early life." 2T
The building of a log cabin by the present generation of men
would be impossible unless they were instructed by some of
those who came with their fathers when such construction was
necessary. The old settlers made a practical demonstration
of their ' i cunning ' ' in this kind of labor when they prepared for
their "exhibition" in 1889 which was to occur at the county
fair in October. The first question was to decide whether it
was to be built of rough or hewn logs as a matter of architee-
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48 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ture. The more polite, but less rustic form was decided upon
and "hewn" it was to be and in dimensions sixteen by twenty
feet, a single story of ten feet. Frank Hutchinson furnished
the stone for the corner foundation and George Borland hauled
them to the ground. John E. Jayne directed the work, and
with him were Messrs. Swafford, Beuter, Stover, Wray, Den-
nis, and many more who could recall the early building of like
structures a half century before when the hewed log was al-
most an aristocratic structure among the frontier houses of
rough timber, projecting ends, and outside chimneys. It was
said that lapse of years had dimmed the details of cabin build-
ing, but it took only a few strokes to bring to memory the
action of unused muscles. Some "scored the logs" while
others rough hewed a plane side for the outer wall. Many
hands carried each "pole," as they called them, to the proper
setting. Of those who had once built log cabins for their own
homes, and found in them as much comfort as in any palace,
those who were placed in charge of the "corners," there were
J. Y. Stover, A. W. Beuter, Edward Barnes, Jarius Pratt,
W. P. Teneyk and Peter Rohert. There were other "old
timers" who remembered the adage: "They also serve who
only stand and wait."
But one could not write of all the things that occurred at
this "raising" of a log cabin in an orchard, on a hillside in the
presence of almost a thousand who came to "help," and inci-
dentally to eat the good things furnished by the homes no
longer made of log cabins, but one must place a record for
Azariah Pinney, eighty-six, who gave to the memorial cabin
two oak logs grown from acorns that he planted on his farm
forty-nine years before. Matthew Teneyk, who built the
first house in Iowa City, was present. Warner Spurrier came
over from Lisbon to meet his pioneer friends and renew the
stories of a half century. Two familiar faces were missed,
that of Philip Clark, the senior of all the old settlers, and that
of James Magruder, both detained by illness. T. N. Roberts,
formerly of Madison township, came from Cass county to be
present at this meeting; G. W. Fleming brought with him a
"trammel" for the fireplace, and Peter Coyle a "splint broom
for the hearth." The oldest person in the company was
"Grandmother" McCallister, at eighty-seven, accompanied by
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50 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
three gentlemen descendants. Half the company present were
women who came to assist in the building by preparing the
dinner.28
It was not until the following year, in 1890, that the house
was ' l chinked ' ' and made ready for the ' ' Old Settlers. ' ' Many
more pioneers came again to the spot to see the finishing
touches to this memorial of fifty years. At the meeting the
year before there had been no formal speeches, while on this
occasion there was much "poetry." Col. E. W. Lucas gave
a short address which included a reference to the two struc-
tures now completed, the log cabin, due to the initiative of
Gil. E. Irish, and the log house to Isaac Bowen. To the "mod-
ern man" an explanation of the term "cabin" and "house"
may be necessary. At this meeting those present who came
before 1840 were: Philip Clark, 1836; Sylvanus Johnson,
George Paul, Joseph Walker, 1837; Prof. T. S. Parvin, J. Y.
Stover, James Magruder, J. R. Hartsock, 1838; Austin Cole,
Bryan Dennis, I. V. Dennis, Jonas Hartman, John Fry, J. B.
Denison, Wm. Fry, E. M. Adams, Moses Adams, Strawder
Devault, D. B. Cox, C. B. Cox, Azariah Pinney, and E. W.
Lucas, 1839, and several women who came during that time,
Mrs. Jacob Bicord, Mrs. Geo. Paul, Mrs. H. J. Wieneke, and
Mrs. Cyrus Sanders.19
Father Magill, the poet of so many old settlers' meetings,
and present at the log cabin building, was not long to remain
in the world, for in November following he was called away.
He came to the county in 1847 and remained here until his
death, at one time being a member of the city council and al-
ways a supporter of the old settlers ' reunion. He published a
volume of his verses, many of them relating to the pioneer
days and the old settlers' meetings.
The social customs of the pioneer have in them many sug-
gestions of all that goes to make the family life the center of
the interests of all those who belong in it. All the events tended
to make that the first consideration. That the feelings of the
"old settler" for the good old days are not only genuine but
often related with a sense of loss, no one can doubt, if he is
willing to study the customs that prevailed so far back in the
local history. The description of that time has been given in
such a way that it is not difficult to understand why those days
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OLD SETTLEES— THEIR ORGANIZATION 51
had in them " sincere and charitable lessons" for the present
generation. "The latch string is pulled and the first comer
at the evening's gathering takes his seat at the fireside to
wait for the coming of the neighbors. Presently the creaking
of the snow and the 'whoa* of the driver announces the arrival
of the ox team. The wide door swings on its wooden hinges
and in come the troops of small children followed by the
'grown folks.' The little people sit about the big fire on buf-
falo robes and quilts, while the fathers and mothers take the
comfortable seats. They hang their wraps on the wooden pegs
driven in the wall of the cabin, and while doing so the men of
the party arrive having given the oxen the shelter of the hay-
stack with plenty of good, sweet, prairie hay to feed upon.
"It is noticeable in the company that all are comparatively
young, not a pale, nor a frail face among the group, and ruddy,
healthy faces of the outdoor life indicate clear consciences and
healthy appetites. The garments worn by the company are
all the work of women of the household and made to serve the
individual in comfort, not regarding the style to the detriment
of serviceability, and no apology is offered because the cut hap-
pens to be one of the year before.
"The evening meal follows in due time and then the old
custom of 'the elders first' is observable, the children waiting
for the ' second table,' when they take what is put before them
without any complaint; modestly and quietly they carry on
the conversation without slang or oath, nor would one hear
during the entire evening by adults or children, evil spoken of
any one. All were friends, all were on an equality. ' '
The first of the different nationalities to come to the county
would include the native Americans and the Irishmen. Philip
Clark was born in Ireland, and of his nationality were Patrick
Smith and his wife Mary, James Wicks, William Croty, John
Conboy, and Michael McGinnis. The native Americans who
came at the same time, or in the near future, were John Gilbert,
Eli Myers, the Walkers, Earharts, Harrises, and Hamiltons.
Of the early German settlers the names of Casper Dunkel,
Casper Nick, Matthias Lane, Joseph and Gregory Gross, Chris-
topher H. Buck, Ferdinand Haberstroh, Jacob Wentz, F. Bros-
hart, Peter Stoetzer, and Philip Schwertfager are prominent.
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52 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Among the Scotch were George Andrews, William Kemp,
David, Henry, and William Gillaspy.
Late in the forties the Bohemians made their appearance.
Now and then upon the streets one might see the native
costume, but soon they began to arrive in large numbers and in
1853 and '54 they made settlements in the northern part of the
county. The settlements have gradually extended until these
people form a considerable part of the county's population.
Taking up the roughest and least valuable portions of land
along the streams they have converted thousands of acres of
apparently worthless land into profitable farms and made pos-
sible the purchase of other farms of the best there is in the
community. They have redeemed the rough and hilly land
along the streams from its useless conditions of stumpy sur-
face, which not only adds to the wealth of the individual who
improves the land but to the wealth of the entire economic area
in the immediate vicinity. As a people they have been said to
retain much of their national characteristics and to be closely
united in their social life. They have furnished many leading
men in the county's affairs and many who stand for the highest
ideals in civil life.80
The view from the Old Capitol in 1844 was described by the
only person qualified by personal observation to make such a
description interesting, and it is given on the authority of those
who made the record on that date. It was on a still winter's
day when Chauncey Swan, F. M. Irish, Henry Felkner, Samuel
H. McCrory, with several ladies, climbed to the top of the un-
finished cupola of the building to view the surrounding coun-
try. That scene is gone, but the story of it remains. It runs
thus : ' * As far as the eye could reach was an unbroken stretch
of snow covered plain, no road, no path, and the calm day al-
lowed the smoke from every settler's cabin to go straight to-
ward the skies, so that it could be located without difficulty.
Directly to the east was the house of Allen Stroud, then occu-
pied by Archibald Shaw ; a little farther on could be seen the
unfinished cabin of Peter H. Patterson ; just beyond this was
the first and the last home of Judge James P. Carleton ; north
of this a short distance was the home of F. M. Irish, which now
forms the sitting room in the house of David Borts, and which
is the oldest sitting room in the county, having been built in
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OLD SETTLEES— THEIE OKGANIZATION 53
1842. A short distance east of the Carleton cabin, where
Jacob Metzger now lives, was the house of Matthew Brown ; a
blue signal of smoke to the south of the Carleton home located
the cabin of William L. Gilbert, and farther to the east ap-
peared the fine double cabin of William Sturgis ; occupying a
site close to the present home of Judge Fairall, far to the
northeast, were the cabins of the Hayden brothers and D.
Sumner, and just beyond the first home of good old Isaac
Bowen nestled in the grove ; far up toward Ealston creek the
volumes of blue smoke suggested the enjoyment of John Mat-
thews and Green Hill, while far away to the east the houses
of Matthew Teneyk, John Parrott, and Charles Jones, and
from the hillside just north of the present residence of Glenn
McCrory, the cabin of S. H, McCrory was seen, which was said
to have been the home of every single man in the county in
early times, and here a large part of the county business was
transacted.
1 ' North of the McCrory house was that of I. N. Sanders,
John and Benjamin Horner; then far to the southeast could be
seen the farm of W. B. Snyder, in what is now Higbee's Grove ;
it was well known as the office of the first doctor in the county ;
down the river the once-commercial center of the county was
pointed out by the group of smoke columns over the old trading
houses and the one time court house of the county, in the now
deserted town of the high sounding name of Napoleon ; over
the river beyond the trees the cabins of the Harris, Hamilton,
Secor, and Seahorn families ; the dwellings of Edward Foster
and Joseph Stover were well in view on the same side of the
stream, and near the old lime kilns were the homes of Pleasant
Arthur and Elisha Yost. Then turning a mile to the north one
could point out the home of Walter Terrell ; east of the river,
at the base of the hill on the road to Butler's bridge, stood the
cabin of Austin Cole; to the west of this where the smoke
floated in the tree tops was the spot of gloomy memories where
the cabins of David Henry, William Kemp, and Billy Glaspy
had been built in such high hopes, and where they had died
before being permitted to realize the desired independence;
and then far to the west was found the advance guard of the
Clear Creek settlers in the cabins of Nathaniel Fellows and
Alexander Able."
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54 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
So much for the view of the surrounding country as it then
was which could only be distinguished by the ones who knew
every foot of country around and were willing to neglect the
city closer by until they had made the circuit. Then they de-
scribed the city itself from the same point of view: "Here
the American House and Butler's Tavern were the most con-
spicuous ; to the south of the Capitol were the stores of John
Powell, and Wesley Jones; and beyond them the unfinished
walls of the Old Stone Church, now gone excepting the founda-
tion, from its old location; on the avenue, where now stands
Weber's blacksmith shop, was the office of Dr. Jesse Bowen;
east of this the pioneer store of Murray and Sanxay nearly
opposite the last store ; on the north side of the avenue was a
small frame building, which carried on the peak of its roof
a pair of buck horns, suggesting the name of the proprietor,
C. H. Buck, who sold groceries and provisions. Continuing
three blocks east of this point the observers located the drug
store of Louis and Jacob Gobin ; a little farther on were found
great piles of bark in front of Gobin's tan yard; north of the
Musser lumber office was the announcement of the physician
Dr. William Eeynolds ; south of the square, where the present
homeopathic hospital stands, was the old blue church, and
north of it the Methodist church ; in every direction the smoke
from the wood fires rose over the city from the houses that
sheltered the population of less than one thousand souls. Not
a dozen persons were in sight in the town and only one saddle
horse was seen, that of Dr. S. M. Ballard, hitched in front of
the office of Murray, McCormick and Swan on Clinton Street.' '
It is said that one of the party, Mrs. Frances D. Gage, after-
wards wrote an account of these observations for an eastern
paper, but which one, or where is not now known.81
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CHAPTER IV
The Indian and His Claims
'TSHE treaty of 1832, commonly called the Black Hawk Pur-
-* chase, contained the following which is of local interest,
aside from the further fact that the land was then for the first
time opened to the white settler.
The line thus established, as near as may be drawn from
the study of the government surveys, passed through the north-
eastern corner of the county, and the angle made by the two
lines forming the western boundary of the Purchase, as shown
upon Map A, fell upon the Cedar river about one mile east of
the county line opposite the section line dividing sections
twenty-four and twenty-five, in Cedar township. As indicated
on the map, the line drawn from this point on the Cedar river,
through the intersection of the east line of the county and the
southern line of Cedar township, or township eighty-one north,
would intersect the south line of the county near the south-
east corner of section thirty-two, in Liberty township, or sev-
enty-seven north, range six west. The north line of the Keokuk
Reserve met this western boundary of the Black Hawk Pur-
chase on the line between ranges five and six west, in township
seventy-nine north, now the east line of East Lucas township.81
Until 1832, there was no legal authority for settlers to enter
and remain upon the lands that are in any respect comprised
within the limits of Johnson county. The map which is shown
in this section (Map A) will show what proportion of this par-
ticular county was included in the purchase of 1832. Less than
two congressional townships belong in that purchase and this
limited area was in the form of a triangle on the eastern border.
The next addition of Indian territory that was opened to the
settlement of the whites and which lies within the bounds of
the county was about the same in area. It was opened in 1836
by the cession of the Keokuk Reserve, the 400 square miles
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56 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
reserved in 1832 along the Iowa river, the upper end of which
extended into the limits of the present Johnson county as
shown by the map mentioned. However, the greater part of
the county lies in the district known in the purchases of the
government as the cession of 1837, and it happens that the
northern part of the county is wholly within that district,
since this was the widest extent of the strip containing
1,250,000 acres, lying along the western side of the Black Hawk
Purchase.
Probably no county in the state has the same relations to
the three tracts bought at different times from the Indians, and
it is not strange that some of the settlers got over the line into
"Indian Country" when the rush began for the new land. It
is easy to understand the reasons for the locations of certain
trading houses when one notices the lines as they run and the
situation of the natives with relation to the white settlers.
Not until the Indian title to the land was extinguished could
anything be done toward the organization of the settlers who
had come here in advance of the law, so far as the government
was concerned. Their only relief from lawlessness was in the
mutual associations for the protection of each. Following
close upon the treaty of 1837 the county was organized, as will
be noted later on in this chapter. The Indian, as he lived here,
has a history of his own that runs over into the beginnings of
the territorial and county organization. This county has at
different times been the hunting grounds of the Winnebago,
the Iowa, the Illinois, and the Muscatine Indians, who had been
forced to retire from the incursions of the Sioux on the north
and west, and the Sacs and Foxes from the north and east.
The first of the tribes mentioned retired to the north while
the others were crowded east, leaving finally the land now
comprised in Johnson county in possession of the Sacs and
Foxes. If one could follow these tribes to the bitter end it
would furnish, to quote the compiler of the facts given, "a
study in the different stages of progress and decay of a once
powerful nation. ' ' The leading spirit of the Sacs, Black Hawk,
according to story, was a native of Illinois and led his people
in many battles at an early age because of his remarkable
ability. In the contests with the Sioux he is said to have driven
them far to the north in 1805, and after his last defeat in his
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MAP A
Johnson County as originally established in 1837
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Indian Villages, Trading Houses, and First Surveyed Towns
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THE INDIAN AND HIS CLAIMS 57
attack upon Fort Howard he retired to the west side of the
Father of Waters, where his people had been driven and
where three divisions of his tribe established their homes in.
the limits of Johnson county. This contest was not settled
even then, for the warfare was continued, as we may judge
from the story of Henry Felkner regarding the times in his
day and as quoted many times in various connections. It ap-
pears that the Indians in 1837 had organized for the purpose
of a hunting expedition so far as the outward signs indicated,
but in reality to make war upon their old enemies the Sioux.
So far as the white settlers could tell there was no excitement
over this departure and while weeks went by with no tidings
the friends in camp seemed to have no fears concerning their
comrades. One pleasant evening in September when all was
quiet in camp a sudden shout was heard from the bluff north-
east of the upper town and this was followed immediately by
six others in rapid succession, all of which were heard in the
camp although they came from some distance. The effects are
said to have been most striking, for the natives understood
from the first shout that some message was to follow, and it
came from some special brave sent in advance. This news was
of the bloody battle and the defeat of the Sac tribe, which he
had been sent on the long and weary journey to relate to the
families of those who had been slain or captured. In the lan-
guage of the one who told this: "He spoke so distinctly that
all heard and when he had finished such a wail went up from
those bereaved of fathers and husbands and sons as I had never
heard before, for the camp was literally a house of mourning."
Indian women do not weep like white women, but they wailr
and for weeks they could be heard every day wailing in some
secluded place as if their hearts were broken. When the war-
riors returned they brought the wounded down the river in
canoes, carried them to the vicinity of Gilbert's trading house
and put them in charge of their "medicine man." Some of
the wounded died under his care and it probably was not his
treatment that saved the remainder.
There were three villages in the vicinity. The upper town,
known as the town of Wapashiek, was located in section
twenty-two of what is now East Lucas township. The lower
town was that of Poweshiek, the leading chief of the three,.
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58 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
really the superior of the tribes, and located in section thirty-
five of the same township. The point where the messenger
stood was on the high point in section twenty-two "just east
of the residence of James McCollister."
The complete history of the early Indians cannot be written
in the present since there is absolutely no record beyond what
has been quoted and what may be found in general histories on
the subject. Here and there one may find suggestions of what
happened in the brief mention of the early settler and occa-
sionally in some record where the information would be least
expected, as referred to in the county records in this section.
At the great council held at Rock Island in 1836 for the sale
of the Keokuk Reserve it is said that there were nearly if not
quite a thousand Indians present, being the largest gathering
of Sac and Fox Indians on record, for such a purpose at any
rate, as the treaty with the white man. From the meeting of
the settlers and the tribes there seems to have grown up a
friendship that led to personal favors when the first settlers
came to select their land after the purchase of 1837. We read
of Poweshiek entertaining the two men who came into the
neighborhood to make their homes after the meeting at Rock
Island when John Gilbert piloted Eli Myers and Philip Clark
to the village of the chief to partake of his food. Philip Clark
described the meal as follows: "The guests were seated on
a strip of pucaway, a smooth matting woven from the cattail
flags or rushes; the pipe was then passed and the first course
of beaver soup was brought on," which course, according to
the description, "was too thick for soup and too thin for a
roast and a little hard to get hold of with the point of a knife,
although not a bad article when once in possession of it. This
was followed with a blanket full of hot cakes made from
pounded corn and fried in the fat of the beaver or bear. Then
came a bundle of beaver tails, roasted, and also slices of
roasted elk meat, ground nuts, and coffee in tincups." The
affair closed with another passing of the "eternal pipe."
Iowa became a territory on July 4, 1838, and on this occa-
sion the settlers then in the county met at Gilbert's trading
house to celebrate the day. Poweshiek was asked to address
the white brothers after A. D. Stephens, who could interpret
the Indian tongue, had explained to him why the white men
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THE INDIAN AND HIS CLAIMS 59
remembered this day. Eising to his full Indian height, and
slipping his blanket from his shoulders, he raised his hand
aloft and pointing to the westward he said : ' ' Soon I shall go
to a new home and you will plant corn where my dead sleep.
Our towns, the paths we have made, and the flowers we love
will soon be yours. I have moved many times and have seen
the white man put his feet in the tracks of the Indian and make
the earth into fields and gardens. I know that I must go away
and you will be so glad when I am gone that you will soon for-
get that the meat and the lodge-fire of the Indian have been
forever free to the stranger and at all times he has asked for
what he has fought for, the right to be free. ' ' Contrary to the
opinion of many the thought was all his own, and it was trans-
lated and related by A. D. Stephens.
Strangely interesting is the account given of the group of
several hundred Indians that are said to have viewed from a
distance the labor of the capitol commissioners when they, in
1839, set the stakes for the building that now is regarded as
of deepest interest on the University campus. It is of more
interest to know that it was at this same time that the Indians
were packing their ponies to move on to the northwest from
their old towns south of the new capital of the territory of
Iowa. It is further related that on the very day mentioned
they set out on their journey, and as they passed through the
town of Napoleon they stopped to see the baby and say good
bye at the home of Patrick Smith. This departure tells the
last story of the Indian supremacy in Johnson county, and it
has been told in a form that should be preserved without
change so far as possible : * ' Before leaving their dead warrior
near Napoleon the last sad rites were said at the Indian tomb
which has so often been described as of distinctive form in
the manner of burial, the body being really but half buried, and
readily exposed in its enclosure in the open prairie, so that it
could be seen at any time. Gathered here were seen a number
of the older squaws, who were heard chanting their weird fare-
well to the departed before they took up their final march to
the new home. Both white and red men listened to the mourn-
ful sounds in silence, and when the ceremony was finished the
Indian women drew their blankets about them and set out to
the northward with the train of more than four hundred little
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60 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and great, of Sacs and Foxes who left behind the towns of
Poweshiek, Wapashiek, and Totokonoc, tenantless, abandoned,
the last trace of the once proud owners of the soil in that part
of the county and the only fortified town. ' ' They moved about
twenty miles this time into what is now Monroe township. (See
Map B).88
Poweshiek was described as of large size, weighing not less
than 250 pounds, "fat, heavy, lazy, and a drunkard, whenever
he could get whisky, and that was frequently." Yet he was
held as "honest, brave, and just." His word was regarded as
sacred, and a gift was remembered with gratitude. While
slow to arouse, when once he became aroused he was full of
energy and proved a powerful man so long as the stimulus was
applied. His sense of justice was keen and, "all in all, he was
Tather a noble specimen of the American savage."
The second in command of the tribe was physically the con-
Terse of Poweshiek, tall and thin and possessing less force of
-character than his chief. He, however, managed his own vil-
lage very well and referred all serious matters to his superior.
Thus was Wapashashiek described.
Kiskekosh was not a chief but a prominent Indian — a war
leader and also a leader on his own motion of parts of the tribe.
He aspired to lead on future occasions and was a powerful and
influential Indian ; tall, straight, and active, a swift runner, the
master of his tribe in contests of physical endurance, a sober
man, eloquent in his language, but was said to be untrust-
worthy among all the whites, "cunning, keen, dishonest, mean,
and treacherous. 9 '
These were the leaders of the Fox tribe in 1837 which in-
habited the present townships of Pleasant Valley and East and
l^est Lucas, the latter two of which were first called as taken
together Iowa City township. (See Map B). An instance of jus-
tice as administered by Poweshiek was the return of a stolen
Tiorse which was found in possession of an Indian of his tribe.
Calling the attention of the chief to his loss, the owner found
him ready to co-operate in the search, whereupon he issued in-
structions that no one should be allowed to leave the camp until
further orders, and no one went. Then the owner located his
liorse; the one in whose possession it was found being sub-
jected to cross-examination could give no clear account of his
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THE INDIAN AND HIS CLAIMS 61
ownership and was forced to make return of the animal and
additional restitution.34
That other agencies than the Indian population may have
had residence here is believed by some as the various mounds
described might have had a prehistoric origin. In the county
there are or have been located many of these, notably the fol-
lowing, described as existing generally in groups, usually
occupying the higher ground in the bend of or at the confluence
of streams. The time of settlement found them in their most
perfect condition, and for that reason they were more con-
spicuous than when the cultivation of the soil had made
changes in the land. Some of them were quite extensive, if
we may take the present record as evidence, since dimensions
are given as thirty feet in diameter. ' ' In East Lucas township,
sections three and four, there were two groups of probably
forty in number; in section eleven there were two; in section
twenty-seven of Newport township there was a large group ;
and in Penn township, numerous collections ; sixty-four were
found in section thirty- three of Liberty township; twelve were
located in sections twelve and thirteen of Fremont township."
This is not given as all of the prehistoric remains in the county,
but suggests the early findings of the first settlers. It is
said that the Indians claimed no knowledge of these but de-
clared them to have been far in the past.
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CHAPTER V
County Organization and Government
13 Y THE laws of Wisconsin territory, approved December
-■^21, 1837, the boundaries of Johnson county were fixed as
follows: "Beginning at the southeast corner of Linn county;
thence west, with the southern boundary of Linn to the line
dividing ranges eight and nine west; thence south to the line
dividing township seventy-six and seventy-seven north; thence
east with said township line to the line dividing ranges four
and five west of the fifth principal meridian ; thence with said
range line, north to the place of beginning; shall be and the
same is hereby constituted a separate county to be called
Johnson.' ' By the same act, section sixteen, the county of
Johnson was attached to Cedar "for judicial purposes,' ' and
its officers conducted the affairs of this county until its organ-
ization in 1838.85
At a special session of the legislature of Wisconsin terri-
tory, begun and held in the city of Burlington, June 11, 1838,
provision was made for the "organization and establishment
of the seat of justice in and for Johnson county." The text
of the act is as follows :
"Be it enacted by the council and house of representatives
of the Territory of Wisconsin, That the county of Johnson be
and the same is hereby organized from and after the fourth
day of July next [July 4, 1838], and the inhabitants of said
county be entitled to all the rights and privileges to which by
law the inhabitants of other organized counties of this Terri-
tory are entitled, and the said county shall continue to be a
part of the second judicial district, and a district court shall
be held at the town of Napoleon, the seat of justice, at the
court house, or such other place as may be provided. Two
terms shall be held annually after the organization of said
county, to- wit : on the second Monday of August and December;
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 63
and the several acts concerning the district courts of the said
Wisconsin Territory shall be and they are hereby made appli-
cable to the district court of Johnson county, and the county of
Keokuk is hereby attached to said county of Johnson for ju-
dicial purposes." 86
However, when the boundary line of Washington county was
fixed in 1839 Johnson county lost three townships from its orig-
inal plat. (See Map B). To show how this happened it is
necessary to quote the act establishing the boundary lines of
Washington county.
At the first session of the legislature for the territory of Iowa
Building where First Legislature of Iowa Met
held at Burlington, 1838-39, the following act was passed : "Be
it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the
Territory of Iowa, that the county heretofore known and desig-
nated as the county of Slaughter shall hereafter be called the
county of Washington, and that the boundary lines of said
county are hereby established as follows: Beginning on the
range line between ranges five and six west, where the town-
ship line dividing townships seventy-three and seventy-four
north intersect said line, thence west with said township line
to the line dividing ranges nine and ten west, thence north on
the said line to the line dividing townships seventy-seven and
seventy-eight north, thence east on said line to the range line
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64 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
between ranges five and six west, thence south with said line
to the place of beginning.' ' 8T
Johnson county had no voice in this cutting away of these
townships from its original plat, but a small part of this was
restored in 1845. An act of the legislature of the territory
approved June 5, 1845, reads in substance as follows : That
all that portion of township number seventy-seven north and
range number six west lying on the east side of the Iowa river
and now composing a part of Washington county be detached
from the county of Washington, and the same is hereby "at-
tached to and made a part of the county of Johnson for all
purposes whatsoever.' ' This act was to take effect and be in
force from and after its passage.38 (See Map VII, Chap. VI).
From that time Johnson has retained its present boundaries.
All that belongs to the county organization, whether roads,
ferries, sub-divisions of the county for road districts, voting
precincts, or civil townships with all their modifications, in
additions or subtractions, is within the above boundary.
The details of township development are found as a part of
this section, which study is an interesting phase of the history
of any county in this part of the state, and also one indicating
the desire of the people to have a voice in affairs most nearly
concerning them.
The county commissioners of Johnson county organized on
the 29th day of March, 1839, under the act passed by the terri-
torial legislature, approved December 14, 1838.89 This act
provided for a board of county commissioners for the trans-
action of county business to consist of three qualified electors,
any two of whom should be competent to do business, to be
elected by the qualified electors of the several counties respec-
tively. It was further provided in section two of the act that
these persons so elected should serve one, two, or three years,
according to the number of votes received by each of them, and
in the elections following one commissioner only should be
elected. They were required by the act to hold four meetings
each year, but extra or called sessions are of frequent occur-
rence throughout the period of the county commissioners.
Provisions were made for the matter of deciding the elections
and for continuing business when only two members were
present and a division occurred on a question. A common
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COUNTY OKGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 65
seal must be selected, and in this connection, some invention
was necessary since seals could not be obtained on short no-
tice.40 Certain passages in the acts of the commissioners are
explainable by reference to this act, and in the proper connec-
tion such reference is made.
Henry Felkner, Abner Wolcott, and William Sturgis were
the first county commissioners chosen under this act, having
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been elected in 1838 at the regular election. Only two, Felk-
ner and Wolcott, were present at the first session. Samuel C.
Trowbridge,41 sheriff, and Luke Douglass, clerk pro tern, were
in attendance according to requirements of the law. Luke
Douglass was appointed permanent clerk on motion of Henry
Felkner, and it was ordered by the court, which title means
the board of commissioners, "that the eagle side of a ten cent
piece be adopted as the county seal until one might be provided
by the territory."
The second session began on the first day of April, 1839, with
all members present. On motion of Abner Wolcott, "Wheton
Chase was appointed treasurer of Johnson county.' ' It was
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66 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
further ordered that "the clerk and sheriff decide by draft
which one of two commissioners which received an equal num-
ber of votes should hold their seat for three years." The re-
sult of this draft was as follows: "Henry Felkner, Esquire,
set for three years, Abner Wolcott for two years, and William
Sturgis for one year." Samuel C. Trowbridge, the sheriff of
the county, was appointed assessor for the year 1839. The
assessment roll as made by him for 1839 is bound in the front
of Book I of the proceedings of the county commissioners.
William C. Massey was appointed "constable in and for John-
son county, Territory of Iowa" and from this date regular ses-
sions of the board were held according to law,42 in the months
of April, July, October, and January. Called meetings might
occur on notice from any two members to the third, such meet-
ings to continue not longer than three days. The chief busi-
ness of the first called session, held on May 15, 1839, was the
ordering of the payment of sundry bills which, while similar in
their purpose and small in general amount, contained some
suggestive items throwing light upon the customs of the day.
These payments are for services rendered the county and not
itemized fully, but it is mentioned that the sheriff received the
largest item in payment for services in securing two juries and
for attending the sessions of the court of county commission-
ers. John Trout was allowed "one-eighth dollars" for ser-
vices "rendered the county." Samuel H. McCrory was ap-
pointed commissioner, on the part of Johnson county, to locate
that part of the National Eoad leading from a point opposite
Oquawka [in the state of Illinois] to Napoleon, which "lays"
in Johnson county.
A regular session was held in July, 1839. Commencing
promptly on the first day, all members were present. A pecu-
liar feature of the minutes kept by the clerk, Luke Douglass,
is the expression at the beginning of each session, "amongst
others were the following proceedings, to-wit:" suggesting an
incomplete record, although this doubtless refers to matters
discussed informally and not necessarily a matter of record.
Pleasant Harris, Andrew D. Stephens, and John Egan were
appointed judges of the county election which came on, in the
month of August following, while the rate of taxation was fixed
at this meeting at one-half percent on the dollar. They con-
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 67
trolled the matter of appropriations for, under the act pro-
viding for a board of county commissioners, they were al-
lowed to fix the compensation of the attending officers. Luke
Douglass, clerk, was therefore paid three dollars per day, for
the time the board was in session. The first mention of trade
or industrial matters, occurs at the meeting of October, 1839,
when Edward Foster, Esq., applied for a license to conduct a
store, or sell goods in Iowa City for one year on payment of
twenty dollars for the privilege. At this point in the proceed-
ings a change of importance was made, yet without authority,
when at the conclusion of the session held on October 7, 1839,
the court of county commissioners adjourned not to meet the
next morning at Napoleon, as one would expect, but at the
house of F. M. Irish in Iowa City.43 Henry Felkner and
Philip Clark, the latter having been chosen to succeed William
Sturgis, signed the proceedings. This appears to the reader
as an unwarranted proceeding, since no act provided for the
change of the seat of justice from Napoleon to Iowa City, how-
ever desirable it may have been in the time of anticipation that
the territorial capital was to come to this county.44 •
Among the first acts of the county commissioners after as-
sembling in Iowa City was the granting of trade licenses to
Asaph Allen and Walter Butler, who were permitted to con-
duct taverns in Iowa City by the payment of thirty dollars in
fees. The salary of the county treasurer, Wheton Chase, was
allowed, it having reached the sum of one dollar and sixty-eight
cents. The rate ori grocery license was fixed in the case of
Henry Buck at fifty dollars for one year commencing in De-
cember, 1839. On the same day McKee and Company were
granted a license for a store in Iowa City at eighteen dollars
per year. The article sold seems to have fixed the fee, the
grocery license usually carrying with it the privilege of retail-
ing spirits.45 The surveyor of the territorial road from op-
posite Oquawka, 111., to Napoleon, John Gilliland, was allowed
two dollars and fifty cents for his services, while Jacob S.
Ri near son and Daniel Brewer are the first road commissioners
to receive mention or pay for their services. The matter of
roads is made a special topic and can be mentioned here only
for the purpose of illustrating the business of the county com-
missioners.
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68 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
An order issued for money to be paid to Samuel C. Trow-
bridge, the sheriff, on January 2, 1840, is marked as follows :
"This order to have preference." This is in harmony with
the law concerning money advanced for county purposes found
in the act organizing such board, which reads : "Where money "
has been advanced by any clerk or other county officer for use
and benefit of the county, pursuant to the requisitions of law,
the board of commissioners shall order such money so ad-
vanced to be first paid."46
A case calling for the interpretation of the law arose early
in the history of the commissioners, as is shown in the follow-
ing petition filed with the board at the session, held in January,
1840:
"To the Honorable Board of County Commissioners for the
County of Johnson and Territory of Iowa:
"Sheweth unto your Honors your petitioner, W. Butler, a
citizen of the county aforesaid, that at the session of your body
in October last [1839], your petitioner in compliance with a
statute of Wisconsin applied for a license to keep a tavern in
said county ; that your petitioner obtained the said license up-
on condition of paying to the county treasurer thirty dollars,
that your petitioner paid the same to the county treasurer and
filed a receipt for the same with the clerk of your body. That
the said clerk accordingly issued a license to your petitioner,
for the purpose aforesaid, in proof of the above statement
your body is referred to the record and files of your honorable
court. Your petitioner is informed and believes that at the
time such license was issued there was no law in force in this
territory, authorizing the same and that your petitioner has in
fact received no compensation, or equivalent therefor: your
petitioner therefore prays your honorable body to grant to
your petitioner an order on the treasurer of the county for the
said sum of thirty dollars so paid by your petitioner as afore-
said and as in duty bound, etc. Walter Butler." 47
After due consideration the commissioners decided that
license was issued and fee collected according to law, and the
petition was not granted. William Sturgis, who had been com-
missioner from the beginning until July, 1839, received his pay,
probably in county orders, amounting to fifteen dollars, at the
meeting in January, 1840, and a brief adjournment was taken
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 69
until four o'clock on the afternoon when business was resumed.
Preferred orders were issued to commissioners for money ad-
vanced, suggesting the patriotic nature of these men who paid
cash and were often forced to wait for an indefinite period
before county orders were paid. The frequency of the issues
of licenses indicates the growing trade of the community, which
increased very rapidly from this time.
David Cox appeared and made personal resignation of his
office as constable, asking to be relieved from further duties
connected with that office, which resignation was duly accepted
by the board. At the following session Frederick Disinger was
appointed constable in the place of Cox resigned, in addition
to William Black, who was appointed to the same office, sug-
gesting an increase in police duties.
The next session of the court was held on January 27, 1840,
and an important action concerning the county seat was taken,,
indicated by the motion made by Henry Felkner, by which the
board of commissioners were "to view the several adjoining
quarter sections of land to the seat of government [of the ter-
ritory] and upon examination the commissioners decided upon
the northwest quarter of section fifteen in township seventy-
nine north, and range six west, of the fifth principal meridian
for the seat of justice for said county.' 9 It was then ordered
that Philip Clark, one of the commissioners, be authorized to
repair to Dubuque and enter, if possible, the aforesaid quarter
of land for county purposes. Moreover it was further ordered
at this same session." that a memorial be forwarded to Con-
gress directed to the care of Hon. W. W. Chapman, our dele-
gate in Congress, requesting that body to pass a law authoriz-
ing the aforesaid Board to locate upon the aforesaid quarter
section of land for county purposes. ' ' The energy of the com-
missioners is to be commended for the two methods by which
they could secure the quarter were immediately pursued in or-
der to prevent any possible loss of this particular parcel of
land.48
So far as classification of business matters is concerned, the
method followed by the early county board was what might
have been expected in the prelimianries of a new country be-
fore any definite grouping of duties had been made. All busi-
ness of whatever nature was under the direction of these three
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70
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
men. The few items quoted are sufficient to indicate the usual
routine of these meetings, and their action on county matters
continued in this general plan until they were succeeded by the
county judge in 1851.
Monument Marking
Southeast corner Section 10, Seat of Government
An effort is made to classify their numerous acts under prop-
er headings since all the first records are found over the signa-
tures of the men chosen county commissioners.
The capitol commissioners selected by the council and house
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 71
of representatives of the territory of Iowa met at Napoleon
according to the act of the assembly, approved January 31,
1839, and proceeded to select the site for the seat of govern-
ment to be called Iowa City. This selection was made on May
4, 1839. This was not, as it has been mentioned, the county
seat, and no authority was given to the county commissioners
at this time to re-locate the county seat or to move from Napo-
leon to Iowa City, as they did on October 7, 1839.
The capital of the territory of Iowa was located on section
ten of congressional township seventy-nine, north of range six
west, and the entire section was surveyed by Thomas Cox and
Leander Judson, according to their endorsement of the plat as
completed on July 4, 1839, Chauncey Swan being the acting
commissioner during this survey.49
The act to re-locate the seat of justice of Johnson county was
approved December 31, 1839.50 Nevertheless the commission-
ers met in Iowa City at the house of F. M. Irish, previous to
this as mentioned, but they took no action upon fixing a new
location until January 27, 1840. They were allowed ninety
days in which to make the selection and therefore were acting
in accordance with the provisions of the territorial legislature.
There may have been good reasons for their moving to this
vicinity before this date and unless some evidence is found to
show they were moved by some other motive than the county's
interests, one cannot justly condemn the action at a time when
all things were somewhat confusing. It was a time of moving,
and to be near the scenes of action in the new capital was rea-
sonable, if they broke no law in so doing. Acts of theirs per-
formed elsewhere than in the town of Napoleon, the legal seat
of justice for this county until the relocation act was passed,
might be questioned, but it appears they never have been.
Napoleon may have been indefinite in extent, or limited by the
bounds of the county, so far as legal acts are concerned. Ac-
cordingly they selected the northwest quarter of section fif-
teen, joining the capital section on the south, Court street as
now named being the section line. Then it was that Philip
Clark, one of the commissioners for so many years, was author-
ized as agent of the board to hasten to the land office at Du-
buque and preempt this quarter for county seat purposes.81
A memorial was forwarded in care of W. W. Chapman, del-
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72 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
egate in Congress from this territory, petitioning the national
government by special act to authorize the commissioners to
take possession of this quarter for county purposes. Con-
gress was probably too busy to deal with such small topics, and
the survey of the site did not occur until November, 1840. It
followed the plat of the survey of "Iowa City," the seat of
government for the territory. Philip Clark was to superintend
the survey of the entire quarter. He made his report on No-
vember 21, 1840,52 and the sale of lots was to begin in May, 1841.
To advertise this sale two hundred bills were "struck or print-
ed" and circulated as widely as possible.58 It was similar to
an ordinary public sale, but it required no imagination to see
the difficulties in selling lots in a new town, or two new towns,
so near together. Financial matters were entirely separate,
yet it is easy to see how the buying public would prefer to pur-
chase lots in the capital rather than those in the county seat.
The terms were liberal enough, from present measurement,
one-fourth cash, one-fourth in six months, another fourth in
twelve, and the balance in eighteen months. Prices are not
given in this record. The terms were somewhat different from
those on lots in the capital city sale. Those required one-third
cash, and the balance in one and two years. The territory
must make a deed to the purchaser at the time of the final pay-
ment, which was probably the custom of the county in the sale
of its lots.
The county seat officials were quartered in a room belong-
ing to C. F. Holly from October, 1840, until April, 1841, and
all things were temporary. Jesse Berry furnished a room
for the district court and for elections and elsewhere we find
his bill. The clerk was authorized to rent a room for his own
use where the commissioners might meet, which illustrates the
unsettled condition of all affairs at this time.54
Lot sales in the county seat began as expected on May 24,
1841. A simple line tells of the work that was accomplished
on that day: "Board sold town lots during the day and ad-
journed until Tuesday morning at nine o'clock/ ' 55
The total sale of lots in the county seat for nearly four
months amounted to less than three thousand dollars. As the
cash payment was but one-fourth, this was the revenue on hand
to pay the county bills, which at this date were depending on
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 73
this source for payment. In order to care for the property,
to prevent trespassers from carrying away the timber or
otherwise disturbing the property, the county treasurer, now
W. R. Harrison, was made the agent of the board. Further-
more, to hasten the collection of payments on the lots sold they
were made subject to forfeiture after sixty days, and notice
was given to that effect through the Iowa City Argus and the
Iowa City Standard.™
The territorial assembly in 1841 passed an act authorizing
the commissioners to appoint an agent to dispose of real es-
tate belonging to the county.67 In accordance with this pro-
vision, F. H. Lee, afterward the first county judge, was ap-
pointed to care for the financial part of the real estate in the
county seat. The term, agent, here means a specific appoint-
ment, not a general agency. His duties defined in the
act were to sell any real estate of the county ; to issue a cer-
tificate to the purchaser in which the terms were distinct-
ly stated, and within ten days after the sale, to deliver a
copy of the certificate to the clerk of the board of county com-
missioners. Blocks numbered twenty-seven and twenty-eight
which lie between Lafayette and Benton, and Clinton and Linn
streets, were ordered sold at one time for eighty and sixty
dollars respectively, but this was apparently too high, for the
one numbered twenty-eight was reduced and sold to M. McGin-
nis for thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents. Lots one and two
in block eighteen, which are now next to the railroad and facing
Ralston creek, were offered for fifteen dollars each. Later,
in 1850, lots two, three and four, block six, which is on south
Capitol street, were reduced to a minimum price of thirty
dollars. The one on the opposite side, fronting on Madison
street, was ten dollars cheaper. Location and name even then
had an influence on values that cannot now be measured since
the conditions have changed. The county agent, F. H. Lee,
was instructed by the board to sell all lots surveyed, and he
was also authorized to lay out an addition " along the river as
far as the creek,' 9 then all that part of the county seat quarter
lying east of the creek and unsurveyed should be platted for a
burying ground.
A. D. Stephens had claimed the quarter on which the county
seat was located, and in order to adjust his claim, if possible,
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74 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the commissioners held a special session on May 14, 1842. This
was done in the form of a donation to the said Stephens, on
condition that he relinquish all right, title, and claim on any
other part of the county seat tract, of the west half of block one,
which includes four lots lying on Dubuque street, between
Court and Harrison.69
To enter the county seat quarter it required about two hun-
dred dollars in cash. This was secured by notes given for lots
sold, which were used to raise the amount.80 In a neighboring
county, which had the same experience, a citizen put up the
money on the proposition that he be given twenty lots in the
new county seat plat which were apportioned by the county
commissioners of that county in a just division throughout
the plat. What other counties did would be an interesting
question. F. H. Lee appears to have been an efficient agent
and the board continued him in office until April, 1846, when he
was succeeded by William McCormick.
Lots were sold at cut prices in 1845; the commissioners
seem to have become discouraged with the outlook or were in
great need of money. Prices were cut in halves for all unsold
lots and for half the original prices of forfeited lots.61 Even
the " graveyard lot" mentioned as lying east of the creek was
offered for one hundred dollars, on the usual terms, but with
the additional provision "that the purchaser must remove
the dead to the burying ground in Iowa City and inter them
in a decent manner or to enclose said remains [graves must
be intended] in such manner that they shall remain free from
trespass of animals or otherwise."62 In this order there
seems to be a distinction made between the county seat and
Iowa City.
Events in local history suggest the rapidly changing finan-
cial conditions. In 1847 those who held county orders could
pay them to the treasurer on lots they might have purchased
and on which notes were given. These orders became the same
as cash in payments, indicating the increased ability of the
county to obtain cash from other sources than the sale of lots.
The increase in business which paid a license helped to make
this possible, and more property became subject to taxation.
All these topics are suggestive of larger study than can be
given here. The man who had faith in the future of the county
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 75
seat and the ability of the county to cash its paper in the
future, could, provided he possessed some capital, do a thriv-
ing business in county orders. They could be purchased at a
substantial discount, and bore interest at what would now be
considered a high rate. These were usually held by the specu-
lator until money came into the treasury to cancel them. James
Trimble, while building the court house, sold his orders for
cash. The rate of discount is not available at this date, but
Samuel Workman, afterwards postmaster in Iowa City, pre-
sented several orders issued to the contractor Trimble, and on
each the interest had accrued until it became a large fraction
of the principal.68 The cost of the first court house cannot be
estimated as represented in figures in payments to Trimble;
the interest added is to be counted a large additional item.
Since credit is now so well established the cost of such im-
provements has become a far different matter.
An unappreciated body of men, those who endeavored to
place the county affairs on a firm foundation, are called county
officers. They are much more than the name implies, for their
duties are not confined to^ county affairs. The state may com-
mand them on one hand, and the general government on the
other, in many particulars not necessarily published in the
laws. No county organization was possible until some pro-
vision was made for officers. These the laws of the territory
provided for in the election of county commissioners. The first
members of that body for Johnson county were Henry Felk-
ner, Abner Wolcott, and William Sturgis, with Samuel C.
Trowbridge sheriff and Luke Douglass clerk. These men
formed the county organization in March, 1839. William
Sturgis did not hold office long. He was succeeded by Philip
Clark in October, 1839, while John Eagan appears as deputy
sheriff in July, 1840, and David Cox was appointed a con-
stable for the county at the same session. At the close of this
session Luke Douglass resigned as clerk, and Stephen B.
Gardner was appointed in his stead. The latter served the
board of commissioners for the remainder of their history, or
until August, 1851, when the county judge succeeded the board
of county commissioners.64 John Parrott succeeded Henry Felk-
ner as a member of the board of commissioners in October,
1840, and the report of John Eagan as county treasurer ap-
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76 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
pears for the first time. No cash is mentioned; orders and
receipts are the items. From the record one must draw the
conclusion that Ezra Bliss succeeded Eagan as treasurer, with
a possible service of Wheton Chase just before him, and owing
to his absence from the county, James Lee was appointed to
his office, receiving a certificate to that effect "forthwith."
On the morning of January 5, 1841, Abner Wolcott, a mem-
ber of the board of commissioners, offered his resignation
which the members present accepted, and the clerk was ordered
to make out and deliver to the sheriff notices for an election
to be held at the usual places, on Saturday, the 30th day of Jan-
uary, for one commissioner to fill the vacancy. James Cava-
nagh was elected to this office, taking the oath required by law
on February 8, 1841.
The office of treasurer became vacant again by the resigna-
tion of both the regularly elected officer Bliss and the ap-
pointee Lee, on the same day that Cavanagh commenced the
duties of commissioner. Lee had been appointed by the com-
missioners to act as treasurer, but an election is called this
time to elect a successor, which action seems to have been due
to the actual vacancy after Bliss resigned. Before this time
he was " absent' 9 and Lee acted in his stead. A report from
both these treasurers was made in April, 1841, when accounts
were closed with them. Ezra Bliss, Jr., is described as "one
of the late treasurers.' ' 65
Through the presentation of a bill by J. P. Hamilton his
office is determined. He held an inquest on the body of one
"Cain" and the commissioners rejected the coroner's bill as
uncalled for since "every one knew how Cain came to his
death ; and an inquest was not necessary. ' 9 86
The duties of office seemed to bear heavily on some of the
citizens before "office seeking" became fashionable on the part
of many men. Samuel Dilley refused to keep the authority of
a constable for Johnson county in the third precinct, in 1842,
resigning his office and returning the certificate of election,
and John A. Hedley was appointed to succeed him. Nathaniel
Fellows appears as commissioner for the first time at the Oc-
tober session, 1842, and took up his duties with Philip Clark
and James Cavanagh. Walter Butler began his labors as
county sheriff at the same time, succeeding S. C. Trowbridge ;
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 77
while William P. Doty was made his deputy. William R. Har-
rison was selected for treasurer at the special election in 1841,
and held this office until succeeded by Thomas Snyder in 1842,
the first report being made by the latter in January, 1843, for
the first and second quarters of thafinancial year.87
Edward Foster became a county commissioner in November,
1843, his name appearing on the records for the January ses-
sion, 1844, but not before. Major P. McAllister became sheriff
after Walter Butler, commencing his duties so far, at least, as
to be present at the commissioners ' session, in April,
1844. Walter Butler's name appears the last time in
July, 1843, he having died while holding the office. At the elec-
tion in 1844, Warner Spurrier succeeded James Cavanagh as
commissioner and served his full term of three years.
F. H. Lee, afterward the first county judge, became a mem-
ber of this board in 1845. Philip Clark succeeded Foster the
following year, 1846, and Geo. B. Paul succeeded McAllister
as sheriff with G. W. Hess as deputy.68 John D. Abel was sher-
iff from some time in 1847 until the close of the period of the
commissioners in 1851, when the duties of this body were as-
sumed by the county judge in August.69
Thomas Snyder served for several years as treasurer before
he was succeeded by Hiram Watts in 1847. Both these officials
were called upon to make numerous reports of the financial
affairs under their direction.
The custom of adding new material to the board of county
commissioners seems to have prevailed during this period,
since a new member appears at almost every election. Henry
MeDowell became a member in 1847, Archibald Gill eland in
1848, Geo. Fisher in 1849, David Wray in 1850, and at the last
session of these officials, their last act on July 29, 1851, was to
pay themselves for services, the board then consisting of the
last three of the men mentioned.
Samuel Workman was the county treasurer when the form
of county control passed into the hands of the judge, and he
also filled the office of recorder. Gilbert E. DeForest became
sheriff in 1851, and began service with the county judge.70 F. H.
Lee was county judge for the first six years, or until August,
1857, when he was succeeded by Geo. W. McCleary,71 who filled
the office until the law was changed to provide for a board of
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78 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
supervisors in 1860, the first session commencing in January,
1861. Some of the duties of the county judge were now as-
sumed by that body. Under the law providing for this super-
vising body, the following members were chosen at the first
election :
Big Grove township — Joseph Beuter.
Hardin township — 0. B. Barrows.
Scott township — A. Beach.
Pleasant Valley township — G. E. DeForest.
Iowa City — H. D. Downey.
Liberty township — George Fesler.
Monroe township — James Fogg.
Graham township — Andrew Graham.
Jefferson township — Thomas Graham.
Union township — Phineas Harris.
Newport township — Bradford Henyon.
Iowa City township — S. H. McCrory.
Sharon township — Joseph P. Miller.
Fremont township — M. L. Morris.
Washington township — E. Patterson.
Oxford township — James Remley.
Cedar township — Gideon Steenberger.
Penn township — J. W. Stow.
Clear Creek township — William Wolf.
Madison township — Lewis R. Wolfe.
H. D. Downey was chosen the first chairman by a vote of
eleven out of a total of seventeen votes cast.
The cordial relations of legal units of government in civil
affairs and their occasional differences is well illustrated in the
requests and sometimes demands made upon neighboring coun-
ties. This usually occurred in connection with the criminal
matters of the time during which the county boundaries were
not respected very much, when it came to capturing horse
thieves or counterfeiters. Nor did the boundary of the state
interfere with the pursuit and capture on at least one occa-
sion.72
Among the first items to suggest the topic above is a claim
made upon Linn county, itemized in such a clear way that no
doubt may be had of its meaning. It amounted to a financial
claim as follows : "To paid teams for hauling provisions to
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 79
Bloomington, $15.00; expense in transportation, $2.87 y2;
boarding prisoners and guards, $14.00; candles and subsist-
ence, $1.25 ; liquidating account for guard attendance on Wal-
lace [one of the Goudy robbers], $38.00; irons for prisoners,
$2.00 ; a total of $73.12%. ' J It would be necessary to search the
Linn county records for the answer to this claim.73 No bill
comes from Muscatine county to indicate all items but a lump
sum is granted by the commissioners to D. S. Smith, jailor, for
his services in caring for Johnson county prisoners.74
Denton J. Snyder, of Muscatine, presented his bill for guard-
ing Johnson county prisoners in July, 1842, but it was not al-
lowed ; neither is the reason mentioned. One year later they re-
considered their action, and allowed him fair compensation.
Time was an element that helped to clear the atmosphere or
some pressure was used to secure the attention of the authori-
ties. Wallace, the prisoner named in the Linn county bill, was
heard from again when the clerk of Washington county pre-
sented his claim for fees in the case which was tried on a change
of venue to that county. The trial was in 1840 and the claim
came up in April, 1843, long enough surely for consideration,
yet his claim also was rejected.75
Sheriff McAllister, of Johnson county, was concerned in
caring for a Miss Simmons, a prisoner from Cedar county, for
which service he presented a bill of expenses. It is called
" Cedar County's bill," but was allowed as reduced by the
county commissioners of Johnson. Whether they collected
from Cedar is not stated.
In the case of State vs. Ketchum for larceny, in which the
prisoner was sent to the penitentiary, Cedar county citizens
were allowed for their services in three separate instances,
R. M. Long as justice, James H. Robinson as sheriff, and Wm.
M. Knott [commonly called Bill] for guard duty. The latter
item was fifty cents.76 Ketchum was captured in Clinton
county by John Porter and the above expense was incurred on
the way to Iowa City. A Washington county prisoner, Harri-
man, came under the care of John D. Abel, the Johnson county
sheriff, in 1849. He " boarded, guarded, and ironed' ' the said
John C. Harriman, from June 26 to July 5, 1849, while the
prisoner came before the supreme court, for which service
Johnson county paid seventeen dollars to its sheriff.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Iowa county was accommodated in 1851 when Michael Sey-
del, a constable, conveyed a prisoner, one Comstock, to that
jurisdiction. Stringent action was ordered in the case of a
Wright family who applied to the township trustees for assist-
ance, and the judge of Iowa county was notified to take charge
of the family, after they were furnished with present needs and
warned to leave. April 5, 1854, the county judge mailed notices
similar to the one sent to the Iowa county judge to the judges
of Muscatine and Cedar counties. This was self defense from
the immigration of paupers and is a practice still necessary."
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CHAPTER VI
The Establishment and Organization of Townships *
T3 Y AN act of the legislative assembly of the original terri-
^ tory of Wisconsin, approved December 21, 1837, Johnson
county was established ; 78 but provision for the organization
of the government of this county was not made until 1838. In
the meantime it was temporarily " attached to and considered
in all respects a part of Cedar county." ™ By the act of the
legislative assembly of the territory of Iowa, approved June
22, 1838, provision was made for the organization of the county
"from and after the fourth day of July.,, This act also pro-
vided for the holding of two terms of the district court an-
nually ; and the town of Napoleon was designated as the first
seat of justice.80
According to the provisions of the act of December 21, 1837,
Johnson county included twenty congressional townships. This,
however, was but a temporary arrangement, since by the act
(of January 25, 1839) of the legislative assembly of the terri-
tory of Iowa, locating the boundaries of the county of Wash-
ington, three townships were taken from the southern tier of
Johnson county and added to Washington county. (See Map
I).81 Again, in 1845, the legislative assembly of the territory
of Iowa detached that portion of township seventy-seven north,
range six west, which lies east of the Iowa river, from Wash-
ington county and added it to Johnson county, thus making the
Iowa river the western boundary of that portion of the county.
(See Map II).82
Previous to the formation of civil townships the county was
divided into precincts for election purposes. Although few in
number, these precincts may be regarded as the historical pre-
cursors of the civil townships. At first it appears that the
entire county was divided into two electoral precincts — a
* This chapter was first published in the Iowa Journal of History and Politics
for April, 1911.
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82 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
division that was authorized by the county commissioners on
March 6, 1840. The southern part of the county was desig-
nated as precinct number one, and the northern part as pre-
cinct number two. The line separating these two precincts was
not defined at this meeting of the board, although the places of
election were named as Iowa City and the house of Warren
Stiles, respectively.83 That no division line was named at the
March session appears to have been an oversight on the part of
the commissioners, for it appears that they established the line
at the regular session in the following July. As defined on
July 8, 1840, the line of division commenced at the northeast
corner of section twenty-four, township eighty north, range
five west, and followed the line between sections thirteen and
twenty-four westward to the Iowa river, and from this point
up the river to the county line.8* (See Map III).
On April 8, 1841, that part of the county lying west of the
Iowa river was declared to constitute "an electoral precinct
and to be known as precinct number three," and the elections
in this precinct were to be held at the house of John Hawkins.85
(See Map IV). At this same session, the place of elections in
the second precinct was changed from the house of Warren
Stiles to that of Abner Arrosmith.
A further division of the county was made in 1842, at the
January session of the commissioners, by dividing the third
precinct by a line beginning on the Iowa river and running due
west between sections twenty-two and twenty-seven, township
seventy-nine north. All the territory south of this line was
designated precinct number four, and the place of holding elec-
tions was located at the house of Jacob Fry. At the same ses-
sion of the board precinct number five was created by dividing
the second precinct by a line running north and south one mile
east of the township line dividing ranges six and seven. The
house of M. P. McAllister was named by the commissioners as
the polling place.88 (See Map V) . One finds on the records for
this session a change in the place of election in the second pre-
cinct from the house of Hamilton H. Kerr to the town of Solon ;
but no mention is made of the time when the house of Abner
Arrosmith was abandoned, as the place for elections, for the
house of Kerr.
Proper names were assigned to some of these precincts in
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS
83
1843, since election judges are named by the commissioners for
Iowa City precinct, for Big Grove precinct, and for Monroe
precinct. The other two were known by numbers until July 3,
1844, when according to the records all of the five are referred
to by names instead of numbers. Thus precinct number one
was called Iowa City; precinct number two, Big Grove; pre-
cinct number three, Clear Creek; precinct number four, Old
Man's Creek ; and precinct number five, Monroe.87
No provision was made for the establishment of civil town-
ships in Johnson county until petitions came before the board
General Store at Shueyville
of county commissioners at the January session in the year
1844. On this occasion three separate petitions for the estab-
lishment of townships west of the Iowa river were presented
for their consideration. Owing to the confusion of overlapping
boundaries, as requested in the petitions, no action was taken
on the subject by the commissioners at this session.88 In April
of the same year (1844) another petition came up "from sun-
dry citizens" of Clear Creek voting precinct, requesting the
establishment of a civil township in that vicinity. The record
breaks off suddenly, which seems to indicate a want of infor-
mation or a postponement of consideration for the session.
The words "commencing at the southeast corner of township
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84 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
eighty," being all that is found in this connection, suggests
that the civil township under consideration was number eighty
north, range seven west.89
It was not until April, 1845, that any civil township was
established in Johnson county. Then the commissioners took
the initiative, so far as can be learned, and decided upon the
name of "Big Grove" for township eighty-one north, range
six west. The first election for the local officers of the town-
ship was held at Big Grove school house on the first Monday
in April, 1846 — which was the regular election day for town-
ship officers throughout the territory.90 (See Map VI) . More-
over, early in the year 1846 there appears to have been a gen-
eral demand for the establishment of civil townships through-
out the county, which, with but a single exception, resulted in
the preliminary definition of boundaries for all the territory of
the county in the form of civil townships.
The first petition in 1846 came from the settlers in township
eighty-one north, range five west; and it will be noticed that
this territory lies just east of Big Grove township, which was
established in the fall of 1845. The petition was heard and
favorably considered by the commissioners. The name " Ce-
dar" was given to the new township; and the first election was
called at the house of Philo Haynes. (See Map VII). No date
being mentioned, one must conclude that the election was held
on the same day as that of the other townships, namely, the
first Monday in April, 1846.91
Moreover, it appears that the first townships established
coincided with the congressional lines according to the peti-
tions of the citizens who occupied the territory. This was also
true of Iowa City township, for the establishment of which no
petition was presented from the inhabitants. In this instance
the record of the commissioners reads that " township seventy-
nine north, range six west, shall be known as Iowa City town-
ship, and the first election shall be held at the court house in
Iowa City. "°2 ( See Map VII) .
At an extra session of the board of commissioners, which
was held in February, 1846, the chief business was that of
establishing and naming civil townships. At this time it was
customary for the people of a certain neighborhood to fix upon
the boundaries, which were then usually specified in the peti-
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS 85
tion asking for the establishment of the township. The com-
missioners as a rule followed the lines as described in the pe-
tition. This method as a matter of fact frequently resulted in
the division of congressional townships in the formation of
civil townships, which led to many readjustments in township
boundaries in the subsequent history of the county. All of the
first elections in the townships established at this extra session
of the board took place on the first Monday in April, 1846.
According to the records Scott township was to include all
the territory of congressional township seventy-nine north,
range five west. This is definite and simple, the thirty-six
square miles needing no other description. (See Map VII).
The first election was to be held at the school house near the
home of Matthew Teneyk.
Pleasant Valley township was to be composed of all that
part of Johnson county south of township seventy-nine north,
ranges five and six west, lying east of the Iowa river. It in-
cluded congressional townships seventy-seven and seventy-
eight north, range five west, and the fractions of the same
townships in range six, lying east of the Iowa river. (See
Map VII). The first election was to be held at the house of
Robert Walker.98
Monroe township is described as formed from the part of
Johnson county which lies in congressional townships num-
bered eighty-one north, in ranges seven and eight west, and
north of the Iowa river. (See Map VII). Here the first elec-
tion was to be held at the home of William Dupont.94
Penn township requires a more detailed description which,
as found in the records, reads: "Commencing at the middle
of the main Channel of the Iowa River, where the north line of
township number seventy-nine range six crosses the same, then
west along this township line to the northwest corner of the
same township, then north on the range line two miles, then
west one mile, then north one mile, then west to the west line of
township eighty north, range seven west, then on the range line
to the Iowa River, and then with the river to the place of be-
ginning. ' 9 ( See Map VII) . The first election in this township
was to be held at the school house near Chapman's.95
In the description of Penn township no mention is made of
the change in the boundaries of Big Grove township as estab-
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86 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
lished in 1845. As a matter of fact the portion of township
eighty-one north, range six west, lying south of the Iowa river
now became a part of Penn township. (Compare Maps VI
and VII). This change made little difference, however, in the
affairs of the township of Big Grove, since elections had not
yet been held in any of the townships.
One of the larger divisions of the county made at this time
for civil purposes was the township of Clear Creek, which was
composed of fractions of several congressional townships.
Commencing at the northwest corner of congressional town-
ship seventy-nine north, range six west, the boundary line of
this civil township follows the southern and western boundary
of Penn township until it reaches the northwest corner of
township eighty north, range seven west; then it runs west on
the township line until the west line of the county is reached;
then down the county line until it reaches the middle of town-
ship seventy-nine, range eight west ; then east along this line
to the west line of township seventy-nine, range six west; then
north to the place of beginning. (See Map VII). The first
election was called at the house of Bryan Dennis, who was a
citizen of the district described.
It is noticeable that the boundaries of Clear Creek township
leave the fractional part of township eighty-one, range eight
west, lying south of the Iowa river, without any organization,
since it was left out of Monroe at the time of its organization
and is not now included in Clear Creek.96 (See Map VII).
Newport township in its original form included all of con-
gressional township eighty north, range five west, and all of the
same township in range six, lying east of the Iowa river. (See
Map VII). It will be remembered that Penn township was, in
part, composed of the remainder of congressional township
eighty north, range six west, which lay west of the river. The
first election was called at the house of Cornelius Lancaster.
Liberty township was at first composed of a part of that
portion of the county which lies along the southern boundary
of the county and may be best described in the language of the
order by which it was established. It includes all that part of
Johnson county "Commencing at the south line of the County
on the west bank of the Iowa River, then up the river to the
south line of township seventy-nine, range six west, then west
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS
87
to the southwest corner of said township, then north on the
range line to the center of the west line of the same township,
then west to the center of township seventy-nine, range seven
west, then south to the county line ; then east to the place of
beginning.' ' (See Map VII). In this township the first elec-
tion was ordered to be held at the house of John Smith.97
Old Bowersock Homestead, Jefferson Township
The last of the orders of the commissioners in fixing the
preliminary boundary lines for civil townships in the year of
1846 relates to the township of Washington, which lies in the
southwest corner of the county. In the beginning this town-
ship included more than twice its present area. The lines limit-
ing it were the western boundary of the township of Liberty,
commencing in the middle of the south line of township sev-
enty-eight, range seven west, then running north to the middle
of township seventy-nine, range seven west, then west to the
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88 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
county line, then south to the corner of the county, and finally
east to the place of beginning. (See Map VII). The first
election was to occur at the home of William Fry.98
This completes the original division of the territory of
Johnson county into civil townships — with the exception of
the small fraction of township eighty-one north, range eight
west, lying south of the Iowa river. This first districting of
the county into civil townships was accomplished by the board
in 1845 and 1846, and is fully illustrated by Maps VI and VTI.
In April, 1847, a petition was presented from seventeen
citizens of Scott township asking to have that township at-
tached to Iowa City township for civil purposes. The commis-
sioners took the petition under consideration and finally agreed
to place it on file until their next session, which would occur in
July." Careful examination of the records of the July meet-
ing reveals no record of any further action on the subject.
Not, indeed, until the October session of the board was any
change made in the boundaries of 'this township. Then the
boundaries were altered so that sections thirty-four, thirty-
five, and thirty-six, and the south half of sections twenty-
seven, twenty-six, and twenty-five of township eighty north,
range five west, were attached to Scott township "for all
civil and judicial purposes." It will be observed that these
sections and fractions of sections were taken from Newport
township, thus altering the boundaries of that township as
described in 1846. ( See Map VIII) .
During this same October, 1847, session of the commission-
ers, and without petition or suggestion so far as the records
show, the lines of other civil townships were changed, indicat-
ing the uncertainty of what was thought best to be done with
the scattered settlements of the time. Washington township
was enlarged by taking the north half of congressional town-
ship seventy-nine, range eight west, from Clear Creek and
giving it to Washington. This left Clear Creek in a very un-
satisfactory shape for a civil township, as will be observed
by a study of Map VIII.100 Moreover, it is interesting to notice
the next move of the citizens of township seventy-nine north,
range seven west, which, however, did not occur until five years
had passed, or until 1852.
At the August, 1852, session the county court was petitioned
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS 89
to make a new township out of congressional township seventy-
nine north, range seven west. County commissioners were no
longer sitting in judgment on these petitions, since by this
time they had been succeeded in authority by the county judge.
The petition in question came from citizens of three civil town-
ships as then established, namely, Clear Creek, Washington,
and Liberty. They declared in their petition that they were
put to great inconvenience in attending elections and public
meetings in the townships as then established, pointing out
that the new arrangement would be much better for all con-
cerned. Judge Lee heard the request, which was signed by
John D. Abel, Edward Tudor, and thirty-three other citizens.
After due consideration it was ordered by the judge that the
boundaries of the new township, called Union, be fixed as
"prayed for," which meant that it would include the whole of
congressional township seventy-nine north, range seven west.
Thus Union township was made up of territory taken from
three civil townships previously organized. (See Map IX).
The first election was to be held at the house of James Sea-
horn on the first Monday, in April, 1853.101
In March, 1854, Eebnezer Bivins, P. P. Cardwell, William
A. Howard, and thirty-seven others petitioned the county judge
to divide Monroe township on the range line between ranges
seven and eight so that it would retain all of township eighty-
one north, range eight west, lying north of the Iowa river;
while a new township, to be called Jefferson, was to be estab-
lished including the remainder of Monroe as first established
and organized, or all of township eighty-one north, range seven
west, lying north of the Iowa river. (See Map X). The re-
quest was granted; and the first election was ordered to be
held as usual on the regular day for the election of officers of
civil townships, at the house of Walter F. Lloyd.102
Union township was also modified at this time, although one
might suppose its boundaries were as near perfect as they
could be made. A German citizen, Gotleb Bossier (probably
Gottlieb Bossier), presented his individual petition for a
change that is rather peculiar. He wished to have sections 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of township seventy-eight north,
range seven west, except the south-west one-fourth of section
seven, added to Union township. The judge appears to have
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90 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
taken a favorable view of this request — although one can not
see why the exception should be made in the case of section
seven. Accordingly, the changes were ordered as requested
and the boundaries re-formed by giving detailed outlines. No
systematic order of beginning is observed in the description,
but the aim seems to have been to find a point that could be
located without error. In this case the description of the boun-
dary line begins at the northeast corner of township seventy-
nine north, range seven west, runs south on the range line to
the southeast corner of section twelve, township seventy-eight
north, range seven west, then west on the section line to the
southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section seven of
the last-mentioned township, then north to the center of section
seven, then west to the west line of the congressional township,
then north on the range line to the northwest corner of town-
ship seventy-nine north, range seven west, and then east to the
place of beginning.108 ( See Map X) .
The large territory included in Clear Creek township as
originally established was gradually reduced by the formation
of other townships. Union had been taken largely from it ; and
now in 1856 a petition comes for a second township to be
formed from congressional township eighty north, range eight
west, and the fractional part of township eighty-one, range
eight, lying south of the Iowa river. (See Map XI). The pe-
tition was signed by W. H. Cotter, Luther Doty, Hiram B. Mc-
Micken, and forty-one others. The township name selected by
the petitioners was * * Oxford. ' ' 104 This was ten years after the
establishment of Monroe township, the fractional part of the
congressional township of which Monroe was a part not having
been provided for until this time. (See Map VII). The first
election for Oxford township was ordered to be held at the
house of John L. Hartwell.
Graham township dates its establishment from 1857 when
Judge Lee described the boundaries in these words : ' ' Com-
mencing at the southeast corner of township eighty north,
range five west, north on the county line to the northeast corner
of the same township, west to the northwest corner of section
five, south on the section line to the southwest corner of section
thirty- two, then east to the place of beginning." (See Map
XII). This was in fact a division of Newport township as es-
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS 91
tablished in 1846. The first election was ordered to be held at
the house of Miles K. Lewis.105
The first official mention of Fremont township is in the re-
turns of an election on the question of issuing bonds for the
construction of a railroad. This occurred in April, 1857. For
services at this election in Fremont township Daniel S. Ball
was allowed one dollar and fifty cents.106 As organized in 1846
Pleasant Valley included the territory now in Fremont. In
1870, the township of Lincoln did not embrace that portion of
the county which is today included in Fremont township. The
conclusion follows then, from other data mentioned above, that
the township was organized in the early part of 1857. (See
Map XII). The county records, however, throw no light on
this subject beyond the item mentioned, and inquiry fails to
produce any further information.
The establishment of Oxford township left Clear Creek
township with a small territory. This seems to have led sev-
eral citizens to petition for a change in boundaries by which
some of the territory of Union would be added to Clear Creek.
According to the changes ordered by Judge Lee in July, 1857,
the boundaries of Clear Creek were brought to their present
description on the south. The northern line was not changed.
The south boundary began at the southeast corner of section
one, township seventy-nine north, range seven west, and fol-
lowed the section line west to the range line. This change took
six sections from Union township.107 (See Map XII).
Hardin township was very simple in its establishment and
organization. It appears that William Hardin and others pre-
sented a petition to Judge McCleary early in 1858 for a change
in the boundaries of the township called Washington by giving
a separate organization to congressional township seventy-
nine north, range eight west, which was to be called
"Hardin." 108 (See Map XIII). But the civil township thus
erected on the basis of congressional township seventy-nine did
not remain long with these boundaries as will be seen in an-
other petition. The first election in Hardin township was held
at the school house in the village of Windham, which was lo-
cated on section thirty-four.
On the petition of George T. Davis and others Judge Mc-
Cleary ordered another civil township to be- formed out of
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92 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
congressional township seventy-eight north, range seven west.
This was done in the year 1858. Before this time congressional
township seventy-eight was included in the civil townships of
Liberty and Washington — the west half being in Washington
and the east half in Liberty. This, indeed, had been its situa-
tion from 1846 to 1858. (See Map VII).
The change made in the lines of Union township in 1852,
by which the two tiers of sections on the northern boundary of
township seventy-eight north, range seven west, excepting one
quarter section, were added to Union (See Map X), was now
(in 1858) restored, making the new township of Sharon a full
congressional township as it remains at the present time.109
(See Map XIII).
A slight modification of the boundaries of three townships
was made by Judge McCleary in 1858 on petition of citizens of
the different communities. A. H. Humphreys presented the
request as one of the number. The change asked for as given
in the records reads: "Commencing at the south-east corner
of township seventy-nine, range eight, then west three-fourths
of one mile, then north three miles, east three-fourths of one
mile, then south to the place of beginning. ' ' The territory thus
described was to be added to Union township. Again, the north
half of the north half of section one, township seventy-eight
north, range eight west, was also to be added to Union. This pe-
tition, moreover, came from citizens of three different civil
townships. Against this proposed change A. D. Packard and
others filed a remonstrance protesting against the inclusion of
the territory taken from Hardin township. The matter was con-
tinued from the session of the county court in which it was pre-
sented until the January session in 1859 by agreement of the
parties in the case.110 At the meeting of the court in January no
mention is made of the matter, and it is probable that the re-
monstrance was withdrawn. At any rate the petition was grant-
ed and the additional territory given to Union township. It will
be noticed that this took a fourth of one section from Wash-
ington township, a condition which, if records are complete, is
found to exist at the present day. (See Map XIII).
In the meantime, that is between the offering of the peti-
tion last above mentioned and its determination, a change was
made in the boundaries of Iowa City and Newport townships
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS 93
by the taking that part of sections thirty-three and thirty-four
in township eighty north, range six west, which lies east of the
Iowa river from Newport and placing it under the jurisdiction
of Iowa City township. This came about through the petition
of Sylvanus Johnson and other citizens of these sections.111
(SeeMapXIH).
The official act of the county judge in reference to the es-
tablishment of Madison township can not be found, since the
county records for 1860 are wanting. There is a record fur-
nished by the clerk of that township, William Shrimp, who
filled that office some years ago, probably about 1880. He gives
the date of establishment as 1860. George McCleary was
judge at that time and it is for the last year of his term that
the record is not available. But it is not difficult, however, to
surmise the description of the portion of Penn township (See
Map VH) which was to be included in the new township. It will
be remembered that in 1846 the Iowa river formed the boun-
dary of Penn township for many miles on its northern border.
The new plan reduced the size of the latter materially, as will
be seen by comparing the two Maps VII and XIV. Details of
the lines which describe Madison are as follows : Commencing
at the southeast corner of section fourteen, township eighty
north, range seven west, the boundary line follows the section
line north until it intersects the Iowa river. From this point it
follows the river until the range line between ranges seven and
eight west is crossed ; then it follows this range line until the
southwest corner of section eighteen, township eighty north,
range seven west, is reached ; and from this point it proceeds
eastward to the place of beginning. Thus, Madison township
includes the fractional parts of two congressional townships.
If a petition was presented at the time, which can not now be
determined, it contained probably the suggestion of the boun-
daries described if not the exact wording thereof. Further-
more, the township may have been named by the citizens in
their petition.112 (See Map XIV). The first election of offi-
cers was to be held at the log school house near Swan Lake.
After 1860 the changes in township boundaries become less
frequent and are of a minor nature. The large divisions had
been practically agreed upon. Moreover, it is noticeable that
in all the modifications that have thus far occurred no objection
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94 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
was raised on the part of the county authorities to the arrange-
ments proposed by the petitioners. At least the records indi-
cate no such opposition. Only one remonstrance is recorded in
any case and that came from a body of citizens.
The board of supervisors came into office and began their
duties in January, 1861. Their first official act with reference
to township organization was to divide Pleasant Valley town-
ship by a line commencing at the northern boundary of town-
ship seventy-eight north, range five west, on the half section
line of section five and following this half section line to the
south line of the township named, dividing sections five, eight,
seventeen, twenty, twenty-nine, and thirty-two. The territory
west of this line retained the name of Pleasant Valley, while
that east of the line was called Lincoln township. The question
of election this time was referred to the committee of the
board on township organization. It appears from the minutes
that the movement resulting in this division was begun by
Supervisor Dillatush, and the date of the order was June 8,
1870.
Later in the same month it was ordered by the board that
the officers of Pleasant Valley should exercise the same author-
ity over Lincoln township that they did over their own town-
ship until an election should be held, the same as if no division
had occurred.113 The cause of the delay in holding the election
in Lincoln township was the opposition of certain citizens to
the change. They presented petitions of protest, and the ques-
tion was not finally determined until April, 1871, when the
parties appeared before the board of supervisors to argue the
case. After the arguments were heard the supervisors took
some time for consideration.114 Later at the same session it
was decided, by a vote of two to one in committee, to change
the line of division as described on the half section line to the
section line between sections four and five and then to the
south boundary. This, it will be seen, moved the line of divi-
sion one-half mile to the east. (See Map XV). The first com-
mittee on this matter were S. H. Hemsted, Christopher Fuhr-
meister, and Wm. T. Buck. The second committee included
Supervisors Samuel Spurrier, M. J. Morsman, and L. R. Wolf.
In 1873 citizens of Iowa City township asked to have an
organization separate from that of the city so far as township
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS
95
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102 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS
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104 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS
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108 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS
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Civil, Townships in 1873 after the Creation of
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110 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Civil Townships after the Creation op East Lucas
and West Lucas in 1891 and the Definition
of all Boundaries in 1911
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS 111
government was concerned, and they offered a petition in sup-
port of this request. After investigation a special committee
of the board of supervisors reported on the matter in January,
1873. According to their report the census of 1869 gave the
population of Iowa City as exceeding four thousand, or 6,548.
The signers of the petition living outside of the city, according
to the poll books which were examined, constituted the re-
quired number, of a majority. The committee reported that
all the conditions of the law had been complied with. The
official act of establishing the township of Lucas followed this
report. All the territory outside of the corporate limits of
Iowa City was to form one township to be called Lucas, while
the city area was to retain the name of Iowa City township.
(See Map XV) . Polling places for the coming general election
were fixed at the court house for the people of Iowa City town-
ship and the fair grounds for the people of Lucas township.115
(See Map XV).
The first change in the boundaries of Iowa City township,
after the formation of Lucas from the territory outside of the
corporation, was due to the changes in school districts. Some
discussion arose between the independent district of Iowa City
and the school township of Lucas, and as a result it became de-
sirable to rearrange the lines of Iowa City township. The
changes then (April 7, 1879) included the small portion of
territory added to the independent district It began on the
left bank of the Iowa river at the southwest corner of lot three,
as surveyed by the United States government, in section fif-
teen. From this point the boundary extended eastward to the
southeast corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest
quarter of section fourteen ; then north to the northeast corner
of the west one-half of the southwest quarter of section two ;
then west to the northwest corner of the east half of the south-
east quarter of section three ; and then south to the north line
of section ten. This, together with the original territory of
Iowa City township, became the new township of Iowa City.116
(See Map XV).
Originally the boundaries of Lucas township corresponded
to the congressional township of Iowa City as established in
1846 — if the change in the line of West Lucas can be account-
ed for. Somewhere between the years of 1858 and 1870 the
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112 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
west three-fourths of section nineteen, thirty, and thirty-one
of what was Iowa City township, or congressional township
seventy-nine north, range six west, was added to Union town-
ship; but no record can be found to show when or how this
change was made. It happens that the portion of the township
mentioned is the exact .counterpart of that on the west line of
Union which was added by petition in 1858. It may have been
added then as a matter of accommodation ; but this is merely
an inference, there being no specific authority in the records
for such a conclusion. The natural division of Lucas township
into two parts by the river led to the establishment of two
election precincts on June 2, 1874 ; and in the returns of elec-
tions the divisions came to be called West Lucas and East
Lucas without the term "precinct" thereto attached. Hence
it was quite natural to speak or write of West Lucas township ;
and as a matter of fact in the minutes of the county board of
supervisors this term does appear before its use is warranted
by any authority other than custom.117 The same term is
again used in the minutes for 1891 — probably after a petition
was offered but before any authority was given for such use.118
The actual division into East Lucas and West Lucas was or-
dered on April 8, 1891. Since a change in the boundaries of
these townships is given below in full, it is not necessary to
repeat here the outside boundaries of the townships. The only
change that took place since the establishment of the first
boundaries of Iowa City township has been mentioned above in
connection with the Union township boundary.
The last change in boundaries, the description of which con-
tains the outlines of East Lucas and West Lucas and the
boundaries of Iowa City townships, was as recent as Septem-
ber, 1910. The minutes of the board of supervisors relative
to these boundaries are exact and, indeed, were drafted to
correspond with the drawing prepared by the city officers. To
describe West Lucas it is necessary to follow the lines very
closely to make the change clear either in language or on the
map. Commencing at the township line between congressional
townships seventy-eight and seventy-nine north, range six
west, on the west bank of the Iowa river, the boundary follows
this side of the river to the limits of Iowa City ; then it runs
west to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of the
Digitized by
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS 113
southeast quarter of section sixteen, township seventy-nine;
then it proceeds north along the east line of the west half of
sections sixteen and nine to the north side of the State Eoad to
Newton and follows the north side of this road to the west line
of section nine; thence it runs north to the west bank of the
river; then follows the river to the northeast until the north
line of section nine is reached ; then runs east to the northwest
corner of section ten ; and thence north to the west bank of the
river. At this point there is a confusing problem that compels
one to retrace his steps, following the west bank of the river
in a southwesterly and finally northerly direction around the
bend until the north line of section four, township seventy-nine
north, range six west, is reached. The description from this
point is the same as for West Lucas township in 1891, namely :
west from the river on the township line between townships
seventy-nine and eighty to the range line between ranges six
and seven; then south to the southwest corner of section
eighteen; then east to the northeast corner of the northwest
quarter of the northeast quarter of section nineteen; then
south on the east line of the west half of the east half of sec-
tions nineteen, thirty, and thirty-one to the township line ; and
then east to the starting point on the river. (See Map XVI).
The East Lucas boundary commences at the southeast cor-
ner of section thirty-six and follows the township line between
townships seventy-eight and seventy-nine to the river. Then
it runs north to the city limits and east to the right of way of
the main line of the Eock Island railroad. It follows this
right of way in a southeasterly direction until the east line of
section fourteen is reached, then it runs north along the east
line of this section to the northeast corner of the same, then
west along the north line of section fourteen to the northwest
corner of the northeast quarter of section fourteen, then north
along the east line of the west half of sections eleven and two
of township seventy-nine north, range six west, to the south
side of the Dubuque road in section two, then in a westerly
direction along the Dubuque road, on the south side to the
southeast corner of the northwest quarter of the northwest
quarter of section two, then west to the southwest corner of
the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section
three, then south on the west line of section three to the east
Digitized by
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114 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
bank of the river. It follows the east bank of the river until
the north line of section thirty-four, township eighty north,
range six west, is reached, then runs east to the northeast
corner of the same section thirty-four, then south to the south-
east corner of the same section, then east to the northeast
corner of section one in township seventy-nine north, range six
west (the original Iowa City township), and finally runs south
on the range line between ranges five and six to the place of
beginning.119 (See Map XVI) .
SUMMABY
Big Grove : Established by order of the board of commis-
sioners under date of April 9, 1845 ; first election held on first
Monday in April, 1946 ; subsequent changes in boundaries oc-
cur in 1846.
Cedab : Established by order of the board of commission-
ers under date of January 7, 1846; first election held on the
first Monday in April, 1846; no subsequent changes occur in
boundaries.
Cleab Creek : Established by order of the board of com-
missioners under date of February 10, 1846 ; first election held
on the first Monday in April, 1846; subsequent changes in
boundaries occur in October, 1847, August, 1852, March, 1856,
and July, 1857.
Fremont : Established by order of the judge of the county
court in the early part of 1857 ; mention of the township made
in connection with special election for railroad tax held on
April 6, 1857 ; no subsequent changes occur in boundaries.
Graham : Established by order of the judge of the county
court under date of January 5, 1857; first election held on
April 6, 1857 ; no subsequent changes occur in boundaries.
Hardin : Established by order of the judge of the county
court under date of January 4, 1858; first election held on
April 5, 1858; subsequent changes in boundaries occur in
February, 1858.
Iowa City : Established by order of the board of commis-
sioners under date of February 10, 1846 ; first election held on
the first Monday in April, 1846 ; subsequent changes in bound-
aries occur in January, 1859 , January, 1873, and September,
1910.
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ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS 115
Jefferson : Established by order of the judge of the county
court under date of March 6, 1854 ; first election held on April
3, 1854 ; no subsequent changes occur in boundaries.
Lincoln : Established by order of the board of supervisors
under date of June 8, 1870 ; first election held on second Tues-
day in October, 1870 ; subsequent changes in boundaries occur
in April, 1871.
Lucas : Established by order of the board of supervisors
under date of January 15, 1873 ; first election held on second
Tuesday in October, 1873 ; subsequent changes in boundaries
occur in April, 1891.
Lucas, East: Established by order of the board of super-
visors under date of April 8, 1891 ; mention of the township
made in connection with the general election of 1891 ; subse-
quent changes in boundaries occur in September, 1910.
Lucas, West : Established by order of the board of super-
visors under date of April 8, 1891 ; mention of the township in
connection with the general election of 1891 ; subsequent chang-
es in boundaries occur in September, 1910.
Madison : Established by order of the board of supervisors
in 1860 ; first election probably held on the second Tuesday in
October, 1860 ; no subsequent changes occur in boundaries.
Monroe: Established by order of the board of commis-
sioners under date of February 10, 1846 ; first election held on
the first Monday in April, 1846 ; subsequent changes in bound-
aries occur in March, 1854.
Newport: Established by order of the board of commis-
sioners under date of February 10, 1846 ; first election held on
the first Monday in April, 1846 ; subsquent changes in bound-
aries occur in October, 1847, January, 1857, and January, 1859.
Oxford : Established by order of the judge of the county
court under date of March 3, 1856 ; first election held on April
7, 1856 ; no subsequent changes occur in boundaries.
Penn : Established by order of the board of commissioners
under date of February 10, 1846 ; first election held on the first
Monday in April, 1846 ; subsequent changes in boundaries oc-
cur in October, 1860.
Pleasant Valley: Established by order of the board of
commissioners under date of February 10, 1846 ; first election
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116 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
held on the first Monday in April, 1846; subsequent changes
in boundaries occur in June, 1870.
Scott : Established by order of the board of commission-
ers under date of February 10, 1846; first election held on the
first Monday in April, 1846 ; subsequent changes in boundaries
occur in October, 1847.
Shabon : Established by order of the judge of the county
court under date of February 1, 1858; first election held on
the first Monday in April, 1858 ; no subsequent changes occur
in boundaries.
Union: Established by order of the judge of the county
court under date of August 30, 1852 ; first election held on April
4, 1853; subsequent changes in boundaries occur in March,
1854, July, 1857, February, 1858, and some time between 1858
and 1870.
Washington : Established by order of the board of com-
missioners under date of February 10, 1846 ; first election held
on the first Monday in April, 1846; subsequent changes in
boundaries occur in October, 1847, August, 1852, March, 1854,
January, 1858, and February, 1858.
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CHAPTER VII
Early Events in the New Capital of the Territory
' I VHE complete separation of topics in preparing an account
** of the survey, settlement, or growth of a community is
practically impossible, so that what may seem to have been
omitted in one connection may be found, perhaps, in another,
since it has not been considered advisable to repeat where
there seemed to be no necessity for it. However, it will be
found quite proper to secure connections in some cases by
duplicating names and places.
The survey of the county by the government of the United
States, which occurred in a general way about the year 1837,
the sectional survey about 1839 and the immediate year follow-
ing, was preliminary to the land sales, and therefore to the per-
manent location of settlers or the drawing of lines for towns
or civil townships. An interesting study may be found in the
copies of the original plats of the townships as indicated in
the accompanying letter of transmittal, which might have pre-
ceded the discussion of township organization, although it is
introductory to what follows :
" Dubuque, Iowa, Sep. 18th, 1844.
* * Commissioners of Johnson County,
"Gentlemen:
"I herewith transmit you, the Field notes and township
Plats for the County of Johnson, consisting in all of Seven-
teen Plats, and as many sheets of descriptive notes.
"I regret exceedingly that pressing and unexpected busi-
ness in my own County Surveys has prevented the completion
of your work sooner, and as it is, I assure you, I have worked
night and day to finish them.
"You will find the numbers of all entered lands written
within their limits and may distinguish them from the Con-
tents by their having no decimal point, nor the letter A at-
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118 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
tached. I have adopted the U. S. signs of topography, viz:
Prairie thus — Marshes thus — Ponds and Sloughs thus —
Eoads thus — , etc., etc.
" You will please inform me as soon as you receive this, and
forward the amount agreed upon $100.00 in County Orders,
as soon as possible.
' 'I am Gentlemen,
"Your obt. servt.,
"Alfred L. Brown.
"P. S. For the entries in Township 77 north, Range 5
west, I refer you to the Land Office at Fairfield, as they are out
of this District. A. L. B."
This letter is bound with the "Field Notes' ' mentioned in
the letter, and one may find in these the estimate of the kind
of land, a description, and the fixed points of every section
in the county excepting the fractional part of township seventy-
seven north, range six west, which is found in another connec-
tion when reported from Fairfield as suggested by Mr.
Brown.120
The first settlers of the various sections of the county are
usually the organizers of the local government, and many
names have already been mentioned, but as the population in-
creased the groups became more numerous and towns became
more desirable, resulting in the platting and recording of vil-
lages that are so nearly related to the townships that separa-
tion is unnecessary.
Iowa City, as the central point about which the population
gathered, comes first in organization under the authority of the
territorial government, and its history must be found in con-
nection with many forms of the development of the county.
As seen by different persons at the time of its location, it pre-
sented much the same appearance to all, and left impressions
that are similarly expressed. In the following the actual story
by those who put their impressions in writing has been pre-
served:
"This county borders upon the Indian country, the princi-
pal part of it being embraced in the purchase of 1837. It was
organized in 1839, and is [1841] attached to the second district
for judicial purposes. Its area is about 610 square miles
[increased in 1845]. Linn bounds it on the north, Cedar and
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 119
Muscatine on the east, Washington and Louisa on the south
[the west was Indian country].
"Asa whole, Johnson county is a good county of land, well
watered and timbered, and abounding with excellent springs,
although it is somewhat more broken and uneven than adjacent
counties. It has the character of being a very healthy county,
there existing no local causes to produce disease, and at the
present time [1841] is as rapidly populating as any county in
the territory.
"The location of the permanent seat of government of the
territory having been established in this county (at Iowa City)
has directed the attention of hundreds of enterprising and in-
dustrious emigrants hither, many of them possessing wealth,
refinement, and influence, and perhaps the results witnessed in
a few short months, from the settlers of this county, is without
parallel in the growth of countries." m
It was on May 13, 1839, that Judge Joseph Williams and
T. S. Parvin set out from Bloomingtott to attend court in John-
son county, and on May 17, 1839, Mr. Parvin wrote in his diary :
"Made a map of the city of Iowa," which is probably the only
reference found in which the name is so applied, beyond the
slab marking the spot in 1839. On January 3, 1840, he says :
"Departed with Mr. Gillet and others for Iowa City on an ex-
cursion to view the country ; good sleighing ; stopped at Hud-
son's, at Mr. Van Hagen's at noon. Came upon a flock of
prairie chickens and slew half a dozen, or one apiece. Spent
the night with Mr. Snyder, a Buckeye, who resides 5 miles
this side of Iowa City ; found there Dr. Murray, a recent ac-
quaintance. " " January 4. Turned our course down the Iowa
river. Called at Mr. Morford's, Esq., Caleman's and
Mr. Stores'; had a fine view of the Iowa river bottoms; p. m.
turned toward the city, which we reached near night. Called
on C. Swan, Esq., commissioner of public buildings, etc."
" January 5, 1840. Kept close at the hotel. Evening attended
church ; in the absence of the regular pastor, Rev. Mr. Baum-
gardner (who went in our company) preached to a considerable
sized audience."
"What a change! In May last [1839] I was upon the same
ground, where now is located Iowa City, the capital of this
territory. Then there was no houses where now stand near 30 ;
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 121
all around was an extensive waste of prairie; now improve-
ments are springing up in every direction; success to the
enterprise." '
" January 6. Made an excursion up the river; found abun-
dance of timber ; visited the marble quarry ; found men hard at
work and obtained some specimens of the bird's eye marble;
visited the mineral springs, but being situated at the margin
of a creek [ Ralston 's] the snow and ice prevented us from hav-
ing a good view of them. Attended the board of county com-
missioners and presented my account for services as Dist.
Atty. Allowed $65.00 county orders. Evening called on Miss
Van Hagen, a young lady whom I knew in Cincinnati."
The following year, June 1, 1841, he writes: "Read New-
hall *s sketches of Iowa, just published; its descriptions too
highly colored." 122
The claims on sections ten and fifteen, township seventy-
nine north, range six west, or any* part of them made before
the location of Iowa City and before the land came into market
could not be maintained in all respects as against the United
States, or territorial claims. While the Claim Association of
Johnson county sought to protect the rights of all claimants
who were members of the organization, it could not, in this
case, be of any assistance. It appears there were several
claimants to parts of these two sections, section ten in its en-
tirety having been set apart as the location of the territorial
capital, and the northwest quarter of section fifteen as the
location of the county seat.
The first claim to any part of section ten was made by Sam-
uel Bumgardner, in October, 1837, which was made on the
southwest fractional quarter. This is as the record of the
manuscript of the Claim Association makes it, but another
record states the transfer by the said Samuel Bumgardner of
the southwest quarter of section ten to J. G. Morrow. Hence
it must be concluded that he claimed this quarter also. On
April 4, 1839, he sold the southwest quarter to John Kight.
The north half of section ten was claimed by Samuel B. Mul-
holland and William Willson, and the record does not state that
it was transferred.
The northwest quarter of section fifteen, as also claimed,
was sold by Samuel Bumgardner to Andrew D. Stephens on
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 123
January 3, 1839, so far as the part lying east of the Iowa river
was mentioned, and on February 20, of the same year, Steph-
ens sold the claim to William Willson for two hundred dollars.
From the record it appears that Willson held the same for a
short time, when he transferred it to A. D. Stephens and John
Kight, each securing an equal undivided half.
The records are confusing as to the real claimants on part
of the county seat quarter.
Respecting the claim of J. GL Morrow, the territorial com-
missioners granted to him the privilege of " bidding in" at a
nominal price one among the first lots offered for sale in the
capital plat.
The claim of A. D. Stephens upon the northwest quarter of
section fifteen, since it is found that he resided there when it
was wanted for the county seat, was settled by the county com-
missioners, who granted him a half block of lots as referred
to in another chapter of this volume. These appear to be the
only cases where claims were respected by the locating com-
missioners.128
The site of the proposed city, as indicated by the commis-
sioners who made the selection, was carefully marked on that
day in May, 1839, by a slab driven in the ground about the spot
where the Old Capitol now stands. It bore the following in-
scription :
"Seat of Government,
City of Iowa,
May 4, 1839.
C. Swan 1
John Ronalds V Commissioners
Robt. Ralston J
" Witness,
Geo. W. Kelly t^ ,r .
J. H. McKenny }Des Momes
J. W. Isett, Louisa
J. Dillon, Dubuque
"Sec. 10, T. 79, R. 6, W. 5th Mer."
Almost two months after the location of the capital, the sur-
vey was begun, for it was ordered "by the board of locating
commissioners, that Thomas Cox and John Frierson should be
employed to survey Iowa City, and L. Judson to draw the
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124 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
necessary plats." 124 In company with these men and the neces-
sary assistants, Chauncey Swan, the acting commissioner, re-
turned to Iowa City in the latter part of June, 1839, and on
July 1 began the work of platting the city. It is said they
stopped in the midst of their work to celebrate the "Day of
Independence, ' ' when the declaration was read and John Frier-
son delivered the address. Pioneers for miles about came to
the city, and the Indians looked quietly on as they were about
to move from these, their hunting grounds.
The capitol square, now the University campus, was first
surveyed, the southwest corner being first located as a starting
point, the west line of Clinton street being the meridian line
from which surveys were made both eastwardly and westward-
ly, and this appears to have been the basis of the survey, no
base line having been established during the work. ' i The lines
were run with an ordinary surveyor's compass, and were
measured by a pole twenty feet long, made of two strips of
board and nailed together and graduated into feet and inches
by means of a carpenter's square, each end of the pole having
a hoop of iron; tally pins about one-eighth of an inch in di-
ameter were used, which, therefore, added about three-six-
teenths of an inch to every twenty feet."125
The following may be found in the county records as
the official act of the persons named in the act of the terri-
torial assembly to make this survey: "Iowa City, the capital
of Iowa Territory, was located May 4, 1839, by Chauncey
Swan, John Ronalds and Robert Ralston, commissioners, and
surveyed by Col. T. Cox, Gen. Frierson, and L. Judson, under
the direction of C. Swan, acting commissioner.
"Explanation — Blocks are 320 feet square. Regular lots
are 80x150 feet, alleys are 20 feet, Iowa Avenue is 120 feet
wide, Washington, Jefferson, Clinton, Capitol and Madison
are each 100 feet wide. All others 80 feet.
"Outlots are numbered separate from the blocks." 126
In 1841 Chauncey Swan, the superintendent of the public
buildings, and acting commissioner in locating the capital in
Johnson county, made a report to the legislative assembly of
Iowa territory that contains some interesting data. The walls
of the capitol building were then unfinished and material was
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 125
yet to be found to complete it. This report was made for the
summer of 1841.
"The whole amount of fine cut stone laid in the building this
season was four thousand six hundred and seventy-three cubic
feet. The cubic feet of dressed rock, twenty-one thousand one
hundred and forty-six feet. The total amount paid out dur-
kefrA of Firsi A/a* Marking Seat of uovernmen
in f&wa City. Pen and ink sketch by Berth,
Horack Shambaugh*
ing this time was $17,500. Sixty thousand brick were laid in
the walls, and the second tier of joists was finished by the
contractors, Herron and Hanby. Twenty thousand feet of oak
flooring, of the best quality, was delivered by John Ronalds
at the capitol, for which he was paid $600."
At that time the walls of the capitol were, on the east side
raised to the cornice, or thirty-five feet from the ground, the
walls of the ends and west front were thirty feet from the
ground. The estimated expense of bringing the walls as high
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126 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
as the east one, or to thirty-five feet, was one thousand dollars.
The east portico was also built in 1841.
During the winter of 1841-2 the walls were protected by-
planking the joists, or the second tier as referred to above.
When the committee from the territorial legislature visited the
capitol and grounds, after their appointment in the fall of
1840, and on their return made their report to the assembly,
they suggested some changes in the stone work. While pres-
ent on the capitol grounds they had made the same suggestions
to Commissioner Swan, the overseer of the work. He pro-
ceeded to follow their suggestions, and here makes his report :
"The committee suggested the propriety of dressing the
pilasters in the same manner as the water table, door jambs
and other parts. ' ' Notwithstanding the difficulty of procuring
suitable rock for cutting, he felt bound to follow their sugges-
tion, and made an effort to find the rock in the vicinity. He
said further : ' l The walls that had been laid were removed in
the spring, in places where it became necessary to set cut rock.
Instead of raising the walls of rough masonry they are made
with range work and make such a contrast with the cut pilas-
ters that the whole has a fine appearance."
It was estimated that it would require $8,500 to complete the
capitol building, in addition to the last report made in Novem-
ber, 1840. While in furnishing the rock suitable for cutting
it became necessary to expend more than fifteen hundred dol-
lars in enlarging the quarry and in digging from twelve to
twenty feet deeper, and then it was found but a small propor-
tion of this rock could be used for cutting purposes or as
dimension rock for pilasters.
In this work Mr. Swan examined other parts of the county
in search of a quarry, but found none so economical when
transportation was considered. The committee and the super-
intendent of construction were commended for the change in
plans in spite of the difficulties attending it and the extra
expense necessary.
It was expected that the roof would be finished in the sum-
mer of 1841, and it was partly completed at that time, but
funds were not available to complete the work, and therefore
the construction was halted, half done, for the winter season.
For the winter storms the roof was put under cover under the
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 127
direction of the commissioner, and all work ceased for the cold
months. The tools used in the quarry, and on the buildings,
and in the shop of the blacksmith, together with "nine hun-
dred pounds of iron and two hundred pounds of steel, " were
stored in the vault of the capitol "under lock and key." The
window frames and sash delivered by Thomas Snyder were on
hand, besides five hundred bushels of lime and four thousand
bushels of sand. The timber for the roof, partly framed, and
forty thousand feet of lumber, about enough to complete the
building, were duly reported as property of the territory.127
As early as December, 1840, the territorial legislature was
urged to make preparations to move to the new capital, the
reasons being expressed in the following editorial :
"We see by the proceedings of the legislature that it is
very probable, if not certain, that the next legislature will con-
vene at Iowa City. We think that the seat of government
should be moved to its permanent location as soon as practi-
cable; this is due to the citizens of Johnson county at large,
and more especially to those who reside in Iowa City.
"Many of them have expended large sums of money in
securing property there, and in building, for which they have
as yet received no adequate return. They were induced to go
there, many of them, under the conviction that the seat of gov-
ernment would be speedily transferred from Burlington to
that place. As soon as this anticipated removal takes place,
Iowa City wiU attract more attention than it has hitherto done,
and its population and wealth will doubtless increase very
fast."128
One week later a report was made from Iowa City that a
committee from the territorial legislature, then in session at
Burlington, were visiting Iowa City under the authority of a
joint resolution of the House and Council, for the purpose of
examining all matters "touching the interests of the Territory
in the new seat of government," and which up to this time had
been under the direction of the acting commissioner, Chauncey
Swan. The report of the committee was awaited with some
satisfaction, since it was expected to be of a very favorable
character.
In order to show their appreciation of the committee and
make their stay as pleasant as it should be under the circum-
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128 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
stances, a committee from the city was appointed to arrange a
public dinner. The letter addressed to the committee from the
legislative body was presented with the following cordial invi-
tation :
" Gentlemen:
"We, the undersigned, a committee on behalf of the citizens
of Iowa City, would respectfully request you to accept a public
dinner, to be given by the citizens of Iowa City, during your
stay, at such tiijae as to you may be most convenient.
"With much respect, we are, Gentlemen,
"Yours, etc,
"Horace Smith,
"Wm. C. Reagan,
"F.H.Lee,
"L. W. Hastings.
"To
"Messrs. Springer, Hebard, and Langworthy."
The committee then in session, making a report for the ter-
ritorial legislature, and conducting the business of the terri-
tory, were obliged to decline the invitation and tender of a
dinner at this time. They sent a formal acknowledgment, and
gave as their reasons the pressing need of all their time in
compiling this report.
The capitol building at this time was under construction, as
mentioned in Swan's report, the masonry being something
more than half completed. The expectation then was to com-
plete the building in time for the following session of the
territorial legislature, which would occur in December, 1841.
It was January 8, 1841, that the law was passed fixing the
next session of the legislature at Iowa City, provided the
buildings for its accommodation were ready, or so nearly ready
for occupancy that this could be done, or provided the citizens
would furnish suitable quarters free of charge. Notice was to
be given by the proclamation of the governor. It was certain
that the citizens of Iowa City had no doubt about the building
being ready as required in the act.129
The result of these plans, and the preliminary acts may be
best expressed by the current news of the day, which gives a
graphic account of the gathering of the officials the following
vear :
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 129
"Notwithstanding the extreme inclemency of the weather
for two or three days immediately preceding Monday last, every
member of the Council, save one, Mr. Hall, of Van Buren, and
all except three of the House, Messrs. Hebard, Weld, and Den-
son, were here in readiness to take their seats the first day of
the session. His excellency, Governor Chambers, and Mr. Secre-
tary Stull were also in town, having arrived from Burlington
on the Saturday previous.
"The weather during Friday, on which day most of the
members started from their homes, was excessively disagree-
able, a cold sleet having fallen during the whole day accom-
panied by high winds. During the night the rain ceased, but
the cold increased, and with it the wind to a degree of fierce-
ness sufficient almost to blow the hair off one's head.
"It did make some sad havoc with the hats and cloaks of
those who breasted the pitiless peltings of the storm, as we
happened to know from woful experience; our companion on
the ride from Bloomington having been kept pretty busily en-
gaged in exercising his trotters in pursuit of the fugitive
articles, while upon us devolved, every now and then, the duty,
while shivering in the wind, of watching our faithful steed.
This occurring upon one of our large prairies was a picture
upon which a painter might have exercised his talents to good
effect. On Sunday the weather, though somewhat more calm,
was still pretty severe, and we cheerfully bear testimony to
the credit due our legislators and other public functionaries
for their perseverance in reaching here under such adverse
circumstances.
"Once here, however, they were in a haven of safety and
comfort, and some of them, no doubt, found things very differ-
ently situated from what they had anticipated. Taught to
suppose they were coming to a place where no conveniences
would attend them, and where they should have, perhaps, to
spend the winter in a condition bordering on savage life, a
widely and totally different state of things presents itself.
They find themselves in a most thriving town of some seven or
eight hundred inhabitants, built upon a site unsurpassed for
beauty by any that we have ever beheld anywhere in the in-
terior. This we declare in all sincerity, and in this every indi-
vidual whose mind is unprejudiced on the subject must agree.
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130 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
"They find halls prepared for their assemblage, with every
convenience and comfort they could desire, and fitted up in a
style of neatness and taste highly creditable to those by whom
they were arranged. The hands of the ladies of this city, by
the by, are plainly perceptible in this arrangement and many
thanks are due them for it. Much credit is due to our public
spirited citizen, Mr. Walter Butler, for his exertions in getting
the building in readiness for the reception of the legislature.
"But there are other things found here which they did not
expect to find. They find accommodations for boarding and
lodging much more comfortable than they expected. We can
speak, at any rate, for a mess of a dozen or so, with whom we
have the good fortune to be most agreeably ensconced. If there
be any better living, or any pleasanter quarters in the terri-
'tory than those of our host on the hill, we have not yet seen
them.
"They find, too, a highly intelligent and order-loving popu-
lation, with places of public worship, either erected or in pro-
cess of erection, in which to do homage to the Giver of All
Good. And last, though not least, they find fair women
spreading over all that indescribable charm which virtuous
woman is capable of producing. With this state of things, who
will gainsay that a residence in the new capital of our young
Territory is not a matter to be desired !" 180
T. S. Parvin records in his diary of December 4, 1841:
' ' Started in stage for Iowa City in company with Gov. Lucas
and Sam Halliday, representative from this county" [Musca-
tine], and after various experiences mentioned, he says
further: "Arrived at Iowa City at night and put up at But-
ler's Hotel." December 5, he says: "Fare poor, house
crowded." The territorial legislature met for the first time
in the temporary state house in Iowa City on December 6,
1841. They organized on this date, and during the remainder
of the session the local news of Johnson county becomes sec-
ond rate matter in the papers of the time. The proceedings
are the chief topics until the end of the session. The discus-
sions pro and con, regarding the situation, are carried on
through the local press, and among the questions the matter of
appropriations forming a chief topic, which crowd out the
items that would usually appear, and which would throw some
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 131
light an the occurrences in the vicinity other than political or
territorial.
The Iowa City Standard and the Capital Reporter fought
out the questions of national and territorial politics, leaving
the local matters to the vacations of the legislature of the ter-
ritory, when political news seemed less important.
The completion of the state house was a vital topic all the
time until it was ready for occupancy. The opening of a new
quarry by the new superintendent of public buildings, William
B. Snyder, who had succeeded Chauncey Swan, was expected
to hasten matters. This was located some ten miles by water
above the city and immediately on the bank of the river, in
what is now Penn township, sections five and eight. The rock
was pronounced superior by those who knew, and from the eco-
nomic view, as to time required to quarry the rock and cut it,
there was promise of a great saving. Yet even this was made
the subject of a political contest through the press of the day.
In support of some conclusions made in the above, the follow-
ing is in evidence : i ' We would here remark that it will not be
long that our columns will be so much cumbered with laws as
at present. As the congress [territorial legislature] has now
adjourned, we shall soon be able to bring their publication to
a close."181
Times in 1842 were pronounced "hard," and complaints
were common, yet the country surrounding the new capital of
the territory of Iowa boasted of substantial progress in many
material directions. The surrounding towns in the territory
could not keep pace with the capital city, and they even com-
pared the growth with eastern and long-founded communities.
The money question was troublesome, and it was said that
"probably there is not in the whole country another com-
munity, the size of ours, where there is such an entire de-
ficiency of circulating medium as here, or where so much
difficulty is experienced in making payments and collecting
accounts/ '
In spite of the condition of affairs, it is noted that during
the summer of 1842 not less than twenty brick and frame build-
ings were put up, and in October of that year probably twice
that many were in process of construction. Among these was
the brick court house, the first and temporary one, the Mechan-
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132 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ics' Academy building, also of brick, three brick churches,
Methodist Episcopal, Catholic, and Universalist, and these
were to be completed immediately. Above all, the capitol
building was the center of interest for the entire territory. It
was still incomplete, and the money appropriated by Congress
was used long before this, so its accounts were dependent on
the sales of lots in the section belonging to the territory for
capital purposes. The "Old Capitol,' ' the stately reminder of
these days when every inch of progress could be measured,
came through the distress of the time and has been honored
every hour since in furnishing useful shelter to agencies of the
territory or state.
The houses for public accommodation, since the time of
"Lean Back Hall," had been in great demand. During this
particular summer of 1842 Chauncey Swan had enlarged the
"National Hotel," 182 and had room now for a large number of
travelers. Walter Butler had improved his hotel in similar
fashion, and there was still further growth of quarters for
the transient boarder in the "more quiet" Washington House.
In addition to these there was a large and elegant brick struc-
ture opposite the public square, erected by Mr. Parker, and it
was soon to be opened to the public.
It was about this time that the suggestion was made for a
mill, which seemed very much needed, and which, as we shall
see, soon followed the suggestion, in the Iowa City Manufac-
turing Company. This was encouraged as a means of profit,
as well as a great advantage to the community.
Another improvement desired, which few today appreciate,
was a carding machine. It was feared that until a machine of
this type was at hand, few farmers would engage in the raising
of sheep to any extent. This industry was quite necessary, that
farmers might have at hand the means of producing their own
clothing. Sheep raising was supposed to be well adapted to
this county.
All the expressions of that day seem to prophesy a future
big with possibilities, and could the writers and speakers of
that time see the changes that have occurred since they uttered
such statements, it would far exceed their greatest expecta-
tions.
The rapid increase of travel between Iowa City and Bloom-
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 133
ington [Muscatine] led to the suggestion of a better method of
communication between the two points, or a railway, which
probably is among the very first suggestions of such a means
of transportation, so far as definite lines are concerned, in the
Iowa territory. Before this time reference is made to a west-
ern railroad, but so far as published records in the county are
concerned no mention of connecting the county with the river
appears. At the time this was proposed the possibility of a
north and south line from Dubuque to St. Louis, to prevent the
delays of water traffic, was also suggested.138
An Early View of the State University
The giving of dinners to noted citizens was one of the custo-
mary and inevitable things that happened when a visit oc-
curred, either ordinary or extraordinary. This was illustrated
in the previous invitation given to the committee from the
territorial legislature and for the leaders in the capital loca-
tion long before. It was usual to send a letter, signed by a
long list of citizens of note, "requesting the pleasure, etc.," of
the company of the specified noted individual at a dinner, that
he might be thus honored.
Such an instance was that of the dinner to General James
Wilson, who was invited to " participate" in a dinner at the
"Globe Hotel" in 1843. The names signed to this invitation
are of more than ordinary interest. They were more than lo-
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134 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
cal, coming from the adjoining counties, probably from the
districts as then formed for the election of members of the legis-
lature, or for the judiciary of the territory: W. G. Wood-
ward, later a member of the supreme court of the state ; Jo.
Newell; S. B. Grubbs, a pioneer physician of Rochester, in
Cedar county ; C. Mattoon ; Francis Springer, a leader, politi-
cally, for many years in the congressional district where he
resided ; Geo. H. Walworth, member of the legislature ; H. J.
Reid ; John P. Cook, a lawyer, of Davenport, after 1850, and a
member of Congress for a short time, a leader in his profession
for many years ; R. P. Lowe, of Muscatine, governor of Iowa,
1858-1860; S. A. Hudson, and D. A. Sales. Notwithstanding
the polite form of invitation and the names put thereon to make
it urgent, the gentleman was obliged to decline the offer and
send his regrets, which were usually published immediately
following the formal letter of invitation. One is led to the con-
clusion that this was so common that the result was the same
whether the eating was done or not, as convenience demanded.
Perhaps the custom of " eating' J at all social affairs has grown
up from this early habit. Probably the past seventy years have
not been a long enough period to establish any change in the
tendency toward eating, in order to secure social harmony.
But the historical value of the reference is in the suggestive-
ness of the public efforts to make a stranger feel at home
among the surroundings of the new country, and to pay due
respect to the public man or event. The reply of the visitor
contained the very strongest terms of appreciation and grate-
ful feelings for the offered entertainment, stating his pleasure
at being in the county and city for the first time, and expressed
the hopes that the future would treat them all kindly. Among
the flattering statements the last is typical. In speaking of the
vicinity it was said that "the beauty of its scenery, the salu-
brity of its climate, the fertility of its soil, the purity of its
springs, the richness of its mines, are fully equalled by the
open, frank, and hearty hospitality of its citizens."
The convention for the formation of a constitution for the
future state of Iowa met in Iowa City on October 7, 1844.
This body of delegates was called to order by Gen. Francis
Oehon, and on his motion Gen. Ralph P. Lowe, of Muscatine
county, was elected president pro tern, while James W. Woods
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 135
was made secretary pro tern. It was found on roll call that the
members from twenty-three counties responded. The follow-
ing day the permanent organization was made by electing
Shepherd Leffler, of Des Moines county, as president, and Geo.
S. Hampton, of Johnson, as secretary, and it is noted that Sec-
retary Hampton was careful to furnish a list of the members
of this £rst convention, showing their places of nativity, age,
occupation, and county from which they came. While this is
probably found in the archives of the state, the news proper of
the time did well to preserve this also.184
During the first meeting of the general assembly after Iowa
became a state, agitation began for the removal of the capital
farther to the west. Arguments of every kind were produced
against such a suggestion, among them some that today would
be considered of little weight. It was freely granted "that
when the population in the western part of the state demanded
it and in justice it ought to go, no objections would be raised.
Until then there was no excuse to stir up this question." The
first convention to form a constitution fixed it at Iowa City for
twenty years, and that was then the prevailing notion, but the
Des Moines valley population was against such a continuation
of location. Against the Des Moines valley argument was
placed the cost of the new capitol, which had been used for
such a short time. A new levy for a new building would be too
much for the people to bear for some time.
At the same time Iowa City, in 1847, occupied a central posi-
tion as to population and would continue to do so for some
years to come, since population would increase in the older
counties in proportion to the new. It was then suggested that
when the time came to remove the capital to the geographical
center of the state some compromise could be made whereby
the old building could be turned over to the State University,
which was then planned, or to some incorporated college.
Therefore it was urged that the University lands should be
selected without delay, and steps taken to have the funds avail-
able when they should be wanted. But the time had not yet
come to fix upon the permanent location of the college or uni-
versity. If, in the course of some ten or more years a hundred
thousand or more dollars of such a fund should be accumulated,
it would then be advisable to commence the foundation of a
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136 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
state university, and in a like period later the state might be
able to open a respectable institution. It was not anticipated
any sooner, unless Iowa should greatly outstrip all her neigh-
boring states.
Another query came before the public on the proposition of
certain writers as to the propriety of putting all the returns
from University lands into one institution. Should the west-
ern part of the state be deprived of its portion! This should
be considered before appropriating the whole to some institu-
tion to be located at Fairfield or Mount Pleasant. It was further
suggested that Congress might grant another township of land
for the western part of the state. On that possibility there
would be little difficulty in locating the eastern university. By
an act of Congress admitting Iowa as a state certain lands were
donated for "the completion of public buildings and for the
erection of public buildings at the seat of government.,, This
appeared to apply to the "public buildings" already built or
building in Iowa City, but the legislature of 1847 did not so
interpret it, and a bill came before that body in February of
that year to locate these lands near the center of the state and
to commence a city as the "permanent seat of government."
This proposal did not meet with the approval of the citizens of
the capital as then established at Iowa City. Reasons were
not wanting for the opposition, and a brief summary would in-
clude many quotations from the acts of Congress and the Iowa
state legislature.
Iowa was conditionally admitted into the Union by act of
Congress passed March 3, 1845, under the constitution formed
at Iowa City in 1844. The first section of the ordinance to that
constitution asked for five sections of land to complete the pub-
lic buildings of the state i i at the seat of government. ' '
This ordinance was declared not to be obligatory on Con-
gress, and in lieu of the proposition made in the ordinance two
offers were made to the legislature of Iowa for its acceptance
or rejection. One of these was "five sections for the purpose
of completing the public buildings of the said state, or for the
erection of public buildings at the seat of government as the
legislature may determine and direct. 9 J Then the question was
asked, "where was the seat of government in March, 1845 !"
This was passed in reference to the constitution of 1844, and
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EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL 137
the five sections were granted as specified in this constitution.
The ninth section of article thirteen reads as follows :
" The first meeting of the legislature under this constitu-
tion shall be on the first Monday in November, following its
ratification by the people, at Iowa City, in Johnson county,
which shall be the seat of government of the state of Iowa until
the year 1865 and until removed by law."
Then it was that the writer turned to the question of the
time that must elapse between the acceptance of this donation
and its use. Would the legislature hold this as a trust fund
until 1865, or employ it at once on the buildings to be erected
at the "present seat of government !"
Since Iowa City was the seat of government when that con-
stitution was proposed, and Congress revived this position in
admitting the state under the constitution of 1846, and since
the constitution of 1846 says, "that Iowa City shall be the seat
of government until removed by law," then the seat of govern-
ment must remain for twenty years at Iowa City, and the five
sections must be for the then seat of government, and "not for
any future and more permanent seat as some suppose." 185
The commissioners appointed to relocate the capital of the
state in 1847, made an attempt to find a suitable site, but were
undecided on the Des Moines valley where the capital was sup-
posed to be located. They were "to plan an exploration of
the headwaters of the Iowa with a view to finding a suitable
site near the geographical center of the state." In this con-
nection it was hoped they would conclude that the state house
was already as near the center of population as could be found,
and that was the chief consideration.
The state house was as yet incomplete, and Morgan Reno, the
treasurer and agent, was then "pushing the work along," that
the next session of the assembly, 1848, should find a more com-
fortable place and be "better pleased" than when they were
attempting to divert the "public lands" granted for complet-
ing the capitol buildings here to the construction of a new one
on the Raccoon Forks of the great Des Moines.
The commissioners were heard from later in the year as
having decided upon a point somewhere between the Des
Moines and Skunk rivers, on the ridge between the two, about
85 miles due west from Iowa City. This was rumor, and given
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138 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
for what it was worth. Little interest was expressed, since
there was not very much danger of removal at this time (1847)
unless population increased very rapidly in the western part
of the state.
Almost ten years later an item appeared in the local press
giving an account of the building for the assembly being erected
in "Fort Des Moines." The cost was to be $30,000, and was
already subscribed in June, 1856. Owing to the difficulty in
procuring material in that locality, there was little prospect
that the following session of the assembly would be able to
meet in Des Moines. That "Fort Des Moines" would eventu-
ally be the capital was generally believed, "but it would seem
the part of wisdom," the account runs, "to keep the capital
where it is until permanent buildings could be erected, in view
of the accessibility of Iowa City and the unquestioned fact of
its being the center of the more populous part of the state.' ' 186
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CHAPTER VIII
The Incorporated City
/T"AHE oath of office was administered to Jacob P. De Forest,
-■* mayor-elect of Iowa City, and to the other officers, includ-
ing the city council, by G-eo. S. Hampton, clerk of the supreme
court of Iowa, on the sixth day of April, 1853. On the evening
of that day they met for their first session in the Old Capitol,
when there responded to roll call, Jacob De Forest, as mayor ;
Anson Hart, recorder; C. H. Buck, treasurer; Robert Hutchin-
son, marshal ; and Benjamin King, assessor. The council was
composed of the following members : E. C. Lee, Edward Lan-
ning, and William H. Hunt, from the first ward ; Thomas Sny-
der, Francis P. Brossart, and Wm. Penn Clark, from the sec-
ond ward ; Peter Roberts, Peter Statzer, and John Van Fleet,
from the third ward. The committees appointed under a reso-
lution offered by Mr. Clark were on ways and means, on
claims, on streets, roads and alleys, on schools, on wharves
and bridges. Rules for the government of the council were
immediately adopted and the mayor was authorized to con-
tract with C. A. Robbins for a city seal. This seal was to bear
a certain device consisting of a railroad car in the center, sur-
rounded with the inscription : ' ' The seal of Iowa City. ' ' This
was changed at a subsequent meeting in May, 1853, to read :
"Seal of Iowa City, Iowa," a locomotive and railroad car in
the center. It must be remembered, that the schools at this
time were under the control of the city council, and their pro-
ceedings on the subject up to the time of the passage of the law
changing the authority to a "board of education" are found
among the ordinary city business, and belong as to time and
sequence in that record. For the purposes of classification,
however, they are found in the chapter on educational topics.
When H. W. Lathrop resigned as councilman, to take
charge of the new public school, Geo. W. McCleary was ap-
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140 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
pointed to fill the vacancy. J. R. Van Fleet resigned at the
same meeting, and Morgan Reno was appointed in his place.
Changes were frequent during the early period of the council,
and the names of leading citizens are recorded in "appoint-
ments to fill vacancies," as they occurred.
During the summer of 1854 a petition from sundry citizens
on the question of organizing a hook and ladder company was
presented, which the council heard and at once acted upon, by
ordering that the marshal "immediately procure, upon the best
possible terms, two 3-story, two 2-story, and two 14-foot lad-
ders, also 6 poles with the necessary hooks, chains, and ropes,
together with a carriage suitable for the conveyance of the
same, and to provide a suitable central place for the keeping
of the same." This appears to have suggested to the council
the need of a fire engine, and the mayor was instructed to
correspond with the manufacturers regarding the cost of such
an equipment. We hear no more concerning fire protection
until a petition came from "Fire Company No. 1," through
Wm. Vogt, its president, asking for an appropriation for the
purchase of an engine. After considering the rapid growth of
the city and its expansion, the council on Aug. 11, 1856, recom-
mended the expenditure of three hundred dollars for the pur-
chase of a fire engine.137
Under the act incorporating Iowa City the council were
empowered to issue "improvement bonds" on the vote of the
electors authorizing such issue. The question was submitted
and, after approval by the electors, twenty thousand dollars of
such bonds were sold to Wm. A. Buckingham, of Norwich, Con-
necticut, at a discount of five per cent and interest at ten per
cent. Such investments are worth special study, and they
cover a wide area at that time in the state's history. The cus-
tom of issuing "scrip" to pay current expenses was practiced
to quite an extent, and in some instances became annoying to
cities which did this. This appears to have been the reason
for the act of the city council in reference to it.
The "scrip" issued by the city in denominations of "one,
two, three, and five dollars," was ordered to be collected and
destroyed by a committee from the council after several years
of issue, and the council gave detailed instructions as to its
burning and the reports required from the committee. Each
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THE INCOEPOEATED CITY
141
denomination must be recorded and oath made by the commit-
tee as to the total amount. The mayor was further requested
by the council to "get possession' ' of the plates used in making
this scrip, and when secured they must be utterly destroyed.188
This did not apply merely to "scrip redeemed,' ' but to all
unsigned " scrip.' ' In this order the committee was author-
ized to present to The State Historical Society "one note of
each denomination," and this amount is preserved in a frame
on the walls of the rooms of the society.
Clinton Street
A financial report makes the indebtedness of the city at this
time, August, 1859, a total of $93,000, which included almost
$15,000 in "scrip" and warrants, more than $8,000 in interest
past due on bonds, or a floating debt of over $23,000. Eail-
road and school bonds held against the city amounted to $70,-
000. Discouragement as to the affairs of the city, under its
numerous debts and suits against it, appears to have led a num-
ber of citizens to petition the legislature to "abandon the char-
ter of Iowa City. ' ' In remonstrance, the city council appointed a
committee to prepare for .the legislature, "an abstract of the
cost of the city government for each year since the city was
incorporated, so as to be able to see when, and by whom, the
city has been put into such enormous debts, and also give the
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142 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
reasons why, in their opinion, it is not practicable to do away
with our city charter." 189
The council session of April 6, 1866, was short and exciting,
and in the record made of the occasion the clerk states that "a
riot seemed imminent. ' ' It arose through some unwritten dif-
ficulty, since while the mayor was present Alderman Cochran
was elected president pro tern, whereupon the mayor ordered
the city marshal to "remove the president from the chair.' '
This the city marshal attempted to do, "which caused great
confusion and disorder.' ' Many persons, it appears, rushed
into the council room and the excitement was very great At
this juncture, Alderman M. W. Davis, the one member now
living, and at present in business in the city, "moved an ad-
journment,'' which does not appear to have been voted upon
very formally.140 In this affair weapons were drawn, and for
a time matters threatened to end in a real battle. One mem-
ber endeavored to assist Dr. Cochran in maintaining his seat
and the session broke up in great excitement. The room where
this meeting was held in 1859 was upstairs on the southwest
corner of Dubuque and College streets. There appears to
have been a division in the council, for some members refused
to meet with the body, preferring to be summoned by the mar-
shal when he was able to find them.
It was about this period in the history of the city that
North Market came very near becoming part of the residence
district. Possession, it appears, was worth something to
the man who lived on the southwest corner of the mar-
ket for almost a dozen years. One George Kepler was allowed
to place his house there and when notified refused to move it
off. Mrs. Piper and Mrs. Jones also had houses on the square,
by permission of the city council, but for shorter periods.
Measures were proposed to move the possessors by action of
the city attorney, the man in sixty days, and the women in one
year. It was at this time, May 17, 1872, that a proposition
came before the council to sell the North Market Square, fixing
three hundred dollars the price of inside lots and four hundred
dollars for corner lots. The reasons*given for such action were
because of the impracticability of fencing it when the two
streets of Fairchild and Johnson left it in four different blocks.
However, the action of the city council on the question was re-
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THE INCOKPORATED CITY
143
considered and North Market was not sold, but after having all
obstructions removed at the expense of the council, at least for
the removal of the house of Mrs. Piper under the direction of
Mr. F. X. Rittemeyer, the reservation was fenced and became
public ground.
As land became more valuable and lines were not q(hite defi-
nite, demands were made for re-surveys of certain portions of
the city. In accordance with this demand provisions were
made by the city council to ascertain the facts in the matter.
The old monument, or shaft, that marks the corner of section
Clinton Street, Iowa City
ten, on which the capital of Iowa territory was located, is sup-
posed to be on the southeast corner according to survey, but
the fact being severely questioned, several citizens petitioned
for a re-survey and location of the south line of the section,
that is section ten, which lies in Court street, dividing the plats
of the capital of the territory and the county seat. The sur-
veyor found in 1856 that the true corner " would be 26 feet
south and 29 feet east of the monument as it now [1856]
stands, ' ' and a further extended report was made by James H.
Gower on the returns where he says: "The committee pro-
cured the assistance of R. H. Kelley, Esq., as engineer and
other assistance necessary and were aided by many of the old-
est citizens now [1856] residing in the city." The committee
used the plat of the city and township, and the field notes in
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144 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
each case, and followed them in their re-survey. They pro-
ceeded from the northeast and northwest corners of the origi-
nal city plat of section ten, and when they were through at the
southeast corner, they planted a stone post 39 feet southeast of
the monument, and there they determined the section corner to
be. This probably accounts for the old monument being in its
present position, for the report goes on to say, that "the com-
mittee would recommend that the monument be carefully pre-
served where it now is as evidence of the correctness of the
present survey as well as to preclude any possibility of a con-
troversy hereafter as to where it stands. If we leave it stand
there with all the evidence now existing to show that it was
placed there erroneously and without authority, it will do more
to establish the correctness of the present survey than any
other fact connected with it." The committee, then, would by
no means attempt to establish a new corner by pulling down the
old one, but ' ' by preserving it. ' '
Another story goes with this re-survey, since the man who
helped to place the monument on the corner of the section, as
was supposed, has made a statement concerning the time, and
the place, and also the circumstances surrounding the event.
He makes the following affidavit : "James N. Ball, of the city
and county of Washington, in the District of Columbia, being
duly sworn, says he is a stone cutter by trade, and during the
years 1840, 1841, and 1842, was living in Iowa City, then in
Iowa territory, now the state of Iowa. I was working at
my trade in the capital of Iowa, under Mr. Chauncey Swan,
one of the commissioners, and he, during one of the years men-
tioned above, desired to have a certain stone monument, cut
and lettered, to be placed at the southwest corner of section
ten, on which the city is built. He applied to me for assistance
to help him in placing what he so much desired, the corner
stone.
"I consented to his proposition, and lettered the corner
stone, and otherwise assisted him. While I was engaged in
lettering the stone the Hon. Thomas Cox came to the city, and
I asked him to go with me and show me the corner stake of the
city plat, informing him at the same time, that I was preparing
a corner stone, and that as he had made the survey of the sec-
tion, and had charge, in whole or in part, of putting down the
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THE INCORPORATED CITY
145
stakes, he could readily do this. He did as requested and
showed me the big stake, which was in precise range with the
small stakes still standing and plainly to be seen.
"Soon after myVeturn from the visit to the corner with
Mr. Cox, I took two laboring men with me, with shovels and
pick to dig the hole for placing the monument. I took up the
big stake and directed the men to dig the hole in a direct line
Clinton Street
with the small stakes, and as near as possible to where the
large stake stood.
1 1 The hole was dug, however, rather small, and Mr. Swan,
James Hanby, the two laborers, two teamsters, and myself,
who were engaged in placing the monument in position, came
to put the stone in the ground, we found to our great disap-
pointment, that owing to the roughness of the bottom of the
stone, and the ground not being sufficiently excavated, the stone
was placed at one side of the city line as surveyed. The center
line of the shaft should be the starting point, but owing to the
unevenness of the stone, as may very readily be seen, the line
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146 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
is thrown to the north and to the east of the center line, say the
full one-half of the thickness of the stone.
" James N. Ball.
" Subscribed and sworn to before the undersigned, a justice
of the peace, in and for Washington County, District of Colum-
bia, on February 16, 1871.
"W.Thompson."141
The monument as lettered by Mr. James N. Ball contains
the following inscriptions, which at the present day can be de-
ciphered with great difficulty, and one must remove the vine
that runs over the stone to find what it resembles, as it stands
now on private property, on Summit street in Iowa City.
On the side facing the east one may perhaps read :
"M.VANBUREN
President of the U. S.
and
R. Lucas
Gov. of the Territory"
On the side facing the west the following :
" IOWA CITY
The Capital of
Iowa Territory
as situated on
Section No 10.
Township 79, N. R.
6 W. of the 5th Pr. M.
located
May 4th 1839
by Mess™
Chauncey Swan
John Ronalds
and
Robert Ralston
Comm™ & Surveyed
by Mess™
Cox Frierson & Judson
under the direction of
C. Swan Actg Com"
"It required over two thousand stakes to be used on the la-
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THE INCORPORATED CITY 147
cation, and something like fifty hewed posts from six inches to
one foot square, and from six to nine feet long, for the corners
of the town plat, the public square and reservation. ' J
How there happened to be so many shade trees in Iowa City
may be explained by reference to the action of the city council
in 1858, when an ordinance was passed to encourage the plant-
ing of shade trees. A part of these must be a hard wood va-
riety. They could be not nearer than twenty-five feet apart and
opposite the lots of the owners, and near to the edge of the
walk. Any person complying with the regulations and plant-
ing his trees as directed could secure a tax rebate of twenty-five
cents for each tree that fulfilled the conditions, being in healthy
condition and eight feet high at least at the time the certificate
was furnished by the street commissioner. This was approved
unanimously and may, in part, account for some of the trees
now found on the borders of the streets of Iowa City.
The movement became so popular at the time that it was
almost an " epidemic" or a "panic." Men unaccustomed to
handle a spade or remove their coats for outdoor work were
plunging into the business of planting shade trees. The result
was surprising. Lines of well planted hard wood varieties of
trees soon appeared on nearly every street and avenue in the
city.
Once this would not have been necessary, at least not so
necessary. The primitive condition was forest enough, but as
in all timbered lands, it was supposed to be so abundant that
the supply would never be exhausted.
Public improvements are sometimes due to other events
than positive acts on the part of authorities. Accidents, or mis-
fortune, as it appears at the time, may lead to advances in the
end, although one would not argue for the destruction of one's
properties generally that some other might build greater.
Several instances may be cited where greater things have
arisen from what appeared a great local loss.
Ole Bull, the famous violinist, and his concert company met
with a warm reception when they came to Iowa City in 1872.
They were quartered at the Clinton House, which was burned
to the ground at three o'clock in the morning. There being no
fire protection, the building had to go, and so did the occupants,
in the darkness, there being no "light to assist them in find-
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148 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ing their way out, the gas having given out during the night."
Colonel Wood was the proprietor of the house where the dis-
tinguished company was entertained, and he immediately
leased the Summit House and changed the name to the "Clin-
ton House." So much for a man that had become well known
to the traveling public.
Ole Bull escaped in his sleeping garb and was careful to
secure his violin, which had under his skilful fingers stirred the
citizens of the place only a few hours previous to the incident.
Some merriment was produced in the crowd when he ran into
the street with "a death clutch on his fiddle." Then he re-
membered that he had forgotten his valuable watch, and
he employed George Herron, a colored man, for a fifty dollar
fee, to get it for him, who secured the timepiece and received
the reward. Some regret was expressed that the famous musi-
cian did not reward in some substantial way the night watch,
G-eorge Andrews, who climbed a ladder to Ole Bull's room to
bring his trunk and other valuables from the burning build-
ing. No human life was lost, but the faithful coach dog of Mr.
Burlingame was left behind in the excitement and no one could
rescue him. People stood helplessly by and could do nothing
to save the building. With no fire apparatus, no water, with a
fierce wind from the north, no one could do more than look on
while the lessons were given which taught the citizens of the
future the value of protection against just such accidents. The
city authorities were belabored to some extent for not provid-
ing the needed protection long before. Here was a loss of
thirty thousand dollars, all because no precaution was taken to
prevent just such things. So the expected had happened, and
a great disaster had come upon the city because of neglect, the
cause of most of the trouble in any community.
Probably one could find just such instances in all the early
history of the Iowa towns where such ordinary economic con-
ditions are neglected as the protection of property, or in many
cases of life itself. The educating effects of experience are not
felt for long periods and accidents are soon forgotten. Habits
are slow in being established, and it is a slow process also to
establish a community spirit of cooperation in all that is wise
and good.
Attempts to form a joint stock company to replace the Clin-
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THE INCORPORATED CITY 149
ton House having failed, the result seems to have been a hotel
of the present time, the St. James. In the autumn of 1872 the
owner of the block on the corner of Clinton and Iowa avenue
was urged by a number of influential citizens, among them M.
Bloom, James Lee, Wm. A. Morrison, Henry Wieneke, to
change his building into a hotel, and the result was an under-
taking of the reconstruction of the block. The financial part of
the affair was placed in the hands of Hon. Peter A. Dey, whose
assistance was necessary to make the matter of change possible.
In order to make plenty of room and to insure a modern house,
the adjoining property on the east was purchased and im-
proved. The same Colonel Wood of the Clinton House super-
vised the interior arrangements, and when finished the city
claimed a structure which for its time met all conditions.142
Congratulations that are mutual are shown in public celebra-
tions, to honor victory in any conflict, and the local endeavors to
secure more and better institutions were recorded in the estab-
lishment of the present medical school in 1870. Immediately
following steps were taken to secure a further effective organi-
zation by the addition of a hospital, which was urged by local
meetings in 1870, and an actual proposition was received from
the Sisters of Mercy to take charge of such an institution if an
equipment with only seventeen hundred dollars was furnished.
Under these conditions one may appreciate the meaning of
what follows.
The legislative assembly of the state for 1872 adjourned
late, the session running into the last of March or first of April.
Before adjournment they passed the appropriation bill of
$52,000 for the University in all- its departments. Of course
there was much rejoicing and congratulations among the ones
who had the care of the institution, and in the evening of the
day the announcement was made a great celebration was held
on the campus. It was said the city never presented a more
brilliant appearance, the illuminations being made prominent
by a "tallow dip" in each window of the University buildings.
An immense bon fire was kindled immediately in front of the
campus, which illuminated the transparencies suspended in
front of the buildings, among them these: " Education —
Civil Liberty;" and another, "The University and the State of
Iowa;" a third, "Our Eepresentatives," in very large letters.
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150 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
At the south end of the buildings was one suggestive of the
vote, "40 to 1," since only one lone member of the senate
voted against the appropriation. His name was Gault.
Speeches and music made the occasion historical, so far as
names are concerned, but none of these sayings have been pre-
served. Hon. Ezekiel Clark was the presiding personage, and
the mayor, S. E. Paine, Geo. J. Boal, Dr. Shrader, Wm. G.
Hammond, Peter A. Dey, and Rev. Dr. Thatcher gave ad-
dresses. The band played and salutes were fired in honor of
the men who had voted such a great sum, "$52,000," for the
State University for all departments at a single session of the
state assembly. It is not easy to reconcile present conditions
with "tallow dips" in the windows and such an appropriation
for all departments.148
In 1875 there was a movement to donate the old court house
belonging to the county to the State University for the use of
the medical department. It was proposed to do this by a vote
of the people, and then that the city and county combine to
erect a court house and city hall in one building. Nothing
seems to have come from this proposition, and more than
twenty years passed before the state concluded to erect a
building for its hospital.
The first stone in the foundation of the University Hospital
was laid on Friday, March 28, 1897. Dr. L. W. Littig was to
lay the stone, but being called away on professional services, a
substitute performed the work, using a trowel made especially
for the occasion by Mr. Allen, an old gentleman who had then
reached the age of eighty-two. The trowel was later presented
to Dr. Littig. It was constructed in part from wood taken
from the belfry of the old Mechanics J Academy, which had
furnished shelter for so many different organizations during
its history, having been built about 1840 by L. S. Swafford, for
many years a veteran contractor and builder of the city. This
new building was supervised by the senior member of the firm
of architects who made the plans, Mr. George Josselyn, who
was also the superintendent of construction of the Iowa Build-
ing at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893.
The corner stone laying, the more formal ceremony usually
observed in commencing public buildings, took place early in
May. Dr. W. D. Middleton performed the mechanical work of
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THE INCOKPORATED CITY
151
spreading the mortar and of tapping the stone into place after
the derrick had put it into position. The mallet he used was
made from wood that was in the old building. In this stone was
placed a zinc box, prepared by Hon. H. W. Lathrop, of The
State Historical Society, with the side of the stone containing
the box placed underneath. The tablet was also set by Dr.
Middleton with the assistance of the workmen. There were
present with Dr. Middleton, Drs. Shrader, C. S. Chase, Bier-
PAt MFR MAUKr
*T TV-^^-4 A~pi
ring, Littig, and Rockwood of the faculty, and Hon. H. W. La-
throp, a member of the board of trustees a generation ago,
and a teacher in the old building a half century before. Ad-
dresses were made by Dr. Middleton, who prophesied that men
to come would say, "they builded better than they knew;" by
Dr. Shrader, who rejoiced over the erection of a "grand and
good hospital;" by Dr. Chase, who called the hospital the
"crystallization of hopes long deferred;" and by Hon. H. W.
Lathrop, who proudly traced the "unparalleled growth of Iowa
institutions" during the past half century. The corner stone
is the same block that served a like purpose fifty-five years be-
fore, and in dimensions is ten inches thick, two feet six inches
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152 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
long, and thirteen inches wide. The opening in which the docu-
ments of the earlier time were placed had to be enlarged for the
reception of the box prepared by Mr. Lathrop. All the docu-
ments were placed in the box, and are as follows : Original
charter of Mechanics' Mutual Aid Association, which built the
Mechanics' Academy on the same grounds; the constitution
and by-laws of this organization ; a copy of the Iowa City Re-
publican containing Dr. Shrader's article on the old building;
a copy of the Republican containing Mr. Lathrop 's article on
the same building; the Daily Republican for April 29, 1897;
the Daily Press of the same date ; an old advertisement of the
opening of school in the old academy ; a circular issued in re-
gard to gavels made from the wood in the old building; and the
Historical Record for April, 1897. Over this stone was placed
the tablet that held a place of honor for more than half a cen-
tury in the old building. The inscription reads : ' ' Mechanics '
Academy, founded June 14th, A. D. 1842." The corner stone
and tablet stand on the line of the old building mentioned
above, and one may see them by descending the steps between
the west wing and the administration building of the Univer-
sity Hospital. Since the portico covers the stone and tablet
now, no one would suspect it being in such a position, and the
stranger would find no historical interest in that quarter unless
his attention was called to it. One advantage may be found in
the present hidden location — the wear of the seasons will never
destroy the lettering on the tablet, and when the hospital walls
have decayed, and in after years the remains are investigated
by the student of ancient history, he will wonder how the tablet
retained for so long a period its distinct lettering.
However, not all that occurs in any locality can be of a
happy outcome, much as it might be so desired, for events that
bring sorrow are mingled rapidly with the opposite type. To
illustrate:
June 18, 1897, was a sad day in Iowa City and in the state
of Iowa so far as its possessions and valuable collection of
books were concerned. Not only property, but life was lost in
the attempt to stop the flamfcs that had possession of the old
building that housed the library and science apparatus. Light-
ning struck this building on the morning of June 18, and a few
minutes later the fire burst out of the southwest corner of the
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THE INCORPORATED CITY 153
structure. This was about four o'clock, and by five the entire
building was in control of the flames. Four persons, Lycurgus
Leek, Sam Grimm, Mary Barrett, and Sam Tomlin hurried to
the second floor to secure valuable documents, and were en-
gaged in this work when the fire drove them out. Here was
where the first of the four met his death, due to being caught
by falling beams which the fire had loosened. Too late he saw
his danger, and while his companions succeeded in escaping he
was burned to death when he fell. Every effort was made to
rescue the faithful fireman, but nothing could be done until the
flames were under control, when friendly hands removed the
blackened and burned body.
The wreckage of years of labor was found in the ashes. Val-
uable private collections, and collections that could never be
replaced under any condition or for any price were totally
ruined. That others had shared the fate of Lycurgus Leek was
for some time feared when Regent Al Swalm and Frank Volk-
ringer, who were the first to enter the burning building, did
not appear. They entered the building through a window at
the north end of the gallery and turned the hose on the fire
from that quarter. While here the wooden hatchway began to
burn and they were forced out, Mr. Volkringer leaping to the
second floor and escaping by means of the ladder. Mr. Swalm
came out exhausted and was taken to the Saint James, where
he became delirious.
A thrilling story is told of the miraculous escape of one
fireman, Frank Slezak. On a high ladder, thirty feet above the
ground, a burning timber flying through the air struck him,
knocking him from the ladder. Whirled toward the ground
apparently in the face of instant death, he turned a half somer-
sault and once more struck the ladder, through the rungs of
which his feet were thrust, and in this position he hung until
he could draw himself back up the ladder to an erect position.
The loss was estimated at one hundred thousand dollars on
books alone. Some forty thousand books and pamphlets were
entirely ruined or damaged beyond repair. All day on Sunday
the search continued for valuable books that might yet come
from the ruins. From the Talbot collection of 4,500 volumes,
about 2,000 were saved, and special effort was made to save
this private collection.144
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154 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
In the cemetery stands a monument dedicated to the man
who lost his life in this fire. It reads :
' 'Leek
In Memory of
Lycurgus M. Leek
who sacrificed his life June 19,
1897, while fulfilling the
duty of Vol. fireman,
aged 40 yrs., 4 ms.,
14 days."
This was erected by the firemen, citizens, and city council of
Iowa City. The firemen attended the dedicatory exercises of
this monument as an organization, while the city council were
also present. Here in the presence of the bereaved family,
father, mother, wife, and orphan children, the exercises were
conducted with appropriate music and addresses. Dr. Chas. A.
Schaeif er, then president of the University, gave an address, in
which he said: "All the world loves a hero and does honor to
the memory of a man who risks his life to save the lives and
property of others. There are heroes in peace as well as in
war. ' ' In contrasting the numerous monuments of war heroes
as compared to heroes of peace, he said: "The exercises of
today should impress upon the minds of our young people the
thought that war is not essential to the making of heroes.
Lycurgus Leek gave his life in the attempt to save the books of
the University. All honor to him and to the other members of
the fire department. Their efforts were in vain, but time will
heal the wounds caused by the loss of books and building, and
shall cause a building that will defy the flames. Within that
building, I pledge you, there shall be special recognition of the
self-sacrificing hero, for we shall place upon the walls a tablet
in honor of and setting forth the deed of Lycurgus M. Leek.
Thus we shall obey the scriptural injunction, 'honor to whom
honor is due.' "
President Schaeffer was followed by a stirring address
given by Rev. S. N. Watson. From his address the following is
taken: "We stand here today in the discharge of a solemn
duty, the performance of which is a privilege and a blessing —
the dedication of a memorial to the man who lived the common
life of us all, and whom death in the service of others . . .
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IOWA CITY
Early Map op Iowa City, 1854
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156 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
has lifted so high above the names and memories of common
men. This monument of enduring granite which loving hands
have erected to a brave fireman whose life was an unhesitating
sacrifice to devotion to duty — this is the best that hands can
do, the best material record, the best earthly testimonial that
can be made. But there is something more lasting than records
chiseled deep in the surface of polished stone. Years from
now the record there may be blotted out by the ruthless hand of
time, but the record in men's hearts and lives — never/ J
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CHAPTER IX
Towns and Townships
O EFORE Iowa City had been platted a full month, and be-
-"-* fore any indications of a town appeared beyond a plat,
another city was platted on a claim within the limits of Johnson
county. The papers in the transaction are the best proof of
the facts that probably never went farther than the proper
plans of the city that was to be.
"This indenture made this eighteenth day of July, 1839,
between William Dupont and Elizabeth Skinner of Johnson
county, Iowa Territory, of the first part, and Leander Judson
and Frederick M. Irish of the same place, of the second part,
Witnesseth, that the said parties of the first part for and in
consideration of the sum of five hundred dollars to them in
hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, hath
by these presents bargained, sold, etc. ... all their right,
title and interest to the several blocks and lots being in the
town of Monroe, situated on their claim and embracing the site
of the civil Indian chief Poweshiek's village on the east bank
of the Iowa River in the county and territory above mentioned,
and further described Block Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22,
26, 28, 30, 33, 36, 38, 41, 44, 48, 50, 53, 57, 59, 60, 71, and 40,
designated on a plat made of the said town by L. Judson, and
recorded in the recorder's office in and for said county of
Johnson, and the said William Dupont and Elizabeth Skinner
here do bind themselves, etc. ... in the penal sum of one
thousand [dollars] each to make a warranty deed to the par-
ties of the second part . . . for the above described prem-
ises or Blocks of land after they shall have acquired title of the
same of the United States (and when demanded) and the
parties of the first part are hereby bound ... to secure
said title. Provided the parties of the second part shall pay
or cause to be paid at the time of the sale of said land the
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158 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
amount that the said tract of land may bring at the public sale,
and they shall warrant and defend the same against all claims
except the United States.
"William Dupont
her
1 ' In presence of Elizabeth -f- Skinneb
C. Swan ^lark.
John Frierson.
"This indenture entered Sept. 2, 1839, on p. 24, Book first.
Given under my hand and seal Sept. 2, 1839. Isaiah P. Ham-
ilton, Recorder for Johnson county, Iowa Territory.
"A true copy, transcribed from Book first, pages 23 and 24.
"August 6, A. D., 1841. Jesse Bebby,
' ' County Recorder.
"Whereas, we, Leander P. Judson and F. M. Irish, did on
the 18th day of July purchase of William Dupont and Eliza-
beth Skinner their claim on the Iowa River, known as the chief
Poweshiek's Village (a particular reference of such purchase
is made to a plat of the Town of Monroe) made by L. Judson
and recorded in the recorder's office for the county of Johnson,
and to Dupont and Skinner, did to said Judson and Irish and
also did make and secure three claims on the opposite side of
the river from said village of Monroe containing about two and
one-half sections of land. Now be it known that we the said
Judson and Irish do in consideration of one hundred dollars
to us paid release and quit claim one equal and undivided
third part of all such above described property to John G.
Nichols of Wisconsin Territory. Witness our hands and seals
this twenty-second day of August, 1839.
"Leandeb Judson
' < Matthias D. Ross F. M. Ibish.
"This contract entered on page 21. Given under my hand
and seal this August 22, 1839.
"Isaiah P. Hamilton,
"Recorder for Johnson County, Iowa Territory.
' i The above is a true copy transcribed from Book first, p. 21.
' * August 6, A. D., 1841. Jesse Bebby,
"County Recorder.
"We, the undersigned, Proprietors of the town of Monroe,
Johnson County, Iowa Territory, do hereby convey, etc. . . .
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TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS 159
all right, title and interest to Lot No. ten (10) in Block No.
fifty-three (53) as described on the recorded plat to Isaiah P.
Hamilton, Eecorder of the above named County and Territory
for the consideration of forty dollars, the receipt whereof,
etc. . . . and we do further agree to give a warranty deed
for said lot when said land shall be sold by the United States
government.
' ' Witness our hands Aug. 22, 1839.
"Leandeb Judson
" F.M.Irish
"J. G. Nichols.
* ' This Bond entered on page 27, Book first, . . . Sept.
3, A. D., 1839. Isaiah P. Hamilton,
' * Recorder for Johnson County, Iowa Territory.
"A true copy, transcribed from Book first, page 27.
" August 6, A. D., 1841. Jesse Berry,
"County Recorder."145
' ' The town of Monroe is situated in the county of Johnson,
in the Territory of Iowa, on the present location of the civil
Chief Poweshiek's Village on the east side of the Iowa River
on William Dupont's claim. The streets running east and
west are named as follows, commencing on the west side:
Weston, Wasson, Charles, Kishkakosh, Dillon, Swan, Powe-
shiek, Trout.
" Those running north and south named as follows: Wil-
son, Williams, Gheon [Gehon], Dodge, Lucas, Antwerp, Gard-
ner, Scott, Warfield."
The town was surveyed by L. Judson, July 18, 1839. The
proprietors' names are printed on the blocks according to
the record as transcribed, and these were: "L. Judson, Irish,
Nicholds, and William Dupont, Johnson County, Iowa Terri-
tory." The record was entered Aug. 13, 1839, Isaiah P. Ham-
ilton, Recorder and transferred to the present book Dec. 15,
1841, by Jesse Berry, county recorder.148
Another pioneer who came into the northern part of the
county, now Jefferson township, in 1841, was Benjamin
Swisher, who was also from Ohio. He "purchased his claim
from a homesick pioneer," his possession being secured for
a team of horses, as to improvements and right of entry, since
the money was not to be obtained, none being in circulation,
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160 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
when the country had no means, and there was little need of
handling much cash. Title to the farm land could be acquired
later by formal entry. Here Mr. Swisher lived for forty-two
years. His first home was a settler/s cabin which stood in the
edge of the timber on the Iowa river, " where that prairie of
unsurpassed beauty and richness which reaches to the Cedar
River begins.' ' He scarcely thought of any settlers going be-
yond him "on that storm swept plain.' ' Soon a commodious
frame house took the place of the cabin, and progress began as
fast as it could where markets were fifty miles distant and no
signs of coming nearer for many years, as one could not think
of the rapid progress made when once the iron rails were laid.
But the pioneer passes, and Mr. Swisher was called farther on
in July, 1885.14T
The name of the pioneer is perpetuated in the village now
located on part of the farm he owned. The town was platted
soon after the interurban was located, and its situation is given
as "ten miles south of Cedar Rapids, three miles west of
Shueyville, twelve miles from Solon, and one and a half miles
from the north county line. ' '
The village of Shueyville, in the same township as Swisher,
has a local history that cannot be separated from that of
"school and church,' ' and therefore is kept in that connection.
Other points have been the location of postoffices and yet have
platted towns which are on record. Greencastle was platted
as a town in September, 1856. The plat was recorded in Oc-
tober of the same year. The location was in section thirty-one,
township eighty-one north, range seven west, and section six of
eighty, range seven. The proprietors of the village were i ' Wil-
liam Horner, Mary E. Horner, and Andrew and Rebecca Day,"
the latter two indicating by their "marks" their willingness to
call this a town.148
There was an addition to Western made by J. E. and Mary
M. Bowersox in 1860, from section three of Jefferson township,
which was surveyed by W. H. Shuey during the time that Geo.
W. McCleary was county judge.149
The very latest town in the township and probably in the
county is called by the name of Cou Falls, which was platted in
April, 1905, and is located in section twenty-one of Jefferson
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TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS 161
township. Bobert J. and Laura 0. Safely are the proprie-
tors.150
The pioneers of Oxford township included the names of the
Douglass families, James and Ebenezer, and Charles Marvin,
with Henry, Bronson, and William Brown, who came in 1839.
Soon after the Hulls, Porter and John, settled near, and John
L. Heartwell, familiarly known later as " Uncle John," located
in the same neighborhood, but he returned to Ohio not long
after where he remained until 1852, settling then permanently
two miles north of the present village of Oxford.
James Douglass always lived upon the farm where he first
located and became the first postmaster of the old office estab-
lished in the year 1844. His death occurred in 1854, but he left
five sons, John, Cyrus, James, David, and William, to carry on
the work he had begun. Here, as elsewhere, the first settle-
ments were made in the woods when thousands of acres were
lying open to the free use of the man who might choose to
possess them. The old habits remained, and the training of the
fathers in the wooded country was put into practice in the
prairie state, until the gradual crowding forced the later com-
ers to improve the open land, which soon was claimed as com-
pletely as the timbered sections.
Neighbors were far apart in those days, for any one within
a radius of ten miles was counted a neighbor, and it is said to
require small space to name all the neighbors in the area com-
prised in those dimensions. As far east as Tiffin were the
Spragues and Spicers, and Amos Doud. Some distance farther
on were the homes of Sam Huston, John Headly on what was
afterward known 9s the Wolf place, the Gillelands, Keelers,
and Nathaniel Fellows, and as far as the Isaac Dennis place,
they were considered as part of the settlement. Orion Leuis
made a claim where the Bemley farm is now. At this early
date the nearest on the south were Burns and Simpson, on Old
Man's creek. A settlement over the line in Iowa county was
really part of the neighborhood, but its history lies with an-
other section of Iowa data in the vicinity of the present town
of Homestead.
There was no government land in Oxford township, as it is
now called, after 1855. Some of the first entries were made at
the Dubuque land office, later the office for this district was lo-
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162 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
cated at Iowa City, which made the matter of less inconven-
ience. It seems that about the year 1852 there was a grand
stampede for land in this vicinity, not only by those who in-
tended to make a home here, but by the man who oegan to see
the future in land values as it proved a short time afterward
when one might say the first level was reached, illustrating the
periodic stages in the real estate values.
Settlers continued to arrive during all the period up to the
date mentioned above when the first of the foreign element
came into the township. These were the German families of
the Klenks, Wagners, and Jacob Floerchinger. These were the
first of a large group that came into the neighborhood, and
they have become in these later days the substantial farmers of
the county, as other peoples of foreign birth in different sec-
tions. In 1856 the census of the township gave the sources of
the population to that date, which indicates the interesting
facts of states drawn upon in the settlement of a single one of
the townships of the county, and which would, if followed out,
make a study of great value. From Ohio there were eighty-
five citizens ; Iowa natives, in that short time, fifty-one ; Penn-
sylvania, forty; New York, thirty- three ; Germany, twenty-
three; Ireland, eighteen; Indiana, twelve; Kentucky, eight;
Illinois, six; Canada, four; Michigan, two; Vermont, Massa-
chusetts, England, Scotland, North Carolina, Missouri, Ten-
nessee, one each. Out of all the heads of families numbering
ninety-nine, eighty were farmers, yet there was on the average
only about thirty acres of cultivated land to each family. The
native products must have been quite abundant, for the prices
of products would have made the returns from thirty acres on
the average a poor living for most families. It is said that corn
was worth about fifteen cents, wheat thirty, and oats possibly
twelve, with pay in worthless bank bills most of the time.
The township of Oxford takes its name from one of the same
name in the county of Chenango, New York. From the manu-
script of M. W. Cook, who wrote many pages in the local his-
tory many years ago, the story runs that when the petition had
been prepared for presentation to the county judge asking that
he form a new township, the space for the name was left va-
cant. W. H. Cotter had the matter in charge, and mentioning
to his wife the fact that no name had been inserted, she sug-
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TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS 163
gested the name of "Oxford," the township in which she had
spent her early days in her native state. To make the matter
just several names were prepared and written on slips of
paper, and then drawn by a disinterested little child of the
family, resulting in the favored name as mentioned.
' i Tanktown ' ' was the former name of the station on the road
when first extended beyond Iowa City, and the site #of the
original settlement was on the southwest quarter of section
twenty-one. The postoffice then kept on the hill and called Ox-
ford, in charge of Mr. Vaughn, did not prevent the people from
using the name " Tanktown/ 7
Oxford was platted in September, 1868, under the ownership
of P. C. and Augusta C. S. Wilcox, the particular location
originally being in the northwest quarter of the southwest
quarter of section twenty-one. The plat was recorded in Oc-
tober of that year.161
The Clear Creek settlement extends beyond the limits of the
present township, since, as one may see in connection with the
development of the township boundaries and the accompany-
ing maps, the original Clear Creek included parts of several
others. But the settlement was all one neighborhood, and if it
overlaps now it should be discussed as a single settlement.
Among the names of those who came here there are a number
who are mentioned in connection with Oxford township.
Others reside in Penn township and are found in the story of
Big Bottom or North Bend. But the Dennises, Mrs. M. A. Den-
nis and family, Bryan, I. V., and Adaline, afterward Mrs. A. J.
Bond, came from Ohio in April, 1839, settling on what became
later the John Porter farm. It will be noted that Bryan Den-
nis became a leader in the affairs of the county. Henry Spring-
meyer was one of the first German settlers. Geo. Paul settled
in the township in 1843; Jarvis and Jackson Frost in 1841;
James Montgomery in 1842 ; Jackson Sanders, 1,842 ; William
Lancaster, 1843 ; Yale Hamilton, 1845 ; John McConnell came
with his large family in 1840, and one of his daughters was af-
terward Mrs. Wm. K. Talbott, who assisted her husband in
founding the Snethen Seminary in Iowa City. Another
prominent figure in the township in the early days was Archi-
bald Gilleland, who acquired a large tract of land which in-
cluded about five hundred acres. It is said that he was one of
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164 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the first regents of the State University, but that must have
been "Iowa City University." Wesley Reynolds settled here
in 1840, entering his land as soon as it came into market, prob-
ably at the sales at Marion. He furnished four sons for the
Union army during the Civil War, and for this any man should
have a monument.
Aft§r the Indians moved to the northwestern part of the
county, within the limits of the present township of Monroe,
they were located on the north side of the river, hence had no
headquarters on the south side of the river. However they
made the Clear Creek valley their hunting ground, and in the
opinion of the chiefs of the tribe no richer field for game was
in the old haunts of the Red Man.
The town of Tiffin was named for the town of the same name
in Ohio, indicating the sources of the settlers in that com-
munity better probably than any argument since the old en-
vironment had not been forgotten by the early settlers. The
town is located on land originally a part of the farm of Rolla
Johnson, who came from the city in Ohio that has fixed its
name upon the map of Johnson county. Among the old set-
tlers of the township in which the village is located the name of
Bryan Dennis is probably the most conspicuous in the records
of the county since at his house the first election was held, and
he was among the first to have a part in the affairs of the com-
munity. Tiffin was platted in December, 1867, for Rolla John-
son by James Dawson, and is in section twenty-eight of town-
ship eighty, and range seven.162
The first settlers in Big Grove township have been named
as arriving in the years of 1838 to 1840. The sources were the
states of Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, while Eng-
land contributed one in the person of Robert Matthews. War-
ren Stiles, whose name is mentioned in the township history at
its organization, came in 1839 from New York. He settled on
section twenty-six. The year before, Charles Fowler came
from New York, W. Fackler from Indiana, and Warner Spur-
rier from Ohio. Two more, Thomas King and Strawder De-
vault, came from Indiana in 1839. In 1839 five more, Jehiel
Parks, P. C. Brown, E. M. and Moses Adams, and Abner
Arrowsmith, came from Ohio. Harvey Lyman came from the
same state in 1840, also W. D. Cannon, and E. T. Pratt in the
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TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS 165
same year, a state which has furnished so many settlers to the
eastern part of Iowa. Two came from Pennsylvania, J. B.
McGrew in 1839, and A. W. Blain in 1840. In October, 1840,
Hamilton H. Kerr and John West employed Cyrus Sanders to
lay out in lots eighty acres of land in the township of Big
Grove as it is today, and they named the plat " Solon." To
the settlers who were then coming very rapidly they offered
these lots for sale, but it was not possible to interest them in
the lots of a town site when land was so cheap and one could
purchase eighty acres for the price of a town lot. After wait-
ing for two or three years for the lots to sell, the ground was
broken up and put to wheat, which doubtless was more profit-
able than dealing in town lots at that time in the history of the
county.158 The town plat was recorded in November, 1840, and
the record was later transferred by the recorder to the present
books in August, 1841. The streets then named were, north
and south, Iowa, Dubuque, and Cedar ; east and west, Silver,
Jefferson, Washington, Adams, and Water.
Henry MeDowell's name appears early upon the records of
the old board of county commissioners, he having been chosen
to that office in 1847. He came from Big Grove township,
where he settled in 1842. He, too, was from Ohio, the state
that sent so many to the Black Hawk Purchase.
The pioneer women of Iowa should have erected to them
and to the homes over which they presided one of the monu-
ments that seem not yet to have ever been suggested. True,
they sometimes get credit for the share they took in the de-
velopment of the new land, yet their story is yet to be written.
Among those who must be counted in this number was Mar-
garet Hayden MeDowell, the wife of Henry MeDowell, just
mentioned above. They came, a young man and his earnest
wife, to the vicinity of Solon in 1842, and for forty years she
was one of this community, a type of that housewife who
deems her work well done when home is kept and family
trained that the generation to follow will always know what the
name of ' ' Mother' 9 means.
The earliest settlements in Cedar township were made in
1838, from the same states as mentioned. Among these are
James Buchanan, who came indirectly from Ohio by way of Ce-
dar county; A. C. Sutliff, who ran the ferry so long in this
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166 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
township ; Thomas Prague, from the Pennsylvania hills ; Isaac
Dennis; Joshua King; Jesse B. McGrew, who was the foreman
of one of the earliest grand juries in the county ; and Matthew
Cavanagh, all of whom came in 1838, if records are true.
Thomas Prague did not live long after arriving, and his death
was the first in the vicinity. E. A. Brown and Moses Adams
came in 1839. A physician located here in 1840, but did not
remain long, and thereafter the greater part of the care of the
sick fell to the well known physician of Iowa City, Dr. Jesse
Bowen. It is mentioned in connection with the organizations
of the townships that the first election for officers of the local
government was held at the house of Philo Haynes, in April,
1846. He was one of the pioneers of the county who came here
in 1841, locating in Iowa City, but the following year began
farming in Cedar township, where he lived for many years
afterward, removing to a farm in Lucas township, where his
home was at his death in 1884. For some time he managed a
saw mill on Rapid creek, not far from Sylvanus Johnson's
home. Later in his life* he became interested in fine stock, and
in this he succeeded as in his other business undertakings. He
was one of that great number who came from Ohio to settle
Iowa's prairies.
The * ' Big Bottom, " or i ' North Bend ' ' of the Iowa river was
settled in 1838 by John Gaylor (or Gailor), and A. C. Dennison.
Joseph and George Dennison soon followed. By the summer
of 1840 there were many more in the settlement, including some
families whose names are still found as land holders of the
neighborhood, David Wray, Carson B. Wray, Geo. Wein, J. W.
Alt, J. H. Alt, Joseph Alt, Adam Alt, Jackson Purdoo, Ira Pur-
doo, Evan Dollarhide, Rev. Israel Clark, Martin Harless, Rob-
ert Waterson, John Asian, Hugh L. Napier, David Crozier,
Gilbert and Frank Herington, and James Chamberlain. Wil-
liam Dupont, who settled north of the river in Monroe town-
ship, was the first man who came "through" the settlement on
his way "west." 1B4 The township was named Penn in honor
of the founder of Pennsylvania, the motion for that name hav-
ing been made by Francis Bowman, and it may be well to men-
tion here that it was Francis and Margaret Bowman, Patrick
and Anna Murphy who held the title to the lands upon which
North Liberty is platted. The village was laid out in October,
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TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS 167
1857, and is on the southeast quarter of section twelve in town-
ship eighty, range seven, and the west end of the south one-half
of the southwest quarter of section seven, range six, therefore
the town lies in two congressional townships.155
The name of Green Hill might be misinterpreted if found in
an ordinary description, but here it means the first settler in
Scott township, if reports are true. He came to this part of the
county in 1838, and was soon after followed by Charles Jones
Tind John A. Street. In the next year John Parrott settled in
the same neighborhood. In the years following closely after
these, Isaac Bowen, Matthew Teneyk, also John Mathews,
and William B. Snyder became citizens. All of these had a
prominent part in the development of the county.
Washington township was settled first in 1839, and all that
part of the county was included at one time in Old Man's
Creek precinct as one settlement. Among those who came in
the year mentioned were the four Frys, John, Jacob, William,
and T. E. Fry, Henry Eogers, Eobert Roup, John Graham, and
James Shaff. Smiley H. Bonham came a little later, as well as
E. E. Carson. Much of the history of this section is included
in that of the Amish people. Two postoffices were established
in this township at different times, Amish and Frank Pierce,
but like other rural offices, they have been abandoned.
Probably the first town actually surveyed or platted and
named was in Fremont township near the present site of River
Junction, as it is often referred to by those who have left ac-
counts of the earliest settlements or reminiscences of the days
of the Indians, the name being of Indian origin, See-pee-nah-
mo, or as also found Sepanamo. Like many others, it was only
on paper, and the name is forgotten. When the township was
surveyed, according to legend or according to truth, the sur-
veyors took for a landmark the "lone tree" that stood on the
line between sections ten and fifteen. Here afterwards, when
the railroad came through, the town of Lone Tree was laid
out. The old tree is still standing in the yard of William Zim-
merman, of the firm of William Zimmerman & Sons, of the
steel plant located there. This town was laid out by John W.
Jayne, who was a resident of the place until very recent years.
He incorporated in the deeds that he made in his part of the
town, that no intoxicating liquors could be sold on the premises.
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168 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Other additions have been made, however, in which this re-
striction is not included. The condition on which the railroad
received a grant in a portion of the town was made such that no
other station should be located east of the Iowa river. This
condition having been violated by the establishing of a ship-
ping point at River Junction, the company lost the interest in
the plat of Lone Tree so far as Mr. Jayne was in authority.
Situated in one of the richest sections of farming country
found in the county, the town of Lone Tree today has a re-
markable number of business houses compared to its popula-
tion, which carry stocks of goods equal to many found in
cities. The farmer has not moved to town, but has become able
to support the town in better things through his heavier pat-
ronage. This makes it appear that the proportion of business
to the population is out of the ordinary, when the town alone
is considered.
Lone Tree was platted in October, 1872, on the south half of
section nine, in Fremont township, or township seventy-seven
north, range five west, by W. H. Jayne, Eliza A. Jayne, and
John W. Jayne. River Junction was made a town about one
year later, or in September, 1873, by John and Louisa Porter.156
In some of the townships the church and school history
covers so much of the really pioneer record, and in other in-
stances the later progress that it is not advisable to add special
topics here. However, there are a few villages that must be
mentioned. At least thirty-five postoffices were established at
different times in the history of the county, but not all of these
have a town history. The government has refused to under-
take the labor of furnishing the names of all the postmasters,
although willing to give some worker an opportunity to find
this information.
The village of Windham was originally on the claim of
Asbury and Nancy Packard, and was platted in October, 1854,
the record showing that it was filed November 1, 1854. It is on
section thirty-four in Hardin township, and the survey pro-
vided for twelve blocks. The street on the south was called
Railroad street, perhaps in the expectation of a line from east
to west in the near future.
Williamstown was named for C. N. and Sarah N. Williams,
and was located when platted in 1854 on the southeast quarter
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TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS 169
of section eleven, township seventy-eight north, range eight
west, which put it in Washington township.
On the eastern side of the county there are a number of vil-
lages : South Liberty, platted in July, 1857, and placed on file
the same day, by Vincent Gross ; Hills, May 12, 1900, by G. W.
Koontz, proprietor ; Morf ordsville, platted in February, 1855,
by John Morf ord, with one main street, four blocks, or eighty
rods long. Oasis is in section twenty-six of Graham township,
and Morse, founded by A. W., A. M., E. K., and Mary A. Morse,
and Orrin and Sarah Andrews, in March 1871, is in section
nine of Graham township.157
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CHAPTER X
The First Roads
A LMOST the first problem that came before the county
^ ^ commissioners throughout the new country lying in the
recent government purchases, and one that never has been
settled to the present day, was the construction of roads. It
is not remarkable that this was a prime subject when one con-
siders the distance to mills and markets, and the almost im-
passable sloughs and streams at certain times in the year.
The method pursued in determining upon the direction and ex-
tent of the highway was not invented by the local authorities,
but came with them through the adaptation of previous laws
and customs passed on from territory to territory, from state
to state, as they were carved out of the new lands, so that the
terms and agents employed, while strange to the present gen-
eration, were, however, when the first authority was exercised
in the county, perfectly familiar to the settlers, since chain-
men, axemen, and all, understood their duties in the laying out
of roads.
Road order number one is found on page fifteen of the com-
missioners record for the sixth day of March, 1840. This is
the beginning of volumes of records upon this particular sub-
ject. From mere description, instructions, and orders, the road
history passes into elaborate survey and plats, probably the
most complete records of the road history of any county in the
state, since all roads led to the first capital of the state.
The first order made provided for a road running in a north-
westerly direction ten miles, after crossing Clear creek. John
Eagan, Warren Stiles, and Jonathan Harris were appointed
commissioners to locate the road. They were required to meet
on the seventh day of April and make their return immediate-
ly to the county commissioners through the clerk of that
body.158
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THE FIRST ROADS 171
As one learns in following the proceedings of the county
commissioners in another county, the view of a road meant its
construction usually, and construction meant survey and mark-
ing by furrow or stakes its general direction, and if through
timber, which happened very often in the beginning, an axe-
man was employed to cut away the undergrowth and to blaze
trees. The bills presented after the establishment of a road
indicate better than any other way the persons concerned.
Frequently on questioning the advisability of a location, re-
viewers were appointed who might make an adverse decision
on the location. Section lines were not then a matter for con-
sideration, since land had not been entered in sufficient quan-
tity to make observance of lines necessary or desirable. It was
the "short cut" idea and the avoidance of sloughs by keeping
on the upland as much as possible that concerned the surveyor.
Roads may be classified into three groups : County, terri-
torial and state, while the county was concerned with all
three, so far as the road lay within its borders, and it came be-
fore the commissioners for adjustment. Naturally the first
territorial road came from and went toward the first capital of
the territory, Burlington, and is called "The Territorial Road
from Iowa City to Burlington." This came before the county
commissioners in the form of a report at their July meeting in
1840.169
That the form of report for all the roads of this class may
be understood, the one given here is quoted generally: "We,
the undersigned, a majority of the commissioners appointed
by act of the legislature of the territory of Iowa, approved
Jan. 14, 1840, respectfully beg leave to report that they have
in accordance to said act and the laws in such cases made and
provided, viewed, surveyed, located, and established a terri-
torial road, commencing at the north side of Iowa avenue in the
center of Dubuque street in Iowa City and terminating at the
south [east] corner of the southwest quarter of section twenty-
three in township seventy-one, range three west, and intersect-
ing the Territorial Road running from Farmington to Du-
buque at that point, with the field notes of that part appertain-
ing to the county of Johnson annexed; likewise the draft
showing the portion of road in said county as furnished by
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172 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Michael Eitner, Esq., the surveyor employed to survey said
road." Signed
J. Lobton
Luke Douglass
Commissioners.160
Iowa City, la., July 4, 1840.
The termination given above in township seventy-one,
range three, would bring it on the southern line of Louisa
county as now bounded, and here then occurred the intersec-
tion of the two territorial roads mentioned above.
William Murdock, Andrew D. Stephens, and John Eagan
were appointed as viewers of a road from Iowa City up Clear
creek for the distance of twelve miles, on the sixteenth of July,
1840. These commissioners reported favorably on this road in
the following : l ' Your viewers proceeded to discharge their duty
and after examination and survey of said proposed road, we
believe that said road will be of great utility to the citizens of
this county, and to persons who should wish to travel in that
direction; its passing near Moore and Drury's Mill will give to
the citizens much greater facilities than they at present pos-
sess. Oct. 12, 1840/ >
A. D. Stephens
William Mubdock
pr. A. D. Stephens
John Eagan m
The plat of the road mentioned above accompanies the field
notes, and it is certified to by Cyrus Sanders, surveyor, on
September 1, 1840.
The county was arranged into four road districts at the
July session, 1840, and over each a supervisor was placed.
These are given definite instructions as to the bounds of the
districts, and as the records are followed and additional roads
are provided for it becomes necessary to sub-divide the large
divisions found in these four districts. One must understand
that the management of roads then involved no such plan as
now, since bridge and grade construction had not been plan-
ned at any point. The chief duty at first was the maintaining
of sufficient marks to identify the route and make it possible
for a stranger to find his way without becoming confused as
viewers.
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THE FIRST ROADS 173
to which direction he should go to avoid the impassable places
common on the Iowa prairies.
A road still important, and probably established for all time
is named in 1841 as "The Iowa River Road North.' ' Peti-
tion, it may be mentioned, was made by sundry citizens for its
opening, and the usual number of commissioners were ap-
pointed for its view and location — John Eagan, James Ca-
vanagh, and Charles FosW. They made a favorable report
in February, 1841, and found some heavy work in putting it in
passable shape. They found the distance to be "twenty-seven
miles and three-fourths and twenty-six poles."162 Wm. Mc-
Cormick was surveyor of this road. Roads joining centers of
population became fixed very early, and these remain upon the
county map. All changes made in them required time and con-
siderable effort, and where they were changed the purpose was
plainly evident. That they interefered with section lines in
later years made little difference, so we find on the county map
these winding highways that give something to relieve the
checker-board plan of the later surveys.
At the east end of Iowa avenue in Iowa City a turn is made
to the southeast, the beginning of the old road known as the
one leading to Bloomington (Muscatine). This is only one
instance, for Dodge street, or the Military Road, or Dubuque
Road is another, and the beginnings of these roads are in most
cases determined by the old capitol building, as will be seen
by reading the full description at the places mentioned in the
references.
An old road cuts Washington township almost diagonally
from southwest to northeast, and this was first petitioned for
in 1841 at the January session of the county commissioners.168
Wm. McCormick was the surveyor, and on the plat with field
notes attached one may trace the footsteps of these chain
carriers, axemen, and assistants employed in locating "Old
Man's Creek Road," or as known by another name, "Mc-
Clure's Road." "This road began originally" at an oak tree
on the boundary line near the claim of James McGruder,
thence east to McCrea's, thence north about three-fourths of a
mile crossing "Old Man's Creek" near John Wycliflfe's house,
thence east to the north branch of "Old Man's Creek," cross-
ing the same about one-half mile from its mouth, east to James
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174 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Seahorn's, and continuing in the same direction to the Iowa
river at the point where the Dubuque Road crosses the same.
Hiram Watts, Matthew Brown, and James Lee were the
viewers who made the report and laid out the road under the
survey of Wm. McCormick. This was filed March 13, 1841.
The next road asked for came from the northeastern part of
the county near the Cedar river and ran west through Solon,
meeting the road running north along the river to the county
boundary. A. C. Sutliff, James Buchanan, and Uriah Ferree
were the duly appointed commissioners or viewers of this road,
petitioned for by Hamilton Kerr.
It is perhaps interesting to name some points in this sur-
vey : It began at a post placed in the prairie on the west line
of Cedar county, township eighty-one north, range four west,
section thirty, and as they proceeded mile posts were placed
in the prairie sod, as in all these surveys where no other
means was available. At certain points they enter timber, and
then emerge into the "barrens." They set a two-mile post
because no tree was near. They crossed Fall creek, fifteen
links wide, setting the three-mile post "from which a black
oak six inches in diameter bears west seventy-five links."
Six mile stakes were set before reaching Washington street,
Solon. At the eighth mile post a burr oak fifteen inches in
diameter was marked, and near this they crossed Smith's
creek. At the ten-mile post a white elm eighteen inches in
diameter was noted. This Kerr road intersected the Iowa City
road to the boundary line at the sixteen-mile tree on that road.
Cyrus Sanders was the surveyor in charge. This was ordered
to accommodate the people of the northeastern part of the
county, and especially those in Big Grove, which then was a
true name for that part of the county.
As a continuation of the road along Old Man's creek and
connecting the same with a road from Washington we find
Fry's road viewed and platted during 1841, the report having
been made at the May session of the commissioners by the
viewers, Nathaniel McClure and S. C. Trowbridge. It began
at the south line of the county where the road from Washing-
ton crossed the south boundary and ran according to the de-
scription asked for in the petition and returned by the sur-
veyor, Wm. McCormick, "by way of Jacob Fry's, Gallaten
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Solon, Iowa
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THE FIRST ROADS 175
Hartsock's, crossing Old Man's Creek at James Seahorn's to
intersect a road leading from the boundary line to Iowa City."
At the April session, 1841, a report was made on the road
to Rochester past Jesse Bowen's, and being objected to on the
part of Bo wen because of illegal survey and location was de-
clared null and void by the board. Nevertheless the plat ap-
pears on page forty-seven and a half of the Road Record Book
I. From this time the development of the roads required more
supervision to keep them open and passable, making an in-
crease in the number of supervisor districts necessary. There-
fore, the number was increased to seven at the April session,
1841.1"
The mill industry led to the opening of roads from various
directions, and one of the first was called the J. H. Frost road
"from the mouth of Clear Creek near W. Butler's mill to the
intersection of the road leading from Marion, the county seat
of Linn county." On this road Allen Stroud, Alexander Abel,
and Chauncy Ward were the viewers, and Cyrus Sanders the
surveyor, whose report was in favor of its location. The same
individuals were to view and lay out a road called "Eagan's,"
which began at the public square in Iowa City and ran on the
"nearest and best route past John Eagan's house, through the
Gaylor Settlement, to intersect a road from Iowa City to the
boundary line, at the most suitable point between William Alt's
house and William Dupont's."
Nathaniel McClure's road began at a place called "Indian
Lookout," on the Dubuque road, and near the house of John
Gardner, then took a southwesterly direction "in the most
convenient and direct route to the house of McClure" and
finally reaching the Washington county line "in the direction
of Cooper 's Ford on English River. ' ' The viewers in this case
were Smiley Bonham, James Trimble, and Wm. C. Massey.165
In each case of view and survey many bills came before the
commissioners for services, and these included the pay of team
and driver to carry the stakes and other equipment, the chain
carriers, axe men, and possibly an ox team to pull a plow.
These roads were marked often with a furrow as in the case
of the Dubuque and Rochester roads.
The Prairie du Chien road was established by the territory,
and that portion lying in Johnson county was under the super-
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176 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
vision of Israel Mitchell and Samuel W. Strong, as commis-
sioners appointed by the legislature to locate and establish
such a road. This is described as running from Iowa City by
the county seats of Linn and Delaware and the mouth of Elk
or Turkey river to the landing in Clayton county opposite to
Prairie du Chien. This road began at the east door of the
capitol, and from thence seventeen chains and fifty links, to
where the military road from Dubuque enters the avenue. The
four pages of field notes recorded in the road book (I, 25) indi-
cate that the terminus of the section belonging to this county
was sixteen miles from the east door of the old capitol and near
the Linn county line. It may be traced definitely on a sectional
map of the county.166
The Bellview (Bellevue) territorial road field notes contain
some interesting data, since the record gives a full account of
the movements from the first stake out from the town on the
Mississippi river to Dodge street in Iowa City, or the Dubuque
road, as then known. Most of the way they encountered noth-
ing but rolling prairie, yet it is probable that the capitals used
in abbreviation, as "W. 0." and "B. 0.," must stand for
white oak and black oak respectively. The commissioners on
this road were not residents of the county, and in making al-
lowance for the expense in this county there was some question
of the legality of the claim, and it was rejected.167
One of the most interesting plats of the first road book of
the county is of the "Pleasant Harris Road," running on
the west side of the Iowa river to the south line of the county
and called by this name when petitioned for by the citizens
residing near the south line. It runs practically parallel to the
Burlington road on the east side, having been established in
1842, by the viewers appointed for that duty, Wm. Massey,
David Switzer, and Nathaniel McClure, with David Switzer
as surveyor. This began at the south line and passed near
the home of John Fesler, from there to Switzer 's sawmill, and
came as near directly north as the ground would permit to the
Dubuque Ford, just north of the mouth of Ralston 's creek.168
The Wyoming territorial road reached Iowa City from the
southeast and intersected the road from Iowa City to Bloom-
ington, having only ten miles and seventeen chains in this
county. John C. Hesler and John Sherfly were the commis-
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THE FIRST ROADS 177
sioners, and the latter was the surveyor. However, by an act
of the assembly approved January 24, 1843, the county com-
missioners were authorized to relocate this road, and they sum-
moned Cyrus Sanders to do the surveying. This was simply
a matter of squaring the road and cutting out angles at the
south end of Dubuque street.169
At this time, in 1843, the number of road districts had in-
creased to fifteen with a supervisor for each. In estimating the
allowance for work on roads the figures are as follows: for
one yoke of oxen, plough or scraper and man to manage the
same two days' work; for " waggon,' ' two horses, harness and
man to manage the same, two days' work; for each additional
yoke of oxen, one-half days' work.170
The Wapsinonock, or West Liberty road, was established
by the territory, and when Elisha Henry, William Maxson, as
commissioners, and Jacob Halter as surveyor, presented the
bills to Johnson county, the board refused to allow them be-
cause the act authorizing the same provided that all expenses
should be paid by the petitioners.171 Andrew Brisbane was
one of the commissioners appointed by the assembly, but he
failed to act according to this record. The allowance for each
member was one dollar and twenty-five cents per day, but one
may conclude that collection was not an easy matter under the
above plan of payment. On the plat of this road as found on
page fifty-one of Road Book I, two " slues" are marked as
important items in transportation. Usually "sloughs" were
understood to be crossed without bridging them, for the ques-
tion of bridges came somewhat later in history. Only streams
were bridged, and they were crossed by various methods until
roads were generally established over the county.
The first railroad in Johnson county is mentioned in 1843
at the July session of the commissioners. It is at first some-
what startling to come across this record when the facts would
bring the real railroads more than ten years later in entering
the state. It is marked plainly on the plat, "Edwin Brown's
Railroad," and is referred to in connection with the survey and
platting of the "Isaac T. Pope road," which began at the line
of Cedar county at or near a bridge crossing Coon creek, and
crossing the Cedar river in a northwesterly direction at Sut-
liff 's Ferry, then turning south to intersect the military road,
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178 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
or Dubuque road, at some point between Solon and "E. A.
Brown's Railroad. " 172 Warner Spurrier, James Buchanan,
Julius GL Brown, were the viewers. However, it must be
understood that " Brown's Railroad" was really made of rails
and probably made for "toll." It was in 1843 that a new
movement began, when it appears that Washington street had
a special force appointed to put it in repair. Henry Murray,
G. J. Huey, A. E. McArthur, Anson Hart, D. Holt, Luther
Frost, Samuel McFaddin, and A. H. Haskell, were authorized
to perform all the work and expend all the money which might
be required of them for the year, upon the street mentioned.
A. E. McArthur was to direct this work and Jacob Stover was
the supervisor who should accept it in lieu of all claims from
these parties for any road work.178
As the open country was settled the conveniences of the old
roads became less satisfactory, and petitions came in to the
board of commissioners to change the route that it might pass
the new homes established. An alteration in " John Eagan's
road" suggests the improvements then beginning, for it reads :
"Commencing at the public square in Iowa City, thence on the
nearest and best route to Walter Butler's house, or the mill
dam now erecting on the Iowa river at that place ; then to cross
the river and to run to Evan Dollarhide's house, then on the
nearest and best route so as to intersect the Eagan road where
the same crosses the Iowa river, or to cross at the most suit-
able point above." A certain number of signers to such a
petition was necessary, and they must furnish bond, as the law
required. Henry Felkner, Abner Arrowsmith, and Samuel H.
McCrory were the viewers on this alteration, and Cyrus San-
ders surveyor.174
This road was to leave the one established on the east side
of the river, which began at Iowa City on Dubuque street, just
above the Terrell dam, and followed the bend in the river at
Butler's house near the dam, now called Coralville, where the
Iowa City Manufacturing Company established their water
power. Then the line ran almost due north after crossing Buf-
falo creek, passing Dollarhide's, Crozier's, Chamberlain's,
Conner's, and Clark's fields. The plan was well made, but it
never completely matured according to the record, since a
re- view was ordered soon after.
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THE FIRST ROADS 179
After main roads were run, in order to join centers of popu-
lation, petitions came to the petitioners for connections be-
tween the main thoroughfares. Of this type was the Henry
road, connecting the military and Prairie du Chien territorial
roads. It ran diagonally through the present township of Big
Grove, commencing at the southeast corner, crossing Jordan
and Mill creeks and passing the house of Henry, which was
about half way between these two streams.175 It was not above
five miles in length but is illustrative of the demand at this
date, April, 1844, for ready communication. It also suggests
the rapid rate of settlement and the points selected by the first
arrivals.
It was not common for viewers to disagree, yet one case oc-
curs where a minority report came in, and the commissioners
refused to establish the highway. In this case the petitioners
had to pay the costs of the "view, survey, and marking' ' of the
road. Two viewers, I. S. Gobin and Joseph Stover, reported
against the road, and John Matthews was for it.176
The Clear Creek road, established in 1840, came before the
commissioners for alteration in 1844. The plat shows the plan
and report of viewers. In this case the commissioners acted in
opposition to the report, for while Bryan Dennis, Virgil Lan-
caster, and J. N. Headly, the viewers, reported against the
location, it was, however, established. Six bridges are
designated on the plat, across Clear creek, near Keeler's field,
at Gilleland's, Dennison's, Evan's, and Douglass'. Two of the
viewers were directly on the line of the new location, Lancaster
and Headly, and it may have been through some personal in-
terests that they reported against the new route.177 Again, a
redisricting of the county for road supervision was made in
1844, and a detailed outline of the boundaries for the entire
county was provided by the commissioners. It will be remem-
bered that the county commissioners refused to allow the
claims of the persons employed on the West Liberty road, be-
cause the law required the petitioners to pay the expenses.
One year later, July, 1844, they allowed the claims in full,
under the act of the territorial legislature approved February
12, 1844.
A second section of the Clear Creek road was surveyed and
platted in September, 1844. Its limits were, "commencing
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180 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
near the residence of James Douglass, which was the termi-
nation of the last alteration in the Clear Creek road, and
ending at the farm of James McCorkle, and junction with the
county road on the north side of the Iowa river. ' ' Bryan Den-
nis, Joshua Switzer, and I. N. Headly viewed and reported on
this section.178
By an act of the territorial legislature approved February
13, 1844, the territorial road from Iowa City to the county
seat of Mahaska county [Oskaloosa] was provided for, begin-
ning at the "west door of the capitol" and passing by way of
Wasson's and Walter's mill on English river in Washington
county westward. All the charges against this county were
allowed at the October session, 1844. Surveyors, chainmen,
flagman, stake maker, and stake driver, and teamster pre-
sented claims of various amounts.179 On the present county
map this road retains its original name, "Oskaloosa Boad,"
and runs southwest from Iowa City to the corner of the county.
It probably includes fractions of roads platted in an earlier
day.
When the Iowa City Manufacturing Company had complet-
ed its plant, a modification was made in the plan of the road
running to that point on the Iowa river. It was to commence
on Capitol square, on Capitol street, and run along the east
side of the river past Terrell's mill, crossing Butcher run, just
north of the city. The Iowa river was to be crossed at the man-
ufacturing company's plant, and then the road was to run
south to the bridge near the mouth of Clear creek.180 This
made two roads along the east side of the river, covering al-
most the same territory, and this condition of affairs led to. a
petition filed by Walter Terrell and others "for the vacation
and reducing the width of certain roads therein named." One
of these roads was known as the "John Eagan," the other as
the "Mill Company's." The petitioners believed "one to be
sufficient and that the injury to the land on account of the two
is unnecessary." They requested the discontinuance of the
John Eagan road, from its intersection with the other one
mentioned leading to the city, and further asked that the com-
pany's road be limited to thirty feet in width.181 The viewers
appointed in this case reported favorably on the discontinu-
ance, but refused to recommend the reduction of the width of
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THE FIRST ROADS 181
the "Mill Company 's" road. A compromise on the width to
forty feet was ordered in 1845.
On the sixth day of October, 1845, Robert Lucas presented
his petition asking for an alteration in a part of the Wyoming
road. This, it will be recalled, was a territorial road, and re-
quired the approval of the legislature when changed. Hence,
after its view and survey and report upon the same made at
the November session of the commissioners, they refused to
recommend the change at the Lucas farm and Robert Lucas
was required to pay the costs.18* However, an act of the legis-
lature approved January 9, 1846, authorized this change. This
alteration made the distance one chain and thirty-five links far-
ther in going from Iowa City to Wyoming in Muscatine county,
and notwithstanding the refusal of the county commissioners,
the approval of the higher authority caused the change to be-
come effective at once.
A special case of the payment of damages for a public road
is illustrated by the appointment of appraisers, where the "Alt
road ' ' passed through the farms of Jonathan Harris and John
Earhart. David Switzer, Henry Felkner, and William Hench
were appointed to estimate and assess the damages, where-
upon they determined the damage of Harris at twenty dollars,
and Earhart at sixteen dollars. The county board refused to
pay the damages, deeming the road of insufficient benefit, and
it would not be so ordered unless the petitioners would pay all
the damages and expenses of assessment.188
A plat of the Linn Grove territorial road indicates its sur-
vey on the northern boundary in the present township of Big
Grove, where it joined the Dubuque, or military road not far
from the present site of Solon. The report of the territorial
surveyors is usually quite complete in description of the land
passed over. To illustrate: "The face of the county [John-
son] in this particular locality is dry and rolling; from the
county line to Wolf Creek Timber it is prairie with patches of
hazel, and after leaving the creek timber it is smooth
prairie.' ' 184
A special order was issued in the spring of 1846 to the super-
visor of the district in which the north end of Dubuque street
lay, to improve said street and "the road leading from this
street into the road by Terrell's mill to the Iowa City Manu-
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182 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
factoring Company's mill, that travel might be convenient for
the public."185
An outright purchase of a highway was made in 1848, from
Nicholas H. White who owned the "Graveyard lot" in the
county seat. Ten dollars were paid him in full compensation
for seventy feet off the east side of his property, which pur-
chase was to be a continuation of Shoup street in a southerly
direction.
The Francis Bowman road commenced at Eagan's, or the
county road in what is now called Penn township, and followed
the ridge westward south of Elm Grove until it intersected the
state road running from Iowa City to Marengo. This was
surveyed in 1848, and there were no territorial roads now,
since Iowa had become a state. Francis Bowman was the sur-
veyor in this instance.186
Running southwest from Iowa City through Union and
Sharon townships is the Scurlock road which takes its name
from Hugh Scurlock, one of the men who presented the peti-
tion. Allison Davis was in company with him at the time, and
on the records of 1849 it is called the "Scurlock and Davis
road." The petition was signed by David Jones and thirty-
three others, which seemed a sufficient number to impress the
three commissioners of 1850, A. Gilleland, Geo. Fesler, and
Henry MeDowell. Abel Stevens, Matthew Carson, and Syl-
vanus Johnson were appointed viewers on this road, with the
second named as surveyor. The report on this road is very
complete. It commenced at "the forks in the road between
E. T. Williams ' and Iowa City and passing by way of Davis'
and Jacob Bossier's fields on the south line of section sixteen
by the half-mile stake," [about Sharon Center now] then to
the south line of the county. Beasons for this road being ad-
visable were enumerated as follows : First, it would not injure
any individual ; second, it would add much to the convenience
of those living in the vicinity of Bunker's mill and Richmond
and those traveling from Washington to Iowa City, it being the
most direct route ; and third, the general location was on high
and dry land.187
In 1853, during the period of the first county judge, a state
road is mentioned as running "from Iowa City to Snook's
Grove. ' ' No petitions or reports are found in the records of
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THE FIRST ROADS 183
the judge. Bills are allowed for services, and the name
"Snooks" appears now on the map as belonging to the road
west from Iowa City past the poor farm. This road damaged
the land of Le Grand Byington, according to appraisers, to
the extent of sixty dollars, which the county paid, by order of
the county judge.188
The main thoroughfares once established, there remains
the gradual development of branches, very similar to the feed-
ers of a trunk line of a railroad, and the volumes of road books
indicate the long time required to fix upon routes of travel for
the growing population. At this date the constructive history
of roads is past, so far as the laying out of routes is concerned.
There remains, however, the improvement under modern su-
pervision and through the expenditure of county funds until
the ideal of the original surveyors is realized.
Great credit is due to the men, a very few, who in that early
time made such careful records and diagrams of the original
surveys and first modifications. Few who travel over the
winding drives along the Iowa river and minor streams ever
think of the history of this particular course of travel. It is
possible to trace every foot of the surveyor from the record he
has left, and there is good authority, among the pioneers, for
the appearance of data concerning surveys where an old tree is
cut down and split open. The blazing of the tree caused a
wound which healed over and left the record, only to appear
at the cleavage in the later day.189 Nevertheless, it appears
that one road was at one time lost, if we may speak of roads
"getting lost," for the Wyoming road survey and field notes
were necessary to find it in 1854. Thomas Snyder was in-
structed to re-locate it "from the first angle post, on this side
of Snyder Creek, to some point near the east end of the lane
east of the Lucas farm," and to employ a competent surveyor
to assist him. The angle post from where he began was prob-
ably at the northwest corner of section thirty-two, in township
seventy-nine, range five, for Snyder's creek runs through the
northwest corner of that section. The road at that point now
runs directly south for nearly one-fourth of a mile, and is part
of the Muscatine road.190
One man deserves special mention in the history of the
roads, since he was instrumental in keeping these records dur-
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184 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ing the time of the preliminary work, which is illustrated in the
material selected from a great Abundance, that would be sug-
gested by a much more complete study. This man was Stephen
B. Gardner, so long the clerk of the board of county commis-
sioners of Johnson county.
The celebrated Dillon furrow, which was drawn from Du-
buque to the limits of Iowa City, marked the trail across the
country that the settler was to follow if he would escape the
difficulties of travel in avoiding the low ground and possible
delay in "miring down,, with his load in the "sloughs" of the
prairies. If the information is correct, Mr. Dillon secured his
team and outfit from Eli Myers, of Iowa City, and began to turn
this furrow from a little north of Butler's Tavern on Clinton
street, going by way of Solon to the Cedar river at Washing-
ton's Ferry, later known as Cedar Bluff and at one time as
Gower's Ferry, the family of the Gowers coming to that vicin-
ity when they settled in Iowa. This furrow was almost one hun-
dred miles in extent, and after a quarter of a century was said
to be visible in some of the counties through which it passed.
The contract for making this road was taken by James L., Lu-
cius H., and Edward Langworthy, of Dubuque, and with Ly-
man Dillon they received their payments from the United
States government. The road was aterward extended from
the original contract point to Burlington by way of Iowa City.
To an eye witness, this celebrated furrow drawn by Mr.
Dillon to mark the track far to the northeast in the direction of
the Dubuque road, seemed perhaps quite ordinary, since the
big plow was not then uncommon. This is said to have been not
less than twenty-eight inches in the cut it made, and the same
eye witness says that the ordinary plow was often greater than
these dimensions in its furrow as drawn by the heavy ox teams
of the day. The three horse plow of the prairie, later than
this, did not run greater than fourteen to eighteen inches, and
it might have rods or moldboard as it happened to please the
purchaser, or the maker of the home-made wooden one, with
its iron fittings adjusted by himself. Eight yoke of oxen were
required to draw the plow that made the Dillon furrow, as it
was known, and now recalled.191
The traveler of 1840 had much of variety in his experiences,
and it made little, if any, difference in what part of the coun-
try he set out, since roads were very uncertain, and much time
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THE FIRST ROADS 185
was taken to cross the country from the state that sent the
first settlers into Iowa. Among these travelers was one who
experienced rather more than the average emigrant in his
journey, and soon after arriving in this vicinity he told of his
pleasures and trials as well. This was about the beginning of
1839, before the organization of the county government in
Johnson county.
But his story runs in a way to typify the journeys of those
who were determined to reach the new state then forming be-
yond the great river, and beyond the states that were carved
from the Northwest Territory. He said :
'/Leaving the state of Vermont at Bennington he came by
stage to Troy, New York, then from there to Schenectady, also
by stage, where he arrived just in time to catch the train to
Utica, and this being his first experience on a railroad, he
exclaimed: 'I was delighted with it; the rapidity with which
they whirled us along was truly exhilarating to one's spirits,
who had a long journey before him. It fairly annihilated
space, and you had only to think where you wanted to go and
you were there before you had time to realize that you were on
the way.' " This was in 1838; the rapidity of trains then was
probably remarkable, but could the man who wrote this have
lived until the present, how he would have written is difficult
to imagine. His journey from the end of the road at Utica
was on a "line boat" on the Erie canal to Buffalo, which was
a sudden transition to a slow pace. From Buffalo to Cleveland,
then across the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois on horse-
back, because of the low stage of water in the Ohio river, he
arrived at the crossing of the Mississippi at Burlington Oc-
tober 22, 1838, having left his home in Vermont in September
of that year. He pronounced Burlington "a smart little vil-
lage, the seat of government of the Territory, where the gover-
nor resides, Robert Lucas, formerly governor of Ohio, and with
whom we had a pleasant interview, and from whom we re-
ceived very kind and obliging attentions. We left Burlington
the next day and proceeded in various directions until we hit
upon a spot about fifty miles north of Burlington and west of
the Cedar River, situated on the southerly side of the Wapsa-
nonock Creek, which pleased us very much." Here the two
men who were traveling together purchased a tract of nine
hundred and sixty acres of the best Iowa land.
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CHAPTER XI
Ferries and Bridges
'IXZHEN main traveled roads crossed streams not always
* * fordable, the ferry was established. The first li-
cense issued was secured by Sturgis and Douglass, the
first of these two a member of the board of county commis-
sioners and the second the clerk of the same board. It was
known as "the Sturgis ferry." License was issued for one
year, the fee being five dollars. The allowance for transporta-
tion was fixed by the commissioners according to law : For a
footman, 12y2 cents; one horse and wagon, 37y2 cents ; yoke of
oxen and wagon, 50 cents ; the same for a team of horses ; horse
and man, 25 cents ; and 12y2 cents for each additional horse or
yoke of oxen ; each head of meat cattle, 6% cents ; and sheep
and hogs, 3 cents. At this same session license was granted to
A. D. Stephens for a ferry where the National road crossed
the Iowa on sections fifteen and sixteen in township seventy-
nine, range six, this being the sections on the river where the
county seat was located. Fifteen dollars was the fee, due prob-
ably to the location and importance of traffic. Stephens fail-
ing to erect or establish the ferry in reasonable time, his
license was revoked and another issued to John Abel and rates
of passage reduced in some items, while Stephens recovered
his license money.192
It would appear that a ferry was established on the Iowa
river earlier than the date of the first license, for it is said that
the first ferry on the Iowa was near the settlement on section
" twenty-two,' 9 so often spoken of, in what is now East Lucas
township. Here, in the winter of 1839, Benjamin Miller "got
out the material and built a ferry boat which was hauled, when
completed, to the river landing by means of ox teams." The
line of this ferry was about the middle of the section men-
tioned and near the cabin of Miller, which was on the Stover
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FERRIES AND BRIDGES 187
farm on the east side of the river. The use of the river for
other purposes than ferries in the way of transportation was
very irregular and is noted in the accounts of the ' * steamboats
on the Iowa," which covered a period of many years before the
feasibility of navigation as a permanent thing was given up.198
The town of Napoleon, the prospective county seat and a
near neighbor of the first state capital, secured a ferry across
the Iowa in 1840 by grant of license to F. A. A. Cobbs on pay-
ment of ten dollars and furnishing of bonds with freehold se-
curity in the sum of two hundred dollars.
The application of A. C. Sutliff came from the extreme
northeastern part of the county, where he transferred passen-
gers to the opposite side of the Cedar river at the usual rate.
His fee was the usual five dollars, traffic being less frequent in
that part of the county.
Pleasant Arthur succeeded John Abel in charge of the ferry
near the county seat, but he was required to pay an increased
fee of twenty-five dollars. The county commissioners being
thrifty must have kept posted on the traffic in order to " de-
mand all the traffic would bear."
At the April session, 1842, the commissioners were called
upon to decide between two applications for license to estab-
lish a ferry, one from Philip Clark and Cyrus Sanders, and
one from Joseph Stover. Both were for the same locality or
within one mile of each other. This required the rejection of
one, and the decision was made on the precedence of posting
notices in favor of Clark and Sanders.194
Up to this time [1842] no ferry had been located on the
river toward the northwest or on the Eagan road, when Rich-
ard Chaney secured permission to establish one on payment of
a ten dollar license fee, and he was to make the same rates as
Pleasant Arthur at Iowa City ferry.195 The following year
this license was renewed for two years, from April, 1843, and
the yearly fee was reduced one-half.
A " skiff ferry" was established by Enos Metcalf at the Du-
buque ford, near the southwest corner of the Iowa City plat,
under license issued in April, 1844, for which he paid a
fee of one dollar. He was permitted to collect 6x/4 cents for
each person crossing at such ferry.
The construction of the mill of the Iowa City Manufactur-
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188 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ing Company led to the demand for a ferry on the road to that
point. Therefore, a license was issued to Jonathan Lawrance
in 1844, and in the charges he was allowed to collect, special
mention is made of three cents for each one hundred weight of
freight other than loaded wagons.
Joseph Stover, having failed in his first, made a second ap-
plication for license to operate a ferry opposite his farm,
about one mile below the Iowa City plat, and this time it was
granted, no mention being made of its proximity to others, as
it appears it was regarded as a matter of necessity.1**
The ferry of Pleasant Arthur was licensed in 1841, and he
continued it until his death in 1846. The reader comes upon
this item in the minutes of the commissioners for January,
1846: " Emily Folsom and Gilman Folsom made application
for ferry license, as the administrators of the estate of
Pleasant Arthur, deceased." They continued the work as be-
gun in 1841. The following year Winthrop Folsom took
charge of this ferry, Gilman Folsom acting as his agent in
renewal of the license.
Metcalf and Moody conducted a ferry in 1849 at the same
point that the former established the skiff ferry in 1844. This
made four ferries in operation in a distance of about ten miles,
indicating the growth of traffic east and west at this point.
Accordingly rates of crossing were now made uniform. The
issuing of a license to Metcalf and Moody led to a lively contest
on the part of Winthrop Folsom. He appeared through his
attorney, Gilman Folsom, and argument was heard by the com-
missioners both for and against the proposition. They ruled
against the new ferry. This was at the April session, and in
July the arguments were heard a second time, whereupon the
issue of license was ordered and the new ferry established.197
A special order is added to the renewal of the Folsom license
in January, 1852, which declares that, "Said ferry shall be run
when called on from sunrise until set." Licenses were issued
now to these ferries for three years, bonds of two hundred dol-
lars being required of the grantee, and the above order as to
time was enforced.
A ford on the Iowa river in the township now known as
Monroe was called "the Dupont Ford," named for "Billy
Dupont." A road by that same name ran in that direction,
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FERRIES AND BRIDGES 189
and no ferry had been established there until James Justus
petitioned for a license in May, 1853. It was granted the first
time for three years under the usual restrictions, but a special
privilege was given this applicant in his being allowed to ex-
pend his license fee in improving the roads leading to his ferry.
He could not build much road on five dollars a year, the entire
amount of the sum provided from his license fee.
James Cottrell operated a ferry on the Iowa river where the
Foster road crossed the same on the way to Cedar Rapids.
He was allowed to improve the approaches in the same manner
as James Justus,198 which suggests the enlarged idea of road
improvement.
The granting of ferry licenses became less frequent from
1852, due to the longer term of license and to the fact of supply
having equaled the demand. Occasional requests were made
for accommodation ferries, as one might call them, at places of
only local passage. An illustration is the petition of Martin M.
Montgomery for license to run a ferry near his steam saw
mill on the river in township eighty, range six, section thirty-
three. This section is now partly in Penn and partly in East
Lucas, and the point mentioned is not far above the village of
Coralville. A second case of this nature is the ferry estab-
lished by James Cavanagh on the north line of the county
where the Cedar river leaves Cedar township and passes into
Linn county, on the section between two and three of the above
township. This was to accommodate customers of a certain
stone quarry near by.199
Bridges became possible soon after this date, 1853, and fer-
ries at the principal points were first displaced. During the
time of "ferry history"in this county, the same experiences
were found in adjoining territory. All the mail routes must
depend on the ferry or fording, and there were times when the
latter was impossible. During the winter seasons the ice was
safe enough, and on occasions, as Joseph Albin says, "they
had to break connections at the streams, taking passengers
over and leaving teams to return to the starting point, while
other teams met the travelers on the opposite side.,,20°
We have no means of picturing the scene that was presented
to the onlookers when the first steamer appeared on the Iowa
river in June, 1841. It seems to have come without any pre-
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190 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
liminary announcement and to have aroused more enthusiasm
and astonishment than any event recorded. This was the
steamer Ripple, the same river boat that is heard from again
the following week at Rochester, on the Cedar river. The cap-
tain, from his own story, had met with many adventures and
had narrow escapes by the score. Either he told many sea
yarns or he did many things in a daring way, among them the
voyage on the Iowa river before "it had been sounded." For
the first time the peaceful silence of the woods was disturbed
by the puffing of the engines of what has been called the ad-
vance of civilization. Yet the inhabitants did not forget to
be very gracious on the occasion, and the captain, crew, and
passengers were met with a hearty welcome, and it is a long
story before they were through with the reception so elaborate
in the "days of new things.' ' And here again they seemed to
make dinners a specialty and forthwith they offered one to the
captain of the steamer Ripple. The boat had come from the
mouth of the Cedar river, to within four miles of Iowa City in
one day's time and found no trouble on the trip. The decision
was at once made that this event changed the relation of Iowa
City to all the neighboring towns. Among the list of passen-
gers on board this boat which arrived in the city at this oppor-
tune time is the name of Maj. John B. Newhall, the author of
Sketches of Iowa.
The "dinner" came in due time by concerted action of the
citizens. A meeting was formally held and a committee of six,
Jesse Williams, Jesse Bowen, Silas Foster, Cyrus Sanders,
John Powell, and Horace Smith, were appointed to wait upon
the captain and passengers with the invitation. The "inn
keepers" of the city were interviewed on the matter, and sub-
scriptions were solicited to pay the bills in the usual way. A
point of business was made at the meeting besides the mere
provision for entertainment. This was to send some suitable
individual, some trustworthy person, on the return of the
Ripple, to go as far as the demands seemed necessary, to
ascertain the obstructions, if any, in the stream, and find out,
if possible, the best way to remove them. Captain F. M. Irish
was selected for this mission. Major J. B. Newhall was asked
to solicit subscriptions in Burlington and at intermediate
points to defray the expense of removing these obstructions if
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FERRIES AND BRIDGES 191
any were found. Chauncy Swan presided over this important
meeting to consider the navigation of the Iowa river to this
point. The committee sent the formal invitation to Captain
Jones, of the Ripple, and he accepted in a polite reply, express-
ing his appreciation of the reception up to that time. The
National Hotel furnished the banquet on this occasion, when
Captain Jones, Major Newhall and others delivered remarks
on the notable event. Some of these were pointed and full of
suggestions for the future. Major Newhall said: "Gentle-
men, we are here to commemorate the fact that on the four-
teenth day of June, 1841, the first steamboat moored alongside
the bluff of your city. From this day forward, the practica-
bility of the navigation of the Iowa river is no longer subject
to conjecture. From this day henceforth a new era will com-
mence in the destinies of your city." The captain of the
steamer responded in his own way, giving evidence of his great
satisfaction at being the forerunner of many craft to follow.
Here was the opportunity for him to relate his adventures, and
he improved it, telling of his world-wide career that has noth-
ing, of course, to do with local history, #nd may have been in-
vention. It was all very much like the later celebrations when
something out of the ordinary had happened. Much was made
of it then, and a few years later the matter was entirely for-
gotten, and the participants gone from the minds of all that
followed and their words were recorded by what seemed a mere
accident of the time.201
When this boat arrived soon after at Rochester on the Cedar
river, fully four hundred people had assembled to greet her,
all of whom were feasted before their departure from the land-
ing place. Dr. S. B. Grubbs, one of the pioneers of that section,
welcomed the captain and his crew, where one may conclude
the same things were said and done that were mentioned be-
fore in the Iowa City visit, since the subject was the same.
It was on Thursday, April 21, 1842, that the cry of " steam-
boat !" came from the workmen on the new capitol of Iowa ter-
ritory, and the steamer coming up the river responded with
its hoarse whistle, arousing the entire community. The editor
of the Reporter ', anxious to share in the reception to the craft,
and doubtless as full of curiosity as any other individual, has-
tened to the landing and then he had the pleasure of describing
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192 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the scene he found. Enthusiasm knew no bounds if one may
draw conclusions from the language used by the article describ-
ing the scene on that date : ' ' Nothing could have exceeded the
magnificent scene displayed before us. The steamer moving
up in a majestic manner, with the stars and stripes from her
bows floating joyously in the breeze, smiling on the luxurious
landscape of surpassing beauty and richness, seemed to be
greeted by nature's loveliness in a region which had witnessed
for the first time the emblem of the country's glory/ ' A fine
setting of scenery is painted for the imagination of the reader,
rather strong in its coloring, one may suppose, but it was a
time of excitement and we may allow something for such
strong description.
At length the boat did arrive at the landing where the crowd
drawn from their occupations greeted her as a "long-lost
friend.' ' This was the steamer Rock River, a medium-sized
boat in the upper Mississippi trade. At one o'clock on the
same day the boat made an excursion up the river, by unani-
mous request of the citizens, and on this occasion the editor
cannot find words of sufficient power to express his delight:
"Dashing belles and beaux in profusion, with gentlemen and
ladies generally," is an illustration of the language he uses.
A hundred or more "happy souls" made the journey to the
"quarry," some twelve or fifteen miles above the town, landed
there, took a stroll through the beautiful scenery, and came
home at nightfall without a ' ' single mishap. ' ' However, in all
this excitement and opportunity for use of pen the editor could
not escape the utilitarian prophecy made by so many in that
day, concerning the future of the Iowa river as a navigable
stream. Such was the expectation concerning all the streams
in this section, that were tried by small steamers coming up
from the Mississippi as this one did, during the proper stage
of water. The captain of the Rock River is reported as saying
that he found the trip up the river much more satisfactory
than he had anticipated, and had he known the conditions he
would have brought up the merchandise for the spring trade
previously shipped from Cincinnati and St. Louis. So, the
editor concludes, "it may reasonably be expected that when
the business resources of the country will warrant it, steamers
will ply between this place and th§ large towns on the Missis-
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FERRIES AND BRIDGES 193
sippi." And further, "if the reported rich minerals should
prove productive, Iowa City and vicinity must become a place
of general resort, while the unsurpassed fertility of the soil,
general healthiness of the location, vicinity to steam naviga-
tion, and mineral wealth in abundance, all point to the valleys
of the Iowa and Cedar as desirable situations for the emigrant
and capitalist.' ' The visit of this steamer aroused some
anxiety in the river towns through which Iowa City procured
its merchandise "overland." If navigation of the Iowa river
became a possible and practicable thing it meant a direct trade
with the centers of supply and would interfere materially with
the usual routes of trade through Bloomington [Muscatine]
and Davenport.102
Two years later a bill, advertising the steamer Agatha,
James Laff erty master, was forwarded to Iowa City, to notify
its citizens of the probable arrival of this boat in a few days.
It was to leave Burlington on March 7, 1844, and stop at all
intermediate landings. This bill led to another dissertation
by the local press on the navigability of the Iowa river. On
the twelfth of the month following, the expected steamer ar-
rived. Not unnaturally her arrival caused some stir in the
community and some hope for the future commerce on the
Iowa river. This landing was interesting, since much freight
was brought up and some taken away. Goods for Jones and,
Powell were unloaded and freight in return was loaded, con-
sisting of pork, hemp, wheat, and other produce, besides some
twenty passengers for St Louis. The freight sent out was
usually hauled to Bloomington [Muscatine] by wagon and
shipped from there. Freights by the Iowa river were carried
for at least one-half less than by wagon to the Mississippi
river. The captain of the Agatha made a promise to return
in a short time.
Another steamboat came to the landing at Iowa City later
in the same season. This was the Maid of Iowa. The farmers
of the vicinity shipped a large cargo of corn on the return trip,
and a large keel boat which was taken along loaded with grain
broke in two and a quantity of the corn, estimated at one thous-
and bushels, was tipped off into the river. This was the prop-
erty of Judge Harris, who lived a few miles below the city.
To increase the interest in what promised to become a perma-
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194 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
nent source of communication, still another steamer came up
the river this same month of June. This was the Emma, and
the cargo consisted of salt and groceries, mostly consigned on
commission. This was by far the largest boat that had up to
this time reached Iowa City, her tonnage being one hundred
and seventy.
The Maid of Iowa, the popular steamer mentioned before,
came into port again in September, and during the first day
loaded with wheat and was off to market with it. The craft
reported its intention to run between Iowa City and St. Louis
during the entire fall to carry away the surplus produce for the
city market on the Mississippi. The signs of the times were
good for a continuation of river freight at this period of de-
velopment, and who could blame the individual who saw a
great future for the river traffic.208
In the spring of 1845 the merchants of Iowa City had col-
lected many hundred tons of freight for shipment by way of
the river, and steamers were anxiously awaited. The same
hope was still alive, that this city might become a center for
the distribution of many kinds of produce. The spring was
the time of year when such boats might be expected. It was
about this same time that the "ladies and gentlemen' ' of the
vicinity were invited by Messrs. Bobbins & Co. to witness the
launching of their new boat from the yards a half mile below
the city. It was to occur at three p. m., on Monday, and was
an event of special importance, since it was the first launching
from the ' ' boat yards of Iowa City. ' 9
Bobbins and Hubbell, the owners of this new steamer
launched to run on the Iowa river, became philanthropic
enough in a short time after the event to offer their company's
stock at twenty-five dollars per share. The citizens generally
were urged to buy, not only to assist a worthy enterprise, but
to expect it to produce an income of value. To add to the local
interest in the venture it was noted that the engine placed in
this new boat was designed by one of the proprietors, Mr.
Bobbins. It was expected to revolutionize the motive power of
all steamers on the western rivers. The gentleman was com-
mended as a benefactor of the entire region because of zeal in
this enterprise.
During the month of April, 1847, some half dozen large flat-
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FERRIES AND BRIDGES 195
boats were under construction at Iowa City. They were de-
signed to carry away the surplus product of the community.
The increased prosperity of the county demanded a continu-
ous increase in the means of transportation, and the river
furnished the best outlet. Wagons were slow and expensive
compared to water. The valleys of the Iowa and the Cedar
were fast filling up, and the prophecy of the former days has
been many times fulfilled in the richness of the future to the
immigrant.
More than a decade later, in the midst of the war news and
excitement aroused by the moving of soldiers, a boat came to
the wharf just below the railroad bridge across the Iowa river.
This was the steamer Black Hawk, Captain Curless. It had
been many years since a boat had been up the river, and now
the time for securing a load of freight was not propitious,
since the turmoil on the lower Mississippi and in the St. Louis
market made shipping an uncertainty.
In April, 1866, the "launching of the Iowa City" was wit-
nessed by a large assembly. The stars and stripes were said
to float from her "peak," whatever that might be, and she
glided gracefully into her native element, the Iowa river. This
was a real launching, and the machinery was placed after the
hull had been safely floated. The ' ' ship-yards ' ' had succeeded
in launching their first great production which was to carry
freight on the Iowa river. Accordingly, after being fully
equipped the boat Iowa City left this port on Friday, July 6,
1866, for its first voyage. By good luck, after facing a "fierce
storm,' ' it arrived at New Boston in time for the packet south
to carry the mail and passengers, while the local steamer
loaded with merchandise for the return trip. Ten thousand
feet of lumber formed part of the load on the return. Regular
trips, leaving Iowa City at four a. m., were now announced by
the proprietors. Connections were made with the Mississippi
packets on these trips, and also at Burlington where the ter-
minus was now to be, with the Chicago, Burlington .& Quincy
railway.
The trade by means of this boat became so heavy as it con-
tinued its trips that talk of a mate became common. The
following advertisement suggests the possibilities of the inland
streams where the railroad was yet undeveloped in the state :
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196 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
' ' The steamboat Iowa City leaves for New Boston every Tues-
day morning. It will hereafter run through to Burlington.
During good stages of water it will reach the latter place at
nine p. m. the same day, and will make good connections with
regular packets on the Mississippi, and will also reach Fre-
donia in time for the two o'clock train for Washington. This
is the shortest and most direct route for travelers in that di-
rection."
The luxury of bridges, even of wood, was not considered
as possible when roads were first built, and now if one is miss-
ing through accident an immediate call is made on the authori-
ties for repairs. Permanent improvements have come to be
demanded. Then all was temporary. As mentioned before,
roads followed the high land wherever possible, avoiding
sloughs and swampy ground, and when crossings must be made
streams were forded and teams were doubled on soft ground.
Reasons for the lack of such improvements are not difficult
to find, for only one is sufficient: there was no money, no
means to build bridges, and had there been, no one could de-
termine which point needed the bridging most. The early
stage and mail routes always expected to cross by fording
the larger streams where possible, and where not by the means
of a ferry, which must be provided before the route could carry
its mail or passengers.
The first appeal for help in bridge construction came from
the supervisor of roads in the fourth road district which "lay
west of the river and north of the base line." John N. Hedley
made the request for a donation from the county for the pur-
pose of assisting in building a bridge across Clear creek "at or
near Drury and Moore's Mill."
The commissioners answered this polite appeal as one would
expect when financial conditions were understood: "It is
determined and agreed that no funds can be appropriated at
present for the erection of said bridge." and the no is under-
lined in the records. This is the only mention of bridges in
1841, and this request was made at the January session.204
In 1842 an appropriation of "fifty-seven dollars and sixty-
nine cents," heretofore paid into the county treasury by the
supervisor of the second road district, was made, "for a
bridge on Dubuque street in Iowa City in the county seat,"
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FEKKIES AND BRIDGES 197
and the money was to be expended, " under the direction of
Cyrus Sanders, the present supervisor of the district." He
was also to use "any other monies he might collect, on said
bridge." The expression here "in the county seat" is of im-
portance, since otherwise it might have been understood as
section ten or elsewhere instead of section fifteen. These two
are the only references concerning bridges, in the first vol-
ume of the county commissioners ' minutes, suggesting the im-
portance of other matters as compared to the subject of
bridges.
In July, 1846, an order was made correcting what one might
call an "error in appropriation." Jonathan Lawrance had
been allowed twenty dollars to repair the Clear creek bridge,
which seems to have been built without county assistance, and
the money having been used by said Lawrance for his personal
benefit just before his death, the board of commissioners
agreed "to make the amount payment in full for the services
of such supervisor before his death."
The bridge across Ralston creek on Washington street was
built in 1847, for the first time, under the supervision of Dr.
Henry Murray, out of material purchased with an allowance
of thirty dollars from road funds in the hands of the county
treasurer. This large sum was to be drawn on the order of
Dr. Murray "as the work progressed." 205
The first county bridge across Rapid creek was built from
lumber furnished by Sylvanus Johnson, after he was so author-
ized by the county commissioners. As in other counties it was
common for the county to furnish a part of the material "on
conditions. ' ' An order of this nature is found, i i for enough two-
inch plank to cover a bridge on the creek below J. H. Stover's
old farm, where the Burlington road crosses the same in town-
ship seventy-eight, range six, provided," as the order says
farther on, "a good and substantial frame work shall be fur-
nished and put in for the completion of the same at the ex-
pense of the parties interested therein." The bill for this
plank covering was allowed one year after the above order was
made, or in April, 1849, to Asby D. Packard on the order of
Eli Myers. Packard probably sawed the lumber, and waited
one year for his pay or failed to find enough cash in the treas-
ury for his warrant.206
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198 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
A freshet in the spring of 1849 took the Clear creek bridge
away bodily, and a plea came before the commissioners for its
reconstruction. The petition was signed first by S. H. Knapp,
E. K. Yost, and one hundred and thirty-two others. No action
was taken on this until the April extra session, 1849, when an
order was made appropriating one hundred and twenty-five
dollars to erect "a substantial frame bridge,' ' which sum was
to be expended under the direction of Martin M. Montgomery,
as agent for the commissioners. In July of the same year the
order was rescinded, since no action had been taken. Then a
new petition came up asking for two hundred dollars, "that
the inconveniences suffered by the citizens of that part of the
county might be removed. ' ' This amount was to be in addition
to any amount raised by private subscription. It was signed
by Thos. H. Benton, Jr., and one hundred and twenty-two
others.
This moved the commissioners to allow the amount asked,
and Ezekiel Clark and Chauncey R. Ward were appointed
a committee to solicit subscriptions and to let the work. Archi-
bald Gilleland was to " receive' ' the finished bridge and draw
on the treasury for the amount after the structure was com-
pleted, at the old site near "the Company's Mill." But this
was not the end of the Clear creek bridge matter, for not until
the October session after the freshet in April, 1849, was any
contract made for the reconstruction, and then for two hun-
dred and seventy-five dollars one Edmund C. Cole agreed to
perform the work. Combinations refused to work even when
the name of "Thomas H. Benton, Jr.," was affixed to the peti-
tion, and the county had to assume responsibility for the entire
amount. A special session was called in November following
to accept the completed work and Cole was paid in eleven or-
ders of twenty-five dollars each. He could use small orders the
same as cash, with possibly a small discount, while one large
one would be inconvenient.
Specific instructions were given for a bridge on Iowa avenue
across Ralston creek in 1850, which was to have stone abut-
ments and to be sixteen feet between these, with four stringers
covered with two-inch plank. An appropriation of fifty dollars
was made to "assist" only in its construction. Unless such
directions were followed no allowance would be made.
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FERRIES AND BRIDGES 199
The same sum was allowed for a frame bridge on College
street in Iowa City, provision being made that John D. Abel
and Geo. S. Hampton were to make the payments in the latter
instance, and Wm. Windrum and C. H. Buck in the former.207
As a method of capitalizing a road district the sum of
twenty-five dollars was allowed from the county treasury on
the order of E. Foster to build a bridge " across the run near
Robinson's house.' ' The county should be reimbursed by re-
ceiving all the road tax due the district in which the bridge was
situated. This could not, therefore, be called a "county
bridge.' '
There was a great freshet in June, 1851, which caused the
commissioners to meet in extra session to consider means by
which the destroyed bridges on the main roads could be re-
paired. The task was too great for the money and they ad-
journed without making any appropriations. This was the
last action on bridges by the commissioners, for they ceased to
govern the county affairs in July, 1851. In August of this
same year the county judge, F. H. Lee, took charge of affairs,
and he, with Geo. McCleary, filled this office until 1861, when
the duties attending roads and bridges fell to the county super-
visors.
During the fall of 1851 the sum of three thousand dollars
was pledged by individual subscription for the building of a
free bridge across the Iowa river at Iowa City. On this basis
Judge Lee called an election for October 27, 1851, on the ques-
tion whether a tax should be levied for the construction of a
free bridge with the aid of the three thousand dollars. The
tax proposed would yield five thousand dollars in two years,
one-half in 1852, and one-half in 1853.
In the vote by townships [there were only eleven then], Big
Grove, Cedar, and Pleasant Valley voted unanimously against
the proposition, Washington and Clear Creek were just as
positive for it. Iowa township stood 136 to 30 in favor of it, and
the proposition carried by a majority of 29 votes.
What causes people to change their minds on such public
questions is somewhat mystifying, but the affirmative vote on
almost any question proposed seems to be easily secured and
immediately some reaction occurs causing them to regret their
action. In this instance a new election was called the very next
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200 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
April [1852] to vote on the question "whether the tax voted
in the previous October should be rescinded," and this, too,
carried, and with it the prospect for a free bridge across the
Iowa river for many years to come. The majority this time
was one hundred and eighty-six against the bridge, indicating
much activity on the part of the "opposers." 208
Enos Metcalf owned the land on the west side of the river
opposite Harrison street and conducted a ferry at that point.
In March, 1853, he presented a petition to the county judge
for a license to construct a toll bridge across the river at this
same point. After due consideration, it was granted on con-
dition that certain requirements were followed providing for
the proper approaches, repairs as needed, and especially not
to obstruct navigation of the Iowa river at this point. His
bond was fixed at five hundred dollars and he was allowed to
charge for the first five years fees as follows : For a carriage,
wagon, or other vehicle with two horses or yoke of oxen at-
tached, twenty-five cents; for each additional span, or yoke,
ten cents; each "buggy" with one horse, fifteen cents; man
and horse, ten cents ; footman, five ; cattle or horses in droves,
four cents a head ; and sheep or hogs, two cents each. At the
end of five years these fees might be reduced by the "county
court" to not less than one-half.
On the same date Le Grand Byington and associates peti-
tioned for a license to erect a bridge at the foot of Washington
street. He owned the land on both sides of the river at this
point, and the license was granted on the same conditions as
for Metcalf. The period, however, was fifty years instead of
ten, and the rates for passage were different. Why this should
be so, both being granted on the same date, is not explained,
unless the time was the consideration.
The rivalry among owners of land along the river to estab-
lish toll bridges appears to have increased during 1853, since
in July of this year Gilman Folsom asked for license to con-
struct and operate a bridge of this class across the river * * at
or near the crossing of a continuation of Iowa avenue in Iowa
City." He also owned the land on both sides of the river at
this point, which is near the Iowa avenue bridge as now lo-
cated.209
There was now an interval of two years before any more
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FEREIES AND BRIDGES 201
requests were made for license to build bridges across the river
at Iowa City. Then G. S. Hampton proposed one at the point
" where Front street first strikes the river at the south end."
The further consideration of the question was continued until
the next session of the county court.
Hampton owned the land on the east side of the river and
Francis M. Hepburn on the opposite side. The judge being
satisfied with conditions as presented at an extra session held
in May, 1855, granted this, the third license for toll bridges
across the river at Iowa City. Metcalf renewed his petition in
1855, and changed his location to "the foot of the lane running
west from the river between lots two and three, section six-
teen." He was allowed fifty years of privilege at this time.210
The Iowa City newspapers used a neighboring town as an
example in urging a free bridge in 1856. Waverly, the young-
est town on the Cedar river, located in Bremer county, opened
a free bridge that year. The citizens of Johnson county were
urged to consider this matter, and cease the continual traveling
across toll bridges, for when a town of so much less population
could establish a "free bridge" it must seem strange to those
who came to the city to trade to find an embargo placed on
their goods by the everlasting toll across the river from the
west.
Some years after this appeal, as many as six or seven hun-
dred citizens of the county met at the old court house on a
June evening in 1859 to urge the county judge, Geo. McCleary,
at that time, to let the contract for a free bridge across the
Iowa river, or to purchase the old ones then there and called
from the fees collected "toll bridges," structures built with
private capital. At this meeting Dr. Murray was made chair-
man, and he explained the object of the assembly. Hon. Peter
A. Dey addressed the gathering, as did also Rev. C. B. Smith
and R. H. Kelley. Following these speakers W. S. Kinsey in-
troduced a resolution which reveals better than any further
account the purposes of these assembled citizens. In substance
it stated, that in the opinion of the citizens then present the
county judge should immediately proceed to let the contract
for the free bridge from plans and specifications then in his
hands, that it might be constructed without delay. This was
almost unanimously adopted, and another item of the same
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202 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
date indicates that the judge acted on the suggestion of so
many fellow citizens and did let the contract to Prather and
Ealy for the sum of $8,688, the bridge to be built on two piers
and one abutment. There were two spans of 160 feet each, and
an extension on the east end of 325 feet to reach to the foot of
the bluff on Burlington street. The total cost was to be some-
thing more than ten thousand dollars.
The question of bridges over the smaller streams was not
so long under discussion, as the greater problem of building
one over the Iowa river to care for the immense traffic that
began to pass east and west through the county. Toll bridges
were the first proposals and it has been mentioned that Dr.
Enos Metcalf built the first one over the Iowa river between
the present railroad bridge of the Kock Island and the Bur-
lington street structure, in 1855. The Folsom pontoon bridge
followed this, and was located on or near the site of the present
Iowa avenue bridge, or the one now known as the "Centennial
Bridge,' ' by the older people because it was built in 1876.
After the pontoon bridge, a wooden truss bridge was built on
the same site. Many private subscriptions were made for the
erection of the first bridges, as the county had not sufficient
funds to warrant full payments for so many improvements.
The first iron bridge to be built in this county was on the
Burlington street site, built in the early sixties as a free bridge,
and with this the ferries and toll bridges became a thing of the
past.211
In reference to the truss bridge mentioned above, the offer
was made by Gilman Folsom to make it a free bridge in con-
sideration of one hundred and fifty dollars per year paid by
order of the county supervisors, under agreement made in
February, 1861. This agreement was renewed under the same
terms for one year in January, 1862. However, we find that
in the following June, the clerk of the board, or county audi-
tor, the offices being identical now, was ordered not to make any
further payment to Gilman Folsom until "his bridge' ' was
made passable for travel in carriages and on foot.
There was formerly, in 1858, a bridge company organized
in the northern part of the county known as the Iowa River
Bridge Company. This was to be built at what was then
known as the county ford on the Iowa river. A committee who
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FEERIES AND BRIDGES 203
had the preliminaries in charge reported it "as a work of ma-
terial importance, connecting Iowa City and Cedar Rapids by
the shortest and best route.' ' This was to be one of the float-
ing kind, pontoon it is supposed, only a little more permanent,
and one of the boats was planned to be used as a ferry until
the whole could be completed.212
When Johnson county was first settled all roads for many
miles in every direction led to Iowa City. To the north, east,
south, and west was a wild country with few if any inhabitants
and giving little promise of its future fertility and great
wealth. When the settlers from Ohio, Indiana and other east-
ern states first came to the county, after Iowa City was found-
ed it became their trading point, since this was the nearest
market and point of distribution for supplies teamed from the
Mississippi river, or brought up the Iowa river by boat. It
was during these days that Allan Sutliff, who came to the
county in 1838, established his ferry across the Cedar river
where the Sutliff bridge now spans the stream.
For many years the people living in the part of the county
cut off by the Cedar river made use of the ferry, but in time
a sandbar formed in the center of the stream and left the
ferry partly on dry land. From this time on they must go
many miles to the north or as many more to the south to find
a crossing if they attempted to reach the county seat. It was
then that demands for a bridge became insistent, and after a
number of years of waiting and as many disappointments
the board of supervisors in December, 1896, voted to erect an
iron bridge at the crossing of Sutliff 's ferry. The following
season the. contract was let to J. R. Sheely and Co., of Des
Moines. Not until April, 1898, was the job completed and ac-
cepted by the county authorities. Almost forty years had
elapsed since a bridge was needed at this point in the county,
but as all history shows the demands the most urgent came
from main traveled roads east and west, and the first bridges
had to be built across the Iowa river at Iowa City.
This new bridge, completed in 1898, was about nine hundred
feet long counting the approaches, and was then the longest
bridge in the county. The contract price as indicated by the
bid of Sheely and Company was about $12,000. At the time of
the dedication a more than ordinary event was made of it,
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204 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
since people were invited from distant points to help celebrate
the occasion, in considerable contrast to the first ones erected.
One of the largest gatherings ever held in Johnson county
assembled at the west end of the bridge, where the people
were entertained by the citizens of Cedar township, especially
the ladies, who furnished the dinner to the invited guests.
Three hundred of the best known men in Johnson county were
present from the county seat and elsewhere. The attraction
of a "picnic dinner' ' served by the farming community of
Cedar township was more than any hungry man could resist.
The morning of June the third was a fine one, as many Julie
mornings in Iowa are, and early on that date the celebration
began with a royal salute under the supervision of William
Zimmerman and Fred Gabbert. The address of welcome was
later in the morning delivered by H. S. Sutliff , who told of the
long struggle for a bridge in that part of the county, and ex-
tended a hearty welcome to the company assembled. Stephen
Bradley replied in a characteristic address, and from that time
on until the middle of the afternoon, with probably an hour or
more for the picnic dinner, the speeches continued. Judge
Wade congratulated the community and the county for their
good fortune, "Uncle Isaac Weeber," who was called "the
father of the bridge," made some remarks, and many other
speakers indulged in some comment on the occasion. It was
estimated that fully one thousand persons were present on
this occasion, the dedication of the Sutliff Bridge.218
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CHAPTER XII
Stage Routes and Railroads
'TAHE stage service of Frink and Walker began in 1840,
-■• when they put on the line between Bloomington and Iowa
City, which was tri-weekly, with a two-horse coach. The fare
was three dollars for adult passengers and half fare for chil-
dren. Trunks and baggage went for three dollars per hun-
dred weight. Most of the passengers were men of course, as
few women were found on the overland journeys then. This
company carried the mail and from records left of their career
the accommodation was good. The weekly arrival of mails
included an average of "ten letters a week in Iowa City," and
in the entire period of two years, "only forty -one transient
newspapers came to the city by mail," indicating the isolation
of the point so far as the outside world was concerned. There
was "time" then for social duties and the "hurry period"
had not come.
In 1846 the Frink and Walker company put on a four-horse
coach to run daily between the two points mentioned, and from
this time on the increase in accommodations of the kind was
rapid. The ox team for transportation was soon superseded
by the horse team, as the former was too slow to meet the
demands of the time. In 1853, the Western Stage Company
purchased the outfit of the old line, and sent W. H. McChesney
to manage the Iowa City end of the equipment. It is said that
the affairs of the old company were not in good shape and the
work of reorganization was undertaken by the new manager.
He rented rooms and furnished the employes of the former
company with comfortable quarters, instead of requiring them
to "lodge with the horses as heretofore." On block twenty-
five, which is bounded by Jefferson, Dodge, and Iowa avenue,
and Johnson street, the company began the construction of
stables, with Finkbine and Lovelace as contractors, and here
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206 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
manufactured all the required articles in use by the concern;
coaches, harness, and minor articles were made on the ground.
It is said that the company conducted the business it under-
took in a remarkably efficient way, through its manager.
In 1844, the express business began in the county by the
service of J. Parker, who conducted the " company' ' until
1858, when the American and United States companies entered
the field after the railroad reached this section, and soon ab-
sorbed the business of Mr. Parker. The stage company began
to do express business in 1853, and employed many extra men
in this lighter work. Among them we find the names of Wil-
liam North, Joseph Gimble, T. Strahle, John Tantlinger,
James German, Samuel Shellady, and many others who had
teams. The years 1854 and 1855 are said to have been banner
years in the stage business, since the immigration had com-
menced in earnest. Railroads were projected in all directions,
but without yet accomplishing any results that made transpor-
tation more convenient or rapid. Just as soon as the i ' M & M ' 9
track was laid to Iowa City the stage business began to dwindle
and soon became a thing of the past.214
The early stage and mail routes leading out from Iowa City
are subjects worthy of extended consideration. While the
lines east and west were probably the most important, the
transportation of mails and passengers was provided for in
many directions. Commencing about 1844 and 1845, mail
routes were opened by the government very extensively, and a
list of new lines of mail service mentioned at this time is sug-
gestive. First, "from Galena, Illinois, via Bellview [Belle-
vue], to Andrew, Makokety [Maquoketa] postoffice, Thorn and
Anderson's Mills, on the Wapsipinicon, and Tipton to Iowa
City;" second, "from Dubuque, in two-horse coaches, via Cas-
cade and Marion to Iowa City;" third "from Iowa City to the
county seat of Poweshiek county;" and "from Iowa City to
the county seat of Mahaska county." The postoffice depart-
ment in Washington received proposals for carrying the mails
on all the routes in the territory, and in these contracts the
time of trips was distinctly specified. For instance : The route
from Galena to Iowa City, number 4556 in the official records,
was ninety miles. The trip was to be made once a week. The
contractor must leave Galena every Monday at six a. m., and
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STAGE EOUTES AND EAILROADS 207
arrive at Iowa City the following Wednesday at 6 p.m.; leave
Iowa City Thursday at six a. m., and reach Galena the next
Saturday at 6 p. m. In this case proposals for service once in
two weeks would be considered.
From Iowa City to the county seat of Mahaska county was
seventy miles. The agent on this route must leave Iowa City
at four a. m., on Wednesday and arrive at Mahaska court house
the next day at eight p. m. ; leave Mahaska court house every
Friday at four a. m., and reach Iowa City Saturday at eight
p. m.
One of the contractors on the route from Galena to Iowa
City is now living in Hollywood, California. He writes the
following regarding his experiences: "In December, 1846, I
was a successful bidder for the government mail contract cov-
ering the territory from Galena, 111., to Iowa City, Iowa, a
distance of one hundred miles. The stops along the line were
Bellevue, Jackson, Maquoketa, Tipton, Woodbridge, and Gow-
er's Ferry, the only postoflfces on the route. The contract
called for one trip a week. I was awarded the route the follow-
ing year [1847] and made the two hundred miles from point
to point during the six days. For two years I followed this
trail and drew in pay for the service $750 per year, the net
returns after paying expenses being about one and a half dol-
lars per day. I averaged thirty-three and one-third miles each
day and always spent Sunday in Galena, although my home was
in Tipton, where I kept two saddle horses.
' * That seems meagre pay for the work, but it was on a par
with other salaries at that period in our history. There were
many pleasant features connected with the rides over the
prairies, plenty of time for reflection, and meditation. Often
I rode fifteen or twenty miles without passing a habitation.
There was no house between Maquoketa and Denson's Ferry
on the Wapsipinicon, neither was there a building between
the latter place and Tipton, except at Bunker's Grove, where
Captain Higginson lived. There was the same lonesome stretch
between Gower's Ferry and the present town of Morse, and
not even a strawstack between Morse and Iowa City, then the
capital of Iowa.
' * Of course the pleasant summer weather was to be expected
and enjoyed, but during the winter I had to experience the
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208 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
severest kind of storms, those that axe not common now where
there are trees and improvements to destroy the effects of the
wild wind's sweep across the prairie. I well recall riding one
day from Galena to Maquoketa with the thermometer thirty-
five degrees below zero. But I was prepared for just such
emergencies, being dressed for the weather in buffalo skin
overshoes with the hair on the inside, a pair of Indian-tanned
buckskin overalls, fur cap and coat. In 1848 I sold the con-
tract to William and Robert Hanna. ' ' 215
The first line of railroad that went so far as to make a grade
in Iowa was, in the beginning, known as the " Lyons Iowa
Central. ' ' Its general direction as provided for by survey and
as understood by act of the assembly approved February 4,
1850, was across the state from Lyons, on the Mississippi, by
way of Iowa City and Fort Des Moines to the Missouri river.216
The act surrendered the right of way one hundred feet wide
through section sixteen in each township, and through any
other lands the state might own> and provided for a method of
securing this right of way through the lands of resident, or
non-resident owners. All along the line from Lyons westward,
this road was the all-absorbing topic from the time the first
dirt was moved until it went out of the minds of men with the
nickname of "The Calico Road," as will be learned later.
The immediate conection of this with Johnson county ap-
pears first in May, 1853, when a petition came before the
county judge, F. H. Lee, from many citizens asking for a vote
on the question of bonds. The records indicate that the peti-
tion was signed by a large number of citizens of the county.
The question proposed reads literally as follows: "That the
county of Johnson will aid in the construction of the Lyons
Iowa Central Railroad within the limits of said county, in case
Iowa City is made a point in the said road, by subscribing
fifty thousand dollars stock; that the county bonds shall be
issued therefor bearing interest and payable within twenty
years ; that an annual tax of three mills on the dollar be levied
for the payment of the interest annually ; and after ten years
the rate of tax be increased to an amount not to exceed one
per cent on the taxable property in the county, and this to
continue until the bonds and interest are all paid." 21T This was
a plain proposition, without any condition attached beyond
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STAGE EOUTES AND BAILROADS 209
"the point on the line." At this date one does not understand
why such propositions for voting taxes blindly were so easily
carried. It happened many times in connection with the rail-
road history of Iowa counties, and it was a foregone conclusion
that this would carry by a large majority. The very sugges-
tion of steam cars crossing this state was sufficient to arouse
enthusiasm and the purchasers of bonds made it a business to
speculate on this enthusiasm.
The newspapers of that interesting period are not obtain-
able, but according to legal provision the notice of this elec-
tion was published for four weeks in the Iowa Capital Re-
porter and Iowa City Republican. This was the beginning of
bond history which ran on for a period of not less than seven-
teen years before final agreement on a settlement.
Johnson county was only one of the great number concerned.
The records of the county judges and boards of supervisors all
along the line of this road contain numerous acts, or attempts
to act, in the struggle to shake off the bond holders. It is a
long story and should be arranged in some form to bring to-
gether all the data obtainable from the several counties. A
general view, only, can be given at this time.
On the sixteenth day of June, 1853, the vote was taken on
this first bond issue, and the canvass of the vote on July «1,
gave 453 votes for the issue, and 47 votes against the issue, a
majority of 406, Iowa City township casting 231 votes for, and
none against the proposition, while no township of the eleven
voting at that date had a majority against the tax. Pleasant
Valley had 16 for and 10 against, showing the greatest oppo-
sition. From a special study of this Lyons Iowa Central road
as projected, and as it concerned a citizen of Iowa City, who
has since then occupied a leading position in his chosen pro-
fession, we may select the following items, as prepared by
Mrs. Ruth Irish Preston for the Annals of Iowa, for January,
1910:
' i Previous to 1850 all efforts had been toward the improve-
ment of the inland waterways, but in this year, when the
Fourth General Assembly convened at Iowa City (December 6,
1852) Governor Hempstead recommended that the Legislature
'urge Congress to make a grant of public lands to aid in the
construction of railroads in Iowa;' and at this session strong
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210 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
efforts were made to secure land grants to aid in the con-
struction of several lines in the State.
"In 1850 a company had been organized in Iowa City to
build a road from the Mississippi to that place. This organiza-
tion was known as the 'Iowa City and Davenport Railroad
Company, ' and later, having taken no steps toward construc-
tion, other than the making of a preliminary survey, its fran-
chise was transferred to the 'Mississippi and Missouri* com-
pany— after its organization in October, 1852 — on the
condition that the road should be built through Iowa City. This
transfer was made May 25, 1853.
"However, before the organization of the 'Mississippi and
Missouri' company in October, and before the recommenda-
tion of Governor Hempstead concerning land grants in De-
cember, 1852, the 'Lyons Iowa Central' engineering corps was
in the field, locating its line from Lyons westward. I quote the
following from the journal of my father, C. W. Irish, who was
a member of that engineering party: 'October 15, 1852. To-
day I entered the corps of engineers at work setting grade
stakes on the Lyons Iowa Central Railroad. The party con-
sists of the following persons: Mr. J. I. Wanzer, assistant
engineer; C. H. Holbrook, as rodman; J. Wright, as teamster;
Wm. Hunter, and myself as axemen.' During the next two
months Mr. Irish, then a youth of eighteen, worked back and
forth several times between Iowa City and Lyons, serving for
a time as chainman in Mr. Buck's party and then as rodman in
R. P. Mendenhall's corps.
"In January, 1853, Mr. Estes and party arrived at Lyons,
after which Mr. Allen Slack, chief engineer, made different
arrangements for the several parties under his charge. The
winter of 1852-53 was not a very pleasant camping season.
My father records that, 'The winter has been a remarkably
cold one, the thermometer standing several times at 18 and 20
degrees below zero. The Mississippi river is frozen to a great-
er depth than it has been for some time and the ground is
cracked open in every direction.'
"As further proof of the priority of the Lyons Iowa Central
work over that of any other railroad in the State, I cite the
following from a recent letter to me from Hon. Peter A. Dey
of Iowa City :
" 'In the spring of 1853, while in charge of the construction
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STAGE ROUTES AND RAILROADS 211
of a division of the Chicago and Rock Island railroad in Bu-
reau Valley, Illinois, I was instructed to make a survey of a
railway from Davenport to Iowa City to be followed by a lo-
cation as early as practicable. Before it was fully completed
it was turned over to Mr. B. B. Brayton and I directed to make
a survey to such point on the Missouri river as I deemed prac-
ticable for the starting of a line of railway to be extended up
the Platte valley. My instructions in this regard were liberal.
The haste to make this survey was occasioned by the fact that
a line was being surveyed on practically the same route by the
Lyons Iowa Central railroad company. This survey was being
made by a Mr. Buck, a land surveyor living near Lyons. Hav-
ing occasion to observe some of Mr. Buck's work I saw that his
object was evidently to get as near as practicable an air line
from one county seat to the next. This was usually followed
by a vote in every county in favor of issuing bonds to aid in
the construction of the railroad. Under this plan bonds were
voted, and, as I remember, issued in Clinton, Cedar and John-
son counties, and voted but not issued in Iowa, Jasper, Powe-
shiek and Polk counties. The haste in making the Chicago and
Rock Island surveys seems to have been to prevent if possible
the further issue of bonds by any other counties until some-
thing was definitely determined. At that time it was thought
by parties interested in the Rock Island road that money could
be procured from the securities of the road to build across the
State of Iowa as soon as the conditions warranted. When I
came into the State there was a strong feeling, particularly in
Cedar, Poweshiek, Jasper and Polk counties, in favor of the
Lyons Iowa Central project, which was stimulated by a rail-
way campaign that put its orators in the field. The head and
brains of this project was H. P. Adams, a gentleman I believe
from Syracuse, N. Y.'
"Looking further for information regarding this first rail-
road work in Iowa, I find in the i First Annual Report' of the
Lyons Iowa Central, an article from the Chicago Democrat of
Feb. 4, 1854, concerning the 'Galena Air Line' (a road then
under construction by the i Galena and Chicago Union Rail-
road/ parent of the railroad system of Illinois) which was
then completed to the village of Lane, in Ogle county, seventy-
five miles west of Chicago. The article states :
" 'The whole of the road is under contract and is to be corn-
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212 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
pleted to the Mississippi by the first of August next At Dixon
it crosses the main line of the Illinois Central and will furnish
the people living on the line of that road, for many miles
north and south of that point, direct railway communication
with our city. At Fulton City it is said there is a fine point
for crossing the Mississippi. The plan of the bridge places it
one hundred feet above high water mark, and of course it
would be no impediment to navigation. From Chicago to Ful-
ton City the distance is 135 miles. There will be two daily
passenger trains and one freight train leaving the city on the
first of May next. The extension of the Galena Air Line west-
ward is called the " Lyons Iowa Central Railroad.' ' Council
Bluffs, on the Missouri, is the point to which several of the
extensions of the roads from this city are aiming, and that is
to be the western terminus of this road. It is under contract
and the money is provided to build it to Iowa City, seventy-
three miles. The distance from Lyons to Council Bluffs is 308
miles. It is to be completed to Tipton, fifty miles west of the
Mississippi, by the first of October next. This part of the road
is to be nearly an air line. Five hundred men are now at work
upon the road. The country through which it passes is as fine
as any portion of the Mississippi valley and it may therefore
be expected to add very much to the business and general pros-
perity of the city. It is to be completed to Iowa City by the
first of April, 1855. >
"The First Annual Report of the Lyons Iowa Central rail-
road company is a very interesting document. The directors'
report to the stockholders states that, 'On the 14th day of Feb-
ruary, 1853, the company was organized in accordance with
the provisions of the law of Railroads and the Right of Way in
the State of Iowa. ' The Report further tells us :
" 'Subscriptions to the capital stock have been made as fol-
lows:
By individual subscribers $686,300
By Cedar county, in bonds 50,000
By Johnson county, in bonds 50,000
By Jasper county, in bonds 42,000
By Polk county, in bonds 150,000
Total $978,300
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STAGE EOUTES AND KAILROADS 213
" ' There have been prepared for issue, and a mortgage has
been executed on the first division of the road for the security
of the payment thereof, 800 bonds of $1,000 each, $800,000.
The individual and county subscriptions being a basis for the
issue to this amount.
" * Assurances are made, and may be relied on with con-
fidence, that six additional counties will subscribe for stock and
authorize an issue of their bonds to an aggregate amount of
$500,000, making the present immediately prospective re-
sources amount to $2,278,300.
" ' The work is now steadily progressing with a winter force
of about 430 men and a corresponding number of teams and
implements. As soon as the frost shall be out of the ground, to
admit of a vigorous prosecution of the work, a sufficient force
will be put on the line to bring that part of the first division
as far west as Iowa City into running order as soon as pos-
sible. '
"Mr. Slack, the chief engineer, says:
" *A survey was made early last spring and the fall pre-
vious, from Lyons to Iowa City, for the purpose of getting a
general outline of the country.
' * i From Tipton to Iowa City four lines have been run, and
although a portion of the line next east of Iowa City has been
located, and considerable work done, yet on account of the un-
evenness of the ground, I desire to make a more careful ex-
amination before submitting an estimate.
" 'The survey west of Iowa City was commenced on the
first of September, 1853, and in order to get through to Council
Bluffs before cold weather there was no time to revise the line.
This survey, however, I consider of great value, as furnishing
data to indicate the final location. Portions of it, no doubt, will
require little or no alteration, but as much will be susceptible
of improvement, I considered it useless to prepare an estimate
from the present notes, particularly as our services were so
necessary elsewhere.
1 * 'I would recommend that the whole line west of Iowa City
be revised early in the spring, and that the country be more
minutely explored on each side of the line, particularly on the
north.
" 'In view of the directness of the line through Central
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214 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Iowa, and the advantages it possesses in regard to the several
bridge crossings, I think there can be no doubt it will do the
greatest share of through business, both in the conveyance of
passengers and freight. In addition to the freight of Central
Iowa that will seek an eastern destination, is the immense
lumber trade from the Mississippi to supply the demand of
Central and Western Iowa, which range of country, as well as
the vicinity of Council Bluffs, is dependent on the Mississippi
river for its supplies of pine lumber. This article alone will
furnish a large western business.
" 'No drawbridges will be necessary on the entire extent of
your line. '
i ' Returning to Mr. Irish's journal for further information
regarding the locating of the line, I read under the date of
April 1,1854:
," 'I today commenced work in Mr. Allen Slack's corps, sec-
ond division of civil engineers, as flagman. Heretofore I had
served in the capacity of axe man. I have received my pay up
to this date.
" l April 11. Made ready this morning for a start in Mr.
Estes' company to run a line from Iowa City west to Fort Des
Moines. The morning was pleasant. We started out from
camp and ran a curve commencing at 3941 west of Iowa river.'
"The Lyons Iowa Central boys, in June, 1854, were all laid
off indefinitely, many of them without recompense for their
months of weary toil. What caused this sudden collapse of a
project that seemed so flourishing, and was so well boosted
financially by the communities through which the road was
projected, was not quite understood then by the men in the
field, and after a lapse of 55 years, cannot be fully determined
now. The little evidence obtainable points to misappropriation
of funds by some trusted party or parties, near the head of the
company. Mr. Dey, in his interesting letter on the subject,
says that one of the board of directors for the road, *H. P.
Adams, of Syracuse, N. Y., was a fugitive from justice at the
time that he was making his strong campaign through the
counties of Iowa, encouraging the issue of railroad bonds,' in
proof of which he tells the following story :
' i i General Ney, a member of Congress from the Syracuse
district, came to Chicago, called at the Rock Island office and
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STAGE EOUTES AND RAILROADS 215
while there stated he was in the West for a requisition to
arrest Mr. Adams and take him back for trial in New York.
This Mr. Adams was the one who had, as I have before stated,
the machinery at work for obtaining for his road county bonds
which pliant County Judges — as the plaft was popular —
readily issued. Judge Lee issued the Johnson county bonds,
although it was stated that he had pledged himself not to do
so. . . .
" 'It was generally believed, after the failure of Adams and
his railway project, that with the county bonds he had made
his peace with General Ney. At all events this gentleman en-
tered heartily into the railway campaign in Adams' behalf,
and being a popular orator, his services were very effective.
I recall reading one of his reported speeches wherein he was
advocating the advantages of a high bridge over the Missis-
sippi river, a suspension bridge of nearly a mile span, where
he used the following figure of speech : "The trains will cross
the Father of Waters without detriment to the navigation of
that noble stream. There will be no piers or other obstruc-
tions. Its abutments will be on the high hills. The good fel-
lowship of the river and the railway will be shown as the loco-
motive laughs when the steamship puffs in its face." As an
orator at Tipton, on another occasion, his eloquence not ex-
hausted, he uttered the following tribute to the man whom he
had come into the West to arrest: "Caesar crossed the Rubi-
con to crush the liberty of Rome, H. P. Adams crossed the
Mississippi to make the prairies blossom as the rose." It was
said that General Ney went home happy and his clients were
satisfied/
"Following his reminiscence regarding Adams, Mr. Dey
again says :
* ' 'I think it was in June, 1854, that Mr. Adams, having used
all of his resources, withdrew his men from the field, many of
his contractors unpaid and his popularity gone. It is possible
that Mr. Adams hoped, by getting bonds from all the counties
between Lyons and the Missouri river, that he could form a
basis that would enlist enough capital to build the road ; if so
his plans were certainly sanguine. It was generally believed,
after his failure to accomplish anything, that it was a cold-
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216 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
blooded scheme to rob the counties and, after getting their
bonds, pocket the proceeds and decamp.'
"When the collapse came it was a severe stroke, not only to
the locating engineers but to the construction men as well.
Between Lyons arid Iowa City much if not all the road-bed had
been completed. This grading work had been done by a large
gang of Irish immigrants wto had been brought from New
York and Canada for the purpose. These men, with their fam-
ilies, some 2,000 persons in all, were now stranded at Lyons
and vicinity, practically helpless and enduring great hardships.
The railway company had supply stores at Lyons from which
were issued to the graders — in lieu of their wages — grocer-
ies, dry goods and miscellaneous articles ; but these supplies
were exhausted long before the indebtedness was cancelled.
It was from these stores that the enterprise was derisively
called, and is still known as, 'The Calico Boad.'
"Beturning to the bond issue which a number of the coun-
ties had made in favor of the Lyons road, and which produced
litigation of long standing and intense interest, Mr. Dey tells
us: 'Later I met in Chicago, Paul B. Ring, who was in some
way connected with the project (he was one of the Board of
Directors) who offered the Johnson county bonds — the $50,-
000 that had been issued — for $35,000. These bonds the
county afterward paid in full with ten per cent, interest from
date of issue. ' 218 The counties had resisted the payment of
these bonds, and were sustained by the Supreme Court of the
State ; but an appeal being taken to the United States Supreme
Court, it was held that although the law authorizing their
issue might be questionable, the counties having sold them, and
having received in pay thereof the consideration named in the
bonds, could not be released from the obligation voluntarily
incurred.
"The final climax of the bond issue is told as follows by Mr.
Gilbert Irish in his History of Johnson County :
" 'After years of discussion and litigation a convention of
counties was called December 15, 1868. Delegates from Wash-
ington, Muscatine, Johnson, Jefferson, Lee, Cedar and Powe-
shiek counties met in the city of Muscatine. After a lengthy
discussion the following preamble was adopted :
" 'Whereas, the recent decision of the Federal court, in-
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STAGE EOUTES AND BAILROADS 217
volving corporation railroad bonds in this State seems to us
subversive of our authority and the dignity of our State courts,
and dangerous to the rights and privileges of citizens of the
State, if not a positive and unwonted encroachment upon the
jurisdiction of the State courts, therefore, Resolved, that this
convention recommends to the citizens of the several counties,
and citizens interested in this railroad bond question, to pay
all their taxes except the railroad tax, and refuse to pay that
until all legal and practical remedies are exhausted.
" ' Several other default resolutions were adopted, speeches
were made by Hon. Rush Clark of Johnson county, Charles
Negus of Jefferson, Robert Gower of Cedar and by ex-Gover-
nor Kirkwood, who said: "All will admit that we have a
right to make our state constitution and laws just as we please,
provided we do not trench upon the constitution of the United
States. What value is this right if our courts cannot interpret
the meaning of our constitution and laws." '
"Still, like Banquo's ghost, the railway bonds would not
down, and in the following May, 1869, a United States Marshal
came to Iowa City and arrested the Board of Supervicors and
City Council on a warrant for contempt, and took them as
prisoners to Des Moines. When the United States entered the
field it soon closed the bond war. The terms of peace were
brief and dictated by the victorious bond holders — it was tax
or prison, and tax it was for some years.
"I visited points on the road-bed that are still visible at
Iowa City, prominent among which are a big cut just outside
and north of the Catholic cemetery, and a remnant of embank-
ment at the head of Dubuque street which was to have formed
the approach to the proposed bridge over the Iowa river. Soon
these historic evidences of the Lyons road will be gone, as are
the men who wrought and suffered loss and disappointment in
its work. As the laborer is worthy of his reward it is gratify-
ing to realize that not a few of the men who bravely met defeat
in this venture afterward attained distinction in their chosen
profession. Prominent among these were Messrs. J. I. Wan-
zer, J. L. Estes, Allen Slack and Charles W. Irish. Of the
after history of the two former I have as yet been unable to
get definite data.
"Mr. Slack, the Chief Engineer, was a native of Vermont,
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218 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and a graduate of the University of that State, where he took
a course in civil engineering. After graduation he went to
New York, where he was employed on the Erie Canal until
called west to take a position on the Illinois Central. Later he
was sent into Iowa as Chief Engineer to locate the Lyons Iowa
Central, making his home at Lyons. To Mr. Slack's early
work in Iowa, Hon. Peter A. Dey pays this tribute: 'He suc-
ceeded Mr. Buck and made locations that were creditable, and
were adopted west of Iowa City in some places by the Rock
Island company when their road was built.'
"Mr. Irish, in arranging his effects for removal to Nevada,
gave me, among other papers, his Lyons Iowa Central note
book, on the last page of which stands recorded : * To 104 days
work as second assistant Engineer for L. I. C. Ry., at $2.00
per day, $208.00, by loan to the President of the Co. $52.00,
sum total of indebtedness to C. W. Irish, $260.00, which I never
expect to gejt. ' And he never did. ' '
The canvass of the vote on the Lyons Iowa Central road,
was scarcely completed when a new petition came before Judge
Lee from "a large number of the citizens of Johnson county,' '
for another vote on bond issue in aid of the "M & M" rail-
way. The election came on August 6, the second election for
fifty thousand dollars in bonds inside of two months. The
total vote was greater than in June by 296. Interest was grow-
ing, or a better subject was up. Clear Creek township did not
appear in the vote for the Lyons road, but in the M & M bal-
lot, cast 28 votes for, with none against the proposition. Mon-
roe refused to approve of the second issue, voting 5 for and 38
against. This was the only township having a majority against
such issue. Iowa City township cast 371 votes for and one
against, while in June before only 231 votes were cast, a gain
of 140 in less than eight weeks.21*
September following Ebenezer Cook, of Cook and Sargent,
Davenport bankers and commercial agents who operated
through this region in town sites and other speculations, was
authorized to sell these bonds on the New York market on the
best terms the county could obtain. He was allowed compensa-
tion for his services equivalent to that paid him for the same
service by Scott county. The paper was payable at the office
of E. W. Clark, Dodge & Co., of New York, and was issued in
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STAGE ROUTES AND RAILROADS 219
500 shares of one hundred dollars each. Thus the second bond
issue subscribed was first placed on the market. These carried
a rate of seven per cent interest payable semi-annually, and
the M & M bonds were due in ten years, or in 1863, the Lyons
bonds in 1873. They were turned over to the company for
stock, which was received by the county in December, 1853.
The Bank of the Commonwealth in the city of New York col-
lected the interest. The printing and engraving of the Lyons
Iowa Central bonds cost the county ninety-nine dollars, which
was allowed in five separate orders.220
Judge Lee made inquiry of Ebenezer Cook concerning the
bonds for the M & M line in the early part of 1854 in the fol-
lowing letter:
"Iowa City, la., Feb. 8, 1854.
' ' Sir : I write you at this time to enquire about our county
bonds. Perhaps you will be able to give me some information
as to how they will be disposed of ; whether the company will
take them or whether we will have to sell them to raise the
amount of our county subscription. These bonds being dated
the first of September, of course the first payment of interest
would fall due on March first next, if the bonds had been dis-
posed of. If the company would take the bonds at par in pay-
ment of Johnson county subscription any time before the first
of March they would be entitled to receive the first six month's
interest on them. Please write me and give me any informa-
tion and advice in your power in relation to the matter.
"Yours truly,
"F.H.Lee.
"Ebenezer Cook, Esq."
The preliminary history of the M & M may be summed up
here, since it is fragmentary and has not been mentioned more
than by reference :
In the early summer of 1850 enthusiasm ran high on the
railroad question, and it finally resulted in the incorporation
of the Davenport and Iowa City road. Enoch Lewis presided
over the meeting, and Thomas Hughes was the secretary. The
first board of directors included James P. Carleton, Le Grand
Byington, Joseph T. Fales, Smiley H. Bonham, Henry W. La-
throp, Samuel Workman, James Cavanagh, Thomas Hughes,
and G. D. Palmer. James P. Carleton was made president, and
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220 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
H. W. Lathrop the secretary of the corporation, with Le Grand
Byington as treasurer. So more than sixty years ago, October
14, 1850, the first effort was made to secure a railway line from
Iowa City to the Mississippi. On the twenty-sixth of the same
month a contract was made with Richard P. Morgan, who had
been an engineer on the line from Chicago to Davenport, to sur-
vey the road from Davenport to Iowa City for which he was to
be paid $500, the funds for this purpose having been raised by
citizens of Iowa City, those who were not stockholders paying
more than one hundred dollars of the amount, the balance
coming from an assessment on the stock of five dollars per
share, and it is said that the stock subscribed never amounted
to more than $1,500.
In December following, the engineer made a full report of
his survey and furnished a map of all the contemplated roads
from Council Bluffs to Pittsburg. The estimated cost of con-
struction and equipment, not including depots, was placed at
$431,000. Judge Carleton and Mr. Byington were appointed
a committee to secure right of way from Iowa City to the
Cedar river, and Judge James Grant and such assistance as
he might select from Davenport to the Cedar. In November,
1851, a second election for directors occurred, which resulted
in the choice of Carleton, Byington, Lathrop, Hughes, and Pal-
mer , as before, and the addition of Sylvanus Johnson, Henry
Murray, and James Grant.
Congress was memorialized to grant right of way across the
public lands and to donate a tract of 210,000 acres to aid in
its construction. The state legislature was also asked for a
further grant of land for the same purpose, and to aid in a road
from Dubuque to Keokuk. It was of course hoped that the
latter road would also go by way of Johnson county, but al-
most every town in the Black Hawk Purchase was expecting it
to come its way and for that reason it was nicknamed "The
Ram's Horn."221
In May, 1853, work had progressed so far westward from
Chicago that the city council of Iowa City held a special meet-
ing when W. Penn Clarke and Le Grand Byington were sent
to Chicago as delegates to a meeting called to organize the
Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company, and if called
upon so to do, to subscribe stock in the company payable in
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STAGE EOUTES AND RAILROADS 221
bonds of the city, to be issued by the city council, and in case
a company was formed they were instructed to cast the vote
in the name of the city, provided Iowa City was made a point
on the road. On the same day a meeting of the directors of
the Davenport and Iowa City railway company was held, and
Mr. Byington was authorized to sell and transfer to the new
company when organized all the property rights and franchises
of the old company, provided, as before, the road came to Iowa
City. There was opposition to this movement, for while all
this was doing citizens of Muscatine were busy endeavoring
to secure the road at that point and thence westward to Wash-
ington and Oskaloosa, and of course the assistance of these
points went to Muscatine.222 The last work done by the Daven-
port and Iowa City company was to overcome this influence,
and to do this a hurried meeting was called, and Dr. Murray
sent to attend another meeting of the directors of the M. & M.
Company at Davenport the following day. After an all night
ride on horseback he reached there on time and accomplished
his mission. It was then that a compromise was arranged by
which the "plug road" was to be built from Wilton Junction
to the city of Muscatine, and this plan finally matured. When
this account was written, there were but three survivors of the
Davenport and Iowa City company, and the youngest of them
was H. W. Lathrop, who was in his eighty-second year.228
The members of the city council began to wrestle with the
railroad subject almost in their first session, for the Lyons
Iowa Central was granted right of way across the streets and
alleys and public grounds of the city at the last meeting in
May, 1853. At a special session on May 20, the M. & M. was up
for consideration, concerning which the council said : * ' that in
the final organization of the Mississippi and Missouri River
Rail Road Company or in any necessary proceeding prelimi-
nary or subsequent thereto, at the proposed meeting of the
corporators at Chicago, on the 25th of May, 1853, or at any
other suitable time and place Le Grand Byington and Wm.
Penn Clarke, delegates to said meeting on behalf of the people
of Iowa City, are authorized in their discretion to subscribe to
the capital stock of said company in the name of said Iowa
City thousand dollars, upon condition that said city
is made a point on said road, by irrevocable order of the man-
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222 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
aging board of said Rail Road Co. ; and upon further condition
that said stock shall be payable in the bonds of said city bear-
ing interest at the rate of per cent per annum, and sub-
ject to the approval of a majority of the electors of said city
at an election which may be hereafter held for that pur-
pose."224
The vote on the M. & M. bond issue for fifty thousand dol-
lars in stock in the first division of the line was taken on
March 12, 1853, and in a total vote of 339 ballots, 308 were for
the issue and 30 against, while one vote was defective. Un-
fortunately for current news and some local facts of interest
to anyone endeavoring to follow railroad history, the news-
papers of the early fifties are missing. The following state-
ment throws some light on the local situation as the time
approached to make ready for the first train on the M. & M.
road. In a resolution introduced by Aldennjan James H.
Gower, December 17, 1855, it was declared that "some few
citizens of this city have stated and the city papers have pub-
lished that the council at the last meeting refused to appro-
priate the sum of one thousand dollars to aid in defraying the
expenses of the contemplated R. R. celebration," and the idea
seems to have prevailed that the council was opposed to such
an observance, therefore the council ordered their proceedings
for December 10, 1855, to be published wherein they appro-
priated 1,000 dollars for the aid of the celebration, and this
amount was added to more than 1,400 dollars subscribed by
individuals. The vote on this measure stood five to four. They
were careful to say "that the city council are unanimously in
favor of a proper, judicious, and even splendid and magnifi-
cent celebration and entertainment upon the completion of the
first R. R. and the arrival of the first train of Cars to our city,
that we will rejoice that an improvement so important to our
City and County and to the adjacent counties will then have
been completed, and that we are ready and willing, and have
never been unwilling to subscribe our full share and to parti-
cipate and to assist as individuals and as Councilmen or both
in every honorable and proper manner in promoting the very
best interests and objects of the occasion." On this resolu-
tion there was but one "nay." However, after all the adjec-
tives, and all the resolutions, the citizens committee refused
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THE NE"/ YORK
PUBLIC LI3RARY
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STAGE KOUTES AND RAILROADS 223
to cooperate in expending this sum, and having "dissolved,"
according to record of the council, the resolution making the
appropriation was ' i rescinded. 9 }
The question of issuing the fifty thousand dollars in bonds
for M. & M. stock was taken up after the road reached the city.
The committee to whom the matter was referred consisted of
James H. Gower, Geo. Clark, and E. K. Rugg. The first two
reported against the issue until there was a certainty that the
company had complied in full and notified the city. Mr. Rugg
made a minority report arguing for the immediate issue.225
In this case the minority report was adopted by one vote. The
fifty thousand dollars in bonds were receipted for by Ebenezer
Cook, the vice-president of the M. & M., and stock was issued
in due time to the city on which the city was supposed to draw
the regular dividend, and which should help in paying the
interest on the bonds. However, when the time came to pay the
first installment of interest the certificates of stock had not
been issued and the amount being ready was retained by order
of the council until the conditions under which the bonds were
issued were complied with. This brought the amount of stock
demanded from the president, John A. E>ix, who certified that
"Iowa City, in the state of Iowa, had paid the sum of fifty
thousand dollars," and was the owner of that much stock. It
appears that some time in 1858, when the interest became due
on the railroad bonds and the means not being at hand to pay,
Jesse Berry presented a proposition wherein he declared him-
self to be ready to become one of seventeen citizens of Iowa
City to furnish fifty dollars in gold each, for six months at
ten per cent, to pay the interest. The proposition was referred
back to him "to secure sixteen others." It is not recorded
whether he succeeded in his efforts.226
That the citizens were not indifferent to the arrival of the
first train to the county and city is well illustrated in the ac-
count of the reception given by one who was a participant,
thus assuring a correct view of the proceedings. Not more
than twelve years after the event it was recorded :
At the meeting of the city council in November, 1855, J. H.
Gower introduced a resolution calling for a meeting of the
citizens of Iowa City to meet at the school building for the pur-
pose of making necessary arrangements for the proper observ-
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224 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ance of the arrival of the M. & M. Railroad to the city. Con-
tributions of sufficient amount having been raised by private
subscription to pay expenses, invitations were issued to the
towns along the line to participate, even going beyond the usual
limits and requesting delegates from other cities in the state,
and from the terminus of the line, Chicago.
It was decided that New Year's Day, 1856, should see the
track completed to the depot grounds in Iowa City. This
meant the grounds now occupied by the Rock Island freight
depot. By dint of hard labor, long days, and extra help, the
task was completed as intended, so that the year 1856 and the
first train came in on the same day.
Great wood fires were built along the track to aid in keeping
the workmen comfortable. January 3, 1856, the day set for the
celebration, was ushered in with a temperature of twenty
degrees below zero. At two o'clock in the afternoon the boom-
ing of artillery announced the arrival of the train bearing the
visitors, who were royally received by the waiting company,
and defying the frigid atmosphere they marched to the Old
State House where Le Grand Byington, president of the day,
welcomed the company, and a response was made by Dr. Max-
well, of Chicago.
At the feast which followed, Bishop Lee, of Davenport, was
requested to say grace in accordance with " a good and ancient
custom," which was a fitting way to begin "one of the most
bountiful spreads" in the history of the county, for which the
ladies were duly thanked by long and eloquent resolutions.
After paying all the bills the committee on arrangements found
themselves in possession of nearly five hundred dollars in
money which was appropriated on orders from the general com-
mittee to a survey of "a practical nature," for a road to
Cedar Rapids or Mt. Pleasant. It was probably applied on
the beginnings of the "I. N. C," which remained a visionary
road for so many years.227
Work on the westward extension of the M. & M. may be said
to have commenced in earnest in November, 1859. Between
Iowa City and Homestead there were five separate contracts.
Durant and Holmes had the contract for the bridge and trestle
work, and for six miles west S. R. Boomer built the first bridge
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STAGE ROUTES AND RAILROADS 225
for the company over the river. Hon. Peter A. Dey was the
chief engineer, of the road.
It was the last day of August, 1860, that the M. & M. ran its
first train of freight over the river and to Homestead, the end
of the new extension. Seven cars of stock were brought in
over this line of some twenty miles, and it was announced by
officials that "a stock train would run each Saturday from
Homestead to Chicago, reaching that city on Sunday morn-
ing."228
About this time in the history of railroad construction a
more than ordinary event occurred in the action of the new
line westward from the Mississippi. The local papers men-
tioned it with some pride in the notice given to the city.
When the republican convention was held in Chicago in
May, 1860, the president of the Rock Island railroad, Henry
Farnham, carried a trainload of delegates and editors from
Chicago to Iowa City and return, as a complimentary trip.
Many, or probably most of these men had never been in the
state before. Nineteen states were represented in this company.
Judging from the resolutions they presented they were much
impressed with the country they passed over. Nearly all these
excursionists came from east of the Alleghanies, and among
them was Thurlow Weed, then editor of the Albany Journal.*2*
The proposal of a railroad north and south, the Cedar Val-
ley road, as it came to be called, led to a meeting for its con-
sideration by the citizens of Johnson county, in accordance
with other meetings held north and south of Iowa City, and
for a time the line was expected to "come this way." Gov.
S. J. Kirkwood was the chairman of the first meeting held in
Iowa City, October 14, 1865, and John P. Irish and N. H.
Brainerd were secretaries. A committee of five men from the
county was appointed to formulate resolutions in reference to
the proposed line. Cyrus Sanders, Geo. J. Boal, W. B. Dan-
iels, Jesse Westenhaver, and Jas. B. Edmonds composed this
committee. They reported the following:
" Resolved, that in the judgment of this meeting the citizens
of Johnson county should and will aid in the construction of a
road north and south through Iowa City." Additional com-
mittees were appointed to confer with citizens along the line,
with the officers of the road, already called the C. R. and St.
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226 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
L. E. R, and to learn on what terms the road could be secured
for Iowa City. The business men of St. Louis were to be con-
sulted by a committee consisting of Geo. J. Boal, John Powell,
and James B. Edmonds. The road was projected from some-
where in the north through the county, then by way of Wash-
ington and Mt. Pleasant and Keokuk to St. Louis. Information
regarding the commerce of Iowa City was to be collected for
use in this campaign. A committee on correspondence, and
one on finance were later appointed, the latter to raise money,
first of all to pay committee expenses. The towns along the
line were, as usual, very enthusiastic.
The committee which visited St. Louis made a report later
which indicated the cooperation of two companies in the north
and south line. As usual, the company required the right of
way to be secured without cost to them. Like all the roads of
that time aid was expected, and it must be material aid. Dur-
ing this time of agitation there was the old ghost of the bond
issues of more than ten years before presenting itself on every
occasion. One hundred thousand dollars in bonds were then
outstanding in aid of roads. The fifty thousand of these bonds
in aid of the old Lyons Iowa Central were of no benefit what-
ever to the county, since the only thing that ever came of that
road was a grade and some deep cuts, with possibly some pre-
tensions to a bridge here and there.230 The M. & M., now the
Rock Island main line, had not proved to be what was antici-
pated, and all these "swindles," as they were denominated,
led the people to take a determined stand against the payment
of any of them. Interest had not been paid and the courts had
been appealed to by the bond holders to compel the tax levy to
pay this interest. The courts disagreed, mandamus and in-
junction being granted in different cases. Altogether the situ-
ation was anything but favorable for the voting of new bonds
for another road in any direction. The people, however, soon
forget, and enthusiasm often carries questions that were voted
down after sober reflection. The counties of Johnson, Linn,
Washington, Jefferson, and Davis were called in convention to
make a united effort to secure this north and south line, in
January, 1866, and soon after this a plan for stock subscrip-
tion was proposed to the citizens of Johnson county. Condi-
tions of payment were such that no "bond scheme' ' could catch
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STAGE ROUTES AND RAILROADS 227
a subscriber, since his payment was conditioned on the con-
struction over a certain route.
Some of the townships in the western part of the county-
had no particular interest in securing this road, and in this
emergency some correspondent, who signs himself " Railroad,' '
labors with the citizens in that part of the county endeavoring
to show them wherein such a line will benefit all concerned, and
the appeal is made from a patriotic sense, or county pride
rather than from the point of material advantage. Strong ap-
peals were made to the moneyed interests and the producers to
support this new project There was good logic in the argu-
ment of competing markets, such as St. Louis and Chicago, and
a line directly south would produce this competition. Johnson
county was said ' i to have her fate in her own hands. * } That is
the fate of prosperity produced by these competing lines of
road, or of stationary conditions due to the one outlet.
Judging from complaints frequently heard, the prophecy of
that day has been fulfilled in some particulars as to transpor-
tation if not ' ' prosperity. ' ' 281 Stock to the amount of $115,000
was subscribed for this north and south line, but before the end
of 1866 the enthusiasm began to wane in counties south and the
route was diverted farther toward the river. This road even-
tually took the route of the old B., C. R. & N., now a part of the
Rock Island system, which missed the central part of Johnson
county after all the efforts to get it for Iowa City. Stronger
inducements came from other towns on the river, and St. Louis
was reached but indirectly from this point. For a time it ap-
peared that the north and south line was a sure thing, since
work of grading was in progress. Possibly its failure was due
to the lack of interest on the part of the counties south where
interest seemed to fall away at the time when it was most
needed.
An echo of the I. N. C. R. R., the north and south line, was
heard in a meeting held in Washington, Iowa, in April, 1869.
Some figures were given there that are of local interest:
Twenty-three miles of this line were graded in Washington
county at a cost of $28,000, besides the engineering, the total
outlay being about $45,000. This left about seven miles only
to be graded in that county. In Johnson something more than
fourteen miles had then been graded at a cost of $61,000, and
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228 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
masonry had cost $10,000 more. In Linn county only about
three miles had been graded at a cost of $5,000 or less. The
extra cost in Johnson was due to the heavy grading near the
river crossing.282
The death blow was given to the I. N. C. when the county
directors of this long-proposed line decided to wait until the
southern end of the road concluded to do something. The de-
cision of the courts of the state caused the suspension of all
work, and since then the old grade has been a mark of the
interests of men in "what might have been." In one county,
typical of all, the resolutions contained in sense "that all work
ought to stop until the Keokuk and Northern should provide
means to build their road," and something farther to this ef-
fect : "Although we have full faith in the success of our road,
yet we deem it expedient to stop work in the county until suf-
ficient sum is raised to build the road south from Mt. Pleas-
ant."288
The action just mentioned had some influence on the action
of Solon citizens in their efforts to secure a road. They now
gave up the I. N. C. and went after the line they now have, then
called the "Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota." It
later became "Northern" instead of "Minnesota," and as all
know, is a part of the Rock Island system. Considerable an-
tipathy against Iowa City movements was indicated by the
meeting of Solon citizens in May, 1869. They were convinced
that ' ' a secret and powerful influence has been and is now being
exerted by a large number of people of Iowa City to divert the
B., C. R. and M. from its present location through West
Branch to Solon, and by a large offer of money induced that
company to go to Iowa City and thence to Cedar Rapids on a
line several miles west of Solon, exhibiting the same determi-
nation and selfish spirit which predominates over all virtue and
charity, to keep this district forever tributary and dependent."
After this fierce onslaught upon the neighboring city they
proceeded to assert their manhood and determination to do the
required and necessary labor to secure the line, declaring that
"we are of mature age and able to guard and protect ourselves
from the avaricious spirit of those who claim the right to rule
over and dictate to us. We now declare our manhood and show
our spirit in a united front and a positive determination to
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STAGE ROUTES AND RAILROADS 229
raise the small proportion of money required of us to secure
the early completion of this road, thereby defeating the de-
signs of those who show a natural disposition to dupe the rich,
enslave the poor, and crush the weak. ' 9 This is what one might
call the new Solon declaration of independence. Judging from
what followed, Solon won out in the contest.
Among the most promising outlooks for a second railroad
proposed was the one from Clinton, and it really took on the
form of an organization long enough to commence construction,
and in later years became part of a line now in daily operation.
The company was organized in Iowa City in connection with
plans to build from Clinton, Iowa, the crossing of the Missis-
sippi by the Northwestern, to some indefinite point in the great
southwest, and for this another tax levy was asked in aid. It
is very remarkable that any company could have the courage
or even audacity to ask any county on the line of the old
"Lyons" road to vote another "bond" for any railroad under
a century of time. How could they expect such a question to
carry when the thousands of dollars necessary to pay the bonds
already issued were just then about to be levied!
A convention of citizens along this proposed line was held
in Iowa City on May 3, 1870. One of the chief centers of in-
terest in this line was Tipton, Cedar county, which had no road
and had been held up on bonds for the old "Lyons" road, the
traces of which are close to its corporation line now. Delegates
came from this county enthusiastic for the line. Judge Roth-
rock, ex-Governor S. J. Kirkwood, Judge Tuthill, John P.
Irish, E. H. Thayer, H. S. Hyatt, Rush Clark, and T. A. Mor-
gan were the prominent men along the line who took part in
this convention. At the conclusion of a long session in which
many speeches were made, a board of directors was chosen and
this board elected S. J. Kirkwood, president; C. T. Ransom,
vice-president; S. Sharpless, secretary and treasurer; and Wm.
P. Wolf and T. A. Morgan, with the officers, constituted the
executive committee.284 Then the people all along the line
were hustled into a fever to support this road with a tax, more
taxes all the time.
Confident that the Iowa Southwestern was a sure thing the
entire line was projected across the state. Newspapers along
the line from Clinton to Nebraska City, wondered why it had
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230 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
not been thought of before. The survey was under way in
July, 1870, when the engineers, under the direction of Mr.
C. W. Irish, went through Johnson county and on toward
Sigourney. People were enthusiastic, and the executive com-
mittee of the board of directors prepared for an active cam-
paign. It was estimated that one hundred thousand dollars
from each county in bonds or stock would be necessary to put
the road through.
In September, 1870, a meeting of citizens circulated a peti-
tion for the submission to the voters of Iowa City township
the question of a tax for the benefit of the Iowa Southwestern.
A law had been passed permitting an election for such a pur-
pose when more than one-third of the voters petitioned the
trustees for such a vote. If the tax was voted when the special
election was called, the levy was to be made and collected in
connection with the usual tax. Argument for the tax was
abundant, but as we shall see later, it was of no avail in the
results. One of the chief arguments for all the roads proposed
was expressed in this language: "Everybody who would not
see Iowa City dry up and be deserted, shunned by men of en-
terprise and avoided as a place of bad omen, who would not
see farmers sell out and remove to a competing railroad point
where they are not to be cursed by a railroad monopoly, has
an interest in voting the tax and thus securing the line which
will make of us the best railroad town in the state, and will
give Iowa City a population of 20,000 within six years and will
increase the county to 40,000 in the same time, will line our
water power with towering and busy factories, will pave our
streets, make fruitful farms, make poor men rich and enable
rich ones to retire, or die, and leave their money in the hands
of active and progressive men. ' ' 235 It was announced by some
of the officers that arrangements had been made whereby this
line would be built and equipped within one year if the neces-
sary support was forthcoming. In this connection it was
promised that the tax should remain in the hands of the treas-
urer and not be paid over until the cars were running into Iowa
City. This statement was signed by S. J. Kirkwood, president,
S. Sharpless, Rush Clark, and C. T. Ransom.
The fact that the Burlington road had gone twelve miles
east, the St. Louis much farther west, and the Muscatine line
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STAGE ROUTES AND RAILROADS 231
seventeen miles south, led the citizens to make a special effort
to secure another line to the eastern market. The plea for
support to this line became almost pathetic, and yet on the face
of it one must suppose that the railroads knew for what pur-
pose they took certain routes and why they never came to Iowa
City as expected. The time for voting taxes was bad and it
took much persuasion by good men to bring it about.
This road was once more announced as a "sure thing" in
June, 1871, when the contractors and officials, including Hink-
ley and Smith and Messrs. Kirkwood, Ransom, and Sharpless,
set out for Tipton to "break the first ground" in the enter-
prise. It was then stated that "nothing could possibly occur
to impede the progress of an enterprise so auspiciously be-
gun." In proof of this a few months later an interview with
the president of the C, B. & Q. railroad was reported, in which
he stated that all the cash to pay debts was in hand and work
would commence in the spring of 1872. People were urged to
"wait a little while longer," and the through trains would be
running on this line.
The next month a case came up in the courts of Clinton
county on the legality of the tax levy of 1870 in aid of this
road. The case was defended by some of the road officials, in-
cluding Kirkwood, Edmonds, and Ransom, of Iowa City. The
decision was given by Judge Richman against the taxpayers.
At an important meeting held in Clinton in March, 1872, the
name of this line was changed to the Chicago, Omaha and St.
Joe. There was much in a name, and this helped to continue
the enthusiasm along the line. It was a sure thing. Track-
laying was to begin by June 1, of this year, twenty-five thous-
and tons of rails having been purchased and a dozen locomo-
tives ordered for the new line.286
In November, 1872, "dirt was flying all along the grades,"
and the claimants who wanted money were paid off by the offi-
cials, Mr. C. W. Irish, engineer of construction, and Mr. John-
son, the superintendent of work. The contract had just been
let for the grading across Filer's and Struble's lands east of
Iowa City, to "three enterprising young men of Sigourney and
Newton." This, it was reported, was the last of the heavy
grading east of this point.
Through many trials and many disappointments for the
decade following the road-bed so certainly begun and so sure
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232 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
of construction was waiting for completion. Then a new com-
pany took the matter in charge and the conclusion follows.
On the twenty-first of November, 1884, the last spike was
driven in the Clinton branch of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids
and Northern railroad, which came into the possession of this
line through securing the old Clinton and Southwestern, or
Iowa and Southwestern, grade and completing it to Elmira, the
junction point as it exists today. No ceremonies nor parade
were observed when this common event occurred, as it had hap-
pened before and few appear to have known anything about
it. The announcement said: "Trains will run from Clinton
to Cedar Rapids making connection at Elmira with trains for
Iowa City. 9 ' So after so many years of effort, so many official
meetings and votes on bonds, the realization of a road to Clin-
ton had come to pass, but not the through line to Chicago as
had been hoped and planned for fifteen years. The summary
of this period would be interesting, but would necessarily re-
peat much that is contained in other portions of this chapter.
It was in 1878 that the B., C. R. & N. obtained control of the line
through purchase by a syndicate on the foreclosure of the re-
ceiver's certificate. The Rock Island system now controls this
line, and all the branches of the old B., C. R. & N. Improve-
ments came in due time and these may continue in the form
as suggested when the new passenger station was added to
Iowa City.
An unusual occurrence, one would call it, for the citizens to
take so much pride in a building belonging to a great corpora-
tion that they should turn out in great numbers to inspect and
approve it, but this was observable in the instance of the new
Rock Island depot constructed in 1898. The agent, H. D.
Breene, made it possible for all who cared to come, to help in
the dedication of the new structure on Wright street, which, it
is said, was named for Carroll Wright, the attorney for the
Rock Island in Des Moines and a friend of the city. Comment
made by John J. Haley, secretary and treasurer of the Pitts-
burg, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railway, who was in the city a
short time previous, makes the opinions of home folks unneces-
sary. He said : "It's the handsomest depot of its size in the
United States. Indeed I never saw its equal, size considered,
anywhere in the world. 9 ' This man had forty years experience
in railroad building and management, so he must have spoken
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STAGE EOUTES AND RAILROADS 233
with some authority, as well as to please his friends. The first
train to stop at the new station was No. 13, the Omaha Express,
which went its way at midnight, Tuesday, October 4, 1898. The
railway company invested $25,000 in this enterprise, and the
city was favored by the investment, and careful architecture,
under the direction of Mr. Breene and the superintendent of
maintenance and construction, Mr. McFarlan.
The recently completed electric railway line and its success-
ful operation in Iowa City suggests an account of the first
ordinance granting a franchise for such a purpose and the
time it may require to bring to fruition an effort of this na-
ture in any community. For many years, probably more than
twenty, there were great expectations of another trunk line of
railway through the county, but it was almost exactly twenty
years from the time the first ordinance was passed until the
first cars were running on the city railway.
In the spring of 1891 "The Iowa Investment Company" se-
cured a franchise for an electric street railway for a period of
something near fifty years, and this proposition was to be
accepted or rejected within forty-five days. The bond of the
company was duly presented before the time expired and was
for "accepting the franchise for an electric street railway." 28T
An item in a report of the city council for March 14, 1893, reads
as follows: "The council last night was in session for the
special purpose of considering the charter asked for by the
Haines Bros, and Samuel J. Tilden, Jr., of New York, allow-
ing them the right to build an electric street railway line in
Iowa City." The gentlemen mentioned were expected to come
here and to make a personal proposition in a short time fol-
lowing this action and the name of Samuel J. Tilden, although
not the real article, had some effect in securing swifter action
on the part of the city council. One member said he could not
possibly attend a special meeting but when the name of the
former governor of New York was read as one of the parties
concerned, he said: "If Mr. Tilden, our old democratic candi-
date for the presidency is going to build the road, I will be
there." Under these conditions the official who summoned the
members did not make any effort to explain the situation and
to state that this Samuel J. Tilden was a nephew of the
governor.
This incident reported to Mr. Tilden seems to have pleased
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234 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
him, and he gave particular attention to the investigation of
the plans for the city railway and expressed himself that "a
street railway line ought to pay in Iowa City." No one
doubted that work would begin as the franchise called for
"before August 1, 1893.' ' The current statement was to the
effect that "dirt would fly by the middle of July." A repre-
sentative of Haines Bros, and Tilden came to Iowa City in the
early part of June and gave assurance that the contract would
be let to the General Electric Company to build the line at
once, if local cooperation was satisfactory.2**
The subject of the interurban is almost too recent to demand
much detail, but it may be well to sum up for the purpose of
completing the record, that the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City
line was finally built under another form than was ever in the
minds of the promoters of 1865 and following, for the first car
was sent over the interurban on August 9, 1904, and the ma-
chinery at Coralville was started for the first time on that
date. The Sunday following, August 14, the regular schedule
was announced to begin, on a two hour basis, which was to be
reduced to one hour or less as the road became well established
and the grade well ballasted.289
Lastly, the city railway, after twenty years of prospect, has
come, and its installation was made the occasion for special
public demonstration. Under the direction of the Commercial
Club of Iowa City the program was concluded in the following
order:
With the driving of the silver spike in the last rail by Presi-
dent J. 0. Schulze, of the Iowa City Electric Railway company,
the new street car line for the university city was formally
opened by exercises under the auspices of the Iowa City Com-
mercial Club.
As an evidence of the appreciation of the club and of the ■
city for the system the club held dedicatory exercises at the
corner of College and Clinton streets. A large crowd gathered
to attend the event and to listen to the addresses which were
made by the representatives of the various institutions about
thp locality. Mayor Ralph Otto spoke in behalf of the city.
County Attorney McDonald spoke for the county, Dean W. G.
Raymond represented the university and Pres. F. E. Ayers
gave a short address in behalf of the Iowa City Commercial
Club. The program was ended by the driving of the silver
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STAGE EOUTES AND EAILEOADS 235
spike by the president of the company, Otto Schulze, the event
which marked the completion of the road.
The speakers and the committeemen gathered in the car
which stood at the west end of the line on College street and
were introduced by Elmer E. Johnston, vice president of the
Commercial Club.
The street car line is about one mile in length, running from
the Eundell Land Company's addition to the interurban sta-
tion at the corner of College and Clinton streets. The full
system when completed will make nearly four miles of track.
On the first trip Prof. B. J. Lambert, who has been the engi-
neer of the line, acted as motorman, and ran the lever like one
who had been in the service for years. The car was gaily
decorated with bunting, and the playing of the Marine band
gave the corner where the dedication was held the appearance
of an old time celebration.
The officers of the street railway company are: J. 0.
Schulze, president; J. H. Eohret, vice president; D. A. Eeese,
secretary-treasurer; G-. A. Sueppel, J. H. Maggard, direc-
tors.289
MUSCATINE OPPOSITION.
AND THE KNIGHT OF THE BLACK STEED.
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CHAPTER XIII
The Public Schools
'TSHE general government provided for the public schools
-* of the future by reserving, in the beginning, one section
of land in each township and later two, the proceeds of which
when sold should form the principal of a school fund, the in-
terest being distributed annually among the counties of the
state and by these to the several districts according to the
school population.240 In accordance with this, the county com-
missioners of this county made an order early in their history,
that care should be taken of this school section, the clerk of the
boar.d being authorized, in July, 1840, "to commence suit
against any person or persons that have or may encroach upon
any school section of the county.241 This is the only reference
to schools in the proceedings of the commissioners up to 1843.
At the July session, 1843, "A. H. Haskell, the superintendent
of Mechanics' Academy, was allowed thirty dollars for court
and jury rooms for district court at the May term, 1843." 242
Another three years pass before the subject of schools is
mentioned again, this time to levy the first tax as suggested
further under the title of county revenue.24* Ten cents for each
hundred dollars of valuation would not go very far toward car-
ing for the schools of the present day, when one-half the entire
amount, approximately, that is levied goes for school purposes.
This was the first school assessment and was made for the
purpose of part payment for instruction. Beyond this amount
the patrons must pay in personal sums.
In January, 1847, the first report on school funds was made
by the treasurer, according to the requirements of the law.244
Grocery licenses and fines came into this fund. It must be
understood that the "sale of ardent spirits' ' was then in-
cluded under the grocery license, yet the total amount when
this first report was made, when all sums were collected, was
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 237
only $654.84, and this, remember, for the entire county.246 Free
schools were questioned for more than ten years after this
date, and objections to any tax were loudly expressed, leading
in some instances to open contention for the possession of
property of the district.
At the time of the first school census, 1,122 children of
school age were reported, and the fund collected at that date,
$463.46, was distributed. Iowa City township had 413 between
the ages of five and twenty-one, and was entitled to $170.60 ;
Big Grove, 147 children, $60.73 ; Liberty, 111, $45.86 ; Washing-
ton, 96, $39.57; Newport, 91, $37.61; Pleasant Valley, 59,
$24.38; Scott, 59, $24.38; Penn, 59, $24.38; Clear Creek, 47,
$19.42; and Cedar, 40, $16.53. Ten townships only reported.
Monroe failed and hence under the provisions of the law could
not draw any of the money.246
The commissioners were very liberal in allowing the trus-
tees of district number two in Iowa City township to use the
court house for school purposes at a rental of six dollars per
month in advance. One condition in addition to the rental was
attached, namely, "to leave the room in as good condition as
they found it." The funds of the county raised for school
purposes were placed in the hands of a school fund commis-
sioner, an officer frequently mentioned in early school history.
He was under bonds far in excess of any amount he ever
handled, at first for five thousand, and later for ten thousand
dollars. S. H. McCrory filled this office in the beginning. He
was succeeded by Eli Myers. Judging from the sums allowed
the commissioner of the school fund for his services, and the
amount of the fund itself, the office was a rather peculiar one,
unless he had other duties in his official position other than the
care of this fund alone in its collection and administration.
John McCaddon succeeded Eli Myers in this office in 1850, his
first allowance being recorded in July of that year, and in this
connection it is learned, that, the apportionment of money
made in 1846 was not all paid over until the July session, 1850.
Big Grove, Clear Creek, and Liberty townships made no claim
to their allowance, according to the record.247
During the period of the school fund commissioners they
were required to keep a record of the school lands disposed of,
the name of the purchaser, date of his contract, number of lot
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Scenes and Buildings in Iowa City
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 239
or parcel of ground, the price per acre, with the cash and credit
account in the transaction. Under the administration of Eli
Myers prices ranged from $1.25 to $15.25 per acre, depending
then as now on location of the lot of land. His total sales of
school lands were 2,379 acres, for which he received in cash
$1,477, and in credit $4,314. His successor, John McCaddon,
sold 1,383 acres, receiving in cash $533, and in credit $1,590.
He was succeeded by John Parrott in 1852, whose sales
amounted to 5,725 acres, with cash, $2,521, and credit, $7,116
respectively.
The total sales of school lands in the county from Septem-
ber, 15, 1848, to July 1, 1854, amounted to $15,554, the greater
part of it at $1.25 per acre. It appears that no more was sold
until April, 1858, when contracts were made for the sale of
1,280 acres, none of it for less than $3.30 per acre.
General provision for schools was urged upon the legisla-
ture of the territory commencing as early as 1842 and 1843.
Communications from individuals and editorials contain argu-
ments that appear very common since then. Some facts are
set forth that would answer for texts in political and social
science. The poorest and most destitute were declared to be
deserving of the opportunities for education. ""No duty," it
was urged, "was more imperative upon the governing body,
than the provision for the educating of the children. To what
purpose," it is inquired, "is it that various and multiplied
laws are enacted if those upon whom they are intended to
operate are left in ignorance?" The laws were evidently in-
tended for intelligent people, not for the ignorant, since the
most intellectual are the most law abiding. ' ' An ignorant body
politic can never be, practically, a free one. Though it may
enjoy the largest franchise, nominally, it will still be the most
detestable of despotisms. Such a community must always be
swayed by passion."
The whole youth of a country can never be educated unless
the government interferes to bring it about. Though at first
the number of those who may be found dependent upon gov-
ernmental aid for education may be small, yet the number will
constantly increase until ignorance "would abound in the
land."
"That legislature which, even in these times of distress,
10
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240 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
when almost the whole community are looking to legislatures
for relief, should spend the entire length of its session in
devising ways and means for a system of education for the
youth of the land, would render its constituents a far greater
service than if it should find a way to pay all their debts, and
put money into the purse of each individual.
"That something is demanded from the governing authority
of this Territory for the extension of the opportunities for
schooling, no one can doubt What measures, in what way con-
structed, it is not yet determined, but officials must settle
that from their own knowledge of the needs of the time. The
only question for them to answer now is, will they take this
matter up!"
The subject was especially urged upon younger members of
the legislature of the territory, who might, by carrying such a
measure to a successful issue, make themselves remembered
through all the future, and win for themselves the very highest
commendation.
A writer of the time cited the educational system of Prus-
sia as a model for Iowa, and ' ' How long, ' > it was asked, ' i shall
Prussia with her monarchy be in advance of Iowa Terri-
tory!"a48
Since the population was more numerous in the town than
on the outskirts, it was quite natural that the first schools
should be established in that quarter. As all know, there were
no free schools yet established in 1840, but it was then that
Jesse Berry opened a school by erecting a frame building on
College street, in Iowa City, just west of the present inter-
urban depot. It was eighteen by twenty-six feet in dimensions,
and in this house in the fall of the year mentioned he began
his school with fifteen pupils, that being the total number of
school age, so it is said, in the town. The tuition was rarely
paid in cash, for that was a scarce article in those first days as
well as at later times, when methods of procuring it troubled
the entire population as well as the government Some paid
in wood, some in vegetables, others in washing the garments
for the teacher. But he was paid in some way, and probably
had all the necessities of life that were required to make him
happy. He was pronounced a good teacher, and a fair type of
those who began the first plans of the schools in the new land.
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 241
Doubtless he did as efficient work with his limited equipment as
some with all the lumber of the present day.
Provision was made for a system of free schools by an act
of the territorial legislature which was approved January 16,
1840, but no funds sufficient to carry any school were then
available and buildings must be erected by voluntary subscrip-
tion, according to the law then passed. The office of superin-
tendent of public instruction was created in 1841, and he was to
apportion the school funds of the territory.149
In the fall and winter of 1842 and 1843, Jeremiah Stover
taught in the first school house built in the county. This was
in the south part of what is now Pleasant Valley township, on
the bank of Buck creek in the southwest quarter of section
thirty-six. It was sixteen feet square, "mud fireplace, mud
chimney, no window, puncheon floor, with split slabs for seats,
while desks it had none." This was located on the claim of
James Walker and was known as the "Walker school house."
Thirteen pupils attended, the price of the tuition being one
dollar and a half for the three months, the patrons agreeing
to furnish the wood for the term, the teacher to cut it and make
his own fire, which labor as well as the instruction was per-
formed to the satisfaction of all concerned. The teacher told
of his experiences fifty years after without any regrets.
A general view of the early schools may be mentioned here
before discussing the individual divisions or the local educa-
tional interests. The settlements began in the early days of
their history in much the same manner, and it is not necessary
to describe the conditions in each instance.
In 1842, James Douglas, in the Clear Creek settlement, gave
a part of his house for the use of a school &nd Mrs. Berry
taught there with an attendance of twelve pupils. In the same
winter Benjamin Harner opened a school in the cabin of David
Crozier in Penn, or what is now Penn, township with sixteen
of the neighborhood children, and it will be remembered that
the distance was not considered in the time of the log school
house. This cabin was soon burned and the school had to be
abandoned. In this same year Margaret Montgomery was em-
ployed to teach a school in Hardin township at one dollar and
a half per week, and board among the patrons. "Boarding
'round," was the usual custom, and of course considered as a
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242 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
part of the teacher's compensation. Cedar township, as it is
now called, had a school in 1841, on section thirty-one, where
Mrs. Fanny Pratt taught in her own house, with a charge of
one dollar per month for each pupil. Big Grove had a real
school house in 1844, which was built by Chauncey Fowler on
section nine; it was fourteen feet square, of round logs, the
windows being of that kind described by an old settler as of
"greased paper," the opening in the logs having that kind of
a covering which let the light in but not the heat out. In the
School at Shueyville
winter of 1844-5, Daniel McCune taught in this township, hav-
ing eighteen pupils and his pay reaching ten dollars per month.
Miss Cynthia Worster was employed to keep a school in Ox-
ford township, before it was named to be sure, at three dollars
per week. In the same year, 1844, Samuel Dilley taught there
at twelve dollars per month. It is probable that they had the
same privileges of going home with the children for meals and
lodging as in other cases. The custom of remaining at the
home of the pupils in proportion to the number sent from the
family was established.
Austin Cole taught in the present boundaries of Scott town-
ship in the winter of 1843-44, his place of labor and building
having been located in the edge of the timber northeast of the
residence of J. T. Struble. Here he had thirty pupils, but his
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 243
income is not stated, beyond this, that the patrons furnished the
fuel as usual, while the teacher was skilful enough to train the
boys in athletics of the kind which included "wood cutting' ' as
part of the curriculum. So far as known Austin Cole was the
last of the early teachers of the county to be left to relate these
things. The house of Wilson Blain, in the northern part of the
county, was used for a school taught by Miss Elizabeth Win-
terstein, who had twelve pupils under her instruction during
the period of the other schools mentioned in this brief summary
of those educational beginnings.250
The first free school in district number one in Iowa City
township began its first term May 25, 1847, under the manage-
ment of A. G. Gower. This was under the law concerning free
schools approved January 24, 1847.251 This law caused some
discussion through the failure of the assembly that passed it
to provide for its proper publication. Judge Mason, of the
Iowa Supreme Court, was asked for his opinion in the matter,
and meanwhile Elisha Cutler, Secretary of State, endeavored
to carry out the provisions of the act that it might be effective,
and the schools, therefore, were opened as the law provided.
When the April election came on the law's validity was still
undecided. The agitation was still kept up and it caused the
superintendent of public instruction, James Harlan, some
trouble in his being compelled to defend his right to hold the
office to which he was chosen. To test the legality of the elec-
tion of directors for the several districts, Thomas Snyder, of
district number two in Iowa City township, who had been
elected a director, made up an agreed case. Geo. S. Hampton
was the prosecuting attorney, and the case came before Judge
Carleton, who decided that Mr. Snyder was not legally elected,
the law not being in operation at the time of the election. This
was all due to the form of publication.252 A great storm of pro-
test arose over this decision brought about through a techni-
cality and much confusion resulted over the fund created for
school purposes, for which the law provided. Certain lands
had been selected and sold, the fund from which was ready for
distribution in the form of loans, and some had been loaned in
other counties. This was confusing matters, since contracts
were made which were practically declared illegal now by this
decision. Land offices would not recognize these contracts
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244 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
made with fund commissioners for which the law provided, and
in addition the land sales were coming on and there was no time
to secure a postponement from the general land office. Money
paid on first installments to school fund commissioners would
be at the mercy of any bidder against them who had made such
a contract. Purchasing the lands from the state made terms
considerably better than from the United States, and such a
decision would place these lands once more before the pros-
pective purchasers.
In August, 1847, James Harlan, superintendent of public
instruction, issued a letter to all school officers reminding them
of their duty in the offices to which they had been elected until
the law was passed upon by the highest court. However, it
was not possible to stop all opposition to the free school law,
and many schools were discontinued through legal action by
the "opposers." Money collected for school purposes could
not be paid out unless by special act of the legislature. The
common school system as provided for was practically ar-
rested in Johnson county. Political affairs made the contest
bitter and the schools bore the burden. Officials who chose to
refuse recognition of the authority of another could not be
compelled to act, and funds were not available for free schools.
When Iowa City was incorporated in 1853 the city schools
came under the control of the city council and so remained un-
til the law of 1858, providing for an independent school board.
Private schools had continued all the time from 1840 up to this
time, and did not cease after public schools had been long es-
tablished. Jesse Berry, Mr. Ghoate, Dr. William Eeynolds,
Anson Hart, Mr. and Mrs. Fisk, Mrs. Huelin, H. W. Lathrop,
and Austin Cole were conspicuous leaders in these institu-
tions.
One building plays such an important part in all educational
affairs of Iowa City that it is necessary here to depart from a
chronological order, to give an account of it, preparatory to
the further discussion of the free schools. Such was the Acad-
emy built by the Mechanics' Mutual Aid Association, an or-
ganization that appears for the first time in 1841, July 3,
probably during the celebration of Independence Day.253 This
building must be mentioned in many local references, since it
had to do with a number of institutions.
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 245
The laying of the corner stone of the building for this or-
ganization is described in a journal of the time: " Tuesday
was a proud day for the members of the Mechanics' Mutual
Aid Association, of this city. Agreeably to invitation, the
citizens assembled about two o'clock at the temporary state
house ,54 for the purpose of forming a procession and march-
ing to the building, to witness the ceremonies of laying the
corner stone of the Mechanics' Academy. Business was sus-
pended and all classes left their occupations and devoted the
afternoon to recreations attendant upon the occasion.
"The procession formed about four o'clock and marching
through the principal streets of the city, assembled at the
ground set aside for this very purpose.256 At the head of the
procession were the clergymen of the city, then came the in-
vited guests of the association, then the officers, the teachers
and children of the different schools, and a large concourse of
citizens brought up the rear."
There was music by the choir from the Methodist Protestant
church, a speech by Mr. Libby, and everything was "harmon-
ious."
This building was completed in the following spring, on land
donated by the legislature, the south half of the west half of
block sixty in the original town of Iowa City. It was built by
voluntary subscription of the Mechanics' Association, at an
expense of about $4,000. The conditions of donation of land
by the territory required an outlay of only $1,000.
According to announcement made in May, 1843, the Acad-
emy would be opened for students in June. This was the
"female department" of the school, and the services of an
accomplished lady "favorably known as a teacher both here
and elsewhere," were secured. In this connection it is men-
tioned that the Academy is i i surrounded by prairie scenery too
splendid for description." The institution thus located in a
climate recommended for its "salubrious atmosphere" was
said to enjoy advantages seldom combined, and parents could
therefore have no excuse for "withholding patronage." The
terms and courses of study are advertised in the announce-
ment: "Beading, writing, arithmetic and geography are
taught from primary books. Cost per session of three months,
three dollars ; English grammar and geography, four dollars
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246 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
per session; mathematics, natural science, rhetoric, and logic,
five dollars per session ; Latin and French language, drawing
and painting, six dollars; music, on the piano, ten dollars ex-
tra.7 ' Strangers could be accommodated with good boarding
at reasonable rates. These particulars were under the direc-
tion of J. N. Ball, then the chairman of the Academy board of
trustees.
In this connection it is proper to give some account of the
end of the old Mechanics' Academy, and it is fortunate that
one who knew, wrote of it at the time of its demolition to make
way for the new hospital.
It was in May, 1839, that the stakes were stuck that marked
the boundaries of the old Mechanics' Academy, only three
years after the white man had made any attempt at permanent
settlement in the county. Less than two years from the time
these stakes were set for this building, and during the adminis-
tration of John Tyler as president of the United States and
John Chambers as governor of the territory of Iowa, the me-
chanics of Iowa City met to form the "Iowa City Mechanics'
Mutual Aid Association. ' ' James N. Ball was the first presi-
dent, L. S. Swafford and Thomas Combe, vice presidents,
Edward Lanning, secretary, and Thomas Ricord, treasurer.
Mr. Ball was a stone cutter, the man who cut the word
"IOWA" in raised letters that appears on the capstone of the
door in the front of the old capitol. Mr. Swafford was a car-
penter and made the window frames in the Academy, all of
them being from oak lumber from Felkner's saw mill, that
used to be on Rapid creek, just above where the Dubuque road
crosses that creek in Newport township. Sylvanus Johnson
was the maker of the brick for the Academy, and his yard, or
kiln, as mentioned elsewhere, was near where Hummer's mill
is at present located.
For its objects the Mechanics ' Aid Association had the care
of sick members, the raising of funds for the payment of bene-
fits to the sick, and sometimes the funeral expenses of deceased
members. Besides these fraternal duties, in the absence of any
educational advantages at the time, they conceived of the es-
tablishment of an institution of learning, and to effect this
purpose they procured from the legislature of the territory a
law incorporating their association and granting it a lot on
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 247
which to erect an academy building. This law was approved
January 4, 1842. The incorporators, besides the officers, in-
cluded A. H. Haskell, A. Gk Adams, Abraham Burkholder, and
Francis Thompson. The act names the first officers. A pro-
vision of the law was the erection of a building on the lot within
two years from the date of the act, the cost of which building
should not be less than one thousand dollars. In the spring of
1842 work was begun and by the middle of June work had pro-
gressed far enough to lay the corner stone, and this occurred
with appropriate ceremonies, as related before.
A procession was formed in front of the old Butler State
House on Washington street, and the route was west to Clinton
street, south to Burlington street, then east to Dubuque, north
to the avenue, and then east to the building place which was
just where the west wing of the University Hospital now
stands. Rev. Michael Hummer acted as chaplain, and Rev.
John Libby gave the oration.
How much was accomplished on the building during this
season cannot now be determined, but certainly not enough to
warrant the holding of any meetings in it, since accounts are
given of meetings held in the Methodist Protestant church
and one in the legislative council chamber for the January elec-
tion of officers. By the first of the next June, though the walls
had but a rough coat of plaster, the school was advertised to
open under the management of Hugh and William Hamilton,
in the male department, and Mrs. S. C. Morey, wife of the Bap-
tist minister, in the female department. At this same period
Dr. William Reynolds opened a private school in the city and
it was a period of "college and school openings," as the Meth-
odist College, incorporated under territorial laws, and in
charge of the Rock River conference, besides a classical school
under W. K. Talbott began "to advertise for pupils.' '
Hugh Hamilton is said to have been a very excellent classical
scholar, and his pupils speak of him as being a more than
ordinary teacher. Mrs. Geo. S. Hampton, the wife of a promi-
nent citizen in much of the county's history, succeeded Mrs.
Morey in the fall of 1842 when the school began in September.
In October the Academy gave public notice that it had united
the two departments under the instruction of the Hamiltons,
and agreed to accept tuition "in any kind of merchantable pro-
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 249>
duce and labor/ ' So far as can be ascertained this was the-
last school held under the auspices of the Mechanics7 Mutual
Aid Association, and in competition with the college and pri-
vate schools then established, it is doubtful whether the insti-
tution was at any time a great financial success. The building-
just recently removed was thirty by sixty feet in dimensions,,
with two stories above a good basement, with a belfry. Pic-
tures of it may occasionally be seen. There were two front
doors on the west side with three large windows between themr
five windows on the east side in the first story with the same
number on each side in the second story, a small room was
formed at the north end on both floors. The columns that
stood on either side, of the doors were turned on a lathe that
was used in a shop which stood on the bank of Balston creek
near the old oil mill, and a dam built across this creek at this
point furnished the power to turn the lathe.258 Some have said,
that it is doubtful whether there was a school building in thfr
territory as good as this one when it was completed.
In November, 1845, the upper floor was leased to the Masonic
lodge, and in less than one year from this date it was leased
by the Masons to the Odd Fellows lodge, after which it was
used by both lodges for two or more years, while the first
story continued to be used by the various instructors for school
purposes. Following this the entire building was used by pri-
vate individuals for school purposes, among whom were Dr.
Reynolds, H. W. Lathrop, D. S. Warren, Mrs. S. C. Morey, and
others, till in the month of July, 1853, when the first school
under the city government was opened in it with H. W. La-
throp as principal, and Nancy McCaddon as assistant, art
salaries respectively of $450 and $250 per year. The annual
rent paid by the city was $230.
The board of trustees of the State University having on the
seventh of February, 1854, determined to put that institution
into active operation as a unit, the Academy on the first of May
was leased to them for that purpose, and this lease continued
until 1866, at an annual rental at first of $250, later increased
to $300. In the meantime Robert Hutchinson had obtained a
majority of the shares of the stock of the Mechanics' Mutual
Aid Association, and this gave him control of the property,
when he traded it to the University for a house and lot on
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250 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
College street, known as the Doty property. In September,
1854, the University was formally opened in this building with
Alexander Johnstone as the sole professor, but before the close
of the college year other members were added to the faculty,
and temporary partitions were put in both the upper and lower
stories, in order to give each professor a room to himself.
When the Academy was no longer needed for the purposes
of instruction, after the Old Capitol was given up to the insti-
tution, it was turned over to the students for dormitory pur-
poses. Probably five hundred dollars were used to prepare the
"building for this purpose, and those occupying the rooms paid
a stipulated sum per term for rent. Owing to the pranks
played and the general reputation it gained after this it was
nicknamed the "Old Sin Trap." A bell had been purchased
of the New School Presbyterian church and hung in the belfry
of the Academy until it was cracked by the energy applied in
ringing it or because of some defect in workmanship, or, ac-
cording to another story, it was filled with water and frozen
up. One of the trustees, S. W. Cole, was authorized to pur-
chase a new bell to replace the broken one, and at last accounts
it had never been hung, but was lying forgotten in the south-
west corner of the Old Capitol. The broken bell was the one
procured by donation for the old stone church when C. M.
€alkins and Rev. W. W. Woods went east in the early forties
to secure funds for the church building.
It had been hoped by those who were interested, that the old
corner stone would contain something of value in reference to
the times in which it was laid, but when removed from its long-
time resting place, it was found that the space left for such
records was entirely empty, nothing being put there, or if so,
the long period from 1842 to 1897 had caused the contents to
crumble into dust. The former conclusion is probably the most
reasonable, since there was very little local historical matter
in 1842 to place in.the corner stone of any building in the terri-
tory, and then it was not considered of great value, even had
anything been available, since the time had not arrived when
the preservation of current events was thought essential to
historical truth.
When the Academy was built there were forty-six members
of the Mechanics' Mutual Aid Association, whose names are
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 251
here given : James N. Ball, A. H. Haskell, A. GL Adams, Ed.
Lanning, L. S. Swaff ord, who was librarian in this building for
a number of years, Thos. Combe, Francis Thompson, Thomas
Eicord, A. Burkholder, Robt. Hutchinson, C. C. Sangster, Thos.
M. Banbury, John Horner, Seth Williams, Jas. M. Hawkins,
C. Cartrett, E. T. Locke, Chas. Cartwright, S. M. Wadley,
James Mackintosh, Wm. P. Doty, Wm. H. Hunt, Benjamin
Weiser, Sylvanus Johnson, Hugh P. Sexton, Wm. Crum, Hugh
V. Gildee, Thos. B. Anthony, Asa Beckwith, Noah MendenhaJl,
Peter Moriarity, J. M. Clemons, J. B. Hollingsworth, Geo. T.
Andrews, William Murray, A. J. Lucas, Jas. N. Layman, John
H. Copenhofer, Elihu Dewell, Arthur Rowan, James Millerr
A. B. Newcomb, Abe Owen, Nathaniel Worden, Dioclesian
Cox, Sanf ord Harned.257
In July, 1853, at a called meeting of the city council, Alder-
man Snyder, of the committee on schools, made a verbal report
on the action of his committee, * * stating that they had rented,
subject to the approval of the council, the Mechanics' Acad-
emy for a term of five years at $230 per annum, that Mr.
Lathrop had been employed as principal teacher at the rate
of $450 per annum." Mr. Lathrop at this time was a member
of the council, having come into this office from the second
ward through appointment to fill a vacancy.
The officers of school districts, previous to this time, were
now by resolution required to deliver up the books and papers
in their possession, and if they refused to do so, the recorder
of the city was authorized to commence suit for their recovery
at the expense of the city.
Samuel Spurrier was employed by the school committee in
1854 at an annual salary of $400, for the male department.
Miss M. C. Christy at $200 per year, Miss Cornelia Wilson at
$175, and Miss Lydia Lanning at $150, for the female depart-
ment, and the committee further submitted * * a system of rules
for their government." An interesting item in this report^
when compared with current items of the same nature, states
that the committee had "procured a Desk, 4 Brooms, 2 Buck-
ets, 3 tin cups, a chair for teacher, 2 Brushes and a dusting Pan
for the use of the said schools." This bill being submitted,
some question arose as to the expense of schools in general,
and the matter was laid on the table for a time, when it was
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252 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
reconsidered, and " after some deliberation and coolness9 ' it
^was adopted. Through the kindness of the city council Mr.
Spurrier was granted the use of the library in the school build-
ing [Mechanics' Academy] for "a study and sleeping room."
The school committee, composed of B. S. Finkbine, S. Ma-
gill, and M. J. Morsman, recommended in June, 1854, that the
Saturday session of the schools be discontinued as the atten-
dance was so small that the work did not meet the end the com-
mittee designed it should, namely, "a review of the studies
of the previous week.258
After due notice by the city recorder under the authority of
the council the citizens met in the Methodist Protestant church
io vote on the question of levying a tax for the purpose of
4 ' building a school house or houses, and to purchase sites for
ihe same. " At a subsequent meeting a vote was taken by ballot,
and by a vote of one hundred and four out of one hundred and
thirty-five cast, the citizens approved "a one per cent tax" for
the purpose mentioned, which was understood to provide for
three buildings, one in each ward, the construction to be made
under the authority of the city council.
A phase of the educational matters that has passed out of
local history arose in a small way in the last month of 1855,
when a colored woman "refused to pay her school tax on the
ground that she was debarred from the benefit of said fund."
The city marshal asked for instruction from the city council
on this new question. Since the question was referred to the
•committee on finance it may have been buried there, for no
further mention is made of this subject until after the schools
passed from the jurisdiction of the city council.
One of the school houses contracted for in the summer of
1856 was so far completed that work began in it in January,
1857. Meantime, during the fall before, school had been held
in the basements of the Methodist Protestant and Baptist
churches. The new school houses were to cost in the first esti-
mate only $3,000, but the committee contracted to the extent
of $8,000 for each, and the committee expressed the belief that
"when completed these would be the best common school
liouses in Iowa." 259 The schools were organized in the three
new buildings in the autumn of 1857, under direction of the
school committee of the council, and since this is the first corn-
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 253
plete establishment in the buildings owned by the district, the
account is given in detail. There was a male teacher in each
ward at an annual salary of $480. In the first and third wards
there were three female assistants and in the second ward
two, and each of them drew a salary of $300 per year, " during
the pleasure of the council/ * These teachers were, in the first
ward, Mr. Harris, Misses Hatch, Eicord, and Duncan; in the
second ward, A. J. Cassaday, Misses Bradshaw and Dockray ;
and in the third ward, Mr. Robb, Misses Wilson, Sargent, and
Mrs. Truesdell.
When the school law of 1858, providing for the changes in
school affairs, became effective, the city council prepared to
surrender the schools to the properly constituted new board of
education. Although they considered that the law was in
" doubt as to its constitutionality" they did not deem the coun-
cil the proper body to pass on the question, and the school
committee of the council was therefore dissolved. Objections
were made to this action of the council, and under the doubts
arising it was suggested at a meeting of citizens that an
4 ' amicable suit" be arranged to determine the matter.2*0
Evidently the question of authority was not entirely set-
tled when the city council met in April, 1859, for Alderman
Jesse Berry introduced a resolution reading, "that the city
council direct and control the schools of Iowa City as contem-
plated in the city charter."
At this period in the school history they had been under the
•direction of the independent board for almost one year accord-
ing to the law which was approved March 12, 1858. The first
"board under that law was composed of N. H. Brainerd, presi-
dent ; P. S. Van Nest, vice president ; and Daniel Branch, secre-
tary, and one member for each of four districts. This board
proceeded to elect teachers and divide the city into four sub-
districts at its first session, May 6, 1858. The following day
they approved the bond of Anson Hart, as treasurer of the
•school district, "under the present school law." They also
voted to take measures as soon as it should be practicable "to
establish a school for the colored youth of the city."
By the time of the session held on the last day of May, 1858,
the districts were all represented on the board. E. C. Lee,
Dr. Jesse Bowen, J. T. Turner were regularly chosen, and J. P.
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254 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Wood was appointed to fill a vacancy. This completed the
first regularly constituted school board of Iowa City under
this law.
The proposed * * colored school ' ' was given up, or indefinitely
postponed, if we may judge from a resolution adopted in June,
1858, in which the " colored children were instructed to attend
the schools of their respective districts until objections be
urged by white families sending to said schools. "
It is interesting to note that at the second regular monthly
meeting of the board a committee was appointed "to present
plans for a High School," and it appears that this was in
harmony with a vote of the citizens on May 17, 1858, although
no record is found concerning the vote in detail. This was also
about the time when the "common council," as it is termed,.
sent a communication through their attorney, Rush Clark, pro-
posing an "agreed case" to be submitted to the Supreme Court
for the settlement of the following questions : * * First, on the
constitutionality of the present school law; second, on the ap-
plicability of this law to Iowa City ; third, on the legality of the
election of this Board of Directors." To this a reply was
prepared by the president and read to the board, but, unfor-
tunately, it was not recorded.
Without regard to the legal situation the board proceeded
to recommend the employment of a principal for the new high
school at sixty dollars per month, and immediately began to
search for someone who could fill this important position. It
appears, however, from the records, that no special individual
was employed for the place until the following year, when
M. B. Beals was chosen principal of the high school depart-
ment and also of the second ward school. An entirely nevr
board was chosen on April 11, 1859, consisting of Ezekiel
Clarke, president; John S. Reed, vice president; William
Reynolds, secretary; Theodore Sanxay, treasurer; B. S-
Holmes, Henry Murray, and M. B. Cochran, directors.
During this year plans were prepared for grading the
schools, at the suggestion of William Reynolds and Dr. Coch-
ran. There was placed before the board the need of a "city
superintendent," but after consideration, the movement was-
deferred "for the present." The chief question during this
period was the equipment of the district with buildings and
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256 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
furniture without making the debt burdensome, and it was in-
formally proposed, at the meeting of the new board in March,
1860, to suspend the school for part of the year until the in-
debtedness could be discharged. This was about the time the
state was trying the same plan in suspending the operations
of the University for the same purpose, or until a fund could
be accumulated.
In a report of the high school principal, Mr. Beals, in April,
1860, the number of pupils in his department was given as
thirty-five girls and thirty-five boys, with an average atten-
dance of forty-six and one-half. Today, fifty years after, the
high school, with its so much higher standard, enrolls four
hundred and twenty. However, it was by no means certain
in 1860 that the policy of continuing a high school was fixed,
for a motion that "the high school be continued," made by
Dr. Henry Murray, was put to a vote. H. S. Welton became
the principal of this department in 1860 and served until Jan-
uary, 1861, when, owing to disagreement concerning contracts
and a ten per cent reduction due to cashing orders for pay, he
tendered his resignation, " verbally.' ' Contracts were so
drawn that either party could terminate them by giving two
weeks' notice, and this provision was the first grievance, which
was protested against by the city teachers. On the claims of
Mr. Welton it is concluded that he had the authority of the
supervisor of all the schools, since he asked for extra compen-
sation "as superintendent," although he had no official recog-
nition in this position. This illustrates the manner in which
this position came to be recognized, and finally a separate and
distinct office. The office is formally mentioned for the first
time in estimating the expenses for 1863, in which an allow-
ance is made for * i 1 superintendent 8 months, at $75 per month,
$600."
From 1862 to 1867 there is a period of no record in the first
volume of minutes, since the closing record of 1862 is imme-
diately followed by 1867. How it happened to be thus does
not appear, although strict search has been made for the inter-
vening history.
J. Madison Williams was employed as city superintendent
in 1867, at a salary of $1,000, and it is interesting to note here
that C. P. Rogers, afterward for twenty-two years superin-
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 257
tendent of the Marshalltown schools, was principal of the third
ward at the same time. During the summer of 1870 it was
voted to discontinue the office of superintendent, as in the
opinion of the board, the schools could be conducted without
one. The problem of continuing a high school was still un-
settled, the records indicating a disposition to readjust the
work by cutting out some of the upper grades, since on Sep-
tember 19, 1870, "On motion of Mr. Van Fleet grade 10 was
discontinued."
In 1871 a new superintendent was employed, indicating that
one year's experience without one was not satisfactory. Mrs.
H. S. Lane was placed in this position on two months' trial at
$900. Mrs. Lane continued in this office until 1873, when she
was succeeded by Miss Sarah Loughridge, who was paid $600
per year for the superintendency of the city schools. S. D.
Cook held this position in 1874, and he was succeeded in 1875
by A. A. Guthrie. During the latter administration the high
school was for one year in charge of John J. Seerley, since a
member of congress from the first district of Iowa.
A. A. Guthrie continued as superintendent and also as secre-
tary of the board until he was succeeded in 1884 by W. A.
Willis, now owner and principal of the Iowa City Academy.
Mr. Willis remained in this position until 1891. He was fol-
lowed for one year by Mr. Jackson, who was succeeded by
W. F. Cramer, who is now in charge of the Red Oak schools.
S. K. Stevenson occupied this office for nine years after his
long service in the county superintendency, and following his
resignation to enter the practice of law A. V. Storm was city
superintendent one year, going from this position to the Iowa
State College at Ames, to become director of schools in the
department of agriculture. The present superintendent, H. E.
Blackmar, followed Mr. Storm, and has continued in this office
for four years.
A custom not now common, so far as official action is neces-
sary, appears to have been practiced for a number of years,
whereby a select committee of citizens was appointed by the
board to visit the different schools and comment on the work.
Each year the lists were recorded. A typical one may be
taken from the committee of 1878. For the first and second
grades the members were: "Lovell Swisher, Mrs. Will Lytle,
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258 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Mrs. Walter Lee, Mrs. D. F. Stow; third and fourth grades,
Rev. E. T. Hiscox, Mrs. Chas. Lewis, Mrs. C. P. Bacon, Mrs. A.
Beach ; fifth and sixth grades, Prof. T. S. Parvin, Mrs. John
W. Jayne, Mrs. G. H. Pinkham, Mr. J. C. Cochran; seventh
and eighth grades, Louis H. Jackson, Rev. W. B. Craig, Miss
Sue King, W. H. Hubbard; high school, William Lytle, Mrs.
John P. Irish, Mrs. D. S. Barbow, C. L. Mozier, and P. A. Dey."
This committee was requested to " visit, examine, and file
with the secretary of the board a report embodying such sug-
gestions as may occur during such examination.,, *61
A visitor of 1859 makes use of the following language after
a formal visit, probably on his own responsibility: "First
ward school under the superintendence of Mr. Hawes, the sec
ond under the direction of Mr. Beals, and the third in charge
of Mr. Goodrich, with their accomplished lady assistants, are
a corps that are rendering most efficient service in the cause
of education. ' ' There was much more enthusiastic commenda-
tion, concluding with the mention of the fourth ward under
the supervision of Mr. Childs, since, "his school was no ex-
ception to the views expressed.' '
At the present time the independent school district of Iowa
City has eight buildings, not including two rural schools that
recently came under the jurisdiction of the board of education.
The total enrollment of pupils reaches sixteen hundred, with
four hundred and twenty of high school grade. Fifty-seven
teachers are employed to instruct these, which includes special-
ists in music, art, and manual training, and the departments
usually found in a high school course, which is fully accredited
in the association of colleges.
Closely allied to the independent district and at times cover-
ing the same territory are the district townships of East and
West Lucas, formerly called when combined Iowa City town-
ship. Since the law of 1858 provided for this organization
also, it is proper to mention it here. On May 15, 1858, the
board of education of Iowa City township assembled for the
first time. There were present at this meeting, "President
John McCaddon, Vice President I. V. Dennis, Secretary L.
Kobinson, and S. H. McCrory, the treasurer, as officers, in
addition to the directors ; from district number three, Samuel
J. Kirkwood ; number five, S. H. McCrory ; number six, Cyrus
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 259
Sanders ; number seven, Abel Stephens ; number eight, Lyman
Allen; Iowa City and Newport township, J. J. Mendenhall;
number nine, Wm. T. Crouse. The committee on credentials,
composed of Cyrus Sanders and S. H. McCrory, reported all
of the above members entitled to their seats/ '
At this first session a committee was appointed to ascertain
the need of redisricting the township. The three members
were Samuel J. Kirkwood, S. H. McCrory, and J. J. Menden-
hall. Cyrus Sanders and Lyman Allen were also made a com-
mittee to furnish a plat of the districts as first established.
Each director was made a committee of one to determine
the amount of money necessary to raise in his district to carry
the schools for the usual period. He was also empowered to
hire and contract with a teacher for "not to exceed four
months' time."
Allen, Mendenhall, and Dennis were the authorized commit-
tee "to select sites for school houses," to report plans and
further, to make contracts for buildings, subject, of course, to
the approval of the entire board. They were called the ' l Build-
ing Committee," and the meeting closed its forenoon session
with this appointment. It may be supposed that this was no
ordinary meeting, for it appears to have continued the entire
day, since the committee on redistricting reported in the after-
noon. The details of the boundaries need not be quoted here,
but the entire township was arranged in ten districts, James
G. Hill having been appointed as sub-director in the tenth.
The numbers of the districts were now changed, and names
associated with the first members were accordingly made to
correspond to the new arrangement. To one accustomed to
the later law it appears strange that the president, John Mc-
Caddon, was not a director in any district.
Ed. Lanning was named as director in district number two,
James Borland in number four, Cyrus Sanders was not
changed as to number, remaining in six. Samuel J. Kirk-
wood's district was now called number seven instead of three.
It may be observed that the rules adopted in 1858 by the
committee appointed for that purpose do not differ materially
from the rules of today. There were nine sections relating to
the duties of pupils and teachers, and one giving an oppor-
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260 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
tunity for parents "to appeal from the decision of the teacher,
or board.' '
The wages paid teachers at that period were estimated to
average twenty dollars for female, and twenty-five for male
teachers, but the figures do not quite support that statement,
for E. Ailing was paid $71 for sixteen weeks, and Mary Bowen
$40 for the same time, although it appears that $32 was paid
for her board at the home of Abel Stephens for the sixteen
weeks. Other items give some further idea of the current
wages. In August, 1859, Miss A. Pinney was paid twenty dol-
lars for teaching one month in district number three ; Chas.
Tuthill, twenty-four dollars for six weeks in number five; Miss
A. Markham, sixteen dollars for one month; Miss E. Blake,
twenty-five dollars for one month; Miss E. Chalfant, thirty
dollars for two months.262
The schools in various sections of the county may be said to
have a similar beginning, but local interests may add to the
general statement more of the details, and something of the
present condition. '
The first school in Big Grove dates from 1841, as taught by
Mrs. Fanny Pratt, on the line between Big Grove and Cedar
townships, or about the location of section thirty-one, the fee
being one dollar for the month's tuition. The first house for
school purposes was built here by the volunteer efforts of the
citizens of the community in 1842 on the southwest quarter of
section twenty-three, and some say twenty-five. These build-
ings were the same as in other parts of the county and it is not
necessary to describe each in detail, as one answers for all, the
same logs, the same fireplace, big enough to play at hide and
seek almost, and the one log left out to cover with the oiled
paper to make the opening for the small amount of light needed.
It was in 1847 that the log house was built in district number
five. The seats were of slabs, and the floor puncheon. AH the
windows were put on the south side, probably as a caution
against the cold winds from the north. Here, in 1848 and '49r
Jackson Johnson was the teacher. The following year "Mr.
Galloway from Maine/ ' the hunter who kept a shotgun behind
the door to capture the unwary prairie chicken, even during
school hours, was the pedagogue in charge. The next year,
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 261
1850 and '51, Lemuel Templeton presided over the destinies of
the log house, and the pupils who came there.
Stone is convenient, or was in 1866, in Big Grove, as the old
livery barn in Solon may suggest, and a school house was built
of this material on section thirty-five in that year. The board
of directors at this time was composed of three men, J. G.
Crain, Fidel Kessler, and Joseph Beuter, and it was from the
quarry of the last-named gentleman that the stone was taken.
This house stood for about forty years, when fire destroyed it,
so much so that the old walls were sold for fifteen dollars, while
a new one, costing about $1,000, took its place. The last
teacher in the old building of stone was Miss Ella Kessler, now
Mrs. Ben Cambridge. The first one in the new was Miss Mae
Campion, now Mrs. Raymond Miller.
District number six of Big Grove township had a log build-
ing in 1853. It had a slab roof, and the floor was good old
mother earth, the fireplace of split sticks and clay, but one
window, seats of plank sawed at a mill near by, and wooden
pegs for legs. The door was hung on wooden hinges, with an
old-fashioned latch of wood. Here, fourteen pupils came from
miles away, some of them, and their books were very few in-
deed. This house was removed in 1856 and a frame house
placed there the same year. In 1904 the building at this loca-
tion also burned, which required another change in structures.
This district is fortunate in having, most of the time, a spring
of clear water in the school grounds.
Another school that is quite old is one called the "stone
Academy,' ' or number one, in which the township meetings
were formerly held.268
The schools of Solon date their establishment in the graded
form about 1878, and soon after this they passed from a
single room to a building of more pretentions dimensions. The
district has had its present building about thirty years.
The first school in the settlement in the northeastern corner
of the county is said to have been taught by Daniel F. McCune,
in a log house of course, on section three, near the claim of A. C.
Sutliff. the usual plan of cooperation and volunteer labor was
necessary to erect the building, which was completed in the
winter of 1844 and '45. This had the added or special feature
of hewed instead of round logs, which gave it a degree of re-
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262 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
finement not always found in the houses of that day. It had the
customary slab seats and big fireplace, with seating capacity
for eighteen or more, whom Mr. McCune taught for ten dollars
per month. The center school of the present township of
Cedar was erected in 1874. Here the public school meetings
and elections are usually held. Many years ago the house was
used for church services.264
The first school in Penn township has been referred to, and
the date 1842 is probably correct. The teacher, Benjamin Har-
ner, doubtless was known to the man who furnished these
Old School Building, North Liberty
facts. This house burned during the school session, and in
1843 one of hewed logs was constructed. This again, in 1849,
was remodeled and improved. Miss Frost taught here in 1843,
and "took her pay in barter," which was to be equivalent to
eight dollars per month, and her board was secured among the
patrons.
Not until 1860, was a frame house for school purposes
erected in this vicinity, of North Liberty. Later, in 1865, a
two-story frame house was planned for the village, which fur-
nished room enough to partially grade the school, and Miss
Elizabeth Bowman is said to have first taught this new
school.265 It appears further that the two buildings stood on
the same ground formerly as located in North Liberty. The
two-story building referred to had a lodge room in the upper
story. The two houses were finally disposed of for residence
purposes, and in 1899 the present building was erected, con-
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 263
taining three rooms, the upper, or high school room furnishing
accommodations for pupils of the township, the principal of
the school being really an employe of the entire district ac-
commodated. Through entertainments given by the school a
suitable bell has been purchased for the village building.
In 1868 J. K. Hemphill donated one-half acre of land for a
building in district number four in Penn township to be used
for school purposes. Before this building was erected, pupils
were required to attend at Coralville. Harry Hemphill built
this house and J. K. Hemphill was the first sub-director. The
house was moved, later, from its site on the half acre, and be-
came known as the Danner school.266
As early as 1842 a school was kept in the township of Ox-
ford by the wife of the Indian gunsmith, Mrs. Berry, who lived
in the upper end of the grove once bearing his name on the
land known afterward as the i i Cook farm. " It is said that the
name of Berry is perpetuated by the little stream flowing
through the town of Oxford, but the present map of the county
gives it an entirely different appellation. The next movement
toward the development of schools was in the winter of 1851-2,
when a school was conducted in a room of a private house,
taught by Miss Anna Mason, a sister of Mrs. Lewis Doty. This
was the second school kept in the township. In the fall of
1852 steps were taken to build a school house, which by the
private enterprise of four men was completed on a site near the
later home of L. R. Wolf. The building was a small structure
of logs, made as comfortable as the circumstances would per-
mit. It continued to be used until 1861, when the house in
district number two was built. The persons concerned in erect-
ing the log house were Lewis Doty, Thomas Heifner, Chas.
Mason, Sr., and Benjamin Williams, probably the same man
who owned the house where the private school was kept. At
that time there was no organization of any district and no tax
was available for school purposes. When the log building was
" raised,' ' as all such were at some time, it was christened
"Edgewood," from its location, and it was so known for many
miles distant as the Methodist meeting place. It may be stated
that school districts were indefinite in extent at that date, the
pupils coming from any distance, and as long as they chose to
help bear the expenses.
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264 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
In 1855 the second school house was built on the state road
near the farm afterward owned by Peter Brant This was a
public school. There were now three districts in the township,
the first being on the bottom where the building had been
St. Mary's School, Iowa City
erected by private enterprise, and the third district had made
all the necessary preparations for building with the material
on the ground, when it was discovered, to the embarrassment
of the situation, that the treasurer had proved a "traitor to his
trust," and the funds had been squandered, causing the project
to be abandoned. The plans had been to have the building
where the school house in number seven was afterward built.
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 265
The house near the Brant place was destroyed by fire about
1869, and a new one was erected some distance farther west.
The old building was the most noted in the township, since it
was the place of holding the country "lyceum," the literary
headquarters of the vicinity. These gatherings made the social
life of a neighborhood more than endurable in the days gone
by and the "debater" long for more worlds to conquer. At
this particular place, it is said that a local physician, Dr. GL M.
Proctor, usually took the lead. It appears that he was the first
resident physician.267
The Rapid creek school of Newport township, or number
five, as it is known on the records,, began early at the home of
Mrs. Douglass, who gave, in 1844, permission to the children
for many miles about to assemble at her home, then a log cabin,
for instruction. It was not until 1857 that the frame building
was erected from lumber sawed by the man who owned the land.
Mr. Felkner and Mr. Yarbrough carried the lumber "up the
hill from the creek.' ' The shingles were made by hand, as
many were in that day. To this house children came from
three or four miles distant, numbering sixty-five or more dur-
ing the winter season. But misfortune came, since one cold
winter night the teacher left some kindling on the front of the
stove to dry, and this led to the destruction of the building.
The few books, which were so much prized, were wholly de-
stroyed, and only the foundation was left to mark the place
where the building stood. It was then that the new house was
made of brick.268
The first school house in Union township was located one-
half mile south of the present Unity Presbyterian church, and
it is said that the first services of this congregation were held
in the log school building located here. District number one in
Union had a building near the present poor farm in 1856, or
about that time. Another that was in the western part, and
formerly in the original Washington township, made the three
that were the only school buildings for many years. These
were of the old type that have been described so many times
by those who took part in their erection or in the role of a
pupil who carried away the recollections of the structure itself
in a very vivid way; the one log left out for the placing of the
window glass or oiled paper as the case might be ; the old stick
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266 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
■and mud chimney ; the big fireplace that took in such a big log;
the slab or split log benches with the pegs to hold them up ; the
•desk, if it may be so named, against the wall over which the
pupil swung his feet when facing the teacher, and reversed the
process when he wished to "do his sums." 2" All these things
are described by the pioneer, who participated in the life of
the time. Number one in Union township erected a new build-
ing in 1860.
In the customary log cabin, located on section thirty-five in
Hardin township, the first school in that neighborhood, was
taught by Margaret Montgomery, who was afterwards Mrs.
Roop, of Washington township. She was paid one dollar and
a half per week and boarded around with her pupils. The first
house was not made for school purposes, but one was soon
built by money raised among the patrons, amounting to $125,
with which a frame building was constructed. The same build-
ing was afterward part of the improvements of the first settler,
A. D. Packard, who made a wood shed out of it. He was in-
strumental in making many improvements in the township, as
may be found in other connections.
South of here, in 1854, Woodland school, in the extreme
southwestern corner of the county, began its mission, in a
hrick building. This building was later torn down and in the
economy of construction found a place in the foundations of
two new houses, one called Oakland, and the one named above.
"Low down in a valley,' ' so it is written, "n^ar a hill," a
school house was built in Washington township in 1869, and it
was given a nickname, expressive if not beautiful, since "Flea
Shed" would hardly be characterized by the latter term. Here
for twelve years "number seven" had a school building, then
in 1881 it was rebuilt, made larger and named "Prairie
Dale."270
The educational sentiment of Sharon township led in 1898,
to the formation of a company to furnish a high school, with a
three years' course of study, to which pupils who had sufficient
preparatory work might be admitted, on the payment of cer-
tain amounts in tuition. The proposition seemed to meet with
approval, and in the year referred to a trial term was con-
ducted, under the direction of H. 0. Pratt, who was employed
by the board to manage the school as conducted at this time in
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
267
the Memler Hall. The trial proving successful, the company
was incorporated as a stock company, "to establish and main*
Grammar School, Iowa City
tain a high school/ ' A two story building was erected, dedi-
cated and occupied the following year, 1899. This centralizing*
of the school interests has become quite prominent in the town-
ship schools in many counties in Iowa.
As mentioned before, Jerry Stover, in 1842, kept a school
near the line of what is now Fremont township, where he had
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268 HISTOBY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the unlucky number of thirteen in attendance, who were sup-
posed to pay him for the service one dollar and a half and to
furnish fuel for a period of three months. It appears that the
location was over the line in the present limits of Pleasant
Valley, but was probably located to accommodate the greatest
number of pupils then desirous of school privileges, which was
the custom of the time. The house was log, sixteen feet square,
and with the customary furnishings, described often enough to
be known by most of the present generation, if they have had
interest in the schools of their grandfathers. This one had a
floor, which was not always true of other houses of the kind,
and it was made of split logs ; it is also said to have been with-
out any window, the light coming in wherever it could, which to
us is rather a peculiar condition for a school house. Not far
from this point, but in Fremont township, was the "King"
school, one of the first in the county, and named for an early
settler.
The Jefferson township high school has an interesting his-
tory. In the beginning it was purely experimental, but its
reputation was soon established, and so much so that when the
principal for 1894-5, Geo. C. Fracker, who has since attained
a reputation in a much larger field, reported on this school at
the State Teachers' Association, it aroused much inquiry. The
year 1888 marks the founding of this school, which grew out of
the demand for more room in the higher school at Shueyville,
and the increased demand for more help to instruct the youth
of the same school. During this year Mr. Frank Sulek, en-
couraged by other progressive men of that progressive town-
ship, read a paper before a gathering to discuss educational
topics, and this caused continued agitation until it was decided
to make a trial of a central high school for the township, which
should offer an advanced course of study for those who wished
to take advantage of it at home.
The result of the discussion and the paper referred to, was
the adoption of the following resolution by the district board
of Jefferson township : ' i That a township high school for this
township be established, located in district number two, and
that the following committee be appointed to procure a teacher,
provide a course of study, and have general supervision of the
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
269
school during a trial term of five months : F. M. Laughery,
President of the Board; F. J. Pudil; and J. H. Kephart."
This trial term proved so satisfactory that at the expiration
of it, the electors at the March meeting of the school district,
that is the township, in 1889, decided by vote to add three
months to the school year and also voted to continue the high
school under the management of the committee for a period of
five years. When the end of the five years came they voted
^gain to continue the high school indefinitely under the man-
agement of the entire board. The advantages of the school
located so conveniently near soon began to draw pupils from
l)eyond the township borders, and on the payment of a tuition
fee, which was fixed at one dollar and a half at first, and two
-dollars later, they were admitted. The attendance increased
steadily until 1895, when an assistant teacher was employed
on part time, and in 1897 on full time. The aim of the town-
ship high school has been, as stated here, "to offer to the pu-
pils of the country a chance to prepare themselves for the work
of the higher schools ; second, to furnish a practical education
suitable to the needs of those who cannot take advantage of
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270 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the higher opportunities ; and third, to influence public senti-
ment toward higher culture and make the community felt as
one of educational influences/'271
Probably the first school taught in Jefferson township was
in the house of Wilson Blain, by Miss Elizabeth Winterstein.
Another was located in the vicinity of the present village of
Shueyville, in the house of James Smith. The dates appear to
be indefinite.
In 1900 two old landmarks of the county schools were dis-
posed of to the highest bidder. These were the "Oakes school
house,' ' on the east line of the city, and the "Oak Grove school
house," east of the Purdy place. The first of these was built
in 1850, or about that time, and the second in 1858. At the
latter house many famous lyceums and debates were held,
along with now and then a "spelling bee" or "match," and
this old house became a center of great interest in its time.
The "Oakes" property consisted of a flatiron "piece of
land" between the Muscatine road and East Court street, con-
taining about one acre and the brick building. This was sold
to the highest bidder for $830. The "Oak Grove" house did
not include the land, as in the original agreement the land was
given for "school purposes while used, as such," hence the
"acre" reverted to the original farm, owned then by one God-
frey, where the house was built. The old building brought the
respectable sum of $38, and is said to have become the first
house in East Iowa City,, which is surely a dignified career for
an old school house, after serving its time in sheltering the
youth of two generations.
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CHAPTER XIV
College and University Beginnings
<</^\F ALL the early teachers Dr. William Reynolds was
^^ the longest in service. He was a native of Bristol, Eng-
land, and on coming to this country he was for a time engaged
in the schools of Boston. Coming to Iowa in 1840, he was
appointed as the first superintendent of schools for Iowa in
1841. In that year he began his first school in the city and he
continued teaching until about 1860. For a long time his
pupils exceeded one hundred and fifty, and as the teaching was
almost wholly performed by himself it will be seen that his
labors were very great. He was a strict disciplinarian and a
deep scholar.' '
An entry in the diary of T. S. Parvin for June 1, 1842, reads :
"Took tea at Mr. Murray's and called at Dr. Reynolds'
school." In referring to this private school and what it did,
allow a pupil of the "good doctor" to tell of his own expe-
riences. A pupil may rejoice in his opportunity to commend a
teacher of his youth after long years have come and gone. In
the case of Dr. William Reynolds and Orestes A. Brownson,
and their pupil, John P. Irish, the latter writes of his former
instructors: "Iowa City had two great teachers of the old
school, not connected with the University, the first of these
being Dr. William Reynolds, who taught the first generation of
the frontier. He was a native of England and had travelled
much, during which experience he was captured by the pirates
of Tripoli along with his English ship, and was held for some
time as a slave. Being ransomed, he made his way westward
and adopted teaching as his profession, which he followed
nearly his entire life.
"The successor of Dr. Reynolds was 0. A. Brownson, who
when this was written, had taught his last class. He had also
been a friend of the sea in his early life and become a sailor,
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272 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
but he quit the sea early to bury himself in a Missouri forest,
while trying to forget some trying sorrow of his young man-
hood. When the war broke out in 1861 he found himsef in a
wrong neighborhood and * yoking his oxen to his cart which
contained his family and slender store of goods he went into
exile for the sake of freedom of opinion. ' One stormy day
he turned out his cattle and took modest quarters in one of
the houses of the 'Fourteen Row' which occupied the south
side of that eastward projection of Market street called the
'Kochester Koad.' He was a man utterly without ostentation
and it is remembered of him that ' coarsely clad, putting his
hand to any labor that would win honest bread, he was patient-
ly leaving to others to find out by contact that he was a man
of the most complete culture, a linguist, rhetorician, and math-
ematician of the first order \"
His first employment professionally was as principal of
St. Joseph's Academy, not only principal but the whole faculty,
and the Academy was sheltered in an old wooden building that
stood on the southeast corner of Linn and Market streets. As
Mr. Irish says: "It was my last school. There Stephen
Bradley, Gilmore F. Fletcher, my brother Thomas, Carl Vogt,
and others now widely separated sat at the feet of the old
philosopher."
From the Academy he was transferred to the head of the
high school and then to the head of the city schools. "He
was one of the manliest and gentlest of men. He had the first
requisite of a teacher, absolute cleanness of mind and of
mouth." And the last pathetic record is: "To the last he
was a teacher. Pushed aside, as the great and gentle are in
a self-seeking age, he left the more pretentious schools of the
city and the last time I saw him he stood in front of a country
school house near Dubuque with the children from his classes
just dismissed flocking around him for a kindly good-bye at
the day's close. The buffetings of fortune had left no scars
upon his placid spirit." 272
Private schools were so numerous that one is at a loss to
understand how they succeeded in finding pupils enough to
make a "school" for each one. It is probably true, however,
that they did not all flourish at the same time. Jesse Berry
has been referred to as the beginner. I. M. Choate followed
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274 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
him, and Choate's house is now on Market street just west of
the English Lutheran church. Mrs. Hulin's school was opened
in September, 1841, and up to the year 1847, when the law of
1840, was amended, there were no free schools.27*
An advertisement in 1841 indicates the purpose and place
of Mrs. Hulin's (found also Huelin) school. There were three
departments. In the first were found orthography, reading,
writing, mental arithmetic, and the rudiments of such of sci-
ences as are well adapted to the capacities of children. The
second department continued the list mentioned and added
English grammar and composition, written arithmetic, geogra-
phy— ancient and modern — history of the United States, and
easy lessons in geometry; the third department, "history, sa-
cred, profane, ecclesiastical and natural, Watts on the mind,
natural, moral, and intellectual philosophy, geometry, astron-
omy, botany, drawing of maps, etc. ' ' It was further announc-
ed that subjects would be assigned with reference to the age,
previous acquirements, and future usefulness in life. The
lessons of the week would be reviewed on Friday when parents
and friends were invited to hear them. The price per quarter
in each course varied as follows : $4.50 for the first quarter,
$6.00 for the second, and $8.00 for the third, and payments
were due at the half quarter period.
Another institution under private direction, yet incorporat-
ed under the laws of the territory, was called by the name of
College in its charter and was under the direction of the
church, as the act establishing it will show. "Iowa City Col-
lege* ' was the name as it was incorporated under an act of the
territorial legislature during the session of 1842 and 1843. It
was to be under the management and control of the Methodist
Episcopal conference of the territory.274
The legislative body granted in the act one entire block in
the city to the institution on condition of certain improve-
ment. The society at once took active measures to comply
with the conditions fixed in the charter, and to secure the ac-
tive assistance and patronage of the membership.
A meeting was held in Iowa City in July, 1843, for the pur-
poses of organizing the board of trustees who are named in
the charter. There were twenty-five of these, among them the
well known names of Anson Hart, Jesse Bowen, Robert Lucas,
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276 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
John M. Coleman, Stephen B. Gardner, John A. Parvin, Cur-
tis Bates, E. H. Spencer, and A. E. McArthur. At the first
meeting of this body about one thousand dollars was sub-
scribed for the improvement of the property.
Evidently the trustees of this institution did not wait for a
building but organized the college in the fall of 1843 in the
basement of the Methodist Episcopal church. The officials
failed to secure the services of Professor Nutt, of Asbury
University, Indiana, and were content to take Eev. Joseph T.
Lewis, of the faculty of Woodward college, Cincinnati, who,
as the announcement read, "will on next Monday [Nov. 13,
1843] take charge.' ' The Eock Eiver conference then extend-
ed over the territory of Iowa and for that reason had charge
of the new institution. The building for the new college was
planned to be erected the following summer, 1844. The selec-
tion of a site was a great problem owing to so many suitable
ones in the vicinity of the capitol.275
Frequent commendation of Iowa City college comes in the
form of published programs of exhibitions, such as "the pieces
spoken were mostly original and subjects well selected; the
composition good, and well delivered, evincing an improvement
both creditable to the students and honorable to the instruc-
tors.' ' The reporter almost exhausts the vocabulary in find-
ing terms to describe his feelings on the subject "A very
large audience was present to witness the exhibition, showing
an interest in the cause of education for which our city is so
justly celebrated. May that spirit ever characterize the citi-
zens, not only of this city, but throughout the whole of our
beautiful and flourishing state, and may it become the foun-
tain from whence shall issue the streams that shall fertilize
the mental fields of this great valley, the inhabitants of which,
at no distant day, will wield the destinies of this great and
wide-spread republic."
In the latter part of 1843 three schools of the city enrolled
about two hundred pupils: Dr. Beynolds's thirty-five, Mrs.
Hart's forty, and the Mechanics Academy one hundred and
.twenty. It has been related that the Academy was conducted
in two departments, male and female, but their building was
yet unfinished in August, 1843, and for that reason work was
suspended for a period. An event that indicates the favor
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278 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, tOWA
shown these various educational forces may be mentioned
here, and such an occasion may also suggest other social or-
ganizations that cannot be discussed in detail in this connec-
tion. July 4, 1843, a barbecue was announced by order of the
committee on arrangements. The procession formed in front
of the capitol and proceeded in the following order: " Music,
officers of the day two abreast, Mechanics ' Mutual Aid Asso-
ciation, Masonic Fraternity, Ladies and Gentlemen, Schools,
Citizens generally.' ' The line of march could be easily fol-
lowed at any time from that day to the present. It was down
Clinton to Court street, down Court to Dubuque, up Dubuque
to the avenue, down the avenue to Linn street, up Linn to Jef-
ferson, then to Clinton, the avenue, and ending at the Meth-
odist Protestant church, where the program was finished. Af-
ter the formal ceremonies the citizens were invited to the park
where the barbecue was spread. Then a balloon ascension
was promised by Mr. Murdock. He was not to go up himself
— the balloon only. The Mechanics in this procession num-
bered about eighty. They were " handsomely equipped with
badges, and were preceded by a beautiful banner.* ' One part
of the procession is mentioned with considerable enthusiasm.
"More than two hundred scholars from the various schools
were in line. They were headed by the venerable Dr. Rey-
nolds, one of the pioneers in education.' ' 278
The three schools in active work in Iowa City in the spring
of 1845 exhibited their work in accordance with the customs
by giving programs of literary character. It was said then,
that all the schools produced "essays, original articles of
merit, and orations in the Greek, Latin, French, and German
tongues." The policy of public exhibitions of this kind was
fully approved by the critic.277
"After the Eev. Mr. Talbot had contracted for the Me-
chanics Academy in Iowa City for a common school depart-
ment, as well as a department to qualify youth to enter upon
their collegiate course of study the quarterly conference in
the M. P. church in Iowa City, in order to afford to young
men the facility of completing their whole course of study
without removal, resolved to establish a Collegiate and Theo-
logical Department in their meeting house, both stories of
which were to be fitted up for the purpose and occupied until
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COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BEGINNINGS 279
other necessary buildings could be obtained. It was also re-
solved to throw the Seminary thus organized under the con-
trol of the Annual Conference who have now established it on
the principles described in the following resolutions :" Then
follows the " Resolutions of the North Illinois Annual Confer-
ence M. P. C, establishing an Institution of Learning adopted
September 27th, 1844/ '
The first paragraph of these resolutions provides for "a
Literary and Theological Institution, at Iowa City, I. T., to be
called the 'Snethen Seminary '." Nine sections were required
to outline the duties of officers and to describe the courses of
study, and the final paragraph urges "the presentation of the
subscription books at every quarterly meeting."
The trustees appointed by the conference included William
Patterson, John N. Coleman, Wm. B. Snyder, Thomas Snyder,
E. Metcalf, L. S. Swafford, and John Conn.
The "professors" were Nicholas Snethen, president, Wm.
K. Talbot, J. N. Coleman, Ward D. Talbot, W. B. Snyder, "of
sacred music." All these "professors" were also made agents
for collecting funds.
Just at this time the "Convention of 1844" to make a con-
stitution for Iowa, assembled here, and the seminary journal,
The Colporteur j remarks: "The first sitting of the conven-
tion was opened with an appropriate prayer by the Rev. Nich-
olas Snethen of this place." The seminary journal was to be
issued monthly at fifty cents per year, and the privilege was
reserved of issuing it weekly and the "profits should then be
devoted to the interests of Snethen Seminary." The journal
stated its object as "the promotion of religion." It says:
"The politics of the Territory occupy eight or ten papers, each
of greater size than this in the same extent of country in which
hitherto there has been no religious periodical." The paper
was edited by Wm. B. Snyder.278
The second year following the first issue of the Colporteur,
the Iowa Medley appeared in June, 1846, this "journal" rep-
resenting the Iowa City University which was established or
provided for by an act of the territorial legislature, approved
June 2, 1845.*79 It was to be governed by a board of thirty
regents who were to hold their first meeting at the capital the
first Monday in June, 1845 ; the stock of this University should
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280 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
be issued in shares at twenty-five dollars each. The Governor
of Iowa should be president, ex-officio, of the " Board of Ee-
gents." These officials were empowered to establish in con-
nection with this university a law school and a medical school,
and charity students might be admitted. This was to be a
non-sectarian institution, although it did not prohibit the rec-
ommendation of religious principles. James Eobinson was
the president of the institution, and in the absence of the Gov-
ernor served as president of the board of regents. George
Administration Building of University Hospital
S. Hampton was the secretary, and in order to secure funds,
donations were asked for from persons interested in educa-
tion. The committee to select the faculty reported the em-
ployment of the following for the preparatory department that
was to commence operations at once : Eev. W. K. Talbot, Rev.
W. D. Talbot, and Rev. Charles E. Fisk. It will be noticed
that this was drawing on the faculty of Snethen Seminary.
This institution must have commenced its work since the
Medley has the following regarding the University : " A pub-
lic examination of this institution was held in the latter part of
march [March] and an exhibition given on the 1st and 2nd" of
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COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BEGINNINGS 281
April, which the crowded state of our columns has prevented
us from noticeing." It will be remembered that this is the
first issue of this paper, and it goes farther in mentioning the
exhibition in a small way as "highly creditable' ' and again
the disputations were given partly in * i Greek and Latin. ' ' 280
The Iowa Standard, a local paper, commenting on the col-
lege journal said: "We wish the young gentlemen success in
their enterprise and they need a paper of this kind to excite a
laudable ambition, to excell in composition. We suggest to
them the propriety of filling the paper entirely with such
original matter. If a young man ever expects to attain emin-
ence as a spirited writer, he must commence early and use
reams of foolscap."
In the winter of 1847, just before the adjournment of the
state assembly, an act was passed establishing the State Uni-
versity in Iowa City.281 When this had actually been done
satisfaction was expressed by the press of the day, since they
had been, judging from the comments made, anxious to make
the change and the "real estate of the city would immediately
appreciate in value because of this permanent institution."
•The seat of government was in nowise to be preferred to such
an institution of learning. The buildings then used for the
state officials and assembly were to be granted to the state for
educational purposes provided such buildings were available
for the use of the officers and meetings of the assembly until
others could be provided. It was then considered that the rooms
as used, if properly furnished, would answer for the needs of
the students of the preparatory department for many years to
come, without in the least interfering with the legislature or
state officers. A "high grammar school" was urged at once
and a meeting of the first trustees ' ' should be called promptly
for organization." It would not have been a difficult matter
since a number of them were local residents. Correspond-
ence should be begun at once i i to secure a president and pro-
fessor," and a time fixed upon for the permanent installation
of a faculty. Moreover, since the institution was amply en-
dowed the best of talent could be employed in the faculty.
Ten years later, approximately, the new board of trustees of
the University met in May, 1858, and the transactions of that
meeting are literally reported. The reasons for certain ac-
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282 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
tions are given in the report and this was a crucial point in
the affairs of the institution. The principal acts in which the
public took an interest were these: "The Preparatory De-
partment was abolished. The languages, ancient and modern,
and the Mathematics except the mere applications were thrown
out of the course ; the appropriation of some three thousand
dollars for library purposes, and one thousand for apparatus,
authorized by the old board, were rescinded,' ' and to cap the
climax, the institution in. all its departments was suspended
for at least one year. All this was done at the first meeting
of the new board. From the point of view of the writer of
that date some criticism on such action was proper. A little
history here, concerning the terms used, may be necessary:
"In relation to the institution, they say that, prior to its crea-
tion as a unity and its location at Iowa City [permanent loca-
tion is probably meant] it seemed necessary that it should go
into activity, and lay up at least the semblance of a university
in order to prevent the legislature from dividing it into branch-
es. . . That necessity has now ceased and with it the policy
to which it gave birth."
Then the "Citizen" who signs himself thus, says: "Why
then in the name of decency and conscience did not the former
Board when they called men from distant points to come to
take positions in the University tell them all this in advance —
tell them the peculiar policy under which they thought of run-
ning the institution ? Why did they not tell them honestly that
if they came they must do so at their own risk, as perhaps in
a few months a 'new policy' might be inaugurated and in
virtue of which every man of them might be ousted and set
adrift?"
This attack, or explanation, at this time continues to say :
"The published report of the new board said, 'that up to this
time [May, 1858] the instruction dispensed in the University
lias been without a library or apparatus'." The critic says,
"All this is easy enough to say but does not accord strictly
with the facts. For about one year, some five hundred vol-
umes of choice works, carefully selected, with special reference
to the wants of the professors have been on hand. Five hun-
dred volumes thus selected are equivalent to fifteen hundred
as libraries usually run. It might possibly have occurred to
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COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BEGINNINGS 283
these gentlemen that the members of the faculty may have a
few books of their own. Now, great libraries are no doubt
desirable things ; but who needs to be told that they are about
as much for show as for use? The same remarks, substan-
tially, might be made in relation to the apparatus on hand
and about to be supplied. So far, therefore, as these matters
are concerned the institution might have been kept a running.
"The next ground of justification which is plead for this
change of policy and suspension is that the institution should
be thrown out of entire range of competition with the high
Svendi Hall
schools and colleges of the state. Well, the change contem-
plated will very probaby secure this result. . . The same
thing might have been accomplished by removing the institu-
tion to Central America or beyond the Rocky Mountains.
"The new curriculum is not only beyond the academies and
colleges of the state but also beyond the wants and reach of
the great mass of the people, for the next twenty years at
least' '
This course was pronounced " inaccessible' ' since no one
was prepared for it. The preparation must be had somewhere
and the "people," from the point of view of the critic, would
expect the institution to furnish it right at home.282
Officially, the new board of trustees gave as their reasons
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284 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
for suspending the University for one year the following: The
library and apparatus were deficient which argument the critic
before endeavors to answer. Its students had been confined
to Iowa City, with few exceptions, those of the University
proper being limited to a very small number, and that number
was supplied by the preparatory department connected with
it. The new school law made no provision for a preparatory
department, hence the trustees were compelled to abandon it.
Since all western colleges had such a department it seemed
wise to dispense with it, and trust to the colleges and high
schools of the state, to prepare students for the University.
It was felt that the University, if kept up, would be little more
than a high school, and that for the community in which it was
located. It was further argued that expenditures and income
were so nearly balanced that no fund accumulated for the
development of new departments or enlargement in any. The
problem, therefore, was not of choice, but of necessity, and
the only way open seemed, a suspension of all work, until a
fund accumulated, unless they chose to run the institution at
so low a point of efficiency, that its movement, or progress
would be questionable. Another reason was the necessary
repair of the only building the institution could use, prevent-
ing the commencement of the fall term on time. Suspension
was proposed for at least one year from September, 1858, or
possibly longer. It was promised that when it opened again,
an able body of professors would be present to teach by lec-
ture "in Intellectual Philosophy, Moral Philosophy and His-
tory, in Natural Philosophy and Natural History, in applied
Mathematics and in Chemistry." It was proposed to teach
these sciences, "so important to fit young men for the duties
of life, not only in their elements, but in their applications."
This report was published by order of the board of trustees
and signed by their secretary, Anson Hart.
At a full meeting of the board in August, 1858, the lan-
guages and mathematics were restored to the course of study,
and there was a tie vote on the question of opening the institu-
tion in the fall of 1858, sometime before January first. It was
further resolved to open the "Normal Department' ' in Sep-
tember if a professor could be secured. The Chancellor was
asked to nominate some one for that department. The chan-
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COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BEGINNINGS 285
cellor, Amos Dean, was also requested to inform the board,
"whether or not he would enter upon his duties in person in
September, 1859.' ' This request had probably come about
through the agitation over the closing of the institution, and
the demand for a head who did not live so far away as Albany,
New York.
According to the determination of the trustees, the Normal
department of the University opened on November 1, 1858,
with D. Franklin Wells as professor in charge, he having been
reappointed from the previous two years. Candidates for
admission were to be examined as to proficiency in reading,
spelling, penmanship, elementary grammar, geography, and
arithmetic "through compound numbers and vulgar frac-
tions." All would be required to sign a declaration to teach
in the state of Iowa, and the object in attending must be to
prepare for that duty. Instruction was gratuitous. Both
males and females were admitted if seventeen years of age
or over. The course of study was so arranged that it could
be completed in two and one-half years.
The trustees met again, in annual session, in July, 1860,
when Dr. Totten, the new president, presented his plan of or-
ganization, after the suspension of the institution for the year
before. The organization by departments instead of by class-
es was proposed by the new president, and approved by the
board of trustees. Six departments were to be provided for :
■" Ancient and Modern Languages, Mathematics and Astron-
omy; Natural Philosophy and Chemistry, Natural History,
Rhetoric, Oratory, and Belles-lettres, and Moral and Intellec-
tual Philosophy." Three new professors were elected at this
session of reorganization : E. 0. Spencer, of Indiana, for lan-
guage; N. R. Leonard, of Burlington, for mathematics, and
Rev. Dr. James Lilly, of Des Moines, for natural philosophy ;
Prof. T. S. Parvin was transferred to the chair of natural
history.
It was arranged now to put the University into full opera-
tion in September, 1860. The minimum age for students was
fixed at sixteen years and all who entered the Department of
Languages, must take an examination in Latin, grammar,
three books of Cassar, four orations of Cicero, and six books of
the Aeneid, besides the Greek grammar and reader, and two
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286 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
books of the Anabasis. Examination, also, was required in
arithmetic and algebra, throngh equations of the first degree,
to admit to mathematics. Students who were eighteen years
of age could be admitted to other departments for practical
courses without examination. The tuition was four dollars
per session, or eight dollars per year, in each de-
partment. Dr. Totten, H. D. Downey, Dr. Bowen, B.
Hutchinson and P. A. Dey, were appointed a committee
to supervise the repairs on the old buildings and also to su-
perintend the construction of the new. The normal depart-
Medical Building Burned March 10, 1901
ment, however was to occupy the old Mechanics Academy,
which was rented and put in repair for its use under the
direction of the same committee.283
Since Iowa City was an educational center from the begin-
ning it was quite natural that institutions of a special nature
in education should locate here. This, indeed, was true of
schools for unfortunates, and we may find many families tak-
ing advantage of the state law later in regard to these insti-
tutions.
In 1852 Samuel Bacon established an institution for the
instruction of the blind at Keokuk. By a law passed in Jan-
uary, 1853, it was adopted by the state and located at Iowa
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t. 0 *N FOUNDATIONS
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COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BEGINNINGS 287
City under the name of the Iowa Asylum for the Blind. In
April, 1853, it was opened for the reception of pupils, being
free to all the blind of the state. It was first located in the
brick building on the corner of College and Johnson streets,
known as the old land office, and later the name was changed
to the "Iowa Institution for the Instruction of the Blind" and
the school was moved into the building on the corner of Linn
and Bloomington streets, now the Slezak corner. However,
in 1862 the institution was moved from Iowa City to Vinton.
As a scholar and teacher, Mr. Bacon, although entirely
blind, ranked with the best. He was the founder of the blind
asylum at Jacksonville, Illinois, before coming to Iowa.284
The first institution in Iowa for the education of the deaf
and dumb was opened in Iowa City as a private enterprise by
W. E. Ijams in 1854, he being encouraged to do so in the hope
of recognition by the state legislature and this anticipated
recognition was secured in 1855, by an act approved January
24, under which act the institution was opened as a state af-
fair on February 3, 1855, with Mr. Ijams as principal and his
mother, Mrs. M. A. Ijams, as matron. Twenty pupils were
admitted in the beginning to be educated at state expense and
during the first two years the number more than doubled.
There was a gradual growth of the school until 1866, when it
was determined to make its location permanent at Council
Bluffs, since no buildings had ever been erected at Iowa City*
It had no abiding place in the first capital and occupied its
44 fourth set of premises,' ' due to its growth, when it was re-
moved. Upon the official recognition of the institution one
finds several applicants from this county, who were sent to the
school on the authority of the county officials after due request
from parents or guardian.285
In 1853 the Rev. A. Russell Belden of the Baptist church
inaugurated the plan of establishing under the auspices of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows the Iowa Female Collegiate
Institute. In July, 1853, $600 was subscribed for the building
by the Odd Fellows of the city and in a short time $6000 in
cash was contributed. The institute was incorporated for a
period of twenty years from July, 1853. The capital stock was
not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars and was to be divid-
ed into shares of twenty dollars each. The articles of incor-
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288 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
poration provided that the sole government of the school with
the use of the buildings and profits should be vested in A. Bus-
sell Belden and Sarah L. Allen for a period of twenty years,
under the direction of the board of trustees. In 1853 the city
council granted the west half of College hill park to the trus-
tees for a site for the seminary. Plans for the building were
prepared by Thomas Banbury and were for a building of brick
with stone trimmings. The building was to be thirty by eighty
feet and three stories high. The basement and part of the first
story was completed when work was stopped by the death of
Dental Building
Mr. Belden in the fall of 1855. In 1856 Rev. C. Billings Smith
succeeded Mr. Belden as pastor of the Baptist church and he
endeavored to revive the abandoned project but failed to awak-
en any interest in it, and after standing for some years the
unfinished walls were torn down, the site reverted to the city,
and the failure of the last attempt of the citizens of the city
to establish an institution of higher learning closed the history
of one academy, two seminaries, one college and one university
that had been created and had disappeared within twelve
years.28e
The articles of incorporation of the Iowa Female Collegiate
Institute are recorded "in Book 10, pages 227-228 of the Rec-
ords [deeds and mortgages] of Johnson Co., Iowa, July 29,
1853, by Samuel Workman, Recorder for said County. ' ' Such
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COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BEGINNINGS 289
is the tabulation upon an enclosing sheet which is now deposit-
ed in the old box taken from the corner stone of this institu-
tion. The "by-laws" are found here but the copy of the
' ' articles ' } has at some time been removed. Regular meetings
of the "Board of Trustees" were to be held on the first Friday
evening of each month, in the hall of the Odd Fellows, the
annual meetings to occur on the first day of August in each
year. It was provided in the by-laws that "at an early day
as practicable" they should arrange a "course of study" and
provide for the tuition in the Institute which should be ad-
College Procession on way to Armory Hall
justed as the "interests shall make such change necessary."
The construction of the building of brick, made on the very
ground where the structure was to be placed, is provided for
in the contract which is found with other papers in the recep-
tacle mentioned above, now in possession of The State Histori-
cal Society of Iowa: "Articles of Agreement made and con-
cluded between the Board of Trustees of Iowa Female Col-
legiate Institute at Iowa City, and Sylvanus Johnson, this 1st
day of March in the year 1854 Witnesseth : That the said Syl-
vanus Johnson for the consideration hereinafter named does
for himself, his administrators and assigns, promise and agree,
to and with, the said Trustees to make, at his own cost, four
hundred thousand good, well burnt, and merchantable Bricks ;
to be made and delivered to the said Trustees as follows : Two
hundred thousand, to be delivered in good order to the said
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290 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Trustees on the block of land in Iowa City, known as College
Green, on or before the first day of July, 1854 ; and the remain-
ing Two hundred thousand to be delivered in good order and
in the same place on or before the first day of October, 1854.
And the said trustees do on their part promise and agree to
permit the said Sylvanus Johnson to occupy and use so much
of the west half of College Green as may be necessary for a
yard and for a kiln for making the Bricks aforementioned.
And to dig and use the clay on said College Green, for the
making of said Bricks. Provided, said Sylvanus Johnson shall
not disturb the works, nor injure the foundation of any edi-
fice now laid on said College Green.
" And the Board of Trustees still further agree to pay said
Sylvanus Johnson Five dollars per Thousand for each one
thousand Bricks made and delivered to them as aforesaid, as
follows : Five hundred Dollars when said Johnson shall have
fully prepared the ground for his yard and kiln, and com-
menced work in moulding bricks, and Five hundred dollars
when Two hundred Thousand Bricks shall have been delivered
to said Trustees, and one thousand Dollars when the remaining
two hundred thousand Bricks shall be delivered to said Trus-
tees in the condition and at the place aforesaid.
"In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this
11th day of March, 1854.
' * Sylvanus Johnson.
"Signed by order and in behalf of the Board of Trustees.
"A. Eussel Belden, President
"F. H.Lee, Secretary."
At the laying of the corner stone the mayor of the city de-
posited an outline of the government, the officials and some
general information of conditions in 1853 :
"This city was incorporated as 'Iowa City,' by an act of
the general assembly of the state of Iowa, approved on the
24th day of January, A. D. 1853, with all the powers aiid attri-
butes of a Municipal Corporation.
"The Legislative authority of the City, is vested in a City
Council, consisting of a Mayor and board of Aldermen, com-
posed of three from each ward of the City.
i i The first election for City officers under tlje Charter was
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COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BEGINNINGS 291
held on the first Monday of April, 1853, and the following
persons were elected, to-wit:
" Jacob P. DeForest, Mayor.
" Anson Hart, Recorder.
"Robert M. Hutchinson, Marshal.
" C. H. Buck, Treasurer.
"Benjamin R. King, Assessor.
' ' Aldermen 1st Ward 2nd Ward 3rd Ward
"William H. Hunt Thomas Snyder Peter Roberts
"Edward Lanning Francis P. Brossart John Van Fleet
"Erastus C. Lee William P. Clark Peter Statzer
"In consequence of vacancies occurring, the board of Al-
dermen as at present constituted is as follows :
' ' 1st Ward 2nd Ward 3rd Ward
Geo. W. McCleary Morgan Reno
"The same as above Thomas Snyder Peter Roberts
Francis P. Brossart Peter Statzer
"Officers holding under appointment of the City Council
are:
"William P. Clarke, Attorney.
" McBride, Street Commissioner.
"Jacob N. Seydell, Deputy Marshal.
' ' The present population within the corporate limits is prob-
ably over Two thousand five hundred.
"The number of Churches within the City is as follows,
to-wit : Two Presbyterian, 1 Babtist, 2 Methodist, 1 Roman
Catholic and 1 Universalist.,,
"The City forms one school district, under the charge as
principal teacher, of Henry W. Lathrop, with two female as-
sistants, in separate departments, the Misses Virginia Pattee
and Lydia Lanning. There are also several private and select
schools within the limits of said City. Iowa City 27 October,
A. D. 1853.
"J. P. DeForest, Mayor.' '
The city obtained control of the uncompleted building of
the Odd Fellows known as the "Female Collegiate Institute,,
in the fall of 1856 and agreed to "issue scrip in the payment
of the debts due on the property not to exceed six hundred
dollars." The presidents of the several boards of education
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292 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
of Johnson county presented a plan for securing the "Female
College' ' for a county high school and a committee appointed
to confer with them reported their unwillingness to donate the
building or grounds for such a purpose. This occurred in
August, 1858, and the committee recommended the completion
of the building on the part of the city in the near future. How-
ever, the next move in this matter was in reference to the prop-
osition of Rev. Mr. Covert regarding the transfer of the city's
JL
» ■-fuJ. d£
s rr
OH
Kappa Sigma Fraternity Building
rights to him on certain conditions, which involved the transfer
of the real estate and a bonus of $10,000 in bonds provided he
expended $20,000 and kept the building in use for educational
purposes for not less than twenty years and called it "The
Iowa Female Collegiate Institute." This must be completed
by January 1, 1860.
However, May 22, 1864, the city council agreed by resolu-
tion to give the "stone, brick and other material on College
Green" to the Iowa State University to be used in the erection
of a new building on the University grounds. In considera-
tion for this the University authorities were to "idemnify the
city of Iowa City against the payment of a certain mortgage
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. COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BEGINNINGS 293
held by Kosciusko Lodge of I. 0. 0. F. on the west half of
College Green."287
The Iowa City Academy, now owned by Professor W. A.
Willis, was organized in the early seventies. During its his-
tory it has had many different owners and principals, among
them, William McClain, the Hiatt brothers, Principals Graves
and Galer, as well as R. H. Tripp, and Albert Loughridge, the
latter two purchasing the institution in 1887 from Mr. Graves*
Old Mechanics Hall and First Mercy Hospital
Professor Loughridge left here after one term, to take up the
work of the teaching of Latin at the State Normal School. He
is now a teacher in Des Moines College. The present owner
came into possession of the Academy in 1891 in connection
with Mr. Williams, but in 1895 the partnership was dissolved,
Professor Willis remaining in possession since that time.
The Academy formerly occupied buildings on the corner of
Dubuque street and Iowa avenue, then later, on Clinton and
Jefferson streets when in 1905 it was moved to its present loca-
tion on Washington street. Students from many states at-
tend here at various times and many who are now well known
in public life, and who occupy prominent positions in educa-
tional, church, political or professional life have begun their
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294 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
work in this institution. Among these, Hon. W. S. Kenyon,
recently chosen United States Senator from Iowa, a govern-
ment official of national reputation, is numbered. There are
also Judge E. K. Young, of North Dakota; Ira D. Orton, an
attorney, of Alaska; Guido H. Stemple, professor of philoso-
phy in the University of Indiana; Dr. B. F. Shambaugh, of
the University of Iowa, head of the department of political
science, and superintendent of The State Historical Society;
J. C. Monnett, chancellor of the new law school of Oklahoma ;
Miss Elizabeth Irish, of the University Business College ; Miss
Julia Rogers, author of several books on nature study, notably
The Tree Book ; Rev. M. H. Lyon, a well known Congregation-
alist ; Dr. George Shambaugh, a Chicago physician ; Professor
H. G. Plum, of the department of history of the Iowa State Un-
iversity ; Hon. Shirley Gilliland, a leader of the State Senate ;
M. L. Ferson, Law Librarian for many years, and S. K. Steven-
son, attorneys of Iowa City and many others, doubtless who
have made the old Academy a good reputation.268
Irish's University Business College on Washington street,
Iowa City, is an excellent testimony to an Iowa woman's bus-
iness ability. In 1895 this institution was founded by the
present owner, Miss Elizabeth Irish, who having recently re-
turned from California where she had spent considerable time
in commercial pursuits, saw an opportunity for such a school
in the city of her birth. Her reasons for putting faith in
such an enterprise are expressed in these words: " During
my services, in various capacities, in the business world, I
found many young people who failed through lack of thor-
ough training in their line of work, to secure power in appli-
cation and that self-reliance and high moral standard which
should obtain in business relations." Miss Irish was the bus-
iness manager of the Iowa State Press, of Iowa City, for a
number of years, and when her uncle, John P. Irish, went to
California, she accompanied him and during her stay on the
coast occupied many positions of responsibility, thus fitting
her for the present undertaking, the most recent, of the private
schools in the city that has had such a variety of experiences
in the matters of education. This institution furnishes in-
struction in all the departments of business training, in ac-
cordance with modern methods.
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CHAPTER XV
Methodist Churches
T7ARLY in the development of the county, provision was
*~* made for buildings, that usually were constructed in all
civilized and cultured communities, for religious purposes.
Yet the movement begun when the new capital of Iowa terri-
tory was platted was more than ordinary, since special lands
were set apart for the use of any religious body that would
use them for " church or literary purposes."
By an act of the territorial legislature, approved July 31,
1840,289 certain parts of blocks were granted for the purposes
mentioned. These particular sections of city blocks, as they
are indicated on the plat filed by the surveyor, L. Judson, on
July 4, 1839, are described as follows : The south one-half of
blocks thirteen and fifty-one, which are found between Lucas
and Dodge, and Van Buren and Gilbert on Church street, and
which named the latter street; the south half of block sixty-
seven, which is now the location of the Methodist Episcopal
and St. Mary's Catholic churches, the north half of block sixty-
six, the home of the Christian church now, and formerly the
location of the Methodist Protestant denomination. These
lands could be secured by meeting the conditions named in the
grant, which were not much more than the mere act of the tak-
ing possession, and planting a building on the ground, for a
special purpose.
The east half of "church lot in block sixty-six" was deeded
to the Methodist Protestant church through its trustees, W.
B. Snyder, Thomas Snyder, E. Metcalf, J. P. Hamilton, and
Arthur Rowan, on January 20, 1843, although they had select-
ed this site sometime befpre.290 It was on May 13, 1841, that
the corner stone of the first church building in Iowa City was
laid by this denomination, Rev. John Libby acting for the
church and Gov. Robert Lucas taking part in the services. It
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296 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
was, moreover, in this building that Dr. Reynolds taught his
select school, and in which most of the "higher institutions of
learning' ' mentioned in the previous chapters, made their be-
ginnings. Here the first free public school was taught by
A. G. Gower in 1847, and here later a Sunday school was con-
ducted for the blind. It is said, "this house was of brick with
a high basement, with a long flight of stairs from the avenue."
When in later years it was repainted it became known as
"The Old Blue Church.' ' The first annual conference of this
church met in the State House in October, 1846, William Pat-
terson being the presiding officer. The principal address at
the opening was delivered by Rev. W. H. Collins.
When the old Methodist Protestant church was removed
in 1886, it occurred to M. W. Davis, that there must have been
a corner stone laid when it was built, and on making
inquiry found that his surmise was correct. By per-
mission of Sheets & Co., who had secured the old ma-
terial in the building, he made an excavation, and found
the object of his search, which was of the following descrip-
tion : A block of limestone from the capitol quarries of cubical
form of eighteen inches edge, having a cavity three and one-
half inches deep by four wide and six in length, which con-
tained when found an empty bottle and four lead plates. Two
of the plates are two and one-half, by four and three-fourths
inches and the other two, somewhat different in dimensions,
and in thickness they are approximately one-sixteenth of an
inch. If one doubts this he may examine them in the case, in
the southwest corner of the rooms of The Historical Society, in
Iowa City. The plates contain the following inscription :
PLATE I — FACE
"May 12, 1841,
"W. H. Harrison Died April 4th, 1841,
"John Tyler, Acting President
"U. S. A."
PLrATE I — BEVERSE
"Robert Lucas, Governor of Iowa."
This is scratched on the plate by some one as a chisel would
be used in imitating writing, while the other plates have the
lettering stamped on them one at a time, in straggling lines,
from type known to the initiated as "two line nonpareil con-
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METHODIST CHURCHES 297
densed caps," which represents type "a little lighter and
deeper" than the largest type used in headlines of the ordinary
reading columns.
PLATE II — FACE
"Iowa City
"Located May 4th, 1839.
"Chauncey Swan
' i John Ronalds . Commissioners ' '
"Robert Ralston
j
PLATE II — REVEBSE
"Estimated number of Inhabitants
"in Iowa City,
"May 5, 1841,
"1,000"
PLATE m — FACE
* ' Methodist Protes [ tant] Church,
"In Iowa City,
"Organized May 4th, 1841"
PLATE III — REVEBSE
"The Erection of This House
"Commenced May 5th, 1841."
PLATE IV — FACE
"The Corner Stone
"of this House Laid
"May 12th, 1841."
PLATE IV — REVEBSE
"John Libby
"John [W.B.] Snyder
"Malcolm Murray
"Horace Smith
"Thomas Snyder
The bottle was uncorked and empty, indicating the decay of
the cork through chemical action, and if the bottle contained
wine, as supposed, it had evaporated during the forty-five
years of its confinement in the narrow cavity. For some time
these interesting things were on exhibition at Mr. Davis's
store, when the plates were placed in charge of The Historical
Society, and the corner stone went somewhere else, no one
seems now to know where. That corner stone should have been
retained in the new building as the old Mechanics' Academy^
Building
Committee"
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298 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
corner stone and tablet were retained in the walls of the Uni-
versity hospital. Nothing more was found in the corner stone
than the articles mentioned, no trace of any papers of any
kind. This building was the first public building in Iowa City,
so it is said and almost the first one of brick. Not one of those
named on the building committee was living at the time the
corner stone was removed, and it is believed that only one of
them remained here until his death. Probably very few have
looked at these tablets since they were placed in their present
location, and surely no one would think of their history as
they now appear. The Christian church stands on the ground
where the old building described above was erected.291
At the Iowa City Quarterly Conference held November 10,
1885, the new pastor, Rev. G. W. Brindell, having failed to
find any history of the First Methodist Episcopal church,
moved the appointment of a committee to inquire diligently for
facts and data for such a history, and to prepare and inscribe
such history in the records of the church, where they would be
permanently preserved. The motion was favorably received and
was by vote unanimously adopted, whereupon a committee con-
sisting of the pastor and L. Kaufman, J. G. Starkey, G. W.
Xettlewell, and Chas. Cartwright were appointed for this pur-
pose. After considerable research and correspondence with
Revs. J. P. Hardy and E. H. Waring of the Iowa Conference
the following historical statement was prepared, which is be-
lieved to be the accurate history of the church as far as it can
be gathered:
"Methodism in Johnson county probably dates its begin-
ning from the Iowa River mission which was established in
1836 by the Illinois Conference, extending from the Mississippi
river to the limits of civilization on the west wherever a set-
tlement was found that might come under its jurisdiction.
The missionary appointed to the field was Daniel G. Cart-
wright, who at the close of the year 1836, reported a member-
ship of seventy. In 1839 the Iowa mission was formed with
Joseph L. Kirkpatrick as preacher. This mission appears to
have been named for Iowa City which had been but recently
established in the new territory and located in the brush on
the banks of the Iowa river by the commissioners appointed
for that purpose.
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METHODIST CHURCHES 299»
"Rev. Kirkpatrick supplied the few settlers in Johnson
county at that date with preaching, but for want of suitable-
accommodations he did not open his mission in the city until
late in 1839, or early in 1840. The town had .been surveyed
and the stakes driven for the capital of the territory the May
before. The population at the time of the first services could
not have exceeded one hundred souls, and he, according to the
testimony of Colonel Trowbridge, preached the first sermon in
Iowa City at the house of Matthew Teneyck, at or near the
corner of Iowa avenue and Dubuque street.
In June, 1840, Rev. James L. Thompson, a veteran minister
of Indiana Conference, appeared and preached, as did also the
Rev. Barton H. Cartwright, the pioneer minister of Burling-
ton, then on the Rockingham circuit about the same time. His
written statement, that he preached in Iowa City but once and
that the State House building was just then commenced, fixe&
the time of his visit as subsequent to the sermon of Kirkpat-
rick. These three, then, were the pioiieer Methodist preachers
of the county.' '
From a manuscript in the possession at one time of Rev.
E. H. Waring, of the Iowa Conference, it appears that some
time in the autumn of 1840 a few members of the church in
this vicinity associated themselves together as a class, among*
them being Mrs. Cole, the mother of Mrs. Teneyck, B. C. Pin-
ney and wife, C. R. Ward and wife, John Horner and wife,.
John !Parrott and wife, Mrs. Gardner and Mrs. Hawkins, A. T.
McElwaine, Isaac Bowen, and B. M. Horner. The first form-
ally organized class was in the fall of 1840, under the direction
of Bartholomew Weed, the presiding elder, in place of the
regularly appointed minister, who was detained by illness-
During the same visit, the elder held the first quarterly meet-
ing in Iowa City, and appointed Chauncy R. Ward the first
class leader of the society here. The meeting was held in a
school house belonging to Jesse Berry, and it stood on the
ground later occupied by the Arcade Rink, which was burned
some time about 1885. Another class was organized in the
neighborhood of John Parrott's, east of Iowa City about four
miles, and of this class, B. M. Horner was the appointed leader.
The precise number of members in Iowa City at the close of
the first year of the church in August, 1841, cannot be deter-
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300 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
mined very accurately, but the number in the Iowa mission
was reported as 122. Having no church building, the infant
.society occupied the most suitable rooms that offered and that
were available for their use. Following the school building of
Jesse Berry, that of Mrs. Anson Hart on Iowa avenue was
used by the mission or class. It was in the fall of 1841 that
the Rev. Geo. B. Bowman was sent to this charge, in reference
to whose appointment the presiding elder of the time has the
following account: "I found it difficult to find a suitable man
for Iowa City, since we contemplated building a church there
during the year, and wanted a man who was suited to that
land of work. Bishop Morris said to me at our conference
(Rock River), 'Come down to the Missouri Conference which
is to meet at Palmyra, and I think we can find you a man.' I
went, and a young man by the name of GL B. Bowman was
selected, who proved to be the right man in the right place.' '
It was only by the exercise of the authority of the Bishop,
that the transfer could bfc made, and there was some hesita-
tion in the matter after it had been determined upon by the
Bishop even, for some of his associates almost persuaded him
to remain after he had consented to the transfer, and to under-
take the formation and the establishment of a new church in
Iowa City. The Missouri conference held a night session to
close their business and there was strong opposition to letting
the man go. Bishop Morris also said: "Brother Bowman
went to his new mission, gathered a large congregation,
formed a new society, erected a church, and found the means
between that and Boston, to pay for it. In 1844 I organized
the Iowa Conference in that same church erected by Rev.
Bowman in Iowa City." In reference to the soliciting trip of
Rev. Bowman the old manuscript says: "During the first
year the society experienced a very considerable revival and
many were added to the church. Still being without a house
of worship, the temporary capitol was used for that purpose."
This building was located just east of the Whetstone drug
store and was the meeting place of a great many of the dif-
ferent denominations at various times before they secured any
meeting place of their own. The following spring, the mem-
bers being in great distress and inconvenience on account of
room, and being too poor to build for themselves, it was de-
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METHODIST CHURCHES 301
termined on mutual consultation to seek aid abroad and oc-
cordingly Rev. Bowman was appointed "the agent of the
congregation to solicit funds, and Rev. J. L. Thompson filled
the place in his absence/ *
This trip occupied six months time, when the pastor re-
turned with about $4,000 in money and materials, which he
had secured in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. With
means thus obtained, and with the small local subscription
that the members and friends were able to contribute, there
was erected a "splendid brick church, forty-five by sixty feet,
with a basement throughout, with a large school room and
four class rooms. The church was well finished and handsome-
ly seated, with aisles, four tiers of seats and an altar and
pulpit of the most substantial workmanship/ *
At the close of Rev. Bowman's term in 1843, Rev. Laban
Case was appointed to the charge, but there was a special
arrangement whereby he was to have the mission and Rev.
Thompson was to have the work of the town proper. The
health of the latter failing, a young man by the name of Lewis
was appointed to the place for two reasons, it was said. He
was a talented scholar from Cincinnati, and had been sent to
Mahaska county to an Indian mission, and was now sent here
for the "double purpose of supplying the station and for
starting a school designed as a Conference Academy/ ' The
house of worship of the Methodist Protestant church on the
avenue, recently removed to make room for the Christian
-churchr was rented, chiefly through the labors of Wm. and
Thos. Snyder, for the Academy or College, and here Mrs. Hart,
and afterward James Harlan, subsequently United States sen-
ator and secretary of the interior, taught there for nearly two
years. The very moderate success of this enterprise seems to
have inspired the Rev. G. B. Bowman to select the site now
occupied by the College at Mount Vernon, which became the
•Conference Academy, in place of the one which was begun in
Iowa City.
In 1844, when the Iowa Conference was established, the city
was made a station and the country was formed into a circuit.
Rev. David Worthington was assigned to the station as the
first pastor, and in 1845 there were one hundred and forty-five
members. In this connection, it should be remembered, that
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302 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
the territory gave building lots to the pioneer religious so-
cieties which should erect church edifices in a given time, and
this accounts for the locations of several churches, and the
excellence of the sites, besides the promptness of their con-
struction, at a time when they had to go "down east" to get
the money. The title deed to the lots was signed by the gover-
nor of the territory, John Chambers.
During the pastorate of Rev. A. B. Kendig the building be-
came too small to accommodate the congregation and an ex-
tension of forty feet square was added to the west side in 1864.
In the first structure the pulpit was in the north end, and at
this change in the building it was placed on the east side of the
room and the front entrance was on Dubuque street instead of
Jefferson. On a very cold Sunday morning in February, 1884r
during the pastorate of Rev. R. D. Parsons, the church was
discovered to be on fire, when it was so damaged by both fire
and water that it was necessary to rebuild the entire structure,
at a cost of $8,000. At about nine o'clock on Sunday morning,
April, 1906, during the pastorate of Rev. L. C. Clark, the build-
ing was again found to be on fire and in this case it was burned
to the ground. Immediate steps were taken to rebuild on a
much larger scale, and the present fine building is the result,
which cost to erect the sum of $75,000.
The first parsonage built was only a cabin and did not cost
more than $175, according to the records, but the second, built
on the northwest corner of the church lot, was more preten-
tious, and was for the time called a good house. A third par-
sonage, which was pronounced a spacious residence, was con-
structed in 1860, during the pastorate of Rev. J. GL Dimmitt,
which was, as is often the truth, the work of the Ladies' Aid
Society led by Mrs. Anson Hart. It was occupied by successive
pastors for a period of thirty-four years. In 1895, during the
pastorate of Rev. Frank E. Brush, the present large and com-
modious house was erected at a cost of $6,500.
After the fire in 1884, the Presbyterian church opened their
house for the use of the congregation of the burned-out church,
and the pastors united in the service, preaching alternately
and uniting in the communion service, while Dr. Fellows led
the united meeting of the young people's societies on Sunday
evenings until the Methodist church was rebuilt. Since the
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METHODIST CHURCHES
303
organization in 1839, forty-one pastors have served this church,
a majority of whom have passed from the land of the living
and left their work to be continued by those who may follow.
Each one has his own individual history that cannot be in-
cluded in one short sketch of the local church. The present
church was dedicated on February 9, 1908, and the exercises
continued for the greater part of a week, which brought into
the church at its various programs many citizens of the com-
munity from all the churches and some from beyond the bor-
Pirst M. E. Church, Iowa City
ders of the state. The pastor of this church at this date, 1911,
is Dr. Rollo F. Hurlburt.292
The Tiffin charge of the Methodist Episcopal church now
embraces Tiffin and North Liberty. At various times during
its history it has included, besides these two churches, Coral-
ville, Greencastle, and Center school, and in 1871 the circuit
had as many as six churches, while as late as 1880 all of the
above named five churches were on the circuit.
Within this territory* the first preaching seems to have been
done by the Rev. Peter Patterson, of Iowa City, in a log house
in Penn township, some two miles east of North Liberty. This
preaching, though frequent, is said not to have been regular.
How long it lasted no records state, but in 1841 a society was
formed of the following members : George and Mary Wein,
20
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304 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Jacob, Mary, William, and Jane Alt, and Maria Wray. About
this time preaching began ^at the residence of Henry S. Gould
on Dry Branch in the vicinity of Greencastle, in 1840 or 1841.
Later, service was held at the home of a Mr. Babcock, but after
a time was taken to the school house. Preaching in Clear
Creek township also began early. The first "regular preach-
ing' ' was at the residence of Thos. King, about a mile east of
Tiffin, in 1845 or 1846. The implication is, that preaching was
held there even before that, although there was no regular
place for holding the services until they were taken to Mr.
Keeler's stage farm in the same neighborhood. Such was the
founding of early Methodism of Johnson county northwest of
Iowa City, and it is interesting to note further that these three
points had an almost simultaneous beginning.
As to the growth of the circuit, it may be mentioned that
about 1842 the place of holding the services in Penn township
was changed to a school house on the present site of North
Liberty. After nine years the people began the erection of a
building of their own, but difficulties so hindered that it was not
completed until 1855, four years later, when the new church
was dedicated by the Rev. Geo. B. Bowman. The year 1860
seems to have seen a reorganization in North Liberty, for
from this date on the records are silent until 1870 and we have
no news of the churches which later made up the circuit. It is
hardly safe, however, to say the circuit embracing North Lib-
erty and Tiffin was not in existence prior to 1870, for an ex-
amination of the respective lists of pastors shows that the
two churches had many in common. Since 1855 there is a list
of the pastors of North Liberty with the dates of their pastor-
ates appended. The town of Tiffin has a list of "some early
Methodist preachers,' ' and comparing these two lists we find,
that from 1857 to 1867 inclusive, with the exception of the two
years 1863 to 1865, Tiffin had the same pastors as did North
Liberty. Evidently they were together on the circuit.
Beginning with 1870 much fuller information is at hand,
since Tiffin is now a part of the North Liberty charge, while
in the autumn of this same year Coralville was made a part
also. "Religious apathy and a want of church accommoda-
tions," runs an old record, "made us anticipate trials and slow
progress, knowing however that 'bread cast upon the waters
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METHODIST CHURCHES 305
would return after many days/ we 'sowed in tears' expecting
to reap in joy." The year following a class of three full mem-
bers and thirteen probationers was organized. The member-
ship at Tiffin in 1870 was only thirty-three, and the services
were held in the Christian church. The people were discour-
aged and spiritless, but the next winter a great revival changed
all. With more than forty conversions the church took on new
life and felt so strong that when the Annual Conference met
the next fall Tiffin and Coralville asked to be constituted a cir-
cuit by themselves. Their request was granted and they were
given a pastor, though at the time neither of the societies
owned a dollar's worth of property. The Christian church at
Tiffin now denied the Methodists the use of their building,
which action forced them to build for themselves before they
felt able. While their building was being erected they wor-
shiped in a school house, until its completion on September 15,
1872, when what must have been a most excellent building for
the time, was dedicated. It cost $3,100 and is still sufficiently
large for all the needs of the society.
Changes in the constitution of the circuit were frequent. In
1875 Center school, six miles sotfth of Tiffin, was added. A
four week's meeting here resulted in thirty-four being added
to the membership, which so encouraged these people that they
felt they must have a church building also. However, they
never got it, and only two years later the appointment was
discontinued, the membership being transferred to Tiffin.
North Liberty seems to have been left "to be supplied" in the
fall of 1877, since the Rev. E. Sampson, having been appointed
to Tiffin, supplied it by a special arrangement between himself
and the people. It was during this year that the parsonage at
Tiffin was built. In the winter of 1878 Coralville was discon-
tinued at its own request, but received again in 1880.
The fall of 1895, the Rev. T. B. Owen, having resigned the
pastorate of the charge to take an appointment as a mission-
ary to China, the Rev. Thos. Biggar was appointed to complete
the year. He remained, however, but a short time, when the
presiding elcler removed him and appointed the Rev. W. C.
Barclay in his place. By a heroic effort, which the people have
not forgotten to this day, Mr. Barclay succeeded in erecting
the beautiful structure in North Liberty which is the home of
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306 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
that society at the present During his pastorate a Sunday
school room and a furnace were added to the Tiffin church, and
in 1899 Greencastle was transferred to the Oxford work. The
church at Tiffin was "renovated and greatly improved" in
1898, and since then the parsonage has received extensive im-
provements.
For a few years Cross Roads chapel was an appointment
on the charge, but has not been listed since 1906, while the fol-
lowing year Coralville was dropped and the next year Tiffin
and North Liberty comprised the circuit, which arrangement
has continued to the present. The only other noteworthy event
since then is an extensive remodeling of the Tiffin church in
1910, the various improvements amounting to $2,400, and in-
cluding modern conveniences.298 Rev. Rollo F. Fisher is the
pastor of the Tiffin church and the circuit at the present time.
The home of David Sweet was probably the scene of the first
sermon in the township of Fremont, which was preached by
that pioneer minister of the Methodist church, Rev. Kirkpat-
rick. It will be remembered that the earliest settlers here were
David Sweet, James Magruder, who is mentioned as securing
the first tax receipt in the county, and the Walkers. It has
been stated that the first white child born in the county was the
daughter of George Hawkins, who settled here temporarily in
the early part of 1837. William Kelso and John Cain were
also among this early group who settled in the Keokuk Reserve
after its cession to the government.
For a number of years the Methodist Episcopal people of
Fremont township held their meetings at King's school house.
They organized at first in 1858 with the assistance of Rev.
A. W. Stryker. The original members at the time were Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Anderson, Sidney Potter, A. W. Leonard,
George Sanders, Clement Wood, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard
Huskins. In 1868 they built a church south of Lone Tree at a
distance of about two miles, and later the same was moved to
the town and rebuilt at some increased cost, when it was re-
dedicated by the man who did so much for the local churches,
Rev. A. B. Kendig. To mention all the pastors of these local
churches seems impossible, as they were in many cases here for
a brief time only and in but few cases had any particular con-
nection with the local history longer than the time they labored
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308 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
in the community. In some instances, it is true, they left some
particular record in the building of the church or permanent
improvement which should be emphasized. The founder of this
church is referred to in the beginning, and in the following
twenty years there were almost as many different pastors,
which would give such a long list if the ratio has been con-
tinued that there would not be books enough to hold the names
of all of them. The pastor at this date is Eev. Phillips.
In the vicinity of Morfordsville, now in the township of
Pleasant Valley, services of the Methodist Episcopal denomi-
nation were held, first at the Burge school house. Concerned in
this group were the Ritters, Burges, Farleys, Dukes, and Mor-
fords, of whom Mrs. Mary Bitter still survives at the age of
ninety-three, residing at the Stratton home in Iowa City.
Among the early pastors were Revs. Stryker and Posten, and
one other, who still survives in the state of Washington, and
should be mentioned as active in rebuilding this church in 1874 ;
this is Rev. Hansell.294
On the opposite side of the Iowa river, about this time, J. D.
Templin, an Iowa City lawyer, conducted religious services
under the direction of the Methodist Episcopal church, the
meetings being held at the school house on "Hog Back Ridge/ r
To him is credited the first preaching in the township.
The Methodist church in Scott township was organized by
the Rev. J. L. Kirkpatrick near the present Brick Chapel,
about four miles east of Iowa City. This was a Methodist
class and was composed of Isaac Bowen, John Parrott and
their wives, besides A. T. McSwain and B. M. Horner. A frame
church built near the present brick in 1853 was destroyed in
1855 by fire, which led to the erection of the Brick Chapel.
Like many of the churches in an early day, the membership
was large, reaching fifty in this neighborhood, but time has
diminished the number.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Oasis, which was at
first called Graham church, was organized and the church
building completed in 1864, the dedication services having been
conducted by Rev. A. K. Johnson. Rev. 6. S. Lackland is now
pastor of this church and also of St. John's Methodist church.
About 1840 the Methodist Episcopal church of Solon was
organized with Warner Spurrier and his wife, Mr. and Mrs.
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METHODIST CHURCHES 309
W. D. Cannon, Mrs. Fannie Pratt, J. B. McGrew, F. H. Lyman
and wife, Mrs. Eleanor Pryce, Mr. and Mrs. John West, Mary
Lyon, and some others whose names are missing, as charter
members. In 1855, Paul B. Anders gave two lots and twenty
dollars in money to begin the building of a church, and in the
same year a frame church was completed. The same building,
after its services as a church had given way to another church
building completed in 1879, was put to a secondary use as a
barn by a resident of the place. Among the ministers who have
served the church in the past are a number who are known
beyond the limits of the local church. Rev. J. T. Crippen,
Revs. Kendig, Kynett, Skinner, Miller, Briar, and many more
whose names are familiar to the churches, spent some of their
useful years here, either in residence or in service on the Cedar
Rapids circuit, of which it was a part in the beginning, and
later of Iowa City circuit The congregation was served in this
way for about fifteen years. Rev. Karl Stoltz is the present
pastor on this charge.
In 1852 the Methodist class was organized in Oxford town-
ship, holding meetings in a school house located in section five,
the Williams and Mason families being among the leaders in
the class, which was a part of a large circuit extending beyond
Marengo on the west and North Bend on the east. The church
at Oxford village erected a building in 1874, which was dedi-
cated by Bishop Gilbert Haven, but previous to this the re-
organization of the charge had been made in 1872. Many dif-
ferent pastors have been identified with this church, but those
who have been prominent in the first organization have been
mentioned in other connections in the county. The church
property includes a parsonage, and the congregation is happy
in having no "debt." Rev. Fred. A. Smith is the present min-
ister, who has no other charge in connection, as was formerly
the custom.295
In 1863 a Methodist class was organized in the vicinity of
the present Hummer Chapel in Union township, and it is now
forty years since this building was erected. At that time Rev.
John Harris was presiding elder, and Rev. J. B. Hill the pas-
tor, while Robert N. Hartsock was class leader, and with the
exception of a few years, he served in this capacity the re-
mainder of his life. The life of Hummer Chapel has been a
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310 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
quiet one of faithfulness. It has numbered among its members
three generations of the same family, while the membership
has not lessened, as in so many country churches. A long list
of v well known families of the township are represented in this
church. Those who are called charter members include Charles
Cartwright, Nancy Cartwright, Susan Ent, Mary Weeber, H.
W. Brown, and Philina Brown, Alexander and Elizabeth Max-
well, Robert N. Hartsock, David and Nancy Beck, William and
Julia Hay, Joseph and Mary Haynes.296
Grout church, of Sharon township, was founded by the fam-
ily of that name who came to the county in 1843, and settled in
this neighborhood. It is of the Methodist denomination and
owes its establishment to the zeal of the elder Mr. Grout, who
was interested in all things for the betterment of social con-
ditions.
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CHAPTEE XVI
Presbyterian Churches
/^\N THE fourteenth anniversary of his pastorate, the Be v.
^^ Dr. S. M. Osmond delivered a sermon that was historical
in its character, and covered the history of the Presbyterian
church from its founding to the date of the sermon, or October
1, 1876. His text at this time was taken from the 145th Psalm,
fourth v^rse, which reads: "One generation shall praise thy
works to another."
"If we are to act in accordance with this declaration we have
no time to spare, for already that church history stretches be-
yond the limit of an average generation. Of those who took
part in the f ounding of this church, but one — Mrsi Eosanna
Stevens — is now left. The name of Robert Hutchinson is
found in the first board of trustees and is put on the roll of
pew holders. A few others there are on the ground who were
early identified with the church but they are fast passing away,
and ere long the last of these old settlers on whom we must
rely for information for the early history of the church will be
gone, hence, if we are to have an authentic history of the trials
and triumphs of the church it must needs be speedily done.
"Our Methodist brethren were in Iowa City before us — at
least in public worship — the first religious service in this
vicinity being held in the fall of 1839 at the residence of P. B.
Moore, who was a Presbyterian and afterwards one of the
members of this church. This sermon was preached by Rev.
Jos. L. Kirkpatrick, a Methodist minister who formed a class,
the basis of that church here. It could not have been long after
this that the Rev. James Stocker, who had organized a Presby-
terian church in Muscatine county in July, 1839, held an out-
door religious service here. His attention seems to have been
drawn to this place through W. B. Snyder, a member of the
Protestant Methodist church, and the father of Mrs. S. J. Hess,
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312 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
who arranged with Mr. Stocker to come here once a month,
promising him five dollars for each visit — a promise that was
kept, though mainly at Mr. Snyder's own expense. These
early services were held in school houses, unfinished buildings,
store houses, or hotels, and were attended by the whole popu-
lation without regard to denomination.
i l Some effort seems to have been made in the summer of
1840, looking to the organization of a Presbyterian church,
but it was not until September 12, 1840, that a church was con-
stituted. Impression seems to differ as to the place of meeting,
some claiming it to be Choate's school house, which now forms
Old Stone Church
At one time home of The State Historical Society of Iowa
the principal part of a tenement house on Market street, be-
tween the Lutheran church and Prof. Fellows 's residence,,
others holding that it was in Sanxay and Murray's building,
now known as St. Joseph's Institute, built by Mr. Murray and
and the Sanxays. These statements may be reconciled by the
fact that a previous meeting had been held in August to form
an organization, but which had failed, and a meeting may have
been held in each place, but in which place the decisive work
was done remains an uncertainty. The committee of Presby-
tery under whose direction the work was accomplished was
composed of two ministers whose names are closely identified
with the early history of the church in Iowa; one the Rev. L. 6.
Bell, and the other Rev. Michael Hummer, who appeared for
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 31S
the first time in a place where he was destined to acquire suck
undesirable prominence. All that we can learn further of this-
meeting is that thirteen persons were enrolled as members;
that John McConnell was elected as ruling elder, and Diodate
Holt as deacon; Chauncey Swan, Joseph Schell, George P.
Hughey, Robert Hutchinson, and Diodate Holt, trustees.
"Only fifteen months had passed since the location of the
capital here and the community that numbered twenty fam-
ilies on the first of January, 1840, had swelled to five or six
hundred by the 12th of September ; streets had been opened and
lots cleared in timber that covered the site of the city ; dwell-
ings and structures of frame, logs, and clapboards had sprung-
up ; the old capitol building was up to the top of the first story,
and the din of tools gave evidence of the improvement going^
on, and Sacs, Fox, and Musquakie Indians lived with the set-
tlers. Among these settlers were Samuel H. McCrory, the first
postmaster; young Dr. Henry Murray, the first settled physi-
cian ; Colonel Trowbridge, Messrs. Banbury, Swafford, Hutch-
inson, and Cropper, pioneers who are still with us [1876].
This was in the Van Buren-Harrison campaign and there were
pole raisings then as now. Communication with the world was-
kept up by a hack line, and corn was carried to the Mississippi
for grinding. In these times there was very little of luxury or
fashion but there were enterprise and promise.
' * The membership of the infant church embraced material
of rare value. Elder McConnell was a Virginian, who served
till his death in 1846 ; Diodate Holt, the only deacon the church
ever had so far as I can see, was the superintendent of the first
Sunday school organized in 1843, and one of the first trustees.
B. P. Moore and Robert Hutchinson led the praises of those
early services, while Chauncey Swan, one of the commissioners
appointed to locate the capital, selected the site of the present
church and donated it to the society. He went overland to*
California and returning by sea died on the vessel as it was
entering New York harbor. Others were there but history has
not preserved their names.
"It seems to have been about a year after the organization
of the church before a stated minister was found, until which
time the Rev. John Stocker had continued his visits over the
33 miles of prairie between Bloomington (now Muscatine) and
Iowa City, preaching a portion of the time every other Sunday.
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-314 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Some time before the close of 1841, the ministry of Rev.
Michael Hummer began, who, whatever may be thought of him,
was not a commonplace man either in. character or history.
He was born in Kentucky in 1800, and in Indiana, when twenty
years of age, he became an infidel and signed a covenant that
he would renounce Christianity and give himself to money
making, but was soon afterward converted under the ministry
of 'Father Martyn.' He graduated in Indiana College in
1831 ; studied theology at Princeton ; was licensed at Madison,
Indiana; and was minister to churches at Terre Haute and
Lafayette. He came to Rock Island in 1839; afterward to
Marion and other missionary points until he settled permanent-
ly in Iowa City. But little can be told of the history between
this and 1849, the papers having disappeared in the trial that
grew out of the ' Hummer difficulties.' He was an able, origi-
nal, striking, and in some ways an effective preacher, and many
conversions took place under his ministry. His congregation
was comparatively large, and strangers stopping in the city
were apt to go to hear him. Prof. T. S. Parvin, at the time a
Muscatine lawyer, relates that when court was held in Iowa
•City the bar settled disputes as to where they should attend
church by going in a body to hear the smartest preacher if he
was not the greatest saint.
"Previous to 1845, services were held in various places —
.sometimes in Berry's school house (where Mrs. Berry now
lives on College street, 1876) ; in Mechanics' Academy, now
(1876) Mercy Hospital; in Butler's State House, east of
Sanxay's corner, the building that is now the City Hotel on
Dubuque street, and in the council chamber of the Capitol, the
central building of the University. In 1844 a church building
was undertaken, the subscription p^per which I hold in my
hand, dated Nov., 1843, contains the printed statement that the
building is to be commenced in the spring of 1845, and pledges
the trustees that in i point of size, durability, and taste, it shall
be inferior to no other church now being finished in the city. '
"The highest subscription is that of Chauncey Swan of
three hundred dollars including the lot valued at one hundred
dollars, the lowest was one dollar. The total reached the sum
of $900.75. Of the forty-seven names signed to the paper only
ihose of Joseph W. Holt, M. M. Cropper, R. Hutchinson, Sam-
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Swank Church and Cemetery, Fremont Township
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.316 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
nel H. McCrory, and possibly J. Bowen are now living [18761.
The church was begun in 1844, and in 1846 in September ser-
vices were held in the basement. The building was of brick,
forty-two by seventy-five feet, with portico and cupola re-
-sembling the present Baptist church [1876], but larger and of
somewhat better style. Its total cost was about $5,000, and as
so large a sum could not be raised here they did as other
churches of the early day — sent Mr. Hummer to the east with
a view to raising the necessary funds. He made two trips and
it is said spent two and one-half years on these collecting tours,
but with what success the data does not show. It is certain,
however, that after the percentage on collections and expenses
were deducted, and salary paid the amount realized according
to his calculation was less than the church indebtedness to
himself and others. Worse than any pecuniary loss, however,
was that in these begging expeditions he had embraced Swed-
enborgianism, which soon took on the worst form of spiritual-
ism. Always an excitable, visionary jnan, he showed such
violence as led his congregation to believe him insane. In 1848
his ministry closed in disaster to the church, and under a cloud
over his reputation as a minister and a man. He went to Keo-
kuk, and before leaving induced the trustees to give him a
mortgage on the real estate of the church amounting to mare
than $650, and in addition other property was made over to
him to secure the indebtedness. Having appropriated the com-
munion services and other valuables he soon after attempted
to secure the church bell which account is preserved in the
Annals of Iowa by a master hand, George Yewell.
"Though there are no records of Mr. Hummer's ministry,
facts have been gathered from other sources which show that
soon after its organization the church was strengthened by the
.accession of the Sanxays and the Murrays from Cincinnati;
the family of Joseph Schell; the Hughes family; Joseph Mc-
Connell, of Pennsylvania, and others. The church was some-
what disorganized when a minister who had been laboring in
ihe south, Rev. S. H. Hazard, providentially came to the charge.
He was the second pastor and found an indebtedness and the
Hummer law suit pending, with the church unfinished and the
basement furnishing the audience room. On the sixteenth of
June, 1849, a new session was constituted and with the follow-
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 317
ing officials : Elders, B. B. Hutton, John Brandon ; Trustees,
Rev. Silas Hazard, John Shoup, John Brandon, Thomas
Hughes, H. D. Downey, Henry Murray, and S. H. McCrory.
Hummer's claim was resisted, and Rev. Hazard helped on the
building with his own hands, and tables and seats are pointed
out to this day [1876] as an evidence of his energy and skill.
In addition he secured from friends in the east funds to
complete the church. On the twenty-fourth of February, 1850,
the house was dedicated, Rev. Hazard preachipg the sermon.
After he had served the congregation four years his health
failed and he moved to the vicinity of Solon, where he soon
after died. .
"In connection with the name of Rev. Hazard the name also
of Miss Mary S. Legare is found, who gave assistance to the
•church in its time of need. She was a resident of Cedar Rapids,
an author and artist of some note, and a sister of a prominent
man in South Carolina. She offered to loan the church $1,000
for twenty years at six per cent, and this offer was accepted.
"After an interval of more than one year the pastorate of
the ReV. John Crozier began, commencing in May, 1853. This
man had become a member of the church in Iowa City while
Hummer was the pastor, he having heard him preach for the
first time in his childhood home in Paris, 111., but his parents
had come to this county, settling near North Bend. Mr. Crozier
walked from here to Paris, 111., to pursue his studies, and later
graduated at Miami University. After completing his theo-
logical course and while visiting his parents at North Bend,
in this county, he preached on two occasions to the congrega-
tion of the Iowa City church which led to his being called to
the pastorate. During his pastorate he acted as Sunday school
superintendent, and traveled many miles to Dubuque and Ga-
lena in his endeavors to raise funds to pay off the Hummer
mortgage. This pastor was led to leave the congregation by a
call from his former church at Palestine, 111.
"It was about this time in the fall of 1853 that the church at
Solon was organized, mainly by those who had taken letters
from the church at Iowa City. Twenty members composed
this congregation when first constituted and this drew from
the membership in the Iowa City church. It was also during
the ministry of Rev. Crozier that a settlement was made with
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318 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Hummer for $490, the bell being adjudged to him and the value
taken from his claim.
" After a short vacancy the church called the Rev. F. A.
Shearer from Ohio. He was formally installed by the Pres-
bytery of Cedar in September, 1854. In the summer following
the church was put in repair at an expense of $600, and then
the long-suffering people had another misfortune, since the
prospects of occupying the renovated and restored church on
the following Sunday were suddenly shattered.
"There was a carpenter shop on the lot west of the church
in which a steam engine was used, and a spark from this en-
gine caught upon the cupola of the church and in a short time
they saw their house of worship, for which they had struggled
so long, in ashes. But their energies soon rallied, and under
the encouragement and sympathy of the community, the con-
gregation determined on the erection of the present [1876]
building. Under Mr. Shearer's ministry the church grew and
prospered, many new names appearing on the rolls. Among
them for the first time are found the names of the I jams, Shep-
herds, Coasts, Truesdells, Greers, Smiths, Woods, Duncans,
Strubles, and Cochrans. With the loss of the church troubles
of another nature arose and the pastor resigned and moved
away. Before he left the basement of the church had been put
in order for the services, and he preached his farewell sermon
there on July 24, 1858.
"And now came a period of depression in the absence of
any pastor in the time of the removal of the Capital to another
point which caused the old gatherings of great conventions to
go elsewhere, and in the lack of unity in management until the
Presbytery was somewhat alarmed at the state of affairs.
Finally an agreement was reached to call the Eev. 0. O. Mc-
Clean from Pennsylvania, who entered upon his duties in Oc-
tober, 1859. He continued to fill this pulpit without formal in-
stallation for two years. During a portion of this time the
church was so deeply involved that the loss of their property
was seriously threatened. To aid in the difficulty, the pastor,
with Geo. W. Clark, went east to raise money, and returning
with $1,000, with this and the additional funds raised on the
grounds the debts were lifted and the property cleared. The
resolutions of thanks offered at this time mentioned especially
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 319
Father Sanxay and J. C. Culbertson. Rev. Jacob Winters suc-
ceeded Rev. McClean in 1862 by the call of the church, but he
declined to accept the call. He had been the stated supply from
the fall of 1861 until April of the following year."
The pastor who delivered this historical address gives his
own account of his services : ' ' The present pastor preached
for the first time in this city in June, 1861, and on the removal
of Mr. Winters came again and after preaching two Sabbaths,
was shortly after called to the pastorate of the church. On the
first Sabbath of October, 1862, fourteen years ago today [Oct.,
1876] his ministry was begun. The principal points in his
pastorate are familiar to all and need not be repeated. During
these fourteen years the church edifice has been completed)
the pastor's salary has grown from $600 to $1,600; 449 mem-
bers have been added, and the membership has been raised
from one hundred to two hundred and fifty."
The church being partially disorganized, in 1849, due to the
death or removal of the ruling elders, the Rev. S. H. Hazard,
who was at that time "laboring in the congregation," wrote
to Elders C. B. Campbell, of the Washington church, and J. H.
Wallace, of the Bloomington church, to visit this place and with
himself to form a session for the time being, for the reception
of members and otherwise to assist in the "reorganization"
of the church. Accordingly, these elders accepted the invita-
tion and the session was convened as agreed upon the date
mentioned, June 16, 1849. Six members were received and the
same day one of these hew members, Baxter B. Hutton, was
made an elder, who, with John Brandon, was ordained to that
office the following day, June 17, that being the Sabbath day.
Ten lines in a small book tell all the history recorded from
this date until the dedication of the first building in February,
1850. This occurred on the twenty-fourth of the month, the
sermon being delivered by Rev. Hubbard of Muscatine, who
was accompanied by T. S. Parvin, an elder in his church. It is
worth while to notice that in the beginning of these minutes
the town is called Bloomington, and now Muscatine, the cor-
rect name, is applied, because during the latter part of 1849
the name was changed.2*7
After the destruction of the church by fire in May, 1856, the
ti
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320 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
following letter was sent out in the hope of securing some
assistance in the rebuilding:
4 'Dear Sir:
1 ' On the 19th day of May last [1856] the ' First Presbyterian
Church of Iowa City' was destroyed by fire, which to us has
proved a great loss, not only pecuniarily, but in the harvest of
which our branch was and ought still to be reaping, from the
rapidly increasing population of the city. We had but recently
taxed ourselves and our friends largely for the purpose of
completing and liquidating an old indebtedness on an edifice
that had been erected 'through great tribulation,' and just as
our beautiful house was about receiving the finishing stroke,
our high hopes and glowing anticipations were covered in a
cloud ; the devouring element was upon it; and we now in sad-
ness look upon its ruins.
"Notwithstanding we had, as we supposed, just exhausted
every source or means, for the purpose of completing that
which we all looked upon as an ornament, as well as a blessing
to our young city ; no sooner had the affliction fallen upon us
than our members and friends came nobly to the rescue; and
subscriptions far more liberal than we could have anticipated,
have been made. But still we find our resources insufficient
to build a house with such capacity, as is demanded by our
rapidly increasing congregation.
"We are now at the mercy of our friends and neighbors, for
a place to worship, and so long as we remain in this condition,
we feel that our branch of the church, and the great cause of
the Eedeemer must suffer. Under these circumstances we have
thought that our brethren in other places (less afflicted) might
feel it a pleasure, and Christian duty to lend a helping hand.
"Any sympathy manifested in a substantial way, will be
duly appreciated and long remembered ; and any gift made to
either of the following named persons will be applied as di-
rected.
"In Christian fellowship,
"Yours truly,
1 ' F. A. Shearer, Pastor, J. P. Wood,
' ' M. B. Cochran, President, Thos. Lindley,
' ' Henry Murray, Treasurer, Theo. Sanxay,
"Geo. W. Clark, Secretary, H. D. Downey,
"Trustees First Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, Iowa."
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 321
The dedication of the church when again completed is only
an incident in the minutes for the session held on April 23,
1866. It is there stated in a parenthetical way that "the
church was dedicated on the 13th of August, 1865/ ' 298
An eye witness telling of the misfortune that befell the
Presbyterian church after its many troubles and trials had
been overcome, says: "For three days the barometer had
been traveling downward towards the storm line, predicting
more than ordinary gale. At six o'clock yesterday evening
[June 20, 1877] a little bank of blue cloud lay upon the horizon ;
rain and storm had been so frequent of late that no attention
was paid to this, except to surmise whether or not it would
interfere with the University exercises. At seven o'clock there
were indications of trouble. The line of cloud closed over the
western horizon, and rolled up a foaming crest of white fleece,
prognosticating a heavy wind. In fifteen minutes more the
air trembled, although there was no breeze, the trees moaned
softly, and a deep sough rose from the west, like the muffled
roar of a distant waterfall or the tread of an approaching
army. Louder and deeper it grew until suddenly the air grew
thick with dust, leaves, and debris. It may be worth remember-
ing that the rate of the wind was a little more than a mile a min-
ute, and at this moment the streets were filled with people
hastening to the chapel. They were driven into stores, unable
to face the storm. At twenty-five minutes past seven, when the
storm was at its height, a dull heavy roar and a trembling of
the ground was heard, telling of a great shock, and on Clinton
street the cry went up that the spire of the Presbyterian church
had fallen. Great damage was done, but this was the most
serious, being the destruction of the spire and a portion of the
front of the building. The spire was carried away completely
so far as the wood work was concerned, and part of the tower
walls were thrown down, pouring the bricks into the gallery
and auditorium, and destroying a part of the gallery, while the
falling debris destroyed the east floor of the lower hall. The
spire fell almost directly east across Clinton street, the finial
breaking down a panel in the fence of Mr. T. J. Cox. The
spire was so demolished that had it not been for a few sections
of the roof it could not have been identified.
"With the spire came the great bell, weighing more than
twenty-eight hundred pounds. It struck on its side and re-
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322 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ceived no damage beyond the breaking of the iron yoke to
which it was suspended. The spire fell entire, and did not
break until it reached the ground. One of the great timbers
drawing back thrust a hole through the east wall of the tower.
The damage was not far short of six thousand dollars. The
spire was built in 1869 and the bell put in place the same year.
The extreme height of the spire was 153 feet from the ground.
One hundred feet fell."
Sympathy for the congregation was expressed in reviewing
their misfortunes, for "they seemed destined to meet the
frowns of fate." Once their church was burned; at another
time the bell was stolen; there had been three bells since then;
and now ' i this last and severe blow. ' ' But at seven o'clock the
next morning workmen were clearing away the debris, and the
members were consulting as to what should be done.299
The following Sunday the pastor faced his congregation
in the demoralized building, and preached from the text, "The
Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm." so° He
said in the beginning : ' i Most unexpectedly have I been called
to a different subject from that I had planned for this day.
Without words of mine, these saddening marks of the tem-
pest's ravages would explain the change." The pastor, Rev.
Dr. Osmond, reviewed the events and drew lessons from each,
while the sun shone through the chasms in the broken walls
and "added to the solemnity of the occasion." At the close
of the service L. H. Jackson, one of the trustees, came forward,
and said it was the intention to rebuild just as an individual
would if his house were destroyed. They would replace the
bell, now almost as famous as Hummer's bell, and it had be-
come the more precious because of the trials through which
it had passed.
In connection with the church history of this congregation
a tribute is paid to one of its faithful members that is now
typical of the early days, and it is fitting that it should be in-
serted here: "John Shoup was born in Basle, Switzerland,
and under the discouragements of poverty, emigrated to Amer-
ica when quite young. While serving as a l bound boy' near
Steubenville, Ohio, he became a member of the Presbyterian
church. In 1839 he journeyed on foot to Iowa City, then in its
earliest settlement, and in 1840 he was one of the foremost in
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 323
the establishment of the church, as it was planned on the 12th
day of September of that year. Afterwards during all its dis-
couragements he faithfully performed his part in sustaining
and fostering it, accomplishing much more by his untiring de-
votion than many others possessing greater advantage in edu-
cation and wealth/ 9 Mr. Shoup left the city with this warm
commendation on the record.
In 1890 the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary during
the pastorate of Dr. E. N. Barrett. Many of the former pas-
tors, as aged men, returned to honor the occasion, among them
Rev John Crozier, whose parents were among the first settlers
of the " North Bend" country. Dr. Barrett in his introduc-
tion called him "St. John, the apostle of this church and a
crusader." It appears that this man when a boy in North
Bend, had helped to quarry the stone for the Old Capitol build-
ing and at the home of his father the pioneer ministers, Revs.
Stocker, Cole, and Bell, had often been entertained. Michael
Hummer had preached in their cabin home, sometimes walking
the nine miles and crossing the river at Eagan's ford in a ca-
noe rowed by Rev. Crozier.
Dr. F. A. Shearer, then living at Colfax, was present at the
anniversary. He was pastor when the house was burned, and
long after. He could with difficulty speak of the former
trials "with composure." Rev. Osmond, who made a careful
summary of the church history in 1876, and was pastor for so
many years, was present on this occasion, coming from Elkton,
Maryland. Rev. Geo. P. Folsom, of Carroll, Iowa, who filled
this pulpit from 1880 to 1885, congratulated the church on its
prosperity after so many trials in its early history.
In a paper, read by Mrs. W. P. Coast, on "Woman's Work
in the Church,' ' she stated that the church was founded fifty
years before by "thirteen women and one man." When the
church was built it had a "pitch and gravel roof, and the pitch
for its manufacture was heated on the kitchen stove of a good
sister near the building. Money and supplies to help on the
pastor's salary were expected from the organizations of the
women. In 1874 the first foreign missionary society was or-
ganized by Mrs. George Thatcher, and a short time after the
home society was founded by Miss Lou Hughes."
H. W. Lathrop, who has done so much for local history, was
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324 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
among the speakers, and in reference to Mr. Shoup, whose
name has been mentioned, he said: "Deacon John Shoup was
this church's hardest worker. We had no furnaces, no coal
stoves, and our wood came in sled lengths at 'six bits' a load;
he not only gave and hauled the wood, but frequently cut it
and made the fires. He was a hauler of merchandise between
Muscatine and Iowa City, and was not a rich man."
The principal address of this anniversary occasion was
given by the pastor of the church, Dr. E. N. Barrett, in which
he reviewed the history already related, from the years be-
fore, and added what was of most importance in the events of
later years. At the annual meeting in 1890 a committee was
appointed, consisting of Messrs. Coast, Shepard, Macbride,
Bradway, and Chatham, to secure a desirable location for a
parsonage, and to make the financial arrangements necessary
in addition to the generous legacy of Mr. Dana Stone, and the
amount realized from the sale of the old New School church
given by the synod for this purpose.
After twelve years of efficient service, one is startled by
coming suddenly upon this line in the church record: "Our
pastor, Rev. E. N. Barrett, D. D., died this morning at 10:30,"
[May 8, 1901]. He had occupied his pulpit for the last time
on Sunday morning, January 13, and at its close announced
that there would be no evening service, since he felt unable to
speak. On the next day he^ was seriously ill, and from that time
until his death his friends were unable to see him or hear his
voice.
The present pastor, Rev. D. W. Wylie, D. D., was called to
the church in January, 1902, following the death of Dr. Barrett.
Beginning with Rev. Michael Hummer, who was the first
regular minister, the following are the men who have served
the church :
Rev. Michael Hummer, pastor from 1841 to 1848 (died
1879).
Rev. Silas Hazard, pastor from 1848 to 1852 (died 1853).
Rev. John Crozier, pastor from 1853-4 (died 1891).
Rev. F. A. Shearer, pastor from 1854 to 1858 (died 1905).
Rev. O. O. McClain, pastor from 1859 to 1861 (died 1900).
Rev. Samuel Osmond, pastor from 1862 to 1879 (died 1907).
Rev. Wm. R. Henderson, pastor from 1879 to 1880.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 325
Rev. George P. Folsom, pastor from 1880 to 1887 (died
1904).
Rev. E. N. Barrett, pastor from 1888 to 1901 (died 1901).
Rev. D. W. Wylie, pastor from 1902 — .
The story of "Hummer's Bell" has often been referred to
in connection with church history and while only an event in
the life of a community, it has some phases that are suggestive
of the trials of frontier life, and the method of securing posses-
sion was so peculiar as to be very much out of the ordinary.
That such a circumstance should, at this date, cause comment,
and induce efforts for the restoration of the property is at
least enough reason for an extended account of the story. It
has been mentioned that Mr. Hummer had been given security
on the church property for a certain indebtedness, and in order
to indicate the certainty of the security it may be permitted to
show the authority :
"This indenture, made this first day of March in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, be-
tween Theodore Sanxy, Samuel H. McCrory, John Shoup,
and James W. Margrave, Trustees of the first Presbyterian
Church of Iowa City, in the county of Johnson, and State of
Iowa, of the one part and Michael Hummer of the County and
State aforesaid of the other part:
"Witnesseth: Whereas the said Theodore Sanxy, S. H. Mc-
Crory, John Shoup, and James Margrave, as trustees of the
first Presbyterian church, as aforesaid, are indebted to the said
Michael Hummer, in the sum of six hundred and fifty-eight
dollars and twenty-two cents and have executed a note for the
payment of the same (bearing even date herewith) payable
eighteen months after date, with six per cent interest, until
paid. And the said Trustees, being desirous of securing the
payment of the same at the time aforesaid, therefore this in-
denture,
"Witnesseth, that the said trustees as well for the consid-
eration of securing the payment of the said note at the time it
becomes due, as the sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by
the said Michael Hummer before the sealing and delivery there-
of, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted,
bargained, sold, transferred and conveyed and by these pres-
ents do grant, bargain, transfer and convey unto the said
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326 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Michael Hummer, his heirs and assigns, a certain tract or par-
cel of Land lying and being in the county of Johnson aforesaid,
to wit, Lot numbered Eight, in Block numbered Eighty-six in
Iowa City, as known and designated on the original plat and
plan of said town, being the same upon which the first Presby-
terian church of the said city have erected their church edi-
fice. . . . "
The usual conditions of a mortgage follow the transfer as
described, and the instrument was signed by the persons named
in the mortgage on behalf of the church, sealed and delivered
in the presence of John Margrave. It was acknowledged be-
fore J. Crummy as justice of the peace, and Stephen B. Gard-
ner, clerk of the district court certified to his official author-
ity.801
" On a certain day of the year of 1848, the peaceful citizens of
Iowa City were thrown into a state of excitement by the report
being spread that Michael Hummer, accompanied by his pliant
tool, Dr. Margrave, had arrived in the city with means of trans-
portation, intending to take the bell from the Presbyterian
church, and convey it to Keokuk, there to be placed in a new
temple which Hummer had erected and dedicated to the service
of some deity of his own. These two worthies procured ropes
and blocks and proceeded to the church, and ascending to the
belfry by the aid of a long ladder, they proceeded to unhang
the bell and lower it to the ground. It so happened that while
Margrave went to the stable for the horses and wagon, Hum-
mer ascended into the belfry for the purpose of getting down
the tackle, but by this time a number of citizens had gathered
at the church and seemed bent upon interrupting the plans of
the former minister. They first removed the ladder, rendering
his descent impossible, and soon after a conveyance appeared
upon the grounds, whereupon the bell was quickly loaded into
the wagon, and escorted by some six or eight citizens, moved
rapidly out of the city and disappeared in a northerly direction.
This was done in less time than it has taken to relate it, the
Eev. Michael viewing the whole proceedings from the belfry,
venting his rage and mortification in violent gesticulation and
expletives, which would sound strange if coming from a pul-
pit. In this predicament he was compelled to pass the time
until the coming of his confederate, Margrave, who, by replac-
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 327
ing the ladder, released Michael from his elevated prison. His
reverence descended, his sandy locks standing erect, vowing
vengeance through his livid lips, and presenting a most perfect
picture of impotent rage. He commenced suit against certain
of our citizens, and like Saul of old, he applied to the sooth-
sayers and those who have dealings with familiar spirits, but
all in vain. The whereabouts of the bell remained a sealed
mystery to him, and to nearly all of our citizens for some
years."
At length the following facts developed: The company
taking the bell from Hummer, proceeded up the river to a
point near the mouth of Rapid creek, where the bell was sunk
in deep water. This was to remain a profound secret until the
difficulty between Hummer and the church could be settled, and
thereafter, the bell was to be returned to its rightful owners,
the church authorities. The parties engaged in this were not,
it is said, members of the church, but citizens actuated by
a laudable desire to retain so valuable a bell in the city. But
unfortunately they had a traitor among them who secretly
removed the bell to another point in the river, and when it was
sought for by the parties hiding it, it could not be found and
nothing further was ascertained of its whereabouts until the
return of some of our citizens from California, when the mys-
tery was revealed. David Lemraux, a native of England, who
belonged to the Mormon church and had been living in the city
for some years, and James Miller, started in company for
California, and it appears they took the bell from the river,
where they had last placed it, and headed it up in a cask well
packed in sawdust, then secretly loaded it upon an ox wagon
and transported it across the plains, over the Rocky mountains
to Salt Lake City, where it was sold to Brigham Young, for a
sum far below its value, and at last accounts was being used to
call the " Latter Day Saints" together for worship.802
In later years the "old Bell" was fully identified by those
who know all about the circumstances, and correspondence in
recent days points to the fact that it may yet be restored.
"In 1895 General Charles W. Irish, of the U. S. Office of
Irrigation Inquiry, Washington, D. C, and his daughter, Eliza-
beth, were traveling through the west in the interest of the
Agricultural Bureau, and while in Utah he made the acquain-
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328 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
tance of a large number of pioneer Mormons and in conversa-
tion with these people he mentioned pioneer days, and related
to them what he remembered regarding their crossing Iowa on
their way to the Golden West and the taking of the noted Hum-
mer bell, whereupon they became very much interested in this
bell story and asked if he had any means by which he could iden-
tify it. Mr. Irish stated that he had seen the bell many times and
that the name of the foundry and city were stamped on the
bell. They stated to Mr. Irish that they had an old bell which
Brigham Young had brought across the plains with him, and
that it was stored in an out-building in connection with the
Tithing House. They then invited General Irish and his
daughter to meet them at the Tithing House the next day, and
they would with him examine the bell, and see if it contained
the marks he had stated were found on the Hummer bell. The
following day as agreed the bell was brought forth and the men,
armed with magnifying glasses, soon found the name of the
foundry and city which General Irish had told them was im-
printed on the bell. After the identification had been com-
pleted, General Irish asked for their history of the bell, when
they stated that it was first used for church purposes, and to
call the workmen to their duty each day, but in later years
when Brigham Young built a private school house for his own
children, the bell was placed in a cupola on it, and was used to
call the children to school. When their new school house was
built, the old bell was retired, to the Tithing House, and was
almost forgotten ; when the former history was given them it
brought the historic bell back into the world again, and it im-
mediately became more valuable to the Mormons than at first,
for now love nor money could not obtain it from them, but these
old pioneers gave the general their word of honor, stating that
when all the older Mormons had passed away, the bell, of
course, would not be of interest to the younger generation, and
that they would consent to have the Hummer bell pass to the
general or his daughter."
Information to Miss Irish from a Mormon lady in 1910
states that "the Hummer bell has now been placed in the Mor-
mon Ladies' Historic Chamber at Salt Lake City, Utah where
visitors can behold it when touring through the west."
The event of the seizure of the bell and the consequent ex-
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PEESBYTEEIAN CHURCHES 329
citement and peculiar scenes involved in the outcome led to a
rather remarkable result in the life of one who then a boy
stood on the "outskirts of the crowd," for he put the queer
affair into cartoon with a piece of crayon on an old sheet of
brown paper. This appearing in a shop window attracted the
attention of one of the law makers then frequenting the streets
of Iowa City, who had an eye for the talent displayed
in the young lad, and graciously undertook his education in
the particular line in which he showed such evident talent, and
later sent him to Italy for further training. There he won the
approval that success merits and later came to his native town
to claim the hand of one of its fair daughters. His sketches
are carefully preserved in the rooms of The State Historical
Society.303
Efforts were made to effect a settlement with Mr. Hummer,
and papers now in the possession of the church authorities are
illustrative of that fact. The following is a literal account of
thp experiences of the patient Rev. John Crozier, who was sent
on such a mission :
"Burlington, Iowa, Oct. 6, 1853.
' ' To the Bd of Trustees of the 1st Pres Church of Iowa City :
Sirs : — as. your agent to see Mr Hummer & if possible make a
settlement with him I make the following report. I arrived
here last evening & made immediate inquiry about him. I
learned that the Presbytery of Iowa which was to meet on
Tuesday 4th had adjourned on the 5th & that Mr H had made
application to be restored to the Church but was refused. My
informant could not tell me whether Mr H had left or not. I
thought he might possibly be still remaining on the ground &
this morning I drove out to Middletown 8 miles west of this
and there I found him ; & had an interview of several hours.
"Tn regard to the proposition made last spring to take
half the amount due on the mortgage, he says that he never
authorized Mr Woodard to accept any such proposition & there-
fore did not consider himself in any way bound to such accep-
tance. I used every endeavour in my power to induce his
acceptance but in vain. I then made him the proposition to the
extent if my instructions viz to pay him $500, $400 down & the
other hundred in one year, & and we pay our own costs. Neither
could I gain his acceptance to this proposal. I told him my
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330 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
authority to act in the matter could go no farther than that.
In my anxiety to have the matter settled if possible I then
wished to know on what terms he would settle & the very best I
could do is contained in the accompanying paper in his own
hand. (See the paper).
" This will probably be $40 or $50 more than the proposition
I was authorized to make. I told him that if you should accept
the proposal you would give personal security for what should
remain. I learned from him that he has (or says he has) in
his possession a paper from the trustees setting forth that $500
of his obligation against the church was on motion of Mr Mc-
Rory granted in consideration of services actually rendered on
the church, and not for services to be thereafter rendered. I
would direct the attention of the Board to this subject, as that
paper would conflict with the testimony which we have under-
stood the members of the Old Board would make when per-
mitted. I am well satisfied from all I have been able to see and
hear that if any compromise is to be expected it must be on the
terms here enclosed. Just or unjust, it is the best I could do.
"I am Gentlemen Yours truly John Crozier." 8W
The paper referred to in the letter of Mr. Crozier is in the
hand writing of Mr. Hummer, and was found in the papers in
the case, although separated from the letter that enclosed it
as mentioned in the note of the line which mentions it. The
terms expressed by the creditor were very explicit. The claim
was to be settled within two weeks on the following conditions :
"Four hundred dollars down; one hundred in one year with
interest at ten per cent; the costs in the case with an attorney
fee for Hummer's attorney, which he said would not amount to
more than fifty dollars, and if it did he would pay the dif-
ference.' ' All this on condition that the settlement should be
made at once.
On the back of Hummer's communication Eev. Crozier made
a memorandum recommending the acceptance of the offer as
"judging from what he had heard and seen" there was no
hope of doing any better.
With the aid of this letter of Mr. Hummer one may identify
the subscription and expense book that he carried on the trip
east for funds, and there are some items that make it very
interesting as the sources of the donations mentioned here. He
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flBMH
'"." " ;
4 - R V ji
—
->
Oxford, Iowa
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332 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
spent four and one-half weeks in Pittsburg, at five dollars per
week, which of course was paid by the contributions of those
who gave money to help build the church in far oft" Iowa, and
his collections from his own note book are named in part as
follows :
"Collections for Church in Iowa City — 1847.
N. Y., Joseph Sampson 10
Cash 10
Cash 10
Do 10
Do 10
Cash 2
Collections in
Jamaica, L. 1 64. 31
Greencastle, Pa 30.50
Alexandria (?) 5.50
Williamsburg 17.31
Hollidaysburg 5
Sattsburg 11
185.62
Mr. McClung's Cong 8
Do 1
Cross roads 28.15
George Stuart 5
South Salem, N. Y 79.25
Bedford, N. York 75.05
South East, N. Y 37.62
Petersburg, Va 33.00
Getti(y)sburg, Pa 50.00
Union Town, Pa 102.00
Carlisle, Pa 38.50
457.57
Subtract Carlisle 38.50
419.07
brought over 185.62
604.69
Expenses 65.00 $539.69" *•
On the eleventh day of October, 1853, the Presbytery of
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 333
Cedar met in Iowa City, and on the following day passed reso-
lutions establishing a church at Solon, in Johnson county, "in
which neighborhood some of the members of the First Presby-
terian church of Iowa City reside.' ' It was considered that
when the church was organized there the members should no
longer be regarded as a part of the Iowa City congregation.
Twenty-three members composed the church of Solon, accord-
ing to the statement of the clerk, who put it thus : ' ' Presby-
terian church of Solon was organized on the fourteenth day of
October, 1853, with twenty- three members." Attest, J. Shoup.
This is practically all of the record which furnishes any ac-
count of the Solon congregation, beyond the fact of their build-
ing and dedicating a church about 1868.
In the old Masonic hall in the town of Oxford, the Presby-
terians perfected an organization of the church in 1870, by the
persons who are called in all these undertakings the original
or charter members. These were : Joel Linkhart, Jonathan H.
Rider, W. W. Howard, Wm. H. Harrison, Stanley W. Smith,
with their wives, and Mrs. Lucretia Scott, Miss Caroline How-
ard, John Hutchinson, and Mrs. Clara D. Estabrook. The
church was built in 1872 and dedicated by the pastor of the
Presbyterian church in Iowa City at that time, Rev. S. M. Os-
mond. The church had a membership of more than one hun-
dred, thirty or more years ago. A committee from the Iowa
City Presbytery had charge of the organization, the Rev. S. S.
Howe, at that time a resident of the county, preached the first
sermon in the depot of the Rock Island railway, where a Sun-
day school had been organized some time previous to this event.
W. H. Harrison was the only elder at first. Services were soon
moved from the depot to the public school building, until a
church was erected in 1872, the building then constructed being
remodeled about four years ago. Only one of the fourteen
charter members has a home and church connection here now,
Mrs. Eliza Frances Linkhart. The pastor, James T. Wyllie,
now in charge of the ninety members, was called here in Jan-
uary, 1911, from Millersburg, Illinois.
In the old session book, we find the organization of Scott
church written in the following style :
"On the tenth day of April, A. D. one thousand eight hun-
dred and fifty-nine, it being the Christian Sabbath ; and in the
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334 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
District Schoolhouse Number Five, of Scott township, Johnson
County, Iowa after a sermon by Rev. Peter S. VanNest, suited
to the occasion, Rev. Samuel Storrs Howe, who had statedly
supplied the people for the year previous, assisted by Rev. P.
S. VanNest, both of Iowa City, proceeded to organize a church,
to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Scott
"The following persons were then solemnly constituted the
First Presbyterian church of Scott: to wit, Almon Barnes and
Sarah A. Barnes, his wife, by letter from the First Presby-
terian church of Iowa City; also Benjamin Graham and Jane
Graham, his wife, on certificate from the First Constitutional
Presbyterian church aforesaid of Iowa City ; James McCready,
by letter from the Presbyterian church of Iowa City, commonly
called the 'Old School' and his wife, Mrs. Eliza B. McCready,
on credible evidence of christian character; Mrs. Elizabeth
Poorbaugh, and Miss Polly Poorbaugh, from the Lutheran
church, of which church connection, when residing in Penn-
sylvania, they gave satisfactory evidence, though not having
certificates.
"Thus 'eight souls' as many as of old entered 'The Ark*
gave their public assent to the articles and entered into the
covenant prescribed in the 'Formulary' recommended by the
Presbytery of Iowa City.
"Almon Barnes, formerly an elder in the First Constitu-
tional church of Iowa City, was chosen and installed as ruling
elder of this church.
"The members of the church duly organized, requested by a
unanimous vote to be taken under the care of the Presbytery
of Iowa City at their next meeting.
"The Lord's supper was also administered, on the occasion,
after the organization of the church; and Almeda Victoria,
infant daughter of James and Eliza McCready, also Louisa
and Josephine, twin infant daughters of Benjamin and Jane
Graham, were baptised.
"Attest, Sam Storrs Howe, moderator."
The little country church thus organized forty years ago in
a school house seven and one-half miles southeast of Iowa City,
very near the present site of the church building, has had a
quiet, steady growth all these years and shows remarkable
stability in this age of the passing of the country church.
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PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCHES 335
As is always the case in a country congregation, the older,
stronger members have from time to time been lost by removal
to the city churches, but men have always stepped forward
to take up the work thus dropped. Among those who sustained
the church in its early history, two names stand out prominent-
ly as its main support, namely Almon Barnes for spiritual de-
votion, and Mr. Benjamin Graham for financial support.
Through the disbanding of the First Constitutional church,
commonly called the Old Stone Church, the ruins of which were
lately standing on the south side of Burlington street between
Clinton and South Capitol streets, several gifts were made to
Scott church; such as pulpit, large bible, silver communion
service, etc. The bible was later stolen from the church build-
ing, the pulpit is still in use, and the communion service is in
the possession of the church, although not in use, as an indi-
vidual service was presented a few years ago in memoriam of
John Slemmons, a deceased elder of the church.
Fifteen men have served this little church during the half
century of its existence, all of them enduring long, cold rides
in winter and many other inconveniences, in order to keep alive
the spiritual life of this community. Among the early men
Rev. Howe, a retired minister living in Iowa City, was espe-
cially devoted to the church, coming back to it after it had
almost died out during the Civil War, supplying it until it
became stronger again.
The church building was begun in 1870, finished and dedi-
cated Aug. 13, 1871, during the pastorate of Rev. Spinny. Mr.
Benjamin Graham donated the grounds, intending them for
parsonage and cemetery as well as church building. A parson-
age was built while Rev. Schell was serving the church and all
the succeeding ministers lived in it except Rev. Hemingway,
who resided at West Branch, filling that pulpit as well as the
one at Scott.
Rev. Furniss left the parsonage fifteen years ago, moved to
West Branch and the parsonage was sold and moved.
The grounds around the church were never used for a ceme-
tery, as land was donated by Mr. Douglas on a farm several
miles nearer Iowa City on what is now known as the farm of
Stephen Thompson. About thirty families are represented.
No deeds are required for lots, occupancy denoting possession.
n
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336 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
The church at present consists of sixty-eight members, has
been self-supporting for fifteen years, gives liberally to mis-
sions, and contributes to all the Presbyterian boards.*06
The New School Presbyterians had an organization several
years prior to the present organization of Unity Presbyterian
church, but it had died out. In the spring of 1851 the first Sab-
bath school was organized that had to do with the present
Unity church, which was held in the old log school house lo-
cated about two hundred yards south of the farm home of Geo.
Stevens, Mr. Holmes, of Iowa City, assisting in the first organi-
zation. Lock Williams was the first superintendent, and Jacob
Sehorn was librarian, the school continuing about seven months.
However, in the following spring the Sabbath school was re-
organized with the same officers. Allison Davis served as
superintendent for one or more summers, and Iowa City pas-
tors occasionally preached, while from Rev. Shearer's auto-
biography we learn that he preached in Sehorn 's saw mill, on
Old Man's creek, September 2, 1855, and administered the
sacrament of the Lord's supper.
In the spring of 1858 the Sabbath school was re-organized
in the Union school house. That was the building that formerly
stood on the corner south of the present church building, which
is now used by Elder Davis as a corn <?rib. Mr. George Shelton,
a member of the Episcopal church was superintendent for
several summers. The school had a good library. Much atten-
tion was given to the memorizing of scripture verses. The
school rewarded the pupils memorizing five hundred or more
verses with a book of their choice from the library. The Metho-
dist people were active in the early days of the school. Mr.
Gardner was superintendent three or four summers and Mrs.
Gardner was the leader of song. After the church was organ-
ized, for a number of years, the M. E. pastors from Iowa City
preached alternate Sabbaths with the Presbyterians.
January 29, 1859, in answer to a petition that had been pre-
sented to the Presbytery of Cedar in session at Cedar Rapids,
which request had been granted, a committee of the Presbytery
or rather one member of it, viz. Elder John Shoup, of the first
Presbyterian church of Iowa City, together with Rev. F. A.
Shearer, who was then laboring as a missionary for Cedar
Presbytery, met the petitioners at the Union school house and
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 337
proceeded to effect an organization. After a sermon by Rev.
Shearer, the following were admitted as charter members of
the church : William Hanlon, W. B. Hanlon, Charlotte Han-
Ion, Edward Williams, Phebe C. Williams, Allison Davis, Polly
Sehorn, and Ann Maria Williams from the First Presbyterian
church of Iowa City, and Moses Hanlon and his wife Rhoda,
from a church in Ontario, 0. The newly organized church then
proceeded to elect two elders by ballot. Moses and William
Hanlon were elected. These brethren not seeing their way
clear to accept, the ordination and installation was postponed
until the next day. The Sabbath services were closed with the
sacrament of the Lord's supper. The next day, Monday, the
congregation met, and after a sermon by Rev. Shearer, the
newly elected elders, under a deep sense of their unworthiness,
having signified their acceptance of the office, were ordained
and installed. A motion was made and unanimously carried to
call the new church Unity.
Of the charter members there is but one now living, viz.
Mrs. Ann Maria Williams, of Marne, Iowa. She is a sister of
our present Senior Elder Thomas 0. Thomas.
Rev. Jonathan Osmond became the first regular supply of
the church, serving Unity in connection with Pairview church.
The first session meeting at which he presided was May, 1867,
but from the recollection of the older members of the church
and from History of the Presbyterian Church in Iowa, he must
have preached here from 1863 to 1868. During his pastorate
he resided in Iowa City and in order to support his family he
also served as county superintendent of schools.
Rev. A. M. Heizer was stated supply following Rev. Jona-
than Osmond. He served the Oxford church in connection
with Unity. His was a short pastorate but a very successful
one. It was during his short pastorate that the church build-
ing was erected. He was present and presided at the dedica-
tion of the church on August 23, 1873. The sermon was
preached by Rev. Samuel Osmond, of Iowa City, a brother of
the former pastor at Unity.
The winter of 1870-71 the Sabbath school continued for the
first time throughout the winter. The attempt was successful,
and from that time to the present Unity has had a regular Sab-
bath school.
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338 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
The first record of a meeting of the Congregationalists is
March 19, 1872, which was held at Union school house. The
chairman was William F. Buck, and the secretary, John Col-
dren. The meeting was held to consider the matter of erecting
a church building. A committee, consisting of T. 0. Thomas
and T. T. Williams, was appointed to consult with a number of
Welsh Congregationalists and propose that they pay five hun-
dred dollars or more toward the building of the church and
that they have the use of it one-half of the time. They were
also to have the privilege of selecting one trustee to fill a
vacancy then existing. The plan was to build a church costing
about two thousand dollars. A second meeting, the date not
given but evidently held soon after the first, records that the
committee reported acceptance of the proposition with the fol-
lowing exceptions : (1) They to have a written lease for sixty
years for half time. (2) The trustees not to be held respon-
sible for accident to the building. (3) Alternating in use of
the church, morning of one Sabbath and afternoon of the next.
The amended proposition was found agreeable and a com-
mittee was appointed to circulate subscription papers, as fol-
lows: John Coldren, T. 0. Thomas, T. T. Williams, Eobert
Davis, and William F. Buck, and on July 6, 1872, the church
was incorporated. The trustees, William F. Buck, David H.
Price, and John Coldren, signing the articles of incorporation
for the congregation. October 9, 1872, the congregation met,
or rather as the records show, the citizens of Union township,
and a building committee was selected as follows: Roland
Eeese, Henry Heiny, and M. H. Carson. T. 0. Thomas was
elected treasurer and T. T. Williams secretary. The trustees
were appointed a committee to draft by-laws. So far as known
they have not yet completed their work.
Roland Reese declining to serve on the building committee,
it would seem from the records that Henry Heiny must also
have declined, although the records do not so show, for at the
close of this Congregational meeting the building committee
were : M. H. Carson, D. R. Lewis, and W. L. Humphreys, but
this committee was later reorganized.
February 3, 1873, the congregation relieved the Welsh Con-
gregationalists from their subscriptions, so that it is well to
pause here for a little explanation. Over northwest from the
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 339
present location of Unity church a number of Welsh Congrega-
tionalists had located, and it was with them that negotiations
had been pending to share in the building of the church. These
Welsh Congregationalists of their own motion decided that
the partnership planned might prove a source of trouble later
on, and so withdrew from the contemplated agreement. But
they as individuals subscribed liberally to the building fund
and united with the church, becoming efficient workers in the
church.
More than three years passed before another congregational
meeting was held or at least before any record is made of it,
since in December, 1876, the congregation met and elected
three trustees for one, two, and three year terms, and since that
time, with few exceptions, elections have been held regularly.
The first installed pastor of Unity church was Rev. David
Brown, later pastor of the church at Hills, Iowa. He served
Unity in connection with Oxford from December, 1873, to De-
cember, 1883. I
Rev. D. B. Flemming was the first pastor residing on the
field. He served the church acceptably for five years — from
April, 1884, to April, 1889.
Rev. G. M. Hardy served the church from the spring of
1890 to the fall of 1893. It was after he came to the field that
the manse was completed, and wise man that he was, in not
wanting to occupy it alone, he wooed and won one of Unity's
splendid young women, Miss Eliza Jane Williams. So Unity
manse was honored in having as the first "Mistress of the
Manse" one of her own daughters and a daughter of two of
the charter members of the church.
Rev. Bantly was installed pastor the afternoon of Nov. 6,
1893, and served the church for eight years. The largest Sab-
bath school reported to Presbytery was the second year of
Rev. Bantly 's pastorate. The total reported for that year
was 114.
Rev. J. R. Vance arrived on the field from Armstrong, Iowa,
January 1, 1902, and served the church as stated supply till
April 23, 1903.
Rev. Charles C. Brown succeeded Rev. Vance, coming to the
field from Marne, Iowa, beginning in August, 1903, his father,
Rev. David Brown, who was pastor from 1873 to 1883, being
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340 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
present at the installation and giving the charge to the people.
The present pastor, Rev. H. S. Condit, began his work here in
November, 1908, and was installed the following month. It
was during his pastorate in February, 1909, that the congrega-
tion celebrated its "Golden Jubilee,' ' fifty years of its history
having passed. It happens that Rev. F. A. Shearer, who as-
sisted in the organization of Unity church, was the pastor of
the parents of Rev. Condit, and officiated at his baptism in his
infancy.
In conclusion it may be said that the country church, found-
ed by such people as composed and now make up its congrega-
tion, make any township a far more comfortable and better
place in which to reside.807
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CHAPTER XVII
The Catholic Churches
CT. MARY'S Catholic church, on the corner of Linn and
^ Jefferson streets in Iowa City, was the third house of
worship built in the city, Bishop Loras, of Dubuque, laying the
corner stone on July 12, 1841. The structure was completed
under its first plan in 1844. However, this does not imply that
no services had been held in the vicinity up to that time, for
prior to 1837 it is said that missionaries visited this territory,
and traveled from settlement to settlement in any way that
offered, facing the hardships of frontier life that spiritual
needs might be ministered to, where the struggle for bodily
needs was so great.
Before the date mentioned above the Catholics of this vicin-
ity united and the place to be utilized in lieu of a church was
the residence of Ferdinand Haberstroh, uncle to Julius Haber-
stroh, who now resides on North Gilbert street. This pioneer
was a hotel keeper and his establishment is now the Marshall
home on Jefferson street, just west of the Lytle residence.
Here it was that Father Mazuchelli said mass, the mantle piece
being utilized as an altar.
While the Catholics had been brought together they had not
yet been formally organized. This was accomplished by
Father Pelamorgues in 1842 and the parishioners built a small
brick structure on the alley near the present parochial resi-
dence, which, however, proved too small and was followed by
another church that occupied the site of the present church, in
1843. Bishop Loras laid the corner stone, the structure being
used for church purposes until 1867, when it was torn down to
make room for the present St. Mary's of the Visitation.
After Father Pelamorgues came Fathers Allman and Gott-
fried, the latter serving as rector until 1846. He was followed
by Father Poyst in 1848, but for the two years prior to that
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342 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
time the congregation was without a spiritual adviser. Father
McCormick followed in 1851 and in 1854 Father Hannon took
charge, having previously assisted Father McCormick. In
1855 Father Michels came, who in turn was succeeded by
Father William Emonds, on March 4, 1858, who was influential
in the entire county.
The corner stone for the new church was laid on October 27,
1867, the dedication ceremonies following two years later, or
on August 15, 1869. At these services the Rt. Rev. Bishop per-
Old St. Mart's Church
formed the consecration before the people were admitted gen-
erally. He was assisted by several well known priests, chief
of whom was the late Bishop Cosgrove, then but a young
priest, who also chanted the high mass at the conclusion of the
dedication services.
Early in November of 1890, Father Emonds announced his
intention of leaving, and a Sunday later delivered the farewell
sermon. He was succeeded by Father Kempker, who was in
charge for a short time, to be succeeded by Rev. A. J. Schulte,
then president of St. Ambrose college, Davenport, on Septem-
ber 17, 1891. Rev. Schulte has been here continuously since.
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES 343
As is known St. Mary's is the parent church of all the con-
gregations and missions that surround this city such as St.
Patrick's, St Wenceslaus, Oxford, Windham, Nolan Settle-
ment, Solon, South Liberty, English River, Riverside, and Lone
Tree, some of which have since been abandoned or transferred.
But now that the parent church had covered the mission field
attention was turned towards internal development. Schools
were established for the furtherance of religious and academic
education the first of note being St. Joseph's Institute. This
school was founded by Father Emonds in 1865 and was a
success, drawing its students from all over the state and even
from the distant states. In its most flourishing condition it
numbered nearly three hundred students and among its equip-
ments was a chemical laboratory regarded as one of the best
in the state. In 1872 the institution was incorporated, attain-
ing all the powers and privileges of a college. Full charge was
assumed by Father Emonds, who was assisted by a board
of regents and a complete corps of teachers. However, with
the advancement of the university here and other state sup-
ported institutions in Iowa, patronage was gradually with-
drawn until in the spring of 1892 the old institution was torn
down and the corner stone of the present St. Mary's school laid.
St Mary's school was begun in the fall of 1892 and was
opened one year later with the Franciscan Sisters in charge.
They continued their work for a few years to be succeeded
by the Sisters of Charity of Dubuque, who have had the matter
of teaching in their hands for about twelve years.
St. Mary's school is justly the pride of the parish and no
end of careful thought and study has been given its problems
by its able director, Rev. Schulte. It was among the first if
not the very first Catholic school, to become a fully accredited
Catholic high school by so arranging its curriculum and shap-
ing its course under the direction of the university authorities
that its graduates are admitted to the university to full fresh-
man standing, subject of course to the requirements asked.
From this institution the first class was graduated in 1900 in
the high school department. Religious education is afforded
in a very thorough manner but none of the other studies is on
this account allowed to be neglected or handled lightly. In
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344 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
addition to the high school department, there are, of course, the
primary, graded and grammar departments.
Naturally with the limited funds raised by voluntary sub-
scription, the work of improving and beautifying the church
went on slowly though surely. On July 19, 1882, twelve Stations
of the Cross, representing scenes in Christ's journey to Cal-
vary, arrived at the church. These are said to be among the
best seen in this state. Early in January of the next year the
organ which required two cars for its shipment, was installed.
Upon the accession of Rev. Schulte the improvement work
was continued and the results are today plainly visible. Dur-
ing 1907 and 1908 the interior of the present St. Mary's was
greatly improved by the complete wiring of the church on the
conduit plan, and by the addition of a dozen new statues to
adorn the sidewalls and most of all by new frescoing which
was completed at a cost of over $3000, and buttresses were
placed along the outer walls to strengthen them.
By the terms of the articles of incorporation the bishop of
the diocese is the president of the executive board composed in
addition of the vicar general of the diocese, the rector of St.
Mary's and two laymen, title to the church property being held
by the president. By the terms of the document annual meet-
ings are held by the congregation and two directors are chosen
bi-annually. The first two lay members of the executive board
to be thus chosen were the late John Sueppel, Sr., and George
Hummer.
Upon the occasion of the festivities in February of 1907,
in honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Rev. Schulte 's ser-
vices, another honor was given St. Mary's by the bishop of the
diocese who made this parish a deanery and its rector, Very
Rev. A. J. Schulte, the dean thereof. This honor made the
rector of St. Mary's irremovable and gave him supervision in
church matters over the eighteen priests in this deanery. Meet-
ings are held at the Dean's residence twice a year at which
matters pertaining to church work, development and improve-
ment are considered and taken up in session and with the dean.
St. Mary's has a large number of church societies whose
scope is such as to take in members of all ages. There are the
Gentlemen's Sodality for men, the Altar Society whose mem-
bership is made up of the married ladies of the congregation.
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES 345,
the Young Ladies Sodality, and Children's Sodality, and St~
John Berchman's Sodality, composed of altar boys exclusively.
In addition there are St Joseph's Benevolent Society which
financially and charitably aids the sick, and the Roman Catho-
lic Mutual Protective Society, an insurance organization on a
very stable basis. This organization pays the usual policies
and death claims and received its impetus in the early days
from promoters in St. Mary's congregation.
From St. Mary's as the parent church there have sprung
two other churches in recent times.
St. Patrick's church was built under the direction of Father
Patrick Smyth who recently passed away at Council Bluffs.
Previous to that time services were held in a frame structure
and the first priest of Celtic origin to minister to the spiritual
wants of the congregation was Father Rice. In 1873 the con-
gregation was formally organized, and the Rt. Rev. Bishop-
Henessey established the congregation as a separate one, at
the solicitation of several members of Celtic tendencies, who
were of St. Mary's congregation. It will be recalled that St-
Mary's in the early days included those of German, Irish, and
Bohemian extraction while today its membership is composed
largely of German descendants while St. Patrick's is almost
exclusively composed of Irish descendants.
In 1877 the present structure was commenced and the corner
stone was laid June 13, 1878, by Father Brazill, assisted by
Father Fogarty, and Father Flavin in the unavoidable absence
of Bishop Hennessey. After mass Father Brazill spoke in a
complimentary way of the city and its people, then the people
assembled at the site of the new building where the exercises
were continued. In the receptacle of the corner stone were
placed copies of the daily papers of the city, the Catholic
weeklies, several American coins, and an official document
signed by Father Brazill stating "that he had laid the corner
stone according to the rites of the church."
Father Smyth was succeeded by Father John O'Farrell,
and he by Father Ward, the present pastor. Before the de-
parture of Father Smyth, he was instrumental in establishing
St. Patrick's school for boys in 1885. It was improved in
1896. St. Agatha's seminary was affiliated with this congre-
gation during its continuance here, under the direction of the
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346 HISTORY OP JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Sisters of Charity. In quite recent years the congregation
erected a new home for the pastor, modern in all respects, and
costing approximately ten thousand dollars.
The youngest of the three Catholic churches in Iowa City is
St Wenceslaus located on the corner of Dodge and Davenport
streets, the corner stone of which was laid on September 25,
1893. Eev. Joseph Sinkmajer undertook the work of interest-
ing the new congregation in the matter. Previous to the erec-
tion and dedication of the new church, the Bohemian Catholics
whose church St. Wenceslaus is, had worshipped at St. Mary's,
Rev. Sinkmajer having come to the city in 1891. After the
•completion of the church the congregation acquired the Joseph
Koza property just west of the church building and this is now
used as a parsonage.
Father Sinkmajer was succeeded in September of 1904 by
Rev. Father A. Chihal, the present rector, and since his coming
many improvements have been made, including the installa-
tion of the pipe organ. Among the church organizations are
the Rosary society, composed of the married ladies who take
<?are of the church and the altar, the Catholic Workmen, a fra-
ternal insurance society, whose parent St. Wenceslaus is, the
Young Ladies society and the W. W. club, the latter being a
society for the young people, where sessions are chiefly
literary.808
Many years ago blocks thirty-one and thirty-two, which lie
between Brown and Ronalds streets in the original plat of
Iowa City were given to the German Catholics for church and
school purposes by John Neuner. A brick building was erected
before 1857 and used for a church and also for a school con-
ducted by the Sisters of Charity. After it ceased to be used as
a church, about 1867, it served as a German school under the
direction of Mr. Max Otto. In August, 1869, however, the
building burned, and a subscription was at once taken in the
<dty to erect a Small building which was opened as a school iu
November of the same year. The money raised was not enough
to pay for the building, and lawsuits followed, ending in the
sale of block thirty-one; the teachers' salaries were in arrears
and in 1872 the property was again sold at their suit and
lx)ught by Mr. Baschnagel and Mr. Goetz, who with others
transferred it to Father Emonds. In 1875, he sold it to the
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES 347
Sisters of St. Francis, who proposed to use it as a convent.
The new eastern part was then built two stories high, the old
part being used as a chapel. In 1878 the Sisters left Iowa
City and sold the entire property to John Goetz in whose hands .
after long litigation the title remained, and who owned it at
the time of its burning in December, 1883.
Father Emonds, the builder of Catholic churches, founded
the church at Solon which was a branch, really, of the Iowa
City church. The building was first erected in 1858, but the
organization had been completed in 1850. The original mem-
bers were E. McDonnell, A. Walter, Joseph Beuter, A. Stehle,
Jacob Stehle, and Fidel Kessler. After the first frame build-
ing had served its purpose the brick was erected in 1875. The
early pastors were Father Emonds, Father Spochek, Father
John and Father Schtneller.
In the past there have been two churches of the Catholic-
people located in Cedar township. The Bohemian of St. Peter
and St. Paul was organized there in 1861 with the orig-
inal members numbering eight or ten, if reports are to be-
relied upon. Among them were John Brush, James Ulch,
John Ilik, Sr., John Fiala, Sr., Anton Dvorak, Frank Svejkov-
sky, Joseph Drable, and Albert Maly, Sr. They built a stone-
church in 1866 costing near thirteen hundred dollars, which
was dedicated by Father Urban. The membership at one
time reached seventy.
The Irish church was organized in 1863, with Mathias Can-
field, Thomas Noland, Patrick Larkin, James Brennen, John
Peters, Michael Donahue, Michael, Patrick, and James Beech-
er, D. Mahoney, Thomas Ryan, Michael Harty, Thomas Butler,.
Thomas Wall, James Cahen and probably others whose names
are now forgotten. Father Emonds of Iowa City dedicated
their building in the year above, but a short time after, anoth-
er was put in its place that was more suitable for the congre-
gation. The church owned forty acres of land belonging to
the parish. Among its pastors have been the Fathers Emonds,.
McCabe, Quigley, Welch, Downey, Sullivan, 0 'Riley, and
Burke.
The original members of St. Mary's Catholic church of Ox-
ford were the families of the Floerchingers, Reynolds, McGil-
licuddys, and Daltons so far as the records will furnish a clew
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-348 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
to the membership, and they were early in constructing a
building for their use. Father Emonds of the Iowa City
church was instrumental in securing the organization, serving
the church for sometime, and probably assisted in securing
the completion of the first frame house in 1862. A second was
finished and dedicated about 1882, the property including at
the present time a good home for the pastor as well as a good
church building. However there is more desired and a new
church is now under consideration by the congregation and
Father Renihan.
The Catholic church at Windham began its work about 1860,
Tvhen five acres of land were donated in section thirty-five, by
Thomas Clark, of St. Louis, for the church and cemetery.
Seventy families at one time were connected with the church.
Among them appear the names of the Bradleys, McCabes,
Ousacks, Roberts, Corcorans, Wollen, Malloy, Burns, Brierton,
Welsh, Deckerman, Murphy, Mulcahey and many others.
The Catholic church was represented in Liberty township
in 1854 as organized at that tim§ by Bishop Loras of Dubuque.
Forty acres of land donated by Michael Dall and Gregory
Oross, each furnishing half, became the property of the church
known as St. Stanislaus, where the first frame building was
erected and dedicated in February, 1854. The original mem-
bers whose names have been recorded include the donors of
the land, B. Dagenhart, Fidell Heitzman, Adam Amish, N.
Birrer, and Joseph Rummelhart.
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CHAPTER XVIH
The Lutheran and Unitarian Churches
'"T^HE work of the German Evangelical Lutheran church is
-* divided into three parts — that of Zion's Evangelical
Lutheran church of Iowa City; the Zion's Evangelical Luth-
eran church of Solon; and that of St. John's Evangelical Luth-
eran church of Sharon Center. The interesting development
of this work is excellently portrayed by a reference manual
which has been prepared by Rev. J. G. Hoerlein, who has been
pastor of the local church since 1887.
The following sketch gives an excellent history of the three
churches of the county and also gives the present organization.
With the emigration of settlers to the prairies of Iowa came
scores and scores of good and faithful Lutherans; Germans
from the "Vaterland" across the sea, and German and Eng-
lish Lutherans from the east, who true to their mother church,
soon recognized the necessity and great importance of organ-
izing a congregation — procuring and to build thereon a house
of worship.
Both German and English jointly raised sufficient cash to
purchase a lot a little west of the site, where today the Union
"bakery is erected. An agreement signed August 6, 1856, con-
tains the following familiar names: Frederick G. Ealy,
Michael Boarts, D. W. Cohick, John C. Hormal, George Fictor,
Frederick Blume, Balzer Hormel, Johannes Kneisel, Heinrich
Nicking, Julius Wienecke, Peter Long.
•Unfortunately difficulties arose that caused a separation of
the two factions, each organizing congregations of their own.
This occurred in 1856 and from this time on the German Luth-
eran people labored faithfully — under difficulties unknown to
the present generation — for the extension of the Lord's king-
dom— mostly among their kinsfolks.
The records show that on March 16, 1857, the First German
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350 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Lutheran church was organized by Josias Bitter who filed
articles of incorporation, witnessed by the following signa-
tures : Josias Bitter, pastor, Michael Protz, George Fictor, Jo-
hann Euler, F. Blume, Michael Immel, Adam Mickel, Leonard
Trumpp, Henry Behrens, before Malcolm Murray, a justice of
the peace on the 21st day of December, 1857.
In glancing over the list of names the records provide, there
seemed to be quite a few German Lutherans in those early days
among the population of Iowa City and surrounding country,,
as the church records prove that Bev. Bitter baptized no less
than forty-two children in eighteen months, married eleven
couples and buried twelve. The first baptism was that of Eliz-
abeth Friedericke Oestreicher on August 24, 1856. The first
couple married were Wilhelm Buck and Barbara Baer on
November 12, 1856, and the first burial was that of Dora Kueh-
ner on September 18, 1856.
After the departure of Bev. Bitter early in 1858 it seemed
as though the people — being without a minister for a year or
more — disbanded, some joining the German Methodists who
for a short time had an organization. A Bev. J. A. List, still
alive at Waverly, Iowa, visited the German Lutherans of thia
vicinity upon several missionary tours, through this section,,
but was unable to permanently supply them, the lack of avail-
able ministers being as distressing then as it is today.
At this juncture a German Lutheran pastor of Bock Island,
Bev. A. Selle, became aware of the sore distress of the local
German Lutherans, and arranged services for them every other
Sunday. On the 20th of March, 1859, he advised them to reor-
ganize, which was effected on April 10, 1859, under the name of
the congregation as known today: Zion's German Lutheran
church — twenty-one members signing their names to the con-
stitution and electing J. Buppert, H. Behrens, Christ Luther
as trustees, F. Banger and Andre Horme as deacons, and
George Fictor as treasurer.
As yet there was no house of worship. Services were con-
ducted in the third ward school, the " State House," and occa-
sionally in private houses.
However with the advent in November, 1859, of Bev. Fr.
Doescher, a young divine, who had recently completed his theo-
logical course, the congregation made a very decided forward
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LUTHEEAN AND UNITARIAN CHURCHES 351
move. In February, 1860, the lot was purchased on which the
church is located for $275, and building began in March of the
same year. But money was scarce, so the members betook
themselves to the woods to fell trees for timbers, or to the
quarries for stone — still others to lime kilns north of the city,
each performing ardently such tasks as each individual was
able to do. By Christmas, 1860, the basement walls were fin-
ished and a temporary roof placed over the same in order to
conduct Christmas services. A happy, thankful congregation it
was, but how to raise the necessary funds to complete the struc-
ture sorely puzzled the members. Cheerfully, each contribut-
ed such sums as his poverty permitted; by delegation of the
congregation, a Mr. John Ruppert rather unsuccessfully at-
tempted to collect some funds in older congregations ; by help
of friends in the city, and by their undaunted zeal the original
structure was completed by the fall of 1861. An accounting
early in 1862 shows that the congregation up to that time, had
expended in cash for the structure something like $1,300 (not
counting their own labor) and had an indebtedness of $200.
Pulpit, altar, and pews were built in the spring of 1863, for
which the pastor collected the money. Shortly thereafter Rev.
Doescher accepted a call from a congregation in Illinois and
Rev. H. W. Wehrs succeeded him until June, 1866. Under the
regime of his successor, Rev. R. Voight — summer of 1866 until
the spring 1870 — some noteworthy improvements were added.
The congregation bought for the accommodation of their pa-
rochial school teacher, the property adjoining the church lot
to the east; procured in the spring of 1869 their bell, which is
noted for its clearness of tone, and organized the ladies' so-
ciety, which has been so efficient, practically indispensible to its
further development and growth.
From May, 1870, the congregation set out upon a new era
of greater development. Missions were started in South Lib-
erty, West Branch, Solon, Sharon Center, and later on near
Lone Tree — in Cedar Rapids and near Homestead. Success-
ful efforts were made to reduce the debt, amounting then to
$1,200 ; a gallery, a new pulpit and an altar were built, the Lad-
ies ' Society was stimulated to greater activity; a plan to build
a tower was set on foot in 1872 and accomplished in 1875 at an
expense of $1,500 ; a thriving Sunday School was organized in
2S
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352 HISTOBY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
February, 1878; stained glass windows installed in the early
eighties ; a fine pipe organ placed in 1885 ; a larger addition
doubling the capacity of the church, with new, comfortable
pews, furnaces, carpets, and frescoing, erected at a cost of
about $3,000 in 1889 ; in 1892 the Sunday school added a library
room and purchased a German library of some 600 volumes;
built the commodious parsonage in 1893 at an expense of about
$2,200; rearranged the basement of the church and had the
church newly frescoed and carpeted at an expense of over $800.
Yet today the congregation is entirely out of debt. Such is
the brief history of this period and the congregation now pos-
sesses a property which materially adds to the beauty of the
city.
These pastors have served the congregation:
Bev. Josias Bitter, 1856-1858.
Rev. A. Selle (temporarily only), 1859.
Bev. Fr. Doescher, 1859-1863.
Bev. H. W. Wehrs, 1863-1866.
Bev. B. Voight, 1866-1870.
Bev. J. Hoerlein, 1870-1873 (died October 17th, fattier of
the present incumbent).
Bev. L. Paeverlein (temporarily only).
Bev. C. Ide, 1874-1879.
Bev. O. Hartman, 1879-1887.
Bev. J. G. Hoerlein, November 3, 1887 to the present time.
From the beginning a German-English school has been main-
tained showing in some instances an enrollment of eighty and
even more scholars, with special teachers — where the pastors
were not in a position to conduct the school themselves. Eigh-
teen years ago the daily parochial school was changed to a
Saturday and Summer school with German and religious in-
structions only, conducted by the pastor. The former is con-
ducted from October to June, the latter during the summer
months daily, with an average of eight weeks and has an aver-
age attendance of 40 to 50 scholars.
In 1870, through the instrumentality and untiring efforts of
the late Henry Hertz, the late J. Hoerlein began to conduct
regular services every fortnight in the afternoon, in a school
house four miles northwest of Solon, which later were conduct-
ed in an abandoned Presbyterian church in Solon. A few
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LUTHEEAN AND UNITARIAN CHURCHES 353
years after a congregation was organized, which some twenty-
five years ago procured two lots in the southwest portion of
that village and erected thereon a neat little frame church, ful-
ly equipped, with a sweet toned bell, dedicated on that mem-
orable July 13, 1890. Unfortunately this congregation is but
small and apparently dwindling year by year by deaths, re-
moval of members to other localities and other causes, but
nevertheless very energetic and more active than many other
congregations twice or three times its size. Services are con-
ducted every Sunday afternoon at two o'clock in German,
mostly, and invariably are always attended by the greater
majority. The few ladies diligently sustain their ladies' so-
ciety, some of whom form another organization, meeting
monthly at the home of one or the other, and with untiring zeal
prepare special Christmas offerings for orphan asylums,
home for the aged, as well as such needy students of the Col-
lege at Clinton, or Seminary at Dubuque, who prepare for the
ministry, of which many a larger congregation could take ex-
ample.
With the exception of a very short time, when Rev. C. Mar-
dorf was pastor, the congregation has always been served regu-
larly and faithfully by the pastors of the mother congregation
at Iowa City.
The Sharon Center congregation is also a daughter of the
Iowa City congregation, founded by the late Rev. J. Hoerlein
in 1870 as a mission and services were conducted in Willow
Grove school house. Under Rev. C. Ide, this mission was or-
ganized into an independent congregation, G. M. Hermann,
Ferdinand Ratzlaff, and John Memler, signing the articles of
incorporation and purchasing on July 15, 1875, of Jacob C.
Giiengerich and one-half acres for $75.00. At a cost of $1,212
(the farmers doing all of the necessary hauling free of charge)
a frame church 26x40, was erected the same year. As it was
impossible to serve this growing congregation satisfactorily
from the city, Rev. H. Hertlein, a young clergyman, was called,
upon the advice of Rev. Ide, on May 5, 1878. Under him the
parsonage was built the same year, but on account of ill health
he was obliged to give up the ministry in September, 1879. His
successor was a Rev. J. Leupp, from October, 1879, till July
28, 1881. From this time on Rev. O. Hartman and his assistant
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354 HISTOBY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
served the congregation from the city until August, 1886. In
September, 1886, the beloved pastor, Rev. J. Kutz, took charge
of the parish. None served more faithfully until his early death,
August 17, 1896, than he. His son Adolph became his successor
and remained until 1899. From the summer of 1899 until after
Easter, 1903, Rev. F. Preu very ably filled the post.
In order to pay more attention to the English work at Shar-
on, the small and weak charges at Oxford and Homestead,
which, on account of their great distance and extremely bad
road, often impassable, were abandoned. By removal the
church at Sharon Center was much weakened and since min-
isters could not be found to serve these people in residence they
have, since 1906, been under the guidance of the Iowa City
pastor.
The English Lutheran church in Johnson county had its
beginning in the later forties when the services were held in
homes of members and others who had some interest in a move-
ment looking to organization. For some time services were
conducted by pastors who were passing through the town and
often in the summer time these services were held from the old
capitol steps. The first meeting of record was held on the
afternoon of April 22, 1855, in the Baptist church which was
freely opened for this purpose. At this time the congregation
was organized and matters of importance were discussed.
There were twenty-five charter members, but the list which
would be of great interest, seems to have been lost. The min-
utes say that the congregation gathered for a business meeting
on April 24, 1855, and "it being inconvenient to obtain the key
to a room, we met on the state house steps, south side." The
gathering evidently was not large but must have been an
earnest one or they never would have met and held a meeting
in so public a place. This was the beginning. Services were
held more or less regularly, in the "State House Chamber,' '
Baptist, old stone Presbyterian, and Methodist churches until
the little band could erect a home of their own.
As near as we can tell, the present location was secured in
June, 1855, and a church built upon it. This building still
stands and is used by the Eureka Stock Food company. This
and the old stone Presbyterian church were the last of the
meeting places left standing.
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LUTHEEAN AND UNITARIAN CHURCHES 355
The work of the church advanced with varying success for
many years, but in the history we find a few periods and es-
pecially from 1862-1872, that are passed over in silence. There
were a few among this band who remained faithful to their
trust, but no effective and permanent work seems to have been
done until the year 1893, when Rev. S. R. Elson became pastor.
He gathered the few remnants together and they decided that
if the work would go forward they must have a good and at-
tractive church building, and plans were made whereby the
present comfortable building was made possible. At that time
there were possibly fifty baptized members. During the past
14 years the church has had a steady but stable growth, mem-
bership now reaches nearly three hundred, fin increase of about
200 per cent. This date marks the beginning of the present
effective organization and indicates the zeal and strength of
the members. When one thinks of possibly ten paying mem-
bers and not one of them wealthy, although well to do, under-
taking to build a ten thousand dollar church, we begin to
realize that there must have been more behind this movement
than mere desire for a church, there must have been conse-
cration as well as will. The building was completed and dedi-
cated on July 1, 1894, " after long years of patient waiting,
fervent praying and earnest working." 809
Since the organization, 53 years ago, twelve men have been
in charge as follows :
Organized by Rev. H. F. Ealy who was pastor from 1855-
1856; Rev. D. Spreckler, 1856-1859; Rev. G. W. Schaeffer,
1859-1860; Rev. J. Helsell, 1861-1862; vacant from 1862-1872;
reorganized by Rev. D. P. Groscup in 1872, who was pastor
until 1878; Rev. J. W. Elser, 1878-1879 ; Rev. J. A. M. Zeigler,
1880-1885; Rev. J. W. Elser, 1888-1892; Rev. S. R. Elson,
1893-1897 ; Rev. R. H. Williams, 1898-1901 ; Rev. Dana C. John-
son, 1901-1903; Rev. A. B. Learner, 1903-1908; Rev. H. F.
Martin, 1908—
Many of the early country churches have served their day,
and their history is brief if found at all. Among these is the
Evangelical Lutheran of Big Grove township which was first
erected on section five in or about 1858. Two years before this
the congregation had been organized with original members
composed of only two families, if the records are correct.
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356 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
They were George, Jane, Elias, and M. A. Stream, John and
Doretha Mahring. The land for the church building was
granted by Christopher Fuhrmeister. Among the pastors
who have served the charge the names of C. Baird, Jesse Hal-
stead, R. C. Baird, A. M. Tanner, Wm. Leslie, Rev. Settle-
meyer, B. F. Mills, S. Knight, and J. K. Bloom appear.
Special interest centers in the Evangelical Lutheran church
of North Liberty. It was organized here in 1859 by the Rev.
David Spricker, who came to preach here after the missionary
work of Rev. Conrad Kuhl, a traveler over this part of Iowa
who has given an account in his diary, which tells of his ex-
periences during those long journeys on horseback.811 From
1859 until 1881 they had a pastor in residence, after which they
were supplied from other charges, so that at the present a
University student serves the church and continues his studies
at the same time.
The Evangelical Association of Penn township dates its es-
tablishment from 1850, the first members including six of the
family of the name of Green, two Albrights, two Cramers, and
one Myers. Their building was erected in 1861 on section
sixteen, in which year it was dedicated. Once in its history
it numbered seventy-five members, judging from the record
which includes the above.
An Evangelical church was founded in Hardin township,
located on section twenty- two, in the year 1867. Among the
original or charter members were Abraham and Noah Diehl
and their families, Noah and Jacob Foster and families, Rob-
ert Roup, and G. Kretzer.
The Unitarian church was originally organized as a Uni-
versalist church and its records have all been lost or destroyed.
In 1878, the society being without a minister, Rev. Oscar
Clute was sent by the American Unitarian Association and
in the same year the First Unitarian society was organized
with about twenty members, most of whom are now deceased
or have removed.
A paper in the "Old and New" says in part concerning
the UniversaJist organization :
"Mr. Gilbert Irish tells us in his history of Johnson county
that ' prior to 1840 religious meetings were held in the cabins
of settlers and that there were few of those cabins that had
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LUTHERAN AND UNITARIAN CHURCHES 357
not served at times as temples of worship/ This worship in
primitive homes of the settlers ceased, however, after the
erection in 1840 of a temporary state house at Iowa City, for
then Judge Coleman obligingly gave his consent for the various
denominations to gather therein for their services. As this
state house was central as well as capacious it soon became the
popular meeting house for Iowa City and vicinity, and as such
within its walls were heard many religious debates as well as
political ones ; especially was this true after the arrival of Rev.
A. R. Gardner, who was the first Universalist minister to come
to the community. He asked permission of Judge Coleman to
have his turn along with the ministers of other denominations
to hold meetings in the state house, and although a number of
the ministers objected strenuously the judge granted the re-
quest, and Rev. Gardner, having scored his first point, gave
notice of the time of his first meeting. The opposition shown
had so advertised him that when the hour of meeting came he
had the largest audience that had yet assembled in Johnson
county to hear preaching.
" Among a class of liberal, broad minded, charitable indi-
viduals he soon had a large following, and they gathered with
him on Nov. 6, 1841, at the home of Mr. Ed Foster, on the west
side of the Iowa river and there formally organized the First
Universalist society of Iowa City. At this meeting Mr. Foster
was elected president, Robert Walker, Seth Baker and Daniel
Hess, trustees for a term of one year; Seth Baker, clerk; and
Daniel Hess, treasurer.
"At the first meeting of the board of trustees a committee
was appointed to purchase a house of worship for present use.
The lot on the southeast corner of Iowa avenue and Dubuque
street was deeded by the territorial government. The building
when completed was a plain but neat, brick structure facing
west upon Dubuque street, and was quite a pretentious build-
ing for pioneer days.
"For many years the congregation continued to worship
in this brick church, and although it was outgrown by stronger
organizations and the tide of business surged up to its very
eaves, it was not until a fire in 1868 finally destroyed it that
serious thought was taken of erecting elsewhere a larger and
more commodious building.
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358 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
"Rev. Kelso followed Rev. Gardner in the pastorate but did
not remain long. He was succeeded by Rev. I. N. Westfall,
who was a somewhat erratic scholar, ready to maintain his
position with all the strength of a ready debater. Dr. Davis,
who came to Iowa City in 1848, was a Universalist in senti-
ment, but did not belong to the congregation nor preach in its
edifice. He delivered his discourses to a select few in the Me-
chanics Academy.
"Rev. S. H. Marble is remembered not only as an earnest
worker for his parish, but as one who had a keen understanding
of the heart of the child. It was he who first issued pierit cards
to his Sunday school pupils. The next minister called was
Eben Francis, of Newark, N. J., under whose leadership the
church prospered.
"Rev. Jos. Kinney followed Mr. Francis as pastor, coming
to Iowa City in 1865. He died while serving as pastor and in
1869 Rev. Augusta Chapin was called to fill the vacancy. It
was during the early part of her pastorate that the church
building burned, and under her leadership, the society within
a short time was able to erect the present structure, sold five
years ago to the University and now known as Unity Hall. Miss
Chapin remained for some time after the dedication of the new
church building but was called to a wider field of labor. She
was followed by Rev. LeGrand Powers, but he too was soon
called from the city.
"In 1878 the American Unitarian Association sent Rev.
Oscar Clute to Iowa City. Under his leadership arrangements
were made whereby the Unitarians should have the use of the
building as long as they sustained regular services there. Thus
passed from view and from active participation in the church
work of Iowa City that association of Universalists whose
organization antedated even that of our statehood."
Three years after Rev. Clute came to the city the First Uni-
tarian Society was organized and so continued to 1908,
when it was reincorporated in order to put the society on a
better legal basis, owing to the work of building the new
church.
Rev. Clute continued his work as pastor until 1885 when he
resigned and was succeeded by Rev. Arthur Beavis, and in
1889 he resigned.
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LUTHERAN AND UNITARIAN CHURCHES 359
Rev. R. C. Morse, the next pastor, stayed only two years,
when Charles E. Perkins was then called to the pastorate and
remained four years, when he left the Unitarian church and
became a member of the local Congregational body. He is still
a member and a minister of that denomination.
Rev. Elinor Gordon became pastor in 1896 and remained
until June, 1900, when she moved to Des Moines and became
assistant pastor of the Des Moines church. Since going there
she has become secretary of the Iowa Unitarian Association,
and is one of the leaders of the liberal movement in this state.
Dr. Duren J. H. Ward served as pastor from June, 1900, to
September, 1906. It was under his leadership that the present
Young Peoples Society was organized and a large number of
new workers were introduced into the church.
The church building was sold to the State University at the
close of his pastorate. During the school year 1906 and 1907
no services were held, but the Young Peoples Religious Union
continued its work.
In 1907 Rev. R. S. Loring, of Boston, was employed
by the American Unitarian Association to take charge of
the work in this city and under his able direction the work
on the new building began within a very short time.
The present pastor, Rev. R. S. Loring, has had a business as
well as a theological education, having been for several years
connected with the Boston banking house of S. D. Loring and
Son.310
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CHAPTER XIX
The Baptist, Christian, and Episcopal Churches
T"\ URING that historical year of 1876 many summaries were
^^ given, even if all the plans of Congress for the preserva-
tion of the local history were not realized. Churches and pas-
tors were especially active in the matter, and among these was
Rev. Dexter P. Smith, of the Baptist church of Iowa City. It
so happened that his text in part was the same as that of the
Presbyterian pastor taken on a like occasion from the 145th
Psalm, fourth verse. But Reverend Smith added another text
from First Samuel, seventh chapter and twelfth verse, which
reads : ' ' And Samuel set up a stone and called the name of it
Ebenezer; saying, hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
In preliminary remarks prefacing his church history the
pastor made note of the first steps in civilization of the com-
munity and commenced with 1837, leading up to the time of the
founding of the capital here and the visit of Governor Lucas
and family, who came across the prairie from Burlington on
horseback and found hospitable quarters after arrival in the
log house of Matthew Teneyck, with a ladder to reach the
sleeping apartments. But it was not long thus, for by Decem-
ber, 1841, the territorial legislature had come here to remain
until Iowa became a state, and then the population increased
very rapidly.
The first Baptists to locate in Iowa City were Isaiah Choate
and I. N. Sanders and wife. In 1841 other members of the
denomination having located near the city it was deemed ad-
visable to organize a Baptist church. Preliminary meetings
were held and delegates from other churches invited to counsel
with the little band in reference to the expediency of the pro-
posed action. The council met at the Choate school house,
Saturday, June 28, 1841, and was composed of the following:
From Galena, III, Rev. John Champlin; Dubuque, Rev. Burton
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BAPTIST, CHRISTIAN AND EPISCOPAL 361
Carpenter; and Rev. W. B. Morey, late of New York. Of the
resident members there were B. M. Parks, an elder, Isaiah M.
Choate, Newton Sanders, Jehial Parks, Julius Brown, James
N. Ball, Harrison, Lucy, Eliza, Orville, and Julia Parks. B. M.
Parks was appointed as moderator, and Isaiah Choate, clerk.
After due deliberation all agreed in the expediency of the
organization. Rev. Carpenter preached in the evening of this
day and Rev. Morey on Sunday morning, at which time this
group was publicly recognized as the Baptist church of Iowa
City. It consisted of twelve members. At the close of the
morning's service the congregation assembled on the banks of
the Iowa river where Rev. Morey baptized F. Hardee and John
Wolf. There was no other church of this denomination nearer
than Davenport, fifty-five miles distant, and all who came with-
in the reach of this church and were of that denomination
naturally found a home there. On July 24, 1841, Rev. Morey,
who had attended the council from Dubuque, was called to
preach here one-fourth of his time, his service to commence in
October of that year. For a short time the meetings were held
in the old State House (Butler's) and afterwards in Choate's
school house.
The first year after its organization the church was ad-
mitted to the Des Moines association, but soon after by its own
request it was dismissed and with others organized the Daven-
port association. During 1841 the Iowa Baptist State Conven-
tion was organized in Iowa City, with twenty-five delegates
present representing twelve churches, with a membership of
350. August 19, 1843, Geo. S. Hampton was licensed to preach,
who for a time performed acceptable service in out stations.
In 1843 Geo. S. Hampton, Elijah Walker, and Alonzo Dennison
were elected trustees, and on petition from the church the
legislature of the territory donated them a lot in 1844, which
lot, however, was not suitable for the purpose and of little
value.
Rev. Morey closed his pastorate in 1844, and Rev. Dexter P.
Smith, the same man who brought together these historical
facts in 1876, was called to the church the following year, and
he had not removed from the city to the date of 1876, although
he had changed his church work. The Baptist church had no
house and the Universalists had, while the latter congregation
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362 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
iiad no pastor and the former had, so they in this dilemma
united, which gave both congregations a church and a pastor.
Later the Baptists occupied the old Mechanics ' Academy,
which during its history served for almost everything that was
of a public or semi-public character. From this meeting place
they went to the building since known as the Christian Chapel,
the site of the "Old Blue Church.' *
The Iowa Baptist Convention met with the Iowa City church
In 1846, in June, and thirty or more of the delegates were
quartered in the house of the pastor. Cots were obtained from
the American Hotel for the women, and buffalo robes and
blankets furnished the make-up for the men on the floor below,
while all who could not find room there had to take to the barn.
It was said that over three hundred meals were provided at
that house during the convention. Such a gathering made an
impression on the capital city, and a good Methodist sister,
quite awe-struck, was heard to exclaim, "I did not know there
were so many Baptists in the world. ' '
In the midst of apparent prosperity the church people were
suddenly informed that they could no longer rent the building
in which they had been housed, and the children, not learning
•of this, assembled on Sunday morning as usual for Sunday
•school only to find the house closed. The pastor met and as-
sured them that something would be done to secure them a
permanent place of meeting, but where he did not know, since
they could not afford to buy a suitable lot. In the fall of 1846,
the pastor went east, that last refuge for all the distressed of
the day, to find money to build a house for his church. He re-
turned with more than $4,000, which made it possible with home
funds to build what was then regarded as the best Baptist
•church in the state.
During the erection of the building a room in the State
House was occupied, and this continued until the church dedi-
cation in November, 1848. The following June the State
Convention of the churches was held once more in Iowa City,
and they met in this new church. The pastor, Mr. Smith, made
a journey to New York about this time, and while there visited
a bell foundry at Troy, where he selected a " sweet toned bell,,
for his church, but was unable to pay the price until the gen-
erous founder of the bell donated a sum, taking the minister's
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BAPTIST, CHEISTIAN AND EPISCOPAL 365
personal note far the remainder. The bell was shipped by way
of New Orleans, St. Louis, and Muscatine, and then was*
brought across the country to Iowa City.
During the years 1849 and 1850 the pastor did a great
amount of pioneer wdrk, establishing and sustaining preaching
outposts on "Old Man's creek,' ' Clear creek, at Newport r
Downey, and Pleasant Valley. Many of these points after-
wards furnished members to the Iowa City church which be-
came the parent church to those later established at Downey,.
Lone Tree, and Oxford.
In 1851 the pastor for so many years resigned to accept the-
appointment of state agent for Sunday schools, to which work
he devoted eight years, and then served for several years as
general agent and missionary for the Iowa Baptist State Con-
vention. In 1867 he was appointed financial agent of the Iowa
Baptist Union for Ministerial Education, which work he was-
conducting when this portion of the local church history was
prepared. As mentioned, he had not up to this time re-
moved from Iowa City, being really one of the pioneers. He
was succeeded in December, 1851, by Bev. Belden, who served
nearly three years, when he conceived the plan of founding
the Collegiate Institute, mentioned before, which was really
begun when he was suddenly stricken with the cholera, and
within a few hours died, having but a short time before assisted
in the burial of one of his former congregation. One pleasing
feature of the residence here of Bev. Dexter P. Smith was the
ordination of his son, Granger W. Smith, who was born here,
converted, licensed to preach, and last of all was ordained here
for his life work. His father preached the ordination sermon,,
and a great crowd witnessed the exercises which were more
than ordinary in the life of one family.
This church, like all the churches of pioneer communities,,
had many experiences that were well nigh sufficient to de-
moralize the congregation, but by patient perseverence they
came to the time when they were quite independent of the east
and the need of missionaries. Much of this, it would appear
from the account, was due to the Bev. Dexter P. Smith, D. D.
In 1890 and 1891, the present structure was erected during
the pastorate of Bev. T. B. Evans. The west window of the
audience room is a memorial of Bev. James C. and Jane Bern-
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-364 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ley, the gift of the family. The east window is a memorial to
Prof. David Forrester Call, the gift of his student and uni-
versity friends. The south window is a memorial to Mr. and
Mrs. Sylvanus Johnson and their deceased children, a gift of
Dr. Leora Johnson, and the organ is the gift of James Mc-
Collister.
Wickham Chapel, erected in 1894, as a mission, is the per-
petuation of a Sunday school started in the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Wickham, members of the Baptist church. In the work of
the mission, members of different denominations lend assist-
ance and the whole work is of community interest. The prop-
erty is under the control of the church trustees and the super-
intendent is elected at the annual meeting of the church clergy
with the other church officials. The present pastor is Rev.
H. P. Chaffee.818
The Baptist church began its history in Clear Creek town-
ship in 1843, when Bev. Dexter P. Smith, so long pastor of the
-church in Iowa City, perfected an organization of his people
here. Previously to this, however, W. H. Headly, an early
•settler, frequently preached for the people, but before the
organization was completed he died. A number of this congre-
gation afterwards became part of the Christian church there.
The Baptist church of Lone Tree has a history dating from
3873. Its original members were Rev. Charles Brooks and his
family, six of the Aylworths, W. E., Charles H., their wives,
and 0. N. and Martha, who with John W. Jayne and Annie B.
Jayne appear to have been the entire membership at the time.
They completed a building in 1874, when it was dedicated by
Rev. L. A. Dunn of Pella. Like all the churches of Lone Tree
in the years of the organization they provided for the Sabbath
school, that continued its work without regard to the seasons,
petting an example for all that followed after.
In 1856 a few families living in and near Higbee's Grove,
south of Iowa City, organized a Christian church. The meet-
ing place was the district school house where a Sunday school
had been kept up for some time. This stood about half a mile
east of the Higbee Grove on what is known as the lower Musca-
rine road. Mr. Jesse Higbee, a neighboring farmer, preached
for the congregation and later alternated with Mr. Neumire,
also a neighboring farmer. Several families in the city at-
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BAPTIST, CHRISTIAN AND EPISCOPAL 365
tended the services at the Higbee school house and in 1863 the
father of Mr. John Porter, one of the town members, purchased
the Protestant Episcopal church on Iowa avenue and gave it
to the church. The removal to Iowa City then occurred and
the consequent reorganization took place. The following is the
statement of that early organization : " We, the undersigned,
disciples of Christ in Iowa City and surrounding country, have
this day, March 28, 1863, entered into church relationship with
each other, the organization to be known as the Church of
Christ at Iowa City, Johnson county, la., and we do hereby
agree that in all matters of faith and practice we will be gov-
erned by the word of God and by that alone. 9 '
The elders of this body in 1863 were Z. K. Zimmerman, Oba-
diah Higbee, and Frank Barnes. There were 84 charter mem-
bers, three of whom are still members of the church (1908), Mr.
E. Hinchcliff, Mrs. 0. T. Plum, and Mrs. G. W. Bale, whose
husband had been an officer in the church since its organization
until his death, October, 1897. In the summer of 1863, shortly
after the organization was effected, Mr. Samuel Lowe was
called to the pastorate. He was followed after only a few
months by his brother, John Lowe, who remained with the
church until 1866. In this period the church membership in-
creased to 115. In June, 1865, Mr. John C. Hay came to Iowa
City and remained, preaching part of the time at adjacent
points, until the spring of 1869. Over 100 persons were added
to the church roll, 70 of whom came through conversion, but
owing to deaths and removals the congregation could count
but 120 when in the fall of 1869 Mr. Jesse Berry was called to
the pastorate. After nine months he was succeeded by Mr. J.
Madison Williams, then a student in the University. Mr. Wil-
liams remained until the summer of 1872, and was succeeded
by S. E. Pearce, who remained until 1874. For some time the
church was without a pastor. It was somewhat in debt and
discouraged, but kept up the Sunday school, which from the
beginning seems to have been its main strength. Its average
attendance for this year of 1874 was 80. At a meeting of the
church on Sunday, May 16, 1875, Mr. W. B. Craig, then on a
visit from Danbury, Connecticut, was chosen pastor and took
up the work on September first. When he began work he could
find only about 68 members, but in his seven years of ministry
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366 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
250 people were added to the church and the church was placed
on a good footing. The failure of his wife's health forced him
to resign and since that time he has been a resident of Denver,
where he has built up a splendid church. On July 13, 1884, Mr.
F. B. Walker, who was just finishing his work in Bethany col-
lege, was called to the pastorate. The next year the subject of
a new church was taken up and abandoned, but the following
year the matter was again taken up and after many discourage-
ments the present building was erected and formally dedicated
on January 23, 1887. In June Mr. Walker resigned, after a
very successful pastorate in which he very ably organized the
young people in the church work. In September of this same
year Mr. J. M. Williams began his second pastorate, remaining
for two years, years which were very fruitful in the work of
the church.
In 1889 Mr. M. S. Johnson accepted the pastorate, remain-
ing with the church until 1892. He was followed by Mr. T. J*
Dow, a graduate of Drake University, who labored until July,.
1901. During Mr. Dow's pastorate about 400 were added to
the church and in all its departments the church was splendid-
ly organized. Mr. Dow resigned to accept a position with the
East Side church in Des Moines, and has since removed to
Minneapolis, where he has done most effective work. Mr. C. P*
Leach was invited to accept the pastorate in 1901. He had
just finished his work at Yale University and entered the field
with all the enthusiasm of the young man who loves his work
and thinks it the most important thing in the world. Mr~
Leach served the church most acceptably until January lr
1908. Under his ministry the church had a healthy, normal
growth. He was first of all a teacher and early secured the
enthusiastic support of the young people of the church. The
result was a quick steady growth only broken by one phenome-
nal meeting at which 102 members were added to the roll. On
January first, 1898, the present pastor, Mr. C. C. Rowlinson,.
began his pastorate. He is a graduate of Eureka college,
Eureka, 111., and was also. for some time a student at Harvard
University. He came to this church from the presidency of
Hiram College, at Hiram, Ohio, from which he resigned to
lake up the work of the ministry again.
The church is congregational in government and democratic
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BAPTIST, CHRISTIAN AND EPISCOPAL 367
in principles, the board of officers simply acting as the servants
of the church. Its work is done mainly through organizations
within the church working with and for the pastor.
The church reached its forty-eighth anniversary on March
28, 1911, although as indicated it was really established before
that length of time in the past.818
The Christian church of Morse was dedicated on January
twenty-fifth, 1880, by Eev. J. B. Vawter, the state evangelist
of the church, whose headquarters were in Des Moines, and
Eev. W. B. Craig, who was pastor in Iowa City, and afterward
chancellor of Drake University, occupying a prominent place
in a Denver church in recent years. This was probably the
best building in the township among the churches of the time,
and the township has been well supplied with such buildings.
The congregation of this denomination in Iowa City presented
the church here with a silver communion service. The com-
mittee who had the building in charge was Thomas Metcalf,
Orrin and William Andrews.
There is also a Christian church at Lone Tree at the present
time, but information is not available as to the date of its es-
tablishment or its later work. In Clear Creek settlement the
Christian church was represented first by Israel Clark, who
preached in Sprague's Grove, and probably this was the be-
ginning of the Tiffin church.
The rector of Trinity Episcopal church in 1893 wrote as
follows :
The data available from which to draw the earliest his-
tory of Trinity Parish are of the most meagre character, the
first Parish records in our possession bearing the date of
1859. This fact is in part explained by the unorganized con-
dition of general church work in this part of the country at the
time when church services were first held here, Iowa being not
yet a Diocese but a part of the great Missionary Jurisdiction
of the Northwest, under the general supervision of the devoted
apostle, Jackson Kemper, Bishop ; and most of the missionary
work that was done being the voluntary labor of love of those
few and scattered clergymen who stationed themselves at the
outposts along the river towns. We know that there were
church people here prior to the year 1847, for there is record of
a lot being given for an Episcopal church under certain condi-
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368 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
tions, some years before the time; but they must have been
few and unorganized, for the conditions were not complied
with, and the property fell into the hands of the Romanists.
Tn 1847, the Rev. Alfred Louderback, at that time in charge of
Trinity church, Davenport, baptized some children here, and
organized a parish under the name and title which it still bears.
This organization must have been provisional in its nature,
for there seems to have been nothing done in the way of
further church work here until 1853. In that year was held the
first recorded vestry meeting, Stephen Maynard being senior
warden and Samuel Bacon, junior warden, and the parish
under the charge of the Rev. C. C. Townsend, missionary.
Mr. Townsend reorganized the parish and in this year, 1853,
March 27th, the parish was first incorporated. During the
summer of 1853 services were held regularly in the Methodist
Protestant house of worship, which had been rented for that
purpose. During this summer was held the primary conven-
tion of the Diocese, and on its rolls appears the name of Trinity
church, Iowa City, represented by the missionary in charge
and two delegates. With the date 1854 came the organization
of the Diocese of Iowa, and the consecration of the Right Rev.
Henry Washington Lee, D. D., as its first bishop, and from
this time on for some years the parish appears to have had an
era of prosperity.
In 1855 the Rev. Mr. Townsend was still here, and reports
a congregation of "100 souls," regularly worshiping in the
State House, which had been generously placed at their dis-
posal for that purpose. He also reports two subscriptions of
$500 each for the building of a new church.
In December of 1855 Mr. Townsend having withdrawn his
services, the Rev. Willis B. Barris succeeded to the charge of
the parish, and in the next year, 1856, the place of worship
was changed from the State House to the house of worship of
the Methodist Protestant congregation which was again rented
by the parish.
In 1859 Dr. Barris resigned his charge, reporting to the con-
vention of that year forty-seven communicants, and further
stating that the parish was in an unusually prosperous condi-
tion, and that the ladies had, with commendable zeal, raised dur-
ing the year past over $400 for the purpose of a church lot. As
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BAPTIST, CHRISTIAN AND EPISCOPAL 369
T have said, the first records of the vestry that we have bear
date of 1859, and are of a meeting held at the office of Wm.
Reynolds, the Rev. Dr. Barris in the chair. At this meeting,
which was held May 13th, the clerk was authorized to procure
a suitable book for keeping the parish records, and a commit-
tee consisting of Messrs. E. C. Lyons, C. W. Fackler, and P. S.
Meserole was appointed to select a lot for building a church.
From this date, our more reliable history begins.
On July 30, 1859, the Rev. Silas Totten, D. D., afterwards
president of the University, was called to the rectorship of the
parish, which he accepted, and on November 12th of the same
year entered on his duties.
On January first, I860, the place of worship was again
changed, this time to the Lutheran church which was rented
for the purpose. On July 1, 1860, Dr. Totten resigned the
rectorship, having been elected president of the University,
but continued to hold services for the congregation from time
to time, in the church building of the Universalist Society,
which was at this time rented for the purpose.
On June 24, 1861, the vestry extended a call to the Rev. D. W.
Tolford, which call was accepted of date the next day. Mr.
Tolford's stay was short. He resigned on September 23rd of
the same year, having accepted the chaplaincy of the 10th Iowa
Volunteers.
On February 3, 1862, the Rev. F. M. Gray was called to the
rectorship, which call was accepted, and Mr. Gray entered upon
his duties on Easter day of that year. It was during Mr.
Gray's rectorship, on the 18th of June, 1862, that a contract
was made for the use of the building known as the "Athen-
eum,, for church purposes, which is the building later used
as the office of the lumber yard on the corner of Dubuque and
Burlington streets, a building which is often spoken of as "the
old church ;" which was for many years the home of the parish
and in it many of the present members of this congregation
were baptized or confirmed. Mr. Gray's stay was short, his
resignation taking effect early in 1864; and from the parish
meeting of Easter Monday, 1863, to the parish meeting of
Easter Sunday, 1865, no records appear in the book. There
must have been an interregnum here of about a year ; but in
1865, the parish took on a new life, and on June 1st, called to
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370 HISTORY OF JOHNSQN COUNTY, IOWA
its rectorship a man universally beloved and respected here,
but recently gone to his rest, the Rev. Richard L. Ganter, at
that time rector of Trinity church, Michigan City, Indiana.
The history of Mr. Ganter 's rectorship here is one of constant
growth and prosperity. In September, 1866, the organ was
purchased and set up, the same organ as at this present time
in use, without the additions since made. In this same year
a church lot was bought, being the property known as the
"Lee property," this lot was later sold, and in 1868, the pres-
ent property known as the "Ballard lots," was bought and has
remained the property of the church ever since. In 1870 Dr.
Ganter resigned the rectorship to accept the rectorship of St.
Paul's, Akron, Ohio, of which parish he was rector until the
time of his death but a few years since. Dr. Ganter came here
a young man and was preeminnetly the man for the emergency.
His removal from here was a misfortune felt long after he had
gone.
His successor was the Rev. T. J. Brookes, who was called
to the rectorship October 3, 1870. It was during this rector-
ship that active steps were first taken toward the erection of a
church building. The records of date, November 21, 1870,
shows a resolution embodying a plan for a church building
to cost $10,000 to $15,000, and a committee was appointed to
secure subscriptions for the same.
On January 16, 1871, the plan of the church was formally
opened and on the 23rd of the same month a contract was
approved for its erection at a cost of $6,250. During the month
of March the erection of the building was begun, and on the
27th day of April the corner stone was laid by Bishop Lee,
with the usual ceremonies.
At a meeting of the vestry held in May, 1877, the question
of the building of a rectory on the west church lot was dis-
cussed and a committee was appointed to consult plans and
secure estimates, and a further committee to obtain subscrip-
tions, $600 being subscribed by the vestry on the spot. This
work was at once proceeded with, and the rectory was com-
pleted during that summer of 1878. In 1880 the Diocesan
Convention met in this church. In the same year the credence
table was placed in the church, as a memorial, by Dr. and Mrs.
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BAPTIST, CHRISTIAN AND EPISCOPAL 371
Ganter. In 1881 the alms chest, also a memorial, was placed
in the church by the Bishop and Mrs. Perry.
The following memorials are in Trinity church : Dey Me-
morial Font, Carson Memorial Library, Ganter (Boal) Me-
morial Credence, Perry (Boal) Memorial Alms Chest, Lyon
Memorial Eagle-Lectern, Lyon Memorial Window, St. Kath-
erine's Guild (McBride) Memorial Window, Morrison Me-
morial Window, Swire Memorial Window, Kimball Memorial
Window, Newell Memorial Hymn Book Rest, Kimball and
Griffith (Rigg) Memorial Window.814
Rev. W. D. Williams, D. D., is the present rector, commenc-
ing his service in 1903.
In reference to the founder of the first Episcopal church in
Iowa City, Rev. C. C. Townsend, the following is related by
Hon. C. W. Irish: "Imagine my surprise when the Reverend
Townsend, talking with me soon after our acquaintance began,
proposed that I should join him in an attempt to organize a
society of that church in Iowa City. He had been about John-
son county and had found several members of his church, and
now he desired my help and that of some other young folks
to make the organization complete. ... I well remember
our first meeting; it took place in Dr. Reynolds's school room
in the second story of Old Mechanics' Academy. I can now
recall it in memory's picture, only that little congregation, five
or six in number, aside from the clergyman, nevertheless we
went through the service without a hitch, succeeding even in
the singing. We continued to meet with great regularity, and
the few regular members, all of whom lived at various dis-
tances in the country, came without fail, in spite of the severe
winter weather which soon followed.
i ' 1 have said that this trip to the wild west was on an errand
of mercy. He had observed the children of the streets in
cities, and concluded that the west was free from such influ-
ences, being a farming community, and in his opinion the very
best place for the street arabs of New York City. . . . For
many of these he found good homes, where kindly hands and
hearts undertook their guidance, and for the rest he provided
the best and cheapest shelter that his limited means could
afford. ... In some cases there were failures in this work
and some of the waifs proved unworthy and became criminals,
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372 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
when it was rumored that Eev. C. C. Townsend was importing
criminals by the carload into the surrounding country. These
rumors grew, and, to the end of putting a stop to the apparent-
ly criminal behavior, a criminal prosecution was brought
against him. The old man, full of years, came under bonds for
trial before a jury. . . . The trial was in progress in the
court house on a warm summer's day, and Mr. Townsend was
sitting near an open window with his hand on the sill, when
without warning the heavy sash descended upon his fingers
and so bruised and crushed them that he sickened, dying in a
few days from what is commonly called lock-jaw. Thus ended
a life devoted to charity and to aiding the helpless. . . .
He sleeps, I believe, in an unmarked grave ; let the good he did
be his monument."
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CHAPTER XX
The Congregational and United Brethren Churches
T T was in the beginning of 1856 that the members of the
** Congregational church began to feel the need of a " church
of their own faith. 9 ' In this desire they were urged " by a wish
to establish a more harmonious and spiritual body than any
then existing in the place.' ' Accordingly they met together
and after due consultation decided to hold a prayer meeting
each Sunday evening, which custom continued throughout the
spring and summer of that year at the house of J. W. Stow.
However, no decisive steps were taken toward the organiza-
tion of a church, until a society on the plan of the New England
parishes was formed, which occurred on June 29, 1856, being
incorporated on December 5, of the same year.
The next step in the progress of the congregation was the
securing of a pastor, their attention being drawn to Rev.
E. H. Nevin, whom they had heard during the summer. He
was a resident of Massachusetts, and after considering the
proposition of the membership he declined to come west at
that time. Rev. Thomas Morong, of the same state, was then
invited to visit the city and preach for the congregation, as a
candidate only. He preached to the congregation during the
month of August and then a call was extended to him to settle
in Iowa City for the regular pastorate of the church. He ac-
cepted and began his labors the following October. Imme-
diately after his arrival a committee consisting of Morong,
Stow, and Teesdale, was appointed to draw up "a form of
faith and covenant for the proposed church.' ' To the articles
and church rules the following names were signed as charter
members : Sophia M. Clark, J. W. Stow, Mary B. Stow, N. H.
Brainerd, E. A. Brainerd, Jane Weighton, Mary L. Morong,
John Teesdale, Henry P. Walton, Julia P. Walton, James P.
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374 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Black, Mary H. Smith, Benjamin Alden, another Alden, and
one Wheeler, whose first name is missing.
Since the regular services of the congregation began they
had been using the Universalist house, which they had rented
for a period of six months. Then it was planned to call a coun-
cil for the double purpose of establishing a church and of in-
stalling the pastor. For this purpose, therefore, letters were
sent to the Congregational churches at Dubuque, Davenport,
Muscatine, Burlington, Tipton, Durant, Wilton, and De Witt,
and to Revs. Grinnell, Reed, and Blanchard, requesting them
"to convene in this place on November 26, 1856, for this pur-
pose." The "scribe" of that council prepared the following
record :
"Pursuant to letters missive from a number of brethren in
this place requesting a council to consider the question of
organizing a Church of Christ of the Congregational order,
and of installing the Rev. Thomas Morong as pastor, the fol-
lowing churches were represented by their pastors and
delegates, convened in the house of worship of the Universalist
Church: Congregational Church of Davenport, Rev. George
P. Magoun, pastor, E. 0. Tade, delegate; Durant, Rev. J. S.
Whittlesey, pastor, W. V. Doolittle, delegate; Muscatine, Rev.
A. B. Bobbins, pastor, Jacob Butler, delegate ; Wilton, Rev. D.
Knowles, minister, L. P. Johnston, delegate ; Burlington, Rev.
Wm. Salter, pastor; Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, Rev. J.
Blanchard. Rev. Blanchard was chosen Moderator and Rev.
A. B. Bobbins, Scribe.
"After the organization of the council, letters were read in
behalf of seventeen individuals 'six brethren and eleven sis-
ters. ' The articles of faith and covenant were approved, and
the preliminary arrangements made for the installation of the
new pastor. He was rigidly examined as to his proficiency in
1 Christian experience, call to the ministry, theological views,
knowledge of history, etc.,' when it was unanimously voted
{hat the examination was satisfactory. A committee made the
arrangements for the part each pastor was to take in the exer-
cises that were to follow, Rev. Blanchard, was assigned to the
sermon ; Rev. Salter, the installing prayer ; Rev. Geo. F. Ma-
goun, the charge to the pastor. Minor parts were given to the
remaining members of the visiting delegation. It will be no-
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CONGREGATIONAL AND UNITED BRETHREN 375
ticed that the names here given included some of the members
of the famous 'Iowa Band' of Congregationalists. As agreed
the installation services were held at the Baptist church on
the following morning, or November 27, 1856. It was voted,
after the exercises were over to send an account of them to the
' Congregational Herald' and the ' Independent V
The first annual meeting of this church was held on the
evening of December 5, 1856, when two deacons and a clerk
were elected, J. W. Stow for deacon for the term of four years,
and Benjamin Alden for two years while J. S. Black was chos-
en clerk for the term of one year. Only one meeting was held
according to the record between the one mentioned above and
the next annual meeting in November, 1857, which latter oc-
curred in the Methodist Protestant house, the clerk J. S. Black,
being absent, the pastor reported forty members received into
the church during the first year of its organization.
In January the first regular pastor of the church sent his
resignation to the congregation. He was then in the east,
endeavoring to raise funds to assist in further establishing the
church, but in the emergencies of the case felt in duty bound
to surrender the work to some stronger man. The council
called to consider his retirement was composed of some of the
members of the body that installed him, although the name of
Rev. Geo. F. Magoun now appears as the scribe. The meeting
of this council took place in Market Hall. In August, 1859,
N. J. Morrison was called to the pastorate from the church at
Rochester, Michigan, but he declined the honor in a very plain
letter of refusal. Reverend Hutchinson, of Connecticut, was
the next candidate to appear before the congregation and he
was summoned to become the pastor in November, 1859. Al-
most the same council assembled to install him as came togeth-
er three years before, to place in office the Rev. Morong. Less
than one year passed before the Reverend Hutchinson handed
his resignation to the clerk, and it was unanimously accepted.
At a meeting of the church congregation in the Evangelical
Lutheran church in September, 1860, a call was extended to
Rev. W. W. Allen, of Keokuk, who accepted the invitation.
No further record appears as to the relations of the Reverend
Allen and the congregation, but he was again asked to become
the pastor in the fall of 1861, indicating that he had been in
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376 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
charge of the church the year previous, since he accepted the
call "orally." September 14, 1863, in the midst of the trials
of the Civil War, the congregation, few in numbers and now
without a pastor, once more decided to suspend the meetings
"indefinitely." The final record in the matter contains the
following interesting ending of the seven years ' history : "On
Saturday evening, November 25, 1865, a called meeting of the
members of the congregation remaining in the city was held
at the home of N. H. Brainerd. There were present : Broth-
ers Brainerd, Stone, and Turner, and their wives; Brothers
E. Loud, C. Borland, and Dana Stone, also Sisters Smith, Luse,
Clark, and L. and K. Brainerd. Brother Brainerd was made
moderator. By request, letters of dismission were granted to
the following members : J. T. Turner and wife, Dana Stone
and wife, to the North Presbyterian church of Iowa City; Mrs.
Abigail Luse to the South Presbyterian church of Iowa City ;
Mrs. G. H. Jerome, Eugene Dana, Edward Loud, Jas. W. Loud,
to any evangelical church.' ' M
But the church would not remain " suspended,' ' since the
next year a new record begins in the history of the Congre-
gational church. July, 1866, a meeting was held at the New
School Presbyterian church to consider the advisability of re-
organizing the Congregational church of Iowa City. It was
then learned that there were about eighty persons in the place
who were qualified to establish a congregation of the latter
church. A committee was appointed to consider the entire
proposition, the members being G. D. A. Hebard, N. H. Brain-
erd, and Dr. John Doe. Once more the Rev. Geo. F. Magoun
preached the organization sermon, and the "Congregational
Church of Iowa City," was re-established with at least fifty-
one members. The council at this time had a member from
Grinnell, Eev. Magoun having located there, and become the
president of Iowa college. Rev. G. D. A. Hebard was elected
the first pastor.816
The first meetings appear to have been held at the Stone
Presbyterian church, but in 1867, the house of the United
Presbyterian church, which was built in 1872, on the site of
the present Unitarian church, was rented for one year. Meet-
ings were held later in the English Lutheran church, and one
searches the records in vain for any account of the erection
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CONGREGATIONAL AND UNITED BRETHREN 37T
of the Congregational church. The only reference to the mat-
ter is given in the following words: " Resolved, That the
Church extend to Bro. Hebard a formal call to the pastoral
office, and that his installation take place at the dedication of
the church building.' ' This was proposed on January 20,.
1869, and the Rev. Hebard preached his farewell sermon on
February 7, 1869.
Thus the record runs through the years from 1856 to 1869,
when the struggles to become established were the same amongr
all the congregations of the new country. Since then the la-
bors have not ceased but have taken new directions, too many
to be enlarged upon in this connection. The present church
building was erected in 1868 at the cost of $30,000. A parson-
age in the same block as the church building was provided in
1891, but this was sold to the University in 1903, and the pres-
ent parsonage property was purchased. In the same year the
organ was installed at an expense of $2,500. Many different
pastors have served this church since its reorganization, all
of whom cannot be mentioned in the space permitted. Rev.
J. T. Jones, is the present minister of this congregation.
The Bethlehem Mission was adopted by the Congregational
church in 1886. It had been in existence for several years, and
the Bible school sessions were held in the house of Dean C. M.
Calkin. Preaching services were also conducted there in the
Bohemian language and the enterprise was sustained by dif-
ferent churches in the city. In the summer of 1888 the pastor,,
deacons, and three others elected by the Congregational church
became a corporate body to hold property and having secured
a location on Fairchild street they erected a brick chapel and
furnished it at a cost of seventeen hundred dollars. This is
known as "Bethlehem Chapel," and is the home of the Mission
Bible School. The expense of conducting the same is met by
the "Bethlehem Mission society,' ' which is the incorporated
body holding and controlling the property and directing all
the work done in the Chapel.
About 1841 the first families settled in and about the region
now known as the Welsh settlement in Union township. Most
of these people came from Pennsylvania in these early days,
among them the families of Edward T. Williams ; T. O. Thom-
as, who now lives in Iowa City, coming here among the very*
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378 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
iirst; Henry Clement and Thomas Jones, who came in 1843;
JBichard Tudor, David H. Jones, and David D. Davis, in 1845.
These large families who came in 1843, are all gone now and
others are very much scattered. The Welsh Congregational
church of the neighborhood was organized on January 20, 1846;
it is sometimes given the additional title of the Welsh Con-
gregational church of Old Man's creek. In the beginning the
meetings were held from house to house with preaching but
once a month by a minister whose name seems to be lost to
memory now, but who served congregations in three places, one
in Louisa county, at the Old Man's Creek appointment, and
one other which cannot be accounted for now by the early set-
tler who tells of these things.
Rev. David Knowles was the minister who organized the
-church on the date mentioned above with the following charter
members whose names appear on the record of the church as
it has been preserved from that time : Richard Tudor, David
H. Jones, Edward Tudor, Oliver Thomas, David T. Davis,
Thomas Davis, William Clement, Hugh Tudor, Elizabeth Tu-
dor, Margaret Tudor, Susannah Jones, Jane Thomas, Ann
Thomas, and Martha Davis.
Hugh Tudor donated the land and the first church building
was erected in 1858. This building was the meeting place until
the present house was built in 1870.317
The present pastor of the United Brethren church at Shuey-
ville furnishes the data in the following, relative to that de-
nomination :
The advent of the United Brethren into Johnson county
presents features of unusual interest, and makes this part of
ihe state of Iowa a debtor to Virginia in the planting of the
denomination here more than half a century ago. Again, the
founding of the village of Shueyville is identical with the be-
ginning of the church, as the following will show :
In 1854 W. H. Shuey and his brother B. L. Shuey, each ac-
companied by his wife, and all members of the United Breth-
ren church, came from Virginia to what is now Jefferson town-
ship, when the village of Shueyville, named after the family,
was laid out, W. H. Shuey, the leader in the new settlement,
being a land surveyor. The following year a further mi-
gration, consisting of nine additional members of the United
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CONGREGATIONAL AND UNITED BRETHREN 37£
Brethren church and their children, took place from Virginia
to the same spot. This contingent included Jacob Shuey, fath-
er of the two first named men, who had preceded them to inves-
tigate and returned again to Virginia, and the Rev. James E.
Bowersox, a minister of the United Brethren whose numerous,
children and grandchildren are an important factor in the
Shueyville church at the present time. At a later date Mr.
Bowersox was appointed to, and served, a charge located in
the neighborhood of Solon, Johnson county. No one bearing
the name of Shuey now lives in the village, or is connected with,
the church, though Robert G. Shuey, one of the original set-
tlers, is a well known resident of Cedar Rapids.
Consistent with the character of their principles and relig-
ious connections, the new comers who appear to have met with
kindred spirits in their, at that time, far western home, formed
a society on February, 1856, consisting of thirty-one members,,
which date thus announced the planting of the United Breth-
ren church in Johnson county. The officiating clergyman was-
the Rev. Solomon Weaver, a regular minister of the denomin-
ation, and who about the same time, became first president of
the United Brethren college established at that period at West-
ern, a village just over the line in Linn county. It may be
remarked here, that in 1881 this educational institution of the
church was removed to Toledo in Tama county, where it stands
for all that is best in fitting young men and women for their
life's work.
For several years the new congregation worshipped in the
old brick district school house which stood on the site of the
present structure in the village, but ground was early broken
for a church building and the work brought well on the way.
The outbreak of the Civil War, however, in this, as in so many
instances, halted the enterprise temporarily. Peace having
come to the country, the builders resumed their task, and the
completion of the basement enabled it to be used for services
for a time. Eventually all was ready for dedication, which
took place on May 1, 1870, the membership at this time being
sixty-five and the Rev. Martin Bowman, pastor.
The dedication service was conducted by the Rev. J. J.
Glossbrenner, D. D., bishop of the United Brethren churchr
and fourteenth in the order of its episcopacy. The occasion
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.380 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
iras a fine day flooded with sunshine. A large company was
present, and on this day all the money necessary to liquidate
the balance due on the building was cheerfully subscribed, and
thus a red letter period in the history of the church and village
-came to a close.
Another dedication took place on Sunady, August 28, 1910,
when a new parsonage formally passed into the hands of the
•church membership, an attractive and convenient minister's
Tiome, which had been erected on the site of its predecessor at
Western. It stands in a capacious and inviting lot, and ad-
U. B. Church, Shueyville
joining a church where the Sheuyville pastor also officiates on
alternate Sunday evenings. This parsonage was also com-
pleted free of debt.
The population of Shueyville is somewhat less than at the
dedication of the church, but the membership of the latter is
larger than at that time. Only one of the charter members
Temains, still living in the village, Mrs. Susan Williams, mother
of the Rev. R. E. Williams, United Brethren minister of Des
Moines, Iowa. The present pastor is the Rev. George Ben-
nett, who coming from Stamford, Conn., to Iowa in April, 1910,
joined the Iowa state conference of the United Brethren at its
session in Toledo, the following October, and was forthwith
appointed to the Shueyville charge. The official board of the
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CONGREGATIONAL AND UNITED BRETHREN 381
charge consists of J. H. Potter, C. 0. Anderson, W. H. Bower-
sox, Charles Williams, W. 6. Yessler, trustees ; Jacob Bower-
sox, Roy Yessler, class leaders ; James Bowersox, George Dav-
is, stewards; Mrs. Belle Potter, Sunday school superintendent;
Mrs. Adda Bowersox, treasurer of Women's Missionary So-
ciety and Women's Aid; Mrs. Mollie Davis, president of Wo-
men's Aid; Miss Alma Potter, president of Young People's
Society; Miss Clara Bowersox, treasurer of Sunday school;
Alva Yessler, treasurer of Young People's Society.
For a period of upwards of forty years J. H. Kephart was
superintendent of the Sunday school, but left the village in
March, 1911, for the state of Colorado. It is a noticeable fact
that this name and family, have more than the ordinary honor-
able connection with the denomination at large. The Rev. Henry
Kephart, minister of the United Brethren church, father of
J. H. Kephart, accompanied by sons and daughters, came to
Shueyville from Pennsylvania in the year 1871. Of his sons,
three entered the ministry, the Rev. E. B. Kephart, D. D., be-
coming bishop of the church, and the Rev. I. L. Kephart, D. D.,
-editor of The Religious Telescope, the official organ of the de-
nomination, while the Rev. C. J. Kephart, D. D., has filled im-
portant pastoral charges in addition to serving a number of
years as president of the denominational college at Avalon,
Missouri, and later holding the same position in the Leander
Clark college, Toledo, Iowa; Dr. Kephart is also a distin-
guished Sunday school leader in denominational and inter-de-
nominational work. The first two have passed away, but the
last named continues to minister to the First United Brethren
church, Dayton, Ohio, which city is the official home of the
denomination. A daughter, Mary Kephart, became the wife
of the Rev. Abram Crowell, a minister of the same commun-
ion, who journeyed from Pennsylvania in the fall of 1870, and
after living for a while at Western, settled in Shueyville in
1872.
Among the ministers who have gone out from the Shuey-
ville church to labor in the Master's vineyard are the Rev. R.
E. Williams, now of Des Moines ; Rev. J. H. Albert, Stillwater,
Minn.; Rev. C. J. Kephart, D. D., Dayton, Ohio; Rev. A. J.
Benton, Fayette, Iowa; and Rev. H. C. Kephart (son of J. H.
Kephart), of Denver, Colorado.
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382 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
In the prosecution of its work in Johnson county, other
points have been occupied by the United Brethren church,
among which is Cross Roads, a little northwest of the village
of North Liberty where a church was dedicated on December
22, 1872, by the Rev. A. Schwimley, a United Brethren min-
ister, at that time presiding elder in the East Des Moines con-
ference (embracing the southeast section of Iowa) and for the
past ten years a resident of Iowa City. Dr. Schwimley well
remembers the occasion, as the day before the ceremony in
journeying from the village of Tiffin to the district he had to
encounter a temperature 30 degrees below zero, chilling him to
the bone.
The large influx of strangers of different nationality and
church affiliation, with the leaving of former settlers, has had
its effect on the United Brethren. But, with these strangers
becoming incorporated into the life of the neighborhood, and
intelligently doing their part in its general progress, allied to
the very happy spirit of union and co-operation prevailing so
largely in denominational church life today, there is no reason
why this church should not perpetually remain a fruitful factor
in the community, where its adherents have so long lived and
labored.
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CHAPTER XXI
Other Religious Organizations
npHE Society of Friends held meetings in the house of
A Mahlon Hollingsworth until in the autumn of 1868 when
they decided to erect a meeting house on one of two sites
which they had in view ; one where the Franklin school house
was later built, and the other where they finally concluded to
locate. In the time of making the selection the points under
consideration were nothing but native sod, and the decision
was not an easy matter for those appointed to make the selec-
tion, Aquila Whitacre, Elijah Gregg, R. B. Sanders, Mahlon
Hollingsworth, Poakley Monday, John Welch, and Jonathan
Gregg, who met upon the prairie to agree upon the location.
Some difficulty arose in making the final decision, but it was
not due to any differences among the committee personally, the
choice being immaterial to some of them. In 1869 they had
completed what they called half a house and thus it stood
until the death of Aquila Whitacre who bequeathed a sum of
five hundred dollars to complete the other half. This meeting
house is located in the southeastern part of Scott township.
In 1854, a church which has the general name of the Church
of God was organized in the township of Fremont. The orig-
inal members were Daniel S. Ball and wife, the families of
Joseph Hamilton, R. V. Smith, William Hill, Delates Graves,
Joseph Holland, Mrs. David Drosbauch, C. M. and John Hol-
land with probably others. The first name on the list here, is
that of the man whose fees for election judge suggested the
time of the first election in the township, as it is found upon the
county records. They formerly held services in a school house
near the residence of J. Steel, but afterwards erected a church
building in Lone Tree. A church of this denomination was
also organized in the township of Penn, the Hawk, Bechtel,
and Kepford families being leading members. The church
25
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384 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
was located in section twelve in 1847 and in 1868 a new one was
erected on the same site. This was dedicated by Elder H.
L. Soule.
The Christian Science movement in Iowa City had its incep-
tion in 1902. Many persons belonging to the most prominent
families in the city, having experienced its beneficent results,
became ardent advocates of its teachings. Meetings were held
in private houses and the healing Gospel was gratefully re-
ceived and disseminated. Gradually the interest increased,
more, and still more people were healed and benefitted physi-
cally, morally and spiritually, until it became necessary to
engage a hall in which to hold the meetings. In 1903 the church
was organized. This church maintains a free reading room
which is located in the Koza building, and is open to the public
each week day. At this reading room all the authorized Chris-
tian Science literature may be procured and read.818
The Reformed church of Fremont township began its work
in 1864 in the King school house, with a membership composed
of A. P., Ellen, and Mary King, Mr. and Mrs. McNeal, Lottie
McNeal, Adam Keishner and wife, Charles Fernstrom, Mr. and
Mrs. James Lutz, James Allison and perhaps others who were
its supporters. The church was first built in section ten at a
cost of more than two thousand dollars when dedicated in 1877
by Rev. Albright, with the assistance of Rev. J. H. Buser the
pastor at the time, and also for many years after.
Services in the town of Lone Tree were begun in 1874, in
the Grange Hall, where they continued until the completion
of the Baptist church in October, 1874. This church was then
used until two years later, when the Methodist building was
secured until the Reformed congregation had a house of their
own. The membership now numbers more than one hundred
fifty under the direction of Rev. J. F. Hawk, pastor. In 1909
a modern parsonage was erected for their pastor at an expense
of three thousand dollars.818
There are many organizations relating to church work or
charity that deserve consideration but many books would be
required for this. However, it is quite necessary to mention
the movement so long ago as 1858, when fifty persons, most of
them young men, assembled in the chapel of the University,
in accordance with a circular issued from the central office of
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OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS 385
the Young Men's Christian Association in New York. This
meeting was to provide a permanent organization, for which
purpose, a committee composed of one member from each of
the eight churches of the city was selected. Later we read of its
taking on a form of organization, and possessing a library.
More than thirty years after the corner stone of Close Hall
was laid, the permanent home of the Christian Associations of
the University. This occurred November 14, 1890, after a
heroic effort had been made to raise the funds for the building.
This was the seventh college association building in the
United States, and the third State University building, only
New York and Michigan preceding Iowa. Secretary Parsons
in his address at this time said : "I want to congratulate that
one to whom we are all grateful, Mrs. Helen Close, who has
made this occasion of today a possibility."
The contents of the corner stone were : the Bible, constitution
and articles of incorporation of the Christian Associations, list
of subscribers to the building fund, program of exercises of the
laying of the corner stone; copies of the University and city
papers ; and the handbooks for 1890 and 1891. Miss Salome Du-
gan placed the box in the cavity in the stone, and with a silver
trowel, knotted with old gold ribbon, spread the cement for
the corner stone.
The "King's Daughters' ' of Oasis, called the Enlow Me-
morial Circle, is probably an organization not ordinarily found
in a town of this size, and doubtless its organization here is due
to the fact that Mrs. Hindman, state secretary of the "King's
Daughters," lived in the village in 1904, at the time the local
circle was formed. Their purpose is to do all the good they
can, and it was felt before the plans were completed that such
a group could be of service in the community. The first officers
included Mrs. Agnes Schofield, Mrs. V. D. Bumgardner, Mrs.
Eetta Pratt, Jesse Cochran, and Anna Knease. The present
corresponding officers are, Mrs. Sarah Weider, Miss Anna En-
low, Mrs. Cora Thompson, Miss Cora Michel, and Mrs. Bum-
gardner.820
The King's Daughters, a branch of the national organiza-
tion by that name, was established in Iowa City April 11, 1901,
and from that date has continued its ministrations, which cover
a great field of usefulness. Its mission is said to be of a
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386 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
"non-sectarian, religious, and altruistic" nature, and both
branches working together have in Iowa City about one hun-
dred and fifty members.
The object of this organization is expressed in the words,
' * not to be ministered unto but to minister, ' ' this being exempli-
fied in its activities of a philanthropic and charitable kind,
which include work among the poor, house to house visiting,
and the collecting and distributing of such clothing, food, and
supplies, as may be found needful among the deserving un-
fortunates.
Not only in acts of mercy, but in law enforcement as well,
although considerable tact is employed to make the law
inconspicuous, the women of this uplifting agency have been
efficient in securing the attendance of truant children at school
and at times in preventing the abuse of the rights of children.
Those who have improper homes have been removed to insti-
tutions that are provided for them. Cases of incorrigibility
have been reported to the proper officers, and inebriates have
not escaped their attention, so far as the enforcement of law
could prevail. One section of this Circle has the duty of look-
ing after the "shut-ins and invalids, as well as crippled chil-
dren."
The charity work of the city is largely in the hands of the
King's Daughters, and they have provided for a free rest room
as well as for a women's exchange, where home cooking may be
found in a convenient part of the city. Other phases of their
work affecting the general good of the community are managed
with skill that is not usually found in organizations of this
character.821
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CHAPTER XXII
The Amish People in Johnson County
/TTVHE Amish pioneers of Iowa were John Rogie, Christian
** Kinsinger, Christian Wherry, Andrew Hauder, and
Christian Reber, all from Butler county, Ohio; Joseph Ries
from Canton, and Adam Vornwald, from Wayne county, who,
with Christian Swartzendruber as the first elder then in his
ninetieth year, came across the country to settle in the south-
east corner of the state in Lee county, near the town of West
Point. This settlement was made about 1840, but the organiza-
tion of the church took place, as near as can be ascertained, in
1845. The original settlers of this sect came from Germany,
stopping first in the state of Pennsylvania, some in Canada,
and some landing in Ohio. The attraction to Iowa was to se-
cure the cheap homes then coming into market for the first
time, since the society as a whole had but limited means, mak-
ing the purchase of homes in the east quite impossible without
going into debt, and second that they might settle in a group
and organize their church according to their own ideas.
The settlement in Lee county was in the noted Half Breed
Tract, and while the soil was good and crops could be raised
with little trouble, the land was uncertain as to its title, and
many moved away to other parts, scattering the community
contrary to the expectations of the founders of the settlement.
The immediate settlement in Johnson county began after a
prospecting tour made by some of the members of the society
in 1840, when Daniel Miller, Joseph Miller, a minister, John
Smyly, and John Schrock, from Somerset county, Pennsyl-
vania, left home on an exploring tour. Traveling by steamboat
as far west as Burlington, Iowa territory, they went from here
across the prairies in different directions, seeking a suitable
location for a home, passing through the counties of Des
Moines, Henry, Washington, and Johnson, making mention
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388 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
at this time of Hickory Grove, on Deer creek, near where the
old postoffice of Amish was located. From here they took a
course that led them through Iowa City, Cedar Eapids, and
then to Chicago, which at this time was nothing but a rude
village.
Returning through Indiana, they selected, as they thought,
a suitable place for their future home in Elkhart county, near
the town of Goshen. One may feel that they .were somewhat
desirous of going a shorter distance than the long road to
Iowa, although they seem never to have forgotten the favorable
spot that they referred to in the southwestern part of the coun-
ty of Johnson.
A second excursion in search of cheap land was made in
1S45, by Daniel P. Guengerich and his half brother, Joseph J.
Schwartzendruber, the first from Fairfield county, Ohio, and
tKe second from Alleghany county, Maryland. They also came
1o Iowa by way of Keokuk, spending a few days with the settle-
ment then in that vicinity, but soon coming to the new capital
of the territory, Iowa City. From here they drifted to the old
favorable site on Deer Creek, favorable because of three fea-
tures that all men have sought for when in the search of ideal
conditions for agriculture — fertile soil, good timber, and run-
ning water. It is said by one of their number who is yet an
authority among them that they might have chosen better land
in general in Washington township, but the desirable conditions
did not exist as at the place selected.
Having selected a home and made their claims by inscribing
their names on the trees that grew on them, they returned to
their former homes to make the necessary preparations for
removing to Iowa the following spring, the year that Iowa be-
came a state, 1846. The three who came at this time were Daniel
Guengerich, J. J. Swartzendruber, and Willliam Wertz, a black-
smith. Following the usual route by boat and overland they
reached Bloomington, which was the most convenient point to
their destination. Wagons conveyed their goods to Iowa
City, where they stopped temporarily until arrangements
could be made for the cabins on the claims. D. P. Guengerich
found a cabin that was habitable near the old postoffice of
Amish, and William Wertz moved in with John Lambert, a
single man, near the same point. Not long after the arrival
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THE AMISH PEOPLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY 389
they went to the timber with the necessary tools to prepare the
household furniture from the basswood trees that grew plenti-
fully about in that neighborhood. Some of this home-made
furniture is said to be in the possession of the Guengerich
family to this date.
Home matters being well established the new land holders
took steps to gain legal recognition to the right of proprietor-
ship, and went to Dubuque, where the land office was then lo-
cated for this district, to enter the land. Owing to a crossing
of claims as entered at the land office some ill feeling sprang up
between the Amish people and others, which for a time threat-
ened to cause serious trouble. The rumor went about that the
new German settlers, some called them Dutch, had plenty of
money and would soon make claim to much more land, thus
narrowing the opportunities of those who had settled here, and
were not of the Amish faith. On one occasion the news was
sent among the settlers of the opposition, and a great number
gathered at the home of Lambert, almost without warning, in-
tending by this demonstration to drive them away from the
country or scare them so that they would leave. The effect was
not as expected, for calm reasoning on the part of the Amish
settlers, and the assurance that they had come here with the
intention of becoming good citizens, and for no other purpose,
had its influence on sensible men, and they retired without dis-
turbing anyone.
To illustrate the feeling it is only necessary to give the fol-
lowing incident: D. F. Guengerich had brought two new
wagons with him, one of them a spring wagon, a rather lux-
urious possession in a new country, and the jealousy of the
neighborhood and the hatred to some extent caused some one
to remove and conceal two of the wheels of the vehicle. They
were not found all summer long, but the calm spirit of the
owner led to the return of the missing gear one night in Oc-
tober.
In the summer of 1846, Elder Jacob Swartzendruber, from
Maryland, made a visit to the settlement, and finding the
country to his liking, he came with his three sons to the county
in 1851. This was the year of rapid settlement in the
community, eleven families arriving: John Guengerich with
his family, from Fairfield county, Ohio ; Peter Brenneman, also
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390 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
a minister, Isaac Esh, John Both, John Schlabach, and Jacob
P. Guengerich, from Holmes county, Ohio. Previous to this
great immigration the families of Daniel Schoettler, Benedict
Miller, and John Kempf came from Fairfield county, Ohio. All
of these settled in the southwestern corner of Johnson county.
Hard times struck the settlement in the fall of 1846, when
many of them were sorely afflicted with the ague and malaria
that was the torment of the early settlers. The result was dis-
couragement in a number of cases and some were ready to
give up the new claims and return to the old home. The sick-
ness of the laboring men delayed the completion of the cabins
until later in the year or in the beginning of 1847. At this time
D. P. Guengerich bought a claim for $30, on which was a cabin
of hewed logs. It was over the line in Washington county, but
at this time county lines made little difference with settlements.
When the family moved into this new possession one of the
children remarked: "Why, father, that door looks like a
stable door."
The land office was located in Iowa City by this time, 1847, so
that it was more convenient to the newcomers who were just
now securing a legal title to the lands on which they had made
claim. Lands were so easily secured at that time, and so often
almost given away, that it seems strange to the present gen-
eration that men did not secure vast tracts when the oppor-
tunity offered. Some of them did, it is true, but many of the
earliest settlers acquired only enough to make them moderately
comfortable, and in fact many never retained any of the real
estate that they had a title to early in their history, letting it
slip through their fingers, if it may be so expressed, until it
was far more valuable than they had ever anticipated it could
be. A quarter section of Johnson county land was purchased
by C. J. Swartzendruber as an addition to his Hickory Grove
farm in 1851, for a land warrant, probably bought from some
soldier of the Mexican War, of the value of $145, which made
the price about ninety cents per acre.
It will be remembered that Daniel P. Guengerich was among
the first of the Mennonite settlers in Johnson county, the fam-
ily of Wm. Wertz coming at the same time. The former was a
leader among his people and his life was so long identified with
the county that some further mention is quite proper. He was
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THE AMISH PEOPLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY 391
born in 1813, in the principality of Waldeck, in Germany, being
left without a father at the age of three years. He and his
brother and widowed mother lived in the old German home
until four years later, when Jacob Swartzendruber, of the old
town of Mengeringhausen, married the widow. After the
young people of the old and the new families had grown toward
manhood, and the time came for the service in the army, the
mother was anxious to emigrate to America, not only on ac-
count of fear for the six sons, now, but on account of con-
scientious scruples against going to war at all.
Therefore, on the ninth day of May, 1833, they set out for
the free land of America. Theip possessions were sold for
$1,800, Prussian money, and they were required to leave a
deposit of $500 to permit them to emigrate, so that in case of
calamity on their return they would have some means of sup-
port. Taking ship at Bremen in June, 1833, they sailed in an
old style ship of the Atlantic, the Weser, with Captain Herman
Grau. Seventy-two days later they landed at the city of Balti-
more. Then by horse railroad they were conveyed to Fred-
ericktown, and here the wagons took care of them to Somerset
county, Pennsylvania. D. P. Guengerich and his brother
Jacob secured employment at threshing grain with the flail
for every tenth bushel as wages.
The church history of the Amish group began of course in
Germany, where Jacob Swartzendruber and John Guengerich
were ordained as ministers. The first communion meeting in
the settlement in this country was held at the house of D. J.
Guengerich in the spring of 1852. The services were held at
all times in private houses as had been the custom of the
fathers, until the districts became too large to be accommodated
in any home there. This necessitated the dividing of the dis-
tricts, which occurred for the first time in 1877. Upper Deer
Creek district was in the eastern part of Iowa county, while the
Lower Deer Creek district was in Washington township, this
county. The other two were known as North Sharon and South
Sharon. These four districts were so arranged as to include
about forty families each.
The innovation of church buildings was opposed by some of
the older members as contrary to the spirit of the fathers, but
the increase in the membership and the inadequacy of the
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392 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
private house led to the proposal of the church house proper.
It was either build houses or sub-divide the districts once more.
It was finally agreed, after much deliberation, that the Deer
Creek districts should build a house in each one. In 1890 a
special meeting of the members of the Lower district was called
to make plans for the new building which was to be capable of
seating two hundred and fifty, and they were able to hold the
first service in the new church on the tenth of August, 1890.
Not all the districts at this time agreed to build houses, as the
old habits were too strong to break, and one who has observed
the customs so long cannot easily fall in with a new and strange
order of things. It is probable that the surroundings of a
settlement will modify in time the usual custom, but with a
people who lead a simple life it is more than likely that they
will retain the principles of the fathers of the church.
The Amish Mennonite congregation derives its name from
Jacob Amnion, a minister and an elder in the Mennonite
congregation, who aimed to reform some evils which had crept
into the church after Menno Simons' time, and those who ad-
hered to Ammon and took part in their formation were after-
ward called Ammonites or Amisch.
The present prosperous portion of the country occupied by
these happy people is sufficient evidence of their sincerity of
purpose, as expressed in the time of the dispute with the neigh-
borhood, and the jealousy exhibited in the case of the new
wagon, for they have become established and have proved ex-
emplary citizens in both civil and religious matters. They have
no quarrels in the courts, they do not believe in such things,
and no one need suffer for the physical need in their commun-
ity. They came originally from across the sea to find a home
of freedom and they have proved the truth of their expecta-
tions.
Among the families not mentioned who thus prepared the
way for the future are the Yoders, Millers, Hostetlers, origi-
nally from Switzerland ; Planks, Rebers, Kinsingers, Benders,
and Werrys.822
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CHAPTER XXin
Early Revenues and Real Estate
A T THE risk of repetition it is necessary to make some-
•* ^ detailed account of the sources of revenue for the county
during the time it was organizing. Few taxpayers of th(^
present day have much trouble in meeting the demands of the
local or state government in the revenue demanded of each.
The question is as old as government itself, and is one of the
unsettled problems of the day.
After the relocation of the county seat there were three
sources of income, namely: Licenses for the sale of goods,
taxes on property, and the sale of county seat lots.
The first levy of taxes in Johnson county was made under
the direction of Cedar county authorities, and it amounted to
forty-six dollars and seventy-five cents. Whether it was ever
paid into that county treasury or not is not recorded, but an
attempt was made to collect it.828
Samuel C .Trowbridge made the first tax list on the county
record, indicating the usual items. One hundred and twenty-
eight persons paid, or rather were assessed, the greater num-
ber being marked on the margin of the sheet as paid. A
number removed before the amount assessed was collected.
The highest valuation was $588, the property of "Wheten"
Chase, his tax being $2.94. Philip Clark, John Parrott, and
Charles Jones came next in valuation of property. John Shoup
and Asby Packard were each assessed on five dollars valuation
and paid a tax of two and one-half cents. Abner Wolcott, one
of the first commissioners, held property valued at six dollars,
and his tax was three cents.824
On the above basis it is not difficult to draw conclusions as to
the ability of the county authorities to construct roads, build
bridges and county buildings in the beginning of the local his-
tory. If one was engaged in retail trade, or industrial pur-
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394 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
suits that included sale of goods, he paid a license for the
privilege. The first license issued for trade or a store in Iowa
City went to Edward Foster, for the space of one year, at a
fee of $20. This was issued in October, 1839. Whether these
were issued on the basis of capital employed, or area covered,
or on some arbitrary plan is not known, but rates varied. For
instance: J. F. Rogers was allowed to "vend merchandise"
for one year for $18, and on the same page Parmlee and Hess
paid $35 to "retail groceries," and to "vend merchandise"
$20. The customary tavern license was first fixed at $25 ; to
peddle goods the sums differed, but Sherman W. Shaft was
allowed to peddle goods in Johnson county for a period of not
less than six months nor more than one year at the rate of
twenty dollars per annum. That is, he must peddle or pay for
six months, and he might for one year. Walter Butler was
engaged in a variety of occupations, one of which was fls auc-
tioneer. For this privilege he added $5 in license fee to the
county revenue. In July, 1842, the license for retailing grocer-
ies was materially increased, in two cases at least reaching the
sum of $90. An item of fines added to the revenue, but is of
small proportions, a few cases only being specifically men-
tioned.
The peddling of clocks must have been extremely profitable,
since the fee for this privilege, as demanded of Isaac Negus,
was fixed at $30 for the year. Emanuel Silverman, whose
nationality one recognizes at once, paid one dollar into the
treasury before he could carry his pack on his back over the
county for one week. This was in July, 1843, before popula-
tion seemed sufficient to attract peddlers.
Levying a tax is an easy matter, while the collection of the
tax is difficult. Samuel C. Trowbridge, the collector for 1840,
asked for time to complete his collections, and we find such
extensions becoming very common as we follow this phase of
history, while taxes, back taxes, are turned in at unexpected
periods in the financial affairs of the county.
TThe first financial statement made for the county including
an account of receipts and expenditures from January, 1840,
to April, 1841, names the fees from grocery licenses and from
peddlers, "amounting to 811 dollars; from taxes for 1840, 600
dollars; and from fines 147 dollars." The greatest expendi-
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EARLY REVENUES AND REAL ESTATE 395
ture was for criminal cases, amounting to $525, and the total
pum paid out, or at least for which orders were drawn, amount-
ed to $2,309, an excess over income of about $750. For many
years the account was always against the county. The tax rate
for 1841 was, on real and personal property, fifty cents per
hundred of valuation ; on each poll one dollar county tax ; also,
two and one-half cents on each one hundred dollars for terri-
torial tax. To make this interesting from 1840 to date it might
be well to say, " watch it grow." For 1842 the roll was the
same, but five cents per hundred was added for road pur-
poses.825 For 1843 the rate was four and one-half mills, fifty
cents poll, and one-half mill territorial tax. In 1844 five mills
was the county rate, while the territorial remained the same,
and ten cents per hundred was levied for road improvement.
For 1845 the rates were the same, except for road purposes,
which were increased five cents per hundred of valuation. The
increase in the 1846 levy, made at the July session, is notice-
able in the territorial tax and the first mention of school taxes
of any kind. The rate was seven and one-half cents on the
hundred for territory, forty-five cents for the county, ten cents
for school purposes, fifty cents for poll, and seven and one-
half cents for road purposes.
The levy for state purposes made in July, 1847, the first
for the new state, was two mills on the dollar, for the county
four mills, for school purposes one ; road one-half mill and the
poll tax as before, fifty cents. No change occurred in 1848
except in the one item of school taxes. The rate was reduced
lo three-fourths of one mill. For 1849 the state rate was
twenty-five cents per hundred of valuation, the county forty
cents, the school five cents, which was another reduction, and
the road levy five cents, while the poll remained at fifty cents.
In 1850 careful consideration was given to the assessment
rolls before making the levy, and the result seems apparent
from the rate, since for state purposes twenty-five cents per
hundred of valuation was levied, thirty-five cents for county,
ten cents for school, five for road purposes, and the regula-
tion poll of fifty cents was continued.826
To make a comparison for the ten years — 1841 to 1851 —
the rate for the last year is here given. The state tax was in-
creased to three mills, the county tax remained the same,
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396 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ihree and one-half mills. The school levy returned to one-half
mill, and a new feature was introduced by the levy of two mills
for roads and bridges, with two dollars road poll tax.MT It
i^ould be interesting to compare this tax with a ten year period
of the county's history fifty years later to see which, as com-
pared to ability to pay, was the most burdensome. Collections
on these levies were reported to the commissioners, two or
three years after they were due, and the treasurer or collector
turned them in as he secured them, so that final settlement
seemed never to be reached. That all might be properly as-
sessed the recorder was required to furnish a list of land
owners to the assessor in accordance with an act of the terri-
torial legislature approved January 16, 1841.*28
A financial statement published in the city papers in 1842
:gives the condition of affairs from April, 1841, until May,
1842. From this list it is learned that the receipts from mer-
chants and peddlers amounted to about $340; from grocers,
-and this usually meant the retailing of liquor, $611 ; for ferry
and auction licenses, $30 ; and from the collector $1,193, or a
total of approximately $2,500.
Again the largest item of expenditure was for criminal
purposes, amounting, counting the prosecuting attorney's fees,
to over $700 during the period. The expenditures and out-
standing orders amounted to over $3,500, leaving a balance
against the county of $1,000.
In July, 1848, Thomas Snyder, who had been the treasurer,
and who had endeavored for several years to collect taxes with
Tvhich he was charged, was ordered to make a final ^report.
These charges were for taxes in 1845-46, and it was not until
January, 1849, that a settlement was secured, and only then on
crediting his work in improvements for the county as part
payment of the balance held against him. His final payment,
however, was not made until in April, 1850. The difficulty of
making a financial accounting in those times is illustrated in
his case.829
The delinquent taxes reported at a special meeting of the
commissioners in August, 1849, were given in totals by years :
Taxes and interest due for 1846, $128; for 1847, $560; making
a total of $688 for these two years, and yet there was no action
to collect or ascertain the amount due until 1849. Now, how-
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EARLY REVENUES AND REAL ESTATE 397
ever, the collector was notified to make collection of all of these
with the least possible delay, and to proceed according to law,
which resulted in the report of Hiram Watts, then treasurer,
stating that more than two hundred dollars had been collected
by the time of meeting following in October. One-fourth of
this amount was for taxes of 1846, and half for 1847, from
which statement one may judge that people were not unwilling
to pay when approached in the proper way.
The statement of the commissioners for 1849 showed a bal-
ance on the right side of the ledger, provided always, that all
their estimates were collectible. In 1850, at the April session,
Oeo. Fesler was appointed an agent of the board for com-
puting the interest on and the amount of delinquent taxes for
the years 1846-1849 inclusive, to make a complete register of
the same, and report to the board. The clerk was to assist
him in all possible ways in order to make the work complete
and satisfactory. Fesler was one of the commissioners, and
probably knew what was necessary for intelligent action.880
In 1852 a direct order came from the state authority re-
garding the tax levy for state purposes, which the census board
sent through the State Auditor in the following letter: "It is
ordered by the Census Board, that a tax of one and a half
mills on the dollar be levied by the several county judges on
the total valuation of the property of their respective counties
for state purposes the current year.
"Signed, Wm. Pattee, Auditor of State.' '
From the beginning up to this period the entire county had
been assessed by one official, or with the assistance of depu-
ties. Then the law of 1852 was passed changing the system.
The final record, before this occurred, is made in an allow-
ance to G. E. De Forest of $10 for services as assessor "before
the change in the law for 1853/ ' 881
There were thirteen civil townships in 1854 when the first
valuation of property in detail was placed on the records of
the county. The table indicates the polls in each of the town-
ships, the number of acres assessed ; the value of this land ; all
the stock, horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and swine, with their
estimated value, making some of the items decidedly interest-
ing and suggestive. The total number of polls in the thir-
teen townships was 1,448; the total number of acres entered
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398 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and assessed, 347,952, and valued at something more than
$1,600,000. All the merchandise was found in Iowa City, Big
Grove and Union townships. There were about 2,500 horses
in the county and 47 mules ; 7,500 cattle in round numbers, and
they were valued at $120,000; 14,000 swine, valued at $26,000;
the total i i moneys and credits ' ' of the county is put at $127,000,
besides $3,600 in stocks. The item of household furniture
varies, the total value in Union township was $5 ; in Pleasant
Valley, $10; in Liberty the value came up to $40; Cedar raised
the sum to $64, and Iowa City had much more than all the rest
of the county combined. Finally, the total valuation of all
property was fixed at $2,600,000.882
The early land sales were full of exciting events and they
have been well described in a form that has been preserved,
since the days of the stirring events themselves, so that what
is here given is from the pen of a participant in those times :
The great mass of people have little idea of the western
land sale. Its approach was awaited by the settler with great
anxiety, and every dollar was carefully hoarded up for the ap-
proaching trial, since this was the time when he hoped to gain
the title to his land against all those who might oppose him in
its peaceful possession. Those were dull times in the town for
the dollars were put away for the coming sale.
The place of sale presented the most exciting aspect ; great
crowds of settlers came in from the section of the district
that was to be sold in order to be on the ground when the bid
was made by the one appointed to do this work. One man was
appointed from the township ; he held in his hand a list of all
the lands with the respective claimants ' names attached and
as the parcel was called in the sale, he bid it off in the name of
the one who waited for the opportunity to clear his title. Con-
siderable time was necessary to complete these sales, and it is
said by those who know that they sometimes continued for
three weeks. But what was that to the man who was to become
the lord of the soil in a short time, provided he had been able
to save the necessary amount to make the required payment.
It was sad enough when some " claim jumper' ' was able to
secure the right of the rightful settler and many of these
fellows were roughly treated by the sympathizing neighbors
of the victim. It was here that the money-lender did some
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EARLY REVENUES AND REAL ESTATE 399
good, even though his rate of interest was at times enormous.
He may have saved the day for the man who had his hopes
fixed upon a choice piece of the good land, that is now so, far
beyond the reach of the young man, who would till the soil by
preference.
It was for the protection of the claimant that the " Asso-
ciations" of these counties were made that something like order
could be maintained in the growing settlement, and that each
man should have his rights and no more. Rules and regula-
tions were adopted that determined the procedure in all cases
and if doubts should arise there were boards or committees
that could find the equity of the case in proper form without
much expense and woe be unto the man who disobeyed the
dictates of the body that set the rules for their observance.
The important officer in this organization was the clerk or
recorder who must keep a correct record of all entries and
transactions of land made by its members. When one refused
to comply with the regulations of the Association he was
dropped from the membership, and was, of course, no more a
subject to call upon it for protection.
The Johnson County Claim Association has been called * i one
of the most perfect, not only in the state but also in the West."
It was in control of the land affairs of the county from the time
of its organization in March, 1839, until the land came into
the market under the regulation of the United States govern-
ment and the records were legally established in the county.
It must be understood that there was no "law" covering any
such organization; it was entirely voluntary in its inception
and yet it was loyally supported by the land claimants of the
county, as shown by the list of its members. The names of
territorial officials, members of the executive and judicial
branches of the gvernment, were members of the association
as has been suggested elsewhere in the visit of Governor Lucas
for the first time to Iowa City.
Only two cases of claim jumping are related in connection
with this association, or with which they had to deal ; and in
the first instance the offender is said to have been "soundly
whipped" and led thus to understand through his physical
senses that the rules were made to be obeyed. In the other
case related by a member of the organization, more strategy
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400 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
was necessary, if one may call it such. In the month of No-
vember, 1839, a man named Crawford took possession of a
claim lying about one mile north of Iowa City, that belonged
to William Sturgis, and refused to give it up. The marshal
of the Claim Association notified all the members to meet at
Iowa City on November 7, at ten o'clock a. m. sharp, at the
tavern of Asaph Allen. When the time came, about sixty stal-
wart fellows were on hand, who marched in a body to where
Crawford had built his cabin. They found a good substantial
log house, with a clapboard roof, and Crawford on the inside
finishing it off ready for occupancy. The company surround-
ed the house and then called for a parley. The trespasser was
asked if he was willing to abandon his claim, whereupon he
refused to leave and warned those present not to molest him
at their peril. At this juncture Mr. Sturgis came forward and
offered to pay him for what labor he had done if he would
relinquish the claim without further trouble, which offer was
also refused. At this point, without a moment's delay the men
ascended the corners of the house and in fifteen minutes there
was not a vestige of it left standing. Mr. Crawford was left
in amazement in the center of the vacant space once occupied
by his cabin. Some of the parties suggested that the Iowa
river was not far distant, but milder counsels prevailed and
the company dispersed.
This did not end the difficulty for shortly afterward the
members were summoned to meet again, Crawford having
rebuilt the house and occupied it with his family. The mem-
bers arranged with Walter Butler to take care of the family
and sent a team to bring them to town. A committee appointed
by the Association to do this met Mr. Crawford, and found him
in a more humble state of mind than before, as he was now
willing to settle the matter with the owner of the claim. Mr.
Sturgis and he held1 a private conference and the matter was
soon settled to the entire satisfaction of the rightful owner.
The company dispersed, going quietly to their homes and were
never afterward called out for any such purpose. Crawford,
it is said, afterwards endeavored to bring some of the parties
to trial for punishment, but as it was impossible to find a judge,
lawyer, or juror, who was not a member of the Association or a
claim holder, he found little success in his undertaking.888
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402 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Two government land sales interested the Claim Associa-
tion of Johnson county ; one at Dubuque, where the land office
for the district was located in 1840, and one at Marion where
the sale occurred in 1843. Some disturbance was caused on the
announcement of the first sale on account of the unprepared
condition of the claimants to meet the obligations necessary at
the time of the sale. The lands offered at Dubuque included
the township of seventy-nine in ranges five and six west, which
now are known as East and West Lucas, and Scott townships.
Because of the unexpected announcement, the Association was
assembled and a petition was sent to Washington asking for a
postponement of the sale from the date set in May to some later
time. The reply came about May first saying that the sale was
postponed until August 3, 1840. In preparation for this event,
according to the minutes of the Association, S. H. McCrory
was chosen bidder for the lands mentioned, and Cyrus Sanders
was chosen assistant bidder. Mr. Sanders has given an ac-
count of this sale nearly as follows: "On the thirtieth day of
July a number of settlers started to the land sales that were to
take place at Dubuque on the third day of August. A majority
were provided with money to buy their claims, though some
of them were expecting to meet capitalists at the sale of whom
they could borrow the money. Some forty or fifty settlers com-
posed our company and we started to Dubuque in two-horse
wagons, supplied with provisions and camp equipment. We
traveled by easy stages and arrived at Dubuque on August 1,
1840. On Monday morning early, we had made all arrange-
ments for the sale. The bidder and assistant bidder had fur-
nished themselves with large plats of the two townships to be
sold, with each claimant's name plainly written on the subdi-
vision which he wished to purchase. When the time came for
the sale to begin the crier stepped out on the platform and in-
viting the bidder and assistant bidder to take places on the
platform beside him, took hold of one side of the plat, and be-
ginning at section one, called out each eighty-acre subdivision
as fast as he could speak. When he came to a tract with a
name written across it, he would strike his hammer down and
give the name to the clerk. He thus continued until he had
called all the sections, so that the two townships were offered in
less than thirty minutes. During this time the claimants stood
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EARLY REVENUES AND REAL ESTATE 403
in a close semi-circle in front of the platform in breathless
silence, not a sound being heard except the crier's voice. Then
the purchasers were admitted two or three at a time, to pay for
the land and receive their certificates. This was a tedious pro-
cess, as the land office received no money for land except United
States coin or notes on the State Bank of Missouri. Nearly all
the money paid was in silver, and it consumed a great deal of
time to count it and find the spurious coin. Then when it was
all over, we started home on August 5, 1840, many of us enjoy-
ing the comfortable feeling of being owners of real estate for
the first time in our lives. ' '
For the land sale at Marion in 1843, S. H. McCrory and
Robert Hutchinson were selected for bidders, for township
seventy-nine north, range six west, which must have been the
remaining part of the township not sold at the Dubuque sale
three years before, and for township eighty north, in ranges
five and six west, Henry Felkner and Cyrus Sanders were
chosen as bidders. These townships included the land now
found in Graham, Newport, and part of Perm townships as
established in later years. It is always understood that the
plats the bidder carried were of the original congressional sur-
vey, not the civil township as now known. After the prepara-
tions had been made for the land sale at Marion the Association
adjourned to meet at that place at the time of the sale, and soon
after the conclusion of this sale the Association disbanded,
there being no more use for such an organization when the title
was secured in the individual claimant. It had existed for four
years and during that time had secured the settlers in their
rights and prevented much trouble and dishQnesty, that no
doubt would have deprived many men of their justly earned
and rightly secured homes. They were not compelled to pay a
foroed price for the land above the government figure of one
dollar and a quarter per acre as they might have been com-
pelled to do, had the speculator been allowed to bid against
them. It was not safe to do such things at the land sales for
men were in earnest and on the ground in sufficient numbers
to enforce the regulations of the Associations.
It is said that there were two things that made the Claim
Association of this county especially needful: the location of
the capital of the territory here and the reservation of the con-
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404 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
liguous sections of land to the one donated for capital purposes.
The first of these brought many new settlers into the county
all at once, which made some kind of protection necessary. The
second, in reserving the sections adjoining the capital reserva-
tion kept the claimants from getting a title to land they had
improved before these sections were reserved, and this law was
not repealed for three years.884
About this time in the history of farm land an offer of a well
known tract illustrates the values placed upon such property
as it was advertised in a local paper. It was proposed to sell
the old "Trading House Farm" in 1844, which contained, ac-
cording to the statement in the description, "eight hundred
acres deeded land, and three hundred twenty acres of a claim;
four hundred acres under good fence ; one hundred sixty acres
in cultivation, which produces from fifty to sixty bushels per
acre. Also an orchard of one hundred fifty bearing trees.' '
For all this the price asked was $5,000, $3,000 cash, and $2,000
at ten per cent interest.
Later in the history of land sales the land office was located
in Iowa City on College street, block twenty-three, on the corner
where the presidents of the University have at different times
resided. Dr. Enos Lowe was the receiver here for a time, and
during his incumbency some desperate characters appeared in
the city, causing the funds of the government to be removed to
Burlington. The treasure was heavy and was transferred by
team and wagon across the country by F. M. Irish, on which
occasion he met with an accident in crossing a swollen stream,
in which his team was drowned and the wagon with its load of
specie sent to the bottom. With the assistance of some friendly
Indians, who happened that way, the money was saved from
the flood and with a new team secured from the vicinity, he
completed the journey. For his loss, reported to the govern-
ment by Dr. Enos Lowe, the receiver, he was, after a long delay,
reimbursed by Congress. The land office here entered the un-
sold land in the neighboring counties, Muscatine, Scott, Cedar,
and others adjoining, so that the funds were quite large. At
times they were sent by stage under a guard, as it is related by
Joseph Albin today, in his reminiscences of the early stage
routes from Iowa City to Davenport.885
However, it appears that not all real estate investments
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EARLY REVENUES AND REAL ESTATE 405
proved profitable in the opinion of the owners, if one may judge
from some correspondence that deals with the period of ex-
tensive land sales. At least town lots had not yet become valu-
able enough to be measured by the income per square foot. In
support of this conclusion the documents below are inserted:
"I, Joel M. Brinton, of Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, do
hereby appoint S. B. Gardner my agent to attend to my Lot
No. 7, in Block No. 93 in Iowa City to rent the same the best he
can, to pay the taxes out of the rent, and receive Two Dollars
per year for his trouble in attending to the Same, and pay me
the ballance of the rent when I may call for the same. Witness
my hand at Iowa City this 9th day of May 1845.
" Joel M. Bmnton
"Turtle Creek P. 0. Plumb Township.' '
The fbllowing account of S. B. Gardner as reported to Joel
Brinton was found with the above legal document in the vaults
of the court house among the records as kept by Gardner when
clerk of the Board of County Commissioners :
"Rents received for Joel Brinton from H. L. Hart
"1 load of wood in 1846 75
"Dutch Preacher in 1847 — 6 months at 75 4.50
"Parker in 1847-1848-1849 — Reed 12.00
$17.25
"Taxes of 1846-1847 & 1848 3.75
13.50
"My Services as Agent in 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848 at
2.00 pr annum 8.00
5.50"
In reply to the statement of account as probably sent to Joel
M. Brinton the following letter was found :
< « Westmoreland C. T. March 4th A. D. 1849
"Dear sir I was verry much disappointed last spring in not
receiving any rent as I was expecting twenty or thirty dollars
at least and I hope I will not be disappointed this spring in the
same way for you told me at the time I bought my house and
lot that such house and lot would rent for four dollars per
month rents must have depreciated verry much indeed if they
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406 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
are not half as high as they were when I was there I always
thought that in cityes rents increased but in Ioway City they
decrease
4 i Dear sir you will please send me the rent by mail and seal
your letter in the presence of the post master and a witness so
that it can be recovered if it is lost if you think there would be
any chance of selling my house and lot I wish you would let
me know it please write as soon after receiving this scroll as
convenient and indorse your letter to Fulton Post ofice West-
moreland C. Y. Penna times here are not so good as they
were flour is worth but 3.50 per barrel and wheat 65 to 70 cts
per bushel corn 30 oats 20 we have had a mild winter with a
verry little snow I heard there was three feet of a level snow
in Iowa this winter I have nothing more worth your attention
but my respects to you Joel M. Bbinto^" 8M
According to the custom of the time the letter was mailed
without any envelope, simply folded and sealed with wax, with
the address to "Stephen Gardner, Johnson County, Iowa City
Postoffice," written across the folded sheet The original has
been deposited with the county auditor for safe keeping as it
was among the records of that office, although the private prop-
erty of Mr. Gardner, so long clerk of the board of county com-
missioners.
The relation of the soils, or the geological part of the county
history, to the prosperity of the possessor is well shown by a
study of the areas of the county described as the "fertile soils,"
and those of another type found in different sections. It is
said that south of Old Man's creek, in Washington, Sharon,
Liberty, and Fremont townships, in some parts along the east-
ern boundary and also in Oxford, Madison, and Pleasant Val-
ley townships, one finds types of what such soils will produce
when joined with the skilled efforts of the farmer. "The fine
homes, large overflowing barns, well-kept stock, and all possi-
ble labor saving devices, y ' are sufficient proof that something is
due to the natural productiveness of the soils hereabouts.
Again, the type of soil that discourages the laborer, if he
has been at any time accustomed to the first kind mentioned, is
that which is found "heaped up in ridges' 9 along the streams
or elsewhere through a given section, which has no deposit of
"vegetable mold" to enrich the surface. More time, more ex-
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EARLY EEVENUES AND REAL ESTATE 407
penditure is necessary in securing results from this source, yet
many find homes here and some persist in endeavoring to draw
from the hills and the steeper slopes subsistence and profit.
Here crops are washed away by heavy rains and no manner of
labor can bring them back. The improvements indicate the
struggle for the mastership; small unpainted houses, door-
yards bare enough, sheds with poor roofs, good and proper,
perhaps, when the settler began, but surely out of date now ;
only a few tools of modern type, and exposed to the destructive
elements of rain and sun, and all the suggestions are the re-
verse of those found on the great wide areas composed of rich
Old Stone Building, Coralville
black loam. Great lessons for the teaching of real agriculture
are near at hand, yet seldom put into practice.
The pioneer geologist of Johnson county is said to have been
found in the person of Dr. David Dale Owen, who in 1850 ex-
amined the rock exposures at or near Iowa City, even following
the Iowa river beyond the limits of the county, while he ex-
plored the valley of Rapid creek and recorded his observations.
His scientific observations are found in his published work.887
In 1855 Professor James Hall began work as the state geolo-
gist, and mentioned at different times the geology of Johnson
county, while Dr. C. A. White refers to the famous, or at least
once famous, " Bird's Eye" marble found at Iowa City, which
was in outlot thirty-three, now no longer recognized as a
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408 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
quarry. Dr. White says: "This coral and calcareous forma-
tion receives a fine polish and makes a beautiful cabinet speci-
men, but is always too small to be of any practical use as
marble. It has been known as 'Iowa City' and ' Bird's Eye'
marble."888
Among others who have written on the geology of Johnson
county are found the names of Calvin, Keyes, Shimek, and
Webster, who have contributed special articles in addition to
completed discussions of the whole subject by Dr. Samuel Cal-
vin, who prepared the "Geology of Johnson County," as found
in the Iowa Geological Survey. To speak of the land forms of
the county and avoid technical terms it may be well to mention
briefly some of the chief characteristics of this part of the state
as represented in this one county. An area of plains and
ridges in which the rivers go out of their way to avoid low-lying
plains and cut channels longitudinally through ranges of hills
that rise forty, sixty, or eighty feet above the broad lowland
surfaces, that apparently might have been traversed with less
difficulty, and certainly would have afforded a shorter and
more direct course ; an area in which the divides are low and
the high lands border the river valleys. In the southern part
of the county the streams are wider and deeper than in the
northern part. More or less sand is found in the ridges of the
northern part, and the phenomena of the abrupt elevations
found here may all be explained by men versed in the history
of land formation, and they understand the "language of the
liills, ' ' if one may so put it, that tells of what has come and gone
before man as he is now recognized came to occupy the land.
The ploughman who opened the prairie came occasionally upon
one of those great Iowa boulders which stopped him in his
progress, at least temporarily, and he perhaps wondered why
such obstructions were left in the situation he found them. He
may have noticed that some sections were perfectly free from
them and others thickly strewn. Once more the man of science
came to his aid and explained for him that these appear in
certain relation to other phenomena of land forms. A well-de-
fined boulder strewn area is found in section fifteen in Big
Grove township, north of the Cedar Rapids road. Within a
small space are gathered a large number of masses of gray
granite, some "twelve or fifteen feet in diameter." In naming
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EAELY REVENUES AND REAL ESTATE 409>
44 Big Bottom" the early settlers had no particular scientific
reason ; they simply applied the common term to a tract of land
that was exceedingly fertile, due to long accumulation of rich
deposits, such as abound in certain extensive portions of our
state.
In the field notes of the original survey of the county the
land is briefly described as possessing certain distinguishing
marks as it appeared seventy years ago. Since then the geo-
logical student and the professional scientist have classified
and tabulated the particular districts of the county.
The rich land of the valleys and rolling plains now return
to the farmer the energy so long accumulated under ages of
formation. He found material for his buildings in the bluffa
along the streams; the deep ravines cut by the erosion of many
years furnished him opportunity for the construction of dama
for his water power, while the deep channel of the river, from
the old location of Roberts Ferry to the point south of Iowa
City where it emerges upon the wide plain, which it often
covers in the time of freshet, protects the adjoining farms from
the overflow that would occur had the river taken the course
that one would naturally expect where it makes the ' ' big bend, ' r
in Jefferson and Penn townships. One often wonders at the
caprices of nature, yet he must wonder more at the adaptation
of all these things to the advantage of man as he subdues the
soil and becomes the master.
The Iowa river has a total length in the county of about fifty
miles, counting all its windings. It has been used to carry
freight and furnish power to turn many water wheels. Its
scenery is remarkable, furnishing themes for many writers
long before it came into commercial use.
Not many important streams find their way into the Iowa
within the county boundaries. Clear creek, like all the streams
on the west side, takes a southeasterly direction following the
valley near the south margin " close to the northward facing
bluff s." Old Man's creek, the stream with the wide valley and
mournful name, is the one important tributary in the southern
part of the county, while the divide between it and Clear creek
is distinctly marked in the northern part of Union township,
where the drainage area of Deer creek comes within the frac-
tion of a mile of the tributaries of "Old Man's creek" on the
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410 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
south. The lower part of the Iowa river valley in this county
furnishes probably the richest farming land found within its
boundaries. A few depressions in the county, called "lake
basins,' ' are found near the river in the northwestern part
The most noted of these is Swan Lake, of about sixty acres in
extent and nearly half a mile in length. It is said that at the
time the county was settled, Swan Lake was a pretty sheet of
water, twelve to fifteen feet in depth and well stocked with fish.
The rim of the lake is composed of sand and gravel, but the
years have interfered with its beauty and gradually the lake is
filling, until it has become almost a marsh, supporting rank
vegetation. Doubtless time will cause it to entirely fill and the
necessary drainage will be furnished by some enterprising
man and corn may be induced to grow where the beautiful lake
once supported a different life. Other counties in the state had
many such swamps, which have been turned into the richest
farm land.889
Closely identified with the soils that furnish the source of
food production due to man's industry are the quarries that
have furnished him with much building material. Among these
are the quarries from which the greater part of the stone for
the Old Capitol building was taken, which is located on the
right bank of the Iowa river in Penn township, sections five
and eight, about eight miles northwest of Iowa City. This
stone is not suitable for polishing; its great value lies in its
"suitableness for dressing for use in massive structures, and
for the more important parts of ordinary masonry/ 9 This
was written in the palmy days of the quarry, when its was fur-
nishing material for the buildings in the vicinity. Its general
working was not possible because of the distance from trans-
portation. The river had been used to carry the stone when the
capitol was erected. This grade of stone was found only in
Johnson county, at the time of the county geological survey by
Professor Samuel Calvin.
Other quarries that furnish building material are found in
the vicinity of the Iowa or Cedar river. The Hutchinson
quarry, west of the river at Iowa City, employs during the
working season a number of men, the product being consumed
iu the vicinity. Up the river on the east side the Sanders
quarry has furnished rock for various purposes used at home.
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EABLY EEVENUES AND REAL ESTATE 411
Two and one-half miles south of Shueyville, near the iron
bridge, is another quarry that has been worked for a number
of years, the stone running generally the same as in other
quarries along the river near Iowa City. All the stone here
described is for rough work only. The McCollister quarry in
section twenty-two of East Lucas township is the source of
another supply for that particular neighborhood. The Eock
Island railway has worked a quarry north of Coralville for it&
track use, while many minor points of supply for local pur-
poses have been opened, but in none have the improvements
been very marked. Of the ones mentioned the ' 6 State Quarry, 9 9
as the name was given so long ago, is the most important, and
it continued to be worked in later years under the direction of
William P. Doty, who was also instrumental in opening the
quarry belonging to N. Zeller, Sr., and a member of the Wein
family.
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CHAPTER XXIV
Mills and Live Stock
v I VHE smaller streams of the county were utilized very early
A in meeting the first demand of the settlers for mills.
Naturally those first sought for were to grind grain and saw
lumber, and the latter of these were first erected. Rapid creek
supplied the power for the mill of Felkner and Myers; Old
Man's creek set in motion the wheels of the mill of Pleasant
Harris, but Rapid creek led in that at one time it had four saw
mills, turning out lumber through the energy from its waters,
while every stream that could be held in check until its power
was accumulated sufficiently, was used in some form of pro-
ductive labor. Lingle 's mill and Lingle 's road are familiar
names, and these go with Lingle creek where Mr. Lingle built
a grist mill in Big Grove which boasted two stories, but ground
corn only, with its burrs made from the native boulders cut
by one of the workmen on the Old Capitol then in construction.
For twelve years the Haynes mill was operated in Cedar
township ; Chaney 's mill in Penn was similar to that of Lingle
in its construction and product in that it was said to be well
mixed with granite particles and furnished a strange diet.
But of all these mills, both north and south of the new
capital, the best known was probably that of David Switzer on
Clear creek, which became a center for more than one county.
Here the first dam was built in the county in 1839. Fine bolted
flour was made here and its effect on the growing of crops and
the value of land in the vicinity was marked, since it was said
to be the most encouraging enterprise established in the county
ut any time. It meant more and better food, and it was close
to the source of supply. After the days of " grist mills' ' the
property was known as the Strickler Woolen Mills, but of
course all trace of the woolen mills in the vicinity has disap-
peared, since they were removed to Kansas, although ap-
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MILLS AND LIVE STOCK
413
parently successful here. The old grist mill served many cus-
tomers and in its day the praises of the flour made there were
sung throughout the settlement. As one has put it, ''only
those who have lived for weeks without breadstuff s other than
that pounded in a mortar by a pestle, can appreciate the luxury
of the first flour and meal from the old mill. ' '
When the mill at Coralville was built David Switzer sold
his burrs, bolts, and other flour milling equipment to the new
company and turned his mill into a saw mill, unfortunately for
the neighborhood, one may suppose, as after the mills at the
i *
new point burned and before the rebuilding it was some-
what difficult to supply the local flour bin.840
A fifty-two page abstract, showing all the transfers of the
Coralville water power, gives a summary of its history more
perfectly than any other source could. This is also interest-
ing as a piece of legal work, being one of the largest abstracts
involving Johnson county property and perhaps one of the
largest in the state. The government deeded the land in 1842
to Jesse McCart, one of the first settlers in the new territory.
On May 18, 1842, the project of a dam across the river at
some point near Iowa City was first suggested, and the fol-
lowing year an organization was completed which stated its
purpose as "the erection of hydraulic works on the Iowa
River." This organization was known then as the Iowa City
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414 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Manufacturing Company, and its officers were among the first
citizens of the vicinity, namely: Chauncey Swan, Augustus
McArthur, Ferdinand Haberstroh, Thomas Snyder, and Abra-
ham I. Willis.
The company purchased three acres of ground at the pres-
ent site of the dam from Walter Butler, together with the
water rights extending four miles up the stream. It must be
understood that the land had been purchased of Jesse McCart
by Walter Butler some time before this. The reason for choos-
ing this site is given as relating to the possible navigation of
the river to Iowa City, and it could not, therefore, be obstructed
below that point. Then, it is said, there was the possibility
of a town at the site of the dam which now has the title of
Coralville, and suggests the underlying strata on which it may
find a foundation. But the name was not always thus, for some
time the name "Clarksville" was applied, and one finds reason
for this in the name of Ezekiel Clarke, one of the men interest-
ed for so long a time in that water power. This town threat-
ened to grow beyond the "capital" itself and the annexing of
the capital to Coralville was more possible then, it appeared,
than the reversing of the process. Like many other "booms,"
it was temporary, and the advantage of location determined
the outcome.
The new company began the construction of the dam, but
in 1844, after a brief life, it became insolvent, and the property
was sold at sheriff's sale by the sheriff of the time, M. P. Mc-
Callister, in 1845, to A. B. Newcomb and John Harris. In 1846
these purchasers sold their interests to E. C. and W. P. Lyon,
who in due time sold to E. Clarke and E. W. Lake, of Ohio,
Then came, according to the time, prosperous days for Coral-
ville, and the busy wheels of industry hummed night and day,
for ventures were realized. The farmers came from far and
near with their grists to Coralville, or Clarksville. It was
about this same period that Ex-Governor John H. Cox, of
Ohio, acquired an interest in the property, and in 1854 a one-
fourth interest was purchased by Samuel J. Kirkwood, then,
as he was called, "a happy miller," and little dreaming of the
vital part he would play in the history, of Iowa in a few short
years.
Near the close of the Civil War, Governor Kirkwood sold
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MILLS AND LIVE STOCK
415
his interest to M. T., C. D., and S. M. Close and after controll-
ing it one year these owners sold to Valentine Miller and W.
W. Kirkwood, a brother of the governor. Many industries
secured the water power privilege by lease during this period
and various forms of manufacture sprang up in this vicinity.
All the factories which were built along the river at this point
acquired some kind of title to the water right and this was the
situation in 1875 when Governor Kirkwood became an owner
■ i
Wind Mill at "Bloomington"
once more. To enumerate the various industries established
here is sufficient to give an idea of the power available. In
the order of their establishment these have been: Flouring
mills, woolen mills, long since shut down and out of date, paper
mills, destroyed by an explosion in 1875 and then rebuilt; saw
mills, which fed upon the timber in the "big grove"; machine
shops, planing mill, oat meal mill, and last of all the electric
light power house, and now practically all that is left.
The beginnings of the Iowa City Manufacturing Company
may be stated as through adoption of "Articles of Associa-
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416 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
tion" in April, 1843. This meeting for the purposes of "im-
proving the natural advantages with which they were en-
dowed, ' 9 was held by a number of leading citizens at the Ameri-
can Hotel. John M. Coleman, the chairman of the committee
appointed for the purpose, reported on the organization. Ten
thousand dollars was the capital stock, as determined in the be-
ginning, which might be increased to thirty thousand as the di-
rectors might determine later. Shares were twenty-five dollars
each and work was to commence when four thousand dollars in
stock were subscribed. A site for the erection of hydraulic
works on the city plat or in its vicinity, and "the securing of
ample privileges for the conveyance of water and erection of
a dam" were the duties first assigned to the directors.
A committee was appointed at this meeting to examine the
ground for proposed sites and to make an estimate of the prob-
able expense of canaling, building a dam and other items that
might be necessary to consider. This committee included
David Switzer, Wm. McCormick, John M. Coleman, Chauncey
Swan, and Cyrus Sanders.
A committee was also appointed for opening the books for
stock subscription. There were five members, John Powell,
Silas Foster, W. L. Gilbert, Walter Butler, and S. H. McCrory.
By an act, approved February 15, 1843, the county commis-
sioners in counties containing navigable streams were author-
ized to grant permits to construct dams across these streams
under certain restrictions. Whether this act applied to the
present mill construction depended entirely on the question of
the possible navigation of the Iowa river. The commissioners
were to have supervising control over these improvements so
as to provide for the "free passage of all streams for keel and
flat boats, rafts and other water craft.' ' No two dams should
be nearer than two miles of each other, unless the board should
consider it advisable and should so direct.
By May 20, 1843, the stock subscribed for this new company
amounted to $7,000, at which time five directors were chosen
to manage the affairs of the concern as before mentioned. The
enterprise was commended to the farmers of the community
who, it was suggested, " might subscribe for stock and pay for
it in produce supplied to the workmen.' * The meeting for the
election of directors was held at the new Mechanics J Academy
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MILLS AND LIVE STOCK 417
on May 17, 1843. A resolution was adopted here determining
who could not he a director. It reads: "Resolved, That no
person having an interest in lands adjoining the Iowa Eiver,
at or above the town of Iowa City, shall be eligible to the office
of director. "
In less than three months from the time of organization the
company had the ten thousand dollars in stock subscribed and
it is mentioned that the stockholders were composed chiefly of
those who were doing the work of construction on the property
of the Mill Company. The dam projected was to be three hun-
dred feet in length which was to furnish power for a flouring
mill and a saw mill on this property. The purpose was later to
bring this head of water into the city, since there was a fall of
fifteen feet in the distance. It was about this same time also
that the stockholders were notified to make the first payment
of ten percent on their stock, in order that the company could
continue the construction. Soon after, in 1844, the company
was incorporated by act of the territorial legislature and it
became The Iowa City Manufacturing Company.841 An inter-
esting advertisement appears in the papers of Iowa City in
December, 1843, which it is not altogether improper to quote :.
"Who Wants Bread?
"The proprietors of the Iowa City Manufacturing Com-
pany have the pleasure to inform the Citizens of this com-
munity that they will be ready to receive Wheat and other
grain at their Mill for the purpose of grinding on the first day
of January next.
"S. Foster, Secretary I. C. M. Co.
"Iowa City, Dec. 23, 1843."
A little less than two years from this time the company
advertised its site and power for sale, not public, but private,
by the president and board of directors. The power then avail-
able was capable so it was declared, ' * of propelling from eighty
io one hundred pairs of four and one-half or five foot burrs."
The company owned two acres of land on the east side of the
river and about three-fourths of an acre on the west side. The
dam was constructed of square timber and rock and was ad-
mitted to be one of the best of its kind in this western country,
perhaps the best "west of the Mississippi." One statement
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418 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
here, judging from this time in the history of the vicinity,
sounds large, namely : ' i There is a large body of timber land
extending thirty or forty miles up the Iowa Eiver, from the
dam, which will for all time to come furnish a sufficient quan-
tity of timber for all necessary purposes.' '
Several propositions were at various times before the citi-
zens for bringing water power to the city by canal and dam,
none of which matured. Three routes were mentioned : The
first was on the city plat where the fall was found to be
but eleven inches, insufficient for any practical purpose unless
a dam was raised high enough to be independent of the fall of
the river which would require one ten feet high. The second
route proposed was from a point near the center of section
CORALVILLE DAM
thirty-four, in township eighty, now a part of East Lucas
township. This route, if one will examine any of the maps
used in Chapter VI in this volume, would secure all
the fall in the river for a distance of probably three
miles and require a canal for one mile. The committee ap-
pointed for estimating and surveying these routes reported
on the second as practicable but beyond the capital of the pres-
ent company, since by neat calculation it could not be con-
trolled for less than $60,000. There would need to be a tunnel
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MILLS AND LIVE STOCK 419
of half a mile in length, of at least six by eight feet, and the
balance would average a cut of twenty-five feet.
The third route from Walter Butler's to Iowa City, they
deemed practicable, and within the amount of capital proposed
to be invested by the company. This began on the east side of
the Iowa river opposite Walter Butler's house from which
point it then passed by "a southeasterly direction to the bluff
S18 feet, then following near the course of the bluff by various
courses and distances 3,742 feet to the Eock Point ; then fol-
lowed near the course of the bluff to the terminus of line num-
ber two [this was shown on their plat] at Coles, 4,217 feet;
then changing to a southeastly course to station fifty-nine at
the Eock point above the quarry, 1,980 feet;" from here it
took nearly a straight course, southwest to a station eighty-
three, opposite Dillon's Island, 4,680 feet. It continued from
here to the south line of the city plat and then a short distance
to the river, making the entire distance of the canal projected
18,000 feet, or nearly three and a half miles. This line gave a
fall of seven feet and with the dam proposed a fall of fifteen
feet while the estimated cost for this improvement was be-
yond $17,000. This evidently was the attempt of the Manufac-
turing company to carry out their original plan.
The original dam at Coralville was reconstructed in 1844
and a great feast celebrated the occasion when the gathering
people were fed on the products of the mills then in running
order under the management of the Iowa City Milling and
Manufacturing Company. The corn bread and mush made
from mill ground in their own plant added to the roast turkey,
must have furnished a satisfactory reminder of the great re-
sources of the surrounding country. These mills continued in
the production of flour and its kindred products longer than
any other in the county.
Terrell's dam was established by a special act of the legis-
lature approved December 15, 1840, and has an interesting
history which is now of the past, its work having been recently
completed and its energy transferred. This dam built in 1843
was erected according to the requirements of the act establish-
ing it. In 1845 a carding machine was added to the equipment,
which is understood to be a machine to prepare wool for the
spinning wheel. This was a great advantage, as before the
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420 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
work must be done by hand-carding, a clumsy process at best,
and requiring much time. So far as known the carding ma-
chine of Terrell's mill is the only part of the machinery pre-
served and it must be looked upon with veneration by those
who may remember the white rolls of wool as they were re-
turned to the homes after the completion of the work which
had formerly taken so much drudgery to accomplish.*42
The milling industry of the county would include the steam
Old Terrell Mill
flouring mills established at Oxford at different times, the
first in 1871 or near that time, which were destroyed by the
explosion of the power plant. The year of 1874 following
the misfortune a larger and more substantial mill was erected,
this also being improved again in 1881, until the capacity made
it the most important institution of the kind in the county with
the exception of the Coralville mills. Its grinding capacity
was estimated at one hundred and seventy-five bushels per day,,
which was supplied by the local production of wheat even then
beginning to decline, in favor of corn and stock raising.
The only mill now producing flour in this county is located
in Iowa City, under the firm name of The Hummer Mill Corn-
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MILLS AND LIVE STOCK 421
pany. Its history is brief if considered only since the present
plant was built, in 1906, after the old mill was burned. Many
years ago it was owned by Joseph McConnell and his brother
who sold to Lyman Parsons. It was then owned by dif-
ferent parties when it came into possession of J. W. John-
son by whom it was transferred to W. H. Ohern from whom
it was purchased by the Hummer Company. At the time of
its rebuilding the capacity was doubled, making it one hundred
barrels or more per day. Some grain is brought from the
hard wheat sections of the country for the purpose of improv-
ing the flour. This mill is operated in connection with the
Union bakery and the Hummer Mercantile Company, the lat-
ter of forty years standing.
The growing of corn and live stock has made the milling
industry of less importance so far as the making»of fine flour,
locally, is concerned but it has made a market for much feed
that has come to be demanded by economic farming, and the
breeding of fine stock. The importance of improved stock did
not become a question of much discussion until means of ship-
ping were at hand. Cattle and hogs were raised in almost any
fashion until then and usually in numbers sufficient only for
home consumption and to carry dressed to market to exchange
for a supply of cloth, since these were times when no cash,
could be had for such a product. Men drove many miles to
the Iowa City market and found on arrival that nothing but
dry goods could be had for pork ; the grocery supply was cash.
Personal accounts are available showing that men were unable
to obtain a lodging for the night on account of lacking the cash
to secure it, being compelled to return long distances to their
homes after night.
However when transportation was available and corn be-
came a common crop the "hog" was urged as a profitable ani-
mal for the farmer to put upon his farm. Some of the argu-
ments used in 1859, and possibly a short time before, are still
sound enough.
Darlington and Shepherd began the importation of fine
breeds in the fall of 1859. These came from Chester county,
Pennsylvania, and later the name remained as Chester White,
the special individuals brought to Johnson county being prem-
ium takers only a short time before. Just at that time they
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422 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
took precedence of all hog varieties for economical returns
to the farmer. For some time they were kept on exhibition at
the hardware store of Shepherd, Carson and Company.848
In 1852, so it was stated, Le Grand Byington brought to this
part of the state the first thoroughbred cattle, which importa-
tion included the Heref ords and Shorthorns. Thomas Lindley,
Nicholas Winterstine (or Wintersteen), and T. W. Hempsted
introduced the Durham cattle, while the popular Jersey be-
longed to John Dilatush, and the Devon breed was the property
of Franklin Kimball. However, this was but a small beginning
and time was necessary to develop the sense of appreciation
in those who were engaged in this live stock industry. Now it
has been more than thirty years since the county became a
center of importance for fine cattle and horses, perhaps more
prominent then because of the attention given to large impor-
tations.
The Holstein herd of Thos. B. Wales then held first place
among fine breeds of cattle, since a famous cow belonging to
him had made a world's record in the production of butter,
having a total record from May 13 to June 11, 1883, of ninety-
nine pounds, as reported under affidavit from her keeper and
published in the current news.844 In other products of beef and
milk this well-known herd led all. That such progress was
made in a short period of time may have been due to the en-
couragement of what was termed the Improved Stock Breeders
Association of the county, which endeavored by active means
to secure records like that of Mr. Wales. Information was
sought on subjects of this character, and this may have induced
many farmers to undertake the improvement of their herds, for
there appears to have been a rapid increase in the growers of
fancy stock during this particular period. Among these are
found the names of Brown and Son, of Solon, Geo. Borland,
E. W. Lucas, Cookson and Sons, W. A. Purdy, Samuel Cozine
and Son, H. W. Lathrop, and Thos. McFarlane, who bred the
Shorthorns ; Thos. B. Wales, Jr., Carey R. Smith, who produced
the Holsteins; C. T. Ransom, Levi Robinson, and John Dila-
tush, who raised Jerseys ; Gen. L. F. Ross and Thos. McFarlane,
the Polled cattle ; John N. Coldren bred Ayrshires ; Robert Den-
ton the Heref ords. There were also 0. D. Goodrich's Wapsie
and C. A. Vogt's Hambletoian horses; Mr. Bickford's Poland
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MILLS AND LIVE STOCK
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China hogs; and Wm. E. Pratt's Berkshires; W. A. Smith's
noted Cleveland Bay horses, besides S. H. Thompson's and
Isaac Weber's Merino sheep, not forgetting to mention Abner
Bradley's native grade cattle.845
While a fine stock sale would be an ordinary event in these
times, it was not so common less than thirty years ago when
Carey B. Smith made his sale of Holsteins at Mount Prospect
farm. Commenting on this sale a leading authority of the time
said: "A thrill of regret has gone through every stockman
as he has seen announced that our esteemed friend Carey B.
Terrell's Mill
From a Drawing by Mrs. B. F. Shambaugh
Smith, of Iowa City, is compelled by failing health to offer for
sale his real home-like place and his fine herd of Holsteins.
Every member of the Stock Breeder's Association will receive
this news with great reluctance. . . . The Holstein people
will be again all aroused, for his noted cow 'Mink' — probably
the best cow in the state — will be sold and a number of her
calves." Moreover, the Homestead said editorially: "Mr.
Smith will offer for sale as fine a farm as there is in Iowa, with
ten thousand dollars worth of improvements, and a notable
herd of Holsteins. There will be no better chance in the
United States for years to come to get the choicest stock/1
According to announcement on June 18, 1884, the farm was
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424 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
sold to General Boss for $13,700, and the following day the
fine cattle went at auction for a total sum of $18,100 paid for
fifty-five thoroughbreds. Thos. B. Wales, Jr., secured a large
addition to his already fine herd of Holsteins. For the great
record cow "Mink" alone, Mr. Wales paid $1,275. The auc-
tioneer, Col. John Scott, of Nevada, Iowa, gave a " sketch M of
the cow for the benefit of the bidders, in which he said : ' ' There
are many good and noted cows in the world, but in the nature
of things there can be but one best, and she stands before
you — the best cow in the world. She will yield in fourteen
days an amount of milk greater than her own weight, having
averaged seventy-nine pounds, from which was made three
pounds, nine ounces of butter, and on June 7, [1884], she gave
ninety-six pounds of milk, from which was made four pounds,
eight ounces of butter."846
In 1886 the National Horse Importing Company, a local con-
cern, brought to the county from directly across the sea, a
shipment of English Hackneys, Cleveland Bays, English
Shires, French Draft, or Norman horses. Not many had ever
seen the first breed mentioned, the kind from which the Eng-
lish gentleman selects his roadsters and saddle horses.
These were purchased in their respective countries by Cap-
tain Jordan for the company, and having been collected at
Liverpool, they were shipped by way of Montreal to their des-
tination in Johnson county, where the Smith farm, mentioned
before, became the headquarters of the company. It was at
this time that the following expression was used to describe
the prospects: "This county is now the head center for fine
stock, in the best stock state in the Union." 84T
When these horses were exhibited at the state fair in the fall
of 1887, in competition with the famous stables of the country,
among them the Elwood show horses, of De Kalb, Illinois, the
imported horse "Favorie," which Mr. Jordan brought from
France, took the first prize over fifteen of the finest the coun-
try produced. From here he was taken to Lincoln, Nebraska,
and here the same prize was won in his class and sweepstakes
prize over all ages. Eight horses belonging to the Importing
Company of Johnson county were entered at these fairs, and
they came home with seven first prizes and the one grand prize
mentioned. At the same time the cattle breeders from John-
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MILLS AND LIVE STOCK 425
son county, General Boss and Mr. Wales, with their herds of
Bed Polled and Holsteins, were winning prizes at the state
fairs of Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. That the local fine
stock interests were more than state-wide is indicated by the
prominent places held by citizens of Johnson county in organ-
izations of the stock men of the northwest. Thos. McFarlane
was secretary of the Polled- Angus Association, General Boss
being the president, while Thos. B. Wales, Jr., was secretary
of the Holstein-Friesian Association, and Mr. Bobinson presi-
dent of the Jersey Association, Captain Jordan, of the Horse
Importing Company, was president of the Draft Horse Asso-
ciation, and Mr. Coldren was also connected officially with
several fine stock organizations.
Contrasting the high state reached at this period with that
of the first settlers before stock laws made it necessary or at
all profitable to restrain, or control stock, when "any kind''
of animal would do, it is only necessary to refer to the custom
of marks which were adopted as a means of recognition when
the claims were made for the property that ran loose. This,
custom, it may be mentioned, came from the early laws govern-
ing the Northwest Territory which, in the main, were first
adopted from the older states.
When animals ran about freely in the unf enced areas, from
which they were rounded up occasionally when wanted for use
there was need of some mark of identification. In order to
make this serviceable and not subject to imitation it was placed
on record with the county clerk. Among these are a few worth
reviewing for the purpose of illustrating the "trade marks" of
the forties.
Stephen Maynard secured the exclusive privilege of use of
a mark described as a "square crop off the right ear;" Lem-
uel Humphrey, "a square crop off the left ear and a slit in the
right ear;" Edward Conlen, "a square crop off the left ear
and an under bit out of each ear;" Patrick McAtee, "a slit in
the left ear and an under bit in the same;" Jesse Berry, "a
square crop off of each ear;" Absalom Dollarhide, "a crop and
a slit in the left ear, and an under bit in the right;" Nathaniel
Fellows must have been tender-hearted, for his mark was very
simple, "an under bit out of the right ear;" Martin Harless,
"a crop and an under bit off of each ear;" Abel Stevens, "a
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426 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
swallow fork in the left ear and a crop off the right ;" Edward
T. Williams entered the following mark : "a square crop off the
right ear and two slits in the same ; ' ' Oliver Thomas, ' ' a square
crop off the right ear and three slits in the same ear;" David
Switzer, "a square crop off the left ear and two slits in the
same ear;" David Henry, "a square crop off the left ear and
an under bit in the right ear;" Charles Cartright, "a square
<;rop off of each ear and an under bit in the right ear ; ' ' Arthur
Roan, "a square crop off the left ear." John D. Abel must
have searched the records to find a new combination, "a crop
and a slit in the left ear and an under bit in the right ear;"
John Shoup, "a square crop off the right ear and an under bit
in the left ear." David Crozier recorded the following: "a
square crop off the left ear and a slit in the same and a slit in
the right ear. ' ' John Harless found a new but simple combina-
tion, "an under bit out of each ear;" Henry Earhart used the
one of Abel Stevens with variations, "a swallow fork in the
right ear and an under bit in the left ear. Virgil Lancaster
used * ' a slit in each ear ; ' ' Henry Clements, "a crop off the left
ear and a slit in the right." All these were recorded in 1843
to 1845. John Wilson used "a square crop off the right ear
and a slit in the same ear;" Michael Stagg, "a crop and an
under bit out of each ear;" Michael -McGinnis recorded the
following: "a square crop off the right ear and a slit in the
left;" Nathaniel Scales, "a crop and a slit in each ear and an
under bit out of each ear." No mercy in this instance so far
as the cutting of ears goes, nor the one following: Thomas D.
Jones, ' ' a crop and a slit in the left ear and an upper half crop
and an under bit out of the right ear ; ' ' Sylvanus Johnson is the
last one to complete the record here with "a square crop off of
-each ear and a slit in each." ***
Doubtless there were many other marks than the ones men-
tioned as a matter of record, for men recognized the rights of
property owners to the exclusive use of a brand if notice was
duly given. This might lead to the imitation among the un-
scrupulous, and doubtless did cause some trouble before any
law became effective to prevent stock from running at large.
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CHAPTER XXV
Early Industries and the County Fair
/TVHE "machine made" has not all been conducive to added
-* social welfare. The comforts of the ' ' home-made ' ' were not
exaggerated when the good butter and cheese of the early
settler was placed upon the market, for it was not "doctored"
in any patent way. It has been said that the produce of the
homes of the county in cheese and butter was shipped to far
distant markets, the cheese unboxed, and the butter "dry
packed in rolls," and according to the statement of the ship-
pers, John Powell and C. H. Buck, they never lost a cheese or
roll of butter in the transit.
Weaving and spinning were found in almost every home,,
except, as one has said, * * in the homes of certain Iowa City peo-
ple and the cabins of the bachelors, while the needy neighbor
was assisted by the more fortunate friend. J ' In 1840 Susan Den-
nison was weaving cloth for herself and her neighbor's family.
A little later, Fanny Douglass, Sarah Douglass, and their sis-
ter, Mrs. Eliza Marvin, having grown the flax, dressed, spun
and wove it into a fine article of linen cloth. Not only this
but jeans and linsey-woolsey, which is cloth made from the
mixing of linen and wool, were made by these women at their
homes in Oxford township. Cloth was woven in the north-
eastern part of the county, in the present limits of Cedar town-
ship, in 1839, by Mrs. S. B. Trotter, while in the southeastern
part, Mrs. Elizabeth Walker and Miss Mary Stover were en-
gaged in the same occupation. Mrs. Polly Hudson set the loom
to work in the neighborhood now comprised in Jefferson town-
ship, while far to the south of her was the industrious house-
hold of Mrs. Seahorn in Liberty township.
The industrial pursuits of the white man may be said to
have begun with the building of the first cabins, and possibly
the preparations for gathering the material from which it was
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428 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
necessary to manufacture a homely harness for the hitching of
the horses of Clark and Myers, that they might collect the
material for their cabins on the prospective farms. It may
be said that on the fourth day after the arrival of these two
settlers, Johnson county, Wisconsin territory, had two houses
-and two farms under improvement. These houses were eight
feet wide, ten feet long, and four feet high, constructed of poles
And roofed with long slough grass. The joint value according
to the estimate of the owners did not exceed four dollars and
u half, but like many men since then, they were doing this to
follow out the requirements of claimants who wished to have
some signs of possession. When they returned from Indiana
the following spring, 1837, they put the soil in order for the
first crop of corn, which as many know, must be planted on the
sod by cutting a gash with an ax in every third furrow and
dropping the corn in the opening, which was closed usually by
the pressure of the foot upon the sod as the worker moved on
to the next "hill." During the spring they improved their
•cabins in adding clapboard roofs, chimneys and doors that had
been part of the original plan. In the summer following, Gil-
l)ert built a trading house of his own and in doing so employed
a large part of the entire industrial force of the community,
which had been increased by the arrival of a number of other
families from Indiana. This house wad located on the south
jialf of section thirty-five in what is now East Lucas township
and then just over the line of the Black Hawk Purchase in the
Indian country. (See Map B). This was the fifth house built
in the county, which became the commercial center for a num-
ber of years, and it is described as of some "magnificence"
when compared to the other buildings of the time. The walls
were twelve feet high and the rooms twenty feet square, with
a space or court between them probably twenty feet in extent,
all under the same roof, which was built in the usual log cabin
way as described elsewhere. The floors, doors, and furniture
were all of split material and no hammer or nail was used in
the construction.
The trading houses of the territory were established for the
purpose of securing the furs of the Indians, and the competi-
tion at the time of the settlement of the new land purchases
became intense. In this contest the one who made the Indian
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EARLY INDUSTRIES AND COUNTY FAIR 429
camp first usually gat the plunder if his stock of exchange was
of the right kind. It is said that the last full shipment of furs
from the county took place in 1838, when Chase shipped about
eleven thousand dollars' worth to St. Louis by flat boat.
After the cabins were built the next thought of the pioneers
was the fences about their farms, for it must be remembered
that they came from a state where the farms were fenced with
the old fashioned "worm fence,' ' in which it required about
sixty-four hundrel rails to fence the first forty acres. With
the cutting of the best trees to make the rails and also to feed
the big fireplaces, one may see why the timber of streams dis-
appeared so fast in the beginning, and the thought of its never
failing was expressed then in the statement of an observer who
was here before much had been cut.849
Since there was no money to buy the clothing necessary for
the families that followed the single men the "home manufac-
ture" was the only resource left. One has said that the "hap-
piest time of the settlers was when all bore the same hardships
in the home life and the social distinctions were not marked
by any differences in the ability to provide for the physical
needs, and they were not uncultivated as some may have
thought.' J It is said that during the winter of 1838-9 there
were nine hand looms built in the county, built entirely of wood
with the axe, drawing knife, and saw. Spinning wheels and reels
were necessary and readily prepared, while the primitive mill
was a mortar made by burning out the end of a log and using a
smooth stone or the king bolt of the wagon for a pestle. The
necessity led to the invention which sharpened the wits of the
man who came next to nature in a much better fashion than if
he had been equipped with the modern tools of industry. Left
to his own resources he had to learn the process for himself
and it was forever after known to him. He made his ox yoke,
his shovel plow from wood, and no iron worker was yet on the
grounds to assist him in perfecting his apparatus. The first
iron plows brought to the settlement were made of cast iron
by Jethro Wood, of New York, and while expensive for the
time, they would not scour in this soil, as the ploughman knows.
In the emergencies of the settler he had to contend with the
high rates of interest of the "money lender' ' who was always
on hand to help if he could thereby get a strong grip on the
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430 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
future property of the farmer or mechanic. These rates were
extreme, twenty-five to fifty per cent being demanded for the
loan. The scarcity of money and the necessity of having it in
some instances made it possible to secure the rate and it was
"shouldered cheerfully" by the men who felt the future was
one of great prospect.
The industrious pioneer was not always so busy that he
could not find time for new undertakings, and besides he was
always expecting something to occur to make his work more
profitable. The introduction of machinery soon set a new pace
to the agricultural process, the reaper, the thresher, the mower,
within the decade from 1844 to 1854 came into use in the
county, having been secured by the enterprise of those men
who kept a sharp lookout for the next improvement.
An old settler of an adjoining county who began farming
operations in Iowa in 1837, spoke of ' i stocking his plow. J ' He
was ninety-seven years of age when he told this and had seen
all the improvements in agricultural machinery from that time
to the day of his death in January, 1911. By "stocking his
plow" he meant putting the wood and iron together. He
brought his irons along from Bloomington, he said, and then
borrowed tools of his neighbor to put the plow together, or to
' i stock it, ' ' that he might commence his breaking. Some years
later, about 1844, plows ready made were advertised and ex-
hibited at local fairs where there were any. Among these there
appears the following, setting forth the qualities of a certain
implement of the day, called the ' * Carey plough. ' ' Its descrip-
tion includes this: "The entire surface is ground smooth.
The mould board is made of wrought iron, the shear of steel —
which is attached to the mould board by three small bolts so
that it is easily taken off by means of the clevis pin, to be re-
paired by a new one. The shape of the mould board is made
on truly scientific principles so that it scours perfectly bright
in any soil, which in truth is the great desideratum in this
country, as it therefore enables a team to accomplish at least
one-third more in a day, with far greater ease, and in much
better manner than with one that will not scour." And con-
tinuing the inducement to buy: "We have reduced the price
at retail to $9.75 for the two-horse plough with iron straps for
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EARLY INDUSTRIES AND COUNTY FAIR 431
the beams, and $7.75 for the one-horse plough. A liberal dis-
count made to those who purchase by the dozen.' '
July, 1866, marks the date of the field trial of the Marsh
harvester, upon its introduction to the farmers of Johnson
county. One who witnessed the test described it. This was
binding on a machine by two men instead of the accustomed
way of binding on the ground behind a reaper. The demon-
strator showed conclusively that two men could do the work of
four, and he did the entire binding alone in order to prove his
proposition. The man who harvested in that way knows now
that in heavy grain it was all two men could do to handle the
grain from an ordinary Marsh harvester. The trial of the
machine took place on the farm of Mr. Mygatt, just west of the
Clark mills, and with a machine that had been sold to Mr.
Scales. Probably there are readers who never saw such a
machine, therefore one might say briefly that it was in all re-
spects like a self-binder excepting the grain trough and the
binding tables for two men.
During the same month a lively contest was held between
the Champion and the McCormick mowing machines, in which
the former seemed to have the advantage. This contest took
place on the farm of Francis Barnes, and R. L. Dunlap was the
agent in this vicinity for the winning machine.
Strictly speaking all the industries previously mentioned
were agricultural and the chief efforts of the county were to
improve its agricultural resources, to further which all the
organizations of the day were used. The first agricultural so-
ciety had its inception in a meeting held in April, 1853, when
a statement was issued setting forth the intentions in the name
of the Johnson County Agricultural and Mechanical Society.
The names attached to this announcement are here given : S. H.
Bonham, Easton Morris, J. M. Coleman, John McCaddon, W.
II. White, W. H. Woods, Edward Connelly, LeGrand Byington,
Ezekiel Clark, Joseph Beuter, E. W. Lucas, F. H. Lee, and
Robert Walker. It is evident some were chosen to office who
were not present, for Samuel H. McCrory was made one of the
vice-presidents, while Elisha Pearson, James Cavanagh, Rich-
ard Burge, and I. V. Dennis were members of the executive
committee. The June meeting following this was somewhat
discouraging, for no quorum appeared after the second call,
28
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432 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
whereupon the ones present did not wait for authority but pro-
ceeded to make a program for the fall meeting to be held in
October, having a cash balance in the treasury of $9.80 to start
the show. They believed in advertising, and as no admission
was charged, the crowd came from far and near. Some say as
high as five thousand people saw the exhibit as given on the
Old Capitol square, the present University campus. While the
ordinary products of the farm of the present were on exhi-
bition, many things long since forgotten made the days of spe-
cial interest to the present generation. One may understand
from this the great part played by the home industry in the
useful tools, now so abundant. There were wagons built by
John Gordon. He also had ox yokes and grain cradles of his
own manufacture ; there were wagons and sleds by Watkins ;
saddles for the California travel made by Eli Myers and
Benjamin Horner; plows, shoes, and butcher knives from the
shop of Henry Usher; ox shoes, shovel, and tongs, from the
forge of Anthony Cole. The best bedstead came from the hand
of Henry Wieneke ; rolls of wool ready for the spinning wheel
and domestic dressed flax; fine and coarse linen, and heavy
woolen goods for the wear of men.
Under the shade of the oak trees in the northeast corner of
the grounds was found the fine stock of the county, consisting
then of no standard breed of any sort. What a contrast to
the present fine showing of the county on such occasions. In
closing this first county fair Mr. Byington said: " Ladies and
Gentlemen, the first Johnson County Fair, which has been
conducted by a good deal of eclat, and a good deal of squeeze,
is now closed.7 9 When the committee figured up they found
the expenses to be $372 and their receipts $380, the balance of
$8 being the amount to commence the preparations for the fol-
lowing year, which they did, publishing the premium list in
June, 1854. The fair was held at the same place in September
of that year, when the receipts fell short of the expenditures
by twenty-two dollars, which sum was advanced by the treas-
urer, Mr. Byington. Again no admission fee had been charged
for the session. However, an appeal was made to the state
legislature for assistance in continuing the organization, and
in 1855 the petition was granted, an act having been passed
granting one-third of the poll tax in the county to the fair asso-
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EARLY INDUSTRIES AND COUNTY FAIR 433
ciation on an order from the county judge, as the judge then
was the main part of the county government. This sum must
be spent in the "improvement of agriculture and the mechanic
arts in the county," and to be sure that this was done the fair
authorities were required to offer premiums equal to the
amount paid from the county treasury and a copy of the preni-
ium list must be left with the county judge. If the fair should
fail to be held the money was also to be retained by the county
until the conditions were complied with.850
Accordingly, the fair of 1855 was held as usual on the Old
Capitol grounds and for the first time in the history of the
county there were thoroughbred Durham, Devon, and Here-
ford cattle exhibited by the owners. Once more the receipts
did not quite pay the bills and the same treasurer, Mr. Bying-
ton, advanced the difference, which happened to be $22 as be-
fore. In 1856 the show was repeated in the same manner but
with a large increase in prizes, four hundred and twenty-three
being offered. This time the balance was on the right side to
the amount of $27. The society had now purchased twenty-
five acres of ground below town on the west side of the river
and by the year 1859 was in debt $800.
When the Civil War came on other subjects occupied the
thoughts of men than those of new grains, improved breeds of
stock, and fancy pantry stores, for the fair grounds were held
by the Tenth infantry in 1861, and Camp Fremont was there,
so that no county fair was held, and none was held in 1862
and 1863. It had happened that the State Fair was held on
these grounds in 1860, and after the soldiers had gone it was
held here again. However, the society continued to succeed
with the strictly agricultural show until the grounds were paid
for, when this tract was sold and the larger area purchased in
East Lucas township where the present county fair is held.
The history of the fair ground tract as it is at the present
time has something of more than ordinary interest as it is
given by the pioneer who understands all the ins and outs of
the transactions : "In 1839 William Sturgis made claim to the
southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section eleven
in the congressional township seventy nine, range six west,
which has since become Iowa City township, and in 1891, East
Lucas, which is the land upon which the county fair grounds
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434 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
are located. In July, 1840, Mr. Sturgis sold his claim to Sam-
uel H. McCrory and Col. S. C. Trowbridge, for forty dollars
and they in turn on the same date, July 6, sold it to William
Hamilton for seventy-five dollars, so that one may conclude
that land speculation is no new thing and bargains were looked
for well in advance of the present. It had happened that pre-
vious to this, Matthew Brown had bought the forty lying north
of the fair grounds and had built a cabin on the site of the
present residence of J. J. Metzgar. He sold to James Trimble
in 1841 the forty acres for one hundred dollars, and Trimble in
turn sold to Sturgis, who then sold his forty and one north of
it to Mr. Hamilton for one hundred and forty-five dollars, thus
giving Hamilton the three forties in a row. He built a small
addition to the Brown cabin and broke eighty acres, including
the land now known as the fair grounds. Here the two daugh-
tres of Hamilton were born, one of whom, it is said, by mar-
riage with Sir Sidney Waterlow, ex-mayor of London, became
Lady Waterlow. Hamilton sold the forty included in the fair
grounds to Clark and Borland, who conducted a nursery there
for several years. The remainder of the Hamilton acreage
went to James H. Gower, and its history from this time is very
strange. He disposed of it to an order of nuns who had been
expelled from the Prussian government, and these charitably
inclined people erected roomy buildings for the accommoda-
tion of orphans, and the aged. The institution prospered for
some time under the efficient management of Rev. Father
Emonds, but failing to meet the obligations against the prop-
erty the nuns were scattered by the foreclosure of the mort-
gage, when the property reverted to Mr. Gower. It then
returned to its first use, that of elementary agriculture, finally
rounding out its history as a dairy farm and falling into the
hands of the present owner from that of the estate of James H.
Gower, who spent his last years in Kansas, far removed from
the scenes of the old farm." 851
Reference was made to the Iowa State Fair of 1860, held in
Iowa City on the old grounds, which was probably among the
largest gatherings in its day, since ten thousand people were
estimated to have been in attendance. Freight was carried
free by the railroad, and passengers were given half fare, while
eighteen hotels advertised accommodations for visitors. The
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EARLY INDUSTRIES AND COUNTY FAIR 435
Clinton House led the list, which included the Fyffe, Crummy,
Summit, Coleman, Hutchinson, American, Pennsylvania, Hen-
ry, Burlington, The Mansion House, Western, Jefferson, Ave-
nue, Baltimore, Union, and Railroad Houses, and the City
Hotel.
Once more the local interests were prominent, since the fine
siock exhibited from Johnson county was greater than from
any other. The "Chester White* ' pigs of Shepherd and Dar-
lington had their share of the prizes, and it was hoped "that
they would drive out of existence the Land Pikes, Prairie
Rooters, and Shadows, then commonly bred."
In the early days when hogs were not so plentiful nor so
well bred, there was a packing house in the county that was
built, owned, and run by John Powell, a merchant and factor
who wrought great results out of small opportunities offered
by the frontier commerce. His pork house stood not far from
the site of the Washington House, on the west side of the Uni-
versity campus, then the Capitol Square, and in 1851 it was
seen there, its foundations in the waters of the great flood and
its walls a lonely sentinel over the waste which stretched from
the hills on Clear creek west of the Rock Island track to the
west line of the campus, and again from the line of hills which
close upon the river at Richard Sanders's clear across the
ridge of General Morris's * Tulip Hill' farm.
In that old house Mr. Powell bulked pork in the winter
time, made from hogs that were rail splitters with lots of lean,
and in the spring the cured meat was sent to St. Louis on flat-
boats which were poled down the river, there to be exchanged
for merchandise that could be brought up by steam boat, and
it was said that this plan made the great event of the year the
departure of the fleet of flatboats and the arrival of the steam-
er, with all its accompanying features of river life that made
"land lubbers" curious and drew crowds to see and hear al-
most a new world and a new kind of language.
When the railway came the packing house lost its prestige,
for the live swine were whirled away to Chicago to be butchered
in great houses that seemed never to be satisfied. In 1880 and
the year following business men began to think seriously of
keeping this industry at home and they waited for some man
with money and daring to come into the county to establish
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436 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
this business. Finally that father of industries, Ezekiel Clark,
concluded that the time was ripe for a packing establishment.
The oat meal mill had at that time caused a great shipment of
that cereal to come in this direction. The paper mill of Mr.
Close had given straw a greater value, while his oil mill had
caused many acres to be sown to flax. Again, the alcohol and
glucose works had made a strong market for corn. Therefore,
all that seemed necessary to complete the series was a packing
house to care for the product that was going to the Chicago
market and returning in the form of cured meats after double
transportation.
Mr. Clark began the enterprise and he was seconded by
Lyman Parsons and M. W. Davis. The stock was taken and
the building commenced in 1880. On Saturday, May 14, 1881r
it was ready for operation with a capacity of 500 hogs daily.
Forty acres of land belonged to the packing house grounds
along the line of road that was then known as the B., C. R. & N,
now a part of the Rock Island system.852
kV7 T,
Hip
femm^m
I ""* ~^*~^ £^Z "^
Old Store Building, Coralville
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CHAPTEE XXVI
The Enlarged Commercial Outlook
A CTIVITY in the interests of the manufactures of Iowa
■** City began in 1858 by the appointment of a general com-
mittee at a meeting of citizens held at the Clinton House, on
October 22 of that ye&r. This appears to be the forerunner
of the present commercial organization of the city. Among
the committee "to promote manufactures7 ' are the well-known
names of James H. Gower, W. L. Morris, Morgan Reno, Thos.
J. Cox, Theodore Sanxay, Samuel Workman, Silas Foster,
Geo. S. Hampton, J. C. Culbertson, H. D. Downey, Walter Ter-
rell, LeGrand Byington, and C. H. Berryhill.
This occurred soon after the commercial interests were
stirred by the means of steam transportation, and when the
city was the terminus of the Rock Island railroad. Communi-
cation, however, by any other means than mail was yet un-
known, although ten years before the river towns of Burling-
ton, Bloomington [Muscatine], and Davenport were making
vigorous efforts to secure a telegraph line, which, it was
earnestly hoped, would finally reach Johnson county. Many
suggestions were forthcoming regarding the feasibility of se-
curing this added convenience, long before the railroad was
built, yet it does not appear that any actual attempt was made
to construct a telegraph line until long after the railway had
passed beyond Iowa City and the boundaries of the county.
Until the year 1866, the new company, the Rock Island, had
not secured such a service. At this time a proposition was
made by a company called the Illinois and Mississippi Tele-
graph Company, to construct a line to Iowa City. The cash
required from the city itself was $2,000, three-fourths of which
must be an outright gift to the company. No one seemed ready
to fall into harmony with this suggestion, because it was hoped
the railroad company, being one of sufficient force, would be
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438 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
able to construct a line without help from the public. The
policy of the road through the Cedar Rapids, the Iowa and
Nebraska then, now the Northwestern line, was commended to
the Rock Island, since the telegraph line of the Iowa and Ne-
braska followed the road as fast as constructed.
The next statement regarding the telegraph to Iowa City
is of the first message from the place. It was Tuesday night,
January 8, 1867, that the first message went out to Davenport
This message was more than of one item. A sad accident had
occurred and an employee was killed by a train, yet the
operator wanted to tell all the news, so he added something of
the weather. The office was located in the freight depot of the
time and was said to have had modern equipment and a skilled
operator.858
This is the message, which is given literally :
"Iowa City, Jan. 8, 1867.
"To the Davenport Gazette.
"A sad accident occurred here this morning. Mr. Richard
Kesner, switchman at this place, while coupling cars his foot
caught in the frog and he could not extricate it before the train
passed over him, cutting off both his legs and body mangled,
from which injuries he died after three hours of intense suf-
fering. It is snowing hard here."
The Great Western Telegraph Company appeared in this
territory in 1869, through its representative proposing a line
in competition with the one along the railroad already in
operation and with an office in the city. Some statements if
made now would sound somewhat strange, since the line was
to be "far superior to the old one," now about two years old,
the wire being "a new patented one of- far greater conducting
power and coated with a non-conductor which will protect it
from the atmospheric changes.' ' The company was building
from California eastward and the entire line was to be com-
pleted soon. Of course stock in the enterprise was for sale.
The rapid improvement in transportation and means of
communication doubtless had its effect upon the increase in
forms of production, since many new industries were begun
and old ones were revived.
Residents of the county in 1856 will remember a little old
shanty on Maiden Lane near Ralston 's creek, where M. T.
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THE ENLARGED COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK 439
Close was at work making candles. This was a success in a
small way, although there was a limited capital. In the
fall of 1857 he added the manufacture of lard oil and here mis-
fortune to others was gold to him, for waste products of the
county were bought from farmers and manufactured into oil
and soap of fine quality. It was in 1861 that he built the east
wing of his brick building and began the manufacture of lin-
seed oil, which in consequence of the Civil War, was very
scarce and valuable. On account of this a large farming pat-
ronage grew up in order to supply the flax seed necessary in
the oil industry. In 1863 he built the remainder of the factory
as it finally was known. All of this grew out of the small
shanty where he commenced the manufacture of candles. Nine
barrels of oil per day was the output in 1865, which was worth
then $65 per barrel, besides the by products of oil meal, oil
cake, soap and candles, for which all the capital grew out of
the business by industrious management. Later in life it is
well known that the prosperous owner was not a stranger to
benevolent activities as one may learn in the contributions to
the needs of the Civil War dependents at home.
Another of the elementary industrial plants is thus de-
scribed :
"Away back in 1856 Jared Dondore and L. M. Rice (they
called him 'Dan'), then active young men, leased the corner
of College and Dubuque streets of John R. Van Fleet and began
for themselves, Dondore in building wagons, and Rice as black-
smith. Four or five years later ' Jerry ' bought from Col. E. W.
Lucas the twenty feet south of his corner and added that to
his wagon shop. Business prospered and in 1871 he bought
the corner from Van Fleet. 'Jerry' did lots of business in the
4 tumble down shop,' before wagons were sold in car lots by
big factories, before the days when a 'front axe' was cut in a
machine and a wheel painted by dropping it into a vat of
paint.
"Why, Dondore built over eight hundred wagons, one hun-
dred and fifty spring wagons, and some buggies and carriages ;
eight or ten men worked in the wagon shop alone. But the
factory drove him out of business, and in 1885 the last 'Don-
dore wagon' was built.' '
The old wagon maker moved into rooms in the old Hutchin-
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440 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
son House, where he filed saws and took his ease, possessing
a competence, and his new location was also historic, being the
old State House built by Walter Butler, and where the first
legislature met in Iowa City, December 6, 1841. When its
grandeur was eclipsed, wheels were put under it, and after its
career as a hotel had dimmed, it was put to many and strange
uses as it was said, "far removed from the eloquence of
statesmen."854
It was during these days that the "Third Ward Store7 '
quoted the best calico at twenty cents per yard, ginghams at
twenty-eight cents, while the best thread was ten cents per
spool, home-made pantaloons two and one-half to four
dollars a pair, good paper collars twenty cents a box, all
wool flannels thirty-five to sixty-five cents per yard, chil-
dren's wool hose twelve and one-half to twenty cents a pair,
men's fine shoes three dollars a pair, fine calf boots six dollars
and a half, eight pounds of light brown sugar one dollar, six
and one-half pounds of white coffee sugar for one dollar, and
six pounds of the best white sugar for one dollar. The best
kerosene oil was then seventy cents a gallon, good flour
two dollars and a half a hundred, six bars of soap cost forty-
five cents, and brooms were twenty cents apiece. One could
procure seven pounds of rice for one dollar. A full line of
linen coats and pants for farmers ' wear was kept in stock,
while the best and cheapest lot of l i shakers ' } in town was found
here, at the store of "Wilde & Bro." It is further noted that
the best Japan tea cost two dollars and twenty cents per pound,
and we may conclude that it must have been real tea in those
days and used only on state occasions. Salt was quoted at
three dollars and forty cents per barrel or seventy-five cents
a bushel.855
The pioneer merchant or industrial manager did many
things on his own account, and traces of his helpfulness yet
remain, so that more than ordinary interest attaches to the
first furniture store opened in the community kept by Charles
Gaymon, who made the chairs to furnish the legislative halls of
the Old Capitol. One of these pieces of "home-made' ' furniture
may be seen doing service in the store of M. W. DaVis on Wash-
ington street. So long as these chairs are preserved the name
of ' ' Gaymon "will be remembered. He removed from the city
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THE ENLAEGED COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK 441
in 1856, living for many years on the road toward Solon, but
he spent his closing years once more in Iowa City.
Jacob Eicord began as a merchant here in 1840, and for
many years was identified with such interests, but was not
unmindful of public duty, since he served as postmaster for
six years and mayor for four, and while chairman of the finance
committee of the city council, was instrumental in disposing
of the great railroad debt borne by the corporation.
1 ' Sanxay and Murray" was the firm name of one of the very
first mercantile houses in the county. Theodore Sanxay came
here at twenty-nine years of age, and bringing with him a
stock of goods opened a store at once. In partnership with
Malcolm Murray he built a brick building on Iowa avenue. The
partnership was dissolved in 1843, when Mr. Sanxay continued
the business, acquiring the property so long known as the
Sanxay corner. For more than half a century he was a citizen
of the county, and for forty years of that time actively en-
gaged in business, being known to every old settler.
"Pioneer Book Store, 117 Washington street," was the sug-
gestive name of the oldest business of the kind in the city for
a period of fifty years. William Lee conducted it for twenty
years, from 1851 to 1871. James Lee succeeded him and con-
tinued without any change in name until 1888, when death
caused another Lee to undertake the business, and until 1901
Margaret Lee was interested there. In that year another Lee
came into possession and while using the same familiar name,.
was said to have been no kin of the former Lee family, although
familiar with the book business. A name unchanged in a bus-
iness house for a period of fifty years with so many different
proprietors is not common in a country as new as ours.
"January 1, 1858, M. W. Davis, the druggist, took posses-
sion of the building in which he is now located. He has occu-
pied this site ever since, hence his record is perhaps unsur-
passed in the state, and in the half century of business he has
seen great changes wrought in the city. Moreover, the descrip-
tion which Mr. Davis gives of Iowa City in 1857 is very
interesting and shows how conditions are altered, and how
primitive in a sense were the old methods.
Between the Metropolitan block, the building in which Mr.
Davis is now located, and the Johnson County Bank corner
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442 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
there were nothing but frame buildings and shacks, this con-
dition applying to the other side of the street as well. East of
the Metropolitan block there were other frame structures, but
where Maresh Bros.' establishment now stands there was a
long building that reached to the alley, in which the firm of
Daniels & Co. was located. This was regarded as out of the
business part of the city. Ten or twelve teams daily came into
the city from points all around within a radius of 150 miles
and loaded up with dry goods and provisions from the Daniels
store. It must be remembered that this was the terminus then
of the Rock Island railroad and as a consequence Iowa City
had a very large trade from all the outlying districts. All
communication with the north, west and south was made by
stage coach, and the Western Stage company had its barns
and shops located on Jefferson street in block twenty-five. A
dozen stage coaches were to be seen there at a time and the
stages carried mail, passengers, and express. Dubuque street
had some business buildings, including the Republican office,
but was mostly devoted to residences. Mr. Davis has been in
business longer than this record indicates, for he moved to his
present location from the Brossart building on Clinton street,
half way between Washington street and Iowa avenue. On the
third floor of the Metropolitan building was a dance hall and
place of assembly, and many exciting tales are told of the en-
counters between copperheads and federal supporters during
the strenuous days of the war.
A further illustration of industrial changes is found in the
prices for farm products and the ability to care for large ship-
ments as compared to the time when men came many miles to
the city market with dressed pork only to find the price $1.50
per hundred, and that in barter of a given kind. But in 1859
it was reported that "thirty thousand hogs were bought in
the street at $10 per head."
Although the assembly of 1858 had amended the game law
in this state so that some protection was given to the native
birds and beasts of Iowa, whereby it was made unlawful for
any person to "kill, sell, purchase or have in his possession
any deer, elk, wild turkey, prairie chicken, pheasant, or quail,' '
after a certain time of year, it was noticeable that the firm of
Luse and Brother, of Iowa City, up to December 22, 1858,
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THE ENLAEGED COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK 443
during the autumn hunting season, paid out for game shipped
out of the county more than $1,300. 'they had then shipped 767
dozens of quail besides a few tons of prairie chickens and,
more than this, they were not the only dealers in game in this
market. The comment was in the interests of , the farmer
" whose game crop yielded him quite a harvest of revenue
whereby he would have a fuller purse with which to throw off
the burden of taxation."
Two or three years later prairie chickens were selling in the
home market at $3.25 per dozen, and quails at $1.50, during the
Christmas season. Domestic chickens at the same time
brought only seventy-five cents per dozen, while "nice turkeys,
were going at four and five cents per pound,"
In the early part of 1860 more than 67,000 bushels of corn,
14,000 bushels of oats, and 10,000 bushels of wheat were stored
in Iowa City awaiting shipment. From October 1, 1859, to
February 1, 1860, there had been received for shipment or
storage 88,000 bushels of corn, 23,000 bushels of oats, and 125,-
000 bushels of wheat, so that it is concluded that most of the
wheat had been forwarded and the corn in greater part held.
tn February, 1860, more than 600 tons of baled hay were stored
for shipment856
A farm in 1845 was considered the highest type of good
property. In the words of one who looked from this point of
view : * * I know of nothing in the whole round of physical ob-
jects more beautiful and ravishing to the eye than an Iowa
farm, on whose green sward may be seen the fine neighing
steed, the lowing kine, and the bleating lambs. " Doubtless
adjectives to describe the present farm would be entirely in-
adequate if the writer lived today.
Yet when that was written destructive fires were sweeping
over the open prairie, threatening everything on the "fine
farms" with annihilation. Smoke filled the atmosphere and
night was made luminous with the glare of the burning grass
which was so abundant. Fifty or more men from the town hur-
ried to the assistance of their friends, and to the protection of
the stacks of hay and grain, now at the mercy of the flames.
Frequently this agent of man, when under control, was never
subdued and was allowed to "burn out."
In proof of the "good property" mentioned by the en-
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444 HISTOBY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
thusiast above, the transfers of " real estate' ' for March, 1863,
may be cited in two instances : Clinton De Forest sold his farm
of almost 200 acres for $2,200, and another of a quarter section
belonging to Jesse Higbee brought $2,000. These were pro-
nounced good prices during war times. However, the farm of
Warner Spurrier of 367 acres was sold in 1869 for thirty-five
•dollars per acre.
7
£*
■
One op the Early Marriage Licenses issued in Johnson County
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CHAPTER XXVII
The Bcmks of the County
/^LOSELY allied to the growing trade and the increased
^-^ commercial transactions were the institutions organized
lo facilitate exchange. Like all new settlements the period of
barter and real money preceded the time of commercial paper,
if we do not consider the "county order' ' as of that nature,
and it could hardly be called by that name. It is true that men
made it a business to purchase the "county order," knowing
that it would some time come to par value. As an illustration
of the profit in such an investment it may be mentioned that a
bill was paid for oak lumber purchased from Henry Felkner,
which on the face of the orders amounted to $40, but in the
transaction was valued at seventy-five cents on the dollar. The
orders issued to James Trimble in payment for county build-
ings were always heavily discounted.857
However, banks soon became a necessity, and since their
establishment people have come to understand their good of-
fices in exchange and the old opposition of early days has en-
tirely disappeared.
After the repeal of the charter of the bank at Dubuque there
were no banks in Iowa from 1845 until 1858. Many shifts were
made to find means of exchange when money was scarce and
doubtful as to its value even if it could be had for produce.
Towns and companies issued a "promise to pay" called
" scrip,' ' which might be good and again it might not. Iowa
City, as well as the Western Stage Company, issued the stuff,
and a sample of it may be seen today if one cares to examine
it in the rooms of The State Historical Society.
In 1856 it is said that two gentlemen interested in the great
number of bank bills in circulation, which were not, of course,
of Iowa banks, took the trouble to follow up the exchanges and
found passing as money the bills of more than three hundred
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Churches of Iowa City
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THE BANKS OF THE COUNTY 447
banks with six kinds of local " scrip or orders/ ' and two-thirds
of the bank bills were below par. Much has been said and
written of i i Florence money ' ' in the current papers of the dates
when Iowa had no banks and after Nebraska became a state.
Florence was a town in that state and the bank of issue at
Florence was owned and operated by Iowa men, Cook and Sar-
gent being members of that firm and also bankers of Daven-
port and of Iowa City later, and they were the projectors of
numerous town sites in the state, notably on the roads built on
from Davenport, or in prospect. The firm of Cook, Sargent
and Downey erected the building on the corner of Washington
and Clinton now occupied by the Johnson County Savings
Bank, doing a large business here for a number of years, when
one morning, just before Christmas in 1859, the announcement
was made on the closed doors that the institution had tempo-
rarily suspended operations. This was the first bank in Iowa
City. A second was established soon after by Reno and Cul-
bertson, located a few doors east of the Whetstone corner, at
the time headed by Morgan Eeno, once Treasurer of State. A
third bank was established by James H. Gower and Brothers,
and was located on the corner of Clinton and Washington,
where the Morton shoe store is at present, and opposite the
Cook, Sargent and Downey concern.
In 1858 the legislature allowed the people to vote on a gen-
eral banking law and on the proposition to establish a state
bank, both of which were adopted by the vote, resulting in the
State Bank with eight branches, one of them, managed by
Ezekiel Clark, being located in Iowa City. Later the branches
were increased to fifteen, and until the national banking law
went into effect in 1863, they continued to serve the people.
Then the branch of the State Bank in Iowa City became, by
reorganization, the Iowa City National Bank, since the State
Bank and all its branches ceased to do business. After a few
years under this title the name was once more changed and
then it became known as the Iowa City State Bank. In the
meantime the First National Bank was organized, and the next
in order was the Johnson County Savings Bank.
It is said that the Iowa City National Bank became a state
bank at the time because there was more profit in disposing of
the bonds held to secure circulation, when the government be-
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448 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
gan taking them up, than in continuing the notes in circulation.
The bank simply ceased as a national bank and organized
under state laws.
The first national bank in Iowa City was authorized July 1,
1863. It opened for business on July 13, but this happened on
Monday so no misfortune came to it. The banking house for-
merly occupied by Hubbard and Goodrich was engaged for the
new corporation. In order to make its business plans clear to
.the public and to give some understanding of the character
of the institution, the capital and stockholders, and other in-
formation of public importance, the officers placed before the
people the facts below : The capital of fifty thousand dollars
was subscribed in three days and was held by twenty-seven
stockholders. Its first officers were, president, W. B. Daniels;
vice-president, John Doggett ; cashier, W. H. Hubbard ; assist-
ant cashier, T. F. Goodrich; directors, the officers mentioned
and Gh H. Collins, E. P. Coman, C. T. Ransom. This of course
was a bank of issue and something new to the community.
The organization was fully explained, how the notes of circu-
lation were obtained, and how they were secured. That was
under the old regulation of one hundred dollars in bonds for
ninety dollars of circulation, and the report expressly mentions
this fact, "one dollar and eleven cents for each dollar of circu-
lation/J The bill holder was made to understand that he was
effectually protected. Uniform currency was much appre-
ciated since the mixed-money state of affairs was still fresh in
the memories of the business man of the time. Wild-cat bank-
ing was familiar enough to the commercial world and the new
plan of circulating medium that would be current in every
state and known and understood by all parties and institutions
would be indeed a great blessing to all concerned. There was
no discussion of its feasibility, for it was approved as the wise
provision of the secretary of the treasury and the previous
Congress. There was no doubt of the financial stability of the
home institution.
The first installment of the bank notes came from Washing-
ton early in 1864, and they were paid out at once to those who
happened to present checks on the institution. They were
quite unfamiliar and did not have the worn appearance of the
bank note of the present day. The greenback had been the
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THE BANKS OF THE COUNTY 449
familiar kind of paper money, while at the present day the
owner of a piece of paper money seldom inquires or cares
whether he is carrying a bank note, greenback, or some certifi-
cate that represents specie.
The new notes were pronounced " works of art," and were
regarded with the interest due them. The report for the first
six months of the bank's affairs showed a good surplus, indi-
cating its prosperity.858
The First National Bank was organized under the law, as it
then existed, which stated that each national bank should be
limited to an existence of 19 years. None of the parties who
organized the First National Bank are now living — some of
the oldest settlers and most prominent residents being identi-
fied with the movement. During the first years of existence
the Iowa State Bank was the only other similar institution in
the city. At the time of the panic of 1873 the bank was keeping
its account with the Manufacturers National Bank in Chicago
and being the largest shippers of stock in this section of the
country, had the misfortune to have about $40,000 in the Chica-
go concern when it closed its doors. This money was in the
Chicago bank as a result of stock shipments which had been
made from this point. It is needless to say that the money was
lost. This loss came as a severe stroke upon the Iowa City
First National.
In 1882, according to the provisions of the national banking
law, which stated that the charter would be void after 19 years
from the date of the organization, the business of the bank was
closed. In spite of the losses mentioned above, a 43 per cent
dividend was paid to the stockholders, and the capital stock
of $100,000 retained intact for the purpose of reorganizing the
bank.
The bank was forced to give up the number 18 which had
always been the source of great pride to the organizers, and in
18S2 the bank was again organized as number 2,738, which
it still retains. This organization was perfected in June of
1882, and has been running consecutively ever since. The
stockholders have been paid an annual dividend of eight per
cent and a surplus has been accumulated which now amounts to
$100,000, and the capital also is $100,000.
Peter A. Dey was elected president of the bank in 1869, but
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450 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
resigned his position in 1878 in order to accept an appointment
by the governor as a member of the railroad commission.
D. W. C. Clapp was elected and held the office for two years
when he was succeeded by Lyman Parsons. Mr. Parsons con-
tinued in office until 1895 when he died. Peter A. Dey, who
was a member of the state railroad commission from 1878 to
1895, when his term of office expired, was again elected presi-
dent of the First National, acting in that capacity until his
death in July, 1911.
Lovell Swisher, the present cashier, was elected to that po-
sition in August of 1884, and has served since that time. The
complete list of officers includes, in addition to those mentioned,
Geo. W. Ball, vice-president ; Thos. Farrell, assistant cashier ;
G. S. Krouth, assistant cashier. The deposits of this bank in
round numbers at the time of its last statement in January,
1911, amounted to $685,000.
The Farmer's Loan and Trust Company was organized as
a State Savings bank in April, 1882. Those instrumental in
its organization were D. W. C. Clapp, Lyman Parsons, Peter
A. Dey, G. W. Marquardt, D. F. Stone, J. T. Turner, and E.
Bradway. These men were all stockholders of the First Na-
tional Bank, and since its organization the personnel of the
stockholders of the Loan and Trust company have been prac-
tically the same as those of the First National. The business
is managed by the officers and employes of the First National
Bank for which a compensation is paid.
When the Farmer's Loan and Trust Company was organ-
ized the capital was $10,000, but soon afterwards it was raised
to $20,000 and then to $30,000, and finally in 1893 it was raised
to $50,000, where it remains at the present time. The surplus
and undivided profits are given as something more than
$41,000 in the last statement of this institution, while the total
deposits amount to nearly $667,000.
The past history of the Iowa City State Bank is one of the
most interesting in the community. In 1875 E. Clark, Thos.
Hill, and J. N. Coldren organized the old Iowa City State Bank.
It was a private concern. This bank built the opera house and
opened business in the room occupied not long ago by the
Browning Land Company. After about seven years the Iowa
City National Bank was organized with a capital of $200,000.
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THE BANKS OF THE COUNTY 451
This absorbed the Iowa City State Bank and E. Clark became
the president and J. N. Coldren the cashier. This bank did
a large business but several financial losses caused it to go into
voluntary liquidation. It paid all of its obligations but the
stockholders lost considerable money. Following this the Iowa
City State Bank was organized with a capital of $100,000, being
composed mostly of the stockholders of the Iowa City National.
E. Clark was the president and J. N. Coldren, cashier, as be-
fore. It was not long after the bank had fairly gotten under
way, when differences arose among those foremost in the man-
agement and the bank was in danger of gradual disintegration.
After a few years of this unsatisfactory work a plan of re-
organization was conceived. Practically all of the old officers
and stockholders were bought out and an entirely new manage-
ment instituted and the capital reduced to $65,000. The old
officers were replaced by new ones — who were Euclid Sanders,
president, and P. A. Korab, cashier.
The present officers and directors of the Iowa City State
Bank are as follows : President, Euclid Sanders ; vice-presi-
dent, Wm. Musser; cashier, P. A. Korab; assistant cashier,
J. C. Switzer.
This has in addition to its capital a surplus of $26,000, while
its total deposits amount to $459,000. It owns real estate val-
ued at $17,000.
While not one of those who assisted in the organization of
the county as a pioneer, Ezekiel Clark became, soon after com-
ing to the county from Ohio in 1849, a prominent character in
public affairs.
He resided here for a half a century and was identified with
many business enterprises, the first being the mills at Coral-
ville, which he purchased in 1849 in company with Dr. Lake.
He came here to reside the following year. From that time up
to almost the day of his final summons he was one of the most
active men in the community, and only extreme age led him to
cease active business life. Asa miller, a pioneer merchant, a
banker, a prime mover in the beginning of the glass works and
packing house, the head of a gas manufacturing plant and an
electric light company, the builder of an opera house, the de-
veloper of Iowa coal fields, and in almost every enterprise of
uny magnitude he was found ready to assist as an organizer,
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452 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and for a quarter of a century he was said to have been far
above the average man in business enterprises.
However, it was as a banker that he was best known, and
from the days before the war until a few months before his
death he was best known as a banker. He was one of the
organizers of the Iowa State Bank, the parent of many strong
banks, and he was president of the Iowa City branch of this
institution. He also became in turn president of the Iowa City
National Bank, Clark and Hill's Bank, and the Iowa City
State Bank, and was at one time connected with a Second
National bank of Iowa City. In this relation a story is told
showing his determination and sense of honor at a cost of
sacrifice if necessary. It was during the great panic of 1873
that banks over the country were closing their doors against
the pressure of institutions above, and while Mr. Clark was
lying with a broken limb news came to him of the danger to
the banks of the city and county and that there was some in-
tention of closing the doors of his own institution. When he
heard this report his determination to be present himself could
uot be resisted, and he declared that it should not close while
he lived, and under his orders he was carried to his bank,
where, suffering as he was, he remained all day or until the
danger had passed. His bank did not close and other bankers
did not hesitate to follow his example, so that no bank went
down in the storm which threatened to cause a panic in local
affairs.
Mr. Clark was of the greatest service to Governor Kirkwood
when the demand on the financiers of the state was most
pressing. Great sums of money were needed, and he appealed
to his brother-in-law for advice and assistance, to whom he
owed, as he afterwards was heard to say, "much more than he
could estimate/ '
In addition to the local interest in the undertakings of this
man, the statement is made that he was really the originator
of the "greenback" currency which had its first issue during
the Civil War. It happened, according to the account of the
time, in this way: "One night long ago he awakened at his
hotel in New York City, and springing up, paced the floor until
dawn, his mind filled with a great idea. Then, after conversa-
tion with his associate on the trip, the representative of the
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THE BANKS OF THE COUNTY 453
governor of Indiana, as Mr. Clark was the representative of
Governor Kirkwood, he went to Secretary Salmon P. Chase,
before whom he laid his plans. " It is declared that the cabinet
officer adopted the idea and from this suggestion the green-
back was issued.
Later in the life of Mr. Clark he was sent to the senate of
the state, although he never was an office seeker, preferring
the life of business to a life of politics, or he might have been
chosen to higher offices.
The Johnson County Savings Bank was organized in Iowa
City on the 24th day of August, 1872, with a capital stock of
$125,000. At the first meeting of the stockholders, Thos. C.
Carson acted as chairman and the following board of trustees
was elected: Samuel J. Kirkwood, P. P. Freeman, Theo.
Sanxay, Thos. C. Carson, James O'Hanlon, Thos. Hill, F. P.
Brosshart, P. M. Musser, Moses Bloom, E. Clark, George Pow-
ell, J. E. Lee, C.<D. Close. Immediately following this meeting
the board of trustees held a meeting and elected Samuel J.
Kirkwood president, and Theo. Sanxay as cashier.
The bank wias located in the directors' room of the old bank
— facing toward Washington street. The Iowa City National
was located in the banking building of the Johnson County
Savings Bank recently removed. The two banks remained in
this position until the Iowa City National Bank closed and then
the Savings Bank took possession of the building.
Samuel J. Kirkwood acted as president of the bank from
the date of organization, August 3, 1872, until January 3,
1877. Thomas C. Carson was elected in 1877 and retained the
office until his death on October 18, 1905. William A. Fry,
who has long been associated with the bank, was chosen to
take his place and held this office until succeeded by Walter M.
Davis in 1911.-
George Falk is the present cashier, J. A. Shalla being his
assistant. William A. Fry filled that position before him.
Mr. Fry took the place of E. R. Spencer, while J. C. Rutan
filled the place vacated by Theo. Sanxay, who was elected
cashier at the first meeting. The vice-presidents in their order
have been — Theo. Sanxay, C. D. Close, Moses Bloom, Thos. C.
Carson, Samuel F. Lefevre, James C. Cochran, and M. J.
Moon, who was recently succeeded by John T. Jones.
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454 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
From the date of the organization of the bank the capital
stock has always been $125,000, but the deposits and surplus
have been increasing regularly. In 1893, when the charter of
the bank expired, the surplus of the bank, which amounted to
about $25,000 was distributed but the capital was retained and
a new charter secured. The deposits of the bank have in-
creased to $2,026,494 at the present time. When the new
charter was secured in 1893 there was no surplus, but at the
present time there is $171,550 in surplus and undivided profits.
The value of real property owned by the bank is given as
$74,000.
The Citizens Savings and Trust Company has been doing a
regular commercial banking business in Iowa City since 1891,
but was located in this city as a loan and trust company many
years before that time.
The company was formed in 1882 in Iowa City, but the con-
cern did not commence business until Januai^, 1883. At that
time the Citizens Savings and Trust Company had a capital of
$25,000 and was managed by the following residents — E.
Clark, Chas. T. Eansom, Moses Bloom, W. A. Purdy, and L. H.
Jackson. Mr. Eansom acted as the president and Mr. Jackson
as secretary. All of these men are now dead, with possibly one
exception. The concern was then operated as a trust company
in the Opera House block in connection with the State Bank.
Loans were placed in every part of the state and the bank was
well and favorably known.
The present era of the bank opened on July first, 1891, when
the bank moved into its quarters on Clinton street, recently
vacated for the new location on the corner of Dubuque and
College streets, where it started a regular commercial business.
The capital was increased to $50,000, by taking the necessary
amount from the undivided profits, on September 24, 1897.
Following the presidency of Mr. Eansom, A. E. Swisher
was elected as president of the bank, but he relinquished the
office in 1901, when George W. Lewis was elected to succeed
him, who continued in office until his death in 1904. George W.
Koontz was then elected to fill the vacancy and Judge O. A.
Byington is now in that office, while F. B. Ayers is the vice-
president. Before being elected president, Mr. Koontz was the
cashier of the bank, having held that position from 1888. J. E.
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THE BANKS OF THE COUNTY 455
Switzer was the assistant cashier during that time and now is
the cashier of the institution, and D. A. Reese his assistant.
According to the last statement of this bank, its deposits are
$475,000, its surplus $13,000, the value of its real property
$6,000.859
In 1891 the Oxford State Bank was organized, which ap-
pears to have grown out of the old private bank of L. Line-
barger and Son, which was in operation only a few years. The
present bank has a capital of $25,000, which has remained the
same during its history. The officers concerned before the
present organization were, L. Linebarger, president; Fred
Eapp, vice-president ; H. N. Linebarger, cashier. Among those
who were at one time directors are the names of L. R. Wolfe
and E. K. Linkhart. All of those originally connected with the
bank are now dead or removed from the vicinity excepting the
last named.
James W. Ward is now the president; M. Ackerman, vice-
president; L. Karstens, cashier; and 0. L. Karstens, assistant
cashier. A noticeable feature of this bank is its postal tele-
graph cable service directly from the bank, which is made pos-
sible because the cashier was formerly an experienced operator
in the telegraph service at Homestead, Iowa. For eighteen
years the service has been maintained for the accommodation
of the stock market and shippers.
January 2, 1911, the bank statement included the capital as
mentioned of $25,000, and deposits of approximately $278,000,
with real estate valued at $7,800, and surplus of $27,000.MO
The Farmers Savings Bank of Oxford began business in
1895, with J. H. Eohret as president; Albert Yenter, vice-
president ; and P. R. Fotd, cashier. In 1908 it was consolidated
with the Security Bank, and its capital increased from $15,000
to $20,000, which it is at present. The officers at the time of the
last statement, January 21, 1911, were A. P. Eohret, president;
the vice-president the same as at the beginning; and B. GL
Eohret, cashier, with E. J. Saxton, assistant cashier. Its de-
posits are $278,500, with a surplus of $7,800, while its real
estate is estimated at $3,200.
The Tiffin Savings Bank commenced business August 1,
1903, the stockholders being composed of wealthy farmers re-
siding in that vicinity. The bank has never lost any money in
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456 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
loans since its organization. Its capital is $12,000, it has a
surplus of $10,000, and undivided profits of $1,500. The de-
posits in December, 1910, were $136,000, while the real estate
and personal property were valued at $4,000. E. F. Hamilton
is the president; J. A. Colony, vice president; and P. E. Ford,
cashier.861
The Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank of Lone Tree
was established in 1901 with a capital of $20,000. The first
officials were : president, John A. Goetz, who has remained in
this office since that date; vice-president, Anton Fisher, now
chairman of the board of supervisors ; cashier, Chas. A. Fern-
strom; directors, the president, August Kranz, Wm. Kelso, A.
Eubelman, J. A. Lutz, W. H. Younkin.
In June, 1909, Geo. A. Fernstrom, who had become the cash-
ier, resigned and he was succeeded by T. H. Ashton, who holds
the position at the present time. The directors at the present
time are, J. A. Goetz, Anton Fisher, Joseph Rayner, H. P.
Loring, A. Eubelman, Chas, Kruger, and John Hudachek.
Wm. Rabbas is the chief bookkeeper.
A comparative statement issued by the bank gives some sug-
gestions concerning its growth. This was at the close of bus-
iness on Nov. 10, 1910 :
May 18, 1909, deposits .$148,000
Nov. 3, 1909, deposits 160,000
Feb. 16, 1910, deposits 175,000
Nov. 10, 1910, deposits 211,000
From a recent statement of the bank, made on February 14,
1911, the following figures are taken : Value of real and per-
sonal property, $4,000 ; capital, $20,000 ; deposits, $222,000 ; sur-
plus and profits, $13,000.
In April, 1891, the following persons, after deciding that it
was necessary to the welfare of the town of Lone Tree to have
a financial institution, filed articles of incorporation for the
Lone Tree Savings Bank : A. W. Leonard, John Burr, A. H.
Brown, John Ogelvee, J. M. Lee, Andrew Eubelman, and John
Goetz. Mr. Brown and Mr. Ogelvee are now dead. The capital
stock was, at incorporation, $10,000, but it failed to meet the
requirements of the community and was soon raised to $20,000.
The bank opened for business in September of the year 1891
with Chas. Fernstrom as cashier, and he filled this position
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THE BANKS OF THE COUNTY 457
for ten years, when he was succeeded by D. Bestor. Mr. Bestor
was cashier for about a year and a half and was succeeded at
his death by the present incumbent, H. C. Buell. The business
has been very successful, the stockholders receiving an annual
dividend each year of eight per cent and a surplus fund of
$20,000, or an amount equal to the capital stock, has been ac-
cumulated. During the time that H. C. Buell has been cashier
of the bank the deposits have increased from $75,000 to $280,-
000. The present president is Joseph Walker, and vice-presi-
dent, H. C. Hinkley. Eecently the bank has improved the looks-
of its building by putting in a new and up to date front. In
the twenty years of its existence it has aided many farmers to-
make money by supplying them with the necessary funds to
carry on their business.8*2
The Savings Bank at Hills was organized in January, 1907,.
with John A. Goetz as president; John McCollister, vice-presi-
dent ; Joe Walker, cashier ; and C. A. Walker, assistant cashier..
It has a capital of $10,000, and a surplus of $2,200. The de-
posits reach the sum of $72,000.
In 1904 the North Liberty Savings Bank was established,
with R. H. Wray as president; J. W. Schoelman, vice-presi-
dent; and S. E. Lehnen, cashier. It also has a capital of $10,000,
a surplus of profits of $2,200, the deposits gome time ago being*
$60,000.
The only bank in Solon is managed by Ulch Brothers, and
is known as Ulch Brothers' Bank. Its capital at organization
in 1896 was fixed at $20,000. It now has a surplus of $15,000,
and deposits at the close of 1910 of approximately $150,000..
George Ulch is the president; J. S. Ulch, cashier; and W. H.
Buchanan, assistant cashier.
The last bank to be established in Johnson county is the
Commercial Savings Bank of Iowa City, authorized by the*
Auditor of State to commence business on February 9, 1911,
but owing, however, to delays, actual business did not begin
until March 1, 1911. Its capital is $50,000, and deposits on
April 6 were given in approximate figures as $100,000.
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CHAPTER XXVni
Railroad Bonds — Public Utilities — Comparing of Industries
O EFOEE the time of banks in this part of the country the re-
-*** sources of the community were practically mortgaged for
some time to come in order to secure the means of transporta-
tion so much desired. It is not possible to cover the "bond his-
tory' ' in a few pages, and what follows is merely suggestive
of the larger topic that is worthy of further study.
September 1, 1853, Johnson county voted $50,000 in bonds
in aid of the M. & M. railway, payable twenty years from
date of issue, interest semi-annually, and at seven per cent
These bonds, like others issued subsequently, gave the county
.supervisors so much annoyance that they appointed a special
committee in 1861 to investigate the entire matter. Their re-
ports cover many pages and in general the one who wishes
information in detail must find it from the references given in
the original reports. The interest on these bonds was paid
regularly up to the time the committee reported, on February
1, 1861. The county at the time of issuing them received in
certificates of stock 500 shares of one hundred dollars each, or
an equivalent of the bonds in face value, and during the first
fceven years received also stock for the interest in part, amount-
ing to the sum of $1,343, before any dividend was paid. No
litigation, according to the report (1861), had grown out of the
transaction with this company, and this was the only company
that had even built a road or part of a road in the county. No
revenue had been returned to the county, however, beyond one
dividend of four per cent.
The committee to whom had been assigned the whole topic
of "railroads," reported further that in December of the same
year, 1853, the county had voted $50,000 in bonds to aid the
Lyons Iowa Central road. These were issued on the same plan
as the previous issue in September, 1853. All these bonds in
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BAILROAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 459>
1361 were in existence and in the hands of third parties, called
in law innocent purchasers, while not any part of the road had
been completed. The interest on these bonds had not been paid,
because, as it was said, of the bad faith of the company.
Since the interest had not been paid numerous suits at law
were pending against the county for the collection of the
amounts due. One judgment for $5,000 had then been obtained
against the county in an appeal to the Supreme Court, and a
mandamus had been issued for the levy of a two mill tax based
on the assessment of 1858, which then (1861) had been par-
tially collected and paid on the judgment. This was the judg-
ment obtained by Paul B. Bing and later assigned to other
parties by him, so there seemed no way to escape payment
Another small judgment against the county was to be satisfied
out of the levy for the Bing judgment. Suits were then pend-
ing in the district and supreme courts on the bond cases.
In reviewing the entire matter the committee suggested that
these bonds might be bought up for twenty-five to forty cents
on the dollar and it might be wise to buy them if possible. Time
was necessary in order to determine the liability of the county
on the subject. $175,000 had been voted to the Iowa Union
Railroad by the people in 1857, for which, according to this re-
port, only $3,500 in bonds had been issued, one-half of which
had been paid and certificates of indebtedness issued for the re-
mainder. No part of this road had ever been built, and the
committee were unable to decide whether the indebtedness was
valid or not. Fifty thousand dollars in stock was also voted at
the same time in aid of the Great Western, but no bonds were
ever issued and hence there was no liability.363 The attorneys
for Johnson county, Edmonds and Bansom, offered a com-
munication on the status of affairs at the time the above com-
mittee made its report, which communication throws some-
further light on the situation, although later developments
indicate that the question was far from a settlement. Hamilton
P. Dox, to whom the judgment obtained by Eing had been as-
signed, secured the mandamus for a three mill levy. The court
changed the levy to two mills, from which decision Dox ap-
pealed. This case was submitted to the Supreme Court for
adjustment and was pending in 1861. This was the beginning-
of a litigation that continued for more than ten years.
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460 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Before the board of supervisors adjourned this session they
authorized the committee to employ some suitable person to
meet with committees from boards of supervisors of other
counties, namely, Scott, Muscatine, Washington, Iowa, and
Poweshiek, with a view to finding out the actual ownership of
these counties in the M. & M. road and whether the eastern
stockholders had paid in their proportion of stock as required
by the charter, and whether these stockholders had a legal title
1o what stock they held. They were also instructed to appoint
some suitable agent to represent the interest of Johnson county
at the meeting of the stockholders, Abel Beach was sent as a
delegate to the meeting mentioned above and his expenses were
paid by the county to the amount of $21, adding one more item
to the ' ' aid of railroads. 9 J 864
The transfer of the M. & M. railway line, so far as construct-
ed, which took place under foreclosure of mortgage, led to a
valuation being placed upon the stock of the company. Thos.
Hill held a hundred dollar's worth of stock in the M. & M., and
the Eock Island was to pay the M. & M. company sixteen cents
on the dollar for the stock as originally held. Accordingly
Mr. Hill sent in his stock, expecting sixteen dollars in cash.
However, instead of good money he received a certificate en-
titling him to sixteen dollars in some new stock provided the
•costs attending the sale and transfer did not exceed the amount
-allowed for such expense. In order to test the value of his
stock Mr. Hill offered his one hundred dollar's worth for one
dollar, and at such offer it found no takers. The only satis-
faction that seemed to be taken from the transaction was that
4 'the amount of the worthless stuff was largely reduced.' ' The
Rock Island paid for the line of the M. & M. as it was bid in at
the sale $2,100,000.865
When the decision of the United States Supreme Court re-
versed the decision of the lower federal court, and the State
Supreme Court on the bond question they stood four to five,
-and while some felt that more fight must be made, probably
most of the taxpayers felt that the last authority had been
reached. The decision was made in the case of the bonds voted
to the M. & M. road, which would doubtless be a precedent for
another case. There was, however, a plan by which new bonds
•could be issued in place of those already due, or which were
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RAILKOAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 461
defaulted on account of interest. This, it was said, presented
a new phase of the bond question, bringing it back to the issue
between the original parties. "If," as the decision held, "the
guarantee by the railroad company was good, and the holders
recover from it they could not recover also from the counties.
Then the company might claim payment, in which case the
people could set up any defense that would be good against the
company, since then the bonds would no longer be in the hands
of an innocent purchaser. This would bring the question into
the Iowa courts, since the M. & M. was an Iowa concern and its
troubles would need to be adjusted here. Under this decision
the counties might not fare so badly if the property was worth
the bonds, for in the case of the M. & M. road, stock for the
bonds voted was issued dollar for dollar with the understand-
ing that the proceeds and earnings should be paid to the coun-
ties to meet the interest on the bonds. This was called the
consideration for the issue, instead of the benefits to the people.
The M. & M., however, never kept this agreement.
The record of "bond juggling' 9 is too long to be included
here, since the subject needs a volume, but in enforcing the
orders of the courts, the executive arm of the government was
necessary. It was on Monday morning, May 10, 1869, when the
county board of supervisors and city council left the city to
comply with the orders of the United States Court, then in
session at Des Moines. They were compelled, it seems from
the account, to pay their own expenses, because the attorney
for the bond holders had opposed such payment by any other
means by injunction. There was ample opportunity for such
"bodies to pay their expenses by resolution had the injunction
Tiot been ordered, and this the supervisors did at the June ses-
sion following, to the amount of $700. They were sent home
from the federal court with instructions to levy the tax to apply
on the bonds due.
Attempts were made during 1868 to compromise with the
bond holders, and the supervisors appointed a committee of
three for that purpose, who did arrange to take up $51,000 in
bonds for $28,000. However, through some reaction on the part
of the board of supervisors this was not consummated at the
time. These were said to be the 1 1 Lyons bonds, ' ' so called from
1he line of road for which they were issued, and they were not
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462 HISTORY OP JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
clue until 1873, since they ran twenty years from 1853.,ee In
the extremities of the time, however, the general assembly of
the state was petitioned for relief during the session of 1870.
The particular relief asked for was to prevent by law any levy
for the payment of such bonds. Conventions were held to re-
sist any further payment and until action on the part of all
the counties concerned was urged. This failed to furnish any
permanent relief, for the county officers were finally compelled
to levy the tax or suffer the extreme penalty provided. The
decisions of the federal court in the opinions of Judges Dillon
and Love, declared the law of * ' remission of penalty' ' void and
the United States marshal was ordered to levy the tax when
officers refused."7
It was estimated in 1868 after the federal court had issued
its ultimatum, that the amount of outstanding bonds with ac-
cumulated interest in Johnson county alone amounted to
$300,000. It must be remembered that many counties were
concerned, and in concluding it may be proper to say that suit
was first commenced against Cedar county, which case was
carried to the Supreme Court of the state, which declared two
to one that the bonds were valid. This was the old Supreme
Court. Another suit was brought against Johnson county,
which was also carried up and the validity sustained. Then the
new court, as now constituted, reversed all these decisions, and
unanimously declared all the bonds void. After this suits were
brought in the United States Circuit Court which sustained
the validity of the bonds, and this court also ordered payment
On this occurring the state courts enjoined the payment Then
it was that the cases were carried to the United States Supreme
Court and the latter court ordered the United States Circuit
Court to issue writ of mandamus for the payment One court
ordered the levy and another court ordered not to levy.
However, other improvements were now under considera-
tion. The demand for a lighting plant for Iowa City was met in
1857 by the organization of the Iowa City Gas Light Company.
Chet Weed, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was the principal promoter. It
was necessary to haul the machinery overland from Muscatine,
to which point it had been shipped by water. The old plant
continued in use, with a number of additions, until the present
one was installed in 1903. The present works are modern in
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RAILROAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 463
every respect ai*d large enough for the city's needs for a great
many years to come. The company has a total of over 20 miles
of mains in operation.
The present management came into control in 1899. Thomas
C. Carson was president of the company until his death in
1905. Since that time George S. Carson has been the president
and Frank C. Carson the secretary and treasurer.
It is not an easy thing to realize that in 1878 the city was
looking upon the new electric light as some impossible inven-
tion of Thomas A. Edison, yet the press of that recent time
has the following item: "Much interest has been awakened
by the announcement that the greatest inventive genius of the
age, Mr Edison, has succeeded in perfecting a scheme for dis-
tributing the electric light in such a way as to give light of any
desired brilliancy in the rooms of ordinary houses. One of the
natural consequences of this announcement is the marked de-
cline in gas stocks. A gentleman named Wallace is associated
with Edison in this invention and with him Mr. M. T. Close
has been in correspondence with a view to introducing the new
light in this city as soon as practicable.' ' A commentary on
the lighting system sounds now like ancient history since the
details of the system were fully explained. "From the central
station wires will be run to the homes and offices to be lighted.
The gas fixtures already in place will be used to enclose the
wires, and in place of the burners will be the coil, or substance
which gives out the light. This light is incandescent and Mr.
Edison claims can be regulated with mathematical accuracy,
descending from a white and dazzling brilliancy to a soft dim
light suitable for a sick room. No matches or tapers are used
in lighting the burners. The turn of a thumb-screw accom-
plishes this."8*8
Viewed as a practical proposition the observer said in 1883 :
"Much has been said and read about Edison's incandescent
electric light. The writer saw it for the first time in Davenport
a few days ago. It is nothing but a strip of carbonized bam-
boo, about as big as a very small hair pin, and in an air-tight,
pear-shaped glass. A button is turned, and the piece of bamboo
glows with the soft brilliance of a dozen wax candles ; turned
again and it's dark as a black cat. The light is altogether dif-
ferent from that made by the carbon point light, and is as soft
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464 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
and gentle as the approach of spring. It is a superb means of
illumination but we fear almost too costly for general use.
The lights are suspended from gas fixtures, or brackets like
ordinary gas lights.' ' 8M
Electricity has been one of the advantages of Iowa City
residents since 1886 when the Iowa City Electric Light Com-
pany was organized, to furnish lighting for an arc system for
the stores of the city. The plant was installed at Coralville
where it has since been located. Mr. M. T. Close and son, to-
gether with other local citizens, financed the first company.
This plant was operated until 1894, when the entire concern
was rebuilt. A modern system of arc and incandescent light-
ing machinery was installed and preparations made to enter
the field much better equipped. At that time a contract was
secured from the city for street lighting, as previous to that
time gas had been used.
On January 3, 1899, the plant was entirely destroyed by
fire. Strenuous efforts were made by the management, how-
ever, to rebuild, and by July 1st of the same year the machin-
ery was again in operation. In the fall of that year the present
owners came into control and since that time it has been under
the same management as the gas company. In 1902 the twenty-
four hour schedule was undertaken, and has continued since
that time.
The feasibility of a system of waterworks for the city was
brought before the public in the summer of 1872 in a plan for
a forty thousand dollar investment, that all the modern de-
mands upon such a plant might be met One statement is sug-
gestive of the need of such a system: "If it be," as it was
said, "in many cases now necessary to haul water from the
river the cost is more than the tax would be for such a water-
works system ;" and further, "then bath rooms would be pos-
sible, the summer streets could be made endurable, and shade
trees by our hot sidewalks be made green and growing, the city
become healthful and in every way a better place to live."
Active consideration of this subject seems to have been de-
layed, however, until July, 1879, when a meeting of business
men was held at the Saint James Hotel to consult with M. C.
Orton, of the firm of Williams, Orton & Co., of Sterling, 111.
A committee was appoipted at this meeting whose membership
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RAILKOAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 465
included E. Clark, Colonel Morrow, G. J. Boa!, Gk W. Mar-
quardt, Kev. Father Emonds, and A. J. Hull, who were to con-
fer with business men on the proposition to form a stock
company.870
In April, 1882, the company is mentioned as having recently
purchased two carloads of " spick and span" new machinery,
being the outfit for the main pumping station. These were to
put the fear of the failure in water supply entirely out of the
minds of the people. The engines were declared to be "mag-
nificent pieces of machinery made by the Holly Waterworks
II BIvmI ^t
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i
i
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Electric Power Plant at Coralville
Co.," and Ira Holly, the superintendent of the company, was
to supervise the installing of the system in Iowa City.
The improvements in public service facilities have, without
any question, made the increase in manufactured products for
which Iowa City is especially well known, more rapid than it
could have been without these. It is true, as has been suggested
heretofore under other topics, that many industries were under-
taken in an early day, industries which are now out of the
minds of men, but others more in keeping with the time have
succeeded them. It is not possible to enter into details con-
cerning each industry, however desirable it might be. Among
the older establishments of productive kind that are now in
operation one may name the old foundry, purchased many
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466 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
years ago by Dr. N. H. Tulloss, a practicing dentist, now con-
trolled by his son, in connection with the Iowa City Iron Works,
which have been in operation under the present management
for nearly twenty years ; "manufacturers and jobbers' ' in iron
work of a general nature, subject to orders of their customers.
None of the old time factories, of a nature suitable to the pro-
duction of rope or cloth, or goods such as the lint mill of I. N.
Sanders, William Snyder, and John Horn, which was erected in
East Lucas township as it is now established, where they in-
stalled the best machinery of the time, are now remembered
by the present generation. Flax and hemp are even unfamil-
iar to any who did not live in 1850 or before. A ' ' rope walk"
is not a term in our vocabulary. Yet this firm made a reputa-
tion for rope making in the far east, it is said, before their
plant was destroyed by fire. The woolen mill is gone as a
local industry, the tan yard of Jacob Gobin, where he collected
his bark during the summer to prepare shoe, saddle, and har-
ness leather in the proper season, has long since ceased to
furnish its supply of cured material. Competition from the
larger producers killed the industry, and although revived
some years later by James Thompson, it could not endure.
As early as 1844, it is said that Ohio men prepared to start
a distillery on Rapid creek, not far from the present home of
Homer Johnson, the building having been begun from hewed
logs, but lack of funds, it appears, caused the abandonment of
the project. Samuel McCulloch ran a distillery in a small scale
in 1854, on the Wyoming road, finding a market for his pro-
duct beyond the Mississippi, so it is said. While his equipment
was homely enough, his production was rapid, and with corn
worth but ten cents per bushel he probably found a fair profit
even in cheap whiskey.
In 1866 Hull and Scofield built a modern distillery just south
of the city, which had a capacity of six hundred bushels of corn
per day. This prospered for a time, then gradually lost bus-
iness until it changed hands, ending in a conflagration, as so
many ventures had before. In 1879 Mr. Bloom and others
rebuilt the distillery with a largely increased capacity, and
their feeding sheds contained one thousand head of stock, ac-
cording to report. Once more competition caused this to be
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RAILROAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 467
abandoned, although the pay roll was very large, and all the
product was exported.
The Glucose Works and Flint Glass Company both began
with hopes of continuance, but soon followed their predeces-
sors, indicating the very unstable condition of commercial
undertakings that involved experiments. That all experiments
have been tried is not, possibly, true, and some now under test
will probably result as those mentioned until the real need of a
community is met.
■ 1
1
■vSI
KJifiBl
»
WBrSSmK^B
m^Mj\
A View op the Zimmerman Steel Plant showing Converter
in Blowing Position
F. W. Zimmerman is operating the convertor and J. F. Zimmerman is
at the left of the Picture
From this account the Albrecht loom must not be omitted,
since for thirty years or more Mr. Albrecht made cloth for the
community, commencing in 1844. His brick building is yet
standing on the corner of Market and Van Buren streets. The
owner was widely known as the producer of " linen, heavy and
light clothing cloth, blankets, flannel, and carpets." 8T1
The later, newest concerns that produce goods for wear are
the Pioneer Knitting Works and the Rate Glove Factory. The
goods of these firms go to many parts of the country and excel
the early producers in that particular, since transportation
has made it possible. The latter company manufactures hun-
dreds of varieties of gloves and mittens, and uses "tons of
steel" in making husking pegs.
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468 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
The specialized industries come in a later date than the
"boom period" of 1875 to 1880, at which time there were, ac-
cording to good authority, one hundred and eighty manufac-
turing concerns in the county. The term specialized is used
in case of the Boerner-Fry Company, manufacturers of drug
sundries, which was established in 1896; the Shrader Drug
Company, which produces a variety of stock f ood; established
in 1899; the Puritan Manufacturing Company, makers of
jewelry and perfumes, occupying the former W. F. Main build-
ing in East Iowa City; also the Economy Advertising Com-
pany, doing a general advertising and calendar business in a
Jarge field; the Davis Button Company, which draws on the
local district for its supply of shells to produce "pearl" but-
tons, a comparatively new industry, and one dependent upon
the continuance of raw material, beyond the control of
ordinary men. These illustrate the enterprises which are es-
tablished for distant trade, while we may cite others that must
depend on local conditions almost entirely.
It was in 1854 that T. M. Banbury put into actual operation
a planing mill. Up to that time such work was done by hand,
and needless to say, his mill was a great accommodation. Not
long after two more of the same nature were established,
finally forming a company, continuing for several years, when
the building was converted into a factory of another kind. The
present shops of F. X. Freyder and B. A. Wickham must fur-
nish services similar to the former mill of Banbury, although
the general work of this nature is now done elsewhere on
a large scale.
In 1870 Joseph Gregg secured machinery to saw building
stone in the State or North Bend quarry in Penn township,
taking his power from the river by means of a bucket wheel,
which was finally carried away by the stream, leading him to
abandon the project, although he was succeeding. The new
way is found in the manufacture of cement blocks in many
communities, making any mold desired, which does not quite
take the place of quarry rock, but at least requires no sawing.
This was recently well illustrated in the exhibit of "manufac-
tures of Iowa City."
Long years ago Sylvanus Johnson began the making of
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RAILROAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 469
brick, and one yard now in operation was established in 1856
by Nicholas Oaks. Many others were endeavoring to assist
in supplying the demand for brick, but this one, now managed
by Oaks Brothers, continues, long after the others are gone.
Both brick and tile are produced, of the former 1,200,000 per
year, and of the latter 300,000. Mr. Oaks was probably the
maker of the first drain tile in the county. Other yards in the
vicinity of Iowa City are those of Goss and Gaulocher, estab-
lished in recent years.
The Tiffin Tile Company is a private partnership between
P. J. Herdlicka and P. R. Ford, doing business under the above
title. They are manufacturing all kinds of drain tile up to
an eight inch dimension, making the ordinary brick in the same
Bird's Eye View op the Zimmerman Steel Plant
plant. From March until December they employ fifteen men,
having a plant capable of producing a carload of tile daily.
Three kilns have a capacity of 80,000 three-inch tile, and the
drying sheds will contain 165,000 of the same. For twenty-five
years this plant has been in operation. The product is in de-
mand over this section of the state, and to supply it requires
a steady production.
It appears that in the past brick has been produced at River
Junction and Oxford, but the business of the county in this
building material is now confined to the yards mentioned. The
clay bed which furnishes the material is said to be many feet
in thickness.
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470 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Agricultural machinery is a common product of many com-
munities, not only in the larger centers of population, as may
be illustrated by the Kelley Company in Iowa City, but a more
uncommon illustration is found in the corner of Johnson coun-
ty, and one not well known, although well worthy the attention
of students. This is the Zimmerman Steel Company, said to
be the promoters of the first cast steel industry in the state
of Iowa.
Sixteen years ago a small industrial plant was opened in
the town of Lone Tree, Johnson county, which has now become
so well known in so many parts of the world that in the past
twelve months shipments of products have been made to 23
foreign countries, among them far off Siberia, the Straits
Settlements, Japan, Australia, Western Africa, and Chili. A
glance at the card index of foreign customers and the list of
foreign agents named in their catalog and large calendar
hanger, will be very surprising to the citizens who have never
looked into the field covered by this firm.
It was in 1895 that Wm. C. F. Zimmerman and Miles Bate-
man, under the firm name of the Monarch Grubber Company,
began the manufacture of Monarch stump pullers in a shanty
12 by 16 with a board roof and no floor, located in the rear
of the Jewell Manufacturing Company's plant The exact lo-
cation of this old shanty is now occupied by the Zimmerman
Steel Company's large steel foundry. Not having a foundry
at that time, the castings were purchased, and this modest
beginning led to the present large output. In the spring of
1897 a one story building 30 by 40 was erected on a piece of
ground 100 by 120. It was located south of the railroad track
and a little east of the present plant. The first heat of cast
iron was taken off June 27, 1897. The plant at this time con-
sisted of an old boiler shell for a cupola with a wooden bottom
and set on oak posts. The power was furnished by a six horse
power engine and a small upright boiler. The foundry space
was 20 by 30 feet with a capacity of two tons per heat or four
tons per week ; the machine shop and office occupied the balance
of the building and the machine shop equipment consisted of
an emery wheel, a blacksmith's vise, and a hand power drill.
In the spring of 1898 the building was enlarged by an addi-
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BAILROAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 471
tion 30 by 30 feet, the factory being now 30 by 70 feet, which
was required to accommodate the increasing business. But as
increase in capacity in business likewise required an increase
in capital and Mr. Bateman being without funds and having
no money invested in the business, except his labor, Whl Zim-
merman took over his share in the plant, paying Mr. Bateman
the small sum of $250.00 for his share and cancelling Mr.
Bateman 's indebtedness to the firm. It was at this time that
H. L. Zimmerman, Mr. Zimmerman's oldest son, became identi-
fied with the factory and Miss Bertha Zimmerman, Mr. Zim-
A View op Wm. C. F. Zimmerman, Sr., in his Office
At the Zimmerman Steel Company Plant
merman's twelve year old daughter, was sent to Miss Elizabeth
Irish's business college to prepare her for a stenographer so
that she could assist in conducting the correspondence, which
she did at the age of thirteen. The demand for the product of
this little factory increased so rapidly under this management
that the building soon became entirely too small. In the spring
of 1900 Mr. Zimmerman purchased the Jewell Manufacturing
Company '8 plant, above referred to, the former firm having
gone out of business in 1898. This plant consisted of two
wooden buildings, one 40 by 150 and the other 40 by 100 and a
boiler room 16 by 28 ; the power plant consisted of a forty-five
horse power slide valve engine and a fifty horse power boiler.
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472 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
A space 40 by 60 feet of the main building was used as a foun-
dry. This was increased in 1905 by the addition of 30 by 50
feet and the two buildings were joined by an enclosure 24 by
56 feet. As the business increased, first John E. Zimmerman
and later Fred W. Zimmerman were taken off the farm to help
manage the factory. In September, 1906, an electric franchise
for light and power for the town of Lone Tree was secured by
Wm. Zimmerman, and on December 6th of the same year the
electric light plant was put into operation with 3,000 lights
wired up. The plant had been installed, the service lines and
street lighting system erected and the plant ready for opera-
tion in the short space of three months. This, remember, was
done by men who had no special training in this particular
field, except one nineteen year old boy, who assisted in the first
stringing of the wires, and it was found necessary to re-
arrange part of the work, that this young man had done, under
the direction of Fred Zimmerman, the member of the Zimmer-
man family who has this work in charge. The plant is at pres-
ent operated as a day current as well as night service, furnish-
ing power and light to all the citizens who desire, and the
demand from farmers near town has become such that the lines
are now being run out in the country to supply the farmers
as well.
In 1907 it was found that the old slide valve engine was en-
tirely too small, when this was taken out and a one hundred and
twenty-five horse power Corliss engine put in its place in the
short space of nine days. This, also, was installed under the
direction of the Zimmerman boys without outside assistance.
On March 1, 1908, the firm name was changed from the
Monarch Grubber Company to the Zimmerman Steel Company.
The Schwartz Down Draft furnace was purchased and the first
heat of steel taken off in December, 1907, but this furnace
failed to give satisfactory results and was abandoned in 1908.
An improved type of side blown converter was then built by
the Zimmerman Steel Company and put in operation during
the latter part of 1908. This converter has given entire satis-
faction and been a perfect success ever since. At the time that
this steel plant was put in operation it was the first and only
cast steel plant in the state of Iowa ; also the first plant to make
steel on this side of the Mississippi river between St Louis
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BAILROAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 473
and Minneapolis. In 1909 a new fire-proof foundry was built
of steel and concrete with a floor space of 72 by 116 feet. This
building was designed, the steel fabricated, and the building
built entirely by the Zimmerman boys. This building is
equipped throughout with electricity and compressed air and
is one of the most modern foundries in the west. Nine electric
motors furnish the power for this plant and compressed air
reduces the labor wherever possible. The plant has a capacity
A View op one end op the Stump Puller Fitting Department
In the Zimmerman Steel Company Plant
of fifteen tons of gray iron or semi-steel per hour and a capacity
of fifteen tons of steel per day. An electric traveling crane, de-
signed and built in the Zimmerman shops, transfers the melted
metal and does the heavy lifting all over the foundry. An
electric driven jib crane transfers the metal from the cupola
to the converter. A seventy-five horse power motor drives
the Sturtevant blower that furnishes the blast for the con-
verter. A thirty horse power electric motor furnishes the blast
for the cupolas. Other motors handle the raw material and
clean the finished product.
The entire plant is heated from the exhaust steam, which
is accomplished by a blower system that was designed and
built by the Zimmerman boys at a cost of only one-third of the
amount asked of them by firms in this line of business.
It may be mentioned here that the principal raw materials
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474 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
used in the plant come from Duluth, Minnesota, and the Bir-
mingham district in Alabama, and are here turned into Mon-
arch Stump Pullers and Royal and Zimmerman Pitless Wagon
Scales, and these are shipped to all points of the compass, as
mentioned. A small idea of the scope of the business may be
gained from the fact that over $5,000.00 worth of imported
wire rope is often used in a single month, and that a recent
month's shipments amounted to over $18,000.
The John Deere Plow Company has charge of the firm's
A View op the Zimmerman Steel Foundry
Showing the Bessemer Convertor discharging a beat of steel and moulten
Bessemer flowing from the cupola, with electric transfer
crane in the foreground
business in Texas and Mexico; Balfour, Williamson & Com-
pany, of New York, look after their interests in Chili ; an old
English firm cares for the East Indian trade, where the Zim-
merman Steel Company ships direct; one of the oldest and best
known firms in the country takes care of their interests in
Norway, Germany, and Russia, Forty per cent of the business
is in foreign countries. Some idea of the business may be
gained from the fact that the incoming freight bills of the firm,
not considering the outgoing freight, which is considerably
greater, amounts to an average of over a thousand dollars per
month.
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RAILROAD BONDS, PUBLIC UTILITIES 475
The present force numbers over forty men, nearly all of
them high priced mechanics, and the work in the several de-
partments is under the direct personal supervision of the
members of the Zimmerman family who compose the firm.
H. L. Zimmerman buys the material, cares for the shipments,
does the scale engineering and designing and superintends the
scale testing. F. W. Zimmerman has charge of the foundry
and superintends the construction work on the electric light
plant. He has twenty-five men to supervise.
J. E. Zimmerman has charge of the machine work and me-
A View op the Machine Shop
In the Zimmerman Steel Company Plant
chanical engineering, doing the designing and drafting. This
work he began at the age of fourteen, with little or no instruc-
tion in its particulars. He did, however, begin a correspond-
ence course, but the mathematics troubled him so much that he
went on in his own way till he mastered the problems that
confronted him, until now all this work falls under his super-
vision.
H. V. McCluskey quit school teaching because the position
the Zimmermans offered him paid better, and now having
married Miss Bertha, who was mentioned in the early part of
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476 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
this sketch, he has taken her place in the management and looks
lifter the sales correspondence, which keeps six people busy.
That these men have worked out the entire plan without any
technical instruction, studying the motor from an old relic in
1S97, and then erecting and equipping the Lone Tree lighting
plant in 1906, seems rather out of the ordinary. That they
liave customers over so much of the world in the short space
of sixteen years ; that they employ no men on the road to repre-
sent them ; that they manage the entire business through some
of the largest firms in the world out of a town of seven hun-
-dred, with one line of railroad and with only occasional trains
is the remarkable thing. There is a great lesson in this for the
school men to study, and the fact that such work is being done
in the county or state is worthy of special mention. The eco-
nomics of the management is suggestive. This company is not
incorporated, but is owned by William Zimmerman and his five
sons, who, with H. V. McCluskey, conduct the operation of the
plant as described.8"
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CHAPTER XXIX
The Early Courts — Early Marriages
J I VHE act of the legislature of Wisconsin territory creating
A Johnson county provided for two terms of the district
court to be held annually in the county, during the months of
August and December, but it so happened that the legislature
of the territory of Iowa, in January, 1839, changed the time
to May and September of each year. However, when the time
came for the first session it was found that the court house at
Napoleon was unfinished and that the tavern was fully two
mites from the court house, so that Judge Williams decided to
call the court to assemble at the Gilbert trading house. Ac-
cordingly, on May 13, 1839, court was opened here. The prose-
cuting attorney, T. S. Parvin, wrote in his diary on that date :
"May 13, 1839 — Started to Johnson county to attend court,
accompanied by Joseph Williams, judge.' ' He adds on this
same date: "A beautiful road; fine country mostly prairie,
between this [Bloomington] and the west; reached the point
distant 30 miles, p. m., called court and empanelled a jury."
It appears, from other data, that court then adjourned until
the following morning, and on that date Mr. Parvin wrote:
■" Court as prosecutor; found an indictment vs. A. J. Gregg
for counterfeiting, cause continued — evening fiddling & danc-
ing— officers & all — Indians, a number; visited with Gen'l
Frierson."878
On the morning of the fourteenth of May, 1839, the court
met as a United States district court and the grand jury for
the United States was called. It was composed of Samuel H.
McCrory as foreman, David Sweet, Robert Walker, John G.
Ooleman, Nathaniel Fellows, David Switzer, John Gardner,
James Smith, Charles Jones, James Douglass, George W.
Hawkins, John A. Street, Yale Hamilton, John Gaylord, Wil-
liam Ward, Samuel Walker, and Jonathan Harris.
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478 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
The officers present were Judge Joseph Williams, of Bloom-
ington who was the second judge appointed to the district;
Luke Douglass, the clerk ; the prosecuting attorney, T. S. Par-
vin, of Bloomington ; the United States attorney, Charles
Weston, of Davenport; the United States marshal, Charles
Hendrie, deputy for Gen. Francis Gehon, of Dubuque; and
Sheriff S. C. Trowbridge, of Johnson county.
The grand jury for the United States received their charge
from the judge and retired to consider the matters before them,
but in a short time reported no business for such a jury, where-
upon they were discharged. However, they were at once re-
called and sworn as a grand jury for the territory of Iowa*
Having been charged in this new capacity, they retired to the
open prairie, since there was privacy nowhere else, and after
due deliberation they found a formal indictment against An-
drew J. Gregg, which, the attorney says in his diary, was for
"counterfeiting." He had been arrested in April before, and
it appears that he was a general outlaw. After the indictment
was found, he was at once arraigned and naturally pleaded
not guilty, whereupon he was placed under bonds of $600 to
appear at the next term of court.
The petit jury called at this term, which found no cases to
try, was composed of Henry Reddout, Samuel Baumgardner,
James Magruder, Philip Clark, John I. Burge, James S. Wil-
kinson, Jesse McCart, Peter Crum, Asby D. Packard, Green
Hill, William Kelso, Elijah Hurley, John Trout, I. P. Hamilton,
Joel Dowell, William M. Harris, and Alonzo C. Dennison. Of
these jurors James Magruder served again forty-two years
later in this county, or at the January term in 1881.
There were other attorneys present at this term of court
who probably came out of curiosity, since they appear to have
had nothing more than prospective business at this time in the
county. Among these was S. C. Hastings, a young attorney of
Bloomington, who later distinguished himself by becoming
chief justice of two states, Iowa and California. Stephen
Whicher was also among the number ; he became United States
attorney in due time; also I. C. Day, all these coming from
Bloomington. There was, besides these, a young friend of
Judge Williams, from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, William E.
Austin, who on this occasion was, on motion of T. S. Parvin,
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THE EARLY COUETS— EARLY MARRIAGES 479
admitted to practice in the courts of Johnson county, thereby
becoming the first candidate for such honors within its borders.
This event occurred on the third day of the session.
In the diary of Mr. Parvin he refers to the social phases of
the settlement on the night of the fourteenth, but there was
also a feast after the adjournment of court on the last day
when Mr. Chase, of the trading house, prepared refreshments
for the entire court and invited guests. Here young Austin
made a speech which was pronounced by Judge Williams as
of the finest he had ever heard.
The following morning the judge and lawyers left the
county, some on horseback, and some by other means of trans-
portation, while the settlement resumed its work of building
cabins and improving the new claims. As has been said, An-
drew J. Gregg was a prisoner of the United States who came
into the hands of the Johnson county authorities in 1839, when
no means of caring for him or detaining him were at hand be-
yond the agency of guardianship. Just to watch him so as to
keep him from getting away until the court assembled for his
trial at the September term, was all that could be done, and to
provide for this emergency the commissioners called a special
session in May, 1839, after court had adjourned. The minutes
relating to this matter indicate a long list of guards, and the
detailed expense account of the session deals with "services
rendered the county" without specifying the particular kind
in every case. A large number of items are for services in
connection with the prisoner, Gregg. Jonathan Harris became
responsible under oath "to keep this prisoner until the next
session of the district court."
It is said Gregg, by some means, got possession of weapons
and made his escape, only to return again to show his daring
and defiance of authority during the festivities that took place
some time later at the trading house near Napoleon. In the
melee that occurred he and his companion met such rough
treatment that they never returned to the vicinity.
Authority is given for the statement that Gregg was guarded
for some weeks before his escape, and that the expense of
guarding him had amounted to all the county revenues for an
entire year, so that it was perhaps a matter of economy for
him to get away, so long as no jail was available. This event
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480 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
is said to have induced the settlers to use more effective and
less expensive means in dealing with their prisoners.
Counterfeiting was a common crime, as all eastern Iowa was
a fertile field for such a medium of exchange. It usually was
accompanied by horse stealing, an offense so common in the
first twenty years of the local history that it ceased to be
wondered at, and was suppressed only by the thorough organ-
ization of vigilance committees.
Some time after the final escape of Gregg, two men stopped
at the Gilbert trading house, where Jonathan Harris was keep-
ing a tavern, and after securing the accommodations usual at
such a place, offered in payment a counterfeit bill, which was,
without suspicion, accepted, the good change being returned.
Not long after their departure, a settler from the Wapsinonoc,
a small stream some miles east, arrived at Harris's tavern,
stating his own losses by these same individuals. It did not
require much time to organize a pursuing party and the chase
began. Crossing the river north of the new city the culprits
went several miles up the valley of Clear creek, then turned
southward, still pursued by the victims. Near morning they
were found far south on English river at the house of Dr.
Teeples, where they were soundly sleeping. They were at once
arrested, probably without any formal warrant, and brought
to the house of Pleasant Harris, all the time protesting their
innocence under the plea that they had taken the bad money
in exchange for good. Strict search having been made, the
saddle bags of one were found stuffed with bogus money.
Thereupon a court was organized, the evidence was taken, and
sentence pronounced ; the man with the stuffed saddle bag was
to receive fifteen lashes on his bare back, the other ten lashes,
and he was allowed to keep his shirt on. These penalties were
duly administered, the culprits being in turn tied to an ash
tree. They were then told to leave the country, which com-
mand they promptly obeyed.874
Another renegade familiar to the early settlers went by the
name of Conlogue, who made his headquarters on the Cedar
river near Gower's or Washington's ferry, now Cedar Bluffs.
He did not escape sundry punishments in the vicinity men-
tioned, but was finally brought before the Johnson county
courts, where, under an indictment in the territory of Iowa, he
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THE EAELY COURTS — EARLY MARRIAGES 481
was a prisoner of the United States. The formal indictment
is in part below :
The indictment against Conlogue for " burglary and lar-
ceny" was made by the grand jury at the May term, 1840, in
'Johnson county, this jury consisting of "twenty good and law-
ful men of said county," who were duly charged to inquire into
the affairs of the territory in relation to criminal matters.
The twenty men concerned, all pioneers of course, included
Nathaniel Fellows, Isaac McCart, John Gardner, James Hawk-
ins, Jonathan Harris, Yale Hamilton, John G. Coleman, John
J; Burge, Wheaton Chase, Jacob Stover, Stephen Chase, Wil-
liam Willson, Joseph Stover, Samuel Walker, Jehiel Parks,
Robert Matthews, Warner Spurrier, Jesse B. McGrew, John
Parrot, and Pleasant Harris. Joseph Williams was still judge
of the second district.
The indictment in full is not essential and may be given in
substance to show the charges as enumerated and the outcome
of this case: "District Court, May Term, A. D. 1840. The
grand jurors duly empanelled in and for said county upon their
oath do present, that Samuel Conlogue of the county of John-
son on the second day of December last past [1839], and in the
night time with force and arms, the dwelling house of one
Samuel Brown there situate willfully and feloniously did break
open and enter, being armed with a dangerous weapon, that is
to say, with a certain weapon called a club and then and there
did commit personal abuse, force and violence by beating and
knocking down the said Samuel Brown ; and then and there in
ajid from the said dwelling house, a large quantity of gold coin
of the value of two hundred dollars and a large quantity of
silver coin to the value of two hundred dollars of the legal
money of the United States ; one pocket book containing divers
goods, chattels and choses in action to wit: four promissory
notes, being of the value of one hundred and thirty dollars ; and
one small leaf-flowered box containing five paint brushes, and
patterns to the value of thirty dollars, all the property of the
said Samuel Brown, then and there did feloniously take, steal
and carry away, against the peace and dignity of the United
States and contrary to the form of the statute in such cases
made and provided. — William G. Woodward and J. C. Hall,
special prosecuting attorneys.7 '
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482 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
And " afterwards on the fourteenth day of May," in 1840,
the defendant was brought into court and pleaded not guilty
to the charges. He was placed on trial and twelve men passed
on his case. They were, " Joel Dowell, John N. Headly, Har-
vey Lyman, Warren Stiles, John Matthews, Wm. Sturgis,
James Magruder, David Street, William Kelso, James Hermin,
Henry Felkner, and John A. Street." These, "after hearing
the proofs and allegations of the parties retired to consider of
their verdict." On the same day the jury returned into court,
which suggests a very short time for deliberation, with the
"following count:" "We, the jury, find the defendant guilty
in manner and form as he stands charged in said indictment,
and upon the first count assess a fine upon said defendant of
five hundred dollars and sentence him to four years imprison-
ment in the penitentiary of Iowa situated in the county of Lee,
there to be confined to hard labor during the said term ; and
we further find the value of the property stolen as charged to
be two hundred and ten dollars, the treble value of which is
six hundred and thirty dollars, the property of said Brown. "
* Upon the second count in the indictment the jury fixed a
fine of five hundred dollars and four years in the penitentiary.
"And now comes Woodward and Hall," the special prosecu-
tors, and "remit and discharge" the fine on the first count and
then the court took the matter under consideration and levied a
fine upon the defendant of eleven hundred and thirty dollars,
two hundred and ten of which was to be paid to Samuel Brown,
and nine hundred and twenty was for the use of the territory
of Iowa; also imprisonment for eight years in the penitentiary
at Fort Madison at hard labor during the term, and to pay
the costs of the prosecution, was the final statement of the
court. Samuel Conlogue was then given into the hands of
the sheriff, S. C. Trowbridge, to be safely conveyed to the
penitentiary as determined.875
R. P. Lowe was the regularly appointed prosecuting at-
torney at this date, but the attorneys mentioned appear to have
served in his stead. In connection with this case, the following
interesting bill is found which relates to a well known early
settler :
"Iowa City, May 30th, 1840.
' ' The County of Johnson Dr.
"To Jesse Berry for guarding Conlogue three nights ® 1.25
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THE EARLY COURTS — EAELY MARRIAGES 483
per night, $3,75. Nov, 12, 1840, to preparing a room and fur-
nishing materials for the same for the District [Court] Nov.
Term 1840 $7.00. Total $10.75.
" Jan. 5. 1841. Jesse Berby."
On the reverse side of this bill one may find this entry:
" Presented January 6th, 1841, and 5.37% allowed at Jan'y
Session 1841.' ' The reference is to the January session of the
county commissioners.8™
At the same term of court in which Conlogue was tried,
found guilty, and sentenced, the county clerk, Luke Douglass,
was indicted for gaming. He had played a ' * game of cards and
bet twenty dollars to the evil example of all others in like
case, offending against the peace and dignity of the govern-
ment of the United States.' ' On the face of the record it ap-
pears that the clerk had to issue "by order of the court" the
"capias and respondendum" in the following words and fig-
ures, which is a warrant for the arrest of the clerk who issued
il and for James Rock. They were held to answer to the
"United States of America" for gaming. R. P. Lowe did the
prosecuting. Douglass and Rock pleaded guilty, whereupon
the judge, Joseph Williams, fined them ten dollars and costs
each.877 This trouble is said to have cost Douglass his county
office, as doubtless it .should, for he was soon succeeded by
Stephen B. Gardner, in 1840, as clerk of the district
court. Douglass was not the only one found guilty, but
his position was somewhat different. To sell liquor to the
Indians was an indictable offense under the laws of the United
States and many individuals were caught violating this law,
usually pleading guilty and paying a modest fine for penalty.
In one instance a woman by the name of Skinner, whose name
was mentioned in connection with the first town of Monroe,
was indicted for this offense. She was placed under bonds of
five hundred dollars while the six or seven men indicted at the
same time were allowed to go on bonds of one hundred dollars.
The men who pleaded guilty to the offense were fined five dol-
lars and costs, while this woman who also pleaded guilty, was
given a penalty of thirty dollars and costs. No one is able
it appears to explain at this date the cause of the difference
in treatment, when ail were equally guilty.
Referring again to criminal matters of greater import
one may say that it is a strangely sounding phrase to read
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North Liberty, Iowa
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THE EAELY COUETS — EAELY MARBIAGES 485
that, " Aaron Usher was paid one dollar for making fetters
for Wallace.' ' We infer that Usher must therefore have
been a blacksmith, although the record does not say. It is
sufficient to know that this was Lester Wallace, one of the
four men concerned in the robbery of the home of John Goudy
in Linn county. Three of them were known, Wallace, Switzer
and Long, and were indicted by a Johnson county grand jury
since Linn was then attached to Johnson for judicial pur-
poses. R. P. Lowe, afterwards governor of the state (1858-
60), was the prosecuting attorney. The records are incom-
plete in the matter of Wallace and Long, but the trial of
Switzer was finished in October, 1841, in Cedar county. The
indictment of these three which is now on file in Cedar County,
passed through the hands of the clerks of the district court in
Washington, Johnson, Linn and Cedar Counties.878 This was
the part of a gang that were finally brought to the point of
trial, but through the disagreement of a jury the leader at
least escaped punishment. Eecently, at the age of ninety-
seven, Samuel Gilliland of Mechanicsville, one of the jury
that served in 1841, told of his own part in the case and who
caused the disagreement. His death occurred in January,
1911.
Jury duty in the early history of the vicinity was confined
to a few men, since there were few on whom to draw for such
service. It is uncommon for men to live so many years after
the service in primitive days. The trial referred to is a
long story and while it has to do with Johnson county in
some respects it is found in detail elsewhere, and is not essen-
tial here.879
The juries of 1842 are worthy of special mention because
of the names of men included among whom are many that
are still familiar to the present citizenship of the county.
The grand jury was composed of : Chauncey Swan, the capital
commissioner who supervised the platting of the capital sec-
tion ; Cyrus Sanders, the surveyor who left so many excellent
plats of the county roads; William Jones, James Haiden,
Matthew Teneyck. A. D. Stephens who claimed the land on
which the county seat was located; Chauncey Ward, John
D. Wolf, David Lindsay, Titus Fry, A. E. McArthur, James
McCrae, Sr., John Gailor (probably the same as John Gay-
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486 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
lord) of the Gailor settlement; John Eagan, conspicious in
various county affairs and one of the commissioners ap-
pointed by the territorial legislature to relocate the seat of
justice for Cedar county in 1839 ; E. W. Orr, Andrew Kirk-
patrick, A. W. Blain, Geo. Clarkson, A. J. Willis, F. A, Mc-
Cormick, John Smith, Stoddard Devault, and Frederick M.
Irish. On the petit jury were: Charles Pinney, James
Hawkins, David Switeer, Joshua King, Lyman Trost, Levi
Wells, John Cohick, Chas. C. Morgan, A. Gk Adams, Major P.
McAllister, Robert Hutchinson, John C. Lee, B. M. Horner,
Allen Strouch, David Hess, H. Gk Jones, Samuel Nixon, John
McCune, Thos. Parker and A. H. HasMll.880
An appointment of jurors by townships was not made until
1846, since civil townships were not fully organized until that
date. The first distribution or appointment among the eleven
recently organized townships gave the following as the result :
To Monroe 7 ; Big Grove 16 ; Cedar 6 ; Newport 10 ; Scott 7 ;
Penn 9 ; Clear Creek 8 ; Washington 12 ; Liberty 11 ; Pleasant
Valley 14 ; Iowa City 50. Jury service was brief during the early
courts yet no less solemn and sometimes more effective than
under due forms of legal affairs in later days. Conditions
were not favorable to secret sessions and makeshifts were
employed as circumstances demanded. Some difficulty arose
between the county commissioners and Attorney R. P. Lowe,
on his allowances for services as prosecuting attorney when
he presented his bill in 1840 for one year's service, claiming
two hundred and fifty dollars. They, probably, through the
spirit of economy, allowed him only one hundred, whereupon
the attorney appealed his case to the district court. It ap-
pears, however, that in 1841 the county officials settled the
matter by paying him then, four hundred dollars for his
services to date and in satisfaction of his judgment against
the county. This furthermore, is the first instance in which
the county engaged in litigation of this nature. The bill for
costs amounted to forty dollars, and such sums then were not
easy to obtain.881
The first attorney employe^ by the county to act in all
cases when the county was interested was Asa Calkins. His
compensation was not stated although it was to be "reason-
able." Some years later it was arranged by the commis-
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THE EAELY COURTS — EARLY MARRIAGES 487
sioners to secure the services of an attorney for the county in
cases of need, and a bargain was made with Oilman Fol-
som whereby he was to use a room in the new court house
as an office and pay for its use in services to the county.
Certain conditions, however, were imposed on him as to its
care and surrender in case the room was needed by the court.
This use of the county buildings for private offices was not
uncommon, and in the economic interests of the county it ap-
peared a wise provision. Other counties adopted this plan.
County buildings up to July, 1841, were temporary affairs.
A jail was a prime necessity even at the beginning but since
none could be had without money prisoners were placed un-
der guard or sent away. Among the first warrants issued
by the county, as has been shown, were various sums for
"guarding prisoners." A house of logs hurried together for
jail purposes furnished the first public building in an ad-
joining county and it became the security for evil-doers very
early in the county's history.
It was in July, 1841, that Jesse Berry and James Herron
were paid $12.50 for drafting a plan for a county jail for
Johnson county. Berry was also allowed $15 for making
specifications and for a bond. James Trimble was the con-
tractor on this first building. All the money used in erecting
such buildings came from the sale of lots in the county seat.
Trimble was paid $250 at the commencement of his contract
and through many months that followed before the comple-
tion of his work, "allowances" were made to him until one be-
gins to wonder how much the jail cost. No mention is made
of any contract with Trimble, but the clerk was allowed pay
for posting notices ' ' for proposals to build. " So we may con-
clude that a contract was drawn. Trimble was further paid
"twelve hundred dollars on contract for jail" in October,
1841, which also suggests a written agreement, and from
money arising from the sale of lots in the county seat. That
the county orders might furnish a means of exchange the
clerk was authorized to issue them in fractions of the twelve
hundred dollars. From the records it is concluded that some-
where in the county is a "date stone," probably 1841, made for
the first county jail, furnished by Dewel & Ball at an expense
of three dollars, and paid from the county seat fund.882 It
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488 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
would be an interesting relic if found. Jails were sometimes
"borrowed" by counties, the bills for which sometimes also
caused annoyances. The instances here given are illustra-
tions of the point.
Muscatine county had a jail in 1842 and it was used by
Johnson county for quartering the prisoners, Morehead and
Burkholder, for whose care the jailer of the county presented
a bill of $69 for "feeding them and having them ironed by
a blacksmith." Moreover, this was not the end of the matter,
for later a bill came from D. J. Snider, sheriff of Muscatine,
for money paid Wm. Parvin for watching the jail when Burk-
holder was confined for "thirty-eight nights." This claim
the commissioners rejected, and Philip Clark, who seems to
have been the final resort in trouble, here as on the occasion
of locating the capital, was sent, or went to Bloomington
[Muscatine] and brought this prisoner to Iowa City, in May,
1842. The increasing bills from Muscatine county seemed to
make it advisable to care for the culprit at home.
County relations were somewhat strained at this time if
the matter of allowing bills presented by adjoining counties
is any criterion. The reference above and later a bill from
Washington county for the trial of Lester Wallace on change
of venue from Johnson county, which was rejected, suggest a
disposition toward independence. This is also true in the
case of the trial of Switzer as mentioned, one of this same
gang, on change of venue from Linn county to Cedar, when the
bill against Linn passed through the supreme court of the terri-
tory and judgment against Linn was affirmed, resulting in
that instance in the withdrawal of the claim by the county
which presented it. Another case of the same nature hap-
pened at home when the jailor of Johnson county, who hap-
pened to be J. R. Johnson by name, presented his bill for the
care of prisoners, three of whom were from Dubuque county.
For these also the board of commissioners refused to pay,
presumably expecting Dubuque county to pay it even when
they refused certain apparently just payments.883
There were no records of marriages in this county before
June 23, 1839, since the first return is then made by William
Abby, a justice of the peace. The first entry made in Book
One of the Marriage Eecords, reads:
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THE EARLY COURTS — EARLY MARRIAGES 489
" Territory of Iowa: | To any person legally authorized ta
Johnson County f Solemnize Marriage.
"You are hereby authorized to join together in the holy
bonds of Matrimony Mr. Elijah Orsbon and Miss Sarah
Harris, and of this license make due return, and this shall
be a warrant sufficient for you :
"Given under my hand and the seal of the District Court,
this 21st day of June A. D. 1839. ' ' The return is duly made as
follows :
"This is to certify that Elijah and Sarah Orsbon were
married on the 23d of June 1839, By Wm. Abby, J. Peace."
In the second entry, Allen C. Sutliff took the oath of
office as a justice of the peace, and was therefore authorized
and obligated not only to administer justice among his fellow
citizens but to perform marriage ceremonies as well, there-
fore the following entry is suggestive of the neighborhood in
the northeastern part of the county.
"Jesse B. McGrew and Charlotte Calkins, married Decem-
ber 25, 1841," the return having been made on the same date,
by "A. C. Sutliff, J. P.," which indicates his continuance in
office.
It was on September 28, 1880, that license was issued to
William Dupont and Elizabeth Skinner, the couple who owned
the claim on the Iowa river, known as the "Civil Chief Pow-
eshiek's Village" and later as the town of "Monroe." She
it was, who has been mentioned as suffering an indictment by
the grand jury for selling intoxicating drinks to the Indians
and for the misdemeanor was fined so much more than men
for the same offense. In the years of 1840 and 1841 the
names of some well known pioneers are found in this book.
Here we find William Sturgis licensed to marry Dorothy
Kidder on November 4, 1840, and the return made by A. D.
Stephens, "Justice of the Peace.' f In December following
Eli Myers and Sarah Kidder were united in marriage by the
same official, and in April, 1841, Samuel H. McCrory and
Elizabeth McCloud became man and wife.
It was Israel L. Clark, a pioneer preacher, who performed
the ceremony at the wedding of Benjamin Swisher and Eliza-
beth Whitmore in May, 1841, he having made return of this
fact on May 16. Philip Clark and Clarissa Lee were duly
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490 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
licensed to wed on June 2, 1841, and the officiating clergyman
was Gk G. Worthington of the M. E. Church. John Fry and
Margaret Harris were married by Smiley H. Bonham, a
justice of the peace in that corner of the county, in September,
1841, and in November following Isaac Bowen and Susannah
P. Williams were lawfully united by John Libby.
Probably the only one of this early group now living is
Sion Hill, who married Phoebe Jones, January 22, 1842, the
return in this instance being made by James L. Thompson,
"Minister of the M. E. Church." William Fry and Betsy
Harris were another couple who came to Smiley H. Bonham
to take the vow according to law, in February, 1842. Jesse
Berry and Clarinda C. Worden began married life on April
14, 1842, James L. Thompson, mentioned above as a minister,
performed the ceremony and made the legal return to the
county clerk, S. B. Gardner. Abner Arrosmith, a justice of
the peace in the northern part of the county, was the official
who served at the wedding of Carson Wray and Mary Alt,
pioneer families in North Bend.
Michael Hummer was in residence in the county, and had
filed his certificate, as it was recorded in Scott county, as a
minister, and thereupon his authority to perform marriage
ceremonies was recognized when he Was called to perform
the ceremony of marriage for Theodore Sanxay and Hetty A.
Perry on May 10, 1842. He made the proper return on the
same date according to the records. Francis Springer, a
leading man in political circles in )the territory, married
Mary K. Coleman of Johnson county in December, 1842, prob-
ably on Christmas Day, since license was issued December 24,
and returned by the minister James L. Thompson on Decem-
ber 27, 1842. Among the early ministers who filed creden-
tials of their official station, in addition to Michael Hummer
mentioned above are, G. Gk Worthington of the M. E. Church;
Matthew Loras, of the Catholic Church, a bishop; Samuel
Mazzuchelli of the same church; Almeron R. Gardner of the
Universalist Church; Henry Hendly of the Baptist Church,
and Moses T. Johnson of the M. P. Church, all in the years
1841 and 1842.
The naturalization of aliens in Johnson county occurred for
the first time on June 1, 1841, when ' 'James Wicks, John
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THE EARLY COURTS — EARLY MARRIAGES 491
Mullin, Hugh Deen, Harmon Luken, Francis Kerr, Patrick
Smith, Jeremiah Driskel, Michael Keff, William Croty, An-
drew Mc Williams, John Hurley, John Conway, James Roach,
and John Conboy, solemnly swore allegiance to the United
States and abjured their further allegiance to Her Majesty,
Queen of Great Britain."
On the following day "Caspar Nick, of Prussia; Joseph
Gross, of Wiirtenburg; Mattheas Laner, of Baden; Caspar
Dunkel, of Bavaria; Philip Schwartfager, of Hanover; and
Ferdinand Haberstroh, also of Baden," came before the
court and made oath of their intention to become citizens of
the United States. This was the beginning of that continuous
stream of industrious foreigners tljat have made much of the
prosperity of the county possible.
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CHAPTER XXX
The Comity Agent, the County Buildings, and Some Dis-
turbances in which many were concerned
T N April, 1842, F. H. Lee was appointed county agent for
* Johnson county and as such represented the commissioners
in a business capacity. According to the act establishing that
office, he was authorized at the extra session of the commission-
ers on the above date to receive proposals from April 8, 1842,
until the second day of May, 1842, for the erection of a court
house on lot number eight in block number eight in the county
seat. This building was to be of " brick 56x28 feet, two stories,
and to be finished according to the plan of said building in the
hands of F. H. Lee the county agent." Notice of the receiv-
ing of such proposals should be published in the newspapers
of Iowa City, then the Iowa Standard and Capital Reporter.
The building was to be paid for after the jail then building,
and from proceeds arising from county seat funds due to
sale of lots in the same manner as the jail was to be paid for.
Lot eight, block eight, is at the southeast corner of the cros-
sing of Harrison and Clinton streets and therefore this was
the location of the first court house. When the bids were
opened in May, 1842, the only one made or at least mentioned
was that of James Trimble, the builder of the jail. For
thirty-eight hundred dollars he agreed to contract for the build-
ing as planned, and for thirty-six hundred and ninety if the
"Venician blinds" were not required. The latter proposal
was accepted, the " blinds7 ' being wisely omitted. Bonds of
$7,500 were required of the contractor, who was to complete
this building by October, 1843, according to the contract.
In order to give Trimble a financial start on the new court
house he was put into possession of orders to the amount of
five hundred dollars, all to come from lot sales in the county
seat, that is from unsold lots in the northwest quarter of sec-
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THE COUNTY BUILDINGS 493
tion fifteen. During the year or more from May, 1842, until the
completion of his contract on the court house Trimble drew
in orders $3,590. He was later paid $237.50 on his court house
and jail contracts, leaving still due him $62.50. Either Trimble
never quite completed his contract or he made another for re-
pairs, since he was ordered at a later date to complete his jail
contract immediately, or legal steps would be taken to enforce
the demand. Moreover, this was in 1848, and the jail had been
begun in 1841.
Again, in September, 1848, the commissioners were called
upon to consider repairs to the new jail soon after its com-
pletion, the roof having been carried away by a storm, and
when the competitive bids were opened at the following meet-
ing, there was found to be a tie. Therefore, the bidders ap-
peared on request of the commissioners, and the job was put
up at auction, falling to Thomas Snyder, the lowest bidder
of course. Then the clerk of the commissioners made an
entry of "A Eemnant Sale," on the same date when Thomas
Snyder purchased the wreck of the roof for some private use
or to apply on the repairs under his bid, which the reader of
the record must guess.884
Periodic building of structures that should be permanent
improvements is a habit of new communities. The period from
1850 to 1860, if studied, would show a great activity on the part
of the public officials in the construction of county build-
ings. Johnson county was no exception, and during the
term of F. H. Lee as county judge the order was issued
for an election to be held in 1856 on the subject of a new
<;ourt house and jail. The judge was satisfied that there was
great need of such buildings, but the people must approve of
the action before work could begin. The vote was on the
question of borrowing money to erect the court house and
jail and whether the proceeds of swamp-land sales not used
to reclaim the same lands, should be applied to the payment
of the borrowed money, and also whether a tax should be
levied on the county to pay any deficiency.
No contract or specifications of the new buildings are found
on the records, although they must have been made, since the
next item concerning the subject is "on the payment for
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494 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
stonework. f } This, moreover, was the first building erected in
the court house square, as it is known today.
The jail erected in accordance with the proposition of the
county judge in 1856 and 1857 remained in use for approxi-
mately forty years, when agitation began for new county
buildings for court and jail purposes. It is probably true
that the demand for a new jail was expressed early in 1897,
because of the ease with which criminals walked out of the
old one. It was said, that, "old, wornout, in its best days
none to good, this wretched, make-believe of a prison is unfit
and inadequate for the uses to which it is put and is a dis-
grace to the county which suffers it to exist. . . . The
escape of three criminals on Sunday night admonishes the
people once more that a new jail must soon be forthcoming. "
Immediately following this complaint and suggestion the
board of supervisors of the county ordered a committee to
examine the old court house built forty years before. The
local bar association urged this action on the part of the
county authorities and the movement was hastened by several
suggestive cracks appearing about this time in the south wall.
Since it was becoming dangerous, architects and contractors
were called in for an investigation as to its safety. Many
reasons for a new building were raised beyond the one of
safety only, since valuable records were endangered. Many
times before, this had been urged upon the tax payers of the
county as it had been urged in many other counties ; that there
was economy in substantial county buildings.
In accordance with the suggestions which resulted from
the investigation of the old buildings a committee was ap-
pointed in Iowa City in December, 1899, to agitate the ques-
tion of a new court house for the county. Two men from each
ward in the city and two from each township were selected
to "stir this matter up" and it was probably as original as
any way that could be found and as effective. This committee
had definite duties to perform in the vicinity from which they
were chosen, in talking to their neighbors and the citizens of
the community and to find out the exact feeling on the sub-
ject of the improvement.
Accordingly the names of two from each of the divisions
mentioned were decided upon, the exact list of members of
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THE COUNTY BUILDINGS 495
the committee being here given: First ward, Iowa City,
William Hunt, J. C. Cochran ; second ward, H. A. Strub, W.
P. Coast; third ward, Jos. Slezak, David Boarts ; fourth ward,
W. E. C. Foster, Dr. Carder; fifth ward, Samuel Lefevre, Wil-
liam Hanke; and from the townships: Cedar, Geo. Ulch, J.
L. Adams; Big Grove, Anthony Beuter, Chas. Palmer; Clear
Creek, William Wolf, Frank Greer; Fremont, John Doerres,
Joseph Walker; Graham, William Andrews, M. Donahoe;
Hardin, William Cronin, J. M. Howell ; Jefferson, F. J. Pudil,
J. H. Kephart; Liberty; John Glaspy, George Mentzer; Lin-
coln, D. Bothell, Steve Thompson; East Lucas, E. Sanders,
John Petzel ; West Lucas, Ed. Carson, L. J. Dennis ; Madison,
Dr. D. Stewart, R. H. Wray; Monroe, J. Strovy, A. S.
Thomas; Newport, H. Sullivan, J. S. Boessler; Oxford, J. A.
Klump, Fred. Bapp; Penn, N. Owen, Charles Colony ; Pleasant
Valley, J. A. Goetz, J. S. Wilson; Scott, George Hitchcock, Ed.
Casey; Sharon, George Wagner, G. R. Hall; Union, Will
Carson, S. R. Humphrey; Washington, S. B. Miller, J. A. Fry.
This committee of fifty-two men did its work thoroughly in
a very short time. In fact the board of supervisors within.
a month of the time of appointment of this general committee
at the January meeting in 1899, called a special election in Feb-
ruary of that year, to vote on the question of issuing bonds for
the purpose of erecting a court house and jail on the site of the
old court house. There were two propositions submitted:
First, " Shall the Board of Supervisors of Johnson county be
authorized to borrow, not to exceed ninety thousand dollars
and issue bonds in the name of Johnson county for the
amount borrowed for the purpose of erecting a court house
in Johnson county, and levy a special tax of one and eight-
tenths mills on the assessed valuation of the taxable property
in Johnson county for the year 1899 and for each year there-
after until the bonds are liquidated." Second, " Shall the
Board of Supervisors of Johnson county be authorized and
empowered to borrow ten thousand dollars and issue bonds
for the same to build a jail, and to levy two-tenths mill on
the property as above until time as these bonds should be
paid." The campaign came on to carry these propositions
against any opposition that might arise, and at the conclusion
of the vote it was found that most of the papers of the county
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496 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
were in favor of the proposition and a large majority of the
people as the vote indicated approved of the project. When
the ballots were counted, 2,330 were for the new buildings and
928 against the measure. Lincoln, Oxford, Hardin, Madison,
and Union voted it down, although Madison had only one
majority against the movement.
The reputation of Johnson county bonds drew a large
crowd of bidders for the issue at this time, since these securi-
ties were what was called "gilt edged" and when put up at
auction in the auditor's office they drew some spirited bidding.
The entire issue of one hundred thousand dollars worth of
bonds was sold to L. W. Prior, of Cleveland, Ohio, for the
firm of Dennison, Prior and Company. His first bid was but
ninety-five thousand but local bidding by Mr. T. C. Carson,
of Iowa City, caused him to pay about one thousand dollars
above par for his bonds, which was regarded as among the
best sales of the kind made in the state.
. The plans of A. W. Eush, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were
selected by the board of supervisors after being submitted in
April, 1899, so far as the court house was concerned and for
the jail the plans of C. L. Wundt, of Burlington, were pre-
ferred. The latter gentleman represented the Stewart Iron
Works of Cleveland, Ohio.
The corner stone was laid in December, 1899, which was
probably earlier than is usual in an undertaking of such an
extent when the vote was taken in the same year.
On the day set apart for the laying of the corner stone
storms interfered so much with the plans of celebration that
the plans of that day were combined somewhat with the day
of dedication. Nevertheless, the rain must not stop construc-
tion, and Judge M. J. Wade laid the corner stone on the day
appointed, December 2, 1899.
When the contract was let to Eowson and Son, they were
not known to the community, but this contract brought them
to Iowa and they became citizens of the county. At the time
of dedication the firm were already under contract to build
another court house in the state in Dallas county. They were
also employed to complete the Liberal Arts building of the
University and other new buildings since. In the erection of
the court houpe they were commended in the very highest
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THE COUNTY BUILDINGS 497
terms, and if records are true, and we believe men of au-
thority, Rowson and Son put more into the court house con-
struction by thousands of dollars than they drew out. The
total cost of the court house, furnishings, grading, and all
connected with the building proper was estimated at $111,000 ;
the jail about $14,000, and the heating plant $3,000, or a total
of approximately $128,000, which amount is moderate when
results are as commendable as in the county buildings of John-
son county.
The dedication program was formally carried out on Satur-
day, June 8, 1901. Tihe program consisted of addresses,
music, and reports of the officials concerning the beginning and
completion of the building. The chairman of the board of
supervisors, Al Ohl, then gave a resume of the proceedings in
the construction while Judge Wade made a special point of the
vote on the court house proposition outside of Iowa City. In
the beginning the matter was taken up on the straight propo-
sition of economy in safety to county records, and on the
principle that good judgment should prevail among the voters
on such a question. An appeal was made directly to the
farmer, who was a man of "ability and stability,' ' and when
the election was over it was found that the proposition had
carried outside the city by a large majority, "an unpreced-
ented case in Iowa." Hon. Chas. Baker on this occasion gave
an address, which brings out some interesting history of the
courts from the time of the first organization. During this
address he said that "when an American community enters
upon the business of state building it first goes to work and
formulates a methodical system of self-government. In per-
suance of that scheme the pioneers of Iowa procured the pas-
sage of an act by the Congress of the United States on June
12, 1838, providing that all the territory of Wisconsin lying
west of the Mississippi river and all that part lying west of
a line running due north from the head waters of the Missis-
sippi river be formed into a new territory to be known as
Iowa: said territory to be in existence from and after the
taking effect of the law on July 4, 1838. It will be seen that
the boundaries of the new territory were very indefinite.
Doubtless few knew what lines, lakes, watersheds, or rivers
formed the northern boundary of the Iowa territory. This
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498 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
act also provided for the civil government of the territory
created. But before the passage of this organic law John-
son county had been organized by the legislature of Wiscon-
sin territory, as well as the district court for this part of
Iowa territory. The court then was not as now in its juris-
diction. It has been modified to suit conditions and changes
in the demands and business of the time.
The first session of the Iowa territorial legislature was
called at Burlington on November 12, 1838, after the organic
act was passed and it continued to sit until a fairly complete
system of laws and code of procedure were established. For
the time required it has been pronounced a marvel of legisla-
tive work.
On this dedication day it was estimated that " fully eight
thousand people were on the grounds. Early in the morning
they began coming from all points of the compass, by car-
riage and by train, since this was a county meet every corner
of the county having a representative." Judge McClain,
Judge Wade, Judge Fairall, Hon. Milton Eemley, Charles
Baker and A. R. Ohl gave the addresses on this occasion.*8*
SOME DISTUBBANCES
Criminal matters are not interesting reading and not at all
necessary to make a topical history but some have occupied
such important places in local affairs that they cannot be
wholly omitted. One case in particular begins with the rush
to the gold fields in 1850, and if it had not resulted so dis-
astrously to so many individuals it might have had less local
interest, since many men went and came, many died on the
field in seeking their fortunes, and adventure was part of the
game. However, in the case of Philip Clark, the man who
had laid the very first foundation among the homes of John-
son county, and who in specific instances had carried measures
to success when they have seemed about to fail, there is more
than the usual to be mentioned.
It was in the fall of 1857, that two men rode into town
from the west and passing deliberately through the streets
halted in front of the law office of Templin and Fairall.
Hitching their horses, the two men entered while the horses
left at the hitching posts were at once surrounded by a curious
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THE COUNTY BUILDINGS 499
crowd, examining the peculiar trappings that they carried,
these giving rise to wonderment regarding the previous ex-
periences of the travelers, who it seems had ridden across the
plains from California after a long absence and after they
had been given up for dead. Then it was soon noised abroad
that these two were Philip Clark and Joseph Studer who had
gone to the west in 1850, seven years before. Eli Myers the
other first settler of the county had gone with Clark, but he
died at Sacramento the first year there.
Now, Clark returns to care for his affairs that have be-
come sadly tangled by his long and indefinite absence, during
which time his farm of several hundred acres has been sold
under the power of attorney given to F. H. Lee on his de-
parture to California so long before. It appears that the
trust placed in those who had cared for the property of Clark
while he had been absent had been betrayed, which news had
after a time come to him causing his return. Yet one wonders
why he had remained for almost seven years in that far off
land without any information of a definite nature from his
family concerning their movements. At some favorable time
the big farm of seven hundred or more acres was sold with-
out any consideration as to the rights of the original owner, for
the purpose, as some say, of defeating him in any future
claim should he return. All this was due, so it is said, to the
conniving of men who had before this time apparently sus-
tained a fair reputation for uprightness. At least they oc-
cupied prominent positions of trusts in public affairs, both
before and after these events.
But, however, on the return of the rightful owner the con-
ditions became serious for those concerned in the plans to de-
fraud if such was the intention. He took possession of his
land; they determined to hold it and the battle was on. Now
comes the dark part of the whole proceedings when a des-
perado was employed, so it seems, to harass the old owner,
and now the rightful owner, that he might be forced to leave
the neighborhood to escape persecution. The man employed
was Boyd Wilkinson, whose name is forever associated with
the indictment of fifteen citizens of this county for his murder,
if such a term is suitable to use in the conclusion of the case
as the grand jury used it.
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500 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
And it came about in this way. Wilkinson, under the en-
couragement of reward, so it is thought, committed divers
deeds of malicious nature upon the property and person of
the man Clark, shooting into his house, waylaying him and
leaving him for half dead, burning his barns and attempting
to burn his house, besides committing general offense in
stealing from the Park House in the city for which he was
duly indicted by the. grand jury. But it went from bad to
worse until the public took notice, and that requires a strong
stimulus, the public being somewhat indifferent to the suffer-
ings of men. A meeting of citizens resulted in the appoint-
ment of a committee of one hundred to see that Philip Clark
was not deprived of his rights. The method that this com-
mitee was to pursue is not determined by the instructions so
far as known, but they, it appears, took counsel before acting
in the matter. When the misfortune^ increased in the affairs
of Clark the committee went to the house of Wilkinson, wha
had been located on a part of the Clark farm in order to hold
an apparent right of possession, and on his refusal to ac-
knowledge his crimes and the purpose of them, he was bound
and placed in a vehicle by the side of Samuel Shellady, and
surrounded by others of the committee, taken toward the
river with the threat of hanging. Evidently he believed his
end had come for at an opportune time he leaped from the
conveyance and running toward the deep stream sprang inr
without any hesitation, supposing, it is thought, that he could
swim across even with his hands tied, since he was an expert
swimmer. But he failed, and many days after the occurrence
his body was found a mile and a half below where the event
took place. The newspapers of the day have great headlines^
telling of the exciting event in the community, and it cannot
now be understood in its real nature. Those who lived then
remember well the circumstances and are taken as authority
on this question. The men who had taken sides in the matter
included F. H. Lee, W. Penn Clarke, on the part of Wilkinson^
and the fifteen men on the part of Clark, indicted afterwards
for the deed, of whom all who came to trial were acquitted
except Samuel Shellady, besides many who did not have active
part in the case. The names found in the indictment are not
known to have been men immediately responsible for what
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THE COUNTY BUILDINGS 501
occurred and the case of Mr. Shellady was carried to the
Supreme Court, after which he was granted a full pardon by
Governor Lowe. Not all who were arrested after the trouble
were indicted and not all who were indicted were arrested.
The court that tried these cases was held in the old Athen-
aeum, which stood on the corner of Clinton and Market streets,
and the history of which has been related in the section on
church matters. This was made necessary because the old
court house had recently been burned. Judge John P. Cook
was on the bench at the time and when the case came up Peter
Conboy, Alfred Curtis, Samuel Shellady and F. M. Irish de-
manded separate trials. Philip Clark, Michael Freeman,
Daniel Marshall, Geo. W. Rawson, Charles Dow, Charles
Brown, John McGuire and Dennis Hogan were tried and ac-
quitted. The others were either tried and acquitted or the
cases were dismissed. Meantime the courts had restored the
landed rights of Philip Clark and he had entered upon the
enjoyment of them in peace, while those who sought to despoil
him died in after years having suffered much tribulation. The
trial of these cases occupied many days and page after page
of the papers of the time is filled with the testimony and his-
tory of the events both before and after. Much was said on
both sides that serves to indicate the bitter feelings of the
time and one is led to say that the present cannot be any
worse.
Let the current news of that day in 1858 be read :
"On Tuesday evening, May 11, 1858, the whole community
was shocked by hearing of the lynching of Boyd Wilkinson
two or three miles below the city. He was drowned in the
Iowa river and a body of the usually law abiding citizens of
Johnson county were charged with the deed. The excitement,
while intense, was controlled and the law with reference to
those concerned in the tragedy was allowed its course. Great
credit was bestowed upon the community for its self-control
in the case, since by such a decision the law received new
sanction and over every citizen then was thrown a broader
shield of security and protection.
"Be it known then, that up to this time this is the first blot
of the kind on the county and wherever it shall be reported
it shall also be told that the citizens of Johnson county, and
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502 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
especially of Iowa City, own the law as sovereign and repro-
bate any and all acts, wherever and by whomsoever com-
mitted, looking to a transfer of their allegiance. Mob law
has no place upon our statute books nor has it advocates or
apologists here/ '
Many sins were laid at the door of the victim. He got
no respect living, nor eulogy dead. He was no doubt a crim-
inal, but the community had much sympathy for his widow.
The language of the accounts there noted is full of pathetic
expressions of pity for the woman who was not permitted to
say farewell to the victim. She and the orphaned children
were mentioned in sadness.
It is a long, long story: The trial of former free men
now under the ban of the law for taking the life of a man,
who no doubt was guilty enough, but who was entitled to a
fair trial, and yet one could not believe the plan was premed-
itated and it was probably true as told that some things in
the case were in the nature of an accident. The witnesses on
the part of the state numbered forty-six and to go through
their evidence would be very unprofitable unless one was
searching for some special phase of the event.887
In spite of public sentiment approving in a measure the
removal of Wilkinson, the editors of the Republican at that
time, Jerome and Duncan, put out some spirited argument in
support of law and order.
A week had passed since the verdict was rendered in the
first trials and comments are grouped about that as a text.
"With the law we have no controversy. With persons
charged with high crimes and misdemeanors, as such, we have
no quarrel. With courts delinquent in attendance, sluggish
in wit, blind in discrimination, permitting a case to trail its
course into the fourth week, when one-half of the time was
more than sufficient, we have no controversy. With jurors
drawn from among our neighbors and friends, to pass upon
property, reputation, or life, we have no quarrel. Honest
and true are they all, the arraigned himself being esteemed
under the eye of the law, innocent until proven and judged
otherwise. We repeat, our quarrel is with none or all of
these. But our quarrel is and ever shall be with that morbid
public sentiment which will for for a day, an hour, aye! an
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THE COUNTY BUILDINGS 503
instant, wink at crime, and permit the offender to run at large,
because forsooth his hand is joined with others and the in-
jured only a pitiful wreck of what humanity ought to be in its
higher estate."888
There were other events of a sensational nature that belong
among the judicial affairs of the county that would be con-
sidered as part of the criminal history, among them the rob-
bery of five thousand dollars' worth of goods, so it is said,
from the store of A. B. StiUwell, and when the thieves were
caught they were flogged until they confessed where the goods
were hidden. Such a thing could not now occur since two
wagon loads of clothing could scarcely be hauled away and
concealed between dark and daylight from the corner of Clin-
ton street and Iowa avenue. This was in the early fifties,
and the night watch must have been off duty or there was
none. It took some time to capture the guilty and find the
goods safely hidden in the brush in the northeastern part of
town, or where town is now, and where they were protected
by waterproof covering. Placed in the old jail, one of the
prisoners escaped, the other was recaptured and sent to the
penitentiary for a term of years, probably suffering for a
number who escaped capture, since it is certain that no two
men could accomplish such a feat as this is said to have been.
Unfortunately the local newspapers of that period are entire-
ly missing.
Many years afterward the prisoner who escaped was found
in the northern part of the state, under an assumed name, or
at least it was not the name of French as given here. There
he had lived an honest life, raised a family, and become finan-
cially independent. This, he said, was his first offense, and
also his last, since he was not a hardened character, having
been led into the burglary by his bad company.
To make a complete summary of the riotous days of 1884
and of the elements that stirred the bad blood in so many
would involve much detail and much space. The days of the
prohibitory experiment, when conditions were so much differ-
ent than at the present time, were full of tests for courageous
men, and ill-judged retaliation on the part of unknown men,
led to something akin to a reign of terror by night, and a
strain of the nervous system by day. Violence never accom-
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504 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
plished much and usually brought condemnation on the doer
of it, no matter what the provocation, and one can scarcely
understand what it meant to be in danger of life and property
when within the lines of the law, and within the rights of any
citizen. On a single night in July, 1884, fifteeen panes of
glass were broken in the house of Mr. W. M. Pryor, who lived
on the corner of Clinton and Harrison streets. The house of
Mr. Milton Eemley, corner of Capitol and Davenport streets,
was battered with rocks and windows broken. In the room of
Mr. Remley's mother, who was an old lady of eighty years,
and who was bedfast with a broken limb, the glass was scat-
tered over the bed and to the rock which broke the window
was attached a placard about eight by ten inches which bore
the inscription, "The informer's fate, death." These things*
occurred early on a quiet Sunday morning and the good cit-
izens, without regard to their personal opinion on the subject
of "prohibition," condemned such outrages and expressed
the opinion that this would only hasten the enforcement of
the law on the statute books. In this instance Mayor Bena
appointed two extra policemen for the remainder of the month
as a precaution.189
Since the "first blot," as mentioned in 1858 by the local
papers, there have been indictments for murder more than
once, but such criminal record as may be found, if one cares-
for it, is not the most interesting phase of judicial affairs.
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CHAPTER XXXI
Johnson County in the Civil War
A MONO the settlers in the Black Hawk Purchase, which,
-*** however, did not include very much of Johnson county,
there was a number of men, until quite recent years, who bore
the title of "Colonel." This would not excite particular in-
terest in Kentucky, nor perhaps in other states where such a
custom as the conferring of titles of a military sound is com-
mon, but it is not so common in Iowa. We are told that Gov-
ernor Dodge, of Wisconsin territory, commissioned some of
the early settlers as colonels of militia in order to have those,
we may suppose, on whom he could depend in the execution
of law if the necessity should arise. In selecting these men
it appears that they were not chosen necessarily because of
previous military experience, but for the emergency, since
men were yet few in the several counties.
However the military spirit is strong in men who are at all
patriotic and this was demonstrated in the organization in
1858, in Johnson county, of the "Washington Guards." They
began drill in May of that year, their organization continu-
ing until actual war was here. The following July a second
company, "The Iowa City Artillery Company," completed ita
organization, having the encouragement of Captain Daniel
Earle of the "Guards," whose assistance was accepted in the
preliminaries. Thirty-nine men were members of this com-
pany, P. J. Kelly was chosen captain, J. W. Dunlap, first lieu-
tenant, and D. Ham, second lieutenant.
Still another military organization became active in Decem-
ber, called "The Iowa City Dragoons," making three organiza-
tions of this kind within a single year. Surely there must have
been rumors or a sense of what was soon to happen when a mil-
itary spirit of this type was so contagious. This last com-
pany announced their "first annual dress ball" at the court
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506 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA *
house on New Year's Eve. Among the officers there is at
least one now living in the city. Captain Porter of the ' l W. S.
Co.," which must surely stand for the " Western Stage Com-
pany," was the vice-president. One of the corporals was
Mr. M. W. Davis, druggist, whose place of business since 1858
has been the headquarters for all the pioneers. Bush Clark,
later a member of Congress, was the third corporal. Lieu-
tenants Knox, E. Clark and J. 0. Gower completed the list of
officers if we add a paymaster, whose duties were not specified.
The "ball" came on as anticipated and was attended by
the multitude both locally and from some distance, visitors
being present from the sister towns of Davenport and Solon,
each of which "honored the occasion with delegates."
About nine in the evening the dragoons in their beautiful
uniforms and with the "bearing and tread of a soldier," en-
tered the court room in double file. Various evolutions were
used to prove their efficiency in drill, which brought frequent
applause from the on-lookers and guests. The drill master,
Mr. Croucher, was duly congratulated and indeed the discip-
line, as well as the equipage, of the dragoons was com-
mended.800
The rivalry among military companies in some respects
must have been intense at that time, for the "Washington
Guards' " ball came up under the title of a "civic and mili-
tary" to be given in Metropolitan hall, their armory, on Wash-
ington's natal day. However, harmony must have prevailed
during the year for we find that a combination of all the mil-
itary companies of the city under the name of the' "Iowa City
Battalion" was commanded by Major Croucher on the ob-
servation of the Fourth of July, 1859. The Dragoons were
commanded by Lieut. J. 0. Gower, "the Guards" by Capi
Mahanna, and the "German Artillery" by Capt. Adelsheim.
These, after a parade or march through the principal streets,
were passed in review before Adjutant General Bowen. This,
moreover, was the first public parade of the battalion. After
the review and inspection, Gen. Bowen made a complimentary
address on their fine appearance. The new brass cannon
of the artillery company was drawn on this occasion by four
fine horses much admired by all observers.
But while this was not serious business, who can know
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAE 507
how much this preliminary work did toward setting in motion
the thoughts of young men who were soon called upon to enlist
for the real soldier life. From this time on for half a decade
and more, nothing but rumors of war and news of battles
filled the minds of men and women who were either engaged
in bearing arms or in caring for those for whom they were
responsible.
The first news of the Civil War came to the county early
in January, 1861, when Fort Moultrie was reported as given
np, the south in turmoil, the flag of treason floating over
United States property, and no move by the authorities
to prevent it. War seemed at hand, and from this time
until its close, the community was bound to one subject,
both in public and in private. To follow the events from
January, 1861, until the conclusion of the struggle, is to relate
the gradual growth, increasing in determination, of the senti-
ment for the preservation of the Union, the frowning upon
any attempts of sympathizers with the South to express them-
selves, and then the marching away of the companies of volun-
teers until no man seemed left Then finally came the draft
and an energetic appeal to secure volunteers enough to make
it unnecessary.
The volumes of material brought together concerning the
Civil War, even at this day, omit the local element, since that
cannot be found in general histories of campaigns, neither in
the history of regiments, and scarcely any in that of com-
panies. Details of local color cannot be put into general his-
tories and yet they are the most interesting of all. The
setting out of the first home companies; the sensations of
"war movements,' ' which gradually grow common as more
and more men go out to camp, the first wounded and the first
dead to be sent home cause a different expression from the
community, than those of a later day when this has become
so common that feelings seem suppressed.
The military organizations of the county were soon aroused
by the news of the southern movements. The first action by
any company was taken by the " Dragoons' ' of Iowa City the
last of January in 1861. At a special meeting of this com-
pany resolutions were adopted in which they pledged them-
selves as citizens and as individuals to be in readiness for
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508 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
any call that might be made upon them by the proper author-
ities to "execute the laws of the Union and to suppress in-
surrection and repel invasion." They were willing to assist
at any point where they could aid in enforcing the law, and
where the government forces were now unable to do so.
The call by the president of the United States for 75,000
volunteers from the militia of the several states was met in
Johnson county by a second call "to arms!" in mass conven-
tion. The summons was general, indicating a desire to make
an offering of men for the first regiment. Could the people
have understood the meaning of this war then we may sup-
pose there would have been a like response, but with a dread
of consequences greater than appeared from the filling up of
one regiment.
On Thursday evening, April 18, 1861, the first mass meet-
ing of an impromptu nature assembled at the court house.
The "Washington Guards" marched to the music of fife and
drum and the crowd followed until the building was filled to
overflowing. The Stars and Stripes carried by Ensign Haw-
kins, was cheered at every step. The mayor of the city, Geo.
W. Clark, spoke in behalf of the Union. Others followed
him, namely, Ad j .-Gen. Jesse Bowen, Capt. Mahanna, L. D.
Ingersoll, Dr. Stone, Hon. J. W. Cattell, Judge Buttles, Gen-
eral Knox, Reverend Dalby, G. H. Jerome, M. Bloom, A. J.
Cassady, and N. H. Brainerd.
ProfessorWhipple sang the "Star Spangled Banner,' ' the
whole crowd rising to join in the chorus. The rolls were
opened and forty names were added, General Bowen head-
ing the list. Immediately a subscription list was started for
the support of wives and mothers of those who should enlist,
and in less than one hour between three and four thousand
dollars were subscribed. Cheers for Major Anderson of Fort
Sumter, for the flag and the Union, closed the meeting for one
day only. On the Saturday following a great crowd met in
front of the University when Bryan Dennis, of Clear Creek,
was made chairman, for he was a pioneer and suited to the
occasion. Governor Kirkwood was called to the platform and
although in poor health at this particular time, responded to
the summons in an eloquent address.
Here the announcement was made by General Bowen that
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAE 509
the "Washington Guards,' ' a fnll company of seventy-eight
men, volunteered their services as part of the "Iowa Reg-
iment." To call it the "Iowa Regiment" is a strange term
today since following this summons so many, many more had
to go to end the rebellion. This indicates how little the prob-
lem was then understood.
Bryan Dennis and John Powell each made the offer of
forty acres of land to be given to any soldier specified by
them who should return with an honorable discharge, while
Dr. Murray offered eighty acres for the same purpose. At
the same time another call was made for subscriptions toward
the support fund, when $1,200 was added to the former
amount, making $6,000 up to that time. William Penn Clark
having returned to the city just before the meeting closed was
■one of the speakers who aroused the patriotic emotions of the
assembly. The Washington Guards and German Artillery
were out in full uniform and the artillery saluted with thirty-
four guns, the national salute, at the commencement of the
meeting.
Again it may be said that this was not a local affair.
People came from all corners of the county to lend their pres-
ence and influence to the cause of Unionism. Time, money
and lauds were pledged to suppress treason both north and
south. A second company was forming in the county at that
time and had already enlisted forty men.
In April, 1861, the Iowa City Dragoons offered a full com-
pany at a citizens' meeting in the council chambers, stating
that they were ready to respond to the call of the governor
of Iowa for active service within the state or United States.
All the organization for enlistment and relief was now
perfected. Committees of all degrees and sizes were appoint-
ed to execute and solicit. Money, goods, or good words seemed
of equal value. Almost everything else was forgotten in the
excitement over the news that daily came to this distant point
from the scenes of hostilities, or movement of troops then on
the way to Washington to defend the capital.
One of the most interesting of all the calls published during
the month of April, 1861, is here quoted in full since the spirit
of the summons is secured only in that way :
"Having been requested by many of our fellow citizens to
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510 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
issue a call for a general rally of all citizens of this county
who formerly served in European armies, we, the undersigned,
call now on all these of our countrymen who fought the hire-
lings of tyrants in the eventful struggle of 1848 and 1849, to
come forward to the rescue of our adopted country, whose
laws we have sworn to support by our oath of allegiance and
form a company of devoted patriots, who know well their duty
to God and their adopted country. To carry out this purpose
we will, after being organized, offer our services to our coun-
try for work of defence and not for show or play. Our wives
and children will be taken care of by the government for the
defence of whose stars and stripes we are eager to meet free-
dom '& foe once more. The meeting will take place Wednes-
day, May 1 (1861), at 8 p. m., at Metropolitan Hall. Rally,
ye sons of Germany, Bohemia, and France !
"C. W. Lionhabdt,
' i Hbnby Poggekpohl. ' '
There was a halting now, that followed when wearied with
bloodshed and sorrow there seemed no end to the call for
"men," the best "men," to come to fill the broken ranks.
The Washington Guards, being fully equipped, were ordered
by Governor Kirkwood to be ready to take the train for
Davenport on Monday morning, May 6, 1861. The women
had finished making the uniforms on Friday before, after
four days continuous work. In addition to the clothing each
man carried an equipment of personal needs, contained in one
package, such as needles, pins, thread and buttons, court
plaster, and a "Jerusalem Overtaker," bandages and lint in
sufficient quantity, it was hoped, to be more than enough to
last the service through. Yet, how little they knew of the
future !
The following day the company, dressed now in their new
uniforms, appeared upon the street and as usual they were
feasted and feted but for the last time before their departure,
and some of them forever. Sunday afternoon they marched
to the Methodist church and heard an eloquent address by
Professor Spencer. At the close of these services each volun-
teer of the company was presented with a copy of the New
Testament by the Johnson County Bible Society. At ten
o'clock on Sunday night the message from the governor came
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR 511
to Captain Mahanna, and at the same time he said the com-
pany must be cut to ninety-seven men. However, it had a
full hundred men on its rolls, which required the removal of
three. This number of married men were induced to remain
at home.
Before the departure citizens presented to Captain Ma-
hanna a fine sword. This was a very trying scene since it
was now that preparation had ceased and serious work began.
"W. Perm Clark made the address of presentation to which
Captain Mahanna responded very briefly, when the march
to the M. & M. depot was commenced. Hundreds of the
friends followed to say a final farewell to the first company
to leave for the war. It was three o 'clock when the members
of the company filed into the cars reserved for them. The
pressure of the crowd to say good-bye was so great that the
loading was difficult. People greeted them at all points on
the journey to the river and they soon after found what real
camp life meant, for they went by boat immediately to Keo-
kuk where the Iowa regiment assembled before going farther
south.
Meantime the "Iowa City Rifles' ' were organizing and pre-
paring to offer their services to the governor. The first of-
ficers chosen were : Captain, J. W. Sterling ; First Lieutenant,
J. H. Weatherby; Second Lieutenant, Geo. P. Hess; Third
Lieutenant, I. D. Calvert; Ensign, A. F. Murray; Sargeants,
Hamilton, Owen, Dunham, and Greeley; Corporals, Rutan,
Hawley, Louisburg and Hockinberry. There were eighty men
in the company when they were fully organized.
The townships were also busy with their company plans.
During the first weeks in May, 1861, Scott township held a
meeting at the house of A. H. Burchard for definite action in
forming a company. Meetings were held in Graham also at
the Summit school house. News came slowly in those days
of no telegraph, for we find personal accounts instead of
swifter messages to the county and to those waiting for news
from the camps forming along the river. This illustrates the
point: "On Saturday evening last, Dr. Sanders of Iowa City
called on us, having been sent by a number of his enterpris-
ing fellow citizens to get the telegraphic news received here.
He left about midnight with all the dispatches in this paper,
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512 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
expecting to regale his friends in Iowa City with them by day-
light. The people of Iowa City feel sadly the want of tele-
graphic communication with the rest of mankind."891
When the Washington Guards were "at home" in the Keo-
kuk camp they took occasion to return their thanks for all that
the women had done for them and for their continued thought-
fulness in forwarding home articles to the camp. The first
regiments to set out seemed to be the fortunate ones in thus
securing the "good things" from home, for when the moving
of so many men began later the good public became exhausted.
The correspondent from the camp, "Jeff" by name, related
something of the great reception given by the Keokuk ladies
in honor of the first regiment. It is safe to conclude that the
resolutions adopted later contained a soldier's gratitude.
The "Union Guards" were a company organized in Penn
township and accepted by Governor Kirkwood for the sixth
regiment. Men from other parts of the county completed
the company's quota. The captain, John Williams, had served
in the Mexican War; First Lieutenant, N. Owen, and Second
Lieutenant, A. J. Miller, were the other commissioned offi-
cers. This company left the county for Burlington about the
middle of July, 1861, and were there mustered into the United
States' service. On the day of their departure they were en-
tertained by the city and a great crowd assembled to see them
off. The train that carried them was loaded with soldiers from
three other points, Marengo, Marshalltown and Tipton.
Capt. J. 0. Gower of the "Iowa City Dragoons" was or-
dered to be in Burlington with his company at nine o'clock on
Monday, July 29, 1861, when this company of cavalry was to
become part of the regiment then forming. Horses had been
furnished by men who could not enlist, by this means ex-
pressing their good will and loyalty. Prophecies were many
concerning the future of this cavalry company. They left for
the camp at Burlington on Saturday, July 27, going across the
country. J. R. Elliott was first lieutenant and P. E. Shaver
second, with J. T. Beatty orderly sergeant.892
While hundreds were on the way to the front there were
some who deemed it necessary to have a "home guard," and
met to organize such a company in August, 1861. The reso-
lutions they adopted express their fears, and thus early in the
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR 513
war such a thing might have been necessary. However, before
the end came in 1865, these companies were no longer needed.
The reasons for such a movement may be learned from the
following : Whereas, at all times and more especially in great
public emergencies it is of vital importance to the stability of
our institutions that the excesses of political passion be held
in check and overbalanced by the sober sense of reasoning and
reasonable men. And, Whereas, during the recent troubles
peaceable citizens of the northern states have been subjected
to personal outrage and loss of property, without warrant of
law or justice, and at the mere caprice of unlicensed fanaticism,
and being credibly informed that an organized attempt is now
making in this locality to incite a similar spirit of mob violence
. . . : We, the undersigned, agree and pledge ourselves
as an association for the maintenance of law and order, and to
denounce by all legitimate means, and to resist any unlawful
attempts that may be made to abridge the freedom of speech,
the liberty of the press, the enjoyment of property, or any
other right of an American citizen guaranteed by the consti-
tution. To prosecute this end we further agree to hold our-
selves in readiness at the call of the constituted authorities to
aid in the preservation of public peace and the rights of citi-
zens against any outrage or violation. ' '
The first members of Company B. were sent home the latter
part of August, their first term of enlistment having expired.
The 'home folks 7 gave them a warm reception and other men
were recruiting at the same time to keep the line unbroken.
The going and coming from this time until the final "muster
out" of the last company never ceased. Strong men were
leaving to join regiments, and crippled and broken men were
returning to carry the rest of their lives the record of "war."
Few of Company B. who went out first are now alive to tell
the story of their first campaign.
Irrespective of party or any previous apparent affiliation
the citizens of Johnson county met at the court house in March,
1863, and adopted the resolution, such as all the citizens of
the several counties were adopting, in support of the under-
takings of the government and condemning in strong lan-
guage any and every attempt on the part of disaffected per-
sons claiming to be citizens of the United States, yet using
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514 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
every endeavor to embarrass the government in its present
dilemma, pledges of fortune, influence, and honor were deemed
the duty of every man.
One man who addressed that meeting is still living, an
honored resident of Des Moines, Judge C. C. Cole. This meet-
ing resulted in the organization of the Union League, and the
only requirement necessary to become a member of this was
loyalty to the purposes expressed in the former resolutions.
Free discussion was also invited while the county organization
endeavored to establish a similar one in each township in the
county.
The 6th Iowa Cavalry was detailed for service on the fron-
tier in the spring of 1863. The Indians were making life
terrible for the settlers and the regiment was sent to their
relief. On the way they were quartered in Iowa City for a
time and the recent march of another cavalry regiment over
the same route from the Mississippi river to Des Moines
seems like history repeating itself. The 6th Regiment of 1863
came from Davenport and remained here to recuperate and
prepare for the remainder of their journey.
Two years before in the fall of 1861 when the first three
companies of the fourteenth Iowa Volunteers on the way to
Fort Randall passed through Clear Creek township, a number
of Company C being from that part of this county, they
camped on the farm of Joseph Douglass, or what then be-
longed to his widow. It had been the good fortune of the
township to own a flag during the time of recruiting in the
spring before, and now, after a hasty consultation, it was
decided to move upon the camp of the three companies and
present the flag to the regiment. This flag was the work of
the women of the neighborhood and here at the camp, by the
light of a blazing straw stack, they gave it to the soldier boys
who had been sent off to the northwest to look after the
Indians rather than sent to the scenes of battle with the men
from the South. The speech of presentation was made by
Bryan Dennis, the captain of the home guards, and the re-
sponse by Col. John Pattee of Iowa City, who spoke for the
regiment. Incidentally, it is said, that a certain young lady
then named Mary Washburn, became Mrs. Hamilton the fol-
lowing spring because she was prevailed upon to speak to the
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR 515
assembled soldiers on this occasion. When the war was over
and the soldier boys returned they brought home the silken
flag given to them on that night, by the blazing fire, and on
the day of the reception and dinner given to them at Johnson's
school house, presented once more to the ladies the colors they
had so carefully preserved in the campaign. Miss Mary
Washburn, then Mrs. Hamilton, was chosen by the friends to
take the flag from the hands of the soldier, and the bit of
romance was quite complete.
In common with many counties in this part of the state an
independent military company was organized in July, 1863, as
they were allowed to do under the laws. Eighty-five mem-
bers were enrolled in this company at its first meeting. James
E. Elliott was made captain, L. W. Talbot first lieutenant and
H. A. Tidd second lieutenant. These officers had served in
the volunteer regiments, the first Iowa cavalry, the first in-
fantry, and the twenty-second infantry.104
When the call came for 300,000 volunteers in 1863, a recruit-
ing office was opened in Iowa City, while the number required
from each township of the county under the draft then about to
be made was published and it was urged, as it was in other sec-
tions, to volunteer in order to save the draft. A poor man could
not be asked to go from his family, hence some means should be
provided whereby men could be furnished from the several
townships ; a fund it was said should be created in order to
protect the poor man who might be drafted or be forced to
hire a substitute. The time had now come when the Northern
man at home must feel the " rigors of war" personally. The
honor of Johnson county, and it was felt the same elsewhere,
demanded, in the opinion of some of its citizens, that its
quota should be composed of volunteers; they should come
forward at once and not delay matters until time for a draft.
A total of 221 would be drafted from the county unless the
plan suggested was immediately adopted. Seventy-six of this
number must come from Iowa City township.
September 14, 1862, almost forty-nine years ago, the famous
twenty-second regiment of Iowa Infantry under command of
Col. Wm. Milo Stone said good bye to Camp Pope at Iowa
City, to home and friends in Johnson county. Of this regi-
ment, seven companies were from Johnson county; one came
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516 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
from Jasper, one from Monroe, and one from Wapello. Com-
pany A from Johnson county was commanded by Charles N.
Lee; David J. Davis, first lieutenant; Wm. W. Hughes, second
lieutenant. Company B was almost wholly from Iowa City ; J.
H. Gearkee was captain ; John Remick, first lieutenant ; James
H. Boarts, second lieutenant. Jasper county sent company C
under command of Capt. Adam J. Ault ; Neil Murray, first lieu-
tenant ; L. F. Mullis, second lieutenant. Albia, Monroe county,
was the home of every man, excepting three in company D;
Robert M. Wilson was captain ; William Pinney, first lieuten-
ant ; and Matt A. Robb, second lieutenant. Company E came
from Wapello, most of them from Agency City ; Hiram C. Hum-
bert, captain ; E. G. White, first lieutenant ; Berry D. Parks, sec-
ond lieutenant. All the remaining companies came from John-
son county. Company F was under command of Capt. A. B.
Call; John W. Porter, first lieutenant, William G. Haddock,
second lieutenant. Company G was commanded by Isaac V.
Dennis, first lieutenant, James 0. Hawkins; second lieutenant,
George H. Shockey. Three townships sent every man
of Company H, Big Grove, Jefferson and Monroe. The
captain was John C. Shrader ; first lieutenant, James L. Penny ;
second lieutenant, Daniel W. Henderson. Company I was
from the southwestern part of Johnson county ; James Robert-
son was captain; James W. Sterling, first lieutenant; and W.
W. Morsman, second lieutenant. Company K, excepting two
men from Windham and nine from Frank Pierce, was all from
Iowa City; Capt. Geo. W. Clark was in command; first
lieutenant, John Francisco ; second lieutenant, Thos. Morrison.
The regiment had a total enrollment of nine hundred and sixty
men. Many promotions occurred, to relate which would re-
quire a study of the individual roster in order to make a
complete report and space would not admit of more than such
mention.
After leaving Camp Pope, Iowa City, where it had rendez-
voused during enlistment and mustering in, the twenty-second
had business all the time. Departing September 14, 1862, it
was at St. Louis on the 22d, at Rolla, Missouri, the next day
when it did garrison duty for four months. January, 1863,
with the twenty-first and twenty-third Iowa, it formed the
first brigade, first division of the army of the southeast Mis-
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR 517
souri, Colonel Stone, brigade commander. March 9, 1863, the
regiment embarked for Vicksburg, and on April 9, 1863, the
regiment had its first experience in battle at Fort Gibson.
Here David P. Robertson of Company B, Sylvester Garrison
of Company E, and John F. Whitington of Company H were
killed and eighteen of the regiment were wounded. However,
in this first battle, fought after a toilsome day's march and
a sleepless night the twenty-second held honorable place and
received high praise. Its next battle was at Jackson, Miss.,
May 17, 1863, where being in the reserve corps the loss was
three, one killed, Jacob Leller of Company H, and two wounded.
This was the battle where Col. Kinsman of the twenty-third
Iowa was killed. It was at noon, May 19, 1863, that the
twenty-second first saw the hills of Vicksburg, and it is said
also "the last city on which many were to gaze." Here for
the first time in a "regular way, it became acquainted with a
new weapon, the spade. ' ' It was not for long, however, for on
the evening of the twenty-first Colonel Stone received orders-
from Grant to be ready for assault on the following morning*
Obedient to orders, the regiment marched to the front, "to
assail," as some have said, "a position that taken, could not
have been held. ' ' The twenty-second supported by the twenty-
first Iowa and eleventh Wisconsin were ordered to the attack
by McClernand, the first of these three in the lead. Colonel
Stone fell at the first volley and Lieutenant-Colonel Graham
took command. Then the regiment * ' swept across the space in
front of the enemy's works, stormed the south works, and
eleven men planted the colors on its summit, Jos. E. Griffith
and David Trine, alone, escaping." Colonel Graham and a
number of men were captured in the ditch beneath the walls of
the enemy, Captain Gearkee and Lieut. Remick were wounded.
Of the regiment, one hundred sixty four were killed, wounded,
or captured. The officer who ordered the regiment into this
position, mentioned that with proper support to the assault of
the twenty-second, Vicksburg would have fallen that day, and
in consequence of the controversy that arose with Grant and
Sherman over the matter McClernand resigned his command.
During the campaigns about Vicksburg, the assault and
siege, "eighty-two brave men from the twenty-second went
over to the majority." From here, after the fate of that
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518 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
city was determined, the regiment went to New Orleans and
spent the winter of 1863 and 1864 in Louisiana, and moving on
to Texas sometime early in 1864, returning to Louisiana in
May, 1864. Again July 17, 1864, it set sail for Fortress Mon-
roe when after a week of storm it landed. For a time it was
with Ben. Butler, and in the trenches before Richmond one
week. From here it went to Washington where a rest of
two weeks was granted, then it joined Sheridan's command
in the Shenandoah valley. It was here that the regiment was
engaged in the bloody battle of Winchester court house, fam-
ous in history as the scene of ' ' Gen. Sheridan's Ride. ' ' It was
on this historic field that the twenty-second "marched through
a mile of open plateau to the attack upon the confederate
breastworks, sheltered by the timber, slowly retreated half-
way back and under the magic impulse of Sheridan's pres-
ence, reformed on the field, pressed forward and took the van-
tage ground." One hundred four of the regiment were lost
in this engagement, in killed, wounded, and captured.
Fisher's Hill was the next battle, which came about in the
pursuit of Gen. Early, and the regiment remained in the state
of Virginia until the battle of Cedar Creek on October 10,
1864, which was the last engagement in which the twenty-
second was a participant, and one may say with its historian
"it was a sweeping victory." Seventy- two were captured,
wounded, or killed in this short contest and the "last battle."
Two years before this regiment had gone out from Iowa
with almost a thousand men as mentioned in the beginning of
this sketch, and it had gained fifty more by transfer and en-
listment. Of this total number, "four officers and fifty- three
men had been killed in battle ; one officer and fifty-four men had
died of wounds; one officer and ninety-eight men died from
disease; three died in accidents; while discharges and trans-
fers had much weakened the force, and a month after the
battle of Cedar Creek the roll showed twenty-four officers and
five hundred forty-seven men as the total strength of the
twenty-second Iowa."
The regiment left Virginia for Savannah after the campaign
in the Shenandoah Valley was finished and remained there on
"easy duty" for two months, then it went to North Carolina,
back to Augusta, and at Savannah on July 20, 1865, it was
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR 519
mustered out, sent to Davenport and reached home at Iowa
City on August 3, 1865, to be disbanded, and then once more to
return to the accustomed occupations.895
The glory of war is not obtained without cost, great cost
to those who are engaged and to those who lose the soldier
friend, brother, father, or husband. Here is an illustration
of what was happening in all parts of the Union, both north
and south. Death became such a common thing, and the list
of killed was scanned by watchful eyes with the greatest
anxiety after every battle.
Lieut. James A. Boarts of Company B, twenty-second Iowa
infantry, was wounded at Winchester, September 19, 1864.
From that distant field of battle his body was recovered and
returned to his friends in the home county, where it was re-
ceived and buried with military honors. During the war he
had fought in all the battles of the twenty-second and came to
the fierce contest of Winchester before his death blow. When
the war broke out he was but nineteen years of age, and he
went with the first regiment as a private, but on the organiza-
tion of the twenty-second he became second lieutenant of
Company B.
The youngest and the best were necessary to preserve the
Union and how many times this story could be repeated.
Young John Mahan of Company G of the same regiment came
home from Vicksburg shattered in health and just before the
surrender of Lee he too was laid in a soldier's grave.
On the return, some enthusiastic members of the twenty-
second sent word in advance that they expected one of the
biggest receptions ever given any body of men when they re-
turned from "the war." They were not disappointed for
Friday, August 4, 1865, was a great day in Johnson county.
The greater number of her soldiers who were able to return
came home that day and thousands greeted them as thousands
had bidden them good fortune in going away.
One cannot help thinking here, of the lone watcher who
stood apart from the throng and knew the one who went away
could never return. Husband, father, brother, son or lover
must forever sleep on the battle field. These must have been
the heart-breaking scenes on such occasions. Joy unmeasured
in one instance, sorrow inexpressible in another, such was war.
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520 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Wagons in sufficient numbers to carry all the baggage of
the returning soldiers met the train and they were immediately
notified that " dinner was ready at Metropolitaan Hail." No
order of march was possible since greetings of friends and
families could not be postponed. This was one occasion where
speeches were omitted, a very fortunate oversight. On that
day the county was indeed proud to welcome home its own
army which returned now to industrial pursuits and peaceful
habits once more. They were advised in all kindness to find
their accustomed places, and others were urged to give them
employment at once as the chief need now was something to
do.896
Company D of the twenty-fourth had arrived just before
the members of the twenty-second. They belonged to the
"Temperance Kegiment" which was composed of companies
from Cedar, Linn, Jones, Johnson and Tama counties chiefly.
Company D had been received by the citizens in the same way
after the third dinner was prepared for them on account of
their non-arrival in time for the first two. Lieut-Col. Ed.
Wright was their commander when they were discharged, a
man whom they delighted to honor and who was honored by
his state in many ways.807 Finally, a great barbecue and re-
union was held on the fair grounds for the county soldiers in
August, 1865. Once more the good governor of Iowa dur-
ing the war welcomed the " boys' ' home. Capt. G. W. Clark
and J. B. Grinnell were the ones who responded to his wel-
come. The immense crowd was fed on roast ox and other
good things until the reader is led to wonder whether soldiers
ever would get enough to eat. More speaking came after the
feast by N. H. Brainerd, R. S. Finkbine and others. A mimic
war scene was given by the soldiers for the benefit of the
"stay at homes'' which was probably the "last fight of the
regulars."
It is interesting to remember that with all the speeches
given in the going and coming of these veterans, they were
talked to usually after a full meal. They never went hungry in
Johnson county. Neither were the good things reserved for
"their very own," by the good mothers of the day. They fed
all who came, friend or stranger, and if there were any foes
thev were also fed.898
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR 521
Once upon a time the flag of the twenty-second was in the
possession of the Iowa State Historical Society. This is plain-
ly the reason for thinking so. In February, 1864, Gov. Kirk-
wood made the address presenting it to the society and the li-
brarian Mr. T. S. Parvin then made the response to this ad-
dress. Gov. Kirkwood used the occasion to state something of
the history of the regiment. "It was composed largely" he
said "of friends and immediate neighbors, seven of the ten
companies going out from this county." While all Iowa sol-
diers might be to us of special interest and we might feel that
they were fighting in our behalf, this regiment was particular-
ly our own. Great pride was felt on the part of the citizens of
the county because of its achievements in the field. The twen-
ty-second was worthy to be noted among the bravest of the
state.
When it left the camp assembly in the neighborhood of
Iowa City it carried with it as all regiments did, the national
banner. The banner it then bore was new, the governor said
"its colors are bright, its texture unbroken, its folds had been
lifted only by the pure free breezes of our prairies. Stirred
by the prayers of fair women and brave men they carried it
away to battle fields. Since then it has hung drooping and
lifeless in the tainted atmosphere of battle fields, and it has at
other times floated over the quarters of the defeated enemy.
The sun, the rain, and the wind have dimmed its colors, shot
and shell of the enemy pierced it through and it is rent and
torn by months of warfare, until its shreds only remain."
Since it was unfit for longer use in the field the flag
was returned to be presented to the Historical Society of
Iowa of which Mr. T. S. Parvin was then secretary. Again
the governor at this moment said, "Take it Sir, and keep it
safely and securely. Although so faded and tattered, it i&
now a thousand times more valuable than when it went out
from us in all its freshness and beauty. It tells now of the
glorious deeds done before that time, and also of equally
glorious deeds since. It tells us that what it symbolized of
value then is still more valuable now, because of all the toil
and suffering endured to add to its value. Place it where the
young men and the young women, the boys and girls, children
of this age and future ages may look upon it and by so doing
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522 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
emulate the loyalty, the patriotism and bravery of our fathers
and their fathers."
It was here in the proceedings on the special occassion that
Mr. Parvin received the flag and made a response on behalf
of the historical society, stating something of the scenes
through which the flag had been carried and in the conclusion
saying, "I take it Sir, as the gift of men who have won for
themselves and their noble regiment a name worthy of honor-
able mention, men who under gallant leaders have borne it
triumphantly to victory on many a battle field, and now commit
it faded and torn with all its hallowed memories to the
sacred keeping of our State Historical Society, established 'to
collect and preserve the materials illustrative of the history of
our young and patriotic state.' " This presentation was made
at a meeting of the " Ladies Aid Society' ' so often referred
to as the agency of benevolent acts. Moreover, this occasion
was for the very purpose of aiding those who had earned this
flag and others of their kind who were in need.*99
A private letter from Walter Lee a member of the twenty-
second, to his father E. C. Lee, gives some facts concerning the
regiment that probably can be found nowhere outside of war
department records. This was written just one year after
they left Eolla, Missouri, and was sent from quarters at Mata-
gorda Bay. During the year there were one hundred fifty-six
deaths in the regiment. Eighty-one were killed or died of
wounds. The total loss from all causes from January 1, 1863
to January 1, 1864 was 382. At the time he writes, March,
1864, there were 630 men, privates and officers, in the regiment,
while only sixteen of the twenty-eight officers who left Iowa
City with them were now on duty. Two were killed at Vicks-
burg, the others had resigned.
The fortieth Iowa was mustered in at Camp Pope, Iowa
City, by the mustering officer, Capt. Hendershott in November,
1862. This regiment was waiting orders then to move and while
their destination was mere guess work at that time they ex-
pected to form part of the expedition of Gen. McClernand down
the Mississippi "toward Vicksburg or elsewhere." While wait-
ing for orders most of the men obtained furloughs to visit their
homes. The regimental officers were from other points than
Johnson county, excepting L. A. Duncan of Iowa City, who
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JOHNSON COUNTY IN THE CIVIL WAR 523
was adjutant, and W. A. Dinwiddie, who was hospital stew-
ard.400
It is well to mention here that the thirty-seventh Iowa in-
fantry known as the ''Grey Beard Regiment" included forty-
four men from Johnson county, who were members of
of Capt J. W. McCaddon's company. They were mus-
tered in late in 1862 at Muscatine and it must be remembered
that the men composing this noted regiment were all over
forty-five years of age. The regiment officers from the county
were Lyman Allen, major, and Prentice Ran&om, quarter-
master.401
Winter came on, and the fortieth was still in camp. They
were then informed by Adj. Gen. Baker that as soon as arms
were received at Davenport the regiment would be given
marching orders. Finally, on December 17, 1862, the regiment
left Camp Pope at Iowa City and started by train for the
scenes of war. They had less than twenty hours in which
to prepare for their departure, that is to obtain provisions
according to order for five days' rations. To the good citi-
zens of Iowa City the colonel of the regiment, Col. Garrett, of
Newton, tendered his sincere thanks for all the kindness and
courtesy shown their officers and men while in camp here. And
he expressed special gratitude "for the care of the sick by
the large-hearted ladies of the city." The regiment bade
farewell to their friends and were carried away to Davenport
in the early morning of December 17, 1862.
Less than a week had elapsed when the barracks of Camp
Pope were generally removed, but one or two remaining to
remind the citizens that such a camp had been in existence.
The farmers and others had taken them home to be placed on
their premises as permanent keepsakes of Camp Pope and the
days when many soldiers camped here. These barracks were
sold at auction, supposedly to the highest bidder. A large
crowd assembled at the place of sale and it is said ' i the bidding
was lively and spirited." Twenty-six seperate items or build-
ings were sold to more than twenty bidders.
It was late in the war period, just as the last year of con-
flict began that the "Student Company" went out from Iowa.
Eighty- three men composed this company, three of them mem-
bers of the teaching force in the State University and Western
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524 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
i
College, now located in Toledo, then in Linn county. They
were called Captain Borland's Company, forty-five of them
coming from the University and the remainder from Western
and Cornell colleges. Only two members had reached the age
of twenty-five years, the age of the others ranging from
eighteen to twenty- three. They were said to have been "vig-
orous, healthy, young men who had thrown aside their gram-
mar to pick up the musket; deserted Vergil to scan the rebel
foe ; left Euclid in the lurch to sooner solve the difficult problem
of war." By the Davenport papers where the company went
into camp they were complimented in the highest terms on
their ' ' fine appearance. ' J
However it is apparent that not all students were inclined
to take up arms on the Union side, since we read that Mr.
Timothy P. Murphy, having violated the resolution which con-
tained the prohibition passed at the regular meeting of the
University faculty on April 29, 1863, and having continued
his offence after private admonition to the contrary, was
summoned before the faculty. After a hearing and an earnest
and what was called an "affectionate expostulation" on the
part of the faculty, he still persisted in his declaration that
he would not obey the order. For this insubordination and be-
cause of the increasing dissension among students he was by
vote of the faculty dismissed from the institution. The officials
published these proceedings in full, since much capital was
made out of the action and it was reported in the Chicago
Times, an anti-war paper.
The "resolution" referred to above "prohibited the wear-
ing of badges by University students that were political in
their nature." This had been unanimously adopted in April,
and the student was dismissed in May. Dr. Totten's son was
also "disciplined" by other students for southern sympathies
according to statements of a student at that time.
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CHAPTEE XXXII
At Home and in the Field
"^JO SOONEE were the soldiers in the field than relief soci-
^^ eties at home began to make plans for caring for the
sick and wounded. In many cases indeed money was sub-
scribed to equip the first companies. To continue this became
impossible as the numbers became too numerous, but as the
<xmtributions of the relief societies were made up of a great
variety of articles and sent at opportune periods they kept up
their organizations during the entire war, or until their ser-
vices were no longer needed.
The soldiers aid societies of Johnson county, organized in
1861, at the end of one year, or in October, 1862, through their
secretary, made a report of the amount and kind of articles
contributed and sent to the front. Clothing, bedding and food
supply for the sick were always acceptable and the freight
was cared for by the general government. The whole value
of this first year's aid was over $1,500 in money and materials.
The farm, the garden, the orchard, and the skill of the house-
wife furnished many home-made articles for the hospital and
camp. We find the proceeds of lectures, concerts, exhibitions,
and contributions at celebrations and festivals all turned over
to the distributing society for the benefit of the "boys in the
field." Mrs. W. W. Allen was the secretary who kept an ac-
curate account of all that was sent forward. If these old
records could be examined they would be read with the sensa-
tion of great regard for the wives and mothers who were
sacrificing at home while the husbands and sons were sacri-
ficing on the field. One cannot enumerate the many instances
of these home societies for the care of the members of fam-
ilies who must bear their share of a citizen's duty. Scott
township Soldiers' Aid Society was active in 1863, for we
find a meeting announced "at the home of Mrs. H. E. Carver."
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526 HISTOKY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
The government meantime established a soldiers ' hospital
in Iowa City in the summer of 1863 for the accommodation
of at least two hundred patients. For this purpose the Sum-
mit House was selected, and here the soldiers who were con-
valescent were quartered. At the same time the relief soci-
eties of the community composed of the women of the county
made preparations to make the stay of the soldier a pleasant
one if it must be in a hospital ward.
Soldiers were coming home on furlough now, more espe-
cially from the twenty-second, so largely a local regiment,
Capt. Geo. W. Clark being among the number, who reported
on his return what was to him a very unsatisfactory condition
of affairs in the matter of forwarding the supplies furnished
by the relief organizations of the home county. After the
great effort made by the aid societies it was not encouraging;
to learn that the material contributed failed to reach its des-
tination. It was possible that there was some mistake, but
if true it only emphasized the fact that all " needed watching,' '
even some who ought to have been trustworthy.
In order to assist in maintaining the local military hos-
pital the proceeds of the Folsom toll bridge were set aside for
one entire day in November, 1863. Mr. Folsom announced
that all tolls for that day would be paid over to the Soldiers'
Aid Society of the city. All who could make it convenient
to cross on that day were urged to do so. In response to this
humane act the ladies of the Belief Society issued the fol-
lowing:
"G. Folsom, Esq.
"Sir: Your generous donation to the Ladies' Aid Society
was duly received for which accept our warmest thanks, with
the assurance that it will be appreciated as you suggest. It
may not be amiss to say to you that in accordance with our
constitution we do not feel at liberty to use the funds of the
society now on hand for the relief of soldiers' families, except
in cases where the soldier is at home and sick. This we have
done in several instances. But where donations are made for
an expressed purpose, those donations shall be faithfully ap-
plied to the specified object.
"By order of the society,
"Mrs. N. H. Brainerd, Sec'y."
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AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 527
The report of this society made in October, 1863, for the
year ending then, gave an itemized account of their contribu-
tions and a total valuation of over $1,300 sent to various dis-
tributing points. The plea was continued for further sup-
port since the need was as great as ever and any amount one
saw fit to give would be gratefully received.
Furthermore, not least among the needy nor forgotten by
all the public spirited and anxious authorities of the time were
the helpless families of the absent, the wounded, or the slain
soldier. It was said that even those who received the full
wages of the head of the family could scarcely live because
of the prevailing high prices and his small pay in the army,
and in many cases the soldier either could not obtain his pay
or it was lost or stolen from him, or other conditions inter-
fered with its reaching its home destination, leaving no re-
source for the wife and mother. Commendation and encour-
agement were not lacking, but that would not feed the hungry
nor clothe the naked. As one puts it: "No greater heroism
is shown in all the war than that displayed by the wife of
the soldier, first in consenting that he should go, and then in
the noble fortitude with which she meets the demands made
upon her. The sacrifice she is called upon to make puts to
shame all the burdens the rest of us who stay at home are
asked to bear."
The board of supervisors of the county were urged to make
some provision for the emergency in proportion to the mag-
nitude of it and the records of their proceedings indicate their
efforts to meet the demands made upon them.402 Yet there
were those who did not forget the perils and distress of ap-
proaching winter, for we read of them distributing supplies to
"twenty-five families at one trip." Here is a man who gives
a "beef and a half" and a "cord of wood ;" another "twenty-
one cords of wood, for free distribution;" a subscription list
of $110 for "wood and flour," indicated the great hearted-
ness of some. While these organizations of mercy, and in-
dividuals who were inclined to aid the unfortunate were en-
gaged in ministering to the physical needs, there were others
who were defending the cause for which men were fighting,
which indeed was necessary at certain times, although at this
distant day we cannot quite understand why. This is well
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528 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
illustrated in what took place among certain citizens of Gra-
ham township, who must have been much alarmed by reports,
judging from the meetings held and adoption of certain resolu-
tions regarding the " contraband.' ' They were called to meet
for the purpose of taking steps to prevent the "importation
of the African race into this part of Johnson county." This
meeting was held at the Morse school house, and E. K. Morse
was the chairman. They declared ' ' that we mean what we say,
that we are determined to have one spot in Johnson county,
Iowa, untarnished by the black race, or we will leave a stain
that will cry for revenge when our sons and neighbors return
from the land of Dixie," and that "we will enforce the law
in cases when it will apply, and use moral suasion to keep
the negroes out of this part of Johnson county; and if that
fails we will put them out." 408
This publication aroused other citizens of Graham town-
ship and a mass meeting was held, composed of all parties, in
which the previous meeting was not complimented with the
term citizenship of Graham township. It being considered
essential that the citizens of said community should present
themselves in the proper light, the present gathering was
deemed necessary in order to utter a merited rebuke to the
minority of the township. Since those who uttered such reso-
lutions had placed themselves above the constitution and laws
it was necessary to state that every man has a right to conduct
his own affairs in his own way so long as he does not inter-
fere with the rights of his neighbor and when he does thus
interfere, he is amenable to the laws of the land, and not to
the disloyal caprices and diseased imaginary whims of his
brother neighbors. It was said very plainly and in con-
densed form that if necessity required it they would employ
and use in cultivating the soil any help to be had, without re-
gard to color, and should any one prevent, or attempt to pre-
vent they must suffer the consequences without any delay.
The justice of the peace who took part in the previous
meeting was asked to resign his office at once since he had
impaired the dignity of it and it should be returned to the
people. There is much more in the resolutions of the patri-
otic support of measures then uppermost in the minds of men
which cannot be given space here.
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AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 529
Oxford township held a meeting sometime later, when reso-
lutions of loyalty and condemning the action of any one who
did not support governmental efforts, were passed. They in-
dorsed the conscript law passed by Congress, and were in
favor of a swift prosecution of military affairs, pledging "all
their possessions and life if needed" in furthering the cause of
the Union. This was not the choice of anyone, in the opinion
of these citizens, but an imperative duty.404
Continuing the movement the several townships of the
county began to take an active part in commending the sol-
diery and in condemning any public opposition to the war
in this particular vicinity. The Graham and Oxford township
meetings were followed by others. Big Grove held an en-
thusiastic gathering presided over by Warner Spurrier, a man
whose name is associated with very early county history as
one of the commissioners. Eev. N. F. Eavlin, of Cedar
Rapids, came by special invitation to address the meeting.
It appears that he was a man fitted for the occasion and he
left no place for "copper-heads" in the future of that town-
ship. The sentiments of the resolutions adopted were not
unlike others mentioned before, but the events about Vicks-
burg gave the meeting a new inspiration in the special items
enumerated. The twenty-second and twenty-fourth, which
were engaged at Vicksburg, were honored in every way that
language could honor them. The meeting endorsed the prin-
ciple of the "right of suffrage" of the soldier, and made the
prosecution of the same to the end a prime topic. There
was no doubt in the minds of these citizens that the end could
only be successful by a vigorous activity in all departments
and they pledged themselves in every .way to carry out their
own suggestions.
As mentioned, the meeting above occurred soon after the
Vicksburg campaign, the surrender of which was observed in
the community by another meeting. The impromptu proces-
sion which formed came to a halt in front of the Clinton
House where the people were addressed by Adjutant- General
Baker, Governor Kirkwood, Colonel Graham, Doctor Ferrard,
Judge Buttles, Major Brooks, Lieutenant Remick, Z. C. Luse,
S. H. Fairall, Major Williams and others.
Farmers came in from all directions, having heard the
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530 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
artillery and the general jubilee over the news from the front
When it was understood that all would not arrive in time for
the program during the day it was postponed until evening.
Then fireworks and bonfires made day of the whole city and
an immense number of people collected at the front steps of
the Old Capitol in University Square, where they were ad-
dressed by the same ones who appeared at all such demon-
strations, among them President Spencer of the University,
Governor Kirkwood and Adjutant-General Baker. It was
more than a Fourth of July, it was a time when the long-de-
layed news found a response in the feelings of the people that
could not be given under ordinary patriotic occasions.
There was yet one more stirring event to cause a delay in
the daily occupations, and the one that meant the most to
the anxious ones both at the front of battle and at home.
Mayor McCleary requested, by proclamation, the cessation of
all business when the news of Lee's surrender came. The
schools were closed, while handbills announcing a gathering
in the evening were posted and "implements of noise" were
collected from various sources. The drums were sounded,
flags unfurled, and bells rung. In spite of the rain at night,
the big bonfire at the corner of Washington and Clinton streets
was surrounded by a great throng. Farmers came to town to
find out what all this noise was about. Darkness found the
town brightly illuminated [for 1865] with tallow candles. It
was reported that "the University buildings had the grandest
display, being illuminated their entire length" — probably a
candle in each window, and considered as extraordinary.
Led by the band the crowd called on Governor Kirkwood
and when the rain became too severe for further speaking out
of doors the court house was seized upon for the assembly.
Speeches and songs now ended the war as they began it, and
at the same place and also by some of the same speakers.
The conclusion was made in the following words: "We
have had great times in the week that has just passed and we
shall hardly look upon the like again." Posterity trusts that
such scenes may never more be necessary in the future united
purposes of the nation.
The abundance of war correspondence from the field sug-
gests that it should be collected and so arranged that a student
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AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 531
could find a continuous account of events through which a
given regiment, or company, better for local history, passed.
Such complete accounts could be gathered from letters, many
and interesting, sent from members of companies to family,
friends or newspapers. It would take a volume to contain the
letters that may be found in a single file of papers in one county
and the old soldier, even, has forgotten who the correspondent
was. He may have signed himself "Coon Creek,' ' or "13,"
or "Jeff." Here, for instance, is a letter from the twenty-
second, and here one from the second cavalry, and another
from the twenty-fourth, and still one from the twenty-eighth,
pages of matter written on the field, probably on a drum head,
or some other improvised support.
On the same page letters come from Rolla, Mo. ; from Cor-
inth, Miss. ; from Camp Pope ; all these tell the news as it was
found in their several commands. To illustrate: "Things
pursued the even tenor of their way at this military point
Everything is quiet in camp. It is now ten p. m. and ' taps'
have been beaten, noise is hushed, soldiers are in quarters,
and lights extinguished, save the solitary one by which these
lines are written. The silence seems portentious, yet nothing
serious will occur for some time. It is a law of mechanics that
large bodies move slowly. It is said the same rule holds in
military tactics. I think so. Facts are on that side of the
argument. One and a half months have passed since our
regiment (the twenty-second) left Iowa City, and what has
been accomplished. Regular routine of camp life, ennui and
discontent created ; that is all. Such is war and the spirit in
which it is conducted. A ' masterly inactivity reigns supreme. '
The rebel flag flaunting in the breeze in sight of our capitol
and the enemy preparing for winter quarters upon the banks
of the Potomoc. From winter quarters, in tents or barracks,
may Heaven defend us. But such a fate is not in store for us.
It was here the fourth Iowa camped last winter (winter of
'62 ) and its dead numbered scores. It has since seen the
hardest service, been in the hardest fought battles, yet such
experiences are not nearly so fatal, nor do they equal in de-
structive effort the silent, secret, deadly enemy — inactivity.
"It is said that in ancient times the ' smell of the lamp7
conduced to mental activity. If this old candle which is burn-
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532 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ing, fastened to my trunk, will have a similar effect, I shall be
very thankful and become a firm believer in Grecian f ableology
hereafter/ '
"The regiment remains in statu quoy Col. Graham com-
mandant of the post, Col. Stone not having been exchanged.
No major has appeared. Capt. Lee is in command of the
regiment. The failure of Col. Stone to be exchanged is deeply
regretted by the regiment. An officer of experience, energetic
and efficient, to be thus circumscribed is indeed a public calam-
ity. . . . Snow fell here last week and being followed by a
spell of severe weather, the boys got an inkling of what they
might expect in the future and they immediately prepared
for another attack. The tents issued by the quartermaster
will hold eighteen or twenty men each and have a sheet iron
stove which serves to make the tent quite comfortable.
"Ventilation is well secured by an aperture at the top
through which the smoke escapes. The officers are furnished
two wall tents but no stoves only as they purchase them for
themselves. Most of them have constructed fire places, the
smoke escaping through a flue underneath the ground, the
chimney being constructed of stone, pieces of wood and empty
barrels. Altogether they resemble a group of Irish shanties.
"A supposed spy was caught a short distance from here a
few days ago. He had in his possession $3300 in money and
a good horse. He represents himself as an Iowan on his way
to Arkansas. He is a suspicious character and is still under
arrest. Capt. Geo. W. Clark of Company K, the legal man of
the regiment, has been appointed Provost Marshal General of
the Rolla, Mo., district. Company K is still acting as Provost
Guard of the town of Rolla.
"Last week our camp was enlivened by the presence of an
old Iowa City citizen, M. L. Morris, formerly state treasurer.
He arrived from Springfield and found Johnson county pretty
well represented here. He left on Saturday for Salem to
join Gen. Warren, he having received the appointment of
brigade quartermaster on his staff.
"There has been another death in the regiment, Simeon
Woodlin of Company I. He died on Friday and was buried
with military honors, his own company following his hearse
and paying the last testimonial of respect to a departing sol-
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AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 533
dier. Deaths are quite frequent in the hospitals in town and
almost every day escorts are detailed to accompany the re-
mains to the final resting place."
Then follows a long list of sick, those in the hospital, and
on the road to recovery. This letter was signed by "Jeff,"
and from his name appearing elsewhere, it was probably
"Davis."
Another from Corinth, Miss., is somewhat different in its
subject matter:
"On the morning of the 28th, three days ago, word was
passed down the line that ' Sergeant Wicks, Co. B, was dead —
died this morning. ' In this simple announcement there was
nothing for wonder or surprise. Like him many another has
closed his earthly account in the hospital under circumstances
as unfovaroble for them as his were for him. With the an-
nouncement of his death was another which should have ex-
cited wonder, but it did not, for it is too frequently told and
believed to cause wonder — it was that he died from neglect.
"Don't lose all your sympathy for this one — Sergeant
Wicks ; think not even of his family whom he has left to mourn
the sacrifice, first of health, then of life for his country. Nor
shed a tear for the neglect during the hours when judicious
love might have saved him for his country and for his family.
Think of nothing but the bald fact — he died; and then let
him rest awhile for I shall soon introduce you to other per-
sonages as deserving of sympathy, as deserving of a tear.
"Not to the neglect through which Corporal Haskins died
of a flesh wound received in the Farmington charge; through
which a sergeant of Co. A died of a wound through the wrist.
For this neglect there is only a shadow of an excuse. It is
to our own hospital that I wish to call your attention.
"Corporal Smith, Co. G; Betts, Co. H; Grans, Co. A., were
long sick, having a disease peculiar to the climate. The med-
ical skill of the regiment acknowledged themselves baffled,
unable to do any more for them here.
"What was done then? Nothing. These men fast sink-
ing lower and lower were allowed to die in camp without med-
ical assistance or effort to save them, and further, the officers
of these three companies did all in their power to get from the
surgeons either furloughs or discharges for these men but
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534 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
they tried in vain. They were dying here, all could see that,
and they would never be of any further use to the government
if they remained here. If discharged or furloughed it could
be no worse — and probably much better. Let me give you
one item. Dr. Noyes, the surgeon, afterwards became unwell
and he is now home on a furlough. Had he shown a tenth of
the regard for the soldiers that he did for his own health,
these men might now be rugged and well ; or if they must die
they should have been surrounded by the comforts of home,
and have had their eyes closed by a kindred hand.
"A sick soldier in the morning attends 'sick call,' in a
hurry states his case, and in a hurry gets something to take.
It may cure him or it may make him worse. However sick a
soldier may be he has to abide by the decision of the surgeon,
or it may be the surgeon protem, the steward, whose prac-
tical experience has not been very long. If the surgeon 's re-
port says a man is sick he has to be sick. If he says he is
able to do duty, his actual illness does not excuse him. I have
seen men so sick that they could not walk straight, their faces
showing that they were sick, and yet they were reported for
full duty. Sergeant Wicks was reported for duty the day be-
fore he died. John B. Gill, Co. H, who died at Corinth, be-
fore we came to this camp, was reported for duty in the morn-
ing and died before night.
4 'The friends at home may think the hospital a good and
safe place but the soldier knows better and will stay out of
it as long as he can."
This letter from Mississippi is signed by "Ike."
Such letters came from those on the field. Others from
the ones who had not yet gone from the state camp are dif-
ferent in character. The twenty-eighth was still in camp at
Davenport in November, 1862, and communications from them
are full of an anxious desire to be on the move to the very
point of conflict. Camp Pope seemed satisfactory enough but
the moving from there caused a member of the twenty-eighth,
who signs himself "28th Iowa," some annoyance which he
puts into the following words: "At an early hour all was
bustle, and at seven o'clock all marched out, giving Camp
Pope [Iowa City] a final farewell ; they went in order to the
cars where they embarked under the direction of Col/ Miller.
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AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 535
This required some time and at nine o'clock we were off.
About forty, who were sick, were placed in a car by themselves
and attended by the surgeons. Everything was in fine order
on the cars and all went well until about one o'clock in the
afternoon when we came to a ' Battalion halt' by order of
Adjt. Gen. Baker in front of the Burtis House, where we were
ordered to file right to Camp Herron where the general said
comfortable quarters awaited us. And such comfortable quar-
ters 1 Would that Gen. Baker had to occupy them for a year.
We found a few shanties, eight in number, room for about
seventy men. But the 28th, or nine companies of us crowded
in, leaving Company A out in the cold without any shelter.
Gen. Baker made promises every half hour, that he would
find quarters, until Col. Miller came to the conclusion that
he did not mean to do so and marched the company down
town to the Pennsylvania House. This brought the general
to terms and he found a good place for the company. We
marched through some of the principal streets of Davenport
yesterday and were highly praised for our efficiency in drill,
which was thankfully received, coming as it did like balm to
a wounded soul, after the abuse we received in removing us
from Camp Pope, where we had comfortable quarters, to
such infernal quarters as these.
"We would not complain were it for the good of our coun-
try, but when it comes merely to accommodate a town we must
enter our protest. We have a rumor that we leave tomorrow,
yet no one knows." 40B
The first days out from the old camp near home made the
"boys" think much of home and correspondence was "brisk."
As time passed, and as war became real, when writing and
mailing letters were done with difficulty, the home folks heard
less frequently. During the first days that the fortieth was
out one of them wrote: "During the short week since leav-
ing Iowa City the 40th has traveled by rail and steamboat,
occupied four camps and two forts, besides lying about loose
a good share of the time. As to our living, it is not of the
best and we may hope to fare better before the close of the
war. Cold meat, or no meat, coffee with no cream or sugar,
and bread as hard as 'PharoahV heart is part of the romance
of soldiering.
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536 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
"In the military decalogue, the command to bid adieu to
dear relations and friends is not the most agreeable order
that could be given to men fond of society and partial to home
and its enjoyments. However the first duty of a soldier is
to obey orders, and although the officers and men of the 40th
were given such a short time to prepare for departure every
man was at his post of duty. The day that witnessed our
departure from Iowa City was bright, cold and beautiful and
the ' boys' were right glad to exchange the monotony of camp
life for more active duty. At 9 :30 a. m. the shrill whistle of
the locomotive warned us of departure and were taken by
way of La Salle, 111., to Cairo in modern ' Egypt,7 where the
regiment immediately embarked on the steamer i Express'
for the destination of Columbus, Kentucky (where the regi-
ment was then encamped).
"There are rumors of a fight now, that the rebels are ap-
proaching and since I have been writing the facts are more
tangible. We have been kept under arms since daylight this
morning. The rebels will have to come in force if they take
Columbus.
"Lieut. Col. Lucas of your place was here a day or two
since looking for his regiment, but as communication is cut
off south of here he returned to Cairo. I also met Lieut. Geo.
S. Hampton late of Gen. McKean's staff, but now on the
staff of Brig. Gen. Tuttle, who is from Iowa. Tomorrow will
be Christmas and the 40th wishes their many friends in Iowa
City a i merry time.' We are sleeping on our arms and in-
stead of eating Christmas turkey, may be in a fight, but I
doubt it."
This letter was written by "Boots."406
The fortieth was heard from once more in an emphatic way
when "Boots" said something concerning the southern sym-
pathizers of the north: "The soldiers of the west have en-
dured too much in hardships and privations during the present
war to tamely submit to the abuse heaped upon them by the
northern rebels. They entered the service of their country
to put down treason and to punish traitors, and the class of
traitors that skulk behind fancied security of distance from
the scene of action will certainly be severely punished if they
persist in their present attempts to distract the loyal senti-
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AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 537
ments of the states of the west. Patriotism tried and true is
not a patriotism of conditions. It is love of country that
knows no bounds and a determination to uphold the govern-
ment and to battle to the last for the legacy of free institu-
tions. Shame and disgrace upon the cowardly scoundrels who
defend the government only when the policy of the administra-
tion is shaped to suit their fancies."
' ' Boots" reported again in March, 1863, and this time gave
a financial statement of his regiment's contribution to the
support of the "home folks." He saw more in the green
backs at first than some others probably at the time: "There
is joy in the camp of the 40th. The paymaster with bushels
of greenbacks has been here and the regiment paid up until the
last of December. Not far from sixty thousand dollars was.
paid the regiment and to the credit of the soldiers let it be
said that the loved ones at home were not forgotten as the
following account may show." Then followed the sums from
different companies amounting to nearly forty thousand dol-
lars that was sent home.
Mingled pride and grief mark all letters from the field of
battle; compliments on bravery of men, sympathy for those
bereaved, a merited promotion, and in the same sentence al-
most the account of a fallen son, the choicest of the family.
In this connection it may serve to illustrate by mentioning
the experience of one Johnson county boy who won a deserved
promotion from the post of sergeant to that of first lieutenant,,
made on the recommendation of his brigade commander, Gen-
eral M. K. Lawler, and others in command. The reason for
his promotion as given in this account expressed in condensed
form: "On the 22nd of June, 1863, Sergt. Joseph E. Griffith
of Co. I, 22nd Iowa Infantry, with twelve others of the same
regiment scaled the walls of the fort immediately in our front,
engaging in a hand to hand contest with twice the number of
the enemy. They overcame them but their victory was.
dearly bought. By twelve o'clock Sergt. Griffith and David
K. Trine were the only ones left of the twelve." Sergeant
Griffith was a son of Reverend Evan Griffith who at that time
lived on "Old Man's Creek" not far from Iowa City, and the
battle in which the incident occurred has been mentioned as
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538 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Vicksburg, where the twenty-second was ordered to make the
assault.
On July 4, 1865, Governor Kirkwood in responding to a
toast reminded the citizens of the monument due the soldiers
of the county who lost their lives in the recent war. This was
in harmony with the action taken in other counties and at the
time met with a hearty response from the listeners, which
"was to be," in his opinion, "a county movement.' '
Further mention of this topic is found in 1883 when a com-
mittee of the Johnson County Soldiers' Monument Associa-
tion met in the city hall, where perhaps twenty-five members
from the entire county were present. Only a few townships
were unrepresented at the time that Chairman Captain S. D.
Pryce distributed the blank books and circulars intended for
canvassers for the subscriptions to the monument fund. The
plan as outlined is contained in the following instructions :
"We, the undersigned citizens of Johnson county, agree to
pay the amount opposite our respective names, for the pur-
pose of building a monument in Iowa City, in commenmoration
of the Johnson County soldiers who fell in the late war of the
rebellion."
It was further stated in these instructions that the sum
raised should be held by the treasurer and used for no other
purpose, the amount to be raised when fully paid in to be
$3,000. Solicitors were to canvass the county for this fund
and in the conclusions of the circular it was clearly stated that
in case of failure to raise this amount the sums subscribed
would be returned to the several subscribers.
It was further determined at this meeting that the town-
ship chairman should have charge of the canvass in his town-
ship. Captain Pryce suggested that it might be possible that
the county supervisors would authorize a contribution as they
had done in Sangamon county, Illinois, where $5,000 had been
appropriated for such a purpose. That some such assistance
would be given was not at all probable unless the public senti-
ment demanded it. Mr. Switzer outlined a plan by which it
was thought a large sum might be raised, that was "to call
on the county candidates for a contribution." The proposi-
tion of placing the names of deceased soldiers upon the monu-
ment was put over until the next meeting. Captain B. Owen,
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AT HOME AND IN THE FIELD 539
W. H. Goodrell and E. G. Stephens were made a committee to
ascertain the names of soldiers buried in the potters ' field
and the probable cost of procuring a lot and removing their
remains. It was further agreed to appoint full committees
from each township in the county to raise this fund for a
soldiers ' monument
However, the Johnson County Soldier's Association, which
had the monument matter in charge, concluded to disband
in November of the year in which they began work on sub-
scriptions and when this was proposed it met with approval,
since the funds already raised were to be turned over to the
Grand Army of the Republic, which had been recently or-
ganized, and since most of the association were members of
the Grand Army, the "Monument Fund" was left in their
hands.407
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CHAPTER XXXTTI
The Spanish- American War and the G. A. R. Reunion
TX7AR news in 1861 was slow in reaching the community
* * surrounding Iowa City since no lines of telegraph were
then in existence to this point, news coming by train or
messenger. Not so in 1898 when Spain first gave offense to
the United States and to humanity in general by her treatment
of Cuban subjects. Then every movement of national moment
was known the hour following. Under such conditions the mil-
itary companies of the Iowa National Guard were awaiting a
call on short notice since they would first be called to enlist
in the service of the United States when troops were needed.
Company I of Johnson county made preparations for such
a call by the examination of members and recruits by the ex-
amining surgeon, Captain J. W. Harriman. Many young
patriots and would-be warriors were ready for examination
and passed as to physical competency, but sometimes parental
objections interfered, even as in Civil War days, so that the
minor could not go without breaking the home regulations at
least. Sometimes consent was given even under protest for
the war spirit is hard to resist. The call of Captain E. F. T.
Cherry for volunteers met with a ready response, although
the volunteer must have military or drill experience to be ad-
mitted at all to this enlistment. That all who wanted to go
should understand the conditions and feel the responsibility
of being in earnest in the undertaking, Captain Cherry re-
quired every volunteer to sign a pledge which read as follows:
"We, the undersigned, of our own free will and accord,
hereby agree to enlist in volunteer service of the United States
upon the call of the president of the United States or the
governor of the State of Iowa, for the term of years which
may be specified in such call."
Preparatory to the expected call, big boxes and trunks of
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THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 541
blue suits, blankets and other necessaries of war were packed,
guns were put into serviceable condition and knapsacks made
ready for the march. When this had been done the recruits
were put through a drill for test of their efficiency. In this
connection it should be noted that the Univeresity collegiate
faculty passed the following resolution: "That all members
of the senior class now in good standing who enter the ser-
vice of their country, in the army or navy during the present
term, shall not thereby be prevented from graduating in
June." In addition it was understood that any instructor or
professor who should enter the service of the United States
in this war would be reinstated on his return. Students vol-
unteered under these conditions until the number had reached
-above seventy-five. The coaches were on the Rock Island
tracks ready to carry Company I and the recruits to Des
Moines as soon as the call should come. Captain Cherry as-
signed members of the company to night duty so that if a
<*all should come from I. N. G. headquarters all the company
<3onld be notified at once and the start would be made for the
Des Moines rendezvous. Preparations were continued until
the call came on Monday night, April 25, 1898. The Rock
Island had orders to carry the company to Des Moines and
the company was commanded to report there on the following
morning, which order was punctually obeyed. The city coun-
cil of Iowa City appropriated fifty dollars to purchase a flag
for Company I, which was to be forwarded to any point where
the company might be located after the colors were secured.
Local enthusiasm during the time of preparation and be-
fore the final departure was marked by processions, music
and speeches, which to the Civil War veteran must have re-
called the old days of 1861. While no one knew just what
he was shouting for, there was the spirit of war in the land
and this was enough to stir the martial music of drum corps
or the patriotic feelings of those who had never known what
the term "war" meant. The call for one hundred thousand
men if needed was answered many times in the minds of those
who marched and countermarched and burned red fire to
show how full of fight they were.408
The real test of feeling came when Company I boarded the
-cars and was off to Camp McKinley at Des Moines. As
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542 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
one said, in substance, not since the Civil War has so moment-
ous a sentence as the one telling of the departure of the boys
of Company I, been placed in print, and it was a sentence
fraught with much meaning, since no one knew where the be-
ginning of this war might lead and war takes the best the
country affords. It might be an outing of a few weeks; it
might be many years of service and few could tell why the
hush came over the hearts of the crowd when they stopped to
think of what might be the fate of many of these strong young
fellows who were moving out into the first experience of actual
battle or the trials of camp or prison life. While there was
hope that no further call would come, there was the assur-
ance that more men would be ready when the call should
come. One can imagine th£ grizzled veterans of the sixties
feeling an almost irresistible desire to join the company and
once more to follow the worn battle flag of other days when
war was nearer home and men fought brothers instead of
Spaniards. Mothers and fathers gave up the same hopes at
the departure of company I, so far as it affected their homeT
as the mothers and fathers of 1861, and no one knew in April,
1898, but that many hundred thousands might be called upon
to serve before the cause was satisfied. The community was
proud of the home company and the student volunteers who
might be among them, and the public understood that if need-
ed the full fighting strength of Johnson county would be avail-
able.
The telegram to Captain Cherry came at 9 :30 on
Monday night, April 25, and read as follows: "Assemble
your company and report at Camp McKinley, Des Moines,
tomorrow morning." This telegram was at first supposed
to mean that the train to carry the company would soon be
along and rush orders were issued to members living out some
distance. When it was learned later that the train would not
be available until nine on the following morning there was
some time for reflection and rest. A second telegram came
later in the evening from Adjutant Genera! Byers saying:
"Bring all your guard men who will volunteer/ ' This last
telegram led to some further excitement, since the demand
seemed to be pressing.
The night before departure was given to final preparations
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LIJLI3RARY
«^"0** LENOX
~ m FOUNDATIONS
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THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 543
of baggage, both personal and company property. Captain
Cherry, nnder orders from headquarters at Des Moines,
secured supplies of rations for two days at the Des Moines
camp. In this list of eatables he made the following order:
"Bread, 100 loaves; canned beef, 75 pounds; tomatoes, 1 case;
soda crackers, 42 pounds; matches, 1 dozen boxes; eggs, 60
dozen; candles, 5 pounds; salt, 1 sack; pepper, 1 sack; sor-
ghum, 2 gallons ; soap 6 pounds ; sugar, 25 pounds ; coffee, 12
pounds ; potatoes, 2 bushels ; rice, 15 pounds ; and lard, 1 pail.
Remember this was for only two days, since general supplies
would soon be on hand at Camp McKinley.
On the morning of departure Captain Cherry and his of-
ficers assembled the company in the Armory where all of
them answered to roll call with knapsacks strapped to their
backs. Captain A. B. Cree, of Civil War fame, addressed the
boys in this last assembly before moving forward to the depot.
He said here: "True bravery is not recklessness. Appre-
ciate danger, do not rush into it with foolhardiness, but be
prepared to meet it when duty calls. Moral character makes
truly brave men, and as I look into your earnest young faces
I see that nobility of character written there. I know that
you will be brave and do your duty in a manner worthy the
great state of Iowa, as the good, noble fathers of some of you
did theirs, when in my command a generation ago. May you
return to us unharmed."
Then the march began to the Rock Island station after
formation on College street, and preceded by a number of
G. A. R. men, including Captain Cree, carrying his own flag,
they passed up the street, stopping near the corner of the
campus to be photographed. From here they were accom-
panied by the University battalion and band, and as the lines
passed toward the station, the factories of the city saluted
with every whistle. This was the spectacular part, the real
feeling was expressed when the final farewells were said.
Only one who was a participant in these scenes should attempt
to describe them and hence one must use for the most part
the words of another. The assembled friends and onlookers
at the depot numbered thousands, some say three, some say
five thousand, but the number is not material to the sentiment
of the occasion. It was not unbecoming for the young sol-
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544 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
dier going out from home, and breaking away from that
mother who gave him up with such an effort if he shed a few
manly tears of affection and felt the ties of family growing
stronger than ever before, as one said : ' ' The scene was most
affecting and stirred the very soul-depths of all, moving to
tears even those who had no kinfolk in the ranks. It was im-
possible to gaze upon those partings and steel the heart, for
nature must have been adamantine to withstand such a scene."
Then when the long train bearing other companies along with
Company I pulled out from the station the whole assembly
uttered one final farewell, each hoping that the boys might
all return unharmed. But it was not to be so, and many must
have felt that all could not escape in the dangers of a great
military camp, both in a physical and a moral sense as it is
usually found in time of actual warfare.
Anxious mothers thought of this thing, some unknown
writer signing herself "F. S." sent the following to the local
papers at the time: "In behalf of the fathers and mothers
who are permitting their treasured boys to enlist in the army,
at the call of their country, let one heart proclaim, ' 'tis not
done without sacrifice,' but with love most true, mingled with
sorrow most deep. In the pride of a noble and high minded
son, who, with lofty thoughts of patriotic duty firing his
young heart, has sworn allegiance to the flag, on enlisting in
the national guard, dare his parents lessen his sense of honor,
and for their own ease of mind, bid him stand back! No!
though hearts are rent and broken in the conflict. Let those
who can, not censure those who can not, do this thing. But
pray for their peace and for the keeping of the brave boys
who march forth not with the impulse of * nervous excitement,'
or of sentiment, but with pride and patriotism in their hearts
for their native land. Whether the warfare is approved or
not, is not the question. Our country is calling men to arms.
The stars and stripes are afloat. Let the sons of America
respond to the upholding of our national banner and God be
with them."409
As in 1861 the company was scarcely off until a relief society
was organized to care for their need in the field, and before
they had been long at Camp McKinley, a great hamper of
good things for "the boys" went from Iowa City, and its im-
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THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 545
mediate place of preparation was at the house of Captain Cree.
It was said to contain such good things and in such quantities
that it would have made "Tom Brown's days at Rugby" one
perpetual holiday. Not one hamper of this kind but others
followed until the veterans of the Civil War were led to re-
mark about the difference in the conditions when quick trans-
portation was sure to carry the good things to Company I,
while the twenty-second never received any of the good things
sent from Iowa City then by the wives and mothers of Johnson
county. Captain Cree said, "the mystery of where these good
things went had never been solved, but it was still well known
that none of the brigade officers died of starvation."
Amid all the good times in the camp at the capital of the
state there was some impatience at the delay in moving to the
front, and the uncertainty was not removed for the fiftieth
regiment to which Company I belonged under the new organi-
zation, until this regiment was ordered to Tampa, Florida, on
May 25, 1898. When the company set out from Camp Mc-
Kinley the roster included all but one of the members, private
Gulliver, who had to remain in the hospital at Des Moines.
As then formed, the company was composed, according to pub-
lished account, of officers and privates as below :
Officers
Capt. Eugene F. T. Cherry Corporal A. P, Donahoe
Lieut. L. A. Stocking Corporal 0. Shillig
Lieut. B. P. Thornberry Corporal F. W. Turner
First Sergt. J. R. Gardner Corporal Wesley Holt
Quartermaster-Sergt. L. W. Corporal Horace M. Horner
Dutcher Corporal L. J. White
Sergt. E. E. Hobby Musician Chas. C. Countryman
Sergt. Joe. Watkins Musician Leslie Switzer
Sergt. Chas. Startsman Artificer Jesse B. Bowen
Sergt. Geo. Goodrell Wagoner J. S. Roessler
Privates
A. Anthony A. J. Huff
E. Albright Chas. W. Hickman
Geo. Beeson E. A. Johnson
J. F. Bartovsky Horace Jones
E. C. Berry J. Jacobson
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546 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
E. J. Berry T. W. Kemmerer
Place Bostwick W. P. McCulla
C. J. Baxter G. A. McElroy
J. S. Burrows E. A. McFall
C. R. Burge J. W. Martin
E. K. Brown J. S. Moothart
Syd. Clark C. A. Moore
D. J. Cobb John Ogden
Tom Davis R. E. O'Callaghan
Geo. Ewing W. M. Plum
C. T. Gulliver F. M. Rowe
H. T. Gibford H. D. Robertson
L. B. Gray W. J. Schooley
Louis Gleason A. V. Shaw
G. Norval Ham H. C. Saunders
Geo. J. Harney Guy Stewart
Frank W. Hotz Herbert F. Sperry
S. J. Hughes R. C. Williams
While there were fears for a time that some of the com-
panies of the I. N. G. might lose their identity through the
merging of four regiments with three, matters were finally
adjusted so that Company I went to the front as it was ex-
pected in the beginning and the members were soon heard
from after leaving Camp McKinley. Not Tampa, but Jack-
sonville, Florida, became the camp ground preparatory to the
occupation of Cuba. Here they spent the summer awaiting
their call to active service in Cuba and practising at targets,
while many of them fought typhoid and malaria. It was not
until public sentiment was aroused and some strong mass
meetings were held on the subject that someone gave orders
for the return of the 50th Iowa from such a dangerous and
unhygienic territory to the homes in the comfortable north,
and to the good things of Iowa.
Not until September was it possible to move the regiment
on account of difficulty in securing transportation and while
it was understood that the regiment would be mustered out
soon, or a furlough of one month given, it was uncertain when
such order could be concluded. However, at this particular
time the following telegram came from Company I :
1 i Jacksonville, Sept. 2,5 — 10 p. m. — Special : Will be sent
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THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 547
to Des Moines soon. Can't tell the exact day. No order yet.
Middleton and Baxter were sent to hospital today. They are
not seriously ill. Sperry and Roessler are better. Davis and
Cochran are out of the hospital. Cherry."
Company I left home April 26 and returned September 20,
1898. These dates are the ones remembered best by those
who bade them farewell and greeted them on their return
from the long detention in camp while waiting for orders
either to move on or to be mustered out. At whatever cost,
it might have been, they obeyed the government's call in
April, and came home with the consciousness of having been
ready for battle even if none had offered. The company as an
organization arrived from Des Moines on the afternoon of
September 20, and a great crowd met the boys at the station. ■
Carriages and cabs, sufficient for all the military, were ready
to convey them to thfc armory, while the bands led the way, pre-
ceded by the beautiful silk flag presented to the company by
the city council.
At the armory the ladies of the "War Aid Society" had
prepared supper for the company, very much after the fashion
of the ones given to the "boys of '65" on their return from
scenes of bloody battle fields. One may wonder how such a
meal impressed the hungry soldier after his army fare.
When Company I left Iowa City the roster showed about
sixty names and subsequent recruits ran the number above a
hundred. No death had occurred in the entire company until
just before the "muster out" when the news of the death of
William Van Alstine came to Captain Cherry. He had been
left behind and three days before the boys were so heartily
received and entertained he was summoned to answer the
last roll call. Others were lying low with typhoid in hospitals,
and while many, one may say most, were happy in the thought
of reunited families, some hearts were very anxious over what
the future might bring before these who remained behind
could be brought home. Among those who could not come
with the company were First Sergeant John Gardner, who
was left dangerously ill in Des Moines, Private Chester Baxter
in Camp Cuba Libre, James Cassidy in Des Moines, and the
poor fellow mentioned before who died while his company
was coming into sight of home.410
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548 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Not all who went out at the first call were permitted to
remain with the company until its return to Camp McKinley
in September. When the company enlisted for the Spanish-
American war in April, Frank Wadsworth was in the prime of
manhood, so full of life and patriotic impulses, that he volun-
teered among the first. A private in Company 1, 50th Iowa In-
fantry, he went into camp in Jacksonville, Florida, in June,
1898. Like many others he was stricken with disease due to
the change in climate and his once strong frame was weakened
and so reduced in strength that he was ordered home for
what was supposed a complete recovery under skillful medi-
cal treatment. Hope for his restoration was, however, vain
for under the most skillful care he finally yielded to the fever
. contracted in the war camp, and this was the second death in
Company I.
On Sunday, October 9, 1898, a day long remembered in the
vicinity, these two, William Vanalstine and Frank Wads-
worth, were laid to rest in the home cemetery, the body of
one who died in the south, having been brought home for
burial. Company I remembered them with the last honors
of war and sadly returned to the daily routine of civil life,
having given two young lives from among their number in the
cause of human suffering.411
Roster of Company I at the Close of the Spanish- Ameh [can
War
Eugene F. T. Cherry, Captain Horace M. Havner, Corp.
Leigh A. Stocking, First Lieu- Lawrence J. White, Corp.
tenant Wesley Holt, Corp.
Bayard P. Thornberry, Sec- Leslie E. Switzer, Corp.
ond Lieutenant George Beeson, Corp.
John R. Gardner, First Sergt. Frank N. Rowe, Corp.
L. W. Dutcher, Q. M. Sergt. George N. Ham, Corp.
Edwin E. Hobby, Sergt. Geo. E. Ewing, Corp.
Joseph C. Watkins, Sergt. Elmer A. Johnson, Corp.
Charles W. Startsman, Sergt. Charles C. Countryman, Musi-
George B. Goodrell, Sergt. cian
Anthony P. Donahoe, Corp. Howard T. Gibford, Musician
Oscar J. Shillig, Corp. Jesse B. Bowen, Artificer
Frederick W. Turner, Corp. John S. Roessler, Wagoner
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THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
549
Privates
Anthony, Arthur
Albright, Leroy C.
Albrusky, Edward
Bartovsky, Joseph F.
Berry, Edmund C.
Berry, Ernest J.
Bostwick, Place
Baxter, Chester J.
Burrows, James S.
Burge, Charles R.
Brown, Edwin K.
Byer, Henry
Boarts, Robert
Burger, Albert 6.
Brower, Frank B.
Bonstead, James
Clark, Sydney D.
Cobb, Dennis J.
Conklin, William F.
Cochran, John U.
Cassidy, James D.
Crowley, Edward J.
Davis, Thomas
Denholm, Thomas
Evans, Leonard
Gulliver, Charles T.
Gray, Lewis B.
Gleason, Louis
Goss, John L.
Givin, Ellsworth
Grauer, William
Graef, George
Harney, George J.
Hotz, Frank W.
Hughes, Samuel J.
Huff, Alvaro J.
Huff, Verne B.
Hickman, Charles W.
Johnson, Frank C.
Jones, Horace K.
Jacobson, Con
Kos, Edward
Krofta, James
McCulla, Walter P.
McFall, Edward A.
McElroy, Gilbert A.
McFarlin, Carl F.
Moore, Charles A.
Martin, Joseph W.
Moothart, John S.
Middleton, James G.
Maier, George
Ogden, John F.
Oathout, Bert E.
O'Callaghan, Robert E.
O'Neil, Ben
Plum, William M.
Paterson, Alexander
Robertson, Henry D.
Rundorff, Herbert T.
Raplinger, Joseph
Shaw, Albert V.
Saunders, Herbert C.
Sperry, Herbert F.
Sullivan, Joseph D.
Skelton, John B.
Shoales, Fred H.
Tantlinger, Walter W.
Thompson, Robert
Unash, Joseph W.
Vaughn, William J.
Vanek, James
Williams, Ray 0.
Williamson, Ralph C.
Williamson, Owen
Wood, Dana E.
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550 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Harris, Alva E. Wilson, John E.
Holderman, Fred Yavorsky, Charles
Transferred
Kemmerer, Theodore W. Stewart, Guy W.
Schooley, William J.
Died of Disease
Vanalstine, William A. Wadsworth, Frank
Summary
At muster-in, Company I had sixty-five men; forty-four
more joined the company by enrollment; three were trans-
ferred; and two died of disease. The record of events, offi-
cially recorded, is as follows:
"This company with the first battalion of the 50th Iowa
Vol. Inf. left Camp McKinley, Des Moines, Iowa, May 21,
1898, under orders to proceed to Tampa, Florida. While en-
route at Thomasville, Georgia, orders were received to pro-
ceed to Jacksonville, Florida, at which place the command ar-
rived on the morning of May 24, 1898, and at once went into
camp about one mile north of the city, where the regiment per-
formed the usual camp routine until August 1, 1898, when the
camp was moved about one mile west of the former site, where
the regiment remained until September 13, 1898, when camp
was broken and the regiment returned to Camp McKinley
Des Moines, Iowa, arriving September 17, 1898. The
regiment went into camp at Camp McKinley until Sep-
tember 20, 1898, when verbal furlough was given from
September 20, 1898, until October 20, 1898, per G. O. No. 130.
Furlough extended to November 1, 1898, per telegraphic in-
structions, A. G. O., October 17, 1898. Returned to Camp Mc-
Kinley, Des Moines, Iowa, November 1, 1898, for the purpose
of muster out." 412
As regimental surgeon, Dr. C. S. Grant served with the
fiftieth Iowa as first lieutenant and assistant surgeon and later
as surgeon major. Col. R. P. Howell was on the staff of the
brigade commander in charge of commissary.
After the Spanish-American war closed Company I was
reorganized with about two-thirds of the enrollment made up
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THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 551
from men who had some experience in that contest. Forty-
two men and three commissioned officers constituted the en-
rollment as the re-formation of the company. John R. Gard-
ner was chosen captain ; Leslie E. Switzer, first lieutenant; and
G. A. McElroy, second lieutenant. Adjutant General Byers
mustered in the new company, and supervised the election of
officers, after that part was performed, the captain was chosen
by acclamation. Captain Gardner had been first sergeant at
Camp Cuba Libre and had been in' the service of the I. N. G.
for nearly seven years.
On the first anniversary of the summons to the Spanish-
American war the old Company I became the new Company I.
At the program of social nature, which took the form of a
military ball, the event was made the occasion for the pre-
sentation of the flag of the nation by the old company to the
new. This was the flag given by the city council to the old
company in 1898 and it was fitting that the address and pre-
sentation should be made by Capt. E. F. T. Cherry of the
former company. In this presentation he referred very feel-
ingly and tenderly to the boys, Wadsworth and Vanalstine,
who gave up their lives while serving under him in 1898.418
Rodney Clarke of Oxford was a member of the 51st Iowa,
Company B, and went with that regiment to the Philippines
along with other Johnson county boys. On Thursday, August
10, 1899, a cablegram came to Mr. J. H. Clarke that his son
Rodney was dead, not killed in battle but dying from disease
due to a tropical climate. He was one of the first from John-
son county to offer his services to the government in the far-
off islands. Company B of the fifty-first regiment included
ten boys from Johnson county : Joe Benda, Wm. Glick, Julian
S. Kanehl, Chas. L. Smith, Wm. M. Smith, John H. Garrett,
Wm. J. Haggett, Bert Mahana, Rodney K. Clarke, and Ernest
. Dubell. When these soldiers returned to Iowa City from their
service in the Philippines a very great crowd greeted them.
A military escort from the G. A. R. and the University bat-
talion acompanied them also to the armory when they were
feasted and greeted by the customary speeches. Only six of
the ten were here, however, to receive this ovaton. One as
mentioned had answered the final roll call, one had remained
in the islands in government service, and two stayed behind in
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552 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
San Francisco. Mayor Stebbins welcomed them, while they
were also addressed by many representing various institutions
in the citizenship of the county. Judge M. J. Wade spoke on
behalf of the county ; President MacLean for the University,
Mrs. De Sellem for the W. R. C. ; Professor Willis for the
G. A. R. ; L. E. Switzer for Company I ; and Will Smith for the
returned soldiers.
To the old soldier the war of 1861 is never over. That was
one reason for the sixth reunion of the twenty-second Iowa
Volunteer Infantry held in Iowa City in September, 1897.
For two days they revived the old scenes of battle and camp
life. They brought with them many interesting and curious
implements of warfare. The badges they wore on that occa-
sion bore the name of the regiment and the face of the heroic
"Nick" Messenger, one of the four of the immortal thirteen,
who scaled the walls of Vicksburg and returned to tell the
story.
The most pleasing feature of this event came in connection
with the honoring of the widow of Iowa's war governor, Mrs.
S. J. Kirkwood, by making her the "Mother of the regiment."
On the afternoon of the second day the presiding official intro-
duced Mrs. Kirkwood to the boys who had so much regard and
affection for the late war governor of the state of Iowa. Not
one of them missed the opportunity of grasping the hand of
the "Mother of the regiment," which became the official title
by act of the regiment later in the meeting. It read : ' ' That
whereas, this being the thirty-fifth anniversary of the muster-
ing in of the 22nd Volunteer Infantry into the United States
army, Sept. 9, 1862, at Camp Pope, Iowa City, to commemorate
the day and make it more dear to our hearts, we, in memory
of our late and beloved war governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood,
hereby show our appreciation of his love for the 22nd Iowa
as well as for all other Iowa soldiers, do on this occasion make
his devoted life-companion, Mrs. Jane Kirkwood, an associate
member of our organization, and she shall hereafter be known
as the mother of the 22nd Iowa Regiment"
The elaborate banquet spread for the veterans in the
armory on the night of September ninth must have made them
feel that it was worth a fast of many months in 1862 to even
be permitted to sit at such a table. Here many touching and
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tender stories were told, among them the tribute of Hon. Mil-
ton Remley, to the boys of the 22nd and the relation that his
family held to this organization because of the loss of two
brothers, Geo. F. and Howard Eemley, one of whom died at
Vicksburg and the other was killed at Winchester.
Another remarkable gathering of veteran soldiers of the
Civil War was held in Iowa City in September, 1899, probably
never to be repeated. Three regiments contributed to the as-
sembly, "the 22nd, 24th and 28th Iowa," The twenty-second,
the home regiment, almost made from Johnson county soldiers,
has been written about in this section. The twenty-fourth was
composed in part of Johnson county men, as was also the
twenty-eighth, but the twenty-eighth included companies from
Johnson, Iowa, Tama, Benton, Poweshiek, and Jasper counties.
Company E was from Johnson with David Stewart as captain,
Wm. E. Miller of Johnson county was colonel of the twenty-
eighth, J. E. Pritchard of Johnson was adjutant. The regi-
ment rendezvoused in Iowa City at Camp Pope and spent sev-
eral weeks in drilling here before going to the front. It re-
mained here until November 2, 1862, when it was ordered to
move, landing at Helena, Ark., on November 20, and on the fol-
lowing May 1, 1863, they came under fire for the first time at
Port Gibson.
At this reunion when the remnants^ of the three regiments
came together they were addressed by the general who was
second in command of the Confederate forces at Vicksburg,
Gen. Stephen D. Lee. He gave a graphic description of the
battle of Vicksburg in which these troops participated. The
address of General Lee should be carefully preserved, but it is
not possible to use it in this connection. Reference to it is
made and if one cares to find it he will be able to do so in the
library of the Historical Society.
The most cordial reception was tendered to General Lee
and his party from Vicksburg. In an address to the students
in front of the Old Capitol building where the general stood
on the north pier he said : "My coming today has peculiar sig-
nificance. It marks a new era in the history of our Republic.
It tells of the reconciliation of two great parts of a common
country, the real reunion of the grey, the obliteration of all
sectional lines. I am almost ready to thank God, for the
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554 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Spanish- American war, which gave your great president and
mine, President McKinley, the chance to select as leaders of
soldiers, commanders from the south as well as the north, and
truly the southern officers, when they have been given an op-
portunity have done their duty well." In his address on
"Champion Hill from the Otherside,,, at the camp fire of the
twenty-fourth, he mentioned some of his experiences of local
interest: "From my house a thousand miles away, your
courteous invitation has brought me to share in the gladness of
this reunion, when we can fight our battles over again in a
very much more agreeable way, than we did thirty-six years
ago. Since reaching Iowa City, I have been made to know
what an Iowa welcome means. The fame of this cultivated
community and its splendid seat of learning had reached me
before, but I have now learned more of the warm hearts and
generous hospitality to be found in your midst. Above all
you have given me a soldier's welcome. Sometimes I think,
that the men who were the first in the charge, were the first
in the forgiving afterwards. Brave men learn to honor
courage, and principle even in their enemies, and when the
battle is over are as quick to bind up the wounds as they were
to make them.
"We old fellows with the grey hairs are not going to let
the sun of life go down, upon our wrath. If there is anything
in your hearts my countrymen, a shred of bitterness toward
your brethern of the south, a feeling of wrong which still
lingers, a loss whose sorrow the merciful years have never
healed, I implore you, let them not go down with you to the
grave, but here and now let them be lost in our country's
reconciliation. 'In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.' "415
It will be remembered that General Lee was the chairman
of the Vicksburg National Park Commission, and on his return
he sent a letter to Mr. J. W. Lee, thanking him for a report
of the reunion, which enclosed his address on Vicksburg and
renewing his expression of appreciation of his treatment here.
How fast they are falling, these veterans of the Grand
Army ; three commanders of Kirkwood Post, G. A. E., called
from duty in the short space of six months, Captain H. E. Ely,
John E. Jayne, and Professor Samuel Calvin.
And now as the hoary headed heroes of many battles as-
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THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 555
semble to pay their last respects to a comrade, as they furl
the flag for the last time, as they hear the last bugle call, the
youth who looks on must become, for a time, serious enough
to reflect on what it must have meant fifty years ago to face the
fierce trials of war. When will the veteran group be re-
membered no more as man by man passes and the busy world
forgets, indeed more, it scarcely ceases its social functions
long enough to bury with due solemnity its most loved dead.
Has the world no time to be serious on such occasions, and
should the resolutions of " great confidence and respect' ' be
kept to bury with the casket? Grant a portion of the flowers
to the living that he may die with greater peace, as one who
had in some measure filled his niche in this great world.
A comrade has well mentioned an event in the life of one
of these commanders called to a higher station, and his letter
to the writer of these lines is appended :
"I am under obligations to you for the notice of the passing
of my old friend and comrade, John E. Jayne. How it comes
over me as of yesterday when first I saw and knew him ! The
night that my Co. arrived at Muscatine — 'Camp Strong' —
where the regiment was assembled, my very first recollection
is of an impromptu quartette, in which Jayne was conspicuous,
singing 'We'll Rally Round the Flag,' then just out and heard
by me for the first time! It was no wonder, under the cir-
cumstances, that the whole camp assembled about the singers ,-
and the story that Gov. Hogg, of Texas, used to tell may be
true, viz. — That, after hearing a succession of 'War-time
Songs,' rendered by the Union soldiers in the close-up trenches
during one of the sieges, a Confederate officer inside said,
'Well, I've always believed in our success until now, but it's
no use ; we can never lick a crowd that has that sort of songs
and sings them that way!'
"With kindest regards,
"Sincerely yours,
"C. L. Longley."
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CHAPTER XXXIV
The Newspapers
^TEWSPAPERS began in the county with the establish-
^^ ment of the Iowa City Standard by William Crum in
1840. A. P. Wood became its editor in 1842, but the struggles
of any paper at that time in the history of the territory made
frequent changes desirable if one may judge from the actual
facts as they occurred through the years that followed. In
1846 the Standard was purchased by Silas Foster, and Easton
Morris became its editor. Then in 1848, for "good and suffi-
cient reasons," the Standard suspended publication for a sea-
son.416 When it resumed publication it was under the owner-
ship of Dr. S. M. Ballard and was now called the Republican,
continuing the name to the present day. From the manage-
ment of Dr. S. M. Ballard it came into the hands of C. W.
Hobart and then to John Teesdale, who became editor of the
State Register.*17 For possibly one year, commencing in 1856,
the Republican issued a daily edition, which during its short
life had three editors, C. W. Hobart, Rush Clark, then a very
young man, and W. Penn Clarke. During the greater part of
the war period, the Republican was owned by the Jerome
Brothers and Duncan, but in 1863 it was purchased by N. H.
Brainerd and Breitigan, N. H. Brainerd being the editor. In
1870, J. H. C. Wilson purchased a half interest in the publica-
tion, and for a short time a daily paper appeared. Again,
in 1874, Mr. Brainerd sold his interest to S. D. Pryce, so that
the firm was now Pryce and Wilson. Moreover, N. H. Brain-
erd had edited the Republican for about twelve years, up to
that time the longest period of editorship. Then after the re-
tirement of Captain Pryce, the paper was conducted by Wilson,
Rogers and Shields until 1879, when it was purchased by a
company and Welker Given was made the editor. In 1881,
the ownership having changed, H. S. Fairall became the
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THE NEWSPAPERS 557
editor, who continued in this position until 1883, when for a
short time, from June, 1883, until March, 1884, Stephen B.
Howard appears as editor. Again H. S. Fairall took charge
of the editorial work and for ten or more years remained in
this position. In May, 1894, S. D. Cook assumed the editor-
ship, continuing in charge for something more than one year,
when he was succeeded by W. M. Davis in September, 1895.
Mr. Davis edited the paper for the company until February,
1897, when it appears from an item in another paper that
H. W. Hanson was the editor until W. H. Conant was taken
from the editorship of the Citizen in 1898 and placed in the
editor's chair for the Republican. From November, 1901, un-
til February, 1902, Florence Huntley was the editor, and since
then David Brant has been in charge of the editorial depart-
ment.
When in 1858 the office was removed from a two-story
frame building on Dubuque street, built and occupied solely
for an office, to the Powell block on Washington street, the
ten years of files of the Republican were left there. Then
the building unfortunately burned and these files vanished in
the conflagration, leaving none that are complete from the
first issue of the Standard to the present time. No files of
any paper in this county can be found from 1848 to 1856.
William Crum was one of the first editors of Iowa terri-
tory. He came to Bloomington in the winter of 1838- '39,
where he soon began the publication of the Standard, continu-
ing it there until the capital of the territory was located at
Iowa City, when he moved his plant to that place. He was a
young man then, twenty years of age, and he expected to find
a larger field in the new capital than in the river town. The
last issue of the Standard in Bloomington [Muscatine] is dated
April 29, 1840, while the first in Iowa City is dated May 10,
1840, so we may conclude that the intervening time was spent
in getting the plant to its new location. Then the office was
small and paper was run on a Eamage press, on which but
one page could be printed at one time. This press was in-
vented by a Scotch mechanician named Adam Ramage, who
came to this country in his maturer years. It aroused much
interest in its day. However, the material equipment of the
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558 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
paper was largely increased in 1842, since the legislative pro-
ceedings demanded much attention.
It was in those days also that the mail came only a few-
times each month, some say but twice, and then it was carried
on horseback, while news from the capital of the United
States did not reach the vicinity of tener than once each month.
However, when the legislature of the territory met here the
service was improved and mail was carried in a two-horse
hack. Letter postage was twelve and one-half cents in those
days.
It may be mentioned that the Standard was the third paper
established in the territory of Iowa. It appears that the Bur-
lington Hawkey e, and the Miners' Express, of Dubuque, were
the two preceding it. For sometime in the year 1848 the
Standard suspended publication and there was no Whig paper.
This was during the campaign of Gen. Zachary Taylor when
the need of a journal was strongly felt. It was in this emer-
gency, it appears, that Doctor Ballard secured the equipment
for the newspaper which he called the Republican.
One man, Mr. Lathrop, who was for many years identi-
fied with the public affairs in Johnson county and who
at one time had a part in the early struggles of the
newspapers and has been a contributor of many histori-
cal sketches, moved from the scenes of the greater part
of his life to spend his last years in the Dakotas. On^.
his departure, Captain S. D. Pryce said of him as editor
of the paper now called the Republican: "In the early
forties he was editor of the Republican, or more proper-
ly speaking, we believe it was the Iowa Standard. These were
the happy days of the art preservative when newspapers were
printed by the editor and edited by the printers. When the
editor wrote his leaders with a quill plucked from the eagle,
stood up the printers' towel in the corner, and then worked up
the gastric juices by pulling the lever of the old Washington
hand press. However this may be, those who have followed
in the footsteps of the pioneers of Iowa journalism are great-
ly indebted to them for the inspiration to do whatever they
were enabled to do even moderately well."418
Between the Standard and the Iowa Capital Reporter there
was a paper called the Argus, no files of which are available.
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THE NEWSPAPERS 559
T. S. Parvin wrote in his diary for August 2, 1841 : "Brought
home the first issue of the Ioiva City Argus, Dr. Jackson,
editor." This plant was bought by the first publishers of the
Capital Reporter.
The Capital Reporter issued in 1841, before moving to Iowa
City, a prospectus indicating its purposes and setting forth
the claims for consideration, which was the custom of all
papers at that time. In other instances before any copy of the
county papers came before the public a neighboring sheet ad-
vertised it, and these advertisements furnish interesting
reading during the first decade of Iowa's independent history.
Accordingly the Reporter states its own case under the owner-
ship of Van Antwerp and Hughes, who moved to Iowa City
in 1841.
"PROSPECTUS, IOWA CAPITOL REPORTER
"In compliance with the solicitations of numerous friends
in various portions of the Territory, the undersigned have
concluded to establish themselves in Iowa City in the pub-
lication of a weekly newspaper bearing the above title, the
first number of which will be issued immediately upon the
meeting of the Legislative assembly in December.
"The political complexion of this paper, it is scarcely
necessary to say? will be democratic, — decided and thorough-
ly so, but at the same time temperately. To elucidate and
sustain the leading principles of the great republican party
as generally understood, and acknowledged throughout the
Union, will be the constant effort of the undersigned, nor will
they, under any circumstances, suffer themselves to be divert-
ed from the course here indicated, by entering into a discus-
sion of new hobbies, false issues or visionary projects of util-
ity, come from what quarter they may. While the Reporter
will give to the measures and men of the democratic party a
firm and zealous support, it will be the purpose of the editors
to establish for it a character for fairness. They doubt not
that such a course will extend the influence of their paper, and
add strength to the good cause they support.
"Especial pains will be taken during the sitting of the
Legislature to lay before the public, through the medium of
the Reporter, full and correct reports of the proceedings of
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560 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
that body. The columns of a weekly newspaper would be en-
tirely too circumscribed to contain full reports of the debates,
but a weekly analysis will be given embracing much that will
be satisfactory and instructive." 419
In 1844 Jesse Williams purchased the interest of Mr.
Hughes, he having some time before bought Van Antwerp's
interest, and became sole proprietor of the Capital Reporter.
He announced his continuation of the policies of the paper,
emphasizing the opportunities found at the capital of the
territory. It was to continue as the uncompromising advocate
of democracy in general and detail, — "The democracy of
Jefferson and '98, of Jackson and '32." A portion of the
space was to be given "to the development of the immense
resources, mineral and agricultural, found in Iowa ; to promote
as far as possible the cause of education, and to advocate with
zeal and industry the great cause of western advancement
against eastern monopoly." During the recess of the legis-
lature literary productions would occasionally appear, while
during the sitting of the legislature and during the holding
of the state constitutional convention full and accurate reports
were to be published, according to his advertisement or pros-
pectus.
Jesse Williams was succeeded by the Palmers, A. H. and
Q-. D., in 1845, and again five years later the paper was pur-
chased by Edgar and Edmond Harrison, when Richard H.
Sylvester became the editor.
When the office of the Reporter was moved to the Clark
building on Jefferson street, it was supposed to be placed in
more than ordinary quarters. The building had been but
recently completed when in the early spring of 1855, without
any warning whatever, the walls fell, crushing men to death
and grinding the equipment of presses and other material to
bits under the debris. Not discouraged the Harrisons se-
cured new material and continued the paper until about the
year 1860, when they sold it, only to find it appearing again
under the charge of L. D. Ingersoll as a republican paper.
This led to the formation of a stock company, which em-
ployed R. H. Sylvester as editor, and the Iowa State Press
began its career, in August, 1860. In the following Febru-
ary, Van Hosen and Given became the proprietors, and later,
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THE NEWSPAPERS 561
in 1861, John G. Given took full charge, Mr. Wilkins becoming
the chief editor in December of that year, while up to that time
E. H. Sylvester had continued to do the editing. In August,
1863, Ira C. Mitchell became the editor, but as expressed by
the owner, Colonel Given, "the paper had always been strong
politically but was troubled with great financial weakness.' 9
Following, shortly after this period, John P. Irish took
charge of the Press as owner and editor, and he held the at-
tention of the public for a period of eighteen years, before
leaving the state. He began the issue of a daily in 1871, which
was published until 1880, when it was abandoned as unprofit-
able. On September 6, 1882, the paper was sold by Mr. Irish
to Honorable John Springer, now of the Economy Advertis-
ing company, and A. J. Hershire, whose widow resides in Iowa
City. Mr. Hershire was county auditor and county treasurer
prior to his editorial incursion. Mr. Springer was a practical
printer, and had been identified with the mechanical success
of the Press for a decade and a half before he invested there-
in, and became the editor.
Messrs. Springer and Hershire gave the state one of its
best newspapers and most potent apostles of democracy, until
1894, when they sold the flourishing journal to Throop & Co.
The latter firm, in turn, disposed of the paper in 1895 to
S. W. and C. S. Mercer. C. S. Mercer returned to Indiana,
whence these enterprising brothers had come. The Mercers
conducted the Press until 1904, when it was purchased by its
present owner, S. E. Carrell.420
It was stated recently that the R. H. Sylvester mentioned
above is now chief of police in Washington, D. C, but the
chief of police referred to is the son of R. H. Sylvester, for-
merly editor of the Reporter and Press. A letter from Mr.
Sylvester of Washington has the following :
"My grandfather on my mother's side, Rev. W. W. Woods,
was a pioneer of Johnson county, having settled there in 1847
and owning what is known as 'Woods' Division,' besides a
farm in the county. He established the Presbyterian church
in Iowa City and Johnson county."
This may be understood as a branch of the Presbyterian
church, the Old Stone church on Burlington street. The letter
continues : "My mother [Martha Woods] married R. H. Syl-
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562 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
vester, who was a reporter of debates in the Iowa legislature
about the year 1854, who afterwards established the Iowa Re-
porter, together with W. H. Harrison, and which paper be-
came the Iowa State Press, of which my father was editor and
publisher, disposing of the property to John P. Irish during
the war."
There are some errors in conclusions as to dates and the
time of establishing the Reporter, which are evident from pre-
vious statements in this sketch, and there is an apparent dis-
agreement as to the first name of the Harrison mentioned.
There are other interesting items in the letter of Hon. B. H.
Sylvester: "My father and uncles all served in the northern
army during the Civil War, as well as my grandfather, who
was a chaplain, and who died at Camp Nelson, Kentucky.
For a time he was President Lincoln's preacher at the Pres-
byterian church in Washington City. During the War my
father was the accredited correspondent of the New York
World, and later went into the insurance business in Memphis,
Tennessee, and became secretary of the Iowa association dur-
ing the first epidemic of yellow fever in that city, giving care
and comfort, among others, to the deceased brother of W. P.
Hepburn, late member of Congress from Iowa.
"After this epidemic, my father proceeded to St. Louis
and aided in the establishment of the St. Louis Times, and
later came to Washington and aided in the establishment of
the Washington Post."
The men who established the first newspapers depended
upon hand work exclusively and in order to accomplish any
results under that system employed many different men in
many different capacities. Due and deserved credit must
therefore be given to A. G. Tucker, one of the oldest printers
in Iowa City, if not the very oldest, and one whose work was
quite largely upon the Iowa City Daily Press.
Mr. Tucker learned the printer's art in the east, but came to
Iowa City in the early '50s, and was employed on the old
Capital Reporter, the predecessor of the Daily Press under
the regimes of Sylvester and the Harrison boys.
He was with the paper when Hon. J. P. Irish became the
owner and editor and continued with the paper for a number
of years afterward. He finally went to Muscatine, and while
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THE NEWSPAPERS 563
there drifted into the railway service. Later he returned to
Iowa City as the depot agent of the Rock Island, a position
he held for many years, but he has now retired to spend his
remaining years in the city where he practiced his early pro-
fession, residing now on East College street.
After eighteen years of active business in Iowa City as
editor of the Press, Mr. Irish determined upon removal to
California. On the departure of the family a meeting of citi-
zens adopted resolutions of regret in reference to the removal
after the social relations had been so long established, speak-
ing in complimentary terms of his influence through the press
and on the platform. In testimony of the sincere opportuni-
ties of friends the company presented Mr. Irish with a beauti-
ful engraved watch, and to Mrs. Irish a mantel clock.
Under the circumstances, the man who was accustomed to
speak to great throngs of people, was for a time overcome and
then ^in a voice broken and choked with emotion' ' he re-
sponded. Meantime a great crowd had assembled outside un-
able to gain admittance, and he spoke his words of farewell
to them also.
His opposing sheet, the Iowa City Republican said on the
occasion of his departure: "Of the retirement of John P.
Irish from Iowa journalism much might be written. For
eighteen years he has been conspicious as an editor and promi-
nent as a politician. Mr. Irish is no longer one of our citizens.
From today we forget the battles of years and think not of
acrimonious words, charges and counter charges. We rather
join with many others in thinking of Mr. Irish as a fellow
citizen whose genial ways, generous heart and pleasant voice
drew around him the warmest friends. We think of him as
a boy, born and reared in Johnson county, and by his perse-
verance and industry beginning when but in his teens, the
work of older men. For many years his paper, his voice and
his commanding appearance have been before the public, and
now they will be greatly missed. His family also, in remov-
ing from Iowa City, will leave a vacant place in social circles.
Mr. Irish has always been liberal and public spirited in all
enterprises, whether municipal, social or otherwise. In the
most sincere manner we wish him success in all that he under-
takes in his new home — except in politics.' 9 421
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564 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
About twenty years ago the Iowa City Citizen was estab-
lished with Hubert Bemley and Fred Bowersox as editors and
managers, but the latter remained in this connection for a
short time only. W. H. Conant, who is now with the Boerner-
Fry Company, became the editor in December, 1894, and re-
mained here until he went to the Republican in 1898. He was
succeeded by J. M. Parker, at that time with the Davenport
Tribune, who was editor until 1900, when Hubert Eemley
again assumed editorial charge. S. W. Searle became editor
in 1902. During this period from the date of establishment
the firm was known as the Citizen Publishing Company. The
present editor and proprietor, E. E. Johnston, came into pos-
session in 1907.
There are only three papers outside of Iowa City in John-
son county at the present time, and of these we have a limited
account, some of them having a series of predecessors that
have left no available record. The Lone Tre& Branch was es-
tablished April 2, 1892. It was launched by 0. S. Todd, then
publishing the Columbus Junction Safeguard, and was printed
in his office at that place and sent to Lone Tree where it was
mailed out each week. The first local correspondent for the
paper was W. E. Horrell, who gave up the task after a few
months, and Miss Hattie Underwood took up the work of
gathering the local news and sending it to Mr. Todd each
week. In this manner the paper was gotten out until Feb-
ruary, 1894, when W. H. Younkin, the present publisher, con-
ceived the idea that a newspaper office in Lone Tree would
prove a profitable investment, hence he purchased a printing
outfit and opened an office. He sold Miss Underwood an in-
terest in the business and they continued the publication of
the Lone Tree Branch, Mr. Todd having turned over the sub-
scription list and good will of the paper to the new publishers.
The paper was enlarged from a six column folio to a seven
column folio and was liberally patronized from the date of its
first publication in the home office. The next year the name
was changed to the Reporter. Again in 1898 Miss Underwood
sold back to Mr. Younkin her interest in the plant but con-
tinued her work as traveling solicitor. In 1898 the paper was
again enlarged to a five column quarto and later, in 1900, to a
six column quarto, in which form it is still issued.
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THE NEWSPAPERS 565
During the seventeen years W. H. YounMn has edited and
published the paper he has never missed an issue and has given
each issue his personal attention. By his close attention to
business, he has built up one of the best paying newspaper
propositions in the county and has prospered as few have in
his chosen occupation. The Reporter is now and has been for
many years one of the official papers of the county.421
The Oxford Leader is a semi-weekly, established in 1892,
with E. B. Doty as editor, who occupies that position at the
present time. For eighteen years he has continued as owner
and publisher, the paper having official recognition in the
county, while practically it is democratic, it has a large circu-
lation in its community, among members of all parties. Pre-
vious to this publication Oxford has had the Herald, published
in 1877, and the Journal, which followed the Herald the next
year. The latter was first published in a small way on a job
press, but by the purchase of the plant in 1879 by Wilson and
Templeman it was enlarged and continued as an independent
republican paper. About this time the Oxford Democrat was
established with several stockholders, among them, Hon. L. B.
Wolfe, Joe Linkhart, H. Vanderlip, and Louis Wagner. How-
ever, at the present time the Oxford Leader is the only paper
in that part of Johnson county.
The Solon Economy, a very suggestive name for a country
newspaper, was established in 1896 by W. M. Martin and Sons,
the editor of which outlined his policy in his first number as in
line with the name of his paper, which he said was ' * to instruct
in the management, regulation and government of a family."
He also adds, " judicial and frugal management of public af-
fairs, and the economy of living in general,' ' should be the
sphere in which the paper would endeavor to operate. The
first issue is dated March 26, 1896. After the retirement of
Mr. Martin, his daughter, Mrs. Biedel edited the paper until a
recent date. Before this time the Solon Reaper had been
published here, commencing its issues in 1882. It had a num-
ber of editors, among whom was Dr. L. G. Lawyer, now a prac-
ticing dentist in Iowa City.
For twenty-two years the Bohemian newspaper, the Slovan
Americky, was published in Iowa City, at the expiration of
which period it was removed to Cedar Bapids. It was in 1869
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566 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
that it was begun in Iowa City, occupying a room in the same
building which the State Press then used and using the same
printing equipment in its publication. When Hon. John P.
Irish built the Press building the Slovan Americky took a por-
tion of the second floor and continued to use the mechanical
equipment of the first mentioned paper. The editors, Messrs.
Letovsky, left a comfortable record behind them which has
been written by a contemporary workman : ' * We can but bear
testimony to the excellent qualities of these gentlemen. They
began business in a small way, but with a courage, a patience
and cheerfulness that overcame every obstacle and surmounted
every untoward circumstance.' ' One of this firm, Hon. J. M.
B. Letovsky was an official of the city, a member of the council,
mayor, and also member of the state assembly from the county,
being a candidate for reelection at the time of his removal to
Cedar Rapids. His integrity was unquestioned and his politi-
cal influence of the highest type.428
The Homestead, now published in Des Moines, secured in
1882 possession of the Western Stock Journal and Farmer,
which was for some time edited and published in Iowa City by
Z. C. Luse, Carey R. Smith, and others, who have been men-
tioned among the leading stock men of the county. It ap-
pears to have been at the time an influential journal in its
field.
The early University papers date from 1868, when the
Reporter was first issued in October, as a monthly, later be-
coming a semi-monthly. The Vidette appeared in the fall of
1879, and the two were finally combined in 1881 as the Vidette-
Reporter, but this ceased to exist when the Daily Iowan was
projected.
When the first number of the Reporter appeared it was not
commended on its neatness, nor mechanical work, and an ex-
perienced writer of 1868 cautioned the editors "to be very
courageous in the rejection of matter that was unworthy."
The first managers and editors of the University Reporter
included the following students : E. Branson Cowgill, John A.
Pickler, Albert Loughridge, Miss Nannie Anderson, Miss Pris-
cilla Milliken, and Smith Hanna.
At the time of the consolidation of the Vidette and the Re-
porter in September, 1881, the paper was continued as a week-
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THE NEWSPAPERS 567
ly, as the Vidette had begun its publication in the school year
before. A company was formed to manage the affair, the
members being S. B. Howard, C. N. Hunt, T. 0. Newcomb, I. B.
Bichman, and A. J. Craven.
The Quill was first issued September 19, 1891, and these
papers continued until September, 1901, when the Daily Iowan
was established.
Several minor publications, at least so far as the life of the
publications was concerned, have appeared in the years of
the press history of the county. Many names are probably
entirely unfamiliar to the present generation, because not a
trace of the papers has been left for public inspection. The
first colleges, so numerous in the forties, endeavored to make
themselves felt through the printing of papers as well as
through the forms of instruction. The Snethen Seminary in
1844, published a small monthly paper, which has the credit
of being the first religious paper in the borders of the present
state. There was another paper of the same nature called the
Colporteur, which contained the interesting statement in its
time that this was the location of the "great city of the west,"
and giving the reasons for such statement as this: "The in-
habitants of between one and two thousand, are, for intelli-
gence, morality, and urbanity of manners not one whit inferior
to the cities of the Atlantic coast."
The Iowa Medley was the name of a college sheet put out
by the Iowa City University, a copy of which is now in the pos-
session of Hon. Milton Remley. During the days of the Know
Nothing party the "organ" was conducted for a short time by
John Kennedy, the man who issued the first directory of
Iowa City. This, of course, was in 1856, when that party
existed for a brief period. Another short-lived journal repre-
sented the Anti-Monopolists, and was edited by Jacob Seahorn.
In 1874, Henry Brede established the Volksfreund, for the
German population. The Iowa City Post also, coming under
the same classification, was begun in 1881. Other ventures
were the Herald, a file of which may be found in the library
of the Historical Society, the Democrat, and the News, as well
as the Clarion, all short-lived affairs.
About the year 1845 Charles R. Fisk issued an announce-
ment, really a prospectus, of a newspaper to be called The
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568 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Watchman, an exponent of the Bible and its teachings, which
was to ' i exhibit brief expositions of different passages of scrip-
ture, to watch the progress of truth and error, to record inter-
esting facts and to contain religious news and friendly exhorta-
tions."
It was designed, it is said, to be issued monthly, "com-
mencing as soon as it should receive sufficient encouragement
to warrant the undertaking." Rev. W. W. Woods was to be
the assistant editor, the same minister who was mentioned as
the founder of the congregation that erected the Old Stone
Church.
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CHAPTER XXXV
Entertainments — Lectures — Libraries
TNa new country entertainment may take on various forms
A which depend upon the characteristics of the settlers, their
previous training having much to do with their plans for the
public comfort or private social life. In this respect the new
capital of Iowa territory had an advantage in being settled by
many people of high ideals, and it was more than an ordinary
town from the beginning in its demands for the intellectual and
literary. To repeat the often mentioned statement of the num-
ber of houses and population in 1841 is sometimes necessary
in order to make the proper background for what one would
say about the development of some special phase of the social
life. The time of the following advertisement is in 1841r
when only a score and a half of cabins were found on the site
of the city and Butler's State House was then in active service,
while the Reporter and Standard, forerunners of the Press and
Republican respectively, were the only newspapers on the
ground. The notice mentioned appeared in the Reporter for
December 18, 1841, and read like this :
Lyceum Notice
"All who are friendly to the formation of
a Lyceum
in this town are requested to meet at the M. P. Church,
on Monday evening next, at 6 o'clock. A full attendance is-
earnestly requested." Thereafter, it is said, the Protestant
Methodist church became a kind of literary rallying point and
the lyceum furnished the means for many intellectual combats.
This is regarded as the first attempt at public amusement, com-
bined with any form of instruction that was undertaken in
Iowa City, and therefore in the county, and this is believed
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570 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
to be not more than two years after the building of the first
cabin by Matthew Teneyk.
To furnish entertainment, or instruction through the lec-
ture, was often a problem when it was difficult to find means
of transportation beyond stage accommodations, and local
talent was employed as a form of ' * self-help' ' in the emergency.
Time often hung heavy upon the citizens of the forties and
fifties. They never seemed to hurry very much, and we find
impromptu assemblies which, for the interested ones, must
have been exciting. Public officials, notably the judges and
lawyers assembled for holding the local court, had fewer
cases than now, and found opportunity to form mock con-
gresses and committees just to " while away" the hours.
However, formal societies began to hear lectures in 1844,
on such topics as "Character," the subject chosen by Hon.
Thomas Rogers, at a meeting of the "Literary Institute" in
the winter of the year mentioned. This was the first of a
series of lectures, the Hon. Hugh D. Downey following Mr.
Rogers. During Mr. Downey's address he defined the abject
of this society to be "the improvement in the art of public
speaking." The third lecture was given by Rev. M. Hummer,
who discussed "the importance and character of a thorough
mental training."
The temporary state house that stood on Washington
street just east of the Whetstone drug store, served for the
occasional minstrel show and public gatherings, including the
different church services until the new capitol, now the old, was
completed and then it became the center of large assemblies
when permission could be obtained from the authorities for
its use. Sometimes the Old North Presbyterian church,
which met with so many mishaps as mentioned in the chapters
dealing with churches, was the scene of concerts. The old
court house that was found a scrap heap one morning after
election, was a semi-theatre on occasions, and in it a strolling
troupe gave "Handy Andy" and "Box and Cox," probably
"the first histrionic efforts in the city by professionals."
"The first attempt at a real hall was when Franklin Kim-
ball and his firm built 'Franklin Market,' and following the
fashion of Faneuil Hall, Boston, put over it a hall, which of
course took the name, Market Hail." This was early in the
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ENTERTAINMENTS— LECTURES— LIBRARIES 571
fifties and it was the third floor up. Here it is said "Sallie
St. Clair gave the city it first real lesson from the stage.' '
Here the audience sat on the hard benches and laughed or
wept as she rendered "Peg Woflington," or "The Stranger.' *
Contemporary with Market Hall and the Metropolitan was
the Athenaeun on the corner of Market and Clinton, built for
a public library and lecture room, later turned into a German
stage when John Xanter and Jacob Hotz played amateurly to
roaring crowds; then in turn it became the seat of the district
court after the burning of the court house ; a saloon occupied
it after this until someone purchased the ground and sold the
building, when it was moved down to the corner of Dubuque
and Burlington streets, when it was used as a meeting place of
the Episcopal church congregation; after these people were
through with it the Universalists used it, and later the parish
of Saint Patrick took possession. Its final use, one may say,,
was as a lumber shed and shop.
Metropolitan Hall came next in order, but of a different
class, both in an artistic and practical sense. This led to the
abandoning of Market Hall and in the new house of entertain-
ment and instruction many noted people appeared. There
were Mrs. Bishop, the singer, on her way across the Pacific to
Australia; Horace Greeley, Fred Douglass, Anna Dickinson,
Wendell Phillips, George Francis Train, and others spoke
there to great crowds. Then like others of its kind one morn-
ing this popular place went up in smoke. Ham's Hall took its
place and to it were added some improvements that come from
experience and it was upon the second floor. Here John Dillon
played his comic acts. Til ton and Beecher followed each other^
Swing and Bret Harte, Mrs. Livermore, and the Hon. Horace
Mann, came about this time.
All these changes took place from 1841 to 1868 when Ham's
Hall was pronounced a place of safety and comfort. But this
preliminary is only introductory to the final act in the develop-
ment of an amusement center which finds its culmination in the
grand opera house built in 1876 and 1877, by the business
ability of E. Clarke and Thomas Hill, with the assistance of
John N. Coldren. On the place of its erection, the old Clinton
House stood, which was burned in 1872, while it was sheltering
the concert troupe of Ole Bull. Time may have changed the
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572 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
internal features of this place of entertainment but in its
main features the description given at the time of its dedica-
tion's correct. The opening of this house occurred in Novem-
ber, 1877, with the Bartley Campbell company playing the
titles "How Women Love" and "Van the Virginian." One
who was present at the time wrote: "Fifty years ago if any
town in England was the lucky holder of such a theater the
Poet Laureate was called upon to write a prologue and epilogue
for its opening nights and the event was made a civic holiday.
Let us by our presence testify an appreciation as hearty if
not as delicate." Evidently the entire community, young and
old, helped to swell the crowd on this opening night since all
available space was filled and "the opening" was all that could
be expected, if one may judge from the statement that "Never
before in the memory of the amusement seeker was there such
an assemblage of people brought together in Iowa City as at-
tended the opening on Tuesday night." 424
However, to return to literary organizations of 1860, in
which year a body of non-legislative numbers composed the
Iowa City congress. This had for its purpose, as the name
suggests, the discussion of public questions, and therefore, for
this purpose it arranged for lectures by public men generally,
but one feature was somewhat uncommon, so much so as to
be a unique feature in this organization. The second series
of "free home lectures" was announced in December, 1860,
which would run through the entire winter, since there were
seventeen numbers, drawn not only from professional men,
but from business men as well. The list of lecturers is worthy
of preservation. The first of the course for this season was
given by Rev. W. W. Allen, and the second by Hon. Peter A.
Dey, who probably outlived all who had a part in that winter's
program. There were on the list the names of Parvin, Inger-
soll, Lionhardt, Spencer, Wells, Cochran, Brainerd, Bloom, Van
Hosen, Boal, McLean, Boucher, Byington, Van Nest, and Ghiffin.
The Hon. Peter A. Dey spoke on "The Secession Movement,"
then just reaching the climax of its activities. It was an oppor-
tune time to commence a free discussion of this topic since less
than six months were to pass before the same congress of de-
baters would stop its session to assist the marching soldiers to
reach camp on time.415
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ENTERTAINMENTS— LECTURES— LIBRARIES 573
This organization was said to be an exact reproduction of
the national Congress. They held their sessions in what was
known as the Mendenhall block on the corner of College and
Dubuque streets. Sections of the Union were represented,
where the ideas of that particular section were expressed. It
appears, this style of organization was carried into the country
districts, Newport, Graham and other townships having sim-
ilar bodies.
Out of the lyceums, congresses and home-talent lecture
courses, and probably contemporary with them, came the
library movement. The growth of this has been summed up
by several authorities in the preparation of data at the time
of the dedication of the present Carnegie library of Iowa City.
November 12, 1856, is given as the date of the first library
movement of a public nature in the county and this seems to
have matured in the organization of the "Citizens Library
Association of Iowa City." It had for its aim the " extend-
ing of the means by which we may promote the best interests
of the community in the social and intellectual phases,' J and
the management was placed in the hands of twelve trustees.
There were in the beginning two classes of members, active
and honorary. The membership fee was fixed at one dollar
and annual dues at two dollars, and a committee on ways and
means had charge of the financial affairs of the organization.
Library rooms were "four doors north of the post office" and
the hours were at convenient periods during the day and
evening. The first board of trustees included names of men
who have occupied important places in county, state, and
national affairs. Chas. W. Hobart was the president, and
John Pattee, vice-president. Mr. Pattee was from Bremer
county and auditor of state when here. Frank W. Ballard was
corresponding secretary, D. Franklin Wells, who was once
state superintendent of public instruction and died in that
office, was recording secretary. John C. Culbertson, at one
time a member of the state assembly, was treasurer, Geo. W.
McCleary, the second county judge under that form of county
goverenment, Hugh D. Downey, a member of that financial
group of Cook, Sargent and Downey and for whom the village
of Downey in Cedar county is named, James H. Gower, for
many years a business man of the city, a member of the firm
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574 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
of Gower and Bowersox, J. Warren Clark, R. H. Sylvester,
John Clark, and John Teesdale, editors and men of literary
tastes, were the other members of the board of trustees.
Under such care the movement ought to succeed and they
made provisions to combine the library affairs with a popular
lecture course. During that first winter of 1856-7 the course
included the names of Wendell Phillips, Horace Greeley, Jesse
Clement, Wm. J. Patterson, Mrs. E. W. Fernham, Henry Giles,
John G. Saxe, and S. M. Hulett. There were others who were
expected but they failed to meet their engagements. This
venture was not a financial success but one must feel sure that
the group of speakers brought a message worth the price since
it was not cheap entertainment. September 1, 1857, the re-
port of the president of the board of trustees was published,
which contained some items of interest from the side of peri-
odicals, but no mention of other equipment. Daily papers and
periodicals were the only literary supplies mentioned and the
president makes the statement that "no better collection will
be found west of Chicago. " The membership at this time was
reported as 142 active and 33 as prospective members. Its
history seems to have ended here abruptly with a small sum
in the treasury and the experience, in addition to the news-
papers.
H. J. Wieneke, now in business on Washington street, as
long ago as fifty-two years, or in 1859, determined to establish
a circulating library in connection with his grocery store, lo-
cated then on Jefferson street, on the site of the present medi-
cal building from which place he reluctantly moved under the
"power of state." Here he began to loan books at five cents
per volume per day, which seems to have been a popular
venture for his collection soon reached a thousand volumes in
number. Such use, however, did not prove profitable to him
and when he was sent to the northwest with his regiment to
fight the Indians he carried along ihany of these books to sup-
ply entertainment for the command at Fort Randall.
No further history is recorded until the Y. M. C. A. was
organized in 1863 and 1864 when the association provided a
lecture course and opened reading rooms. The local press
of the day was used very largely to urge the public to sup-
port of this library movement. It is given on the best of
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Iowa City Library
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THE r.'K'Y v
jRK
ASTC«. L^NC'X
TILDt N FUU\OA
IONS
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ENTERTAINMENTS— LECTURES— LIBRARIES 575
authority that "in the summer of 1867 there were several
hundred volumes on the shelves of the association which was
then located as an organization on the site of the reception
room of the Saint James Hotel. The lecture course controlled
by the Y. M. C. A. during the winter of 1867 and 1868 as re-
ported by the press of the time fared very badly from a
financial standpoint, the loss being more than two hundred
dollars. Among the speakers of the course were B. F. Taylor,
Milburn, Vincent, Whipple, Sumner, Holland, "Nasby,"
Gough, and Anna Dickinson. The great naturalist, Agassiz had
lectured here in 1866 on the ' ' Coral Reefs of Iowa City. ' ' The
report on this course stated that the library contained five
hundred volumes. At this time an appeal was made for
public support to carry on the work.428 However, in the
autumn of 1870 the association concluded to discontinue the
library and agreed to surrender the books to any organization
that would continue the work, and then such a movement was
begun, which resulted in a temporary organization, lasting for
three or four years, when the possessions were disposed of at
public sale and the library had again ceased to be for a long
period, since, like the proposed colleges and railroads, a pre-
liminary effort was followed by a reaction that required time
to overcome until the value of such institution became better
understood.
Twenty years, approximately, from the time the library was
"sold at auction" the agitation began, which resulted in the
present fine building of Iowa City Free Public Library and on
August 28, 1896, a meeting of pastors and representatives of
the young peoples' societies of the city was called to consider
the establishment of rooms for reading and games. One writer
says that "the unwritten history of the Iowa City Library
Association is that the nucleus of one of the farthest reaching
influences of the city originated in a prayer meeting where
only two or three were gathered together." The written his-
tory begins as above in the meeting held in the Christian
Church, which meeting resulted in another held at the City
Hall on September 3, 1896, at which a formal constitution was
submitted for the organization of the reading rooms and
game rooms as proposed in the preliminary meeting, but
action on this was deferred and a motion made declaring for
37
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576 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
a library was passed. An executive committee was appointed
to call a still larger meeting at Smiths Armory on September
21, 1896. This was enthusiastically attended and the address-
es seemed favorable to the movement, which resulted finally
in the appointment of the " council of thirty members" for the
purpose of soliciting funds and to promote the object stated.
Three thousand dollars, approximately, was the result of the
canvass, and on September 28, 1896, a formal constitution was
adopted. The first board of trustees was chosen on October
12, 1896, composed of the following persons: Judge M. J.
Wade, Mrs. Bertha G. Ridgway, George Hummer, B. Shimek,
S. K. Stevenson, W. P. Coast, Geo. W. Ball, Alta Luscombe,
and Max Mayer.
The first order for books was made on January 2, 1897, and
on January 20 of the same year "The Iowa City Public Libra-
ry was formally opened, Hon. Geo. W. Ball presiding in the un-
avoidable absence of Judge Wade, president of the Library
Association/ ' In less than one month from the day the doors
were opened to the public 836 persons had applied for cards
entitling them to the privileges of the library; 2,226 cards had
been issued and 440 visitors had been present at the library
rooms. To meet all these demands there were but 1300 vol-
umes of books and the question of growth confronted the board
of trustees, who sought a way to solve the problem of the
future. To assist in this, the question of public support as
provided in the laws of Iowa, was submitted to the voters at
the municipal election in March, 1897, when 1,487 votes were
cast on the question, 1187 for and 300 against the proposition.
Fifteen days later Mayor C. M. Reno, "by and with the ap-
proval of the city council,' ' appointed the members of the
"Board of Directors of the Iowa City Library Association" as
the trustees of the "Iowa City Public Library." Hence there
was no change in the official body, but a new status of sup-
port, no more a private, but now a public and a permanent
body. The officers chosen by these trustees were M. J. Wade,
president; Bertha G-. Ridgway, vice president; S. K. Steven-
son, secretary, and George Hummer, treasurer. These were
chosen on March 17, 1897. On July 26, 1897, the trustees
passed a resolution asking the city council for the first appro-
priation for the library support by taxation in the sum of
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ENTERTAINMENTS— LECTUEES— LIBRARIES 577
$2,316. As demands increased for more room and equipment,
the movement for the present Carnegie building was initiated
by the president of the board of trustees and after due solici-
tation and investigation, under the usual conditions of Mr.
Carnegie's gifts for libraries, it was accepted by the city coun-
cil with promise of one thousand dollars more for support than
his requirements demanded. Steps were at once taken for
the securing of a suitable site and choice fell upon the corner
of College and Linn streets, which is the present site and to
secure which required $8,500. When the plans were submit-
ted by the architect it was found that the amount available
for the structure would not quite cover the cost as it was
estimated. An appeal to the city council for ten thousand
dollars more failed to secure the needed amount, whereupon
a second appeal was made by Judge Wade to the wealthy and
generous Carnegie, March 11, 1903, by a letter to Senator
W. B. Allison, "setting forth the situation and soliciting his
assistance' ' in the matter. The senator was induced to un-
dertake the request to Mr. Carnegie the second time. The
result was an additional amount of ten thousand dollars, and
since the council had already made the required pledge in
addition as required by Mr. Carnegie, the entire amount of
$35,000 was at once available. On June 18, 1903, bids were
opened and the contract awarded for the construction of the
building. The building committee consisted of W. P. Coast,
George Hummer, and Geo. W. Ball, and this committee com-
pleted the structure and "turned it over to the city free from
debt."
Many organizations and individuals assisted in raising
funds for the additional books and supplies. Specifically
mentioned are St. Mary's Lyceum which presented the play,
"Honor Before Wealth;" a course of lectures given by Pro-
fessors Macbride, Wilcox, Shimek, Dr. Gilchrist and Judge
Wade; one hundred and fifty volumes of books belonging to
the Safarik Lodge No. 75, C. S. P. S., of Iowa City were placed
in circulation in the public library and so remained until the
dedication of the new hall of this society ; a gift from Dr. J. L.
Pickard added one hundred and twenty volumes; and many
private gifts came in the same way. Nearly three hundred
volumes in gifts came during the first two years of the libra-
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578 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ry's history, besides fifteen hundred magazines. From the
last report of the librarian, Miss Helen McRaith, the number
of volumes now in the library is given as 11,163, and of that
number 863 were added during the year 1910. During the
year also the rooms were open 307 days, 37,941 books were
circulated, nearly 10,000 of these circulations being from the
children's department, and about 2,000 in the schools. From
the figures given the largest increase is found in the children's
department and in the useful arts. The largest monthly cir-
culation was in the month of December, when more than 3,600
books were withdrawn. Persons who are transient in the city
may draw books by making deposits, which are refunded on
the return of the books. Nearly 800 new readers applied for
cards during the year. The actual number of borrowers'
cards in force at the end of December was approximately
4,500, and of this number 300 were from country districts.
One of the interesting items in this report says: "In May
414 children from the city schools visited the children's room,
accompanied by their teachers. They were instructed in the
use of the catalogue, arrangement of the books on the shelves,
and all those not library borrowers were given application
cards to take home and have signed by their parents." It
appears that sub-stations are located at the North and the
South schools. The gifts during the year were many, but four
are specifically mentioned : Twenty-seven volumes of various
classics by Mrs. Witter, of Muscatine ; a complete set of Cath-
olic Encyclopaedia by Mr. George Hummer ; a bronze bust of
Shakespeare by the club of that name, and a colored print of
Titian's Madonna, both of the latter gifts for the club room."7
The report of the librarian for 1872, when placed beside
the one for the current year, makes some interesting facts
plain. Then there were 751 volumes in the circulating library,
fifty volumes of history, fifty-five of practical works, sixty of
biographical, thirty-five of travel, seventy-five of essays, and
the remainder miscellaneous. Eight papers and three maga-
zines, namely, the Old and the New Galaxy and Harpers were
taken ; 221 names were on the register, and of these 163 drew
books during the year. The total number of books drawn
during the year was 1853, not more than one hundred being
out at one time. The average attendance at the library per
day was twenty, which was an average of four persons each
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ENTERTAINMENTS— LECTURES— LIBRARIES 579
hour during the five hours the library was open. It was stated
in this report that many of the better class of books were read
but a far greater number of novels. Of these latter all were
of the first class — Scott, Hawthorne, Muhlbach, Holmes, and
T. S. Arthur. The demand from all quarters was for "new
books.' '
Special mention must be made in giving the history of
the Public Library of Iowa City of the Welch gift of the Pat-
terson Memorial Library, presented in 1906, in memory, as the
book plate states, of
Lemuel Bausman Patterson
Memorial
Iowa City Public Library
Presented by his daughter
Lillie Patterson Welch
and her husband
Willard Joseph Welch
A. D. 1906
In this collection there are 766 volumes of choice literature
in choice binding and to it have been recently added the two
volumes on the "Life and Letters of Lemuel Bausman Pat-
terson,' ' by Mr. W. J. Welch. In volume one of this work
one may find a facsimile of a receipt from the Library Asso-
ciation of 1857. It reads :
"Citizen's Library Association
"$300 Iowa City 185. .
"Received of 100 Dollars,
in full for Membership Dues to ' Citizens' Library Association'
from January 1st, 1857, to Dec. 31st, 1857, 12 months.
Initiation fee $1.00. John C. Culbertson, Treasurer.
"Yearly Dues $2.00"
The collection of rare old views of local interest in the first
volume is of great value and the* work put upon this memorial
publication is certainly out of the ordinary. One puts the
memorial volumes aside feeling that he has some information
about the life of the man who made the choice collection that
stands in the wing of the public library. At the death of Mr.
Patterson a sum was left for maintainance of this library
and at the death of Mrs. Welch an addition was made to the
fund, the income from which is to be used exclusively for this
purpose.
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CHAPTER XXXVI
► Societies and Clubs for Special Study
T T WAS in January, 1857, while the third constitutional con-
-* vention was engaged in revising the constitution of the
state in the Old Stone Capitol at Iowa City that the sixth Gen-
eral Assembly, which was then in session in the same historic
building, voted a permanent annual appropriation of $250 "for
the benefit of a State Historical Society," which was organized
on February 7, 1857.
According to its original constitution The State Historical
Society of Iowa consisted of members who were admitted
upon election by the society or by the board of curators and
the payment of an "admittance fee" of three dollars. The
members of the society held regular annual meetings at
which officers were elected and new members admitted. Up-
on the board of curators was conferred full power to manage
the affairs of the society.
At the outset the state seems to have exercised no direct
control over the organization and administration of the society •
But as time went on a feeling arose in favor of bringing the
society and the state into closer relations, since the society
existed for public purposes and was supported by state ap-
propriations. Accordingly, in 1872 an act was passed by the
fourteenth General Assembly "to reorganize the State Histori-
Society. ' ' By this act the society was made a State institution
in the fullest sense of the term. Since 1872 no substantial
changes have been made in the organization of the society
which is now provided for under Title XIII, Ch. 18, of the
Code of 1897.
As the state has grown older the support of the Historical
Society has become more liberal. The original annual al-
lowance was $250. This sum was increased to $500 in 1860.
Twenty years later it was fixed at $1000. In 1902 the per-
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOE SPECIAL STUDY 581
manent annual support of the society was raised to $2500. In
1904 it was placed at $7500. And finally in 1907 it was in-
creased to $12,000. In the meantime special appropriations
amounting to $19,250 were voted by the General Assembly.
Since its establishment in 1857 The State Historical Society
of Iowa has been located at Iowa City, under the auspices of
the State University. At first it occupied rooms in the Old
Stone Capitol. In 1862 its library and collections were re-
moved to the Mechanics Academy building. Three years later
the society was authorized to use "the Library Boom and
Cabinet of the University for their purposes as a society, with
leave to hold the anuual meetings of the society in the Uni-
versity chapel." In June, 1868, the board of curators leased
the Old Stone church on Burlington street, which served as
headquarters until 1882 when better quarters were secured in
a building on Washington street. Finally, in September, 1901,
in accordance with the wishes of the General Assembly, the
society was assigned rooms in the Hall of Liberal Arts.428
The Baconian Club, while in the beginning a strictly Uni-
versity organization has in recent years become more public,
and therefore has a place in the chapter treating of literary
work. In brief it has the following history: "At seven-
thirty on the evening of November 20, 1885, a small group
of men who were interested in science met in the chemical
laboratory of the State University of Iowa. They had assem-
bled at the call of Dr. L. W. Andrews, at that time and for
many years afterward, professor of chemistry in the Uni-
versity. Dr. Andrews stated that the object he had in calling
the meeting was the formation of a 'Science Circle ;' and
with this announcement the meeting proceeded to temporary
organization by the election of Professor Leonard as chair-
man and E. L. Boerner as secretary. Then a committee was
appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for a permanent
organization. 'After listening to an informal lecture by Pro-
fessor Leonard on the probable course of the meteor, the
meeting adjourned to seven o'clock on Saturday evening,
November 28. f "
At the time announced the committee reported on the or-
ganization and after certain changes were made in the con-
stitution and by-laws as ordered by the club the adoption was
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582 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
made on the evening of December 11, 1885. The charter mem-
bers were : N. R. Leonard, who was also the first president,
P. H. Philbrick, Samuel Calvin, T. H. Macbride, J. G. Gil-
christ, L. W. Andrews, who called the meeting that resulted
in the organization, and who was the first secretary, and An-
drew A. Veblin. Only one of these, Professor Macbride, re-
mains in the service of the University. [The last sentence was
revised on the morning after the death of the lamented senior
Professor Calvin.]
In the beginning a few men, seldom more than twenty and
often less than half that number, gathered in the chemical
laboratory in the Old North Hall, and sat in a circle around
the stove, the members taking turns in replenishing the fire.
There was little formality, the meetings assuming the nature
of a friendly discussion rather than a set form of procedure.
The meetings now are in striking contrast to those of that
day as they are held in the comfortable rooms with a public
invitation to those interested in scientific subjects to attend.
At present the membership numbers nearly fifty, which in-
cludes five who were elected to membership during the first five
years of the club and who are now serving the University.
They are Professors L. G. Weld, C. C. Nutting, E. W. Rock-
wood, G. T. W. Patrick, and Bohumil Shimek. This was the
first organization of the kind in the University. It is said
that out of this has grown the Political Science Club, the
Philosophical Club, the Humanist Society, and others of sim-
ilar purposes.429
On the evening of October 9, 1896, Prof. Isaac A. Loos in-
vited a few friends to his house and from this beginning four
meetings were held before January 1, 1897, when definite or-
ganization of the Poltical Science Club was determined upon,
since then it has been customary to hold the first meeting of
the academic year at the home of the founder of the club.
Fortunately a record of these first four meetings has been pre-
served by Dr. B. F. Shambaugh. Eighteen were present at
the first meeting and the paper of the evening was read by
Professor Wilcox on What is Political Science. Formal or-
ganization was made in January, 1897, and at the end of
three months from the time of the first meeting there was a
reorganized membership of fifteen, although there had been
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOR SPECIAL STUDY 583
no one formally admitted, and there was no written constitu-
tion.
At the fourth annual meeting, in 1900, a very brief consti-
tution was adopted for guidance in the future. One promin-
ent future of this club is its custom of meeting at the homes of
its members, which is said to be the fixed policy, while mem-
bership in the club means not only willingness to entertain
but ability to read a paper. The presence of women at any
meeting has become established also, through custom, and the
club is mentioned as "a fine illustration of an institution
which has grown through the processes of evolution, develop-
ing mostly through customary or unwritten law." 480
About 1880 there appears to have been a movement through-
out the state toward the organization of literary clubs, or
others of kindred nature not connected with any institution.
The very oldest of such organizations do not date their be-
ginning very much before that period, and there are very
many that were set in motion during the five years following
it. Among these are a number in Johnson county, and for
their history the members who have been connected with
them from the beginning, must be duly credited. Mrs. Emlin
McClain has kindly prepared the history of the Nineteenth
Century Club, and Mrs. William P. Coast that of the Raphael
Club, the pioneer organizations of this kind in Iowa City, and
hence in the county, and among the very first in Iowa.
NINETEENTH CENTURY CLUB
The Nineteenth Century Club, the oldest club for women in
Iowa City and one of the oldest in the state of Iowa, was
organized in October, 1883. At about this time, all over the
country, there was an awakening of women to the stimulus to
be found in organization for mutual benefit, enlightenment,
and improvement, and Iowa City only awaited a leader to
respond to the larger club movement which engulfed the read-
ing circles and small study groups already long established.
The leader came, full of broad ideas and contagious en-
thusiasm to find ready appreciation and an eager following.
As has been suggested, thoughts about clubs were in the air,
but Miss Susanne F. Smith, recently appointed professor of
English in the State University, put thoughts into words and,
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584 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
with a few coadjutors, words into deeds, and the Nineteenth
Century Club came into existence with twenty charter mem-
bers, as follows: Mrs. Charles P. Bacon, Mrs. George W.
Ball, Mrs. George J. Boal, Mrs. Clara E. Call, Mrs. Amos
N. Currier, Mrs. Emma Haddock, Doctor Elizabeth Hess, Miss
Louise E. Hughes, Miss Minnie Leonard, Miss Sarah Lough-
ridge, Mrs. Thomas H. Macbride, Mrs. Emlin McClain, Miss
Mary E. Moon, Miss Louise Mordoff, Mrs. Ada- North, Miss
Eleanor Paine, Mrs. Leonard F. Parker, Mrs. Josiah L. Pick-
ard, Miss Susanne F. Smith, Miss Louise Younkin.
Under the circumstances of its inception it is perhaps natur-
al that a majority of the charter members, and of subsequent
members as well should come from University families. How-
ever, one has but to glance at the foregoing list and at the
complete list of forty-nine members which follows to recog-
nize names not only very closely associated with the history
of the University but those equally important in the life of the
town.
The following represent the complete membership of the
club, to the present time :
1883 Mrs. Charles P. Bacon, Washington, D. C.
Mrs. George W. Ball, Iowa City
Mrs. George J. Boal, Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Clara E. Call, Ridgewood, N. J.
Mrs. Amos N. Currier, Iowa City
* Mrs. Emma Haddock
* Doctor Elizabeth Hess
Miss Louise E. Hughes, Omaha, Neb.
* Miss Katherine Humphrey
Miss Minnie Leonard, Butte, Mont.
* Miss Sarah Loughridge
Mrs. Thomas H. Macbride, Iowa City
Mrs. Emlin McClain, Iowa City
Miss Mary E. Moon, Iowa City
Miss Louise Mordoff, Iowa City
* Mrs. Ada North
Miss Eleanor Paine (Mrs. Gardner), Saratoga
Springs, N. Y.
♦Deceased.
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOR SPECIAL STUDY 585
* Mrs. Leonard F. Parker
* Mrs. Josiah L. Pickard
* Miss Sara B. Ransom (Mrs. Hill)
* Miss May Robinson (Mrs. Crawford)
Miss Susanne F. Smith (Mrs. Tyndale), Weymouth,
Mass.
* Miss Louise Younkin (Mrs. Anderson)
1885 * Mrs. David S. Barber
Miss Jessie Smith (Mrs. G-aynor), Chicago, HI.
Mrs. Mary R. Wullweber, Iowa City
1888 Miss Leona A. Call, Webster City
Miss Sophia Hutchinson (Mrs. Teeters), Lincoln,
Neb.
Mrs. Charles A. Schaeffer, Washington, D. C.
1889 Mrs. Melville B. Anderson, Palo Alto, Cal.
Mrs. Samuel Calvin, Iowa City
1894 Mrs. William P. Coast, Iowa City
* Mrs. Bertha G. Ridgway
Mrs. Denton F. Sawyer, Denver, Col.
1899 Miss Delia Hutchinson, Iowa City
1901 Mrs. Arthur Fairbanks, Cambridge, Mass.
Miss Alice Young, Ontario, Cal.
1904 Mrs. Alfred Varley Sims, Chatmoss, Va.
Mrs. Arthur G. Smith, Iowa City
1905 Miss Mary Sleight Everts (Mrs. Ewing), Lake
Forest, 111.
Miss Carrie E. Mordoff, Iowa City
1906 Mrs. Henry Evarts Gordon, Iowa City
Mrs. Charles Bundy Wilson, Iowa City
1907 Mrs. Harry Grant Plum, Iowa City
Mrs. Horace L. Strain, Evanston, HI.
Mrs. Frederick B. Sturm, Iowa City
1909 Mrs. Elmer A. Wilcox, Iowa City
1910 Mrs. William J. Karslake, Iowa City
Miss Katharine Paine, Iowa City
In the ardor of its formative period it was almost inevit-
able that the club should not stop at attempted self improve-
ment but should wish to offer opportunities for intellectual
enjoyment to others, and so a series of lectures was contem-
♦Deceased.
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586 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
plated. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe was secured, and her lecture
was a distinctly successful event but there the enterprise
stopped. There all similar enterprises stopped, and a like
fate overtook other schemes which were suggested from time
to time and which were outside the line of actual study.
When the pioneer woman's club, Sorosis, celebrated its
twenty-first anniversary in New York city in March, 1889, by
-asking each club in the United States to send a delegate to the
meetings, the Nineteenth Century Club was represented by
Mrs. Emlin McClain. On this notable occasion the initial
step toward the federation of women's clubs was taken; but
the Nineteenth Century Club did not see fit then, nor has it
since allowed itself to join the federation movement, evidently
feeling that that was beyond the scope of its interests and
obligations. Neither has the club lent its energies to charity
or philanthropy, as there have always been other organiza-
tions to carry on such work. In short, the club has stood for
■conservatism and has confined itself absolutely and consist-
ently to its avowed* object, "the study of chosen historical and
literary subjects, and the discussion of the same."
The officers elected at the first meeting were: President,
Mrs. William J. Haddock; vice president, Miss Susanne F.
.Smith; secretary-treasurer, Miss Mary E. Moon.
The organization of the club was very simple and there
has been no reason to elaborate the plan so well conceived.
There is no constitution, only a short set of "Regulations."
Provision is made for the usual officers, an executive com-
mittee, and a programme committee. The membership is limit-
ed to twenty and the meetings are held at half after three
o'clock in the afternoon at the homes of the members, every
third Monday from September to June.
It is the duty of the leader for the day to present a care-
fully prepared paper, or talk, on the subject assigned and to
preside over the discussion which follows.
In the beginning, after the serious work of the afternoon
was over, the hostess provided a dinner but even in a restricted
form this became something of a burden and now afternoon
tea is offered or not as convenient.
The club takes pride in always having mapped out its own
work and from the start there were printed programmes.
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOR SPECIAL STUDY 587
Following in the path of all early club efforts, the first of
these were wide of range and general in effect but soon the
subjects were limited and treated more in detail with one year,
or more, given to a systematic study of a comprehensive sub-
ject, such as the history or literature of one country, locality ,>
or group of men. In other words, during the formative stage
the programmes were heterogeneous, later they have become
homogeneous.
In addition to the hard and uniformly conscientious work
that has been done year by year upon designated topics, there
have been prepared for special occasions original sketches,,
stories, poems, and plays of distinct merit Not only were
plays written by club members (during the study of the drama)
but the casts were selected from the club and the comedies
produced before small but enthusiastic audiences.
The club has taken great interest and pleasure in celebrat-
ing from time to time its anniversaries. The tenth year of
existence was emphasized by a reception to husbands and a
limited number of friends, at which, among other forms of
entertainment, were read a lively history of the club in the
form of chronicles and a charming original poem. A similar
gathering occurred on the twentieth anniversary and the year
(1903) was marked by a departure from the usual line of
work. No topics were assigned, but each hostess and her assist-
ant became responsible for the afternoon's entertainment.
This gave opportunity for much originality, disclosed hither-
to unknown talent in various directions, and the results were
most satisfactory and enlightening.
For the twenty-fifth anniversary a special effort was made
to have a reunion. Each absent member was communicated
with and asked to come to Iowa City on October 17, 1908,.
or to send a word of greeting for that day. Of the non-resi-
dent members, scattered from ocean to ocean, only three were
able to be present to share with the club and its assembled
friends the programme of music and addresses presented.
There was a welcoming address by the president, songs sung
which were written by an early club member, Mrs. Jessie
Smith Gaynor, and letters read in whole or in part and en-
joyed at this eventful meeting.
In 1913 the club will have spanned a generation and there
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588 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
is no doubt but that it will seize the opportunity to celebrate
fittingly its thirtieth birthday.
THE BAPHAEL CLUB
On Tuesday, January 29, 1884, the Raphael Club, the oldest
with one exception, of any club in Iowa City, began its exist-
ence. Mrs. Mark Ranney, whose husband, Doctor Mark Ran-
ney, had recently died in another city, had come, sad and a
stranger to make her home in Iowa City. She had in her pos-
session a number of copies of Raphael's cartoons and other
works of art, quite unusual here, at that time. A friend, in-
terested in making brighter some lonely hours of one in sor-
row, suggested the idea of inviting a few women, who, she
knew, would be interested, to share the pleasure and benefit of
her art collection. Acting upon this suggestion, Mrs. Ranney
asked a small number of ladies whose names had been sug-
gested as congenial, to come to her home one afternoon of
each week for mutual study and social pleasure.
As no record was kept of this period, the writer must de-
pend upon a rather faulty memory for details, but the names
below are those which suggest themselves as the first ones
chosen for the study class: Mrs. Mary Ransom Wullweber,
Mrs. Peter A. Dey, Mrs. Leonard F. Parker, Mrs. Amos N.
Currier, Mrs. Carson L. Mozier, Mrs. Charles P. Bacon, Miss
Susanne F. Smith, Mrs. William P. Coast, Mrs. Thomas H.
Macbride.
The cosy library, with its open fire, the well-filled book-
cases, the attractive pictures and a hospitable hostess com-
bined to make an ideal birth-place for an art club.
This congenial environment proved a veritable hot-bed for
the propagation of ambitious aspirations for study, and for
a number of years this home was our weekly Mecca. Certain-
ly no leader ever had a more appreciative following than had
Mrs. Ranney, whose heart must have been cheered by the
knowledge of the benefit she was conferring. Never was there
a more enthusiastic band of school girls, though all were well
beyond the age for compulsory school attendance.
For most of the club a new and fascinating world had been
discovered. Some of our number, to be sure, by virtue of
yocation and environment, had been kept in touch with a lit-
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOR SPECIAL STUDY 589
erary and artistic atmosphere, but they, as well as the others,
thoroughly enjoyed the advantage with which we were favored.
The Raphael cartoons, before mentioned, proved the source
of great pleasure and the cause of much research, leading to
an exhaustive study of that beloved painter's art, — thus he
became sponsor for the name by which the Club has since
been known.
The logical sequence of this, the initial course of study, was
Michael Angelo and his immortal work. The familiar axiom
proved true in regard to the lure of the old masters. The
more we learned the more we wanted to know. The spirit of
the club was contagious. Others became interested and would
have shared the study, but the number decided upon as desir-
able, by the hostess, was limited to ten. When that number
was complete it so remained for a number of years. For vari-
ous reasons, removal from town or other unavoidable causes,
the personnel of the club was slightly changed from time to
time, but the larger number always remained the same. As
long as we continued to meet with Mrs. Ranney a dainty tea
was the final feature of each day's program. After a time
Mrs. Ranney made a visit abroad, and at this time we began
to meet at the homes of different members and to hold our
meeting every three weeks instead of weekly and that has
since been our custom.
After finishing the study of Raphael, Michael Angelo, and
.all the earlier and later Italian masters of painting, sculpture,
and architecture, the attention of the club, with thirst for
knowledge and enthusiasm in its pursuit, was directed, through
Farrar's Art Topics — which became our program for sev-
eral years — to the task of reconstructing the hanging gar-
dens and palaces of Assyrian cities. We dwelt in the tombs
and temples and became familiar with all the great builders
and most of the deities of ancient Egypt. The temple at
Jerusalem was rebuilt and refurnished.
We were fascinated with the grace and beauty of Greek
art. The Parthenon with its beautiful frieze was as familiar
to us as the "Old Capitol' ' building and we knew all the dif-
ferent orders of architecture from base to cornice and whence
each order derived its name. During the time in which we
were interested in Greece, Prof. Currier gave us a helpful and
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590 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
interesting talk on the subject, having made a recent visit to
that country. At various times, other friends aided us in
the same way — Dr. Pickard among the number gave us one
of his delightfully entertaining and instructive lectures.
Having unveiled the secrets of the ancients, we turned from
the marvels of antiquity to the study of more modern subjects.
The art of European countries, each, in historical order and
divided into periods, was given a year or more of interested
consideration.
By such steps have we come down to the present time which
finds us loyally and patriotically pursuing the study of Amer-
ican art. Beginning with the earliest manifestation of artistic
sentiment in this, then, new country, we have spent two years
and the Art of the Columbian Exposition finishes the 1910-11
program. At least one more year is to be given to this rapidly
growing subject.
While perhaps in the above, the work and aims of the club
may have sometimes seemed to be lightly spoken of, they cer-
tainly were never so considered. But in looking backward
from the vantage point of a quarter century's experience, one
is struck with amazement at the temerity, the avidity, with
which the early clubs siezed upon the largest, the most knotty
questions and at the facility and dispatch with which they were
settled.
But this does not mean that the paper prepared upon any
given subject was brief. The brain of the average pioneer
club- woman had not yet been trained to classify and condense.
She wrote all she could find on the subject, and then fairly
turned the universe — her universe — upside down in the
search for more, lest something that had been written on the
subject should be omitted. Up to a certain point her audience
was attentive and interested, but even the human endurance
of an early club woman had a limit. As the sermons of the
early eminent New England divines, with their too numerous
" heads,' ' put the worshipers to sleep, so, as the cyclopedic
paper went on and on and on, eyes often drooped and heads
sometimes nodded, not always in assent. But bravely and to
the end, oblivious of the physical and mental fag produced
by her too generous fare, the reader proceeded at least to her
own edification and perfect satisfaction. She had made an
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOR SPECIAL STUDY 591
exhaustive study of her subject. Let it not be imagined, how-
ever, that all the valuable information imparted was lost be-
cause of weariness. There was always, at least, the subcon-
scious self, storing away its useful knowledge, labeled and
ready to be brought out at the psychological moment — if not
too carefully stored away.
All these years this club had been unique in that there have
never been constitution, by-laws, or any rules whatever for
its government. And yet without an organization, with no
thought of a permanent existence, it has gradually developed
into a club of twenty members and bids fair to commemorate
its half-century anniversary as happily as the twenty-fifth
was remembered.
Their silver anniversary was celebrated at the home of
Peter A. Dey, with the daughters of the household as host-
esses, on January 29, 1909. A dinner, crowned by a large,
beautiful birthday cake, bearing twenty-five lighted candles
was the first and an important item of the day's festivities.
After the dinner came toasts and after the toasts all were in-
vited to adjourn to the parlors where a delightful surprise
had been planned by the committee in charge of the anniver-
sary program. With great credit to themselves and much
pleasure to the club members and their two guests of honor,
our host and the mother of our Poetess, — the entire program
was carried out.
By the aid of her witty and versatile muse one of our
youngest members took the entire club on a personally con-
ducted tour of the famous picture galleries of Europe, where
each renewed the acquaintance of some familiar favorite.
Some foible or idiosyncracy of each member of the club was
remembered and referred to in a mirth producing rhyme. A
number of living pictures were presented by our efficient guide,
with appropriate remarks. Most of these were old friends,
who, at some time in our career, had taken deep hold upon
our affections and whom we were delighted to meet again
under such agreeable circumstances. When the curtain final-
ly fell upon this part of the entertainment, souvenir programs
were distributed. While a fierce blizzard raged without, all
was joy and cheer within. Every member of the club who
was in town, except one, who, unfortunately was detained by
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592 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
illness, was present. The one to whom we are indebted for
the timely suggestion of a club, Mrs. Wullweber, was on the
Pacific coast
Another unusual custom of the Raphael Club is the tenure
of office. By an unwritten law, no regular election of officers
is held and no resignation has ever been accepted. On this
question the officers have no voice. Mrs. Ranney was the hon-
ored president until she was called away by death, July 18,
1907* At this time the former vice-president, Mrs. William
P. Coast, succeeded to the office and Mrs. Celia A. M. Currier
was elected vice-president. These three, with the secretary,
Mrs. Arthur J. Cox, comprise the roster of officers for twenty-
seven years.
The first object of this club was certainly consummated
in the cheer of sympathetic friendship and congenial com-
panionship brought to her to whom it owes its life.
The second purpose, to obtain some knowledge of the fine
arts, has been, so far as possible at a distance from any art
center, accomplished. As far as black and white reproductions
could be of service, we have been aided. But for a knowledge
of those qualities expressed by brush and colors, we have had
to depend upon occasional opportunities, upon visits to gal-
leries and exhibitions of works of art, in the cities of our own
country and those of Europe. Many of our members have
had the advantage of the latter, and have returned with a
consciousness of eye and taste cultivated by the opportutnity
to study the original of subjects we had known only by de-
scription and by reproduction.
However imperfectly our long study may have been re-
warded, no member of the Raphael Club can ever regret the
pleasant, profitable years spent in our endeavor to learn even
a little of the master builders, the great masters in the world
of painting and of sculpture and their enduring monuments.
The names below compose the entire membership of the
club from the beginning. Some have married and gone to
distant homes to form new ties. Some have gone to their
''long home," and all are held in loving remembrance by those
who prized their helpful companionship for many years :
Mrs. Mark Ranney,* Mrs. M. R. Wullweber, Mrs. Peter A.
♦Deceased.
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOR SPECIAL STUDY 593
Dey,* Mrs. W. P. Coast, Mrs. C. P. Bacon, Mrs. L. F. Parker,*
Mrs. A. N. Currier, Mrs. I. M. Clark, Miss Susanne F. Smith
(Mrs. Tyndale), Miss Jessie Smith (Mrs. Gaynor), Mrs. C. L.
Mozier,* Mrs. Ella Lyon (Mrs. Hill), Miss Sarah Ransom
(Mrs. Hill), Mrs. Ada North,* Mrs. Chas. A. Schaeffer, Mrs.
T. H. Macbride, Mrs. S. N. Watson, Mrs. Thos. Banbury,*
Mrs. C. D. Jameson, Mrs. Emlin McClain, Miss Mary E. Moon,
Mrs. G. T. W. Patrick, Mrs. P. C. Coast, Miss Myra Dey (Mrs.
Wright), Miss Anna Dey (Mrs. Eastman), Mrs. W. J. Mc-
Chesney, Miss Ada F. Hutchinson, Mrs. C. T. Dey, Mrs. A. J.
Cox, Mrs. M. B. Moon, Miss Cora W. Gregory, Miss May Col-
dren, Mrs. W. 0. Coast, Mrs. M. H. Dey, Mrs. D/ W. Wylie.
THE N. N. CLUB
The N. N. Club was partially organized February 17, 1886 ;
however it accomplished little until its reorganization in July
following, when Mrs. T. R. Gower was chosen president; Mrs.
L. Thornberry, vice-president, and Mrs. J. D. Remley, secre-
tary and treasurer.
A Woman's Congress, held in Des Moines in October, 1885,
had caused many to reflect on the difficulty of systematic
study without organization, hence the plan carried out in the
organization of this club. It may be mentioned that Mrs.
W. N. Chalf ant has been credited with arousing much interest
in the preliminary work.
The first recorded program is for 1886, commencing in
September and closing in June, 1887, and this with all suc-
ceeding programs which since the first have been in pamphlet
form, have been carefully preserved by the second secretary
of the club, Mrs. T. C. Carson. The general program for the
first year as given in the first sketch of the club includes
studies in American literature, the early scientists, the states-
men, the essayists, and poets. The years following since then
have been devoted to literature, history in general, and by in-
dividual countries in detail. Art was taken up as it came in
the historical study, and it frequently required more than one
year to do the work planned for a single country.
About the year 1900 the club turned its attention to social
subjects, beginning with the principles of sociology, and in
1903-4 the year was spent in the study of American politics.
♦Deceased.
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594 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Arts and crafts was the topic for the next year; modern
American art the subject for 1905-6, while the very next year
religions was the topic for the clnb work. Greek and Roman
philosophy occupied the attention of the members for one
year, and since then, 1908-9, the entire time has been given to
studies in comparative literature.
In 1888-9, the club printed in its program announcements
the " Rules for Literary Clubs,'' compiled by the Browning
Society of Chicago for the help of new clubs and these, styled
the "ten commandments for study clubs,' ' would fit very well
in any such gathering.
The club in its beginning was composed of the following
members: Mrs. Emma Haddock, Mrs. J. D. Hudson, Mrs.
E. M. Wickersham, Mrs. T. R. Gower, Mrs. J. D. Remley,
Mrs. Louisa Thornberry, Mrs. W. N. Chalfant, Mrs. C. M.
Williams, Mrs. T. C. Carson, Mrs. L. E. McGee, Miss Belle T.
Hudson, and Miss Vogt.
The membership according to the present constitution is
limited to twenty-five women who shall be chosen by ballot,
and the number of meetings in a single year shall not exceed
twenty. The rules governing the retention of membership
require that any member placed on the program and failing
to notify the proper official of "her inability to produce said
paper, shall thereby forfeit her membership in the N. N. club."
This is the brief history of the club that took its name from
the fact that it could find No Name at the time of its organ-
ization. The present membership is herewith given: Mrs.
Clark F. Ansley, Mrs. Edward Cecil Barrett, Mrs. Harry E.
Blackmar, Mrs. William D. Cannon, Jr., Mrs. Thomas C.
Carson, Mrs. S. L. Close, Mrs. F. C. Eastman, Mrs. F. C.
Ensign, Mrs. T. L. Hazard, Mrs. H. Claude Horack, Mrs. A. C.
Howell, Mrs. William J. Karslake, Mrs. H. E. Kirschner, Mrs.
Isaac B. Lee, Mrs. William Marshall, Mrs. Max Mayer, Mrs.
John T. McClintock, Mrs. James Newton Pearce, Mrs. Milton
Remley, Mrs. Joseph W. Rich, Mrs. Elbert W. Rockwood,
Mrs. Kate Brainerd Rogers, Mrs. Benjamin F. Shambaugh,
Mrs. Stephen A. Swisher, Miss Myra Troth, Mrs. Clarence
Van Epps, Mrs. Henry G. Walker, Mrs. Edward Weber.481
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOR SPECIAL STUDY 595
THE ATHENS HISTORICAL CIBCLE
The Athens Historical Circle' of Iowa City was organized
in 1897 and ten years later was federated. The membership
is limited to eighteen and of the charter group only two, Mrs.
J. U. Plank and Mrs. Carver Thompson, are now members
of the Circle. The purposes of the club are both literary and
social, the meetings occurring each week on Monday at four
o'clock during the usual period from September until June.
They emphasize the social part in the form of special enter-
tainments, usually enjoying the "summer picnic' ' as a con-
clusion to the year's work.
This club began through the organization of three or more
circles to pursue a purely historical course by means of biog-
raphy, but it appears that this one circle, as now established,
is the only one that has continued the first form of organiza-
tion. The original purpose of study through biography has
been modified to some extent and the general plan of one sub-
ject for the entire year has been adopted. This year the
work is on Ireland and next year it is planned to study The
Crusades. In the preparation of the work each member is
supposed to be ready to take part in the discussion as no set
papers are read at the sessions, the leader chosen serving for
one month.
The members at the present time include: Mrs. George
Banta, Mrs. 0. H. Carpenter, Mrs. Evelyn Doloss Dill, Mrs.
A. C. Howell, Miss Gertrude Howell, Mrs. Homer Johnson,
Mrs. J. U. Plank, Mrs. Franklin H. Potter, Mrs. T. K. Part-
ridge, Miss Luella Rankin, Mrs. Wilbur Shields, Mrs. A. A.
Slade, Mrs. Carver Thompson, Mrs. H. F. Wickham, Miss
Kate Wickham, Miss Ellen Wilcox, Mrs. B. E. Washburn.482
THE ABT CIRCLE
The Art Circle states its purpose as a club by its title,
which dates from the year 1901, when its first program was
published, the outline provided then being for the study of
English art. The second year was given to French art, as
was also the third. Then art in the Netherlands interested
the Circle for two years, followed by art in Italy for the past
four years.
This club is limited to twenty-four members, chosen by
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596 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ballot. The first published membership has the names of
Miss Bloom, Mrs. Bierring, Miss Freeman, Mrs. Flom, Miss
Hughes, Mrs. I. B. Lee, Miss Morrison, Mrs. Marhall, Mrs.
Main, Mrs. Musser, Mrs. Mayer, Mrs. Rich, Mrs. Rogers,
Mrs. Shambaugh, Mrs. Sanxay, Mrs. Teeters, Mrs. Welch,
Miss Coldren, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Whiteis. As published to-
day the membership has changed largely since the organiza-
tion. It reads: Mrs. Henry Albert, Mrs. W. L. Bierring,
Mrs. Emma Welch Brink, Mrs. A. J. Burge, Miss Anna Burk-
ley, Mrs. S. E. Carrell, Mrs. 0. H. Carpenter, Mrs. Solomon
Coldren, Miss Helen Gunsolus, Mrs. C. S. Grant, Mrs. Claude
Horack, Mrs. Frank E. Horack, Mrs. Gilbert Houser, Mrs.
Isaac B. Lee, Mrs. W. F. Main, Mrs. Max Mayer, Miss Cora
Morrison, Mrs. William Musser, Mrs. P. S. Peirce, Mrs. M. F.
Price, Mrs. Joseph W. Rich, Mrs. S. K. Stevenson, Mrs. Euclid
Sanders, Mrs. H. F. Wickham. Associate Members: Mrs.
William Marshall, Mrs. Edna B. Wilson, Mrs. L. E. Lyon.48S
THE SHAKESPEARE CLUB
The Shakespeare Club of Iowa City was due to a general
invitation extended through the local newspapers by Mrs.
L. C. Reber to the ladies interested. In response to this eight
assembled in the home of Mrs. Reber on February 3, 1902, and
here organized the club. Those who were charter members
appear below, with the present full membership.
The customary constitution and by-laws were adopted at
the first meeting and the hostess on the occasion, Mrs. Reber,
was chosen the first president. The club is limited to twenty
members, and the object is expressed in the name, the study
of the plays of Shakespeare, while in order to accomplish this
the meetings are held, as from the first, weekly from October
until May. The year-book is prepared by a duly appointed
committee, and published before the study year opens.
The task set for each year is three plays, and in addition,
several lectures are heard by those who are specialists in the
subject, either at the close or beginning of a play. During
the reading each member is assigned a character and is ex-
pected to be fully prepared on all matters relating to it, being
prepared to lead in such discussion as may come before the
club. Special topics also of interest in connection with the
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SOCIETIES AND CLUBS FOR SPECIAL STUDY 597
general study of Shakespeare are assigned from time to time.
However, all the time of this organization is not given to
study, although that is primarily its object, since each year
four special social features that furnish recreation and en-
joyment as well, occur at Thanksgiving, the anniversary of the
club's organization, the birthday of Shakespeare, and at the
close of the year's work in May. Frequently an interesting
and instructive feature of these social gatherings has been the
presentation of scenes from different plays of the author
studied, among them scenes from Macbeth, Cymbeline, Win-
ter's Tale and Merchant of Venice.484
Charter Members : Abbie R. Bickett, Iowa City ; Anna H.
Johnson, Los Angeles, Cal. ; Edith S. Musser, Iowa City ; Flor-
ence M. Reber, Chicago, 111. ; Mary Newell Watson, Iowa City ;
Edith W. Weeks, Springfield, Mo.; Elizabeth Woodson, Chi-
cago, 111. ; Mrs. A. C. Webb.
Active Members : Lola S. Becker, Abbie R. Bickett, Sadie
B. Bierring, Mary K. Blackmar, Fannie B. Byington, Jessie
C. Bywater, Gail H. Cochran, Margaret M. Coldren, Hattie C.
Dayton, Luqie M. Ensign, Grace C. Horack, Antoinette M.
Hosford, Mary M. Lee, Edith S. Musser, Florence M. Reber,
Adelaide J. Rogers, May M. Thompson, Mary N. Watson,
Amanda C. Webb, Mahaska B. Whetstone.
In Memoriam: Mrs. Emma H. Haddock.
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CHAPTER XXXVII
Fraternal Organizations
T T NDER a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Missouri,
^ A. F. and A. M., and in obedience to the summons from a
worthy gentleman, William Reynolds, who was named master
of the lodge, eight brethren assembled in their lodge room in
Iowa City, on December 9, 1842. The names of these eight
were the master as mentioned and in addition : W. B. Snyder,
A, I. Willis, James R. Hartsock, Charles Nagle, Geo. S. Hamp-
ton, Abraham J. Beeson, and John Hawkins. Snyder and
Willis held the office of wardens ; G. S. Hampton became treas-
urer pro tern and John Hawkins secretary pro tern. Then
after the appointive offices were filled only one was left with-
out an office.
The session was then opened regularly and in the proceed-
ings the Grand Lodge of Missouri was affectionately remem-
bered with resolutions of thanks for the dispensation granted.
Formal election of officers then followed which resulted in the
selection of Chauncey Swan as treasurer, and John Hawkins
as the secretary, J. R. Hartsock, S. D. ; C. Nagle, J. D.; A. J.
Beeson, tyler and steward. A committee consisting of Hart-
sock, Willis, and Nagle was appointed on by-laws, while Willis,
Swan, and Hampton were selected to secure a suitable lodge
room, also the necessary furniture and equipment.
December 13, 1842, additional members present were:
A. B. Newcomb, P. Harris, I. B. Hollingsworth, John C. Berry,
Frederick Andros, E. K. Yost, John Laren, S. M. Ballard,
J. F. Hanby, John Horner, R. M. Secrest, L. S. Swafford,
Noah Mendenhall, Ezra Bliss, Jr., and Robert Keiting.
The list of visiting brethren on January 7, 1843, is sug-
gestive : Thos. J. W. Mitten came from Ebenezer lodge No.
33, Ohio ; John Brown, Palestine lodge No. 14, Indiana ; J. C.
Hall, Mt. Zion lodge No. 9, Ohio ; John Willey, Warren lodge,
L
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FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 599
Indiana; John Lewis, Des Moines lodge No. 41, Iowa territory;
O. C. Ward, Independence lodge, Vermont- One week later
there were additional visitors, T. J. McMillen and C. N. Doo-
little from Dubuque lodge, Iowa territory; Joseph Williams
and B. L. Olds from No. 42, Bloomington, Iowa territory.
Meetings continued with strict regularity and work was
active without any important change until May 3, 1843, when
a special gathering was summoned to take into consideration,
as was stated by the master of the local lodge, William Rey-
nolds, "the propriety of having a procession of the lodge on
the 11th of this instant at the time of holding the Masonic
convention, and to procure the services of some suitable per-
son to deliver an address on that occasion." The sentiment
was unanimously approved by the membership.
In accordance with the above plan on May 11, 1843, at half
past one in the afternoon, the lodge met with the delegates
from the Iowa lodge at Bloomington, and also from Dubuque,
the line of march was formed and moved to the Protestant
Methodist church where the address was given by Judge
Joseph Williams, of the second judicial district as then estab-
lished. It is stated that at the conclusion of the address the
members again took up the line of march, proceeding to
Swan's Hotel " where the fraternity partook of a dinner in
Ms best style, after which the members and visiting brethren
returned to the lodge room."
The visitors at this convention are given as Ansel Humph-
reys, B. S. Olds, T. S. Parvin, J. Williams, B. Lucas, from
Bloomington lodge ; Timothy Fanning, G. W. Cummings, Alex.
Levi, Thos. S. Wilson, from Dubuque, and Wesley Jones, from
Burlington lodge.
The usual resolutions expressive of thanks were drawn by
Oeo. S. Hampton, J. Hawkins, and J. B. Hartsock, and these
expressed appreciation of the presence of Grand Master Ansel
Humphreys and of Bobert Lucas, as chaplain of the occasion ;
also for the address of Judge Williams, and finally for the
music as furnished by the choir of the Methodist Protestant
•church, and for the good dinner prepared by the house of
Chauncey Swan.
Amidst the pleasures of fraternal meetings they halted in
August, 1843, to bury a member of the lodge who was far, very
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600 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
far, from his native land and brethren. The object of the
meeting was stated thus :
"Wm. Kemp, a master mason, a foreigner, a member of
Boyne Lodge, Scotland, departed this life yesterday in this
vicinity, and it was the request of the said deceased that he
should be buried with masonic honors.' ' The request of the
stranger was granted, the lodge following his body to the
M. E. church and then to the final resting place. Very soon
after this they were called upon to perform the same service
for one of their own charter members, A. I. Willis. He was a
member of the Mechanics Mutual Aid Association and the
Masonic body acted in the service with the Association.
After the local lodge was chartered by the Grand Lodge
of the territory of Iowa, it became Iowa City lodge No. 4, and
the membership included then as the first of the fraternities
in the county, the following well known citizens: William
Eeynolds, W. M. ; S. M. Ballard, S. W. ; G. S. Hampton, J. W. ;
John Hawkins, treasurer ; E. T. Locke, secretary, J. F. Hanby,
S. D. ; I. B. Hollingsworth, J. D. ; A. J. Beeson, tyler ; William
L. Gilbert and S. C. Trowbridge, stewards; W. B. Snyder,
J. B. Hartsock, John C. Berry, E. K. Yost, John Larue, R. M.
Secrest, N. Mendenhall, B. C. Keiting, H. P. Sexton, S. S.
Swan, Jesse Williams, Chas. I. Swan, James Trimble, John
Powell, S. M. Wadley, Chauncey Swan, A. B. Newcomb, F.
Andros, Pleasant Harris, John Horner, L. S. Swafford, Ezra
Bliss, W. F. Way, Pleasant Arthur, Thos. Baker, Wm. D.
Patterson, L. D. Swan, Diodate Holt, A. G. Jones.
Number 4 has had the following representatives as officers
in the Grand Lodge : W. G. M., Geo. W. McCleary, T. S. Par-
vin, J. R. Hartsock, Z. C. Luse, G. W. Ballard; as S. G. W.,
Wm. Reynolds. The latter held the office of J. G. W. in some
year previous to 1846. Others who held the latter office of
J. G. W., were: John Hawkins, H. Tuttle, Z. C. Luse, W. E.
Miller, G. W. Ball. Grand treasurer, John Hawkins, Kendall
Porter, J. A. Hirsh. It is said that another grand officer,
G. B. Van Saun, of Cedar Falls, might almost be claimed by
the local lodge.
It was in July, 1849, that the initiation of Thos. H. Benton,
Jr., took place under the direction of Iowa City lodge No. 4.
The meetings were called in those days "at early candle light-
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FEATEENAL OEGANIZATIONS 601
ing.M Chauncey Swan, who has been frequently mentioned in
local history, drops out of the record in 1849 for all time. He
it was who went to California in the time of the gold excite-
ment and returning by sea died as the vessel was about to
reach home, and his body was buried at sea.
When the war broke out in 1861, Bradley Mahanna was the
master of the local lodge, and C. A. Ball was one of the three
chief officers, hence these offices became vacant by their enlist-
ment.
It should be mentioned here also that three of the members
of the group of eight who petitioned the Missouri Grand
Lodge to grant a dispensation to the Burlington lodge were
afterwards members of the one called No. 4 at Iowa City^
but under the Missouri enumeration, No. 63. These were T. S*
Parvin, so maily years Grand Secretary, Eobert Lucas, the
first territorial governor, and Chauncey Swan, one of the cap-
itol commissioners and afterwards the one placed in charge
of the capitol construction. November 30, 1840, T. S. Parvin
wrote in his diary these words: " First lodge established in
the Territory, Burlington; chosen Junior Deacon/ ' Also»
December 7, 1840, he gives an account of the fact that J. B.
Hartsock was the first initiate in Iowa, and mentions partic-
ularly that he was from Johnson county. January 7, 1841 r.
"Swan and Snyder of Iowa City were present.' '
The present membership of Iowa City lodge No. 4 is nearly
three hundred, this including the union of two lodges in 1850r
when Mount Moriah lodge No. 31, which was organized in 1851r
was united with the older lodge. George W. McCleary was
the Master when this organization occurred and the name
adopted. It appears that the name was changed to Zion lodge
sometime before the union of 1880 was accomplished. The
past masters of both these lodges are here given :
Past Masters of Iowa City lodge: W. Beynolds, 1842-3
U. D.; Jno. Hawkins, 1844; S. M. Ballard, 1845; S. C. Trow-
bridge, 1846; C. A. Bobbins, 1847; Wm. Patterson, 1848; G. S.
Hampton, 1849; L. S. Swafford, 1850-8-9-60-1-73-7; D. S. War-
ren, 1851; L. P. Frost, 1852; S. M. Weldy, 1853; M. J. Mors-
man, 1854; M. Mygatt, 1855; W. S. Street, 1856; J. B. Hart-
sock, 1857-63-71-2; Z. C. Luse, 1862; J. W. Porter, 1864-5-6 r
W. E. Miller, 1867-8-70; A. S. Bixby, 1869; J. B. Elliott, 1874-
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€02 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
5; R. H. Allin, 1876; G. W. Ball, 1878-9; C. M. Hobby, 1880;
Chas. Lewis, 1881; J. C. Shrader, 1882; Paid Ouster, 1883-4;
A. W. Bradley, 1885-6-90; S. S. Lytle, 1887-8-9; S. S. Hess,
1891 ; Bruce Moore, 1892 ; F. D. Lindsley, 1893 ; W. E. Shrader,
1894-5 ; Jno. Springer, 1896-7 ; T. B. Allin, 1898 ; C. M. Dutcher,
1899-1900; J. H. Maggard, 1901-2; L. P. Kessler, 1903-4; A. C.
Howell, 1905-6; J. U. Plank, 1907-8; R. L. Dunlap, 1909; J. L.
Records, 1910; E. E. Johnson, 1911.
Past Masters of Mount Moriah or Zion lodge: Geo. D.
Crosthwaite, 1852; D. S. Warren, 1853-6; W. C. Monson, 1854;
Horace Tuttle, 1855; J. Norwood Clark, 1857-62-4-74; G. W.
McCleary, 1858; J. W. Sterling, 1859; W. G. Hickman, 1860;
B. Mahana, 1861, resigned and enlisted in army, J. S. Buddy
elected to vacancy; Sam'l Welsh, 1865; E. Fleischman, 1863;
W. C. Gaston, 1866; Chas. Lewis, 1867-8-71-6-7; J. A. Hursh,
1869; H. A. Turton, 1870; Chas. Weber, 1872; H. Graham,
1873; E. G. Stephens, 1875; J. M. Curry, 1878-80.
Of the higher orders of Masonry in the county, brief men-
tion may be made of Iowa City Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., which
was organized under charter issued by the General Grand
Chapter in April, 1844, and then chartered by the Grand Chap-
ter of Iowa in 1854. Below are the names of the Past High
Priests :
J. R. Hartsock, 1844-5-6 ; John Hawkins, 1847-9; S. C. Trow-
bridge, 1848; L. S. Swafford, 1850-60-70-87; Geo. S. Hampton,
1851; Anson Hart, 1852; Wm. Patterson, 1853; Geo. W. Mc-
Cleary, 1854; L. P. Frost, 1855-62; Horace Tuttle, 1856; Wm.
Reynolds, 1857; D. S. Warren, 1858; Kimball Porter, 1859;
J. A. Ball, 1861; Henry Murray, 1863; Z. C. Luse, 1864-5;
J. A. Hursh, 1866; Geo. W. Dodder, 1867; E. W. Lucas, 1868;
J. W. Porter, 1869-74-8; Harvey Graham, 1871; S. Welch,
1872; B. Mahanna, 1873; H. P. Button, 1875-6; J. A. L. Tice,
1877; Geo. W. Ball, 1879-80-1; C. M. Hobby, 1882-3; J. C.
Shrader, 1884; Paul Custer, 1885-6; A. W. Bradley, 1888-9-90;
S. S. Lytle, 1891-2-3-4-5-6; Bruce Moore, 1897-8-9-1900-01;
J. H. Maggard, 1902-3-4-5; L. P. Kessler, 1906-7-8-9; Wm. R.
Lewis, 1910-11.
Palestine Commandery, K. T., No. 2, was established under
dispensation dated December 1, 1856, while the charter was
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FEATEENAL OBGANIZATIONS 605
issued June 6, 1864. The past eminent commanders have
been;
Kimball Porter, U. D., 1856-7-8-9-60-1.2-3; Jas. H. Hart-
sock, 1864-5-6-7; John W. Porter, 1868-75-6; L. P. Frost, 1869;
J. A. L. Tice, 1870; L. S. Swaiford, 1871-2-3; Z. C. Luse, 1874 ^
J. C. Shrader, 1877-8-9-80-1-3-5-94; E. F. Clapp, 1882; C. M.
Hobby, 1884; Geo. W. Ball, 1886-7; Chas. Lewis, 1888-9; Geo.
W. Lewis, 1890-1; A. W. Bradley, 1892-3; Thos. B. Allin,
1895-6; Samuel S. Lytle, 1897-8-9-1900-1-2-3; Bruce Moore,
1904-5-6-7; J. H. Maggard, 1908-9; L. P. Kessler, 1910.
"On the tenth day of May, 1843, a Masonic convention was
held in Iowa City, composed of delegates from Iowa, Dubuque
and Iowa City lodges. No official representation was present
from Des Moines lodge, although the records of Iowa City
lodges show Wesley Jones as being present on behalf of the
Burlington brethren. These assembled pursuant to a resolu-
tion adopted by Iowa lodge No. 42 at Bloomington at the
instance of Des Moines lodge No. 41 of Burlington, asking
said lodge to name a time and place for holding a convention
to take measures for the organization of a Grand Lodge of
Iowa."
The meeting of three delegates from each chartered lodge
in the territory at Iowa City on the first Tuesday in January,
1844, resulted in the organization of the Grand Lodge of Iowa
in due time under instructions from the respective lodges.
Its history began in Iowa City and its secretary resided there
for many years afterward. The delegates from Iowa City
lodge No. 4 were William Reynolds, W. M., and S. M. Ballard,
S. W., and one other, probably the next highest officer. The
numbers borne upon the roll of the Missouri Grand Lodge
were dropped and the new charters from the Iowa Grand
lodge gave the numbers in the order of seniority of their estab
lishment by the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Iowa City lodge,
therefore, became No. 4.
Monday evening, January 8, 1844, the first Grand Lodge
held in Iowa City closed its session as follows: "The even-
ing session closed and on invitation of Brother Ballard the
members of the Grand Lodge and visiting brothers joined in
procession to the hotel where Brother Chauncey Swan, the
landlord, provided a banquet. " Commenting on this the writ-
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604 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
er said: "It is to be ever regretted that a reporter was not
included at this initial feast of Iowa Masons, that the menu
and the toasts might have been preserved to give us knowledge
of appetite and postprandial sentiment." On Tuesday morn-
ing, January 9, 1844, the Grand Lodge met again, when the
Grand Master was authorized "to appoint a brother to convey
to the Grand Lodge of Missouri, at its next annual communi-
cation, official knowledge of the constitution of a Grand Lodge
in Iowa."
In accordance with his instructions, Grand Secretary T. S.
Parvin notified the Missouri Grand Lodge of the action taken.
He was one of the founders of the first lodge in Iowa, No. 1,
at Burlington, in 1840; also of the second lodge, No. 2, at
Muscatine in 1841, when the town was called Bloomington.
He became the Grand Secretary in 1844 and held this office
until his death, with the exception of one year, 1852, when he
was Grand Master.485
White Marble lodge No. 238, A. F. and A. M., of North Lib-
erty, was instituted by Judge W. E. Miller, deputy grand
master, in June, 1868, the charter members and first officers
including the following: A. J. Miller, W. M.; M. F. Snively,
S. W.; Jacob Zeller, J. W.; William Green, Treasurer; David
Stewart, Secretary; N. W. Owens, S. D.; T. N. Roberts, J. D.;
J. E. Bealer, S. T. McDonald, Stewards. Thirty or more
years ago the order here had a membership of nearly fifty.
In the town of Solon a Masonic lodge was established or
instituted by dispensation issued in June, 1868, the date of
the charter reading in the same month. The charter members
and first officers were as follows : E. M. Burgess, W. M. ; I. B.
Grant, S. W.; A. Medowell, J. W.; B. A. Keen, Secretary;
B. P. Mulock, Treasurer ; John Chisman, B. C. Caldwell, A* 0.
Lake and Charles W. McCune. The charter was soon sur-
rendered as the lodge was not able to sustain an organization.
This was called at the time of its existence, Wayfaring lodge
No. 385, A. F. and A. M.
On June 27, 1870, a dispensation was granted for the or-
ganization of Canopy lodge No. 290, A. F. and A. M., of Ox-
ford. The charter members were Thomas Heifner, Geo. W.
Dunham, E. B. Wallace, Cyrus N. Carson, J. H. McFarland,
J. W. Clark, James Bemley, and Joseph 0 'Brien.
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FEATEENAL OEGANIZATIONS 605
July 9 of that year the first meeting was held when the
officers chosen were J. H. McFarland, W. M. : E. E. Wallace,
S. W.; Geo. W. Dunham, J. W.; J. W. Clark, S. D.; Thos.
Heifner, Treasurer, and James Eemley, Secretary.
John E. Douglas was the first initiate to be raised to the
degree of a master mason, which work was accomplished on
December 31, 1870. By the last of April the next year the
tenth mail, C. T. Estabrook, had been added to the master
masons of the village, and Mr. Estabrook remained a member
of this lodge until his death, December 31, 1910, the very last
day of the old year when he was called from his labors to that
rest which must come to the oldest member of the lodge.
Other members who have served long and faithfully are these :
J. H. Nesmith, who took up the work in 1877 ; E. J. Miller,
1881; J. H. Christy, 1881; J. H. Cook, 1883; Al. Yenter, 1886;
J. A. Klump, 1887; G. Crissinger, 1889; A. T. Cook, 1889;
O. W. Cook, 1890; H. A. Frank, 1891; E. D. Jones, 1892.
This lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons has been
wise in its financial management since it owns its own build-
ing and three adjoining buildings which are valued at $15,000,
a record that is worthy of mentioning as it often happens that
fraternities are struggling with debt. The officers of the
present year have been named : E. I. Clearmau, W. M. ; E. K.
Luse, S. W.; 0. L. Karsten, J. W.; F. E. Burbank, S. D.;
E. G. Cotter, J. D. ; E. P. Jones, secretary ; E. D. Jones, treas-
urer; G. W. Cook, tyler. The membership on the first of
January, 1911, was sixty-five.436
By virtue of a dispensation issued by the Grand Lodge of
Iowa on June 14, 1894, the petitioners for Abner lodge No.
535, A. F. and A. M., assembled in Lone Tree for organization
on July 17. In the dispensation William Sweet was named as
W. M.; H. B. McCullough as S. W., and A. H. DeLano as
J. W., and these with the other petitioners, Charles Fern-
strom, John M. Kelso, W. A. Pullen, Geo. J. Peppel, J. C.
Newton, C. D. Booth, J. A. Willert, A. B. Wescott, J. H.
Krider, M. J. Sims, and William Sims, proceeded to establish
a lodge under the usual regulations. The dispensation was
authorized by L. E. Fellows, then Grand Master, and T. S.
Parvin, Grand Secretary.
It happened that the first petition for membership came
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606 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
from William Zimmerman, and this was offered at the first
meeting under the dispensation. At a called meeting in Juner
1895, the reading of the charter was heard and Abner Brad-
ley, M. W. G. M., installed the officers June 25. The officers
for 1911 are : Ernest Eehm, W. M. ; F. W. Zimmerman, S. W. ;
David Jayne, J. W.; William Zimmerman, Secretary, and
H. C. Buell, Treasurer. Fifty-six members support this or-
ganization.
The charter members of Kosciusko lodge Independent
Order of Odd Fellows were S. M. Ballard, A. H. Palmer,
William Patterson, M. L. Morris, Elzy Lindsay and Thomaa
Hughes. However the names of Geo. W. McCleary and J. IL
Hartsock were in the charter although they were not present
at the formation of the lodge.
The lodge was organized through dispensation from the
Grand Lodge of the United States on the tenth day of October,
1846, when Dr. S. M. Ballard was chosen N. G. ; A. H. Palmer,.
V. G., and M. L. Morris, Treasurer, and the lodge became
known by its present name and as number six. On this day
in October afternoon and evening sessions were held, three
petitions for membership being presented in the evening. It
was then also that a committee to make- arrangements for the
securing of rooms and the furnishings of a lodge room was
appointed.
It was in the February following, or in 1847, that the first
steps were taken to form a grand lodge in the state, Kosciusko
lodge commencing the correspondence for that purpose. On
March 24, 1847, the records indicate that P. G. Ballard was
appointed to represent the lodge at a meeting in Bloomington
to consider the organization of a Grand Lodge. It appears
that soon after this a lease was obtained from the Masonic
lodge of a room in the second story of Mechanics Acadamy for
twenty dollars a year, which was used for probably twelve
months when a room on Clinton street in the second story of
a brick building was rented from John Brown, located evident-
ly not far south of the Saint James hotel. This was used for
several years when a hall was obtained from Samuel Work-
man in what was afterwards known as the Powell Block. In
writing of the history of this lodge H. W. Lathrop said: "I
cannot but contrast the present meeting place with the one
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The Elks Building, Iowa City
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THE NEW Y3HK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. L^NOX
TILDt N FOUNDATIONS
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FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 607
occupied by the lodge forty years ago. That was then un-
finished, the walls and ceiling being only first coated, with an
ante room only lathed, the floor uncarpeted, and the doors
and window frames unpainted. Here in place of rough brown
mortar, we have walls beautifully frescoed; instead of dim
and feeble tallow dips we have now a chandelier whose bril-
liant gas jets almost rival the light of day ; instead of emblems
of the rudest construction we have them in perfection from
the hands of the most skillful artisans.' '
It is interesting to note here that on May 19, 1847, William
Downard of Manchester, England, applied for admission to
the lodge on a card from what was called Manchester Unity.
This it appears was a different branch of the order with which
the lodge as established here did not affiliate and he was ac-
cepted in the usual way. It was on May 26, 1847, that the
man who wrote the sketch of the lodge in 1887, H. W. Lathrop,
from Unea lodge No. 201, New York, was present as a visitor
for the first time, and November 10, 1847, S. Magill, of Chosen
Friends lodge No. 34, Maryland, was first recorded as present.
In December following this the resolution here given was
adopted: "Resolved, That the secretary of this lodge official-
ly inform the several lodges of this state that a convention,
constituted as required by the constitution and by-laws of the
M. W. Grand Lodge of the United States, will be held at Iowa
City, on the 17th of January next for the purpose of consider-
ing the subject of petitioning said M. W. Grand Lodge for a
charter for a Grand Lodge of Iowa, and of forwarding said
petition if desirable.' '
What came of this resolution is not stated for the following
April or at the eighty-fourth meeting of this lodge a com-
munication was read from District Deputy Grand Sire John
J. Potts, of Galena, Illinois, who had instituted the lodge in
1846, instructing the lodge to send the proper officers to meet
in convention at Bloomington on the first day of May. This
it is said was for the purpose, so far as the records show, of
organizing a Grand Lodge for the state.
As a most worthy feature of all the honest fraternities the
consideration of the widow and orphan is of the first im-
portance, and this was provided for in 1848 by an assessment
of twelve and one-half cents per member for each quarter.
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608 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
To enumerate all the charitable acts of any lodge of this char-
acter would be impossible, but it is uncommon to find such an
organization going beyond its membership to aid the dis-
tressed, yet such an act occurred more than fifty years ago
when a member called the attention of the lodge to the needs
of a widow and her family in distress in the days when the
county, as mentioned in a following chapter, had not become
able to care for its poor. Ten dollars in money were ordered
paid to the needy one, although neither she nor any of her
family had any claim on the lodge as an organization.
It was in October, 1848, that the lodge made its first pro-
vision for a purchase of a building lot, when part of lot two
in block eighty-one, which lies on the south side of Washing-
ton street between Clinton and Dubuque, was bought by the
lodge for $82.50. After being held for several years by the
lodge and the railroad talk became common, the lot was sold
at an advance, and another and larger one was purchased on
Clinton north of Jefferson street, this being sold in 1871 for
$500.
In 1850, at the time of the first movements of the Washing-
ton Monument Association, Kosciusko lodge was asked for a
contribution to aid in its erection, when a donation of ten
dollars was sent to the proper authorities, the receipt acknowl-
edging the same with a cut of the completed monument, oc-
cupying a place on the walls of the lodge room in later years.
It is well known that the ten dollars so subscribed was used
in the first work and then a long interval occurred before the
desired completion as represented in the cut sent to the lodge.
The connection of the organization with the Iowa Female
Collegiate Institute has been mentioned in the chapters on
education, but it appears that the entire subject was thorough-
ly investigated by the officers of this lodge before the project
was abandoned and had the right man appeared at the
time it might have succeeded, according to the suggestions as
found in the account of the building, and of its final dis-
position. At the time of the laying of the corner stone of the
Institute there were the names of thirty-three members listed
on the roll as placed in the receptacle, which in a later day,
was left in the care of the State Historical Society. That
stone was laid on October 24, 1854, and it may be said that
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FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 609
not only this lodge, but those that have taken up an independ-
ent organization from the parent lodge, had a part in the final
deliberations that settled the future of the undertaking in 1858.
Like many other groups for special purposes, in organiza-
tion this lodge became the parent of others, and it is stated
that in 1848 "a few brothers at Marion, desirous of forming a
lodge, and not a legal number for that purpose, it was resolved
that any two members of this lodge wishing to withdraw
therefrom for the purpose of forming a lodge at Marion, be
permitted to do so without forfeiting their rights to benefits
in this lodge, and that they be received again without the
usual fees of admission.' '
It is further stated that in February, 1853, "some twelve
or more members took final cards and formed Eureka lodge
No. 44. . . I do not know how many members we then had,
but probably seventy-five or more, and the events of succeeding
years showed that we had work enough for two lodges, and I
doubt whether Kosciusko No. 6 was ever envious of her proud
young daughter during her teens, nor should she be now that
that daughter has reached mature years." It was in March
of 1853 that the rooms of the older lodge were leased to the
new one for $24 a year, and the parent lodge attempted to
secure new quarters 'in Workman's new building.' In May,
1855, an invitation was received from Eureka lodge 'to be
in attendance at the dedication of their new hall, which was
accepted.' "
Eureka lodge No. 44 now owns property in Iowa City valued
at approximately $40,000. It is located at the corner of Col-
lege and Dubuque streets, the chief building of three stories,
now furnishing a home for the Citizens Savings and Trust
Company with the lodge-rooms on the third floor.
According to the sketch of Mr. Lathrop it was on August 2,
1848, that "the treasurer [of Kosciusko No. 6] was authorized
to loan twelve dollars to the brothers applying for a charter
for an Encampment, and at the next regular meeting the hall
was granted in which to organize it." However, it appears
from another source that Good Samaritan Encampment No. 5
was finally organized in October, 1869, with nine charter mem-
bers. It may be mentioned here that for forty-two years J.
Norwood Clark held the office of scribe in Good Samaritan En-
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610 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
campment since he was chosen to the office in 1851 and declined
reelection in 1900.
Mr. Lathrop said in his historical address, read before
Kosciusko lodge on its fortieth anniversary on October 10,
1886, that "twenty-seven years ago last month a communica-
tion was received from brothers Bloom and Brimmer in regard
to the establishing of a lodge to work in the German language,
and its establishment was recommended by a vote of the
lodge, and the use of the hall granted for that purpose.' '
Somewhat less then forty years ago, Penn lodge No. 282
was instituted in North Liberty, its charter dating from 1874.
Among the original membership were J. Madden, Henry
Hackett, J. Bealer, Peter Eberly, and E. H. Peffer.
Acme lodge No. 505 I. O. O. F., of Oxford, now having a
membership of forty-eight, was organized in March, 1890, with
J. W. Oxier, Thomas Franter, W. H. Poole, J. W. O'Brien,
John Hardy, and James Cropley, as charter members, the first
four of these constituting the chief official membership. At
this date they are well established in a building of their own,
valued at $5,000.
April 11, 1895, District Deputy Grand Master A. C. Howell
and acting Grand Secretary J. Norwood Clark instituted Solon
lodge No. 610 1. O. O. F. The first officers chosen and installed
included Joseph W. Paula, Frank Mekota, J. S. Ulch, A. E.
Bulichek, and C. H. Palmer. For more than ten years since
that time Frank Mekota has acted as recording secretary of
this lodge, and he also held the chief office in the lodge during
the second year of its organization. W. A. Paula served in the
same offices as well as J. W. Paula, while C. H. Palmer has
held the office of treasurer during the entire time of the ex-
istence of the lodge. Since its organization it has paid in
benefits and donations about $600.487
A more recent organization of the Odd Fellows is found in
Omega lodge No. 728, of Lone Tree, which was instituted in
1909 by Grand Master L. W. White. On May 13, of the year
of institution, the lodge initiated the large number of seventy-
six candidates. The charter members and first officers with
the present officers are here given :
Dayton M. Eiggs, N. G.; Milo S. Albright, V. G.; Max S.
Skolnik, treasurer; James W. Lux, secretary; Peter Benson,
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FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 611
Ernest Rehn, John McGinnis, Anton Swanson, H. L. Skolnik,
M. F. Simitz.
Present officers : Austin A. Hines, N. G. ; Leon B. Hague,
V. G.; F. P. Vondraska, recording secretary; M. F. Simitz,
financial secretary ; Milo S. Albright, treasurer.438
C. S. P. S. stands for the full name of the Bohemian Slavon-
ian Benevolent Society. The Iowa City branch of the
order is known as Lodge P. J. Safarik No. 75 C. S. P. S.,
organized in 1882, and some of its work is stated here. At
that time a society existed in Iowa City which was composed of
Bohemian members who recognized the dangers that con-
fronted a stranger in a strange land. When any member was
stricken by sickness or by death the members of the organiza-
tion always lent assistance and made the sorrow less in all
possible ways. Besides this sympathetic action the organiza-
tion was in fact an educational society, where its people were
instructed in the laws and usages of their adopted home. It
was the society which furnished a nucleus about which a great
organization might have been formed, that gave the impetus to
the C. S. P .S.. The society then numbering about thirty-five
became part of the national order in 1882. The parent society
of the United States dates its organization from 1854, when it
was perfected in Saint Louis. The particular occasion of this
history came about through the plans for the building that was
erected for a school and meeting place for the several organiza-
tions of the people concerned, which was to be begun in 1899.
The sum of five thousand dollars or more was spent on this
building before completion. Library, social and educational
organizations were provided for and rooms for the school were
part of the plan.
The dedication of this new home occurred February 19,
1901. Six hundred people crowded the hall. Addresses were
made by prominent citizens and leading members of the
society, among them, the president of the organization, Paul
A. Korab, Mayor F. K. Stebbins, and Judge M. J. Wade, who
complimented the order on its success in completing a home of
its own.489
The first representatives of the Bohemian people came to
this vicinity about fifty-seven years ago. Their leading repre-
sentative for many years was Anton Sulek. The pioneers of
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612 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
these people spoke a language that neither American nor
German understood, but this did not prevent the early exhibi-
tion of qualities of citizenship which were of great value in
developing a new land. The number of these people in this
county had reached three thousand during the first eighteen
years of their immigration, and there were many more in ad-
joining territory. Accustomed to using the poorer lands in the
rough parts of the county in the beginning and clearing the
ground from which the timber had been cut they made gardens
where before was a waste of stumps. One who rode through
Jefferson township as long ago as 1870 remarked on the pros-
perity of these people. Not only were they skillful in making
the soil produce where it had been going to waste, but they soon
became the mechanics of the town, the business men, and prop-
erty holders, adapting themselves to the new conditions of a
country where men were not under despotic rule.
Educational advantages were accepted at the very first op-
portunity not omitting the item of current events found in the
paper published in their own language.
Eleven years ago, approximately the lodge that now con-
trols the fine building on the corner of Gilbert and Washington
streets, the B. P. 0. E. No. 590 was not yet organized, for it
was on May 24, 1900, that the district deputy, L. C. Bolton, of
Oskaloosa, assisted in establishing the order here. In the
work then done there was a total of sixty-four charter mem-
bers, only thirty-nine of whom are now left upon the rolls, in a
total membership of nearly 380.
At the first election of officers, Judge Wade, presiding,
Henry Louis was chosen to the chief office, while the other
officers included O. L. Keith, Eugene Epstein, S. A. Coldren,
G. T. Eeddick, Henry Evers, A. W. Ely, O. H. Carpenter, G.
W. Schmidt, Homer Hughes, J. M. Cash, H. A. Strub, and
Max Mayer.
For one and a half years the organization held its sessions
in the rooms over the Johnson County Savings bank, and then
traded with the Knights of Pythias, since that gave more
room. Eemaining in the latter quarters for five years the next
move was to the Freeman property, which the lodge purchased,
where it remained for three years, or, until the present hall
was completed, the dedication occurring in November, 1909.
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FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 613
The estimated value of the present home of this organization is
placed at $50,000. Below are the names of the men who have
served as past exalted rulers : Henry Louis, W. P. Hohen-
schuh, L. A. Clearman, F. H. P. Edwards, George T. Borland,
GeOrge T. Reddick, George W. Schmidt.
Twelve camps of the Modern Woodmen of America are
found in Johnson county. Probably 0. K. camp of Iowa City
was the first organized since its date in 1886, when it began
with eighteen charter members. As most people understand,
the chief purpose of this organization is for protection through
fraternal insurance, this body being one of the most popular
of the assessment companies. The camp here mentioned has
a membership reaching to nearly five hundred, the total mem-
bership in the county running above twelve hundred. Organi-
zations of this fraternity are found at Tiffin, Oxford, Frank
Pierce, Hills, Lone Tree, Oases, Morse, Solon, Shueyville,
North Liberty and Iowa City with two camps, the one men-
tioned, and another organized in 1900.
The Knights of Pythias also are represented in the county,
the oldest lodge dating probably from 1883, when Corinth
Lodge was established in Iowa City. This order is also found
in a prosperous form in the town of Lone Tree.
There are a number of recent fraternal groups that have
something, doubtless, of individual local interest, but the future
•will place them in their relative historical setting since
details cannot be furnished here. Many of the older organiza-
tions have auxiliaries composed of women who are privileged
to join by virtue of belonging to families, where the fraternity
is represented. Of such a nature is Jessamine Chapter No.
135, O. E. S., of Iowa City, organized October 5, 1893. It was
therefore the first chapter in the county. The past chief of-
ficers are here given:
Past matrons: Mrs. Sarah Bloom, 1893; Mrs. Kate D.
Allin, 1894-95; Mrs. Estelle Ball, 1896; Miss Irene Parsons,
1897-98-1901; Mrs. Alice Lytle, 1899; Mrs. Kittie Beddick,
1900; Mrs. S. M. Graf, 1902-03; Mrs. Panene K. Lindsley,
1904-05; Mrs. Inez G. Moore, 1906-07; Miss Emma Watkins,
1908-09; Mrs. Inez G. Moore, 1910.
Past patrons : W. E. Shrader, 1893-94 ; Bruce Moore, 1895-
96-97-1901-02-03; W. F. Cramer, 1898; A. J. Younkin, 1899-
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614 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
1900; Dr. S. S. Lytle, 1904-05-06; A. C. Howell, 1907-08-09;
R. L. Dunlap, 1910.
The Eastern Star of Oxford bears the name of Agnes Par-
vin, for the widow of T. S. Parvin, for so many years the
Grand Secretary of the Iowa Masons. The chapter No. 272
was organized about ten years ago with twenty-five charter
members and now has a membership of sixty-nine. Mrs.Edith
Clearman is the W. M., L. Karsten, W. P., Mrs. Carrie Jones,
A. M., Mrs. Leona Karsten, secretary, and E. D. Jones,
treasurer.
Fern Leaf chapter No. 199, O. E. S., of Lone Tree, Iowa,
dates its organization from October 28, 1896, having eighteen
charter members : Mrs. Anna Smith, Mrs. Elsie De Lano, Mrs.
A. N. Kalb, Miss Helen Fernstrom, Mrs. Ida Howell, Mrs.
Bose McCullough, Miss Sade J. Pettis, Mrs. Francis Peppel,
Mrs. Rose Zimmerman, Mrs. Mary Sweet, Mrs. Lou Salade,
Ace Kalb, A. H. De Lano, P. L. Smith, C. A. Fernstrom, Henry
McCullough, Wm. Sweet, and Wm. Zimmerman. At this date
there are eighty-four members of the chapter, a membership
suggesting the effort they are making to furnish their chapter
room.
Auxiliary to the Odd Fellows are the Rebekahs where they
are organized. Carnation lodge No. 376, of Iowa City, was
chartered with forty-five members in 1897. Since then the
membership has grown to about three times that number.
The Emilie Albert camp No. 265, of the Royal Neighbors,
auxiliary to the Modern Woodmen, was organized in Iowa City
in 1896 with fifty charter members. Since then it has in-
creased to about two hundred members.
An order formally called the Rathbone Sisters, which is the
women's auxiliary of the Knights of Pythias and now called
the Pythian Sisters, was instituted under the name of Athens
Temple, in 1897. The name suggests its location, since there
is no other Athens in the county.
While most of these organizations have social purposes in
view some and perhaps all may have at different periods, set
apart certain times for some form of serious study, and lec-
tures, on certain work. Among those that provide for definite
purposes of literary character is the national order of the
Daughters of Isabella, one of the leading societies of Catholic
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FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS 615
vomen in America, The society was founded in Utica, N. Y.,
in 1904. M. F. Kelley, the present national secretary, was
knighted by Pope Pious X for his efforts in organizing the
Daughters.
Craigie court No. 94 was organized in Iowa City, November
26, 1908. The purpose of the society is to promote unity and
charity and develop a practical Catholicity among its members.
Business meetings of the court are held on the second and
fourth Tuesdays of each month, in the Knights of Columbus
hall. On the fourth Tuesday is also held the monthly literary
program. Each year the court issues a year-book which con-
tains the programs for each meeting. Besides the general and
mortuary fund the society also maintains a charity fund and
much work is being done among the poor of the city. The of-
ficers of Craigie court are as follows: Grand Regent, May
Stach ; Vice Grand Regent, Mary Brennan ; Prophetess, Ella
Lenoch; Monitor, Elizabeth Collins; Financial Secretary,
Kathryn Novak; Treasurer, Helen McRaith; Historian, Mar-
cella Hotz; Organist, Mary McKinley; Sentinel, Mrs. Frank
Englert; Lecturer, Nora Donohue; Trustees, Mrs. James
Kane, Mrs. Baptista Hummer, Mrs. M. O'Reilly, Mrs. Frank
Cilek, Mrs. Chas. Bauer, Mrs. Mary Reynolds ; Chaplain, Rev.
A. Cihal.
The P. E. 0. sisterhood, a secret order composed wholly of
women, was organized in Iowa City in March, 1883, therefore
being one of the earliest in the state after the primary chapter
at Mount Pleasant. There were five charter members of the
chapter, Maggie Holmes Seerley, Emma Nixon Moon, Clara
Seymour Clapp, May Robinson Crawford, and Fannie Ed-
wards Guthrie.
This organization is in its aim philanthropic and social, the
members throughout its history having been among the best to
be found in the community. It is not measured by number of
members since the membership, locally, has averaged about
twenty-five, who have had many good projects in view to add
to the good of humanity.
As early as 1842 the temperance people began to form or-
ganizations to further the cause of total abstinence. Even to
enumerate all the societies from that time to the present is
impossible since they have come and gone in great numbers
with the prevailing opinions of how best to promote the
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616 HISTOEY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
temperance movement, which will not be determined until the
forces that are moving in the direction of self control have
been fully understood.
The first total abstinence society was organized largely
under the efforts of Dr. Enos Metcalf during 'the first decade
of the county's history. The Washington Temperance society
was set in motion just previous to this and there seems to
have been some difficulty between the two as to the best
methods of conducting temperance campaigns. For a long
time the discussion continued before any measures were taken
to prohibit the sale of intoxicats by law. The Sons of Tem-
perance was a division of a large organization and this par-
ticular branch was named "Far West No 4," and the meeting
to organize the society was held in the council chamber of the
Old Capitol. The list of members included some of the well
known names of the early settlers.
The Cadets of Temperance was an organization for boys
under eighteen years of age, at which age they could enter the
Sons of Temperance by special rules. They selected their own
officers and conducted their own meetings, the highest officer
being the Royal Archon. This office was held for some time
by Wm. P. Hepburn, so long the member of congress from the
eighth Iowa district. The cadets were pledged to "avoid the
use of tobacco in any form,,, in addition to the same pledge as
taken by the Sons of Temperance, which was very strict. Their
meetings were held in the Mechanics ' Academy, where Judge
Coleman, the Patriarch, attended all the meetings of the order.
The Good Templars were also represented in the temper-
ance societies of the county and by 1855, the subject was well
discussed and the education of the people on the question was
thought complete.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII
The County in the Nation and State
npHERE have been officers in the national government,
■* claimed as citizens of Johnson county, and among them
those who were well known previously in state affairs.
Samuel J. Kirkwood succeeded James Harlan, who might
be claimed as a Johnson county representative from pioneer
days, in the United States senate in 1865. Senator Harlan
had resigned to become Secretary of the Interior. Governor
Kirkwood was again chosen senator in 1877, resigning in 1881
to become Secretary of the Interior.
In the forty-fifth and forty-sixth congress, Rush Clark, of
Johnson county, was a member of the House of Representa-
tives, dying while serving in the first session of the forty-sixth
Congress. He represented the old fifth district from 1877 to
the time of his death, April 28, 1879. Only one other man
from the county, Martin J. Wade, has filled this office, repre-
senting the present second district in the fifty-eighth Con-
gress, 1903-1905.
Territorial and state officers may be headed by Robert
Lucas, although he was the territorial Governor, appointed
from Ohio in 1838. The reasons for claiming him as from the
county are found in the fact of his continuous residence here
in later years, and in that he had acquired real estate here as
early as Feburuary, 1839, becoming a member of the Johnson
County Claim Association, indicating his preference for this
locality and probably also his intention of making this his
future home.
As to Samuel Kirkwood, he was first of all a Johnson
county citizen, his best years having been spent here and his
early interests in public affairs having been expressed here,
as his biography will indicate.
The lives of these men have been fully written in recent
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618 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
years, and the items here will simply indicate their terms of
service, with a few incidents that appear to belong in this
record.
Governor Kirkwood served the state of Iowa from 1860 to
1864 as the war governor, and again in 1876 and 1877, resign-
ing to become United States Senator in February, 1877.
Morgan Reno was the last territorial and the first state
treasurer. This office was created in 1839 and he was ap-
pointed in 1840. He served as treasurer of the state from
1846 to 1850, and it is apparent that he was the treasurer from
1840 until 1850. Jesse Williams was appointed territorial
auditor January 14, 1840, this office having been created on
January 7, 1840. On January 14, 1841, the office of territorial
agent was created and he was appointed to that position on
the next day. The latter office was abolished in 1845, on May
29, and it appears that Mr. Williams was appointed secretary
of the territory in that year although he did not serve con-
tinuously in this office, since John M. Coleman was the terri-
torial agent from 1842 until 1844, when he was succeeded by
Anson Hart, who was in this office when it was abolished.
In 1841 William Reynolds, who conducted a school in Iowa
City, was appointed to the new office of superintendent of pub-
lic instruction, established February 12, 1841, and abolished
March 9, 1842.
Chauncey Swan became a citizen of Johnson county after
he came here as the locating capitol commissioner, and he is
mentioned in many official records.
From 1839 to 1846 Geo. S. Hampton was the clerk and
Easton Morris was the reporter of the territorial supreme
court. The office of superintendent of public instruction was
re-created in 1847, and Joseph C. Stone was appointed from
Johnson county to fill a vacancy on March 4, 1857, succeeding
James D. Eads, who was suspended from this office. D. Frank-
lin Wells occupied the last office mentioned after its restora-
tion a second time in 1864, he having been appointed to fill a
vacancy due to the resignation of Oran Faville. Professor
Wells was a member of the university faculty and was holding
the office at the time of his death, November 24, 1868.
The office of registrar of the land office was created in 1855,
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THE COUNTY IN THE NATION AND STATE 619
and the first incumbent was Anson Hart, heretofore mentioned
as an officer of the territory of Iowa, as its " agent.' '
In 1878' the office of railroad commissioner was created.
The first members including former Governor C. C. Carpenter,
James W. McDill and Hon. Peter A. Dey of Johnson county.
The first two of these three resigned within a very short time,
Mr. Carpenter in August of the year he was appointed and
Mr. McDill in 1881, but Mr. Dey continued, by appointment,
until 1889 and thereafter by election repeatedly until 1895.
From that time he was the president of the First National
Bank of Iowa City, becoming such immediately upon his retir-
ing from the office of railroad commissioner and retaining it
until his death in 1911.
Thomas Hughes of Johnson county was president of the
state senate during the first extra session held in 1848.
Smiley H. Bonham was the speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives of the state of Iowa during its second session,
which convened December 4, 1848.
Rush Clark was the speaker during the ninth and ninth-ex-
tra sessions in 1862, during the war period.
The first state printers under the act of 1849 creating this
office were Garrett D. Palmer and Geo. B. Paul, who were ap-
pointed January 4, 1849.
In 1878 the seventeenth general assembly created the office
of director of the Iowa weather and crop service, and the first
appointment to this office came to Professor Gustavus Hinrichs
of Johnson county, who occupied the place from 1878 to 1890.
The state historical department at Des Moines, established
in 1892, was for a short time after the death of Charles Aldrich
under the direction of Dr. B. F. Shambaugh, as curator. Dr.
Shambaugh is the superintendent of The State Historical
Society located in Iowa City.
Dr. Samuel Calvin, from 1892 until his death death in April,
1911, was for the greater part of the time the state geologist.
In the first constitutional convention, 1844, Johnson county
had three delegates, Robert Lucas, Samuel H. McCrory, and
Henry Felkner. In the second convention, 184G, Curtis Bates,
and in the third, 1857, Johnson and Jones were represented by
William Penn Clarke.
The courts of the state have from Johnson county the chief
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620 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
justice of the supreme court, Emlin McClain, who was first
elected as one of the judges in 1900, and continued in that of-
fice; 0. A. Byington, judge of the eighth judicial district,
1903 to 1906; S. H. Fair&ll, the same district, from 1887 to
to 1893; R. P. Howell, from 1907 to the present time; William
E. Miller, from 1858 to 1859 ; and in the circuit court, W. J.
Haddock, in 1872 and 1873; William E. Miller, in 1869 and
1870.
Milton Remley was the attorney-general of the state in the
years 1895 to 1901. Geo. S. Hampton was the clerk of the
supreme court, commencing in 1847 and serving until 1855,
although not for the entire state continuously since the
supreme court as held in four and five districts from 1848 to
1853, each district having its own clerk. William Penn Clarke
was the supreme court reporter from 1855 to 1860.
Among these state officials, the state board of health was
represented in the county by Dr. J. C. Shrader in a term of
service from 1887 until 1902. James M. Davis was deputy
secretary of state and Abel Beach was deputy auditor, the
former serving under McCleary and Sells from 1854 to 1863.
The legislative branch of the territorial government in-
cluded in the upper house, or council, members who came in
part from Johnson county, as representatives of the district
According to official reports, Charles Whittlesey, of Cedar
county, represented the district in the first meeting of this
body.440 S. Clinton Hastings was the member for the third and
fourth as well as for the seventh and eighth sessions, which
leaves the fifth and sixth for Pleasant Harris, or Judge Harris
as he is frequently called, of Johnson county.
In the house of representatives of the territory, Robert G.
Roberts, of Cedar county, was the member for the first session
only; T. T. Clark appears to have been the member in the
second session. Then Henry Felkner was chosen for the fourth
and fifth legislatures, while James P. Carleton followed in the
sixth; in the seventh and eighth, which concluded the period
of the territory of Iowa, Hugh D. Downey of Johnson county
was the member.
After Iowa became a state it is not quite so difficult to make
a correct record of membership in the assembly since the
county from which the member came is particularly men-
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THE COUNTY IN THE NATION AND STATE 621
tioned. In the state senate, Thomas Hughes was the first
member, serving the first, and the first-extra sessions. John-
son county had no member from among its citizenship then
until the fifth session when Samuel Workman was chosen,
Samuel J. Kirkood succeeded him in the sixth assembly, serv-
ing also in the seventh ; Jesse Bowen was in the senate for the
eighth and ninth sessions ; then Ezekiel Clarke served for two
sessions. He was followed by Samuel H. Fairall in the twelfth
to fifteenth inclusive; Ezekiel Clarke was once more chosen
for two sessions, the sixteenth and seventeenth; John C.
Shrader served the next two, and he was followed by M. Bloom,
in the twentieth and twenty-first. Then no member was
chosen from the county until the twenty-sixth session, when
C. S. Banck served in this and the extra session following.
During the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth, Geo. W. Ball was
the senator from this district, and the last one from this
county to hold this office to date.
In the lower house of the state assembly we find Smiley H.
Bonham, the first member from Johnson county, and he has
been mentioned as the "speaker of the house/ ' He and Joseph
E. Harrison both appear to have represented Johnson in the
second assembly when Gilmon Folsom followed in the third
and fourth assemblies. Then Samuel H. McCrory and Rolla
Johnson were the numbers in the fifth and fifth-extra, Geo.
D. Woodin in the sixth, James Cavanagh and John Clark in
the seventh, George T. Davis and Rush Clark in the eighth,
and the latter member in the extra session following. Davis,
however, was succeeded by J. C. Culbertson in the extra ses-
sion of the eighth assembly. Rush Clark and S. H. Fairall
were the members in the ninth, while R. S. Finkbine and
Warner Spurrier were the representatives in the tenth as-
sembly, the former also serving with G. E. DeForest in the
eleventh. John P. Irish and Jacob Y. Blockwell were from
this county in the twelfth, and the former contiuued in the thir-
teenth and fourteenth assemblies. A. B. Cornell was chosen to
the thirteenth assembly, as it appeared, but his seat was con-
tested and the case decided in favor of David Stewart from
Johnson county. George Paul served in the fourteenth with
John P. Irish and in the following assembly George Paul and
John Hindman. Rush Clark appears again with Chas W. Mc-
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622 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Cune in the sixteenth; George Paul and Moses Bloom in the
seventeenth, and the latter continued during the next assembly,
while Lewis R. Wolfe was a member in the seventeenth also.
E. W. Lucas and L. R. Wolfe represented the county in the
nineteenth assembly and so far as records appear, he and C. S.
Ranck served in the twentieth. The last named member, with
George W. Ball, were members of the twenty-first, and George
W. Wagner of the twenty-second. J. M. Barta Letovsky wa&
the representative alone from Johnson county in the twenty-
third assembly; John Springer in the twenty-fourth, C. S-
Ranck appears in the house again in the twenty-fifth as-
sembly, and 0. A. Byington followed him at the next elec-
tion. Joe A. Edwards served one term in the twenty-seventh,
and then George W. Koontz began the long term of seven
continuous assemblies, closing with the thirty-fourth in 1911*
Public officials in the early days were not so common as
in the present and their coming and going caused more or less
comment, which is illustrated in the following items, which
includes the coming of the first governor to the new capital,
and the entry into politics of another.
It was on a fine day in September in 1839 that the first
territorial governor of Iowa entered the future capital and
where he should spend his later days. A party of two gentle-
men and two ladies left Bloomington on horse back to cross
the intervening country to Iowa City on this particular day,
and arriving towards evening they dismounted at the home of
Matthew Teneyck, which stood upon the corner where the
grocery store of Wm. Pohler is now located. One of the party,
acting as guide, was addressed by Mr. Teneyck as General
Fletcher, and the gentleman introduced his traveling com-
panions as Governor Lucas and his daughters. The long ride
and uncommon accommodations were not mentioned by the
party in any unhappy way and after the good supper fur-
nished they held an informal reception in the sitting room of
the boarding house. General Fletcher introduced the gov-
ernor to the visiting people and after the night had been far
spent in this reception the only unexcited man in the town,
Matthew Teneyck, led his guests up the ladder to the attic,
where rooms had been put in readiness for them.
The governor remained in the place for several days and
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THE COUNTY IN THE NATION AND STATE 623
purchased a tract of land from John Kight, which transfer
was recorded in the transactions of the Johnson County Claim
Association, on page forty-five of their proceedings, which
states that he possessed the deed to the southwest quarter of
section fourteen and the part of the south half of section fif-
teen that lies east of the Iowa river. The price was $200 ac-
cording to notes on the record. This was later the home of
the governor. The governor participated in the laying of
the corner stone of the capitol on the fourth of July, 1840, and
delivered the address on that occasion. With the removal of
the territorial government here he became a permanent resi-
dent after his retirement from the governor's office. His
biography has been written and does not belong here in any
other sense than to place him as a citizen of the county.
In a reminiscent conversation Capt. A. B. Cree gave an
account of the organization of the republican party and in-
cidentally the introduction of Governor Kirkwood into "polit-
ical circles/ ' It appears from the conversation that occurred
that the meeting which culminated in the political organiza-
tion was held in Iowa City. "I remember it," he said, "as
well as though it happened yesterday, and it was held Feb.
22, 1856, forty- three years ago [1899], I recall a number of
incidents, one, a red hot verbal battle between Hon. H. W.
Lathrop, and a politician named Wallace. We nominated a
Johnson county man for treasurer of state that day. His
name was M. L. Morris, of Pleasant Valley. He later re-
moved to Kansas. I remember vividly, too, the first appear-
ance in political circles of our war governor and former secre-
tary of the interior, S. J. Kirkwood. He was a partner of
the late Ezekiel Clarke in the milling business, and he came
into the convention hall straight from the mill. He was
dressed in his working clothes, and was bepowdered from head
to foot with flour. He was a stranger to all except the Jowa
Cityans present, and as I was fresh from the east with some
memories of 'dude' orators, I wondered with lots of others
who that uncouth laborer was. A i change came over the spirit
of our dreams ' pretty soon, let me tell you. He hadn't spoken
many minutes before the sound sense, convincing logic, and
forceful oratory, not spread eagle eloquence, captivated every
auditor and held our fixed attention until his great speech
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624 HISTOKY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
closed. Ever after Iowa knew Samuel J. Kirkwood as a mas-
terful logician and splendid orator.' 9
Two hundred and seventy delegates from forty counties as-
sembled on that twenty-second of February, nearly fifty-five
years ago, to take up the problems of a new party. Transpor-
tation was mainly by river and horseback, as only one railroad
was in operation then, and that was from Davenport to Iowa
City. Travel was slow, tiresome, and often dangerous, so
that nearly half of the distant counties had no representation
in this convention. Who issued the call for this convention
is not known exactly. It was signed by "Many Citizens.' '
And then "after many years," when records were almost
closed for some of those who came into service in the days
mentioned by Captain Cree, some had not forgotten and came
to remind the former governor of their loyalty.
It was a notable gathering that assembled on September
28, 1892, to greet ex-Gov. Samuel J. Kirkwood. Ex-Gov.
Buren R. Sherman took the initiative in this matter and the
war governor, then almost eighty years of age, received the
distinguished company who called upon him in Iowa City. It
was at first intended to surprise him, but later plans changed
this and the former governor was informed that "a number
of old friends and associates would call upon him." H. W.
Lathrop was selected to receive them.
The company assembled at the Saint James Hotel and in
carriages were taken to the home of the governor where they
found the man they had come to visit seated in his favorite
chair. When all were seated about the governor, Judge
Wright delivered an address both witty and wise, to which the
aged governor responded very briefly. Among the company
were : Buren R. Sherman of Waterloo, formerly auditor and
governor of Iowa; George G. Wright, of the supreme court
and United States senator ; W. H. M. Pusey, of Council Bluffs,
member of the state senate with Governor Kirkwood ; Geo. F.
Wright, Chas. Aldrich, John Russell, a life-long friend of the
governor; S. S. Farwell, ex-congressman of the old second
district; Jas. H. Rothrock, chief justice of the supreme court;
G. S. Robinson, also of the supreme court; Gen. Ed. Wright,
formerly speaker and state auditor; B. F. Gue, formerly lieu-
tenant governor; Wm. T. Smith, of Des Moines; Dr. J. M.
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THE COUNTY IN THE NATION AND STATE 625
Shaffer, of Keokuk; W. G. Thompson, ex-congressman and a
member of the house many years before; R. S. Finkbine,
formerly of Iowa City; James A. Williamson, of Washington,
D. C. ; M. L. Elliott, of Marion, and many of his neighbors
in his own city.
Only once, perhaps, in the experience of a small city is it
called upon to receive a delegation from the congress of the
United States, sent to pay the final respect of the membership
to a dead member, so that the incident here related is not
common.
On April 28, 1879, a telegram came from Washington, D. C,
announcing the death of Hon. Rush Clark, the member of
congress from this, the 5th then, district. He died very sud-
denly, having occupied his seat in the house of representatives
but the day before. He had been a popular citizen of John-
son county since about 1853, when he came, a young man, from
his college graduation in Pennsylvania to become an active
partner in the law with his brother, Geo. W. Clark. For a
time he was the editor of the Republican, then one of the lead-
ing Whig papers of the state. At twenty-six years of age,
in 1860, he was elected as a member of the legislature from
this county and after reelection in 1862 he was chosen speaker
of the house, being probably up to that time the youngest man
ever called upon to fill this important office. It was while oc-
cupying the chair of the speaker that he made his famous ad-
dress in accepting for the state the flag carried by the gallant
Second Iowa through the charge at Fort Donelson. One who
heard him said: "I never heard the speech surpassed, which
aroused a perfect blaze of excitement and enthusiasm among
those who assembled to witness the ceremonies."
Mr. Clark was a law partner of Judge W. J. Haddock from
1867 until his death in 1879, and during this partnership he
was once more returned to the state legislature in 1876. He
was, as has been said, a very popular man and his loss was
lamented by the community. Preparations were made to re-
ceive the distinguished dead officially as a civic body by action
of the city council. This committee, with others from the
state, met the funeral party from Washington at West Liberty
and came with the train to Iowa City. On arrival at the sta-
tion, Athens lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen
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626 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
took charge, since the dead congressman was an honored
member of that order.
The congressional committee consisted of Senators Kirk-
wood, Piatt, and Hereford, and Congressmen Price, Neal, Hen-
derson, Cook, Bennett, Hatch, and Barber.
During the funeral the church bells of the city sounded their
doleful strains and rain came in torrents as if in sympathy
with those that mourned, while the streets were lined with
those who could only weep in silence as the solemn cortege
moved to the new cemetery, where the last sad rites were
said.441
Many letters came from prominent men over the United
States to Mrs. Clark, the widow, but among these one was of
especial interest, being from Alexander H. Stephens, the for-
mer vice president of the southern confederacy. In this he
said: "Mr. Clark's sudden death was an appalling blow, not
only to my own feelings but to all in the hotel. . . The morn-
ing after his death my heart bled on seeing the dear little
children weeping together in the corridors as I passed by
them. . . Be assured, Mrs. Clark, I will do all in my power to
aid you and them in the matter referred to in your note."
As many as forty years ago the death of Gilman Folsom
was chronicled as "the passing of a pioneer," and his life is
part of the county record. When one crosses the Avenue
bridge and climbs the hill on the right, then turns about to
see the way he came, one of the first of the thoughts that come
to him is of the striking situation for a home. This old brick
house was built in 1851 and the material in the main portion
came from the kilns of Sylvanus Johnson, which stood then
not far from the Hummer Mill, as now located.
July 15, 1872, the original owner of the home died at the
early age of fifty-four. But he had lived very much in a short
time. Born in 1818, he came from the New Hampshire hills
where he secured his first schooling and training in studious
habits at Norwich Academy, and later at Norwich University,
established by Alden Partridge, once superintendent of the
West Point Military Academy.
Mr. Folsom studied law in the office of Josiah Quincy, the
noted jurist of New Hampshire, and at twenty- three was ad-
mitted to the bar at Haverhill.
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THE COUNTY IN THE NATION AND STATE 627
This was in 1831, just when the west was beginning to draw
on New England for the material which later made good gov-
ernment possible, and placed young men of attainments in
prominent positions in early years. The young lawyer came
west in 1841 and became a citizen of the new capital of Iowa
territory. He was a colleague of James W. Grimes, Judge
Joseph Williams, the second judge to hold court in the second
judicial district, and Judge Carleton. He entered politics
early and became a writer and speaker against the Whig party
and was chosen for two terms a member of the house from
Johnson county, the sessions of which were held in sight of
his own home.
The code of 1851 was the joint product of himself and
James W. Grimes, arid it is said that "many of these legal
landmarks are fixed boundaries for future laws."
When Pierce became president of the United States in 1852
Mr. Folsom was made receiver of the land office in Iowa City,
which position he held until its removal. In this connection
it may be mentioned that Joseph Albin, the veteran stage
driver of the route from Iowa City to Davenport, and who
was but a boy when he helped his father on these long drives,
still speaks of Gilman Folsom and the care he was required
to take in transporting the money by stage to Davenport.
His contemporaries in that time had long before passed
away and he seemed then to be left alone, although only in
his prime of life,, it would appear. This was his last public
service and he retired to his large estate on the borders of
the city limits.
Dr. Jesse Bowen was also a prominent figure in the early
history of Johnson county, coming here in 1840 and becoming
at once an active member of the political and industrial soci-
ety, as well as that of his profession. He is said to have been
the first president of the Iowa State Agricultural Society
and was at the time of the election of Taylor as president in
1848 one of the electors and was the elector selected to carry
the state electoral vote to Washington. It is said that he
was appointed register of the state land office and then re-
turned to private duties at the disruption of the Whig party.
Later when the republican party came to the front he was at
once a leader and his strongest opponents gave him credit for
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628 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
undoubted courage when the battle against slavery was hot-
test, and when other staunch leaders were almost silenced he
" faced forward' ' as of old, never failing to express the cour-
age of his convictions. If history is not in error he was a
friend of John Brown, when that misunderstood man was a
fugitive in Johnson county and adjoining territory. Once
more he returned to public life as a member of the state
senate and was appointed adjutant general, which office he
later resigned in order to accept the office of paymaster in the
army during the Civil War. This position he held all through
the time of hostilities and for some time after the war closed,
until he resigned that also to return to civil life.442
Gilbert De Forest, who was a member of the state assembly
in 1856, had been county sheriff in 1851, taking this office at
the time F. H. Lee became county judge. He left Johnson
county in 1869, removing to Miami county, Kansas, where he
became county treasurer in 1873.
Louis R. Wolfe, who came first to North Bend in 1854, but
later removed to Oxford township, was among the first mem-
bers of the board of supervisors of the county, and then twice
a member of the assembly. During the Civil War he was a
captain of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry.
W. Penn Clarke was a member of the constitutional con-
vention of 1857, and chairman of the Iowa republican conven-
tion that sent a Lincoln delegation to Chicago in 1860. He
came to the county quite early in its history, but his last years
were spent in Washington where he was almost forgotten by
those who had once known him, as younger men, since he was
ninety-two at his death.443
Nearly all of the men who were advanced to state and
national positions of trust held at some time a local office,
either in township or county and it may have been, as in Gov-
ernor Kirkwood's case, a member of the local school board
in Lucas township.
As mentioned elsewhere in illustrating the development of
the division of labor among the county officers, it will be
noticed here that the same names appear in two different con-
nections.
The duties of the county treasurer and recorder were per-
formed by the same officer until 1864. Again, the office of
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THE COUNTY IN THE NATION AND STATE 629
auditor was not created until 1869, and the official who had
held the office of county judge became the first auditor, in this
instance James Cavanagh. When the board of supervisors
came into being they took from the judge certain duties that
had been his since 1851, and he really became the clerk of the
board as the auditor is today, but with somewhat different
powers.
The office of county superintendent of schools was first filled
in 1858 by Henry W. Lathrop, and for many years was really
nothing more than an office to license teachers, without carry-
ing with it any supervisory authority as it does today.
As near as may be ascertained these men are all men who
have occupied at some time the several offices of the county.
Although the county commissioners are not included here they
have been mentioned in connection with the county organiza-
tion. The members of the first board of supervisors were named
under the date of the creation of this body and the changes that
have taken place in the organization leave but five in that
branch of county government at the present day, whose names
follow :
E. C. Fuhrmeister, chairman, Anton Fisher, E. Fenton,
John Knebel, John G. Scheetz.
In their several offices the men who have served the county
are:
As sheriff : S. C. Trowbridge, Walter Butler, Major P. Mc-
Allister, George Paul, John D. Abel, Gilbert S. DeForest,
Samuel B. Mulholland, James M. Howard, Edgar Harrison,
John Wilson, Samuel P. McCaddon, Matthew Cavanagh, John
N. Coldren, Gilman F. Fletcher, J. J. Englert, Richard P.
Jones, John Welch, Andrew Welch, Andrew E. Hofer, Evan
Rowland, Theodore Fautz.
As clerk : Luke Douglass, Stephen B. Gardner, Samuel J.
Hess, S. Bachellor, Henry E. Brown, Thomas J. Cox, John
C. Culbertson, F. H. Lee, Benjamin Bang, Jacob C. Switzer,
George W. Koontz, Stephen Bradley, Paul Korab, Max Otto,
W. J. Hotz, J. G. Marner, Edward Koser, F. B. Volkringer.
As recorder: Isaiah Hamilton, Jesse Berry, Hiram Watts,
Gordon Hutchinson, Samuel Workman, S. B. Gardner, Thomas
Hughes, James Borland, Joseph Deacon, Thomas Banbury,
A. C. Younkin, John B. Lee, Joseph S. Lodge, William J. Huff,
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630 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
•George W. Hand, A. L. Sorter, W. C. Whedon, J. J. Novak,
Joseph Cerny, Perry C. Oakes, James Havlik, Emma W. Hav-
lik, George Dvorsky, Cleve C. Huff.
As county treasurer: John Eagan, Wheten Chase, Dr.
Ezra Bliss, James Lee, W. R. Harrison, Hiram Watts, Thomas
Snyder, Gordon Hutchinson, Samuel Workman, Stephen B.
Gardner, Thomas Hughes, James Borland, J. G. Sperry,
Joseph Deacon, Thomas Banbury, A. C. Younkin, A. J. Her-
shire, Lovell Swisher, C. M. Reno, Hugh McGovern, John
Seuppel, Dennis Maher, Amos M. Cherry, D. A. Reese, James
Watson.
As auditor: James Cavanagh, G. D. Palmer, A. J. Her-
shire, Arthur MeDowell, W. F. Murphy, George W. Koontz,
Amos R. Cherry, T. L. Crowley, A. J. Hogan, L. J. Baschnagel,
W. J. Freeman.
As county superintendent of schools : Henry W. Lathrop,
Richard H. Sylvester, David J. Davis, William J. Haddock,
Samuel D. Pryce, George S. Hampton, J. Osmond, T. S. Par-
vin, Amos Hiatt, John M. Curry, Wilson Blain, John Tierny,
O. A. Byington, W. J. Baldwin, S. K. Stevenson, S. D. Whit-
ing, Louis Lagenberg, C. M. Miller.
These are township clerks :Big Grove, J. E. Kasparek;
Cedar, C. F. Healy; Clear Creek, Clay Brown; East Lucas,
Carl Riley ; Fremont, L. G. Younkin ; Graham, Harry Wieder ;
Hardin, D. S. Maher ; Jefferson, Wm. Pudil ; Lincoln, Alfred
Wiese; Liberty, C. P. Degenhart; Madison, D. F. Anderson;
Monroe, Alois Vanourny; Newport, Frank Buchmayer; Ox-
ford, W. M. McDonough; Penn, A. W. Mehaffey; Pleasant
Valley, Robt. McCollister; Sharon, R. E. Roberts ; Scott, A. E.
Barnes; Union, N. A. Scheetz; Washington, Nye Patterson;
West Lucas, C. P. Lee.
The present township trustees are: Big Grove, H. M.
Stahle, Bert Umdenstock, James White ; Cedar, F. J. Slofer,
G. E. Zenishek, Dan Peters ; Clear Creek, James Hogan, W. B.
Brown, Alvin Drake ; East Lucas, H. S. Johnson, J. J. Metz-
ger, Phil Murphy ; Fremont, John W. Carey, W. F. Lutz, C. B.
Shellady; Graham, Chas. Apitz, Frank Dvorsky, Wm. Hopp;
Hardin, A. L. Kessler, Dan Delaney, George Leeney; Jeffer-
son, Frank Turecek, Wes. Kadlec, Jerome Louvar; Lincoln,
John P. Burr, Gottfried Herring, Peter Lenz; Liberty, Paul
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THE COUNTY IN THE NATION AND STATE 631
Pitlick, Jos. Mellecher, Wm. J, Hirt; Madison, W. S. Files,
M. Machula, Anton Ulch ; Monroe, Chas. Probst, Alois Castek,
Jas. Dlouhy; Newport, Frank Aicher, F. W. Fuhrmeister,
John Eggenberg; Oxford, Wm. Bain, John Kennedy, Anton
W. Tomash; Penn, John Andrie, A. S. Albright, J. J. Zeit-
hammel; Pleasant Valley, J. E. McCollister, Samuel Gaunt,
George Lentz; Sharon, Phil Michael, W. A. Boessler, Ulrich
Schenk; Scott, Albert Wescott, Ed. Slemmons, Chas. Kelly;
Union, S. H. Cox, John O'Brien, Jacob Sellman; Washington,
Frank McKray, Bay Bonham, John Werye ; West Lucas, Wm.
Beed, B. E. Jones, James W. Jones.
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CHAPTER
Miscellaneous Items — The Poor and Dependent — John
Brown — Migrations — and the Storm that
Killed Jesse Berry
TN THE midst of the cares incident to the organizing of a
* new county and the developing of a home for themselves
the unselfish nature of the pioneers and their recollection of
their early training is well exhibited in the allowances and
provisions made for the care of the dependent or those in tem-
porary want. No doubt the good institutions of the governing
body were often imposed upon by the unscrupulous, and judg-
ing from the long list of allowances made to certain individ-
uals, called "paupers" upon the books, one may conclude that
patience must have been exhausted by the time nature relieved
the county from further responsibility.
The first item which is recorded in 1840 reads like similar
items today: "Ordered that Dr. Ezra Bliss, Jr., be allowed
fourteen dollars and fifty cents for medical attendance on
John Bradish, deceased." The duty of the physician, it is
presumed, had been faithfully performed, and his fees were
duly paid.
Items of various amounts were allowed at each meeting
of the commissioners, always specifying the name of the in-
dividual benefited if living, or provided for in case of burial.
John Bradish was furnished a coffin costing ten dollars and
sixty- two cents, while Fitzgerald on the same date was allowed
twelve dollars for the same purpose.
Under the act of the territorial legislature approved Janu-
ary 16, 1840, the county commissioners could either contract
for the care of paupers when friends could not or would not
provide for them, or employ an agent for the purpose. There-
fore, in accordance with the law, in July, 1841, the county
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MISCELLANEOUS 633
commissioners chose to employ an agent, and appointed Alex-
ander Abel to that position.444
A rather abrupt and somewhat indefinite bill was presented
to the commissioners also in July, 1841, when "Caspar Dunkle
was allowed eight dollars for coffin for Dutch pauper/ ' It
may have been, however, that the name of the helpless and
unfortunate individual was unknown to the authorities.
Dr. Jesse Bowen succeeded Alexander Abel in the office of
overseer of the poor by appointment in October, 1841, and
the records during the years 1841-2 suggest the great diffi-
culties in caring for the indigent during this period. Three
physicians, Bowen, Bliss, and Ballard, made a proposal to care
for the poor in medical attendance during the year 1842 for
the sum of $25 each. Dr. Bowen had previously proposed to
do it alone for seventy-five dollars, and the board divided on
the two propositions. Neither was accepted and it was decid-
ed to let the contract to the lowest bidder, whereupon Dr.
Henry Murray became the poor physician on his bid of $6.
This may possibly be an error, but it is so recorded. A new
question arose when Dr. S. M. Ballard refused to accept the
decision of the board concerning his bill for pauper services
and appealed the case to the district court for adjustment.
System was wanting everywhere in this phase of county
work until the appointment of A. D. Stephens, with definite
instructions to keep careful records and to settle with the
county board at each session. Nevertheless almost a year
after his appointment and after two other agents had succeed-
ed him, J. D. Abel presented a bill and was allowed " seventy-
five cents for ferriage of Dutch paupers."
It was difficult to keep an agent for this purpose. Stephens
was shortly succeeded by Jesse Berry and he served from
April until May, 1842, when at a called session of the commis-
sioners Asa Calkins was appointed, and at the same time he
was empowered to make requisition on the clerk of the board
for supplies for the poor, provided the entire amount for the
year should not exceed one hundred dollars. This plan suc-
ceeded better, but in July, 1842, it was determined that the
amount to be drawn should not exceed fifty dollars. The
board of commissioners appointed Drs. Murray and Bliss as
physicians to the poor of the county in October, 1842, at a
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€34 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
maximum compensation of one hundred dollars, they to fur-
nish all the medicines. On this proposition Dr. H. Murray
sent the following:
"Iowa City, la., Oct. 8, 1842.
"To the Board of County Commissioners of Johnson County :
"Gentlemen: Permit me to say to you that I will have
nothing to do with the Partnership Affair of Doctors for the
Paupers of Johnson County. Yours truly,
"Dr. H. Murray."445
The burden of caring for the blind, the insane and the poor
became heavier as the settlements grew, and the expenditure
increased proportionately. On the margin of the records as
made by the clerk the bills are itemized. The new agent, Asa
Calkins, made his reports as required by the board, his rec-
ommendations being allowed as read, indicating his efficiency
in this position.
Paupers were allowed their choice of physicians under
orders of the board of commissioners in January, 1843. Dr.
Ezra Bliss had been under contract alone, it appears, after
the breaking away of Dr. Murray, and the new order restored
the harmony. There being no provision made for caring for
the insane, private parties must be employed for the purpose.
As an illustration of this the case of Elisha Pearson is typical.
He was employed to care for George Glick, an insane pauper,
for the term of one year for $150, and moreover the care re-
quired is specified in the contract.
For support and maintenance of the poor from May, 1842,
to January, 1843, the total expenses are given as $945, by far
the largest one item in the county expenditures.
Asa Calkins was succeeded by Philip Clark as agent for
the poor in September, 1843, although he was also one of the
commissioners at the time. It may be concluded that, having
tried for so long to find a man who would remain in the office,
they became discouraged and appointed one of their own num-
ber.
An interesting sequel to the physicians' differences con-
cerning the attendance on the poor is found in the apportion-
ment of the one hundred dollars allowed when bills were pre-
sented. Dr. Bliss secured twenty-two dollars, sixty-one cents ;
Dr. Murray, five dollars and eighty cents, and Dr. Ballard
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MISCELLANEOUS 635
sixty-six dollars, twenty-two cents. The latter was either the
most popular among the poor or he knew how to secure cus-
tom. The board, it appears, kept within their allowance by
some method. A new physician appears upon the record in
1848, Dr. G. Webber, and is paid his portion for services for
that year.
Like many other subjects which came before the county
governing body for adjustment, the care of the poor gradually
worked into a system where items of small importance ceased
to appear upon the session records, but came in reports aa
summaries by the proper authority. Philip Clark continued
to act as agent until the division of such labor among local
officials. That the poor might assist in defraying their own
burial expenses so far as possible, we may cite the following
as an illustration : Peter Ewing, clerk of Iowa City township,
was ordered by the commissioners "to pay over the sum of
nine dollars and twenty-five cents which he had received from
the sale of clothes of John Adams Martin, a deceased pauper,
to three individuals, to Peter Stutzer, one dollar, seventy-five
cents; to Peter Roberts three dollars, fifty cents, and to
Michael McGinnis four dollars, the same being one-half their
charges against said deceased/ '
Another case of instruction to the overseers of the poor
concerned the binding out of two girls, infant daughters of
Olive Cambridge. They were to be bound out together if pos-
sible, if not separately. A form of agreement of this kind
may be found in almost any court record where the conditions-
of binding out are enumerated. This was common in those
days, a custom unfamiliar to the present generation. It is
evident that these two children were "bound out" to some
one, since we find that Peter Ewing, who cared for them, was
allowed a sum for "keeping these children and writing in-
dentures."44*
As soon as a law was passed providing for the care of those
afflicted with the loss of sight, hearing, or speech, the county^
took advantage of it, the first case being that of Don Alonzo
Dewey, claiming the benefit of the act for his son Alfred, a
deaf and dumb person. Thereupon it was ordered by the
board "that this case be reported to the superintendent of pub-
lic instruction forthwith, as the law contemplated." Rhoda
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€36 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Bowen, a blind girl, was recommended to the same care in
January, 1850.447
Thus for fifteen or more years the authorities of the county
endeavored to construct a system that would efficiently protect
the needy and the unfortunate, a question that in some respects
is still unsettled, even under the management of skilled men,
and expert advice.
Another item indicating changes in opinions is shown here,
for we read in the beginning of the burial of paupers in a
very crude and unhappy way when they were cared for by
every one, but ten years afterwards there is an allowance
made to " Vanfleet and Rider, liverymen, for carriages on sev-
eral occasions for the burial of paupers. ' ' All these items are
suggestive of the growth in ability as well as in desire to care
properly for the unfortunate.
That the "poor are always here" became so much of a
public question in 1855 that the proposition for a poor farm
with suitable equipment was placed before the people, or
voters, for due consideration. The question involved the pur-
chase of land and the making of suitable improvements, the
whole cost not to exceed five thousand dollars.
As mentioned in the early part of this chapter, the care of
the poor was difficult to systematize and counties found later
the economy and good sense in centralizing the institution by
putting the dependent of all classes under the care of some effi-
cient person on a farm where they could become in a measure
at least, self supporting. If any error was made in this early
attempt at such a plan it was in the purchase of a farm too
small instead of planning for future emergencies. The elec-
tion came on in April, 1855, and there were 987 votes for the
purchase and investment to 146 votes against the proposal.
Liberty and Scott townships voted it down. Clear Creek had
no votes against it at all. In August, 1855, ten cents on each
one hundred dollars was levied for the above purpose and the
<?ounty judge, F. H. Lee, appointed John W. O'Brien to be
"stuart" of the poor farm. A broad lettered heading in the
record of the county judge reads: "Stuart of Poor Farm,"
by which one understands the steward, Mr. O'Brien, is
meant.448
The new authority represented in the county board of super-
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MISCELLANEOUS 637
visors assumed control of affairs in January, 1861, and among
their first committees, the one to attend to the affairs of the
poor is named. In conference with the county judge, Geo. W.
McCleary, it was learned that H. H. Winchester was now the
officer in charge of that branch of public duties, therefore the
new committee recommended that he be retained in this ser-
vice " until further arrangements could be made."
It appears that the new committee made a careful investiga-
tion of affairs and reported to the larger body their findings in
detail, at an adjourned meeting in the early part of 1861. This
report gives some items of interest. The farm recently pur-
chased by authority of the votes of the people consisted of
"160 acres of land situated four miles west of Iowa City on
a high rolling prairie." Fifty-three acres of land were under
cultivation, the same being enclosed with a substantial board
fence. There was then, a frame house of four rooms, one of
which was "occupied by the steward and his family; one was
used as a kitchen and dining room; leaving two rooms for
the pauper occupants, one for the men and one for the wo-
men."
The committee said further: "It will be perceived by this
statement, how utterly inadequate the building is for the ac-
commodation of the poor of the county. Ten or twelve per-
sons crowded together in one small badly ventilated apart-
ment, some of whom are sick, and all generally very uncleanly
and offensive in their personal habits, present a very forbid-
ding prospect to the deserving poor. One cannot wonder at
the aversion constantly manifested by persons who really need
the aid of the public charity to a sojourn in the county house."
The steward of the time, John Jordan, was duly commend-
ed for his management in a situation so trying, while he
acknowledged his inability to care for the occupants humanely,
under such circumstances. For these reasons, the new com-
mittee, recommending new and enlarged buildings, secured
the approval of the entire board of supervisors.
It was further shown by the report of this committee and
the steward in charge, that the cost per inmate for one week,
even under these adverse conditions, was but one and a half
dollars.
The relative cost of keeping the poor at the farm appeared
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638 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
to be such that from this time forward it should be the policy
of the county authorities to increase the capacity until it was
such that no outside aid should be furnished, implying that
those who refused to go to the poor house as originally in-
tended, should be left to their own resources. It is interest-
ing to note here the estimated capitalization of the poor farm
in 1861 as compared to the report for 1909.
The committee appointed for this purpose, consisting of
James Bemley, Wm. Wolf and O. B. Barrows, valued the 160
acres of farm land at $2,500; the live stock at $323, and other
property at $177. The same items for 1909 estimate the 240
acres in the present farm at $24,000 ; the buildings as compared
to the one four-room house in 1861, at $28,300; other per-
manent improvements that would have been considered under
the same head in 1861, brings the total of land and buildings,
with fixtures, to over $60,000, while the live stock, grain, and
implements amount to more than $8,500, and the total value of
the farm and equipment at nearly $71,000. This is the in-
vestment for the benefit of the poor and dependent, which in-
cludes the care of the insane to some extent, in 1909, as com-
pared to a total of $3,000 in 1861. Outside of the county
home in 1909 the expenditure for the poor amounted to more
than $5,000. The net cost of running the present farm for
the same year is given as $5,422, while the average number of
inmates, including the insane, was sixty-two, making the cost
one dollar and sixty-eight cents per inmate, not very much
different from what it was in 1861.
It is further noted that Mr. Jordan was elected steward
to succeed himself in 1861, at a salary "not to exceed two hun-
dred dollars.' ' In 1909 the salary was $900, while the over-
seer of the poor received $300, indicating the increased re-
sponsibility assumed on the part of the county and the time
necessary to devote to this service.
Under a revision in the law it was required to select a direc-
tor for the poor farm, and for general oversight of the outside
dependents so that in June, 1861, J. T. Turner, who has so
recently celebrated his ninetieth birthday, was appointed to
this office. From a report he made and the account of the
steward during the year of his service it was shown that un-
less improvements were made on the new farm, and the land
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MISCELLANEOUS 639
was broken and put into full cultivation, it would be more
economical to care for the poor in the former fashion, or in-
dividually. Action must have followed this suggestion, for
the crop of 1862 was, in wheat, 733 bushels; in corn, 1,400
bushels; potatoes, 30 bushels, and this crop was pronounced
a failure ; sorghum, 175 gallons, and tobacco, 30 pounds ; there
were "five head of horses, twenty- two head of cattle, twelve
hogs to kill and eleven to keep over." Three years later it
was recommended by a committee that ' ' a yoke of oxen be pur-
chased since another team was needed on the farm." A fur-
ther suggestion in 1864 was to submit to a vote of the people
the sale of the poor farm and the purchase of another, evident-
ly with the purpose of better accommodations and more room
in a new location. It is evident that the farm had prospered,
as an investment, since the result in 1863 was a surplus of
more than $500.
A little more than fifty years ago this vicinity was stirred
by the presence of that group headed by the man who was
known by the title of "Old John Brown of Kansas." It hap-
pens that one of those who followed him across the state of
Iowa is now at his four score years living in Salina, Kansas,
the state he went to defend, as he says, in those stirring times
of border warfare. In a recent letter to the writer he says, in
reply to an inquiry as to his recollections of Iowa City :
"Your letter of inquiry about Iowa City and her people
should have been answered sooner, but I have been trying to
think up. My thought is not clear. I have Iowa City and
De Moine all mixed up, and in fact I remember but little
about either. In one of these towns Brown went to a bakery
and ordered a barrel of i Boston Crackers' and they were
delivered to us steaming hot. He also bought a two-bushel
sack full of dark brown sugar.
"I cannot recall any of the names you mention. I passed
through Iowa only once with Brown. This was from Tabor
to Springdale. I wish that I could help you.
"I have passed through the winter in good shape and am
feeling fine. Am pleased to hear from you at any time.
Yours Truly,
' ' Salina, Kansas, April 22, 1911. Luke P. Parsons. ' '
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640 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Mr. Parsons, during the summer of 1910, prepared for an-
other work, an extended discussion of the personnel of the
party at Springdale, and this came from his personal acquaint-
ance with the men as he knew them during the journey across
the state of Iowa and the winter spent at th§ Maxson farm at
Springdale, with some previous acquaintance in Kansas. He
is the only survivor of the days of Brown's struggles in Kan-
sas and his Ossawatomie battle, and also of the preparatory
days before the last stand at Harper's Ferry.
It seems scarcely necessary to touch upon the topic of the
days of John Brown in the community since it has been writ-
ten about in detail so many times, yet it may be possible that
the present generation has little acquaintance with the days
that were exciting enough to those who participated in them.
Only incidentally was Brown in Johnson county, as he came
through here or came from his headquarters at Springdale,
or Pedee, as it was usually called at that time, since the post
office was of that name and was located in Iowa township,
Cedar county, while Springdale is in the township of that
name, just west. There were some rather strong reasons an-
nounced by certain citizens of Iowa township, after Harper's
Ferry, for disclaiming the fact of Brown's residence among
them, and it is said that some resolutions in the form of a
declaration of non-approval were adopted, but it did not affect
his friends.
It is probably true that Brown came to Iowa City to inter-
view certain men who had the interests of the "Free Kan-
sans" at heart and that he was in danger of apprehension
here, either in the hope of saving his neck or because there was
danger in his methods, not only to the general government
but to those whom he might bring into disrepute because of
assisting him in some illegal way. The great reward offered
by the state of Missouri was also an item in the case.
But war was so near that men did not hesitate to do the
things most necessary to aid the cause of human freedom, and
the underground railroad was running regularly when it was
well known that the contest here was only a branch of the
greater one going on in the southwest A distributing point
for Kansas supplies was found in Iowa City, so it is said, and
naturally the agents in this matter would befriend Brown.
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MISCELLANEOUS 641
One day the proprietor of a store on Washington street in
Iowa City, a store that probably appears the same as in 1858,
looked up from his work to see standing in the doorway that
tall and straight form of the leader of the men then quartered
in Cedar county, during the winter of 1857 and 1858. John
Brown then inquired for William Penn Clarke, who was sum-
moned by messenger. On his appearance these two passed
behind the prescription case, just as it was at the recent death
of Mr. Davis, and here they talked in low tones for some time.
What they said has not been recorded so far as known, but it
doubtless concerned that which has been written more than
once, namely, the escape from the state and the transportation
of the colored people who were housed at Pedee, to the Cana-
dian border. What followed then involved not only local peo-
ple but those in authority in connection with the only railroad
that could carry them out of the state, and into the city of
Chicago, by direct passage.
It appears that the house of Jesse Bowen was the head-
quarters of Brown while in Iowa City, and certain other men
took an active interest in assisting him in securing his trans-
portation out of the country, among them S. C. Trowbridge,
W. Penn Clarke as mentioned, and L. A. Duncan, then the
editor of the Iowa City Republican. Not all, however, who
knew of Brown's presence were exactly friendly under the
reward offered by the state of Missouri for the return of
fugitive slaves and probably incidentally the capture of Brown,
so that there were attempts to secure a party to arrest the
entire company. Whether any direct attempt was made to
take them is not ascertainable at this date, and it makes very
little difference now since the outcome is so well known.
Dr. Frederick Lloyd, in writing of these events, mentions
Luke J. Parsons, which of course refers to the Luke F. Par-
sons, named in the beginning. Parsons does not mention
anything of the difficulties that have been stated regarding
the affairs of the company during the winter they were
at Pedee or Springdale. His description of the group and
their individual peculiarities is entirely too lengthy to en-
large upon here, but he specifically mentions Aaron D.
Stevens, John Edwin Cook, Richard Realf, who, he said, was
a protege of Lady Byron, John H. Kagi, whom he pronounced
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642 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
"the most intellectual of the bunch ;" Charles Plummer Tidd,
and William Leeman complete the list of those who had the
major part in the followers of Brown and his son Owen, who
was among the number.
There were others, it is true, who joined Brown in the vicin-
ity of Pedee, or Springdale, but they do not have anything to
do with the local history, although their lives were and are
inevitably linked with the settlement from which they went
out and with the name of John Brown, since one of them,
Edwin Coppock, gave up his life at Charleston jail.
Kagi was known to men now living in Johnson county, and
the late John E. Jayne remembered him very well, and there
are a number who can describe Brown minutely. If anyone
cares to read the personal account of Luke F. Parsons the
reference herewith given may be consulted.449
Very much could be said in connection with the affairs of
this group of men, bent on a desperate mission as Brown saw
it, but it is not of any direct value in relating local history,
although it has previously been included as part of what was
considered as local.
It is simply a matter of a stopping place of a man whose
name, like many another, is fixed in American history, and
just so far as his life touched the community as he came and
went, should it be mentioned, since to give the general career
of John Brown is not permitted.
A strange item appears in the accounts of certain bills
running through the records of the county commissioners
from 1845 to 1850. The first is the allowance of forty-seven
dollars and some cents to Sheriff M. P. McAllister for "pro-
visions and corn and oats purchased by him and used in his
trip to arrest certain Mormon prisoners in the western part
of the territory in the present month." No previous hint is
given of the case or charges against such prisoners. The old
settlers know more about it than any record can furnish.
Another item in July of this same year, 1845, is plainly
suggestive of "war," "William Dupont was given an allow-
ance of nineteen dollars for provisions and feed furnished the
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MISCELLANEOUS 643
soldiers and officers in the * Mormon War.' " Warren Stiles
and Charles Connelly were each "allowed for board furnished
officers and soldiers" in this same war. Who the officers were,
who the soldiers were, whether militia or regulars, is not
stated. From other sources, however, it is inferred that these
were "volunteers."
The commissioners were now confronted with the problem
of allowing expenses to all comers or to none after this, and
hence we find on presentation of an "omnibus bill" by A.
Arrowsmith, W. A. Henry and others for services in this same
"enjoyment" they rejected the claim.450
Time, however, the agent that makes objections less prom-
inent, caused the commissioners to reconsider the action of
the former session in July, 1845, and nearly four years after
a petition came up from divers citizens asking that these bills
be allowed. This then was heard. We must remember that a
new membership had changed the character of this board.
These men may have been charitarly inclined. At least they
did not refuse the request of the petitioners and a long string
of bills, covering more than two pages, is recorded in January,
1849, to pay for expenses incurred in 1845, while chasing a
few harmless Mormons encamped in Marshall county.461 They
were also heard from in adjoining counties where they appear
as industrious contractors and where they left lasting names
on districts of their encampment. "Mormon Hollow" is a
fixed point in Cedar county, and descriptions of locations are
based on roads leading in that direction. Mormons came up
the river in Iowa in their expeditions from Nauvoo in search
of supplies of corn and flour. They engaged in a contract to
dig a mill race on one of the earliest flouring mills in the Cedar
valley, but failed to complete their contract.
In the expedition under consideration, some were arrested
and brought to Iowa City and naturally Sheriff McAllister had
to feed them and then collect his bill if he could If one cares
to peruse the items enumerated in these accounts he will find
them in the places mentioned in the reference list.
The total cost to the county as given in the report of the
county treasurer for April, 1849, was $419, up to that time,
and all the items allowed later should be added.
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644 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
A loose order in the records reads as follows : 452
"Iowa City, la., March 9, 1849.
"S.B.Gardner,
"Sir, — please pay to Mr. Brown, the bearer, the county
orders that are due me as a volunteer in the ' Mormon War.'
"S.M. Shaff."
Note, "Issued $10 to Gen'l Brown."
The last echo of this 1845 expedition is heard in January,
1850, the man concerned was named "Dennis." He had lost
his original order for his long past services and furnished an
affidavit to prove that he had possessed it, whereupon he was
granted a second order, while he promised faithfully to refund
the sum should the original order ever appear. So far it has
not been reported, yet one may almost conclude that from this
long period of making a settlement it may yet appear.
Iowa City, since it was the capital of the territory and also
of the state for some years, became a prominent point on the
east and west routes of travel, and was particularly so during
the emigration to the gold fields of California and Pike's Peak.
However, previous to this and of local interest, was an or-
ganized attempt to settle the Oregon territory which is de-
scribed in the current events of the time.
Great interest was manifested in this county in the settle-
ment of the Oregon territory about the year 1843. A meet-
ing of citizens of Clear Creek settlement (there were no civil
townships then), was held at the house of Jarvis H. Frostr
one of the pioneers of that section. It was here that the or-
ganization of an "Oregon Emigration Society" was under-
taken. The customary officers for temporary business were
chosen when Asa Calkins, Esq., of Iowa City, stated the object
of the meeting and it also appears that a committee had been
appointed before this time to draft a constitution and by-laws
for this society, who made their report at this time.
One cannot fail to inquire as to what inducement was of-
ered for breaking away from the almost endless opportunity in
this new county to cross the Rocky mountains into the newer
one of Oregon. Only patriotic reasons, surely, could be of-
fered, and the constitution adopted at this time suggests this
reason.
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MISCELLANEOUS 645
This instrument, called a constitution, is worthy of consid-
eration since it prepared for a colony of some extent and pro-
vided for certain classes of citizens who could be expected to
comply with the demands of a new country.
The legislative 'authority, so it was stated, was vested in
four trustees and twelve councilmen, to be chosen by the male
members of the society, who were entitled to vote for civil
officers under this constitution. An election of these officers
was called at the house of Mr. Frost No one could hold any
of the offices mentioned unless he had reached the age of
twenty-five years.
Provisions in this instrument for all the emergencies on
the march are specified, even to the consulting with the mil-
itary officers of the company on the journey. They not only
made the laws to govern the society, but they provided for
judicial power as well in determining all complaints, and the
executive power was determined so far as dismissing undesir-
able members was concerned. No person of intemperate
habits, dishonest or immoral characteer could enter the organ-
ization. This was a stock company, judging from the provi-
sions made in the constitution.
Altogether there were seven articles in the instrument and
the authors must have modeled it after the constitution of the
United States. Article two "vested the executive authority in
one president and two vice presidents, who were to be chosen
annually, by all male members entitled to vote," and this
meant all those seventeen years of age or over. The president
and vice presidents must be at least thirty years of age.
The military authority was vested in a captain, two lieuten-
ants and three sergeants and they were elected also. Every
male member between the ages of seventeen and forty-five
must be armed and drilled and be liable to military duty. It
is especially provided in article five that "no Black or Mul-
lattoe persons shall in any case, or under any circumstances
whatever, be admitted into this society or be permitted to
emigrate with it."
The officials of the company were exempt from military
duty on the march, but they were, however, to fully arm and
equip themselves and in case of emergency "shall remain with
and protect the families and baggage." Possibly the makers
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646 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
had in mind some of the campaigns of Caesar in the Gallic
wars and wished to make distinct provision for each arm of
the expedition.
Finally, this constitution could be amended at any time by
giving twenty days previous notice through publication in the
newspapers of Iowa City of the time and place of meeting and
" provided two- thirds of the number present concurred there-
in. " It is written that the constitution was ' ' unanimously ap-
proved," and "that a large number of citizens present sub-
scribed their names to the same." The first trustees elected
were: A. Calkins, David Switzer, Israel L. Clark, and J. L.
Frost. Calkins was requested to give a public address at the
next meeting of the company.
The only question propounded by the press of that day was :
"would congress pass the bill for the occupation of Oregon! "
And further: "would emigrants go there without the protec-
tion of the government?"
This was but a local phase of a movement over the west, as
the west was then known, for taking possession of Oregon ter-
ritory. Emigrant trains passed this way as noted by ob-
servers "on their way to Oregon." An item of the time
reads: "within the past week some six or eight ox- wagons
accompanied by men, women and children, cows and dogs,
passed through our town. It was their intention, we believe,
to strike for the Raccoon Forks of the Des Moines and then to
Fort Leavenworth, and from there to make their way across
the mountains to the Columbia River."453
Daily accounts of the great trains of gold hunters appear
in the journals of eastern Iowa, during the Pike's Peak excite-
ment in 1859. Locally the items give names of those who are
leaving and mention the numbers of wagons and occupants
who pass through the city and across the river, westward.
During two weeks of April, 1859, two hundred teams bound for
the gold fields, crossed Metcalf 's bridge and about the same
number over Folsom's bridge. The average number of men
was three to each team, making about twelve hundred who
passed this way, and this was only one point on the line west-
ward. These came for the most part from Illinois and Wis-
consin. They came from the laboring classes of men, those
who were accustomed to hardship. The number of teams cros-
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MISCELLANEOUS 647
sing these bridges was easily accounted for since both were
toll bridges.
The rush homeward was noted in the month of June, fol-
lowing the account above. Once more they paid the toll to
cross the Iowa river and were counted among the experienced
ones who sought " quick riches." 4M
During this summer, of 1859, a great storm visited this
county, causing much destruction and even loss of life, which
is best told by eyewitnesses. It was between the hours of six
and seven, on May 24, 1859, when one of the most remarkable
and destructive storms on record passed through this county.
It was described as "a whirlwind and waterspout, and of
tornado violence. " The day was not more than ordinary un-
til toward evening; heavy clouds then appeared upon the
western and southwestern horizon, what appeared to be an
ordinary thunderstorm. Nothing unusual seemed to be threat-
ening until it was a few miles distant, when three sharp
flashes of lightning followed by heavy thunder warned the
onlooker of something unusual. At about this time a black
cloud was pointed out, jagged and broken, from which was
suspended like an inverted cone or funnel, a smaller cloud.
Not many minutes later it became longer and came in contact
with the earth. This was very gradual and actual contact was
delayed for sometime or until it was southwest of the city
proper. The noise from this cloud resembled that of heavy
wagons on a plank road, a rumbling and continuous roar, dis-
tinctly heard by all listeners. Many remarked concerning this
phenomenon, but did not realize the destructive nature of it.
The first observation of its effects came from a man who
was overtaken while on horseback and his experience was viv-
id enough. He had great difficulty in keeping the saddle and his
horse could scarcely make his way. The sensation after the
storm had passed was that of complete exhaustion as if the
struggle had been for hours. The storm fell upon the house
of General Morris, and the destruction was terrific. It crossed
the river about two miles below Iowa City, near the house of
Mr. Foster. Here his house was unroofed and a fine orchard
ruined. Then passing nearly due east it caused great destruc-
tion and even death at the house of Andrew Morgan. He, his
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648 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
son, and grandson were killed and the remainder of the family
injured. Some remarkable incidents are related as occurring
near this point. A wagon was carried away and from this,
one of the tires was found doubled and flattened, as two pieces
of iron fastened at the ends ; a plow lying in the furrow had
all the wood stripped from the iron.
Mr. McCoy, who lived with Mr. Harris, but worked on Mr.
Berry's farm, had a stake driven in just back of the shoulder
from which wound he died the next morning. Mr. Dyer, the
tenant of the farm had his arm broken and when he recovered
consciousness he found himself three-fourths of a mile from
the house near the railroad track.
At the home of Jesse Berry the storm seemed most violent
and a minute discription would be necessary to make an under-
standing of the form of the storm possible. On this farm at
the time there was a number of people who found temporary
refuge in some shelter. Mr. Berry and a teamster were in the
barn and when the barn was destroyed, the former, well known
citizen, was instantly killed by a falling timber.4"
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REFERENCES AND NOTES
1 Tacitus Hussey in Annals of Ioway January, 1910, p. 401.
See Laws of Iowa, 1857, p. 254; 1858, p. 289.
Originally as passed in 1857 it became unlawful for any one except
on his own premises "to kill, ensnare, or trap any wild deer, elk or
fawn, wild turkey, prairie hen or chicken, grouse or quail between the
first day of February and the fifteenth of July," in any year. It was
amended in 1858 to read ' ' from the first day of January to the fifteenth
day of August, ' ' in any year.
2 See Map A for details of the three purchases, 1832, 1836, and 1837,
so far as included in Johnson county.
8 Data from Samuel Gilliland, Mechanicsville, Iowa, then in his
ninety-seventh year.
4Shambaugh,s Constitution and Records of the Johnson County
Claim Association.
5 Mrs. Benjamin Ritter, of Iowa City. The first weddings of John-
son county were of Benjamin Ritter and Mary Stover, and of Martin
Smith and Martha McLucas, a double wedding.
6 R. L. Rowe, in the Cedar County Post, 1872-1873.
7 There appears to be some difference of opinion regarding the
rivalry of the two towns of Osceola and Napoleon. At the death of
John Gilbert, James Davis was made the administrator of his estate,
and a deed made by him to the northwest quarter of section thirty -twor
township seventy-eight, range five, is "witnessed by J. Weston Brooks
and S. C. Hastings." — Record of Deeds, Book I, p. 11.
8 Data from John McClellan, Mechanicsville, Iowa, who was em-
ployed in grading the Lyons Iowa Central Railroad, using both ox and
horse teams, and who had difficulty in collecting his pay.
9 Gilbert R. Irish, at old settlers meeting, 1908.
10 Data from G. R. Irish.
11 Iowa City Weekly Press, May 13, 1885.
12 Iowa City Daily Republican, March 13, 1878.
18 T. S. Parvin in Iowa City Weekly Press, Nov. 7, 1888. Mr. Parvin
appears to be in error regarding the site of Napoleon and the trading
house as being identical.
14 Sketch in Medical and Surgical Directory of Iowa, by Dr. F.
Lloyd. Reprinted in the Weekly Press for August 1, 1883.
15 Iowa City Weekly Press, July 20, 1887. A daughter of Asbury
D. Packard resides in Iowa City, on the corner of Capitol and Market
streets.
16 Iowa City Weekly Press, May 4, 1887.
17 Iowa City Daily Republican, August 10, 1893. James Walker was
the last survivor of the settlers of 1837, having resided for sixty-seven
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650 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
years in the county. He had voted in Ohio in 1836, and resided here
from 1837 to 1904.
18 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1839, p. 100.
19 Iowa City Daily Republican, August 16, 1893.
20 Iowa City Daily Republican, October 7, 1896.
21 Iowa City Daily Press, November 14, 1879. The name of the firm,
" James H. Gower and Co.," may be seen as stenciled on the beams in
the old building on the corner of Clinton and Burlington streets.
22 Iowa City Weekly Press, July 20, 1881.
28 Iowa City Daily Press, March 10, 1880.
24 Iowa City Daily Press, November 8, 1877.
25 Iowa Historical Record, April, 1902, sketch by John Springer, sub-
mitted by Dr. Leora Johnson.
26 Iowa City Weekly Republican, January 30, 1861.
27 Iowa City Weekly Press, August 25, 1886.
28 Iowa City Weekly Press, October 2, 1889.
29 Iowa City Weekly Press, August 20, 1890.
80 Data from G. R. Irish.
81 Data from G. R. Irish.
82 F. M. Irish in Annals of Iowa, Vol. VI, p. 23. Also from G. R.
Irish. " Black Hawk's bones which had b%een taken away and cleaned
were re-taken by the governor [Lucas] who holds them for the son of
the chief — opened the box today — I saw them." Diary of T. S.
Parvin. November 28, 1840, in Masonic Library, Cedar Rapids.
"The confederated tribes of the Sacs and Foxes cede to the United
States the reservation of 400 sections of land, made to the Sacs and
Foxes, by the second article of September 21, 1832, as the same has been
surveyed and laid off by order of the President of the United States.
"The Ioway Indians having set up a claim to a part of the lands
ceded by this treaty, it is provided that the President of the United
States shall cause the validity and extent of such claim to be ascertained
and upon relinquishment thereof to the United States to cause a fair
value to be paid to said Ioways therefor, and to deduct such amount
from the consideration agreed to be paid to Sacs and Foxes.
"The said confederated tribes of Sacs and Foxes agree to remove
from the lands ceded by this treaty by the first day of November, 1836,
and it is expressly agreed that no band or party of said tribes shall
plant, fish, or hunt on any portion of said ceded country after the date
mentioned.' ' — Eighteenth Annual Report, Bureau of American Eth-
nology, Part II, p. 766, and Map 24.
83 Data from G. R. Irish.
84 Annals of Iowa, 1866-1867, p. 64. An interview by the editor of
the Annals with S. C. Trowbridge.
85 Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin, 1837, p. 135.
36 Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin, 1838, p. 543.
87 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1838, p. 100.
38 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1845, p. 66.
39 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1838, p. 101.
40 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1838, p. 435. This act provided
that a "scrawl" might be used instead of a seal.
41 Appointed sheriff, at first, by Governor Dodge of the territory of
Wisconsin.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES 651
42 Laws of Iowa, 1838, p. 101.
48 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 6. In the book
there are two pages "6." An error in rebinding makes p. 175 follow
155. Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1839, p. 25.
44 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1839, pp. 435, 438.
45 Records of the County Commissioners, Book 1, p. 9.
46 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1838, p. 102.
47 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 10.
48 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 14.
48 See plat of Iowa City, 1839, State Historical Society.
80 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1839, p. 25.
81 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 14, 43.
82 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 47, 49.
88 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 59. The act of
congress approved August 1, 1842, gave the county the right of pre-
emption to the northwest quarter of section fifteen east of the river.
This included 117 64-100 acres. The previous act of March 3, 1839,
was in part repealed, the right to the entire quarter having been re-
linquished. See Iowa City Standard, September 3, 1842.
84 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 74, 75, 80.
88 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 85.
86 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 134, 152.
87 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 181 ; Laws of
the Territory of Iowa, 1841, pp. 62, 89, 184.
The act providing for a county agent was approved February 16,
1842. It was repealed February 24, 1847, the clerk of the board of
county commissioners assuming these duties. — Laws of Iowa, 1847,
p. 124.
88 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 308, 350, 479.
89 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 191, 193.
60 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 20, 21.
61 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 182.
62 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 183.
68 Records of the County Commissioners, Book III, pp. 69, 161.
"$100 Old Man's Creek, Sept.
15, 1840.
"Mr. Stephen B. Gardner,
"Please pay to Charles H. Berryhill the sum of One Hundred Dol-
lars in County orders & charge.
"Yours &c
"A. H. Humphrey."
64 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 28 ; Book IIIr
p. 38.
68 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 69. The name
"Wheton" is so variously spelled that it is used as it appears in the
record.
86 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 66.
87 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 4.
88 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 250, 254.
89 Records of the County Commissioners, Book III, p. 38. For the
establishment of the office of county judge, see the Code of Iowa, 1851,
p. 21 et seq.
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«52 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
70 Records of the County Judge, Book III, p. 44.
71 Records of the County Judge, Book IV, p. 165. The act creating
the board of supervisors waa approved March 22, 1860, and became
-effective July 4, 1860. See Revised Code, 1860, p. 48. Names of
supervisors are written here as found upon the records.
72 Topical History of Cedar County, Iowa, 1910, p. 311.
73 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 27 ; Topical His-
tory of Cedar County, Iowa, 1910, p. 309, seq.
74 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 206.
75 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 23.
76 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 359.
77 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 46; III, p. 19;
Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 196, 354.
78 Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin, 1837, p. 135. Chapter VI
was first published in the Iowa Journal of History and Politics, by the
State Historical Society of Iowa.
79 Laws of the Terrtory of Wisconsin, 1837, p. 136.
80 Laws of the Territory of Wisconsin, 1838, p. 543.
The town Napoleon has long been extinct.
81 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1838, p. 100.
OT Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1845, p. 66.
88 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 15.
84 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 24, 25.
85 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 77.
86 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 153.
87 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 24, 25, 85, 111.
"In August, 1844, the voting precinct of 'Old Man's Creek ' included
the present townships of Liberty, Union, Sharon, Washington, and
Hardin.' ' — D. K. Shaver, Columbus Junction, Iowa,
88 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 70. "On the
1st and 2nd days of this session three Petitions were presented to this
Board for the Organization of Townships of a portion of this County
urest of the Iowa River, and the Board having duly considered sd Pe-
titions, find that the bounds as proposed, interfere with each other, and
therefore — It is considered that no action shall be had on either of said
petitions at this Term."
89 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 81.
On the petition of sundry citizens of Clear Creek precinct for the
organization of a township with the following bounds : "Commencing
at the South-East Corner of Township 80. "
00 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 159 ; Laws of
the Territory of Iowa, 1845, p. 27.
91 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 207.
92 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 207, 217. The
-court house in which this election was held stood on the southeast cor-
ner at the intersection of Clinton and Harrison streets.
98 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 217. The name
of Teneyck appears upon the records in many different spellings.
94 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 218.
95 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 218.
96 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 219.
97 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 219.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES 653
88 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 220.
99 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 280.
100 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 297.
101 Records of the County Judge, Book III, p. 163.
102 Records of the County Judge, Book III, p. 349.
108 Records of the County Judge, Book III, p. 350.
104 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 589, 590.
108 Records of the County Judge, Book IV, p. 71.
108 Records of the County Judge, Book IV, p. 117.
107 Records of the County Judge, Book IV, p. 147.
108 Records of the County Judge, Book IV, p. 244.
109 Records of the County Judge, Book IV, p. 256.
110 Records of the County Judge, Book IV, pp. 403, 420. See Plat
Book and Tax List of Union township for 1910, tax list, pp. 16, 3,
12, 22.
111 Records of the County Judge, Book IV, p. 419.
112 Johnson County History, 1883, p. 732.
118 Minutes of the County Supervisors, Book II, pp. 485, 501, 523,
524.
114 Minutes of the County Supervisors, Book III, p. 35.
118 Minutes of the County Supervisors, Book III, pp. 158, 159 ; also
Section three, Chapter Fifty-two, Acts of the Fourteenth General As-
sembly, 1872, p. 60. Returns of the assessor for the year 1872 showed
that there were 472 legal voters outside the city corporation. Of these,
284 signed the petition, that is, a majority, as required by law. Samuel
Spurrier was the special committee appointed by the board of super-
visors to investigate and make the report.
118 Minutes of the County Supervisors, Book IV, p. 31. See also
Lucas Township School Board minutes, August 26, 1876; April 13,
1878. See also township plats as compared with original surveys, by
P. H. Lee, auditor's office.
117 Minutes of the County Supervisors, Book IV, p. 323.
118 Minutes of the County Supervisors, Book V, pp. 476.
118 Minutes of the County Supervisors, Book VIII, p. 38.
120 See township plats as compared with the original United States
surveys, by F. H. Lee, auditor's office.
121 Newhall's Sketches of Iowa, quoted by Iowa City Standard, June
10, 1841.
122 Data from the diaries of T. S. Parvin, now in the Masonic Li-
brary, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, examined by permission of N. R. Parvin.
128 Shambaugh's Iowa City, a Contribution to Early Iowa History,
pp. 11, 13. Also, Shambaugh's Constitution and Records of the John-
son County Claim Association, pp. 1, 6, 11, 14, 31, 40, 41, and 49.
124 See plat of Iowa City, as surveyed by Thos. Cox and John Frier-
son, and platted by Leander Judson, in the rooms of The State His-
torical Society.
125 Shambaugh's Iowa City, a Contribution to Early Iowa History,
pp. 27, 28.
126 Record of Deeds, Books I, II, single volume, p. 21. By an act of
congress, approved March 3, 1837, provision was made for laying off of
town lots in Fort Madison, Burlington, Dubuque, and other towns ; di-
mension of lots, conditions of sale, and manner of survey were included
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654 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
in the act. Lots and outlote are specified, and no lot was to be sold for
less than five dollars. The lots in Iowa City unsold in July, 1840, were
not to be disposed of for a less average value than $300 per lot, and
values should be fixed to maintain this average, on the authority of the
governor, secretary of the territory, and acting commissioner of public
buildings. — Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1840, p. 5.
The plat of the lumber yard and " promenade/ ' reservations in the
first survey of Iowa City, was made by Cyrus Sanders, the county
surveyor, in 1843. It bears the date of May 2. The land thus sur-
veyed lies between Davenport and Court streets on the river front. On
the same date he also platted the subdivisions of the stone quarry now
included in outlots thirty- two, thirty-three, and thirty-four. — Record
of Deeds, Books I, II, pp. 479, 480.
127 Iowa City Standard, December 8, 1841.
128 Iowa City Standard, December 18, 1840.
129 Iowa City Standard, December 25, 1840 ; January 15, 1841.
180 Iowa City Capital Reporter, December 11, 1841. At the public
sale of town lots held on the first Monday in May, 1842, and continuing
for three days, the sales amounted to about $12,000, and the terms of
sale were complied with without delay. It had been provided in an
act of congress, approved March 3, 1839, that "after the land for pub-
lic buildings had been selected nothing should be considered as pre-
venting the sale of the remaining part of the section in lots or other-
wise, for the use of the territory in the erection and completion of the
public buildings." — Iowa Capital Reporter, May 7, 1842.
181 Iowa City Standard, September 10, 1842.
182 May 31, 1842, T. S. Parvin says in his diary: "Stopped at
Swan's, the only good tavern ever established in Iowa."
188 Iowa City Standard, October 19, 1842.
184 Iowa City Capital Reporter, October 19, 1844. Debate on the
boundaries as provided in the new constitution.
185 Iowa City Standard, February 10, 1847 ; also February 17, 1847.
186 Iowa City Daily Republican, June 6, 1856.
187 Journal of the City Council, Book I, p. 71.
188 Journal of the City Council, Book II, pp. 46, 47, 49.
189 Journal of the City Council, Book II, p. 200.
140 Journal of the City Council, Book II, p. 393. Also a personal ac-
count from Mr. M. W. Davis, a member of the council at the time.
141 From affidavit in the possession of Mr. G. R. Irish. The record of
the survey of Iowa City so far as the capital section is described may
be found in Books I, II, Record of Deeds, p. 20, et seq., as transcribed
from the original record by the recorder in 1841. It was filed originally
on July 13, 1839. Here may be found the dimensions of streets and
alleys as well as lots. The county seat in section fifteen, as surveyed
by William McCormick, under the direction of Philip Clark as acting
commissioner, was filed for record May 16, 1842, although the survey
was completed on May 9, 1840.
142 Iowa City Daily Press, March 27, 1872 ; also October 9, 1872.
George Andrews, who built the Clinton House in 1853, was a Scotch-
man, coming to the county in 1842. He also built the stone and brick
house on the bank of Ralston creek which became known as the Scotch
Castle.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES 655
143 Iowa City Daily Press, April 10, 1872.
144 Iowa City Daily Republican, June 23, 1897; also July 28, 1897.
145 Record of Deeds, Books I, II, pp. 5, 6, 7, 8.
146 Record of Deeds, Books I, II, p. 30. Another town on parts of
sections two, three, and ten in township eighty-one north, range eight
west, was called Monroe. The plat of this town was recorded October
14, 1854, by Joseph Farlow, Martin Bowman, and Zurial Fowler. —
Record of Deeds, Book II, p. 412.
147 R. D. P. in the Iowa City Weekly Press, August 1, 1885. The
"R. D. P." probably refers to Rev. Rufus D. Parsons, who was pastor
of the Methodist Episcopal church in Iowa City.
148 Record of Deeds, Book XIII, p. 483.
149 Record of Deeds, Book XIX, p. 200.
150 Plat Book I.
161 Record of Deeds, Book XXVII, p. 620.
152 Record of Deeds, Book XXVII, p. 462.
153 Data from G. R. Irish and Record of Deeds, Books I, II, p. 25.
154 Annals of Iowa, Vol. IX, p. 424 ; North Bend, by N. Zeller.
155 Record of Deeds, Book XVI, p. 193.
156 Record of Deeds, Book XXXI, p. 639, and Plat Book I, p. 9.
John W. Jayne, one of the founders of the town of Lone Tree, at the
time of his death was the oldest man in Fremont township. At almost
ninety years of age he was an active business man.
167 Record of Deeds, Book XII, p. 150; Book XI, p. 314; Book XIII,
p. 22; Book XVI, p. 123, and p. 193; Book XXXI, p. 422; also Plat
Book I, p. 94.
168 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 15, 18, 19,
24, 57.
159 Record of Roads, Book I, p. 1.
160 Certified to as " correct' ' when transferred to Road Book, May 8,
1846. S. B. Gardner, clerk.
161 Record of Roads, Book I, p. 3.
162 Record of Roads, Book I, p. 8.
168 Record of Roads, Book I, pp. 21, 31, 39, 67, 71.
Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 60, 67, 69.
164 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 78, 79, 91, 92.
165 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 95 ; Record of
Roads, Book I, p. 23. Alt's Road takes its name from Henry, William,
and Joseph Alt, who came from Virginia to Johnson county in 1840,
purchasing their land from the government. For sixty-four years
Joseph Alt remained a citizen of the county on the same farm.
166 Record of Roads, Book I, p. 25; also Laws of the Territory of
Iowa, 1841, p. 31.
167 Record of Roads, Book I, p. 61 ; Records of the County Commis-
sioners, Book I, p. 200.
169 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 30 ; Record of
Roads, Book I, p. 12.
168 Record of Roads, Book I, p. 49 ; Records of the County Commis-
sioners, Book I, p. 168.
170 Records of the County Commissioners, Book'II, p. 34.
171 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 39 ; Laws of
the Territory of Iowa, 1843, p. 29; and 1844, p. 112.
42
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656 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
172 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 42; also Rec-
ord of Roads, Book I, p. 72.
173 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 43.
174 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 67 ; Record of
Roads, Book I, p. 84.
175 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 80, 105 ; Rec-
ord of Roads, Book I, p. 64.
176 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 68, 85.
177 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 102 ; Record of
Roads, Book I, p. 76.
178 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 121 ; Record of
Roads, Book I, p. 66 ; Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1844, p. 112.
179 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 125.
180 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 139 ; Record of
Roads, Book I, p. 104.
181 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 159, 174, 178.
182 Record of Roads, Book I, p. 110 ; Laws of the Territory of Iowa,
1845, p. 45.
183 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 181.
184 Record of Roads, Book I, p. 115.
185 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 232.
186 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 344 ; Record of
Roads, Book I, p. 139.
187 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 440. For some
reason an impression has at times prevailed that Jefferson Davis, while
in command of troops at Galena, Illinois, constructed a military road
through this county, and built a temporary bridge across Old Man's
creek. A letter of inquiry to the War Department brings the follow-
ing reply :
" Washington, D. C, Dec. 6, 1910.
"As extended a search of the official records on file in this Depart-
ment as it is practicable to make from the data furnished has resulted
in failure to discover any information showing that Jefferson Davis con-
structed any such military road as the one referred to herein. ' '
188 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 279, 291.
189 Data from G. R. Irish.
190 Records of the County Judge, Book III, p. 372 ; Record of Roads,
Book I, pp. 12, 13.
By act of the Assembly of Iowa, approved February 4, 1851, a plank
road was authorized from Muscatine to Iowa City. See Laws of Iowa,
1851, p. 97.
191 Data from Mr. T. O. Thomas, Iowa City.
102 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 16, 38, 39.
198 Data from G. E. Irish.
194 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 33, 73, 110,
176. It was at the ferry of A. C. Sutliff across the Cedar river that the
ox teams crossed when they hauled the stone for the water tables in the
construction of the Old Capitol. The Arthur and Folsom ferries would
now be within the corporate limits of Iowa City.
195 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 178. The gen-
eral law governing the establishment of ferries was approved Decem-
ber 20, 1838. See Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1838, p. 221.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES 657
199 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 17, 81, 126,
and 176.
197 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 202, 263, 311,
390, 391, 395, 410, 476.
198 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 99, 252, 253.
199 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 368, 467.
200 George Albin and his son Joseph, the latter residing now at West
Branch, ran the stage line from Davenport to Iowa City from 1849
until the Western Stage Company covered the route.
201 Iowa City Standard, June 24, 1841.
202 Iowa City Capital Reporter, April 23, 1842 ; May 7, 1842.
208 Iowa City Capital Reporter, March 9, 1844; June 8, 1844; June
29, 1844; and September 14, 1844. The steamer "Iowa City" made
several trips on the Mississippi as far north as Dubuque. It was
finally destroyed by fire.
204 Records of the County Comimssioners, Book I, pp. 25, 50. The
base line mentioned refers, probably, to the correction line. See any
map of the county.
205 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 225 ; Book II,
pp. 240, 278. By an act of congress in 1844, $10,000 were appropriated
for bridges on the military road from Dubuque that crossed the Iowa
river here. This suggested to the citizens of Johnson county the pos-
sibility of securing a bridge across the river at the county seat. It was
also suggested that while the government would probably not be in-
clined to do the entire work, it might be better to encourage the matter
by private subscription, and then ask for government aid. — Iowa City
Capital Reporter, July 20, 1844.
206 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 281, 331.
207 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 397, 401, 417,
409, 435, 436, 461.
208 Records of the County Commissioners, Book III, pp. 23, 26 ; Rec-
ords of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 76, 130.
209 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 225, seq.
210 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 493, 540. On Janu-
ary 22, 1848, a call was issued for all interested in the construction of a
bridge over the Iowa river to meet at the Capitol.
211 Data from G. R. Irish.
212 Iowa City Republican, August 4, 1858.
218 Iowa City Daily Press, June 3, 1898.
214 Data G. R. Irish.
216 Alonzo Shaw, Hollywood, California. A stage route from Daven-
port by Blue Grass, thence to Moscow in Muscatine county, Rock Creek
(Rochester) in Cedar county, and thence to West Liberty, probably in-
cluded Iowa City, although it is not mentioned in this connection.
Edward and Charles Foster had a store in Napoleon, so it is said,
in 1838, and they moved to Iowa City on North Capitol street in Aug-
ust, 1839. It was in this store that S. H. McCrory kept the postoffice.
Postmasters of Iowa City, from records at Washington, D. C. : Na-
poleon, Johnson county, Iowa: John Gilbert, March 2, 1839; S. H.
McCrory, April 18, 1839. Name changed to Iowa City, Chauncey
Swan, November 14, 1839 ; J. M. Hawkins, September 2, 1841 ; S. C.
Trowbridge, August 30, 1842 ; J. P. Bradshaw, April 27, 1847 ; Anson
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658 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Hart, August 13, 1851 ; George Paul, April 6, 1853 ; William Vogt,
May 10, 1854 ; A. B. Stillwell, June 4, 1858 ; Samuel Workman, April 6,
1859; J. E. Pales, August 31, 1860; J. R. Harfsock, April 30, 1861;
George W. Clark, August 22, 1866; E. W. Lucas, May 1, 1867; James
R. Hartsock, April 21, 1869 ; N. H. Brainerd, May 17, 1871 ; Benjamin
Owen, July 24, 1876 ; Jacob Ricord, June 14, 1880 ; George Paul, No-
vember 27, 1886; J. H. Whetstone, January 27, 1891; Prank Tanner,
August 16, 1894; Henry D. Overholt, July 19, 1898; Emory Westcott,
January 31, 1907 ; H. G. Walker, 1911.
For forty-two years the postoffice in Iowa City was maintained in
the same building, on the corner of Iowa avenue and Clinton street,
and forty of these years were consecutive. The present office was
opened January 1, 1905.
Other postoffices in the county that have for the most part been
abandoned, are : Amish, Belle Air, Bon Accord, Cosgrove, Coralville,
Chase, Curtis, Danforth, Prank Pierce, Perndale, Greencastle, Gregg,
Hills, Ives, Lone Tree, Morse, Morfordsville, Newport, North Liberty,
Oasis, Oak Grove, Oxford, Poplar, Palestine, River Junction, Shoo Fly,
Shueyville, Solon, Swisher, Sharon Center, South Liberty, Tiffin, Unity,
Windham, Williamstown.
216 Laws of Iowa, 1850, p. 95.
217 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 258, 266.
218 Minutes of the Board of Supervisors, Book III, pp. 232, 233. The
city council was ordered to appear before the federal court at Des
Moines, and for the expenses of the trip in 1869 they appropriated
$600 from the city treasury. — Journal of the City Council, Book II,
p. 490.
A report was made to the Board of Supervisors in 1874, which stated
that the amount paid on bonds since January 1, 1873, amounted to
$33,514, leaving still unpaid twelve Lyons bonds of $1,000 each in the
hands of C. Whi taker, and one in the hands of Allen Ring, of Buffalo,
New York, on which the interest had not been paid for five years, and
two others supposed to be lost. One M. & M. bond was outlawed in
1873. By an act of the assembly of the state in 1872 incorporated cities
might issue new bonds, and make any arrangement to their advantage
to reduce the interest. Iowa City took advantage of this act and in
1872 the indebtedness as to the railroad bonds was estimated at $102,-
000, $36,000 of which became due in 1876.
219 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 270, 286. The right
of way of the Lyons Iowa Central railroad was granted through the
public lands by an act of the assembly, approved February 4, 1851.
See Laws of Iowa, 1851, p. 95.
220 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 290, 298, 312.
221 Center Market was granted to the Davenport and Iowa City rail-
road for depot use by an act of the assembly, approved January 4, 1851.
See Laws of Iowa, 1851, p. 19. The first suggestion of a railroad meet-
ing in, the vicinity of Johnson county was reported from Marion in
1847, in considering the Dubuque and Keokuk line.
222 A cartoon of the time by George Yewell setting forth the rivalry
of Muscatine and Iowa City is preserved in the rooms of The State
Historical Society.
228 H. W. Lathrop, in Iowa City Daily Press, March 13, 1901.
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EEFERENCES AND NOTES 659
224 Journal of the City Council, Book 1, pp. 15, 22.
225 Journal of the City Council, proceedings for January 14, 1856.
The first volume of the Records of the City Council is not paged to the
end of the book.
229 Journal of the City Council, proceedings for March 23, 1856;
also for April 12, 1858.
227 P. M. Irish, in Annals of Iowa, Vol. VI, p. 314.
228 Iowa City Republican, September 5, 1860. It was not until the
fall of 1859 that the extension of the Rock Island was begun when car-
penters were put to work on the bridge across Ralston creek.
229 Iowa City Republican, May 23, 1860.
2so rphg stockholders in the M. & M. railroad were notified through
the local press in 1856 that all stock on which twenty-five per cent had
been paid would be forfeited unless paid in full within sixty days, and
legal proceedings would be instituted against those who had not paid
the firet installments. Cook, Sargent and Downey were the city bank-
ers who acted as the official collectors for the M. & M. In the case of
Hamilton P. Dox vs. Johnson County, a writ of mandamus was issued
by the district court whereby a "two mill" levy was made to apply on
the bonds of the Lyons Iowa Central.
281 Iowa City Republican, February 14 and 21, 1866. In January,
1866, the board of supervisors appropriated $1,200 to assist in survey-
ing the Cedar Rapids and Saint Louis Railroad. At the June session
following the amount was transferred to the I. N. C. Railroad, on pe-
tition of H. D. Downey, the president of the company, and the sum
was increased to $2,500. The vote on the latter resolution was ten for
to nine against. — Minutes of the Supervisors, Book I, p. 46.
The I. N. C. railroad as surveyed entered the corporate limits of
Iowa City at outlot nineteen, crossed Dubuque street at Brown, and
then followed the river until opposite Dillon's Island, where it turned
down Madison street to Harrison, crossing the Rock Island probably at
South Capitol street. See, also, Journal of the City Council, Book II,
pp. 437, 449.
282 Iowa City Republican, February 14, 1869.
288 Washington County Press, April, 1869.
284 Iowa City Press, May 11, 1870.
286 Iowa City Press, September 14, 1870.
286 Iowa City Press, February 7, 1872 ; also Clinton Age, March,
1872.
The Iowa City directors of the Western Union railroad were, in
1856, James H. Gower, J. Clark, L. Byington, 6. W. McCleary, J. Bor-
land, and S. J. Kirkwood. This line crossed the Mississippi at Le
Claire. — Iowa City Republican, October 11, 1856.
287 Iowa City Press, May 29, 1891.
288 Iowa City Daily Republican, March 15, 1893 ; June 17, 1893.
289 Iowa City Citizen, August 10, 1904 ; November 17, 1910.
240 By the "Ordinance of 1785," it was provided that "lot No. 16 in
every township" should be reserved for the maintenance of the public
schools within the said township. This land was held in reserve until
after the admission of Ohio in 1802. It was in 1848, in the act for the
organization of Oregon territory, that the thirty-sixth section was also
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660 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
reserved for school purposes. See Donaldson, The Public Domain,
Ch. 13.
241 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 28.
242 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 47.
248 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 242.
244 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1846, p. 9.
245 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 264.
246 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 272.
247 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 279, 330,
473, 476.
248 See editorials in The Iowa City Standard during the session of the
territorial legislature, 1843.
249 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1840, p. 101 ; Laws of the Terri-
tory of Iowa, 1841, p. 37.
250 Data from G. R. Irish.
261 Laws of Iowa, 1847, p. 128 ; Iowa City Standard, May 26, 1847.
252 Iowa City Standard, June 30, 1847.
268 The first public appearance of the Mechanics Mutual Aid Asso-
ciation, which was organized six months previously, was on July 3,
1841. They paraded the streets and were assembled at the New State
House, where they were addressed by Horace Smjfh, a local attorney.
On this occasion it is stated that "two hundred ladies and gentlemen
sat down to a sumptuous dinner on the public square, beneath the shade
of the surrounding trees, and after the cloth was removed numerous
spirit toasts were drunk appropriate to the event." — Iowa City Stan-
dard, July 9, 1841.
254 Located on Washington street, just east of the Whetstone corner.
Built by Walter Butler.
255 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1842, p. 4; 1844 p. 79 ; Iowa City
Capital Reporter, June 18, 1842.
256 It is said that many walking sticks were made on the same lathe,
from the "bird's eye marble' ' found in the quarries at the north end
of Dubuque street.
257 H. W. Lathrop, Iowa City Daily Republican, March 31, 1897.
268 Journal of the City Council, Book I, pp. 65, 76.
259 Journal of the City Council, Book I, proceedings, April 6, 1857.
260 Journal of the City Council, Book I, proceedings, May 22, 1858.
281 Data from Minutes of the Board of Education, Iowa City, Inde-
pendent District, commencing May 6, 1858, unpaged ; no record from
1862 to 1867. Also from Prof. W. A. Willis, and Supt H. E. Black-
mar.
282 Record of the Board of Education, Iowa City township, Book I.
Commencing 1858.
288 Data from Marie Beuter, Celia Brickner, and Mary Kessler.
284 Data from Elizabeth Worrell.
288 N. Zeller, Annals of Iowa, 1871, p. 424.
288 Data from Mildred Hemphill and Myrtle Conklin.
287 Data from Mary Fuhrmaster.
288 Data from History of Oxford Township, by M. W. Cook. The
original manuscript is in possession of his daughter, Mrs. Sampson, in
Fairbury, Nebraska.
289 Data from T. O. Thomas.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES 661
270 Data from Erma Beeney and Naomi Bender. Liberty township
is said to have had its first school building on "Hog Back" ridge, on
the land belonging to Jacob Oberholzer.
271 Data from a sketch in the announcements of the High School.
272 John P. Irish in Iowa City Daily Press, May 18, 1892.
278 Jesse Berry's note book contains a record of his accounts with
various pupils.
274 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1842, pp. 75, 76.
275 Iowa City Capital Reporter, November 11, 1843.
27fl Iowa City Capital Reporter, July 8, 1843.
277 Iowa City Capital Reporter, March 22, 1845.
278 The Colporteur, Vol. I, No. 1, November, 1844, in the possession
of Mr. Milton Remley.
279 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1845, p. 61.
280 The Iowa Medley, Vol. I, No. 1, June, 1846, in the possession of
Mr. Milton Remley; Shambaugh's Iowa City, a Contribution to Early
Iowa History, p. 82.
281 Laws of Iowa, 1847, p. 188.
282 Iowa City Republican, May 19, 1858. The Iowa City Institute
and Johnson County Seminary was established by B. M. Guffin in the
fall of 1860, in the "Athanaeum" building.
288 Iowa City Republican, July 4, and 11, 1860. Old South Hall of
the University was built in 1861 for dormitory purposes, and was used
as such for five years. The plan was abandoned in 1866.
284 Data from G. R. Irish.
286 Annals of Iowa, October, 1867, p. 955.
288 Data from G. R. Irish ; also Journal of the City Council, Book I,
p. 31 ; and Historical Sketch of Kosciusko Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., H. W.
Lathrop, p. 11 seq.
287 Journal of the City Council, September 27, 1858 ; also Book II,
p. 311.
College Green was placed in charge of the park commissioners, M.
T. Close and A. B. Cree, in 1870. It was once donated in 1848, to the
University of Iowa on condition that a building for medical purposes
costing one thousand dollars should be erected within two years from
January 15, 1848.
288 Data from Miss Louise Mordoff , Professor W. A. Willis, and Pro-
fessor Albert Loughridge.
289 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1840, p. 47. " There was no
preaching of any kind during the first two years of the settlement. ' ' —
Henry Pelkner.
290 Abstract of Deeds from the Territory of Iowa, p. 19, in office of
the county recorder.
291 Iowa City Press, September 1, 1888 ; also data from M. W. Davis.
292 Compiled by Rev. G. W. Brindell, Dr. S. N. Fellows, and many
others.
The grant of the lot to the Methodist church reads: "West one
half of church reservation, block sixty seven," to the trustees, Jesse
Bowen, Geo. B. Bowman, Anson Hart, Andrew Meacham, Charles
Cartright, John A. Miller, and John Horner, Jan. 21, 1843.
August 14, 1844, the Iowa Conference met in Iowa City with Bishop
Morris in charge.
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662 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
298 Compiled by Rev. Rollo F. Fisher, Tiffin, Iowa.
294 Data from M. Smith.
298 Data from Mr. Lewis Doty and Rev. F. A. Smith.
296 Data from Esther E. Herring and John Justice.
297 Records of the Church Session, June, 1849.
Lot eight in block eighty-six was deeded to the trustees of the First
Presbyterian church, Chauncey Swan, M. Hummer, Theodore Sanxay,
Diodate Holt, and Robert Hutchinson, February 19, 1844. See Ab-
stract of Original Deeds from the Territory of Iowa, p. 25, in the
office of the county recorder.
298 Records of the Church Session, Book III, p. 35.
299 Iowa City Daily Press, June 21, 1877.
800 Nalmm, Chapter I, 3.
801 This mortgage is satisfied on the margin of page 304, by the signa-
ture of M. Hummer, Record of Deeds, Book VI. R. P. Lowe acted as
agent for M. Hummer, in the year 1848.
802 Data from G. R. Irish.
808 J. P. Schell, Erie, N. D. The artist here referred to is George
Yewell, who has a number of portraits in The State Historical Depart-
ment at Des Moines, among them those of John Chambers, Samuel J.
Kirkwood, Horace Boies, John F. Dillon, T. S. Parvin, and Hiram Price.
304 prom letter among the church records.
806 Note book among the records of the church.
806 Data, Ida Grillet Slemmons, in Iowa City Republican, August
28, 1908.
807 Rev. Harrison Scott Condit.
808 Mr. Louis Mueller and Daily Republican, June 13, 1878 ; August
28, 1908. It was on January 21, 1843, that the east one-half of the
church reservation in block sixty-seven was granted to the Catholic
church through its Bishop Matthias Louis.
809 Rev. A. B. Learner.
810 Portions of an article by Mrs. Ruth Irish Preston, in Old and New.
The Universalist church was granted the west half of the church reser-
vation in block sixty-six through its trustees, Manning Hall, Joseph
H. Fisher, Franklin Kimball, H. H. Winchester, and C. C. Sangster,
January 8, 1844.
811 Diary in the possession of Mrs. Conrad Kuhl, Tipton, Iowa.
312 Iowa City Daily Press, January 8, 1877, and Professor A. N.
Currier, 1908. The Articles of Association of the Baptist church of
Iowa were adopted and ordered signed at a church meeting held on
July 6, 1847. Those whose names appear on the original article are
as follows: Dexter P. Smith, Hiram Brown, G. Hartsock, James D.
W. Marsh, Joseph T. Fales, G. S. Hampton, W. B. Morey, Hannah B.
Smith, Ann F. Hampton, Sarah C. Morey, William Cook, Sarah Ann
Cook, Hannah Brown, I. N. Sanders, and Lucinda Sanders.
313 Rev. C. P. Leach, and Professor H. G. Plum.
814 Rev. S. N. Watson, rector Trinity church, 1893.
315 Records of the Congregational Church, Book I, pp. 1, 8, 12, 13, 17,
and 25.
316 Records of the Congregatonal Church, Book II, p. 9 seq.
317 Data from O. R. Williams and T. O. Thomas.
M John L. Rendall in Iowa City Daily Republican, August 28, 1908.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES
663
819 Data from Rev. J. P. Hawk, Lone Tree, Iowa.
820 Data from Mrs. Cora Michel.
821 Mrs. S. A. Swisher has furnished the notes.
822 Data from the manuscript of Mr. S. D. Guengerich, Wellman,
Iowa, 1894.
828 Records of the County Commissioners of Cedar County, Book I.
See Topical History of Cedar County, 1910, pp. 59, 60.
" July 13, 1839. Resolved [by the commissioners of Cedar county]
that the clerk be directed to write the commissioners of Johnson county,
requesting them to make some arrangements in regard to tax that was
laid by the Board upon their county in 1838, and make their communi-
cation to the clerk of this board immediately."
324 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, first pages attached.
825 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 16, 20, 22, 23,
53, 54, 64, 73, 75, 100, 206, 210.
828 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 50, 114, 179,
242, 292, 351, 413, 477.
327 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 36.
828 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1840, p. 65.
829 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 183 seq., 304,
314, 349, 351, 381, 452.
Financial report for 1849: Expenditures
For scalps
Criminal expenses .
Elections . .
Sheriff's fees .
School fund Commissioner
Wood for county
Repairs to stoves, court house and jail
Stationery for officers
Fees, Clerk of Commissioners and Court
Paupers
Pay of Commissioners
Prosecuting Attorney
Mormon War .
Treasurer's per cent
Jurors
Assessors
Tax wrong paid
Roads, July .
Printing
Bridges
Bailiffs
Abstract of lands
fc 2.25
146.90
172.65
245.11
47.94
28.00
52.74
23.38
211.84
185.98
176.16
260.00
419.
123.
455.
125.
1.
6.25
107.20
329.10
29.97
3.50
.00
.35
.08
.00
.70
830 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 419, 433, 445,
448, 468.
831 Records of the County Judge, Book III, pp. 155, 282 ; also Laws
of Iowa, 1853, p. 122.
382 Records of the County Judge, Book III, p. 381.
888 Sketches of Johnson County History, Cyrus Sanders and Henry
Felkner.
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664 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
' 'To the Editor of The Capital Reporter:
"Dubuque, Iowa, Oct 23, 1842.
"On the 20th of February and the 6th of March next, a public sale
will take place at this office for the whole of Johnson and Linn counties,
even to the reserved sections around Iowa City."
Comment: "This news will have an important bearing upon the
future of our young and flourishing city."
In July, 1842, the Johnson County Claim Association declared that
"they would not associate with, nor countenance those who would not
respect the claims of others;" and further, they would "neither neigh-
bor, grind, saw, trade, barter, or deal with them in any way whatever,
in short we hold them as enemies of justice and good order, and no
better than highway robbers."
Similar action was taken by citizens of North Bend, March 11, 1843.
884 Shambaugh's Documentary History of Iowa, from United States
Statutes at Large, V, p. 330. See also Shambaugh's Constitution and
Records of the Johnson County Claim Association.
By the Laws of the United States sections of land contiguous to
lands set apart for the capital of the territory were reserved unless they
had been previously made subject to sale, or being subject had not
been sold, until further orders from Congress. — From Act approved
March 3, 1839.
885 Data from O. R. Irish and Joseph Albin.
August 14, 1846, the president issued a proclamation locating a land
office at Iowa City, and Enos Lowe of Des Moines county was appointed
receiver and Charles Neally of Muscatine the register. This district
included the counties of Benton, Poweshiek, Tama, Mahaska, Marion,
and Jasper, as well as Johnson.
886 The lot referred to in this business deal lies on Madison street,
between Court and Burlington, and it was assessed in 1910, at $2500.
887 Oeological Survey of Wisconsin^ Iowa, and Minnesota, by D. D.
Owen, 1852, pp. 85, 89.
888 Iowa Oeological Survey, James Hall, 1855 ; also Vol. I, p. 188,
C. A. White, 1870.
889 Iowa Geological Survey, Vol. VII, p. 37 et seq., Professor Samuel
Calvin.
340 Data from G. R. Irish.
841 Iowa City Capital Reporter, April 22, 1843 ; August 12, 1843 ;
Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1844, p. 124.
842 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1840, p. 7 ; also data from G. R.
Irish.
348 Iowa City Republican, November 2, 1859.
844 Iowa City Press, July 25, 1883.
845 Iowa City Press, August 1, 1883.
346 Iowa City Press, June 25, 1884. The population of the county in
1838 was 327. — Newhall's Sketches, 1841.
347 Iowa City Press, September 1, 1886.
848 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 75, 76, 77,
100.
849 Newhall's Sketches, 1841.
850 Laws of Iowa, 1855, p. 53.
851 Data from G. R. Irish. The Penn Township Farmers' Club was
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EEFERENCES AND NOTES 665
an active organization in 1859. A township fair was proposed for the
fall of that year.
852 Iowa City Press, May 18, 1881.
868 Iowa City Republican, September 19, 1866; January 16, 1867.
The news of the death of Abraham Lincoln was first obtained from
the employes of the railroad, and then a special courier was sent to
learn the later news.
854 Iowa City Daily Press, April 29, 1891.
855 Prom a hand bill of 1866, by "Wilde and Bro., Third Ward
Store.' '
866 Iowa City Republican, February 8, 1860.
857 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, p. 399.
858 Iowa City Republican, July 15, 1863 ; January 27, 1864 ; also data
from G. R. Irish.
The banking house of Cook, Sargent and Downey closed its doors in
December, 1859, and the announcement was made that it had "tempo-
rarily suspended." Culbertson and Reno also suspended payment in
August, 1861.
859 Data from Iowa City Daily Republican, August 28, 1908, and
the statements of banks.
In 1868, "Anna Parker, a widow of Boston, county of Suffolk, and
State of Massachusetts,' ' sold to the Iowa City National Bank all her
interest in the banking property formerly established for this purpose
in 1857, by Cook, Sargent and Downey. This banking house at this
date is being razed for the purpose of erecting a new structure on the
site.
880 Data from L. Karstens.
881 Data from P. R. Ford.
882 Data from H. C. Buell.
888 Minutes of the County Supervisors, Book I, p. 29.
884 Minutes of the County Supervisors ■, Book II, pp. 31, 39, 40.
885 Iowa City Republican, July 11, 1866.
888 Iowa City Republican, April 7, 1869 ; July 14, 1869.
"We, the undersigned attorneys representing all judgment credi-
tors vs. Iowa City, upon judgments recovered in the Federal Courts
upon Railroad Bonds upon which we have peremptory writs of manda-
mus, or are entitled to the same, do hereby agree with said city council
that if they will make a levy and cause to be collected according to
law, of one per cent upon all the assessable property of said city this
year, and the same each year hereafter until their judgments are satis-
fied, to apply pro rata upon said judgments it will be a satisfactory levy.
"Edmonds & Ransom, for their clients,
"Grant & Smith, for their clients,
' ' Fairall & Boal, for their clients.
"Iowa City, August 24, 1869.' '
887 Iowa City Weekly Press, May 25, 1870.
888 Iowa City Daily Republican, October 27, 1878.
889 Iowa City Weekly Press, May 23, 1883.
870 Iowa City Weekly Press, May 8, 1872.
871 Data from G. R. Irish.
872 Data from The Zimmerman Steel Company.
878 From the diary of T. S. Parvin, Masonic Library, Cedar Rapids.
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666 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
874 Sketches of Johnson County History, by Cyrus Sanders and Hen-
ry Pelkner; data also from G. R. Irish.
875 Records of the Clerk of the Courts, Old Book 1, 14 seq.
878 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, loose leaves.
" Johnson County Dr. to James Lee
To one cord of hickory wood for the November term of
the District Court of said county . . . $ 2.00
1 'Nov., 1840/ '
1 ' County Commissioners To Jesse Berry Dr.
To 6 days House Rent at $3 . . . . $18.00
" 8 days Guarding Prisoner (Conlogue) . . 12.00
" 8 days Guarding Prisoner (Conlogue) . . 12.00
$31.71
"Iowa City, July 6,1840/ '
878 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 35.
* ' Territory of Iowa
"Johnson County — Personally appeared before me H. W. Gray of
Linn County and took and subscribed the following oath to-wit : You
do solemnly swear in the presence of all mighty God, the searcher of
all hearts that you will well and truly and faithfully discharge, and
perform all the duties of sheriff of the county of Linn and territory
aforesaid and faithfully demean yourself in office without fear, favor
or affection or oppression according to law and the best of your abil-
ities, so help you God. "H. W. Gray.
' * Subscribed and sworn before me
this twenty-third day of July, A. D. 1839.
"Luke Douglass, C. D. C." — Record of Marriages, Book I, p. 3.
879 Topical History of Cedar County, Iowa, p. 310.
880 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, p. 103.
881 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 53, 129, 143,
144.
882 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 102, 104, 132,
141.
883 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 206, 213;
Book II, pp. 23, 46.
884 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, 184 et seq. ; Book
II, pp. 28, 35, 49, 74, 113, 132.
885 Records of the County Judge, Book III, p. 583.
888 Iowa City Republican, February 9, 1898; Iowa City Daily Press,
June 12, 1901 ; Iowa City. Citizen, June 8, 1901.
387 iowa City Republican, August 18, 1858, et seq. ; also data from
G. B. Irish ; Supreme Court Reports, Vol. VIII, p. 477.
388 jowa cfty Republican, August 18, 25, and September 1, 8, 15,
1858. The verbatim testimony may be found in these papers.
889 Iowa City Press, July 23, 1884.
390 Mr. M. W. Davis and other members of this organization have in
their possession the uniforms used on this occasion.
391 Muscatine Journal, May 27, 1861.
892 Iowa City Press, July 29, 1861.
893 Iowa City Press, August 21, 28, 1861.
894 Iowa City Republican, July 22, 1863.
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EEFERENCES AND NOTES 667
896 Iowa City Press, History of the Regiment, September 22, 1886.
For roster of the 22nd, see Vol. Ill, Roster of Iowa Soldiers.
39e iowa city Republican, August 9, 1865.
897 Topical History of Cedar County, pp. 330, 345, 489, 490.
898 Iowa City Republican, August 16, 1865.
899 Iowa City Republican, February 24, 1864.
400 Iowa City Republican, November 19, 1862.
It is said that the first military camp made in the vicinity was by
Captain Allen in Clark's Grove, now called Woodlawn, at the end of
Iowa avenue. The troops were sent from Fort Armstrong to warn the
whites off the Indian lands.
401 In February, 1911, John M. Anson, living not far from Iowa
City, then in his ninety-third year, was said to be the last surviving
member of the Grey Beard Regiment, the Thirty-seventh Iowa Volun-
teers. He was born in Wasselone, France, in 1817. He came to Iowa
in 1844, and served three years in the Civil War.
402 Iowa City Republican, December 2, 1863 ; December 30, 1863 ;
January 6, 1864.
408 Iowa City Republican, April 8, and May 27, '1863.
404 Iowa City Republican, May 27, 1863.
405 Iowa City Republican, November, 1862, and other files of the
paper during the Civil War. For a complete roster of Johnson county
soldiers in the Civil War, see the recently published Roster of Iowa
Soldiers, by the Adjutant-general, eight volumes, in any public library.
406 Iowa City Republican, December 31, 1862.
407 Iowa City Press, June 27, and November 14, 1883.
408 Iowa City Republican, April 27, 1898.
409 Letter signed "F. S." in Iowa City Republican, May 4, 1898.
410 Iowa City Republican, September 28, 1898.
411 Iowa City Press, October 12, 1898 ; also Iowa City Republican of
the same date.
412 From the Roster of Company I, 54th Regiment, I. N. G., submit-
ted by Captain E. F. T. Cherry. The Women's Relief Corps and
Daughters of the American Revolution are patriotic organizations hav-
ing different purposes, yet have to do with war records, and therefore
should be classified under this topic.
418 Iowa City Republican, April 26, 1899.
414 Iowa City Republican, July 19, 1899 ; August 11, 1899.
415 Iowa City Republican, September 27, 1899.
418 The last issue of the Iowa Standard at Bloomington was of the
date April 29, 1840 ; the first issue in Iowa City, May 10, 1840. The
first issue of the Daily Republican was June 6, 1856.
417 John Teesdale edited the State Register from December 9, 1857,
to May 8, 1861.
418 Captain S. D. Pryce, in Iowa City Republican, December 11, 1901.
419 Iowa City Capital Reporter, April 9, 1841.
420 Data, G. R. Irish and Iowa City Press, December 4, 1910. G. Fol-
som was the editor of the Capital Reporter during part of 1842. The
issue of the Press for January 18, 1871, was for the first time printed
upon paper made by Close Brothers, in Coralville, Johnson county.
421 Iowa City Press, September 20, 1882 ; October 4, 1882.
422 W. H. Younkin.
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668 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
423 Iowa City Press, October 21, 1891.
424 Iowa City Daily Press, November 2, 1877.
426 Iowa City Republican, December 12, 1860.
42fl Iowa City Republican, May 18, 1870.
427 Data from papers of Adelaide C. Lloyd, J. W. Rich, and Reports
of Helen McRaith, the Librarian.
428 From Some Information Concerning the State Historical Society,
published by the Society, 1910.
429 Iowa Journal of History and Politics, Vol. IX, p. 57.
430 j)r p e Horack, in Iowa Journal of History and. Politics, Vol
V, p. 213.
481 Data from a complete file of the programs in the possession of
Mrs. T. C. Carson.
432 Mrs. Homer Johnson.
433 Data from Programs in the possession of Mrs. J. W. Rich.
434 Mrs. Abbie R. Bickett.
485 Records of the Iowa City Lodge, No. 4 ; also History of the Grand
Lodge of Iowa.
486 Data from R. P. Jones and 0. L. Karstens.
437 Data from Frank Mekota.
488 T)q+q from A. A. Hines
489 Iowa City Press, February 20, 1901 ; also May 10, 1871.
440 "The election of 1838 was held in a temporary building between
the two Indian towns, the precise spot I cannot locate." — Henry
Felkner.
441 Iowa City Daily Republican, May 2, and May 4, 1879.
442 Iowa City Press, March 22, 1882.
448 Iowa City Republican, February 12, 1903. The statement that
Wm. Penn Clark was president of the constitutional convention re-
ferred to is evidently an error.
444 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1840, p. 83 ; Records of the County
Commissioners, Book I, p. 80.
448 Records of the County Commissioners, Book I, pp. 137, 138, 174,
192, 227.
446 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 6, 9, 52, 53,
60, 72, 158, 264, 267, 269.
In 1852 — a " bound out" boy, John Rufus Godfrey by name, ran
away from the man McCord, to whom he was bound, and the latter filed
a complaint with the county judge, whereupon the constable went in
search of the lad, but his report stated, "that the boy was not to be
found in the county. ' '
447 Laws of Iowa% 1848, p. 148 ; Records of the County Commission-
ers, Book II, pp. 402, 449.
448 Laws of the Territory of Iowa, 1842, p. 83 ; Records of the County
Judge, Book III, pp. 463, 480, 574, and 580.
449 Topical History of Cedar County, pp. 432, 444.
450 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 168, 174, 177.
451 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 383, 390, 394,
411, 432.
482 Records of the County Commissioners, Book II, pp. 333, 439, at-
tached leaves.
453 Iowa City Capital Reporter, March 25, 1843; and May 27, 1843.
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REFERENCES AND NOTES 669
454 Iowa City Republican, April 18, 1859; and June 1, 1859.
455 Iowa City Republican, June 1, 1859.
July 16, 1881, a great rise in the Iowa river caused an extraordinary
amount of damage, the water reaching a height of twenty-two and one-
half feet. All travel over the two bridges across the river at Iowa City
was cut off, and the mail carrier in undertaking to get his team across
the lower bridge to continue his journey to Montezuma, was unfortu-
nate enough to drive off the grade and was drowned.
It was during this flood that J. P. Dostal "brought his steam yacht
down from the club grounds near Butler's Landing, entered Coralville
under full steam and proceeded right down the main street in front of
the paper mill, across Clear creek bridge, over Dietz and Hemmer's
dam, and landed at Iowa City."
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INDEX
Amy, W. J., justice of peaee, 489
Abel, Alexander, 175; oversees, 633
Abel, John D., 77, 89, 186
Academy, a church, 301
Academy, the Iowa City, 293; alumni
of, 294
Academy, Mechanics7, 150, 244; corner
stone and date tablet, 152; corner
stone laying, 245; account of, 24$;
used by university, 249; dormitory,
250; public school in, 251; normal
department in, 286; church services
in, 362; temperance meetings in, 616
Academy, the "Old Stone," 261
Academy, St. Joseph's, 272
Adams, A. G., 247
Adams, E., 43
Adams, Moses, 164
Adelsheim, Captain, 506
African race, opposition to, 528
Agatha, the steamer, time card of, 193
Agencies, prehistoric, 61
Agent, county, 73, 492
Agassiz, Louis, lecture by, 575
Anders, Paul B., 309
Andrews, Dr. L. W., 581
Albin, Joseph, 189, 404, 627
Aliens, naturalization of, 490
Allen, Asaph, 67; tavern of, 400
Allen, Lyman, 259
Allen, Sarah L., 288
Allen, Mrs. W. W., 525
Allen, Rev. W. W., 572
Allison, Hon. W. B., 577
Alt, Adam, 166
Alt, J. H., 166
Alt, Joseph, 166
Alt, J. W., 166
Alt, Mary, 490
Alt, William, 42
Amish, Adam, 348
Ami8h, families among the, 392; inci-
dent in settlement of, 389; post office
of, 167; second excursion of, 388;
settlement of the, 387; voyage to
America, 391
Ammon, Jacob, 392
Andrews, George, 148
Andrews, Orrin and Sarah, 169
Andrews, Orrin and William, 367
Argus, Iowa City, 73
Arrowsmith, Abner, election at house of,
82; mentioned, 164, 178
Association, the Evangelical, Penn
township, 356
Association, Improved Stock Breeders,
422
Association, Johnson County Soldiers,
539 ; claim, 623 ; Young Men 's Chris-
tian, 1858, 384, 574
Association, Mechanics ' Aid, 246;
names of, 250
Asylum, Blind, Bacon's, 287
Athenaeum, the, 369, 571
Attorney, first county, 486
Austin, William E., 478
Ayers, F. E., 235
Bacon, Samuel, 286
Baker, Mrs. Agnes, 24
Baker, Chas., address by, 497
Baker, Seth, 357
Ball, C. A., 601
Ball, first military, 505
Ball, Daniel S, 91, 383
Ball, James N, affidavit of, 144 ; 246
Ball, G. W., 577
Ball, Geo. W., member assembly, 622
Ballard, F. W., 573
Ballard, Dr. S. M., 556, 633
Banbury, Thomas, plans by, 288, 313
Bank: Citizens Savings and Trust
Company, 454; Commercial Savings,
457; Cook, Sargent & Downey, 447;
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672 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Farmers and Merchants, Lone Tree,
456; Farmers Savings, of Oxford,
455; first, 447; First National, or-
ganization of, 448; mentioned, 447,
449; reorganization of, 449; officers
of, 450; Hills, Savings, 457; Iowa
City National, 447; Iowa City Na-
tional, 450; Iowa City State, 447;
Iowa City State, first organization
of, 450; officers of, 451; reorgan-
ized, 451; Iowa State, branch of,
447; Johnson County Savings, organ-
ization of, 453 ; officers of, 453 ; Lone
Tree Savings, 456; North Liberty
Savings, 457; Oxford State, 455;
Reno and Culbertson 's, 447; Se-
curity, 455; Tiffin Savings, 455;
Ulch Brothers, Solon, 457
Barclay, Rev., W. C, 305
Barnes, Almon, 334-335
Barnes, Edward, 48
Barnes, Frank, 365
Barrett, Dr. E. N., 323; address by,
324; death of, 324
Barrett, Mary, 153
Barrows, O. B., report of, 638
Barter, 3
Baschnagel, Mrs. Catherine, 24
Bates, Curtis, delegate, 619
Beach, Abel, delegate, 460; state of-
ficer, 620
Beals, M. B., 254-256
Beatty, J. T., 512
Beavis, Rev. Arthur, 358
Beck, David and Nancy, 310
Beecher, Henry Ward, 571
Belden, Rev. A. Russell, 287, 363
Bell-Hummer, conflicting accounts of,
327; incident of in cartoon, 329;
seizure of, 326; story of, 325
Bell, Rev. L. G., 312
B. P. O. E., lodge at Iowa City, 612
Bennett, Rev. George, 380
Benton, Thos. H., Jr., petition of, 198
Berry, Jesse, 72, 158; proposition of,
223; school of, 240, 272, 487; alder-
man, 253; marriage of, 490; bill of,
482; overseer, 633; death of, 648
Berry, Rev. Jesse, 365
Berryhill, C. H., 42, 437
Beuter, A. W., 48
Beuter, Joseph, 261
Big Bend, reference to, 409
Biggar, Rev. Thos., 305
Birrer, N., 348
Bivins, Ebenezer, 89
Black, William, constable, 69
Black Hawk Purchase, western line of,
19; mentioned, 55
Black Hawk, the steamer, 195
Blackmar, H. E., superintendent schools,
257
Black well, Jacob Y., member assembly,
621
Blain, Wilson, school at house of, 243
Bliss, Ezra, county treasurer, 76, 632
Bloom, M.f 149, 453, 508; state officer,
621
Boal, George J., 150, 225
Board of Supervisors, arrested, 217
Boarts, David, 52
Boarts, James A., 519
Boarts, Michael, 349
Boat, keel, 12; flat, 194
Boerner, E. L., 581
Bonds: City, 140; first railroad, 209;
counties issuing, 211; amount of,
212; sale of, 218; M. & M., vote on,
218; from city, 222, 223; levy for,
458, 459; decision on, 460; attempts
to pay, 461; amount of, 462; suits
concerning, 462; Johnson county
court house, 496
Bonham, Smiley H., 42, 167, 175; jus-
tice of the peace, 490 ; speaker of the
house, 619
Boomer, S. R., 224
Borland, George, 48
Borland, James, 259
Bowen, Isaac, 36, 50, 167, 308; mar-
riage of, 490
Bowen, Dr., Jesse, 43, 166, 175, 190,
253, 506; adjutant-general, 508; sen-
ator, 621; political leader, 627; over-
seer, 633 ; assists John Brown, 641
Bowersox, Fred, 564
Bowersox, J. E., 160
Bowersox, Rev. James E., 379
Bowersox, Mary M., 160
Bowman, Miss Elizabeth, 262
Bowman, Francis, 166
Bowman, Rev. Geo. B., church built by,
300, 301
Bowman, Rev. Martin, 379
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INDEX
673
Bradley, Tom, 7
Brandon, John, 319
Bradshaw, James P., 29
Bradway, E., 450
Brainerd, N. H., 220, 225, 253, 508,
556
Brainerd, Mrs. N. H., 526
Branch, Daniel, 253
Brant, David, 557
Brant, Peter, 264
Brayton, B. B., 211
Breene, H. D., 232
Brewer, Daniel, 67
Brickyard, first, 39; 468, 469
Bridges, first petition for, 196 ; want of,
196; Dubuque street, 196; Ralston,
Creek, 197; Clear Creek, 198; com-
missioner's action on, 199; vote on,
199-200; meeting to consider, 201;
toll, 200, 201; free, 202; first iron,
202; Folson pontoon and toll, 202;
Iowa River Company, 202; proceeds
for hospital, 526
Brindell, Rev. G. W., 298
Brisbane, Andrew, 177
Brossart, Frances P., 139, 453
Brown, Bronson, 161
Brown, Henry, 161
Brown, H. W. and Philina, 310
Brown, John, 639; names of companies,
641; visit to Iowa City, 641
Brown, Matthew, 174
Brown, William 161
Brownson, O. A., sketch of, 271
Brush, Rev. F. E., 302
Buck, C. H., 42, 139, 427
Buck, William T., 94
Buck, W. F., 338
Buchanan, James, 165, 174
Buildings, new in 1842, 131; public
fund for, 136
Bull, Ole, violinist, 147, 571
Bumgardner, Samuel, claim of, 121
Burchard, A. H., 511
Burkholder, Abraham, 247
Burlington, trip to, 11
Buser, Rev., J. H., 384
Butler, J. W., 31
Butler, Mrs. Walter, sketch of, 30
Butler, Walter, 31; tavern license of,
67; mentioned, 132, 400, 416; trade
license of, 394 ; dam site of, 414
Byington, Le Grand, 183, 219, 220, 224,
437; remarks by, 432
Byington, O. A., judge, 620; member
of assembly, 622
Cabin: Loo, raising of, 8; Myers and
Clark, 19; of old settlers, 47
Call, Rev. David Forrester, memorial to,
364
Calkins, Asa, 486; overseer, 633
Calkins, C. M., 250
Calkins, Miss Charlotte, 489
Calvert, I. D., 511
Calvin, Prof. Samuel, geology of county
by, 408; mentioned, 554, 582; state
officer, 619
Camp Fremont, 433
Camp Pope, 515; mustering in at, 522;
barracks removed from, 523; men-
tioned, 553
Campion, Miss Mae, 261
Canal, proposed, 418; surveyed, 419
Cannon, W. D., 164, 309
Capital "Reporter, 131, 559; wreck of
building, 560
Capitol, Old, lumber for, 24, 120;
bird's-eye view from, 1844, 52; evo-
lution of, 122; slab marking site of,
123-125; stone for, 126; committee
on, 126; re-location of, 137; the tem-
porary used for church, 300
Cardwell, P. P., 89
Carleton, Judge J. P., 52, 219, 243,
627; state officer, 620
Carrell, S. E., 561
Carson, E. R., 167
Carson, Matthew, 182
Carson, T. C, 453
Cartwright, Rev. Barton H., 299
Cartwright, Chas., 298
Cartwright, Charles and Nancy, 310
Cartwright, Daniel G., 298
Carver, Mrs., H. E., meeting at home
of, 525
Cassady, A. J., 508
Cattell, J. W., 508
Cattle, thoroughbred introduced, 422;
breeders of fine, 422 ; Holstein, record
of, 422
Cavalry, the sixth Iowa, 514
Cavanagh, James, 36, 42, 173, 219;
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674 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
state officer, 621; first county audi-
tor, 629
Celebration, appropriation for railroad,
222; July 4th, 278; university, 149
Cemetery, The Swank, 315
Citizen, the Iowa City, 564
Civil War, call to foreign born for, 510 ;
conditions at home, 527; Johnson
county in, 505; first news of, 507;
mass meeting, 508; news of, 511;
meeting in Graham township, 511; in
Scott township, 511; recruiting for,
515
Chaffee, Rev. p. P., 364
Chambers, Governor John, signs deeds,
302
Chapels: Bethlehem, 377; " Cross
Roads/1 306; the Brick, 308; Hum-
mer, 34, 309; Wickham, 364
Chapin, Rev. Augusta, 358
Chapman, W. W., 69
Chase, Dr. C. S., 151
Chase, Wheten, 9; county treasurer,
67
Cherry, E. P. T., 540; telegram by,
546; presents flag, 551
Chicago Democrat, quoted, 211
Chihal, Father A., 346
Choate, I. M., school of, 272; men-
tioned, 360
Christy, Miss M. C, teacher, 251
Church; Amish, 391; fist church in
county, 295 ; lands for, 295 — Bap-
tist: in Iowa City, 360; convention
of, 361; organization of, 361; new
bell of, 362; without house, 362;
missions of, 363; organized at Lone
Tree, 364; Clear Creek, 364 —
Catholic: mentioned, 341; in Cedar
township, 47; original members at
Windham, 348; in Liberty township,
348; original members at Oxford,
347 ; original members at Solon, 347 ;
St. Mary's, Iowa City, 341, 343, 344;
old St. Mary's, 342; improvements
at, 344; St. Patrick's, organization
of, 345; St. Wenceslaus, Iowa City,
346; St. Stanislaus, 348 — Christian:
former site of M. P. church, 298;
Higbee's Grove, 364; charter member
of, 365 ; organized at Iowa City, 365 ;
new house of, 366; at Morse, 367 —
Church of God in Penn township,
383; in Fremont township, 383 —
Congregational: charter members of,
373; first anniversary of, 375; meet-
ings suspended, and reorganized, 376 ;
building of, 377; Welsh Congrega-
tional, charter members of, 378 —
English Lutheran: beginnings of,
354; pasters of, 355; new building
of, 355; in Big Grove and Hardin
townships and at No. Liberty, 355 —
Episcopal: organization of at Iowa
City, 367; rectors of, 368; new build-
ing of, 370; memorials in, 371 —
German Evangelical Lutheran: orig-
inal members of, 349; building be-
gun, 351; mission work of, 351-352;
pastors and schools of, 352 — Metho-
dist Episcopal: beginnings in county,
298 ; building, 301 ; burning of, 302 ;
at Tiffin and No. Liberty, 303; in
Fremont township, 306 — Methodist
Protestant : 295, 368 — Presbyterian :
opens doors to another congregation,
302; plan to organize, 312; building,
314; burning of, 318; destroyed by
storm, 321 ; pastors of, 324 ; at Solon,
332; in Scott township, 333 — Re-
formed: in Fremont township, 384 —
New School Presbyterian, 376 — The
"Old Blue," 296 — The "Old
Stone," 335 — The Friends, 383 —
United Presbyterian: 336, 376;
charter members of, 337; incorpor-
ated, 338 — Unitarian: 356, 358 —
Unity: pastors of, 339 — Universal-
is^ 356 — United Brethren, 378, 379,
381, 382
City Charter, petition to abandon, 141
City Council, riot in, 142
Claims, inter-county in early days, 78,
79, 80
Claim Association, Johnson county, 121,
399, 402, 403
Clapp, D. W. C, 450
Clark, Ezekiel, 150, 198, 254, 414, 436,
450, 451, 453, 465, 506, 571, 621, 623
Clark, George W., 223, 318; mayor,
508; mentioned, 520, 532
Clark, Rev. Israel, 166, 367, 489
Clark, John, state officer, 621
Clark, J. Norwood, 609, 610
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INDEX
675
Clark, J. W., 574
Clark, Rev. L. C., 302
Clark, Philip, 4, 5, 19; farm of at
Napoleon, 20; county commissioner,
21; sketch of, 21; mentioned, 28, 29,
42, 46, 48, 69, 393, 634; marriage of,
489; returns from California, 498;
farm of, 500
Clark, Rush, 217, 230, 254, 506; editor,
556; member of congress, 617; mem-
ber of assembly, 619, 621; death of,
625
Clark, Wm. Penn, 139, 220, 509, 511,
556; delegate, 619; court reporter,
620; member convention, 624; men-
tioned, 641
Clarke, J. H., 551
Clarke, Rodney, death of, 551
Clarksville, former name of Coralville,
414
Clear Creek, settlement on, 163
Clement, Henry, 378
Clerks, Township, present, 630
Close, C. D., 415, 453
Close Hall, corner stone laying, 385
Close, Mrs. Helen, 385
Close, M. T., mentioned, 415, 463; fac-
tory of, 439
Close, S. M., 415
Clubs: the Art Circle, 595; Athens His-
torical, 595 ; Baconian, 581 ; Literary,
583 ; N. N., organzation of, 593, mem-
bers, 594; Nineteenth Century, or-
ganization of, 583, charter members
of, 584; Political Science, 582;
Raphael, 588, 591; Shakespeare, 596
Clute, Rev. O., 46, 356, 358
Coast, W. P., 577
Coast, Mrs. W. P., paper by, 323; ar-
ticle by, 583
Cochran, M. B., 254
Cole, Anthony, 432
Cole, Austin, school of, 242
Cole, C. C, addresses war mutiny, 514
Cole, S. W., trustee, 250
Coldren, J. N., 338, 451, 571
K Coleman, John N, trustee, 279, 416;
state officer, 618
Coleman, Mary K, 490
Colleges : Irish 's University-Business,
founding of, 294; Iowa City, trustees
of, 274; Methodist, 247
" Colonel,' ' the title of, 505
Colporteur, The, quoted, 279, 567
Combe, Thomas, 246
Commissioners: County, first board of,
25; first meeting of, 64; law gov-
erning, 64; letter to, 117
Committee, Congressional, 626
Company: the Boerner-Fry, 468; Hook
& Ladder, 140 ; Economy Advertising,
468; Electric Light, organized, 464;
Farmers' Loan & Trust, organized,
450; Flint Glass, 467; The Hummer
Mercantile, 421; Iowa City Artillery,
505; Iowa City Gas, 462; Iowa City
Manufacturing, 132, 414, 415, 416,
417; Monarch Grubber, 470; National
Horse Importing, 424; Western Stor-
age, 442, 506; Puritan Manufactur-
ing, 468
Company "B," first members sent
home, 513; reception to, 532
Company "I," preparation by, 540;
flag for, 541; departure of, 542;
supplies for, 543; roster of, 545; in
camp, 546; roster at muster out, 548;
record of, 550; re-organized, 550
Company: Independent Military, 215;
Student Military, 523
Conant, W. H., 557, 564
Condit, Rev. H. S., 340
Congregationalists, "Iowa Band" of,
375; the Welsh, 338
Congress, delegation from, 625
Conlogue, indictment of, 481; pro-
nounced guilty, 482
Constitutional Convention of 1844, 134
Contractors: Durant & Holmes, 224;
Finkbine & Lovelace, 205 ; Hinkley &
Smith, 231
Convention : National Republican, visi-
tors from, 225
Cook, Ebenezer, agent, 218
Cook, John P, 134, 501
Cook, M. W., 162
Cook, S. D., superintendent schools, 257
Coralville, church service at, 304; water
power at, 413 ; dam reconstructed, 419
Cornell, A. B., member assembly, 621
Correspondence, war, 530, 534, 536
Corwith, Miss, 533
Cot6, the Frenchman, 12
Cotter, W. H., 90, 162
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676 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Oou Falls, town of, 160
Council Bluffs, railroad terminus, 212
County, first seal of, 25
County, Johnson: 4; boundaries of,
62; organization, government, seat of
justice in, 62; early organizers of,
75; financial changes in, 75-76; early
description of, 118; first financial
statement of, 394; second, 396; soils
of, 406
County seat: site of, 21; re-location of,
69; sale of lots in, 72; officers in, 72
Court, first, 27, 477; federal, county
supervisors before, 461
Court House, first in Iowa City, 21 ; old,
150; second, 492; third, 493; fourth,
494 ; committee on, 495 ; vote on, 495 ;
corner stone laid, 496; dedication of,
497
Cox, David, resigns as constable, 69
Coz, John H., ex-governor, 414
Cox, Thomas, 123, 144, 437
Coyle, Peter, 48
Craig, Bev. W. B., 365, 367
Craigie Court, Daughters of Isabella,
614; officers of, 615
Crain, J. G., 261
Cramer, W. F., superintendent schools,
257
Cree, Capt. A. B., address by, 543;
quoted, 543; reminiscences of, 623
Creek, Ralston, 176
Crimes, early, 480
Crippen, Bev. J. T., 309
Cropper, M. M., 314
Crouse, Wm. T., 259
Crozier, David, 166
Crozier, Bev. John, 317, 323, 330
Cram, William, 556, 557
C. S. P. 8., lodge Iowa City, 611
Culbertson, J. C, 437, 573; member of
assembly, 621
Customs, pioneer social, 50
Cutler, Elisha, 243
Daobnhabt, B., 348
Daly, William P., 77
Dall, Michael, 348
Daniels, W. B., 225
Darlington and Shepherd, importers, 421
Davis, Allison, 182
Davis, David D., 378
Davis, Geo. T., 91
Davis, G. T., state officer, 621
Davis, James M., state officers, 620
Davis, M. W., 142, 296, 436, 440, 441,
506, 557
Day, Andrew and Rebecca, 160
Dean, Amos, chancellor, 285
Defectives, law relative to, 635
DeForest, Clinton, farm of, 444
DeForest, Gilbert, 77; assessor, 397;
member assembly, 621; sheriff, 628
DeForest, Jacob P., mayor, 139
Delatush, John, 422
Democrat, the Oxford, 565
Dennis, Bryan, 42 ; election at house of,
86; mentioned, 163, 179, ISO, 508,
509; addresses soldiers, 514
Dennis, Isaac, 166, 258
Dennis, Mrs. M. A., 163
Dennison, Susan, 427
Dennison, A. C, 166, 361
Dennison, George, 166
Devault, Strawder, 164
Dey, Peter A., 149, 150, 201, 210;
quoted, 214-218; chief engineer, 225;
bank president, 449; railroad com-
missioner, 450, 619; lecture by, 572
Dickinson, Anna, 571
Dilley, Samuel, 76, 242
Dimmitt, Bev. J. G., 302
Dinner, public, to legislative committee,
128; to steamer passengers, 190
Dinwiddie, W. A., 523
Disinger, Frederick, constable, 69
Distillery, establishment of, 466
District, Lower Deer Creek, 391
Dix, John A, 223
Dodge, Henry, governor, 18, 27, 505
Dollarhide, Evan, 166
Dondore, Jared, wagon maker, 439
Doud, Amos, 161
Doty, £. B., 565
Doty, Lewis, 623
Doty, Mrs. Lewis, 263
Doty, Luther, 90
Doty, William P., 411
Douglas, James, 161, 241
Douglass, Ebenezer, 161
Douglass, Fanny, 427
Douglass, Fred, 571
Douglass, Joseph, camp on farm of,
514
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INDEX
677
Douglass, Luke, 27, 66, 172, 483
Douglass, Sarah, 427
Dow, Rev. T. J., 366
Downey, H. D., 437, 570, 573, 620
Dragoons, Iowa City, 505, 507, 509, 512
Duncan, L. A., 522, 641
Dunkel, Caspar, 491
Dunlap, J. W., 505
Dupont, William, 85, 157
Duvall, Bill, 7
Eads, Jambs D., 618
Eagan, John, 66, 170, 172, 173
Earhart, John, Jacob and Henry, 7
Earle, Captain Daniel, 505
Economy, the Solon, 565
Edmonds, Jas. B., 225
Education, board of, 139
Edwards, Joe A., member assembly,
622
Electric light, comment on, 463
Elliott, J. R., 512, 515
Elson, Rev. S. R., 355
Ely, Capt. H. E., 554
Emigration, the Oregon, 646; Pike's
Peak, 646
Emma, the steamer, 194
Emonds, Father William, 342, 346-347,
465
Encampment, Good Samaritan, 609
Ent, Susan, 310
Epidemic, Cholera, 30
Estabrook, Mrs. Clara D., 333
Estes, J. L., 217
Evans, Rev. T. R., 363
Express, American and United States,
206; J. Parker Company, 206; Stage
Company, 206
Faculty, University, resolution by,
541
Fair, the State, at Iowa City, 433, 434
Fairall, S. H., 529, 556, 620, 621
Fairs: first county, 432; history of
grounds, 433; military camp on
grounds of, 433
Fales, Joseph T., 219
Farnham, Henry, president, 225
Faville, Oran, reference to, 618
Felkner, Henry, 7, 10, 14, 23, 42, 52,
69, 178, 181, 445, 619, 620
Fellows, Nathaniel, 42, 161
Fellows, Rev. S. N., 302
Fence, an early farm, 429
Ferree, Uriah, 174
Ferries and bridges, 186
Ferry: Arthur's and Folsom 's, 188;
Cavanagh's, 189; Chaney's, 187;
Clark & Sanders's, 187; Cottrell's,
189; Gower's, 35; James Justices %
189; Lawrence's, 188; Meller's,
186; Metcalf & Moody's, 188;
Montgomery's, 189; at Napoleon,
187; Pleasant Arthur's, 187;
Roberts', 409; Stover's, 188; Sturgis,
186; Sutcliff's, 177, 187, 203
Fesler, George, 43; agent, 397
Fever and ague, 12
Finkbine, R. S., member school com-
mittee, 252; member assembly, 621
Fire, prairie, 443
Fisher, Rev. Rollo F., 306
Fleming, G. W., 48
Fletcher, General Jonathan, 28
Floerchinger, Jacob, 162
Folsom, Rev. Geo. P., 323
Folsom, Oilman, 202, 487, 621, 626
Foster, Charles, 173
Foster, Ed., meeting at home of, 357;
trade license of, 394
Foster, Silas, 43, 190, 437
Ford, the Dupont, 188
Fowler, Charles, 164
Fowler, Chauncey, 242
Fracker, Geo. C, 268
Francis, Rev. Eben, 358
Franklin Market, 570
Fremont, township of, 34
Frierson, John, 33, 123
Frost, Jarvis, 163, 644
Frost, Luther, 178
Fry, Jacob, election at the house of,
82 ; mentioned, 167, 174 ; marriage of,
490
Fry, Titus R., 42, 167
Fry, William, election at house of, 88;
mentioned, 167; marriage of, 490
Fuhrmeister, Christopher, 94
Fund, support for soldiers' families,
509; monument, 539
Furrow, the Dillon, 184
Fur Company, American, 6, 9
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678 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Game: in Idwa, 2; shipments of, 442
Gardner, Bev. A. E., 357, 490
Gardner, S. B., credit due to, 184; men-
tioned, 326, 405, 483
Gardner, John, 12, 175 551
Gaylor, John, 166
Gaymon, Charles, furniture made by,
440
Gehon, Francis, 134
German, James, 206
Gilbert, John, 6, 8, 13, 14
Gilbert, W. L., 416
Gilchrist, J. G., 582
Given, John G., 561
Given, Welker, 556
Gilleland ,* Archibald, 163
Gilliland, John, surveyor, 67
Gimble, Joseph, 206
Glossbrenner, Bishop J. J., 379
Gobin, I. S., 179
Gobin, John, 466
Goodrell, W. H., 539
Gordon, Bev. Elinor, 359
Gordon, John, wagon maker, 432
Goudy, John, robbery of, 485
Government, first city, 139
Gower, A. G., school of, 243, 296
Gower, James H., sketch of, 34; men-
tioned, 42, 143; resolution of, 222,
223, mentioned, 437, 447, 573
Gower, J. O., 506, 512
Gower, Robert, 217
Graham, Benjamin, ground donated by,
335
Graham, John, 167
Grain, shipments of, 443
Grant, Dr. C. S., 550
Grant, James, 220
Greeley, Horace, 571
Greencastle, town of, 160; meeting
near in 1840, 304
Gregg, Andrew J., horse thief, 28, 477,
478, 479
Gregg, Elijah, 383
Gregg, Jonathan, 383
Griffith, Rev. Evan., 537
Griffith, Joseph E., at Vicksburg, 517;
promotion of, 537
Grimm, Sam, 153
Grimes, James W., reference to, 627
Grinnell, J. B., 520
Gross, Vincent, 169
Gross, Gregory, 348
Grubbs, 8. B., 134
Guards, the University, 505, 508, 509,
510, 512
Guengerich, Daniel P., 388, 391
Guengerich, John, 391
Guthrie, A. A., superintendent schools,
257
Haberstboh, Ferdinand, church ser-
vices at home of, 341; mentioned,
414, 491
Haberstroh, Julius, 341
Haddock, W. J., judge, 620, 625
Haley, J. J., comment by, 232
Hall, James, geologist, 407
Halliday, Sam, 130
Halter, John, 177
Ham, D., 505
Ham's Hall, 511
Hamilton, I. P., coroner, 76, 158
Hamilton, Hugh and William, 247
Hamilton, Yale, 163
Hammond, William G., 150
Hampton, Geo. S., 135, 139, 243, 361,
437, 536, 618, 620
Hampton, Mrs. G. 8., 247
Hanby, James, 145
Hardin, William, 91
Harlan, James, superintendent of pub-
lic instruction, 243, 244; academy
teacher, 301
Harless, Martin, 166
Harner, Benjamin, school of, 241
Harris, Betsy, 490
Harris, Jonathan, 170, 480
Harris, Rev. John, 309, 414
Harris, Margaret, 490
Harris, Phineas, 42
Harris, Pleasant, 6, 7, io, 12, 66, 480,
620
Harris, Sarah, 489
Harrison, Edgar and Edward, 560
Harrison, J. E., state officer, 621
Harrison, W. H., 333
Harriman, J. W., 540
Hart, Anson, 139, 178, 253, 619
Hart, Mrs. Anson, 301, 302
Harte, Bret, 571
Hartman, Rev. O., 353
Hartsock, Gallaten, 175
Hartsock, Robert N, 309
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INDEX
679
Hartwell, John L., election at house of,
90; mentioned, 161
Harvester, the first Marsh, 431
Haskell, A. H., 236, 247
Hastings, S. C, 478, 620
Hawk, Rev. J„ F., 384
Hawkins, G. W., 7
Hawkins, James M., 28
Hawkins, John, election at house of,
82
Hay, quality of, 16
Hay, Rev. John C, 365
Hay, William and Julia, 310
Haynes, Joseph and Mary, 310
Haynes, Philo, election at house of,
84; mentioned, 166
Hazard, Rev. 8. H., 316
Headly, John A., 76, 161
Heifner, Thomas, 263
Heitzman, Tidell, 348
Hempstead, Governor Stephen, 36, 209
Hemphill, Harry, 263
Hemphill, J. K., lands donated by,
263
Hemsted, S. H., 94
Hempsted, T. W., 422
Hendly, Henry, 490
Henry, Elisha, 177
Henyon, B., 43
Hepburn, Wm. P., 616
Herald, the Oxford, 565
Herron, George, 148 •
Herron, James, 487
Hershire, A. J., 561
Hertheni, Rev. H., 353
Hertz, Henry, 352
Hesler, John C, 176
Hess, Daniel, 357
Hess, G. W., 77
Hess, Geo. P., 511
Hess, Samuel 46
Higbee, Jesse, 364, 444
Higbee, Obadiah, 365
Hill, Green, 12, 167
Hill, Rev. J. B., 309 .
Hill, J. G., 259
Hill, Sion, marriage of, 490
Hill, Thomas, 571
Hills, town of, 169
Hilton, E., 7
Hindman, John, member assembly, 621
Hinrichs, Prof. G., state officer, 619
Hobart, C. W., 556, 573
Hoerlein, Rev. J. G., 349
Hog, Chester White, introduction of,
421, 435
Hohenschuh, Mrs. Theresa, 24
Holbrook, C. H., 210
Hollingsworth, Mahlon, 383
Holly, C. P., 72
Holmes, B. S., 254
Holt, D., 178, 313
Holt, Joseph W., 314
Home, a pioneer, 15
Homestead, Old Bowersoz, 87
Horn, John, 466
Horner, B. M., 308, 432
Horner, Mary E., 160
Horner, William, 160
Hospital, establishment of, 149; uni-
versity, laying of corner stone of,
151; Summit house as, 526
Hotel: American, 362; Clinton, 147,
148, 149; Globe, 133; National, 132;
Palmer, 151; Summit, 147; Washing-
ton, 132; list of, I860; 435. .
Hotz, Jacob, 571
Howard, Caroline, 338 .
Howard, William A., 89A
Howard, W. W., 333
Howe, Rev. 8. S., 333
Howell, Col. R. P., 550, 620
Hudson, Mrs. Polly, 427
Hudson, S. A., 134
Huey, G. J., 178
Hughes, Miss Lou, 323
Hughes, Thomas, 42, 219, 619, 621
Hughey, Geo. P., 313
Hull, John, 161
Hull, Porter, 161
Hummer, George, 577
Hummert Rev. Michael, 247, 312, 314,
316, 323, 329, 332, 490, 570
Hummer, Wenzel, sketch of, 34
Humphreys, A. H., 92
Hunt, William H., 139
Hunter, Wm., 210
Huntley, Florence, 557
Hurlburt, Rev., R. F., 303
Hutchinson, Frank, 48
Hutchinson, Robert, 139, 249, 311, 403
Hutton, B. B., 319
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680 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Iams, Mrs. M. A., 287
lams, W. E., deaf and dumb institution
by, 287
Indenture, meaning of, 635
I. O. O. F.: Kosciusko, 606; Eureka,
609; No. Liberty, 610; Acme at Ox-
ford, 610; Omega at Lone Tree, 610;
Rebekahs, 614
Indians, treaty of 1832, 18 ; their claims,
55 ; in county, 56, 57, 58 ; farewell to
dead, 59; departure of, 59; Fox,
leaders of, 60
Industries, early, 427; home, 429; com-
parison of, 466
Infantry, the twenty-second, departure
of, 515; in the field, 516; officers,
516; at Vicksburg, 517; losses of,
518 ; at Winchester, 518 ; reception to,
519; mustered out, 519; flag of, 221;
soldiers home, 526; resolution of,
552; reunion of, 552 — The 24th: 220
Ingersoll, L. D., 508, 560
Institute, Mechanic's, 40; Iowa Female
Collegiate, 287; articles of incorpora-
tion, 288; final disposition of, 292;
city obtains control of, 291 — St.
Joseph's, founding of, 343
Iowa Capital Beporter, the, 41
Iowa City, township of, 60
Iowa City, 118, record of plate, 124;
early map of, 155
Iowa iCity, the steamer, advertisement
of, 195; launching of, 195
"Iowa City Rifles," organization of,
511
Iowa Medley, 279; quoted, 280, 567
Iowa river, freight on, 193
Iowa Standard, The, quoted, 281
Iowa State Press, 560
Iowa territory of, 11
Irish, C. W., address of, 44 ; journal of,
210, 214, 218, 230, 231, 327, 371
Irish, F. M., 36, 37, 42, 52; commis-
sioners meet at house of, 71; men-
tioned, 157, 190; misfortune of, 404
Irish, Gilbert R., 31, 50, 216, 356
Irish, John P., 37, 225, 271, 561, 563,
621
Jackson, L. H., trustee, 322
Jail, first county, 487; Muscatine coun-
ty used, 488; new, 494
Jayne, Eliza A., 168
Jayne, John E., 48, 554, 642
Jayne, John W., 167
Jayne, W. H., 168
Jerome, G. H., 508
John, M. S., 366
Johnson, Rev., A. K., 308
Johnson, Jackson, teacher, 260
Johnson, Dr. Leona, 364
Johnson, M. T., 490
Johnson, Rolla, 164, 621
Johnson, Sylvanus, sketch of, 38; men-
tioned, 93, 182, 197, 220; agreement
made by, 289 ; memorial to, 364
Johnstone, Alexander, first faculty mem-
ber, 250
Johnston, E. E., 235, 564
Jones, Captain, 191
Jones, Charles, 167, 393
Jones, David, 182
Jones, David H., 378
Jones, General Geo. W., 33
Jones, Rev. J. F., 377
Jones, Phoebe, 490
Jones, Thomas, 378
Josselyn, George, 150
Journal, the Oxford, 565
Journey, a typical pioneer, 185
Judson, L., 123, 157
Jnry, grand, for U. 8., 477; for terri-
tory, 478; first petit, 478; limited
number to serve on, 485; selected by
townships, 486
Kaufman, L., 298
Kelly, P. J., 505
Kelley, R. H., 143, 201
Kelso, William, 42
Kemper, Bishop Jackson, 367
Kendig, Rev. A. B., 302, 306
Keokuk, Reserve, 5, 18, 55
Kephart, J. H., 269, 381
Kerr, Hamilton H., election at house of,
82, 165, 174
Kessler, Ella, 261
Kessler, Fidel, 261
Kettlewell, G. W., 298
Keyes, C. R., 408
Kidder, Dorothy, 489
Kidder, Lydia, 23
Kidder, Sarah, 489
Kight, John, 7; claim of, 121
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INDEX
681
Kimball, Franklin, 422
King Benjamin, 139
King, Joshua, 166
King, Thomas, 164; meeting at house
of, 304
Kings Daughters, Iowa City, 385
Kinney, Rev. Joseph, 358
Kinsey, W. 8., resolution of, 201
Kirkpatrick, Joseph L., 298, 311
Kirkwood, Gov. 8. J., 217, 225,
230, 258, 414, 453, 520, 521, 529,
538, 617, 618, 621, 623, 624
Kirkwood, Mrs. 8. J., honors to, 552
Kirkwood, W. W., 415
Kiskekosh, 60
Knapp, 8. H., petition of, 198
Knights of Pythias, 613; Athens
Temple, Pythian Sisters, 614
Knowles, Rev. David, 378
Koonts, G. W., 169, 622
Kuhl, Rev. Conrad, missionary, 356
Kuts, Rev. J., 354
Labor in 1837, 10
Lackland, Rev. O. 8., 308
Lake, E. W., 414
Lambert, B. J., 235
Lancaster, Cornelius, election at the
house of, 86
Lancaster, Virgil, 179
Lancaster, William, 163
Land office at Iowa City, 390; account
of sales, 398, 402
Land sales, first, 27; schools, 237
Lane, Mrs. H. 8., superintendent schools,
257
Lanning, Edward, 139, 246, 259
Lanning, Lydia, teacher, 251
Lathrop, H. W., 139, 151, 219, 221, 249,
323, 606, 623, 629
Laughery, F. M., 269
Launching, steamboat, 194
Lawrance, Jonathan, 197
Law school, submitted to courts, 254
Lawyer, Dr. L. G., 565
Leach, Rev. C. P., 366
Leader, the Oxford, 565
Le Claire, Antoine, 18
Lectures, early, 570; by home talent,
572
Lectures, noted, 575
Lee, Clarissa, 489
Lee, E. C, 139, 253, 522
Lee, F. H., 73, 90, 199, 219, 492, 636
Lee, Bishop H. W., 368
Lee, James, 149, 174
Lee, J. E., 453
Lee, Gen. 8. D., address by, 553
Lee, Walter, letter from, 522
Lee, surrender of, observed, 530
Leek, Lycurgus, death of, 153
Leffler, Shepherd, 135
Legislature, Wisconsin Territorial, 10;
session provided for at Iowa City,
128; first meeting of at Iowa City,
129
Leonard, N. R., 581
Lesh, I. N., 7, 10
Letovsky, J. M. B., 566, 622
Letter, a typical, 406
Leupp, Rev. J., 353
Lewis, Elizabeth, 25, 26
Lewis, Enoch, 219
Lewis, Miles K., election at house of,
91
Libby, Rev. John, 247, 295, 490
Library, University, burning of, 152;
public, beginning of, 573; first re-
port of, 574; first trustee of, 576; the
Carnegie, 577; lectures in aid of,
577; the Patterson memorial, 579
License, trade, 67
Lindley, Thomas, 422
Linkhart, Mrs. Eliza F., 333
Linkhart, Joel, 333
Lionhardt, C. W., 510
Littig, Dr. L. W., 150
Live stock, growing of, 421
Livermore, Mrs. Mary, 571
Lloyd, Frederick, 641
Lloyd, Walter F., 89
Lone Tree, named, 167; town of
founder, 168; views in, 307; electric
light in, 472
Lane Tree Branch, the, 564
Longley, C. L., letter of, 555
Loos, Prof. I. A., 582
Loras, Matthew, Bishop, 490
Loring, Rev. R. 8., 359
Lorton, J., 172
Lots, Iowa City, values of, 73; cut
prices of, 75
Loughbridge, Albert, 293
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682 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Loughbridge, Sarah, superintendent
schools, 257
Louis, Mrs. Dora, 24
Lowe, Enos, receiver land office, 404
Lowe, Rev. John, 365
Lowe, R. P., 134, 482, 486
Lowe, Rev. Samuel, 365
Lucas, township of, 60; Napoleon in,
20; district township of, organized,
258
Lucas, Col. E. W., 50, 536, 622
Lucas, Governor Robert, 27, 29, 33, 34,
39, 130, 181, 295, 360, 601, 617, 619,
622
Luse, Z. C, 529, 566
Lyceum, notice of, 569
Lyman, P. H., 309
Lyman, Harvey, 164
Lyon, E. C, 414
Lyon, Mary, 309
Lyon, W. P., 414
McAllister, M. P., 77, 82, 414, 642
Mc Arthur, Augustus, 414
McCaddon, John, 237, 258
McCaddon, Nancy, 249
McCallister, " Grandmother, ' ' 48
McCart, Jesse, 413
McChesney, W. H., 205
McClain, Emlin, judge supreme court,
620
McClain, Mrs. Emlin, article by, 583
McClain, William, 293
McClean, Rev. O. O., 318
McCleary, G. W., 42, 91, 139, 199, 573
McCloud, Elizabeth, 489
McClure, Nathaniel, 174, 176
McConnell, John, 163, 313
McConnell, Joseph, mill of, 421
McCormick, William, 75, 173, 416
McCrory, Samuel H., 25, 26, 28, 42,
52, 178, 237, 258, 313, 402, 416, 489,
619, 621
McCune, Chas. W., member assembly,
621
McCune, Daniel, 242, 261
McDonald, W. J., 235
McElroy, G. A., 551
McFaddin, Samuel, 178
McGrew, J. B., 165, 166, 309, 489
McMicken, Hiram, 90
McRaith, Helen, report of, 578
McSwain, A. T., 308
Macbride, Prop. T. H., 582
Machine, carding, 132; mowing contest,
431
Maggard, J. H., 235
Magill, Father, 50
Magill, S., 252
Magoun, Rev. George F., 374, 375, 376
Magruder, James, sketch of, 33, 42, 173,
306 >
Mahan, John, 519
Mahanna, Capt. Bradley, 506, 508, 511,
601
"Maid of Iowa," 193, 194
Mails, weekly arrival of, 205; Galena
route, 207 n'{
Mann, Horace, 571. ^l vol • ■■ <•
Manufactures, committee to' promote,
437 -
Marble, Rev. S. H., 358
Margrave, John, 326
Market, north, 142
Marks or brands, stock, types of, 425
Marquardt, G. W., 450, 465
Marriage, first record of, 488
Martin, Rev. H. F., 355
Martin, W. M., 565
Marvin, Charles, 161
Marvin, Mrs. Eliza, 427
Mason, Miss Anna, 263
Mason, Judge Charles, 243
Masons, organization of, 598; conven-
tion of, 599; Iowa City No. 4
chartered, 600; membership of, 601;
Palestine Commandery, 602; Mount
Moriah, 602; Grand lodge, organi
zation of, 603; Canopy at Oxford,
604; at Solon, 604; White Marble,
604; Abner at Lone Tree, 605; Or-
der of Eastern Star at Iowa City,
613; at Lone Tree, 614; at Oxford,
614
Massey, James, 7
Massey, U. C, 175
Mathews, John, 167, 179
Mattoon, C, 134
Maxson, William, 177
Maxwell, Alexander and Elizabeth, 310
Maynard, Stephen, 368
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INDEX
683
Mazuchelli, Father Samuel, mass con-
ducted by, 341, 490
MeDowell, Henry, 77, 165
MeDowell, Margaret Hayden, 165
Meeting, Old Settlers', picture of, 1907,
49
Mendenhall, J. J., 259
Mendenhall, R. P., 210
Mercer, C. S., 561
Mercer, S. W., 561
Messenger, "Nick," 552
Metcalf, Enos, toll-bridge of, 202;
trustee, 279; mentioned, 616
Metcalf, Thomas, 367
Metropolitan Hall, 571
Middleton, Dr. W. D., 150
Migration, causes of, 7
Mill, saw, 12
Mill in Illinois, 16; tSwitzer's, 35,
412; Butler's, 175; Terrell's, 180;
Moore & Drury's, 172; Strickler
Woolen, 412; Haynes 's, 412 ; Lingle 's
412; Pleasant Harris's, 412; Felkner
& Myers's, 412; at Coralville, 413;
appreciation of, 413; carding ma-
chine at Terrell's 419; Hummer
Company's, 420; Oxford steam, 420;
view of Terrell's, 420; the Close
paper, 436; the Close oil, 436; oat
meal, 436; lint, 466; Banbury's
planing, 468
Miller, A. J., 512
Miller, Benjamin, 12
Miller, Valentine, 415
Miller, Col. W. E., 553, 604, 620
Mitchell, Ira C, 561
Mitchell, Israel, 176
Modern Woodmen of America, 613
Monday, Poakley, 383
Money, question of, 131; early substi-
tutes for, 445; kinds of, 445;
Florence, 447
Monroe, town of, 157; sale of, 158;
survey of, 159; names of streets in,
159
Montgomery, James, 163
Montgomery, M. M., 198
Montgomery, Margaret, 241, 266
Monument, Capital section corner, 146;
Leek memorial, 154; soldiers', 538;
the Washington, contribution to, 608
Moore, P. B., meeting at house of, 311
Morey, Mrs. S. C, 247
Morey, Rev., W. B., 361
Morford, John, 169
Morfordsville, 6, 169, 308
Morgan, Richard P., 220
Mormon War, the, 642; bill for ser-
vice in, 644
Morris, M. L., 532, 623
Morris, W. L., 437
Morse, Mary A., 169
Morse, E. K., 42, 169, 528
Morse, town of, 169
Morse, Rev. R. C, 359
Morrison, William A., 149
Morrow, J. G., 121
Morsman, M. J., 94
Mortgage, the Hummer, 317, 325
Mulholland, Samuel, 7, 121
Murdock, William, 172
Murphy, Anna, 166
Murphy, Patrick, 166
Murphy, Timothy P., disciplined, 524
Murray, Dr. Henry, sketch of, 29; 178,
197, 220, 221, 254, 256, 313, 509,
633
Murray, Malcolm, 441
Musser, P. M., 453
Myers, EH, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 19, 21,
22, 184, 197, 237, 432, 489
Napiee, Hugh L., 166
Napoleon, town of, 12, 14, 20, 27
Negus, Charles, 217
Negus, Isaac, clock peddler, 394
Newcomb, A. B., 414
Newell, Jo, 134
Newhall, Maj. John B., 190, 191
Newspapers, 556
North Liberty, town of, 166
North, William, 206
Nutting, C. C, 582
Oasis, town of, 169
Officers, county, from the organization
of, 629
Ohl, Al, chairman, 497
Oil, manufacture of, 439
Old State House, meetings in, 357
Opera House, building of, 571
Opinion, a mother's, 544
Ordinance, tree planting, 147
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684 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Oregon Emigration Society, 644, 645,
646
Organizations, fraternal, 598; literary,
572
Orsbon, Elijah, 489
Osceola, the town of, 12
Osmond, Rev. Jonathan, 311, 322, 337
Otto, Ralph, mayor, 234
Owen, Captain B., 538
Owen, David Dale, geologist, 407
Owen, N., 512
Owen, Rev. T. B., 305
Oxen, where nsed, 16
Oxford, town of, 163
Packard, Asbuby D., sketch of, 32;
remonstrance by, 98; mentioned, 168,
197, 266, 393
Packard, Nancy, 168
Packing House, John Powell's, 435;
the Stock Company's, 436
Paine, 8. E., mayor, 150
Palmer, A. H., and G. D., 560
Palmer, G. D., 219, 619
Papers, short-lived, 567
Parks, Jehiel, 164
Parrot, John, 42, 167, 299, 308, 393
Parsons, Lyman, 421, 450, 639
Parsons, Rev. R. D., 302
Parvin, T. S., 26, 119-121, 130, 271,
319, 477, 522, 559, 601
Patrick, G. T. W., 582
Pattee, John, Col., 514, 573
Pattee, William, order from 397
Patterson, Peter H., 52, 303
Patterson, William, trustee, 279, 296
Paul, George, 43, 163, 619, 621
P. E. O., 615
Pearee, 8. E., 365
Perry, Hetty A., 490
Petition of Walter Butler, 68
Phelps, Captain William, 44
Philbrick, P. H., 582
Phillips, Wendell, 571
Pickard, Dr. J. L., 577
Pinney, Azariah, 36, 48
Pioneers, the, 1, 3, 18
Pleasant Valley, Clark farm in, 19;
township of, 44, 60
Plow, a "stocked," 6; the Carey, 430
Poggenpohl, Henry, 510
Poor, care of, 632
Poor Farm, proposal for, 636; report
on, 637
Porter, John, 168, 365
Porter, Louisa, 168
Post office, the Frank Pierce, 167
Postoffices, number of, 168
Powell, John, 42, 190, 226, 416, 427,
435, 509
Powers, Rev. Le Grand, 358
Poweshiek, address of, 58; personal ac-
count of, 60; village of, 157
Prague, Thomas, 166
Prairie, breaking of the, 15
Pratt, E. T., 164
Pratt, Mrs. Fanny, 242, 260, 309
Pratt, H. O., 266
Pratt, Jarius, 48
Preachers, early, 304
Precincts, election in Johnson county,
81; Old Man's (Creek, 83; Clear
Creek, 83; Monroe, 83; Big Grove,
83; Iowa City, 83
Press, Iowa State, the, 41
Preston, Mrs. Ruth Irish, account of
Lyons Iowa Central, 209
Prices, some typieal, 440, 442
Pritchard, J. E., 553
Proctor, Dr. G. M., lyceum leader, 265
Property, valuation of, 1854, 398 ; farm
value of, 443
Pryce, Mrs. Eleanor, 309
Pryce, Captain 8. D., 538, 556, 558
Pryor, W. M., 504
Public gathering, the first, 10
Pudil, F. J., 269
Purchase, Black Hawk, 5
Purchase of 1837, 56
Purdoo, Ira, 166
Purdoo, Jackson, 166
Quarry, Bird's Eye Marble, 407, 410;
the state, 411, 468
Railroads : Lyons Iowa Central, 16,
208; Mississippi & Missouri, 210;
Iowa City & Davenport, 210; Galena
Air Line, 211; survey of Davenport
& Iowa City, 220; Dubuque to Keo-
kuk, 220 ; city council and, 221 ; cele-
bration of completion of, 222; com-
pletion to Iowa City, 224; westward
extension of, 224; Cedar Valley, 225;
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INDEX
685
resolution concerning, 225 ; North and
South, 226; B., C. R. & N., 227,
232; I. N. C, 227-228; Iowa South-
western, 229; construction of, 231;
tax levy, 231; Chicago, Omaha & St.
Joe, 231; depot dedicated, 232;
street electric proposed, 233; street
completed, 234; inter-urban, 234
Ralston, Robert, 124
Banck, C. S., state officer, 621, 622
Ransom, C. T., 230
Ravlin, Rev. N. F., address by, 529
Beaper, the Solon, 565
Beed, J. S., 254
Reese, D. A., 235
Beid, H. J., 134
Remley, Geo. F., 553
Remley, Howard, 553
Remley, Hubert, 564
Bemley, James, report of, 638
Bemley, Bey. James G., and Jane,
memorial to, 363
Bemley, Milton, 504, 552, 620
Benihan, Father, 348
Beno, Morgan, 137, 140, 437, 447, 618
Report, city financial, 141
Reporter, the Lone Tree, 564
"Reporter, the University, editors of, 566
Republican, the Iowa City, 556
Revenue, sources of early, 393; com-
parison of, 395
Reynolds, Wesley, 164
Reynolds, Dr. William, 43, 247, 254,
271, 599, 618
Rice, L. M., 439
Bicord, Jacob, merchant, 441
Bicord, Thomas, 246
Rider, J. H., 333
Rinearson, Jacob S., 67
Riots, 503
Ripple, the steamer, 190
Rittenmeyer, F. X., 143
Ritter, Mrs. Benjamin, 13, 308
Ritter, Rev., Joeias, 350
River Junction, 7
River Junction, town of 168
Road, national, 66
Roads, first, 170, 171, 172; Bloomington,
173; Iowa river north, 173; Old
Man's Creek, 173; Fry's, 174;
Prairie du Chien, 175; McClure's,
175; Eagan's, 175; the J. H. Frost,
175; Wyoming, 176; Pleasant Har-
ris, 176; Belleview, 176; Pope, 177;
Edwin Brown's, 177; increase in
districts, 177; Wapeininock, 177;
change in Eagan's, 178; the Clear
Creek, 179; the Henry, 179; Mill
Company's, 180; the Oskaloosa,
180; Linn Grove, 181; the Alt, 181;
Snook's Grove, 182; the Scurlock,
182; the Francis Bowman, 182; a
lost, 183 ; construction period of, 183
Robbery, a noted case of, 503
Robbing and Hubbell, boat-yard of, 194
Roberts, Peter, 139
Roberts, Robert G., represents county,
620
Roberts, T. N., 48
Robinson, L., secretary, 258
Rock River, the steamer, 192
Rockwood, E. W., 582
Rogers, C. P., superintendent schools,
256
Rogers, Henry, 167
Rogers, J. F., trade license of, 394
Rogers, Thomas, 570
Rohret, J. H., 235
Rohret, Peter, 48
Ronalds, John 124
Rossler, Gottlieb, petition of, 89
Roup, Robert, 167, 356
Rowlinson, Rev. C. C, 366
Royal, John, 12
Royal Neighbors, 614
Rugg, E. K., 223
Rummelhart, Joseph, 348
Safely, Robert J. and Laura C, 161
Sales, D. A., 134
Sanders, Cyrus, 25, 32, 42, 46, 165, 172,
174, 175, 177, 178, 190, 225, 258,
402, 416
Sanders, I. N., 36, 42, 360, 466
Sanders, Jackson, 163
Sanders, R. B., 383
Sanxay, Theodore, 254, 316, 390, 437,
441, 453
Sanxay and Murray, the firm of, 441
Sawmill, Felkner and Myers's, 23
Schaeffer, Dr. Chas. A., address of, 154
Schell, Joseph, 313
Schools: medical established, 149; the
public, 236; first tax for, 236; money
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686 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
for appropriated, 237 ; first census of,
237; fund commissioner, 237; first
240; in Clear Greek settlement, 241;
the Walker, 241; the Shueyville,
242; court decision on law, 243;
private, 244; report of, 251; tax
for, 252; in churches, 252; ''ami-
cable suit" concerning, 253; city
superintendent proposed, 254; high,
254; colored, 254; committee to
visit, 257; in Lucas township, 259;
in Big Grove, 260; in Solon, 261;
in Cedar township, 262; in Penn,
262; North Liberty, 262; in Oxford
township, 263 ; the Danner, 263 ; the
Edgewood, 263; in Newport, 265;
in Union township, 265; in Washing-
ton township, 266; Woodland, 266;
Sharon high, 266; in Sharon town-
ship, 266; "Prairie Dale/' 266;
in Hardin township, 266; "Flea
shed," 266; Fremont township, 268;
Jefferson township high, 268; Jef-
ferson township, 268; course of
study in Mrs. Hulin's, 274; private,
1843, 276 ; public program of private,
278; a high grammar urged, 281;
county high suggested, 292; "Hog
Back Ridge,' ' 308; meeting at
Surge's 308; Choate's, 312; St.
Mary's, 343; German, 346
Schulze, J. O., 234
Schutte, Father A. J., 342
Schwimley, Bev. A., 382
Schwartzendruber, J. J., 388
Scott, Mrs. Lucretia, 333
Scrip City, 140; use of, 445
Scurlock, Hugh, 182
Seahorn, Jacob, 336; editor, 567
Seahorn, James, election at house of
89; mentioned, 174, 175
Seal, first city, 139
Seat of Government, selection of, 71
Seerley, John J., principal high school,
257
Seminary, Southern, faculty of, 279,
280
Sepe-noh-mo, 7, 167
Settlers, meeting of old, 1910, 13; or-
ganization of old, 42, 43 ; anniversary
of old, 44 ; meeting, 1890, 50 ; early
Scotch, 51; Bohemian, 52, 611; Ger-
man, 51; Irish, 51
Settlement, the Welsh, Union town-
ship, 377
Shaff, James, 167
Shaft, S. W., peddler's license of, 394
Shambaugh, Mrs. Bertha Horack, sketch
by, 15, 125
Shambaugh, Dr. B. F., 582, 619
Sharpless, S., 230
Shaver, P. E., 512
Sharon Center, 182
Shaw, Archibald, 52
Shearer, Bev. F. A., 318, 323, 336
Shellady, Samuel, 206
Sheriff, first in county, 26; as assessor,
66
Shimek, Prof. B., 408, 582
Shinn, Mrs. Henry, 24
Shoup, John, tribute to, 322, 324, 393
Shrader, Dr. J. C, 150; 620, 621
Shuey, B. L., 378
Shuey, Jacob, 379
Shuey, Robert G., 379
Shuey, W. H., 160, 378
Shueyville, village of, 160; U. B.
church at, 378
Sinkmajer, Rev. Joseph, 346
Skinner, Elizabeth, 157
Slack, Allen, 210, 213, 217
Slemmons, John, memorial to, 335
Slezak, FranV remarkable escape of,
154
Slovan Americky, 565
Smith, Carey R., sale of, 423, 566
Smith, Rev. C. Billings, 288
Smith, Rev. Dexter P., 360
Smith, Granger W., 363
Smith, Horace, 190
Smith, John, election at house of, 87
Smith, Patrick, 59
Smith, Stanley W., 333
Snethen, Nicholas, president, 279
Snyder, Thomas, 77, 127, 139, 183,
243, 279, 301, 396, 414, 493
Snyder, William B., 131, 167, 279,
301, 311, 466
Society : Christian Science, 384 ; first
Agricultural, 431; relief, report of,
525; Scott township, 525; founding
of The State Historical, 580; tem-
perance, 615
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INDEX
687
Soldiers, reunions of, 520, 553
Solon, town of, 82, 165; declaration
of citizens of, 228; Methodist
church at, 308; Presbyterian, 317;
Lutheran, 352
South Liberty, platted, 169
Springer, Francis, 134, 490
Springer, John, editor, 561; member
of assembly, 622
Springmeyer, Henry, 163
Spricker, Rev. David, 356
Spurrier, Samuel, 94, 251, 252
Spurrier, Warner, 42, 48, 308, 444,
529, 621
Stage: Frink and Walker's line, 205;
western, 205
Standard, Iowa City, 73, 131, 556
Starkey, J. G., 298
Station, the Wright street, 232
State Fair, Johnson county, held in
1887, 424
Statzer, Peter, 139
Steamboat, first, 189
Stephens, A. D., 7, 32, 58, 66, 73, 121,
186,633
Stephens, Abel, 259
Stephens, Alexander H., letter of, 626
Stephens, E. G., 539
Sterling, J. W., Capt., 511
Stevens, Abel, 182
Stevens, Mrs. Rosanna, 311
Stevenson, S. K., superintendent schools,
257
Stewart, David, member assembly, 621
Stiles, Warren, election at house of, 82 ;
mentioned, 164, 170, 643
Stillwell, A. B., 503
Stock: railroad to county, 219; value
of, 460
Stocker, Rev. James, 311
Stone, D. F., 450
Stone, J. C, state officer, 618
Stone, Col. W. M., 515
Store, the " Third Ward," 440; Pio-
neer book, Lee's, 441
Storm, A. V., superintendent schools,
257
Storm, description of a, 647
Stover, Jacob Y., 35, 48
Stover, Jacob, 178
Stover, Jeremiah, school of, 241; men-
tioned, 267
Stover, Joseph, 12, 179
Stover, Miss Mary, 13, 427
Stow, J. W., meeting at home of, 373
Strahle, T., 206
Street, John A., 167
Street, Washington, work on, 178
Strong, Samuel W., 176
Stroud, Allen, 52, 175
Struble, J. T., 242
Studer, Joseph, 499
" Stump Town," 8
Sturgis, William, 7, 25, 400, 489
Sueppel, Mrs. Catherine, 24
Sueppel, G. A., 235
Sulek, Anton, 611
Sulek, Frank, paper by, 268
Summy, Eli, 7
Supervisors: 78, 94, 629, 637
Survey, United States, 6; county, 117;
capital section, 143
Surveyor, first county, 32
Sutliff, A. C, 42, 165, 174, 261
Swafford, L. S., 150, 246, 279, 313
Swalm, Al, 153
Swan, Chauncey, 28, 52> 71, 124, 131,
132, 145, 191, 313, 414, 416, 601,
618
Swan Lake, reference to, 410
Sweet, David, meeting at home of, 306
Swing, David, 571
Swisher, town of, 160
Swisher, Benjamin, 159; marriage of,
489
Swisher, Lovell, 257
Switzer, David, sketch of, 35, 43, 176,
181, 413, 416
Switzer, Joshua, 35, 180
Switzer, Leslie E., 551
Sylvester, R, H., 560, 574
Sylvester, R. H., Jr., letter of, 561
Talbot, W. K., 279
Talbot, Mrs. W. K., 163
Talbot, W. D., 279
Talbot, L. W., 515
"Tanktown," 163
Tantlinger, John, 206
Tavern, Butler's, 184
Taxes, first levy of, 393; delinquent,
396
Teachers, wages of, 1858, 260
Teesdale, John, 556, 574
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688 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
Telegraph, the first, 437, 438; the
Great Western, 438
Templin, {J. D., 308
Teneyck, Matthew, 48, 85, 167, 299,
622
Teneyk, W. P., 48
Terrell, Walter, 180, 437
Terrell's dam, act establishing, 419
Territorial legislature, first meeting
place in Iowa City, 63
Thatcher, Rev., Dr. 150
Thatcher, Mrs. George, 323
Thomas, T. O., 337, 338, 377
Thompson, Francis, 247
Thompson, Rev. James. L., 299, 490
Tidd, H. A., 515
Tiffin, town of, 164; first preaching
at, 304; tile company at, 469
Tilden, Samuel J., Jr., 233
Tile, drain, 469
Tilton, Theodore, 571
Tomlin, Sam, 153
Totten, Rev. Silas, 369
Town lots, value of, 405
Towns, paper, .8
Townsend, Rev. C. C, 368, 371
Townships: establishment and organi-
zation of, 81; first petition for, 83;
first civil, 84; summary of establish-
ment of, 114; church and school his-
tory in, 168; Big Grove, 164, 242,
529; Cedar, 84, 242; Clear Creek,
86, 90; East Lucas, 112; Fremont,
91, 306; Graham, 90, 308, 528;
Hardin, 91, 178, 241; Iowa City, 84,
111, 112, 243; Jefferson, 89, 159,
378; Liberty, 86; Lincoln, 94;
Lucas, 111; Madison, 93; Monroe,
85; Newport, 86, 88; Oxford, 90,
91, 161, 162, 242, 309, 529; Penn,
85, 86, 131, 166, 303, 304; Pleasant
Valley 6, 85, 91, 94, 241, 268, 308;
Scott, 85, 88, 167, 308, 334; Sharon,
92, 310, 353; Union, 89; Washing-
ton, 87, 88, 167; West Lucas, 111,
112
Trader, the Indian, 13
Trading House, Gilbert's, 9; Phelps's,
27
"Trading House Farm," sale of, 404
Trading houses, pupose of, 428
Train, Geo. Francis, 571
Treasurer, first county, 65
Trimble, James, 175, 445, 487, 493
Trine, David, at Vicksburg, 517; men-
tioned, 537
Tripp, R. H., 293
Trotter, Mrs. S. B., 427
Trout, John, 7, 66
Trowbridge, S. C, sketch of, 26; men-
tioned, 28, 42, 71, 174, 313, 393, 394,
482; assists John Brown, 641
Trustees, township, present, 630
Tucker, A. G., printer, 562
Tudor, Edward, 89
Tudor, Hugh, 378
Tudor, Richard, 378
Tulloss, N. H., 466
Turner, J. T., 253, 450, 638
University, State, 135; opening of,
250; establishment of, 281; comment
on, 282; preparatory department
abolished, 282; woman department
continued, 284; courses in proposed,
284; suspension of work in, 284; fac-
ulty, 1860, 285; student papers of,
566
University, the Iowa City stock com-
pany, 279, 280
Usher, Henry, 432
Usher, Aaron, 485
Vanal8TINK, William, death of , 547
Van Fleet, John R., 139-140
Van Nest, P. S., 253
Veblin, A. A., 582
Vicksburg, surrender observed, 529
Vidette, editors of, 567
Vogt, William, 140
Volkringer, Frank, 153
Volksfreund, the, 567
Volunteers, student, 541
Wade, M. J., member of congress, 617
Wadsworth, Frank, death of, 548
Wagner, Mrs. Catherine, 24
Wagner, Geo. W., member assembly,
622
Wales, Thos. B., 422
Walker, Mrs. Elizabeth, 427
Walker, Elijah, 361
Walker, James, claim of, 241
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INDEX
689
Walker, Joseph, sketch of, 33
Walker, Robert, 42, 85
Walker, Bobert, trustee, 351
Walker, Samuel, James, Joseph and
Henry, 7
Walworth, Geo. H., 134
Wanzer, J. I., 210, 217
Wapashashiek, 60
Ward, Chauncey, 175, 198, 299
Ward, Rev. Duren J. H., 359
Ward, Father, 345
War, The Spanish American, 540, 547,
551
Warren, D. S., 249
Washburn, Mary, 514
Waterworks, proposed, 464
Watson, Rev. S. N., address of, 156
Watts, Hiram, 77, 174
Weaver, Rev. Solomon, 379
Weeber, Mary, 310
Weed, Thurlow, visits county, 225
Wein, George, 166
Welch, John, 383
Weld, L. G., 582
Wells, D. Franklin, 285, 573, 618
Welton, H. S., 256
West, Mrs. John, 309
West, John, 42, 165
Westenhaver, Jesse, 225
Western Stock Journal and Farmer,
566
White, C. A., geologist, 407, 408
Whiteacre, Aquila, 383
Whitmore, Elizabeth, 489
Whittlesey, Charles, represents county,
620
Wieneke, Henry, 149, 432, 574
Wieneke, Julius, 349
Wilcox, Prof. W. C, 582
Wilkinson, Boyd, drowning of, 500, 501
Williams, Benjamin, 263
Williams, C. N. and Sarah, 168
Williams, E. T., 182, 377
Williams, Jesse, 190, 560, 618
Williams, J. Madison, 256, 365
Williams, Capt. John, 512
Williams, Judge Joseph, 27, 119, 477,
483, 627
Williams, Lock, 336
Williams, Rev. R. E., 380
Williams, Mrs. Susan, 380
Williams, Susannah, 490
Williams, T. T., 338
Williams, Rev. W. D., 371
Williamstown, named, 168
Willis, A. I., 414
Willis, W. A., superintendent schools,
257, 293
Wilson, Miss Cornelia, teacher, 251
Wilson, William, 7, 121
Winchester, H. H., 42
Windham, village of, 32, 91, 168
Winterstein, Miss Elizabeth, school of,
243
Winterstine, Nicholas, 422
Wycliffe, John, 173
Wyllie, Rev. James T., 333
Wylie, Rev. D. W., 324
Wolcott, Abner, 25, 293
Wolf, L. R., 94, 263, 565, 622, 628
Wolf, William, report of, 638
Women in 1837, 10
Wood, J. P., 253
Woodin, G. D., state officer, 621
Woodlin, Simeon, death of, 532
Woods, James W., 134
Woods, Rev. W. W., 250, 568
Woodward, W. G., 134, 481
Workman, Samuel, 77, 219, 438; state of-
ficer, 621
Works, alcohol, 436
Works, glucose, 436
Worden, Clarinda, 490
Worden, Ed., 43
Worster, Miss Cynthia, 242
Worthington, Rev. David, 301
Wray, Carson B., 166, 490
Wray, David, 42, 166
Wright, Carroll, 232
Wright, Col. Ed., 520
Wright, J., 210
Xanteb, John, 571
Yost, E. K., petition of, 198
Younkin, W. H., 564
Zelleb, N., Sr., 411
Zimmerman Steel Plant, view of, 467;
469, 471
Zimmerman, William, 167
Zimmerman, W. C. F., 479
Zimmerman, Z. K., 365
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