Chapter XV
The Newspapers of the County
BY FREDERICK J. LAZELL
From the days of the early settlers until now the newspapers of Linn county have been among the most potent factors in the upbuilding of the community. They have been, as a rule, constructive newspapers. Their mission has been to build up, to help their communities grow in wealth and influence. The newspapers of the county have been noted for their sagacity and their breadth of vision, their conservatism and their tolerance. They have exerted a strong and a wholesome influence upon this and adjoining counties. In the state at large their influence for good has not been small.
The old adage that the good die young has not been true of Linn county's newspapers. The best papers today are those which were started in the earliest days of the various towns in this county. They have prospered as their respective communities have prospered. Their publishers and editors have been, for the most part, men with personal and property interests in their respective communities. That is why they have been builders and boosters. Linn county's proud position among the counties of the state, commercially, intellectually, and politically, is largely due to the fact that men of ability and integrity have worked and written and fought for the things they knew would be helpful to their constituents. And this is as true of the weekly newspapers as it is of the daily press. Very few counties in the state have had such an able corps of newspaper writers.
There were some weaklings, papers which were born and soon died. There have been a few freak newspapers. But not many. There have also been many able, brilliant young newspaper men who did good work in the Linn county editorial and newspaper offices for awhile and then left for larger fields of labor. Some of the county's ablest politicians and some of its most prominent business men have occasionally dabbled in newspapering, for the sake of some party or some pet project they were anxious to push through. That was in the earlier days. There has been very little of it in the county of late years.
In the main the newspaper men of the county have been men to the manner born, with a knowledge of the business from the ground up, men to whom the smell of printer's ink is as essential to their enjoyment of life as the scent of the sea to a sailor. If, as Elbert Hubbard tells us, art is the expression of man's joy in his work, then nine-tenths of the newspaper men of Linn county have been real artists, for they have stuck to their papers when they might have made heaps more money in some other line of business. But this love of the work so characteristic among the brethren of the Linn county press doubtless has something to do with the fact that their readable papers are read and quoted by the readers of other papers, from one end of the state to the other.
No chronological list of the newspapers of Linn county has been published, but it is interesting and instructive, and worthy of preservation in permanent form:
1851 The Progressive Era, started by D. O. Finch, in Cedar Rapids.
1852 The Prairie Star, started at Marion by A. Hoyt. Same year the name was changed to the Linn County Register, by J. H. and G. H. Jennison.
1854 Name of the Progressive Era changed to the _Cedar Valley Times_. J. L. Enos assumes control.
1856 Cedar Valley Farmer started in Cedar Rapids by J. L. Enos. This was a monthly agricultural paper.
Cedar Rapids Democrat, started at Cedar Rapids by W. W. Perkins & Co.
1857 The Voice of Iowa, started at Cedar Rapids by J. L. Enos. Later this was called the School Journal.
1863 Linn County Register bought by A. G. Lucas, who changes its name to the Linn County Patriot.
1864 Linn County Patriot bought by Captain S. W. Rathbun, who changes its name to the Marion Register.
1865 The Franklin Record, started at Mt. Vernon by J. T. and J. S. Rice.
1866 The name of the Franklin Record changed to the _Mt. Vernon Citizen_; passes into the hands of H. S. Bradshaw.
1867 The Cedar Rapids Atlas, started by A. G. Lucas. Lasted three months.
1868 Western World, started at Cedar Rapids. Republican in politics. J. L. Enos, editor.
Linn County Signal, started in Marion by F. H. Williams.
Cedar Valley Times changes its name to the _Cedar Rapids Times_.
1869 The Slovan-Ameriky, started in Cedar Rapids by J. B. Letovsky.
Linn County Signal moves to Cedar Rapids.
The Daily Observer, started in Cedar Rapids by J. L. Enos and T. G. Newman, father of A. H. Newman.
Linn County Hawk-Eye, started at Mt. Vernon by J. T. Rice. Purchased the same year by S. H. Bauman, and its name changed to the Mt. Vernon Hawk-Eye.
1870 The Daily Observer, which had been started as a democratic paper, changes its name to the Cedar Rapids Republican, and changes its politics to correspond.
1871 The Linn County Pilot, started by C. W. Kepler at Mt. Vernon.
1872 Name of the Cedar Rapids Republican changed to the Daily Republican.
Linn County Signal becomes the Linn County Liberal.
1873 The Lotus, started at Center Point by J. F. Wilson & Co.
1874 The Linn County Pilot moved from Mt. Vernon to Marion by A. Beatty.
The Linn County Liberal moves from Marion to Cedar Rapids and takes the name of the Standard.
The Sun started at Lisbon by J. W. Zeigenfus.
1876 The Center Point Mirror, started at Center Point by T. J. Metcalf and S. M. Dunlap.
1879 The Iowa Staats-Zeitung, started at Cedar Rapids by A. Hunt.
The Iowa Farmer, started at Cedar Rapids by Alex Charles.
The Independent, started at Springville, editions also being printed for Prairieburg and Central City.
The Stylus, started at Cedar Rapids by Ralph Van Vechten.
1882 The People, started at Cedar Rapids by A. J. Huss.
The New Era, started at Springville by J. F. Butler, passing the same year into the hands of C. S. Shanklin.
1883 The Walker News, started at Walker by David Brant.
The Daily Gazette, started in Cedar Rapids by Otis & Post.
1884 The Gazette Company organized in March and takes over the Daily Gazette. In July all the stock purchased by Fred W. Faulkes and Clarence L. Miller.
The Saturday Evening Chat, started in Cedar Rapids by A. J. Huss.
The Linn County Pilot becomes the Marion Pilot, Rev. J. W. Chaffee, editor.
1886 The Linn County Independent removes to Marion.
1888 Kvinden og Hjemmet, monthly illustrated magazine for the Norwegian and Danish women in America, with a Swedish edition, Quinnan och Hemmet, started at Cedar Rapids by N. Fr. Hansen.
The News-Letter, started at Central City.
1889 Town Topics, started in Cedar Rapids by Ernest A. Sherman.
The Monitor, started at Coggon.
1891 Saturday Record, started in Cedar Rapids by Sherman & Hatmaker.
1894 The Herald, started at Lisbon by W. F. Stahl.
1893 The Record, started at Mt. Vernon by Lloyd McCutcheon.
1902 Iowa Post brought to Cedar Rapids from Iowa City by Henry Gundling.
1903 The Tribune, established by the Cedar Rapids Federation of Labor.
1906 The Cedar Rapidske Liste, Bohemian humorous weekly.
The Optimus, started at Cedar Rapids by E. C. Barber.
1909 West Side Enterprise, started December 30th by W. I. Endicott, owner and publisher.
Much of the early history of Linn county, and more especially of Cedar Rapids, is interwoven with the history of the Progressive Era, which afterwards became the Cedar Rapids Times. The Progressive Era was established by D. O. Finch in 1851. It was democratic in politics and claimed to be devoted to the interests of Cedar Rapids and Linn county. It was a seven column, four page paper, and rather a credit to the town at that time. Worse papers have been published since.
It was but a short time until Mr. Finch had all the newspaper experience he wanted. Joseph Greene then purchased the paper and ran it until 1854. During this time Ezra Van Metre, James J. Child, Esq., and James L. Enos were successively its editors.
James L. Enos had something to do with nearly every paper that was started during the early days of Linn county. He loved the smell of printer's ink. The types had a fascination for him. He delighted to see his thoughts reproduced in print. In September, 1854, he and F. Augustus Williams purchased Mr. Greene's interest in the Progressive Era. They changed the name to the Cedar Valley Times. They changed the politics of the paper from democratic to the new Americanism of that time. Then came the organization of the republican party. Like other adherents to the American party living in the north, the editors of the Times cast in their lot with the new republican party and warmly advocated and defended the principles on which it was founded.
One J. G. Davenport figures also in the early history of the Times. He had acquired an interest in the paper, and during the campaign he was its nominal editor, although there were not wanting those who declared that he had not the ability to write a three line notice of a church supper, let alone an editorial. Anyway, he made the Times his stepping stone into the postmaster's seat, and his conduct of that office was such that an investigation of his shortages followed. His bondsmen, one of whom was the late J. J. Snouffer, made good the loss, and shortly afterwards Davenport, after some more operations of a minor character and similar nature, left Cedar Rapids.
They were rare old political fighters in those days. Politics, rather than news, was the chief end and aim of the owner of a newspaper. When Greene, Merritt & Co. closed out Davenport, having held a bill of sale on the Times office, the Times was made the personal organ of Colonel William H. Merritt in his campaign against Kirkwood. To do this it had to change from republicanism to democracy, but it waged a hot fight, Colonel Merritt being its editor. However, Kirkwood was elected and in 1862 C. M. Hollis purchased the Times and he made great success of it up to 1866 when he disposed of the paper to Ayers and McClelland.
Much might be written about some of the old printers who helped to publish those early Linn county newspapers. There has been a host of them and they have included some notable men. One was no less a personage than Mr. Rosewater, of the Omaha Bee, who once worked as a journeyman printer in the office of the Slovan-Americky. It was when he was on his way to the west. Some of the old printers have long since passed away. One of the latest of them was Stephen M. Jones, who died at Hampton four years ago. Concerning his work here in Cedar Rapids, Captain J. O. Stewart, himself one of the veteran printers of the state, writes interestingly as follows:
"Stephen Jones commenced to learn the trade in the Progressive Era office in this city, in the year 1851, serving a four years' apprenticeship, at the end of which time he went to Vinton and worked in the Eagle office, at that time conducted by Fred Layman, I believe. The office of the Progressive Era was located on the corner of First street and Third avenue, where the Warfield-Pratt-Howell wholesale building now stands, and was the first paper published in Cedar Rapids. It was an old frame building erected by the Greene brothers and formerly used as a store room. At the time of this story the lower floor front was used on Sundays by the Episcopal church for service, the printing office was overhead and the back part, three stories, including basement, was used as a store room for dressed hogs. 'Steve,' as he was called, and your correspondent were what was known as 'printer's devils.' After some years residence in Vinton Steve got about a wheelbarrow load of material and started his paper in Hampton and christened it the Hampton Chronicle, which is still among the live, able newspapers in Iowa. He was later appointed postmaster of Hampton, which position he held for twelve years.
"There is one other who would rank with us if he is still living, and he was a few years ago, on his farm near Lone Tree in Johnson county. His name is Dan Shaffer. Dan, with a Mr. Foster, whose first name I have forgotten, were employed in the office doing the work on the Iowa Supreme Court Reports by Justice George Greene, formerly of this city. This was a book of some 600 or more pages and an edition of 500 volumes. This book can be found on the shelves of many of the Iowa lawyers, especially the older practitioners. This work was all done on a Washington hand press and 500 impressions was considered a good day's work. Steve's principal business, until he was relieved by the writer, was to ink the forms from which the impressions were made. This was done by passing over the type forms two large rollers made of glue and molasses, leaving and returning onto a large wooden roller revolved by a crank at one end, which process equally distributed the ink which was applied to the two rollers by a still smaller one and designated the 'brayer'--old printers will recognize the article. For nearly two years this was the principal part of the writer's duties, interspersed with hunting up and down the banks of the river dragging out floating slabs that got away from the saw mills up at the dam, for fuel for the office, the proprietors being too poor to buy cordwood at $1.75 per cord. The paper was published by Dan O. Finch who later became distinguished as a lawyer of high ability. The last I knew of him, a few years ago, he was still living, making his home with a son some place on the Pacific coast,--Seattle, I believe. The other publisher was William Williams, son of Chief Justice Williams of this state. The material was owned by the Greene brothers. Some time later the Era office was moved to the building that stood on the corner where the Rudolph store now is. The proprietors changed hands pretty often, and finally the paper came into the hands of Robert and LeRoy McCabe, older brothers of the famous Chaplain Charles C. McCabe, who then clerked for Greene Bros. in their store under the printing office. The Masonic lodge room was in the third story of this building. While the McCabe brothers conducted the paper your correspondent graduated and started out as a full fledged journeyman printer. It may be of interest to the craft of the day to give your correspondent's salary. The first year he was to receive $35, second $50, third $75, and the fourth the princely sum of $100. Out of this he was supposed to pay his board and furnish his clothing. The first job he secured after his apprenticeship was $10 per week and pay his own board. This was in the year 1856.
"The tramping jour. printers of those days, like Bret Harte's Heathen Chinee, were peculiar. As a class they were the best of workmen; bright and intelligent, knowing the 'art preservative' thoroughly, but possessed of that roving disposition so common to all printers of that time, and many of them given to drink. They would work for a time and get a little ahead and then get on a 'toot' and seek newer fields. They often resorted to peculiar methods to procure a job. I recall an incident while I was yet the 'devil' of the Era office. It was on the day we were moving the office to the new quarters. The heavy press and material had to be skidded from the second floor to the ground through a large door in the front of the building. When the heavier part of the press was partly down a rather tall, strong built, intelligent looking man put in an appearance. He watched the process for a short time not saying a word. Finally he took from his pocket a slip of dirty paper and wrote on it 'don't you need some help?' and handed it to the proprietor, Mr. Robert McCabe. He was asked if he could talk. His reply was simply by signs indicating that he was deaf and dumb. He proved an excellent help and stayed for more than three months, never indicating that he could speak. He was a skilled printer, but cross and particular, and often we 'devils' called him hard names to his face. But his time had come and he must have his periodical, and he did. He threw his money to the kids on the streets and had a jolly time, never once indicating he could speak. About the third day he came into the office and took Mr. McCabe to the lodge room above and wrote: 'What will they do to me if I talk?' Being assured that he would not be harmed and to the astonishment of the boss he reached out his hand and exclaimed, 'How are you, Bob?' The same surprise was waiting for the rest of us, and you may be assured we 'devils,' who had been giving him such choice names, were looking for a chance to hide. He soon left and I never heard of him again.
"As I have said, the publishers changed often, and for some time after the McCabe brothers left the paper it was hard to tell just who did manage the paper, the Greenes owning the material. After many vicissitudes, which all the papers of that early day had to pass through, it fell into the hands of Joseph Davenport, a practical printer who associated with him James L. Enos, well known and well remembered by the earlier settlers, who changed the name of the paper and re-christened it the Cedar Valley Times. Later it was changed to the Cedar Rapids Times, and was, after changing hands many times, finally owned by Dr. McClelland and L. M. Ayers, who published it for years, when it finally died of old age, owned and published by Dr. McClelland. The old Progressive Era was the original progenitor of your present Daily Times."
Full of interest are those old files of the Times which deal with the beginning of the war period in the history of Linn county. There is the description of a "democratic field day" in Cedar Rapids, October 10, 1860, when Stephen A. Douglas came over from Iowa City and spoke to the multitude. Bands came from Vinton and Mt. Vernon; drum corps from Bertram and Cedar Rapids. A local merchant bought a barrel of good whiskey, diluted it sufficiently to accommodate the capacity of the six thousand who made up the audience, sold all of it and counted the meeting as the best thing which ever had happened in Cedar Rapids. There was a parade of the "Wide-awakes" that night, and the visiting bands remained over to furnish a part of the inspiration. There were big posters, beginning with the couplet
"O, dinna ye hear the slogan, boys? 'Tis Douglas and his men."
That gave the editor of the Times an opportunity to write the first scare head which ever appeared in a Cedar Rapids newspaper. With the true newspaper instinct he remembered that slogan and used it for a sting at the end of the headline. This was the headline the week of the election:
"ELECTION OVER
ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS PRESIDENT-ELECT
Shout the Glad Tidings, Exultingly Sing; Old Abe is Elected and Cotton Ain't King--Secession Rebuked--Popular Sovereignty Now Here--Fusion Worse Confounded--The Bell Tolling for the Dead--Union Preserved--Dinna Ye Hear the Slogan."
Mr. C. M. Hollis, who was editor of the Cedar Valley Times from 1862 to 1866, gives an illuminating insight into the history of Linn county during the early days of the war:
"My office in Cedar Rapids was naturally the meeting place of politicians. There the men who controlled or sought to control got together and talked plainly. And the plain talk of politicians is very different from the phrasings which they use in public speeches. It was thus that our Linn county leaders reasoned. 'This war is becoming something in which the whole people have intense interest. They will judge of men from the fact of participation or opposition. When the struggle is over the men who control in politics will be those who have been soldiers.' And so these men went after commissions. They were wise and far-seeing and reaped reward of their prudence as well as of their valor. I saw the commission of one Linn county man made out for the majoralty in an Iowa regiment, not only before the regiment had been organized, but even before a single company had been raised. I saw another for a colonelcy, fixed out ahead in the same way, by reason of political grace and pull. Not but what these men, and others, made good officers. I am only explaining the reasoning which prompted some of them to enter service, and the means which were most efficacious in securing prominent places.
"And after a time it was considered that to get a high commission was tantamount to drawing a big political prize. Men were thus rewarded for their assistance given to successful candidates, and opponents found their way to army prominence beset with many obstacles. You know that a movement was started in Linn county to defeat Kirkwood for governor for the second term. This developed considerable strength, and a ticket was nominated with William H. Merritt of Cedar Rapids at its head. Merritt had been lieutenant-colonel of the First Iowa, and his was known as the 'fusion' ticket. It was an attempt to combine 'war democrats' and some elements of the republican party. Kirkwood was successful, and those men who had sought his defeat were, naturally, persona non grata with the state government. When commissions were going they were not remembered. Seymour D. Carpenter was one of these. But he did finally become surgeon of a regiment, because there was crying need for surgeons. Then when he was away from gubernatorial influence promotion was rapid, and the doctor was given a position as medical director of a department. Ellsworth N. Bates was another who suffered because of participation in the anti-Kirkwood movement. Mr. Bates persisted, however, and his merits and standing could not be ignored. He was elected captain of a company. With his regiment he served with more than usual credit, until he sickened and came home to die. There were others in Cedar Rapids and in Linn county who had similar experiences. Some of those who are still living, if they would but give full statements, would verify my remark that the proportion of politics mixed with the patriotism of those times was greater than is generally known.
"Speaking of Ellsworth N. Bates recalls to mind one whose name deserves to be remembered in Cedar Rapids and in Linn county. He came to the town fresh from college. He was a real scholar and a man of rare natural abilities. He had the art of making friends--of gaining and retaining esteem of all who knew him. He was one of the very best public speakers I have ever heard--quick to respond to varying occasion, with ready thought and a phenomenal command of language. His choice of words and use of appropriate imagery made his addresses models of their kind. As a lawyer he met with instant success. He represented Linn county in the legislature, and was acknowledged as a strong man among the law-makers. He made a splendid fight for the state senatorship candidacy, against H. G. Angle. He was assistant secretary of the second constitutional convention of Iowa. When the war broke out he was one of those who did much to rouse sentiment for support of the government. Then he raised Company A of the Twentieth, and proved himself a real soldier in camp and field. When he came home, near to death, he had lost none of his old enthusiasm. He and I were intimate friends, and to me he told his plans for the future. Had E. N. Bates lived, I know that he would have ranked among the real statesmen of Iowa. As it was he accomplished more and had greater influence upon contemporaneous affairs than many whose deeds are very carefully preserved."
Mr. Hollis also tells us how newspapers were made in that awful period of the nation's history:
"We were not sensationalists in those days. The events that we had to chronicle needed no trickery of headlines or large type to command attention. Here are the lists of dead and wounded in an Iowa regiment at the battle of Winchester," and the old editor opened a file of the Times for 1864-65. "Do you think it needed a flaming poster effect to secure reading of that column? There are the names of friends and neighbors. To some of the readers of that paper those names represented their dearest ones. Those who had brothers or fathers, or sons or sweethearts in that regiment read over the battle lists with a fearful anxiety. We were giving weekly chronicle of facts--they have not yet been arranged into the order of definite history. When we wrote editorials it was not pretended that we understood all there was to the struggle. Only when and where we caught the partial views or grasped the immediate meaning of some development we gave our opinions. These may have been prejudiced by our personal sentiments or our political affiliations, but I believe, as a rule, the editorial utterances of those years were from the souls of the writers and had the ring of sincerity. And, with but few exceptions, the newspapers of Iowa were loyal. They directed or seconded loyal sentiment on all occasions. Few of the editors of those weeklies gained wealth or distinction, but they deserve to be remembered for a splendid work. They, too, are among 'the forgotten worthies.' It cost money to run even a weekly paper during the war years. When I began as publisher of the Times print paper cost $6 a bundle; before the war was over I was paying $16 for the same quality and amount. And wages ran up and up, as printers were more difficult to secure; until I was paying double what I had first found necessary."
At the close of the war the newspapers of the county began to turn their attention to other evils. A wave of temperance sentiment swept the county, and some of the editors were foremost among the fighters. The county was aroused by the great amount of crime. Much of it emanated from Cedar Rapids. "Can we expect," asked one writer in Cedar Rapids, "peace and quiet in a place of 3,000 inhabitants which supports not fewer than nineteen liquor establishments and several houses of ill fame and does not support a single reading room nor a public library?"
Then, as now, the newspapers were the best "boosters" of their respective communities. They were the first to point out the advantages in each community and to suggest ways in which natural advantages might lead to commercial growth and civic prosperity. Thus a writer in a Cedar Rapids paper, after enumerating and commending the progress made by the town since its organization, dwelt upon the value of the water power, pointed out how the woolen mills then in operation might be made more effective. There was an abundance of timber around Cedar Rapids at that time and he advocated the establishment of saw mills in the city. He saw no reason why staves should be brought all the way from Michigan to Cedar Rapids, when they might as well be manufactured here at home. He advocated that a packing house be established in this city, instead of shipping the hogs from Cedar Rapids to Chicago and then shipping the meat back. "This is only one item that would keep thousands of dollars in our town that now go out," he argued. He wanted a hub and a spoke factory, a fanning mill factory, and as for a "paper mill there is no better point in the state."
History moves in ever repeating cycles and some of the things for which this old editor fought are still needed today in Cedar Rapids and in other towns of Linn county. But each cycle is better than the last. Proof of this is seen in the dispute which was waged over freight rates less than a decade after the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railway had been built into this city. The grain rates from Cedar Rapids to Chicago were thirty cents a hundred pounds and the noise of protest which was made then was quite similar to the noise which is sometimes
THE NEWSPAPER GRAVEYARD
The newspaper graveyard was established very early in the history of the county and it is still claiming its victims. Among its early victims was the Cedar Rapids Democrat. It was issued by W. W. Perkins & Co. Somehow or other, democracy never flourished greatly in the Linn county newspaper field, and the early democratic editors had not learned the art of switching to a "progressive" side. So their papers died. The Democrat lived a year and a half. It deserved a better fate, for it was well edited and printed.
In 1853 a monthly agricultural paper called the Cedar Valley Farmer was commenced by James L. Enos. It lived through the first volume, but a grave was opened for it before it had reached the tender age of two years.
The Voice of Iowa was commenced in January, 1857, under the auspices of the Iowa Teachers and Phonetic associations, James L. Enos editor-in-chief, assisted by a board of corresponding editors. It was continued through two volumes and was then merged with another journal.
In the autumn of 1864 A. G. Lucas & Co. commenced the publication of the Cedar Rapids Atlas. In January, 1865, it was changed to a weekly. Then it was enlarged. Its place in the newspaper graveyard was prepared a few weeks later. The editor and publisher had gone to study the geography of other fields, but he did not take his debts with him. The office was sold to satisfy them. This so weakened the shoulders of the Atlas that it was not strong enough to hold up.
The Western World was born into a cold and unresponsive world, and soon it joined the ranks of the dear departed.
Then came the Linn County Signal which its authors hoped would be a signal success. But its signals became tangled and it failed to kick over the goal of success. It kicked the bucket instead. T. G. Newman, the father of A. H. Newman of the Cedar Rapids Candy Company, purchased the remains. From them he made the office of the Daily Observer, with J. L. Enos as editor. From the Observer came the Cedar Rapids Republican. This was in 1870. In 1902 there was re-born the Cedar Rapids Times. The father Republican and the strong and lusty son Times are both in the full vigor of their powers, and this evolution of the two powerful dailies from the amoeba-like weakly Signal is the most conspicuous example of newspaper evolution and the survival of the fittest on record.
The present Cedar Rapids Times is not to be confounded with the Cedar Rapids Weekly Times which had such a long and prosperous growth under the management of Editor Hollis, and later of the good Doctor McClelland. The Weekly Times lived until the death of Doctor McClelland, and it was a power for good. Then came two gentlemen from Milwaukee who converted it into a daily. They had a great run as long as their cash and their credit held out. And they were good newspaper men, too. But they drew nearer and nearer the gateway to the great and yawning newspaper graveyard. There were many mourners in Cedar Rapids when the Times was buried. It had been purified before its death by its conspicuous work in a great tent revival conducted by an evangelist, M. B. Williams. This revival the other dailies refused even to mention. The Times had a great deal of broadcloth endorsement. But the eulogies proved to be its premature obituaries. Cash came slowly. Advertising was coy. With the fall of the leaves came the death of the Times. The Gazette bought up the household furnishings, the subscription lists and the good will. But the Times was buried, and the ghost of competition which had haunted the Gazette office was laid until the owners of the present Evening Times resurrected the name amid a riot of red ink during the strenuous municipal campaign of 1902.
STANDARD HAD A LONG LIFE
The Cedar Rapids Standard, like the Cedar Valley Times, had a long life. It was first established in Marion in 1868, as the Linn County Signal, by F. H. Williams. The following year it was removed to Cedar Rapids, and Thomas G. Newman became the owner. In 1872 the name was changed to the Linn County Liberal, and the office was moved back to Marion. In 1873 James T. Simpkins became editor. The following year the plant made a final trip to Cedar Rapids and was changed to the Standard. For a long time it flourished, having a number of owners and editors. Among them were Thomas G. Newman, C. E. Heath, A. H. Newman, D. H. Ogden, H. A. Cook, Frank L. Millar, and in June, 1880, Charles H. Playter, of the Des Moines Daily Leader, came to town and bought a half interest of Mr. Millar. The firm name became Millar & Playter. This partnership continued until the fall of 1885, when Mr. Playter bought out his partner and became the sole owner. In the fall of 1886 Mr. Playter sold the Standard to S. B. Ayers, who conducted it through the triumphal period of Iowa democracy, when Horace Boies sat in the gubernatorial chair. It was a strong democratic paper and had a large patronage in Linn county at that time. Later L. S. Saner became the editor. But the hard times came. Rightly or wrongly they were blamed on the democratic party. Republicanism triumphed; McKinley was elected. The Standard of the democratic party was trailed in the dust. It soon died and took its place in the Cedar Rapids journalistic graveyard.
The Marion Pilot was established in 1871 at Mt. Vernon, as the Linn County Pilot, and C. W. Kepler was editor. In 1874 the office was removed to Marion and the paper was owned by Beatty & Whittits. It continued under this management for several years and was one of the strong republican papers of the county. In 1884 it was purchased by the Rev. J. W. Chaffee and its name was changed to the Marion Pilot. He built up a good paper, putting it in the front rank of the weekly papers of the state. But with his passing from the editorial chair and the rapid rise of the daily press in Cedar Rapids and its rival county seat newspapers its power and prestige waned. In 1906 it yielded up the ghost and was assigned to an honored place among those that have passed on.
The Good Ones Which Remain
THE DAILY REPUBLICAN AND THE EVENING TIMES
As narrated above, the Daily Republican is the outgrowth of the daily Observer. In 1872 the Observer was transferred to the Republican Printing Company, and the name, which at first was the Cedar Rapids Republican, was changed to the Daily Republican, the present name of the paper.
A daily and weekly issue was published and the paper grew rapidly. For a time it was edited by William B. Leach. In 1877 it passed into the hands of the Republican Printing Company, who put in a great amount of capital and enlarged the office. There were many editors during this period. In March, 1881, the office was leased to J. R. Sage and D. G. Goodrich, with an option of sale within a year. During this period the paper was changed from an evening to a morning issue and an Associated Press franchise was secured, giving the paper full news service.
Before the lease had expired Messrs. Sage and Goodrich had exercised their right to purchase the plant. On March 1, 1882, it was transferred to J. R. Sage, Johnson Brigham, Fred Benzinger, and H. P. Keyes. This quartette reorganized the old Republican Printing Company, with J. R. Sage as president. Nearly two years later Mr. Sage transferred his interest to Mr. Brigham, and later on Messrs. Keyes and Benzinger transferred their interest to L. S. Merchant. Messrs. Brigham and Merchant conducted the paper, Mr. Merchant as business manager and Mr. Brigham as editor, until 1892, when Mr. Brigham sold his interest and went to Des Moines to start the first Iowa literary magazine, the Midland Monthly. Mr. Sage had previously gone to Des Moines to become the director of the Iowa weather and crop service.
Mr. Brigham's interest was purchased by Luther A. Brewer, who had been assistant business manager, W. R. Boyd, who had done some editorial work for the paper while living at home in Cedar county, and by L. S. Merchant. The paper was at the beginning of what seemed to be an uninterrupted period of ownership and prosperity when death suddenly claimed Mr. Merchant in 1894. Mrs. Merchant retained her husband's interest and the paper went on as before and waged a fight against free silver in the campaign of 1896 which made it nationally prominent. Mr. Brewer in the meantime had built up a very large job printing and book binding department.
In 1898 the entire plant was sold to H. G. McMillan, of Rock Rapids, at that time United States district attorney, and Cyrenus Cole, who had for many years been associate editor of the Iowa State Register. Mr. Boyd became postmaster at Cedar Rapids, but Mr. Brewer remained with the paper as its business manager for some time. An evening edition, the Evening Times, was started in 1902, and made a rapid growth. It now has the largest circulation of any daily paper in Cedar Rapids.
In 1907 Mr. Brewer left the business and opened up a big book-making plant of his own known as The Torch Press. In July of the same year however, The Torch Press bought out the interest of Mr. McMillan and the Daily Republican and the Evening Times have since been owned and published by Messrs. Brewer and Cole. The substantial building on Second avenue which had been erected during the regime of Messrs. Brigham and Merchant proved far too small and the property was sold. A large and modern newspaper and book-making building, four stories high, was erected at the corner of Fourth avenue and Third street, the present home of the Daily Republican, the Evening Times, The Torch Press Printery and Bindery, and The Torch Press Book-shop, which latter is managed by William Harvey Miner and is the biggest and most largely patronized book shop west of Chicago.
THE EVENING GAZETTE
There is not a great deal of "history" concerning the Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, which has been one of the conspicuous successes among Iowa daily newspapers since it was started in 1883. On June 10 of that year, the daily Gazette was founded by Messrs. Otis and Post. A weekly issue of the paper was started at the same time. In March, 1884, the Gazette Company was organized, and in July of that year the entire stock was purchased by Messrs. Fred W. Faulkes and Clarence L. Miller. The paper has had the same ownership ever since that time. The late editor Faulkes was a pungent and versatile writer, and under his editorial management the Gazette rapidly rose to a commanding position in the Iowa newspaper field. It began as a republican newspaper. But after the memorable Frank D. Jackson campaign in 1893 Editor Faulkes became estranged from Governor Jackson and some of the other leaders of the republican party. Thereafter he was inclined to espouse the cause of democracy and the Gazette came to be regarded as the democratic newspaper of Linn county. Still later it grew more independent, in matters of politics.
Since the death of Fred Faulkes the Gazette has been published under the supervision of its business manager Clarence L. Miller. Like the other dailies of the city it has abandoned the weekly field.
THE SATURDAY RECORD
The Saturday Record is the outgrowth of a little amateur paper started away back in 1879 by Ralph Van Vechten, at present vice-president of the Continental and Commercial National Bank of Chicago. He was then a student with a taste for printer's ink and he started a little literary paper, known as the Stylus. Soon after that he was joined by Arthur J. Huss, and the two of them ran the Stylus. In the spring of 1882 Mr. Van Vechten went into his uncle's bank. The paper passed into the hands of A. J. Mallahan, and after a little time was temporarily discontinued. But Mr. Huss gained new courage and perhaps new capital. September 10, 1882, he started the Cedar Rapids People. It continued as a seven column folio until March, 1884, when it was bought by Fred Benzinger and R. Baer and its name changed to the Saturday Evening Chat. July 1, 1887, Fred Benzinger bought out Mr. Baer's interest and ran the paper for a number of years until he went to Chicago, where for a time he was one of the prominent figures on the old Chicago Times-Herald. Then the paper was acquired by B. R. Hatmaker, forever famous because of the sobriquet for Cedar Rapids which flashed into his mind one dreamful day--"The Parlor City."
In 1889 Ernest A. Sherman came to this city and was city editor of the morning Republican for a while. In February. 1891, he started Town Topics. He ran it until late in the spring of that year and then he consolidated with Hatmaker's Saturday Record. He became the editor, and Hatmaker was business manager until 1892 when Mr. Sherman bought the whole business. Since that time the Record has been a permanent feature in Cedar Rapids, the largest and neatest of the weeklies, being printed in quarto form on book paper with many illustrations and spicy comment on "mentionable matters" of Cedar Rapids, with all the local news well edited.
THE IOWA POST
The Iowa Post was founded in April, 1881, at Iowa City. After passing through the hands of several owners, it was purchased in March, 1902, by Henry Gundling of Chicago and brought to this city. Mr. Gundling changed the paper from a weekly to a semi-weekly and in an incredibly short time he had trebled the number of his subscribers. Mr. Gundling had a high school education in Germany, followed by an apprenticeship there of three years. He had sixteen years experience in Chicago and he has travelled extensively on three continents. He is, therefore, thoroughly equipped as an editor and this accounts for the high standard of his paper which is eagerly read by a very large constituency in this and adjoining counties and especially at the colony of Amana.
THE WEST SIDE ENTERPRISE
The West Side Enterprise is one of the latest newspapers in the Linn county field, having been started December 30, 1909. But it is one of the liveliest as well as one of the latest. W. I. Endicott is the owner and publisher, and he is a whole newspaper force in himself. Every issue of the Enterprise contains something which makes somebody sit up and take notice. It is a paper devoted to the work of booming the west side; but it is read on both sides of the river by an ever increasing number of readers.
IOWA STAATS-ZEITUNG
The Iowa Staats-Zeitung was established in the year 1879 by A. Hunt, who continued as publisher and editor for many years--until he retired from the newspaper business. The paper was then bought by John Young and afterwards sold to the Charles Stoudt Printing Company, who came from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids to make their home. The company consists of Charles Stoudt, the publisher, and E. J. Stoudt, editor. The paper is one of the largest German weeklies in the state, publishing from twelve to twenty-four pages each issue and going all over the state. It guarantees to have the largest circulation of any German paper published in Iowa.
OTHER CEDAR RAPIDS PAPERS
Several other Cedar Rapids newspapers ought to be mentioned. The Cedar Rapids Listy, a Bohemian humorous paper, was established in 1906. Fr. Hradecky is its editor and publisher. The Optimus is a republican weekly edited by E. C. Barber, and is a most uncompromising foe of democracy in all its form. It was established in 1906. The Slovan-Ameriky is a democratic Bohemian paper, one of the oldest, for it was established in 1869 and has held the even tenor of its way since that time through the sunshine and storm of democracy. John B. Letovsky & Sons are the editors and publishers, and they have been putting out a good paper week in and week out, year after year.
The Tribune is the organ of the Federation of Labor in Cedar Rapids. It was started in 1903 and has had a remarkable success. Its first editor was G. F. Taylor who gave the paper a great start and it is now edited by R. G. Stewart, who fills its columns full of gingery stuff week after week and shines best when there is a big political scrap on hand.
THE MARION REGISTER
In 1852 one A. Hoyt came all the way from New York to blaze the way of modern journalism on the prairies of Iowa. He established a paper called the Prairie Star. But the Star didn't shine long. Mr. Hoyt found Iowa so different from old New York. Like the wise men of the east, after he had let go of most of the treasures he brought with him he retraced his steps to the east and the paper passed into the hands of J. H. and G. H. Jennison. They were Whigs with a big W and they renamed the Star as the Linn County Register.
When the republican party was organized, the Linn County Register became one of its most able and enthusiastic advocates in the county. The late Judge N. M. Hubbard was in active politics at that time and during that memorable campaign he conducted the Register. Ah, "thim were the days." The judge was a past master in the art of "skinning" an opponent. That was the method of political fighting in those days and no editor ever had a sharper knife than Judge Hubbard. He used to say in later years that it was one of the most enjoyable periods of his whole life.
"I made the paper grow," he said. "Everybody wanted to get it to see whose hide was put on the fence that week."
The judge lived to tell the tale, but after the fun was all over and the battle had been won he decided that railroad law practice was more profitable than editing a newspaper. The Register passed back into the editorship of J. H. Jennison. The next year Robert Holmes became its editor and subsequently its proprietor. He held this position for five years and it was five years of the most important period in the history of the county. Mr. Holmes successfully conducted the paper through the great struggle of the Civil war, and up till 1863 when he sold it to A. G. Lucas. Its name was then changed to the Linn County Patriot.
In September, 1864, there came from Cedar county, a young soldier-lawyer, S. W. Rathbun. He purchased the plant and changed the name of the paper to the Marion Register. He has been editor of the Register ever since that time. He has a few more gray hairs, a few more wrinkles, and a bit more avoirdupois than he had then, but he still wields a trenchant pen, still makes the Register a readable and interesting paper. It has been one of the most influential papers among the weekly press of Linn county, and has always been firmly republican.
THE MARION SENTINEL
The Marion Sentinel was originally called the Springville Independent, being established at Springville in the year 1879 by Fred Chamberlain, who afterwards served as county superintendent of the schools of Linn county. It was a seven-column folio, independent in politics, the forerunner of the independent papers of the county. It grew rapidly, and by 1884 had increased to a twelve-page paper. An edition was also published for Prairieburg, and one for Central City. In 1885 it had a circulation of 1600. It met with some reverses in 1886 and on July 1 of that year it was moved to Marion and its name changed to the Linn County Independent. Mr. Chamberlain made a big success of it in Marion. The name of the paper was then changed to the Marion Sentinel. Later O. M. Smith was taken into partnership. The paper then changed from an independent to a democratic paper, and has remained democratic until the present time, the only simon pure democratic paper in Linn county at the present time.
In July, 1891, Mr. Smith sold the paper to Mr. J. J. Galliven, at that time employed as train dispatcher for the Milwaukee railroad. He conducted it for less than three months, selling it on September 19, 1891, to its present owner, T. T. Williams. During the greater part of the time since then C. S. Shanklin, one of the ablest political writers of the state, has been in charge of the Sentinel's editorial page. The paper is one of the brightest and newsiest in the county.
THE MT. VERNON HAWKEYE
That splendid Linn county paper, the Mt. Vernon Hawkeye, was established January 1, 1869, by J. T. Rice, as the Linn County Hawk-Eye. Mr. Rice was well known in the early history of the county, and in late years was a resident of Denver, Colorado, where he died within the past year.
The Hawk-Eye was bought by S. H. Bauman on June 1, 1869, within five months after the paper was established, and its name was changed to the Mount Vernon Hawk-Eye. Mr. S. H. Bauman continued the business and was joined in partnership by his son, A. A. Bauman, January 1, 1892. On July 1, 1899, S. H. Bauman retired entirely, and the paper was then conducted by his sons, A. A. and Fred A. Bauman. This partnership was dissolved November 17, 1909, since which time the paper has been published by A. A. Bauman.
The paper has always been republican in politics and has never been shaken by the winds of temporary popular prejudice or passion. It has had an abiding conviction of political honesty and integrity and it has been conducted on a high plane. It has rendered good service in the building up of Mt. Vernon and the county generally.
THE WALKER NEWS
The Walker News was established as a seven-column folio in February, 1883, by David Brant, at present the owner and editor of the Iowa City Daily Republican. He continued as owner and editor for seven years, and then the paper passed to the hands of Charles A. Durno, Mr. Brant going to Cedar Rapids to become city editor of the Gazette.
In July, 1891, Mr. Durno sold a half interest in the business to C. O. and J. Barry, who, in January, 1892, acquired the remaining half interest, Mr. Durno retiring. Mr. Durno was later appointed to a position in the government printing office at Washington, D. C, and died in that city a few years ago. The Barrys are still in possession of the News, which is one of the brightest and most influential newspapers in the county.
THE CENTER POINT JOURNAL
The Center Point Journal is a republican weekly, owned and edited by J. A. Mahuran, one of the ablest of the Linn county newspaper men. The paper has had its ups and downs and for a time it was chiefly noted for its ardent campaign for a fishway in the dam across the Cedar river at Cedar Rapids. That was during the days of Editor Barber.
The Journal grew out of the Lotus which was started at Center Point, May 15, 1873, by J. F. Wilson & Co. T. J. Metcalf was its first editor, and he filled the leaves of the Lotus with spice and sweetness until 1874 when W. T. Baker took charge and subsequently committed suicide. But that was not the fault of the Lotus. The office was then sold to H. A. Cook, of Cedar Rapids.
In 1876 T. J. Metcalf and S. M. Dunlap purchased the plant and changed the name of the paper to the Center Point Mirror, the first issue appearing November 18. Then Mr. Metcalf bought out Mr. Dunlap's interest, and afterwards G. L. Wilson became the owner, changing its name to the Courier-Journal. M. A. Oxley and Charles F. Floyd afterwards bought the paper and it finally reached the hands of its present owner.
THE SPRINGVILLE NEW ERA
Springville is one of the best of the Linn county towns and it has one of the best of the Linn county papers, the Springville New Era. Its first issue appeared August 9, 1882. It was a six-column folio, independent in politics, and was established by J. B. F. Butler. In November, 1882, C. S. Shanklin became its editor. At this time it was changed to a six-column quarto. It became a democratic paper but lately grew towards independence in politics, a growing tendency among modern newspapers. There were some more changes of ownership and finally the paper was purchased by O. E. Crane, its present publisher and editor, under whom it has risen to a popularity and prosperity never before attained.
THE LISBON HERALD
Lisbon has one good weekly, the Herald. The Sun was the first paper having been started August 27, 1874, by J. W. Zeigenfus. It was not a success at the start, or at least it did not bring in the coin of the realm rapidly enough to suit its proprietor, and he soon sold it to C. J. Weatherbee. He held it for a few weeks and sold it to W. T. Baker. Baker managed it admirably for a time but he later shot himself through the head in his office and for a time the paper was conducted by W. L. Davis for his widow. Then the Rev. Dewalt S. Fouse became its editor and did some good work upon it. So did A. M. Floyd, one of the best of Linn county's newspaper men. But finally the Sun went down.
The Herald has been vigorous and active and prosperous since it was established in 1894 and it was never so prosperous as now. Under the able management of Will F. Stahl the paper has grown in size and in circulation and every issue is filled with up-to-date news and interesting comment. It is a paper of which Lisbon should be proud.
CENTRAL CITY NEWS-LETTER
Situated in a valley of entrancing beauty, the valley of the Wapsie river, Central City is one of the most beautiful towns in Iowa and it certainly is one of the most up-to-date. Much of its growth and its prestige is due to the fact that for many years it has had a first-class newspaper. The Central City News-Letter, which was started in 1888, has had a line of able men as its editors and they have all done their best to make the city grow. None of them ever worked harder at it than E. S. Weatherbee, who is the owner and the editor of the paper, the postmaster, the mayor, and an all-around booster for his town.
THE COGGON MONITOR
Since 1889 Coggon has had a newspaper, the Coggon Monitor. It has had a number of owners, but it is established on a firm basis. Clarence Cole was the editor until April of this year, when he sold the paper to William Crosier.
THE MT. VERNON RECORD
In 1893, the Mount Vernon Record was established and it has had a successful and gratifying growth under the management of Lloyd McCutcheon, its publisher and editor. Advertising came slowly at first, as it always does to a new paper, but at present the merchants of Mt. Vernon are giving it good support. The paper has been "progressive"--strongly progressive in its editorial policies and there are many progressives in that neighborhood who have backed it.
Chapter XVI
The Bohemian Element in the County
It is not the purpose of this history to note in especial manner all the different nationalities that have entered into the making of our cosmopolitan population. America is peopled by sturdy men and women who have come to this land of opportunity and freedom from all the civilized nations of the world. It is the amalgamation of these different races and peoples that has done much to give us our sturdy citizenship. Driven from their old homes by persecutions or the desire to better their condition, they have come to America and have helped populate our prairies and develope our cities. They have needed the opportunities here given them, and we have needed them in our work of erecting on this continent a nation that shall be an example to all the nations.
By far the largest and most important element of foreign extraction represented in Linn county is the Bohemian. Some of our townships are almost entirely populated by these progressive immigrants and their descendants, and a goodly percentage of the residents of Cedar Rapids trace back their Slav ancestry to old Bohemia. These people have always made good citizens. They possess the desirable faculty of adapting themselves readily to new environments. Without destroying their own vigorous vitality, they grasp quickly the best there is in our thought and mode of life. They have borne nobly their share of the burdens incident to the establishment of new centers of civilization and of progress. They have acted their part in our civic life. They have adapted themselves to and have adopted our institutions. They have helped and are helping to make the county and the city centers of growth and prosperity. Trained through the years in habits of economy, and forced through necessity to keep up these habits, their life here has often been an incentive to others to go and do likewise. Lovers of the home, their ambition is to possess their own abiding place, and that as quickly as possible. The Bohemians are not renters. They are a class of home owners, and nothing is so potent for stability in any community as this trait on the part of its people. They are indeed a thrifty people, such as every state and county and city gladly welcome. Their buildings, though many of them may be small, are substantial in their character. The gardens and the grounds surrounding the dwellings in the towns and cities are neatly kept and attractive to the eye. Their farms are well tilled and as a result grow rapidly in productiveness and value.
Our Bohemian citizens bear their part in the administration of public affairs. And they always make good in the positions in which they are placed. They have helped make our city councils; they have been men of ability and of influence on our school boards. They are numbered among our successful merchants and bankers. Indeed, there is scarce a line of human endeavor in which they have not been represented by men of capacity and of worth.
At the request of the editors of this history Joseph Mekota, himself a splendid representative of a splendid people, contributes the following sketch of the Bohemian people to this volume:
The history of the Bohemian people in Linn county does not differ greatly from the general history of this people in our country. Driven from their native land, on account of political persecution and official oppression, they sought America as the haven of liberty and opportunity. They brought with them an abundance of patience, industry, perseverance, and hope. Their beginning was full of hardships, privations, and obstacles. Their chief capital was their health and willingness to toil, and their ability to stand hardship. These were their native heritage. Coming to this country poor, unacquainted with its customs, its language, and its laws, their beginning had but few silver linings.
Despite these inauspicious surroundings these early pioneers were contented and happy. Physical and material hardships and trials were cheerfully borne for the joys and sweetness of political and religious liberty. Under the broad and clear skies of the religious, political, and intellectual tolerance of America they felt the realization of the unfulfilled dreams of the glorious but unsuccessful struggles of their ancestors a century ago. Such a fine spirit towards the highest ideals in life and civilization, combined with inexhaustible energy and patience in industrial pursuits, has made this people loyal to our institutions and useful to the development and progress of our country.
The early settlers came to this county with teams and wagons. At that time there were no railroads west of the Mississippi river. Many of them came from Caledonia, Wisconsin, with ox teams. Others came by railroad as far as the Mississippi river. One member of a family who came here in 1855 said: "They dumped us out at Muscatine and from there we hired teams and conveyances to take us to Cedar Rapids. We moved south of the city and lived under a tree that summer. When we wanted to buy anything we took a sample of the article in one hand and the amount of money we wished to expend in the other and would show that to our neighbors and make them understand what we wanted."
These early settlers devoted themselves to agricultural pursuits. Most of them located on or near timber lands so that they would have plenty of fuel. Fuel was very scarce in their native land, and it was easier to build their sheds if they were in the timber. The prairies at that time were not desirable for location. A large portion of College township, which is now the best farming country in the state of Iowa, at that time was full of marshes, and high grass, and strong winds prevailed so that the early settlers avoided the prairies and located in timber districts.
The early Bohemian settlers came to Linn county about the years 1852 and 1853. So far as known, the following families were among the early pioneers: The Ligr family about the year 1852 settled east of Ely. John Posler, in the year 1853, also located about eight miles southeast of the city. In 1854 or earlier, Paul Korab and his family settled about one mile east of the present town of Western, where also settled at that time John Witousek. The Korab family came here with an ox team from the state of Wisconsin by way of Dubuque. That year, 1854, Jacob Polak located about ten miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, and with him was Joseph Sosel. These families also came with teams from the state of Wisconsin. Anton Sulek located in the north part of Johnson county in 1854, and he afterwards lived near Hoosier Grove in this county on a beautiful, elevated spot called "Hradek," and meaning "Little Castle." Many other families came in 1855 and settled along the border line between Johnson and Linn counties, in College and Putnam townships. The numbers that came were not great, and it was not until after the Civil war that large numbers of these people came to this county.
Among these people Joseph Sosel was a character of distinction. His scholarly attainments combined with his love of intellectual and political freedom easily made him the leader among his people. He was a political exile. He took an active part in the uprising of Bohemian students in the year 1848. This movement was for more political rights and broader freedom for the people in Bohemia. The uprising did not meet with success, and for his patriotic activity a price was set upon his head by the Austrian government. With many other students, who were in the same predicament, he escaped to this country. With him came Karel Jonas, who afterwards became lieutenant-governor of the state of Wisconsin; and with them also came Vojtech Naprstek, who left a name in Bohemian history that is known to every Bohemian.
In this locality Mr. Sosel rendered many valuable services to his countrymen; being able to talk the English language, he became their legal and business adviser. He was loyal to his countrymen, and at all times insisted that they should learn and observe the customs of their new country. He served faithfully the interests of his people, and his memory will forever be kindly remembered by them for the many and useful services which he faithfully rendered.
Up to the time of the Civil war, the Bohemian immigration was slow, but from those that were here quite a number enlisted from this county to preserve the integrity of their new country. Among those known who enlisted were the following: J. F. Bednar, Frank Renchin, Frank Peremsky, Joseph Wencel, Joseph Podhajsky, John Maly, Joseph Zahradnik, Charles Bednar, Joseph Horak, Wesley Horak, Frank Dolezal, Joseph Dolezal.
After the Civil war Cedar Rapids became a prominent center of Bohemian population. Many came direct from their own country, others came from neighboring states, and still others came from the surrounding country in this state. So that at all times this city always had a large percentage of people of Bohemian origin, larger than any other city of its size in the state of Iowa. In the county they settled in Putnam, College and Franklin townships. From the year 1866, after the Prussian war in Austria, to 1880 were perhaps the banner years of Bohemian emigration to this country. These people all located in the city or southeast of the city. There are today in Cedar Rapids about 8,500 inhabitants of this nationality and about 2,500 more in other parts of the county. They are now scattered all over the county, but large and heavy settlements are in Putnam and College townships, these being almost exclusively settled by Bohemians. There is a large settlement in Fairfax township, and there are settlements in Franklin, Bertram, Boulder, and Grant townships.
In agriculture they are successful farmers. No better improved farms, no better buildings, no better systems of farming exist in any other part of the state than in the communities settled by these people. They are progressive and up to date in all matters. They are hard working people and devoted to the interests of their farms.
In Cedar Rapids they have also played an important part. A large majority came to this country very lightly endowed with worldly goods, but they were strong in health and body and not afraid to work. A very large percentage of these people belong to the laboring class. The women in the families worked as hard, if not harder, than the men. The first ambition of these people after their arrival in this country was to own a home. The father would work, the mother would work, and the children would work in order to buy and pay for a home. A great many of them bought vacant lots and improved them by erecting neat and comfortable dwellings. At times it was claimed they took their children out of school too early in order that they might work. In the early times there existed circumstances which could not very well avoid this situation. The wages were low; families as a rule were large and in order to pay for a home and in order that the debts be paid, and to meet expenses, it was necessary in many cases to press the children into service. This custom became somewhat contagious among the men, women, and children. One family was bound to earn and make as much money as its neighbors, and therefore had to have as many members of the family working. It is a source of congratulation that this custom, which had been one of necessity, is now losing ground among the ranks of this nationality and their children are kept in school as long as any children among other American people.
The Bohemian people from the very first held tenaciously to their mother tongue. While they were loyal to our public schools and other institutions, they took steps to preserve and cultivate the mother tongue among themselves and their children. As early as 1868 a society called the "Reading Society" was organized. The purpose of this society was to cultivate the Bohemian language; give aid to Bohemian schools; furnish the best books of Bohemian literature to the people of our city, and in every way possible to promote and awaken the love for Bohemian language and history among the people. It was a center of national life and spirit. In this laudable purpose the Reading Society of Cedar Rapids has met with unparalleled success.
The society today owns a fine library of nearly 3,000 volumes of the best works of history, art, and literature in the Bohemian tongue. Besides this, the Reading Society has always been helpful, and largely instrumental in starting, promoting, and encouraging other organizations of national character.
The Bohemian people are fond of the theatre and theatrical performances. At about the time that the Reading Society was organized, they started an association for the purpose of giving theatrical performances in the Bohemian tongue. The plays given were popular and successful, and on many occasions there was displayed splendid histrionic talent among the members of this dramatic club. Their performances were always clean, instructive, and educational. Today we have in Cedar Rapids two large dramatic associations whose performances are a credit to our city and its people.
In the matter of education, the Bohemian people always took an active part. Besides having their children attend the public schools, they took opportunity to have them taught in the Bohemian language during their vacations and sometimes on Sundays. This was so from their earliest settlement. At first one or two rooms in a public school building were used. Later on a building costing over $8000.00 was erected for this purpose. The building stands on the corner of Second street and Tenth avenue. This building has the honored distinction of being the only building in our whole country built and used exclusively as a Bohemian school.
Another institution that has brought fame and favor to our city in educational circles, is the Council of Higher Education. This was founded here in 1902. It is an organization whose object it is to furnish honor loans without interest to poor but promising boys and girls of Bohemian origin to secure a college education. Since its organization this institution has aided many young men and women who were without sufficient means to secure a college education. Last year it had sixteen students it was aiding in the various state universities and colleges. Its operation is nation wide. It has students in New York, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, Nebraska, and Iowa. The funds of the institution are gathered by popular subscriptions among individuals and societies. Its scope covers every state in the Union where there is a Bohemian settlement. The institution has achieved wonders in encouraging young men and women of Bohemian nationality to attend universities and colleges.
In musical circles the Bohemian people have distinguished themselves from early times. In the beginning when the Bohemian settlers came to this city they organized a musical society. This formed a nucleus for one of the most famous musical bands in the state. Kouba's National Band achieved state wide reputation; this band has always been composed of a large percentage of Bohemian musicians.
In the material development of Cedar Rapids the Bohemian people have done their full share. In the ranks of labor they are known as honest, industrious, peaceable, and orderly. They are very largely employed in all the big industrial institutions of our city. They command the confidence and respect of their employers. This nationality is also well represented in every line of business in our city. All the professions are represented. When we consider that less than two generations ago their ancestors came here with bare hands and not knowing the English language and unacquainted with the customs and without any particular advantages, except those of honesty and willingness to work, it is remarkable that such strides forward have been made by this nationality in the realms of labor, business, and the professions.
In religious work the Bohemian people of Linn county have accomplished splendid results. With the first settlers in this county, the Catholics of this city had a place of worship. From its modest beginning there grew one of the largest congregations in the city. And what enthusiastic and untiring workers this church has! The congregation consists very largely of the laboring class, but they have accomplished wonderful results. A splendid church building; a large parochial school; an assembly hall and a new parsonage are the reward of the patience and perseverance among the members of this congregation. St. Wenceslaus church of Cedar Rapids with its manifold work and influence is a great honor to the people of Linn county.
Way back in the late sixties, on a beautiful and secluded spot on Hoosier Creek, about one-half the distance between the present site of Ely and Western, there was erected a small church of the Reformed Evangelical denomination. There a band of devout men and women met to worship in the simple manner of the Moravian brothers. Their leader and minister was a man of grace, of purity of character and rare and scholarly attainments. His name was Frank Kun. He was a great preacher and a great teacher. For a time he held the chair of Greek and Latin at Western College, but as his congregation increased he devoted all his time to his people. His congregation was entirely of the rural class. He loved his people and in turn was loved by them. His congregation was one of the best Bohemian congregations in the United States; his sermons were masterpieces of art and beauty, full of religious fervor, stately dignity and depth. His memory will forever be revered by the people of Linn county. This church is still there; broadening its sphere of work it now has two branches, one in Johnson county, and one in Linn county, the last being the old Baptist church in Putnam township.
In Cedar Rapids the Bohemian people have three protestant churches: the Fourth Presbyterian, the Bohemian Methodist, and the Reformed church; all three are prosperous. All of them have large and substantial memberships and all of them are fortunate in having strong, capable, and popular men as ministers. Under the wise and liberal policies of these leaders these churches are doing excellent work among the Bohemian people.
There is a large, respectable element of the Bohemian population that does not belong to any church organization. They are not opposed to churches, nor to religion, but do not affiliate with any church organization. They believe that every one should be permitted to think and believe as he pleases in matters of faith. In the Bohemian language they are called "Svobodamysli." This word does not mean Free Thinkers. "This Bohemian word is made up of two words 'Liberty' and 'Mind,' and it means the broadest toleration for the religious beliefs and opinions of others; and further it means that you should give the widest latitude to the religious beliefs and forms of worship of your neighbors, and that they should do the same to you; and it further means that you should honor and respect the religious views and professions of your neighbors and they should do the same by you."
No sketch of the Bohemian people in Cedar Rapids and Linn county would be complete without referring to the Sokols. This is a society whose purpose is physical culture. The society is well represented in Cedar Rapids, and has among its members some of the best all around athletes in this country. In 1909 a team of six men of this organization captured the first prize at the National Contest in New York city of the Bohemian Sokols Society in the United States. The society owns a fine building and gymnasium here. It is an old organization, dating back to about the time when the Reading Society was organized, at that time being a branch fostered by the Reading Society. The society has several instructors of physical culture and gives to boys and girls, and young men and young women, a thorough course in gymnastics.
The Bohemian people of this city are thoroughly and actively interested in the principle of modern fraternalism. Among this element the fraternal orders and societies find much favor and popularity. There are very few men and women of this nationality who do not belong to at least one fraternal order, and there are many who belong to a half dozen fraternal orders. In fact the Bohemian element in the city of Cedar Rapids is honey-combed with lodges, orders, and societies of fraternal character. The Reading Society, already mentioned, was the nucleus, from which, as time went on, manifold ramifications sprang, finally developing into an extraordinary number of fraternal societies and lodges.
At first these societies were more of a national spirit and character, but later the insurance feature became an important part. The Bohemian people have great faith in fraternal insurance. The next thing after a home is acquired, fraternal insurance is provided. Some of the societies are exclusively for men, and some are exclusively for women, but the tendency of the last ten years is to permit both sexes to become members of the same lodge. This too has its advantages, and if fraternal orders are to be more than mere insurance companies, a greater diversity of membership, greater benefits and advantages will flow from them. All the orders and lodges are in a prosperous condition. Three fine and capacious halls have been built and there is need and place for them all.
The C. S. P. S. hall was built in 1891, the Z. C. B. J. hall was built in 1908, and the Sokol hall in 1908. There is a Bohemian hall in Ely, Iowa. The Z. C. B. J. is a large and flourishing fraternal order whose supreme lodge has been located in Cedar Rapids since its organization in 1897. This in English is called the Western Bohemian Fraternal Association, and it is doing business in ten or twelve states in the Union.
In 1885 there was an Odd Fellows lodge instituted, whose members are all Bohemians, and whose rituals and work are in the Bohemian language. This lodge has the distinction of being the only Bohemian Odd Fellows lodge west of the Mississippi river. The spirit of fraternalism has had a remarkably good influence upon the character and intelligence of the Bohemian people. The financial benefits to the widows and children flowing from these societies may be great, but the moral, intellectual, and educational benefits to the members are immeasurably greater.
In the United States there are many Bohemian communities and settlements. In some of the eastern cities the settlements are very large, for instance in Chicago there are 100,000 Bohemians; in New York about 40,000; in Cleveland about 40,000; and there are very large settlements throughout Minnesota, the two Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas.
In intelligence and educational advancement, in the broad scope and high ideals of modern fraternalism, in social progress and in business and industrial enterprise, and in the professions, the Bohemian people of Linn county and Cedar Rapids rank foremost among all the Bohemian communities in the United States. This is a recognized fact among other Bohemian communities and cities in our country. We are proud of the fact that our city has won the beautiful title of "Parlor City," but more proud should we be of the fact that in all the Bohemian communities and large centers of Bohemian population from New York to California, Cedar Rapids is known as "The Bohemian Athens of America."
Chapter XVII
The Early Marriage Record
An interesting book in the office of the county clerk at Marion is the first marriage record kept in the county. Through the courtesy of County Clerk William Dennis we are enabled to give below a record of marriages that took place in the county from 1841 to 1855. The names and the dates have been transcribed with care, though it is possible some names here printed are not correct in every particular, due to the inability to read the writing in the record. As a rule the penmanship of our early clerks was distinct and readable. This is true in especial manner of the incumbency of Hosea W. Gray, who was clerk during most of the years covered by this transcript.
The book consulted in the preparation of this chapter contains both the licenses granted and the returns of the marriages. In a few instances the names in the licenses are different from those given in the returns.
A thing to be noted in this early marriage record is the youth of many of the parties. In many instances the records show the marriage of young girls of 15 and 16 years.
A number of licenses are recorded, but there is no evidence in the book that the marriages were ever celebrated, due doubtless to the failure of the officiating clergyman or justice to make the proper returns.
Many names familiar in the early days appear in this record. And it is valuable not only because it lists those pioneers who here set up their household gods soon after they arrived in the county, but also because it gives the names of the early ministers and justices of the peace in Linn county.
In this record book are recorded the licenses of the ministers of the gospel who were authorized to perform the marriage ceremony. Here are some of the names, many of them doubtless familiar to the survivors of that time:
Reverends John Hodges, Michael Summer, John Stocker, William C. Rankin, Israel C. Clark, F. R. S. Byrd, James L. Thompson, Warren B. Morey, Salmon Cowles, Isaac Searles, Henry Reed, Christian Troup, John Hindman, Allen Johnson, Uriah Ferree, James M. Fanning, Peter Robinson, Joel B. Taylor, Daniel Worthington, Luther McVay, S. H. Greenup, Duff C. Barrows, Absalom A. Sellers, Charles D. Gray, John S. Brown, John Walker, Edward R. Twining, Jacob Miller, Joshua B. Hardy, James S. Fullerton, Robert Miller, Stephen Porter, Solomon T. Vail, Abner Corbin, Richard Swearingen, George B. Bowman, David Wanerich, Nelson Rathbern, Almiron R. Gardner, John Hayden, J. N. Seeley, J. H. Harrison, Danforth B. Nicholas, John W. Boal, Isaac Whittimore, Bennet Roberts, E. D. Olmsted, Wesley R. Blake, Nelson A. McConnel, Elder Noah Willson, Deacon Pliny B. Yates, William Sayler, John Williams, Solomon Kern, Charles N. Morbeley, John Demoss, George P. Smith, Lucas C. Woodford, Alexander Colwell, Samuel Farlow, Williston Jones.
Here is the record of marriages covering the period noted:
1841
July 25, Joseph Crane to Agnes Bogard, by C. W. Phelps, J. P. August 26, James E. Bromwell to Catherine Gray, by Rev. J. M. Hummer. October 18, John Hunter to Hannah Barbary Hines, by Calvin W. Phelps, J. P. October 30, John Mann to Mary Mann, by C. W. Phelps, J. P. November 3, A. Safely to Margaret Hunter, by John Stewart, J. P. December 1, Julias Allen Peet to Ester Ann Crow, by Rev. Thomas P. Emerson. December 7, Aaron Moriarty to Hannah Ross, by Thomas Goudy, J. P. Dec. 12, Samuel Ross to Mary Vaughn, by John Stocker. ----, Charles Roe to Phebe Putnam, by C. W. Phelps, J. P.
1842
January 16, James Cummings to Mary Ann Dorsey, by D. W. King, J. P. January 18, Nathan Cochran to Eliza Ann Nichols, by C. W. Phelps, J. P. February 19, James Leverich to Hannah Brody, by Aaron Usher, J. P. March 8, William B. Hampton to Mary Ann Van Zant, by John Stewart, J. P. April 3, Jacob Minton to Charlotte Lewis, by Aaron Usher, J. P. April 17, Alfred Williams to Elizabeth Oliphant, by James M. Denison, J. P. April 18, Franklin Kimble to Lidia Bristol, by C. W. Phelps, J. P. April 24, David Rickey to Mary Coon, by Rev. John Stocker. May 22, Harvey Dwyer to Elizabeth Bartlett, by C. W. Phelps, J. P. May 29, Robert C. Cregg to Mary E. Dowing, by Rev. Wm. C. Rankin. August 25, David Willson to Mercy Brody, by C. W. Phelps, J. P. September 22, Casper Nick to Christena Briney, by John Stewart, J. P. October 9, James Huntington to Aurilla Archer, by Thomas Goudy, J. P. November 21, John Henderson to Manilla N. Howard, by L. M. Strong, J. P. December 1, William B. Harrison to Emma Osborn, by Thomas Lockhart, J. P. December 24, Andrew Jackson McKean to Abah Day, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. December 27, Joseph Jackman to Mary Ann Hall, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett.
1843
January 1, Daniel Morland Peet to Sally Eliza Tryon, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. January 11, Wm. Stephen Trimble to Martha Drunnin, by Joseph Hale, J. P. January 20, Mark Jostin to Elizabeth Hale, by Rev. Thos. P. Emmerson. February 8, Edward L. Hays to Mary Elizabeth Kramer, by Rev. John Stocker. February 26, Joseph Mounts to Maria Christian Shoe, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. March 2, Hugh Brody to Joanna Osborn, by James M. Denison, J. P. March 12, Charles Pinckney to Amanda Brown, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. March 21, Edwin Birdwell Spencer to Martha Davis, by James M. Denison, J. P. April 17, Harry Oliver to Elizabeth Jane Bigger, by John Hunter, J. P. April 18, John King to Martha Matilda Torrence, by L. M. Strong, J. P. April 23, Philip Steinbaugh to Elizabeth Frileigh, by L. M. Strong, J. P. April 27, James M. Denison to Mary Jewel, by Hartsell Hittle, J. P. April 30, John Robbins to Margaret Ann Fagg, by Rev. Jesse L. Bennett. May 7, Gamaliel Walker to Sarah Catharine Winton, by Rev. Israel L. Clark. May 16, Nathaniel McBride to Christeen Kramer, by Rev. Wm. C. Rankin. June 1, Nelson Crow to Eliza Lane, by Isaac Butlar, J. P. June 26, Solomon Peckham to Harriet Brown, by James Gilliland, J. P. June 26, Edward R. Birney to Catharine Cummings, by John Wolf, J. P. July 9, Samuel Brazelton to Martha Freeman, by David W. King, J. P. July 16, Lyman D. Bardwell to Sarah Kinsinger, by David W. King, J. P. August 22, Hugh Simmons to Hannah Simmons, by Rev. Wm. C. Rankin. September 5, Hiram Joslin to Sarah Jane Hale, by Thomas Goudy, J. P. September 14, Chambers Thompson to Rachael Barr, by L. M. Strong, J. P. October 8, Thomas Hose to Eliza Jane Willis, by Rev. Isaac Searles. October 12, Thomas Lewis to Elizabeth Davis, by Hartsell Hittle, J. P. October 20, Alexander F. Camp to Mary Wilcox, by John Wolf, J. P. November 16, Seth Baker to Prudence Higley, by Warren E. Morey. November 19, Thomas Gainer to Catharine Lewis, by David W. King, J. P. November 21, John Corey to Margaret Smyth, by Rev. Salmon Cowles. December 7, Calvin W. Phelps to Mrs. Mary Stall, by A. Simmons, J. P. December 8, John McD. Bromwell to Rebecca Milner, by L. M. Strong, J. P. December 13, Samuel W. Durham to Ellen Wallcott, by L. M. Strong, J. P. December 25, William Brazzleton to Ruth Minton, by L. Lewis, J. P. December 26, Samuel W. D. Cone to Mary Dodd, by L. M. Strong, J. P.
1844
January 1, William Williams to Mary Angeline Nordyke, by L. M. Strong, J. P. January 25, Oliver Vanderwork to Maria S. Elliott, by Thomas Goudy, J. P. February 7, N. B. Brown to Catharine Craigo, by L. Lewis, J. P. February 22, Thomas S. Downing to Caroline A. Keys, by James L. Thompson. February 29, Horace Metcalf to Mary Jane Hollenbeck, by L. M. Strong, J. P. March 28, Bral Dorsey to Eliza Jane Railsback, by David W. King, J. P. April 7, James Ely to Lavina Beeks, by Horace N. Brown, J. P. April 17, William Heaton to Elizabeth Sutton, by Horace N. Brown, J. P. April 18, Garrison Crow to Mary A. Simmons, by Freeman Smith, J. P. April 23, Hiram Deem to Helen Mary Barnett, by John David, J. P. April 26, William Cress to Jane Cumming, by John David, J. P. April 28, George A. Patterson to Eliza Jane Emmons, by John David, J. P. May 19, George Cantonwine to Mary Malinda Lewis, by Isaac Searles. May 20, Timothy Stivers to Elizabeth Baugh, by Nelson Rathbun, M. M. C. May 30, Alonzo Heaton to Rebecca Heaton, by John Davis, J. P. July 21, John F. Cumbertin to Rilla Oliphant, by John Hunter, J. P. July 25, John L. Berry to Mary Williams, by David W. King, J. P. August 7, Joseph E. Boyd to Elizabeth Smith, by John David, J. P. August 8, Joseph Usher to Lydia Mariah Williams, by John Hunter, J. P. August 27, William A. Corson to Cynthia Vaughn, by Jesse N. Seeley. September 5, William A. Waller to Adaline A. Shipman, by John Hayden, G.M. Sept. 27, William Hamilton to Agnes Matilda Hunter, by John Hunter, J. P. October 3, Charles Hinkley to Mary Helms, by Perry Oliphant, J. P. October 10, Joseph Derbin to Melissa Kirkpatrick, by Daniel Rogers, J. P. November 28, William Greene to Louisa M. Higley, by John M. Baals. December 8, John S. Cully to Nancy Mounts, by John Hayden, M. G.
1845
January 13, Joseph T. Berryhill to Jane Butler, by John Hunter, J. P. January 15, Alexander Thompson to Marion Davis, by Hartzell Hittle, J. P. February 2, Amariah Hagerman to Angeline Gray, by John David, J. P. February 18, Joseph Lichteberger to Mary K. Holeman, by John Hayden, M.G. February 19, Joseph R. Strawn to Tabitha Lewis, by D. B. Nichols, P. G. February 27, Joseph Williams to Mary M. Lucore, by Rev. J. Hayden. Feb. 27, Ferdinand Kershner to Elizabeth Rogers, by Rev. Isaac Whittemore. March 2, John Eicher to Hannah Cox, by Rev. Israel Clark. March 6, Orlando N. Gray to Rosina Pratt, by Rev. Isaac Whittemore. March 16, Claiborn G. Worrall to Mrs. Ellen Connor, by John David, J. P. March 20, Chauncy Leverich to Marilla Usher, by John Hunter, J. P. March 31, John S. Torrence to Cephina Wilson, by John David, J. P. April 10, Daniel Robbins to Pricilla Gray, by Rev. John Hayden. April 17, Lister W. Hays to Anna Gritton, by Hartzell Hittle, J. P. April 20, George W. Utley to Maria Jane Sawyer, by Henry Weare, J. P. May 4, George Cochran to Susan Gunn, by Elijah Evans, J. P. July 3, James M. Burge to Sarah A. E. McRoberts, by Nelson Rathbun, M. M. C. July 16, Michael Zimmerman to Sarah Barclay, by Elias Rogers, J. P. July 20, David Mann to Mary Ann Whitlatch, by Thomas Goudy, J. P. July 31, Robert M. Forsyth to Amanda McCartney, by E. Evans, J. P. July 31, William N. Downing to Armena Applebee, by E. Evans, J. P. August 21, James Bell to Dorcas Martin, by Rev. John Hayden. August 27, Henry Rea to Martha L. Miller, by Rev. S. W. Ingham. September 4, Thomas McClelland to Ruth Ann Baugh, by Elijah D. Waln, J. P. September 7, Caleb S. Hendrix to Mary Hemphill, by Hartzell Hittle, J. P. September 7, Robert Fairly to Sarah Thomas, by John Hindman, J. P. September 9, James A. Dyer to Elizabeth Minton, by Hartzell Hittle, J. P. October 8, William R. Lewis to Mary I. Cofman, by Rev. John Hayden. October 8, Wilbert L. Lewis to Emily Cofman, by Rev. John Hayden. November 6, Thomas Craig to Martha Smyth, by Solomon Cowles, D. D. M. November 6, Frederick Jordan to Mrs. Adaline Firkins, by Uriah Ferrie. December 9, Michael Hine to Mrs. Catharine Hack, by Uriah Ferrie. December 25, Joseph A. Secrest to Sarah Osbourn, by Hartzell Hittle, J. P. December 28, John B. Cutler to Martha Heaton, by John David, J. P.
1846
January 1, O. P. Weeks to Margaret Archer, by John Hindman. January 1, Joseph Moulin to Sarah Goudy, by Uriah Ferrie. January 4, William M. Stockton to Ann Eliza Gilbreath, by E. D. Waln, J. P. January 25, Luke Taylor to Nancy Ann Dawson, by Rev. James M. Fanning. February 2, John Hindman to Emily Weeks, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. February 15, Thomas Jones to Jane Antrim, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. February 25, Benjamine Cobb to Sarah Holman, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. March 11, John C. Van Allman to Nancy Holler, by J. Kirkpatrick, J. P. March 12, William Hunt to Nancy Maria McLaughlin, by E. D. Waln, J. P. April 2, Hezekiah Starbuck to Mrs. Villamina Rice, by E. D. Waln, J. P. April 4, Asa White to Amanda F. Davidson, by Peter Robinson. April 12, Silvester P. Lyon to America Campbell, by E. D. Waln, J. P. April 14, Harrison Usher to Lucy Bevens, by John Hunter, J. P. April 30, Milton Squires to Eliza J. Mounts, by A. E. Skinner, J. P. May 9, Hiram Usher to Lucinda Williams, by John Hunter, J. P. June 14, Elmyrrh Howard to Elizabeth Boyle, by Ezekiel Cox, J. P. June 20, Thomas Donahoo to Sintha M. McClelland, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. June 21, William J. Berry to Violet Wagoner, by H. W. Gray, J. P. June 27, William Potter to Jane Elizabeth Fowler, by John Hunter, J. P. July 26, John Evans to Mrs. Christiana Nick, by E. D. Waln, J. P. August 9, George W. Metcalf to Mary Howard, by Elijah Evans, J. P. September 3, Jacob Harris to Betsy Staats, by John L. Shearer, J. P. September 3, Elijah Staats to Sarah Ann Cox, by John L. Shearer, J. P. September 15, George White Gray to Zernah Williams, by H. W. Gray, J. P. October 25, Alexander F. Camp to Mrs. Catharine Knapp, by E. D. Waln, J. P. November 5, Walter L. Brockman to Margaret Cummings, by E. D. Wain, J. P. November 8, Horace N. Brown to Sarah Jane Lewis, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. November 25, James Robb to Mary Patteson, by Rev. Burnett Roberts. November 26, John Harris to Elizabeth Cox, by John L. Shearer, J. P. December 25, Joel White to Sarah A. Garretson, by William Chamberlin, J. P. December 26, Richard Miller to Elizabeth Sargent, by Wm. Chambers, J. P.
1847
Jan. 3, Ephraim T. Lewis to Margaret G. McKinney, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. January 21, Samuel L. Wallace to Elizabeth Coffman, by Rev. A. W. Johnson. January 29, Isaac McCoffen to Rebeckah Beeler, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. February 14, Hiram Heaton to Susannah Nealy, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. March 18, Stephen L. Pollock to Marilla Lucore, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. March 24, Joel B. Taylor to Mary S. Ferree, by Rev. Henry W. Reed. March 25, Barney Riley to Kesiah Ramsey, by John Hunter, J. P. March 25, Phillip Beamer to Harriet Ramsey, by John Hunter, J. P. April 1, William Gardner to Mrs. Sarah Gritten, by Hartzell Hittle, J. P. April 1, Laurence Hollenbeck to Delila Lewis, by E. Evans, J. P. April 4, William A. Skinner to Mariette B. Hendricson, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. April 5, John Rath to Wilhelmina Reinheimer, by John Hunter, J. P. April 15, Hugh Martin to Sarah E. Blakesly, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. April 22, Norman W. Isbell to Elizabeth Pinch, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. May 2, William Davy to Charlotte Willis, by B. S. Knight, J. P. May 3, Robert P. Stuart to Asenith B. Soesbee, by Rev. John Himman. May 26, John Zumbra to Angeline Eggleston, by Rev. John B. Taylor. May 27, James B. Thomas to Elizabeth Neighbour, by Wm. Chamberlin, J. P. June 2, Chandler Jordan to Sarah D. Waterhouse, by L. S. Jordan, J. P. June 8, Levi H. Mason to Eunice Ann Smith, by A. J. McKean, J. P. July 1, Warrington G. Conden to Margaret E. Shaw, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. July 10, Abel E. Skinner to Mary Marshall, by Rev. John Walker. July 12, Jonathan R. Peatt to Omina Gray, by A. J. McKean, J. P. July 19, Aquilla Campbell to Rachael Daniels, by E. D. Waln, J. P. July 27, Dyer Usher to Rosannah Harris, by John L. Shearer, J. P. August 12, Andrew F. Brockman to Pernetta A. Gott, by Rev. Bennett Roberts. August 15, James Berry to Sarah Pattison, by Rev. Joel B. Taylor. August 26, John S. Dolerhide to Harriet Cooper, by Rev. Bennett Roberts. August 17, William M. Stuart to Phebe Ross, by Rev. Bennett Roberts. August 29, Thomas Dill to Nancy Seargeant, by E. D. Waln, J. P. September 16, John Mason to Hannah B. Railsback, by John Cue, J. P. September 23, William G. Darr to Mary E. Arford, by B. L. Night, J. P. October 4, Stephen Cook to Sarah Ann Isham, by Andrew J. McKean, J. P. October 7, Andrew Hollenbeck to Susannah Yates, by Rev. D. Worthington. October 7, Henry H. Baker to Lavina Crosberry, by H. W. Gray, J. P. October 9, Noah Wilson to Mary House, by A. J. McKean, J. P. October 9, John Cress to Lydia Neighbour, by Thomas Lewis, J. P. October 14, Christopher Amose to Sarah Tee, by Hartzell Hittle, J. P. October 18, David M. Richardson to Eliza J. Goudy, by Andrew J. McKean, J. P. October 19, John Bomgardner to Lucy Mariah Davis, by W. Chamberlin, J. P. October 19, Oliver Clark, Jr. to Barbary Ellen Brice, by E. D. Waln, J. P. November 1, Joseph Bigger to Frances Runner, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. November 16, Harmon Boyd to Issabella Grafton, by Rev. Bennett Roberts. November 19, John Shane to Hannah P. Goudy, by Rev. D. Worthington. November 18, James Scott to Hulda Newton, by E. D. Waln, J. P. December 21, Jacob B. Romine to Mrs. Jaurespa Harris, by Rev. Jas Fanning. December 23, William L. Waln to Frances Burge, by A. J. McKean, J. P. December 30, Peter Moriarty to Sarah Osborn, by Rev. Jas. M. Fanning.
1848
January 1, Josephas Stites to Sarah Burnett, by Ezekial Cox, J. P. January 9, Henry Hunter to Roann Beckner, by Hosea W. Gray, J. P. January 9, George A. Patterson to Hazeah Jones, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. January 9, Joseph Usher to Harriet Williams, by John Hunter, J. P. January 19, Nelson Usher to Pheba Vinson, by John Hunter, J. P. February 4, Martin Bennett to Sabitha Conrad, by W. Chamberlin, J. P. February 12, Benjamin Dewit to Hannah Ann Boid, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. February 20, Henry Tee to Rachel Stuart, by Rev. Duff C. Barrows. February 22, Asa White to Ann Eliza Stone, by Rev. D. Worthington. March 16, John Harmon to Susan A. Abbee, by Hosea W. Gray, J. P. March 18, Valentine Wrath to Mariah Jane Utley, by John Hunter, J. P. March 30, James L. Stevens to Minerva Andrews, by Rev. D. Worthington. March 30, Daniel Carlan to Eliza Ann Shaw, by Rev. D. Worthington. March 31, Joseph Waln to Ann Kinly, by Rev. John Hindman. March 31, Alexander Paul to Aurilla Rood, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. April 10, Henry Cress to Elizabeth Skinner, by Rev. Jno. Walker. May 4, Henry Hemphill to Emaline Wickum, by Rev. D. Worthington. May 6, Amos D. Morse to Mrs. Bethany Campbell, by Salmon Cowles, V. D. May 11, Jeremiah Burge, Jr., to Sarah Ann Archer, by A. J. McKean, J. P. May 16, George Smith to Sarah Torrence, by Hosea M. Gray, J. P. May 18, Conrad G. Darr to Bethira Ellen Hill, by E. D. Waln, J. P. May 29, John Rundall to Sarah Ann Storm, by Rev. S. H. Greenup. June 1, Isa Helm to Margaret J. Campbell, by Rev. Duff C. Barrows. June 4, James Knuckles to Susannah Heaton, by Rev. S. H. Greenup. June 8, Samuel Yule to Sarepta E. Clark, by Lemuel D. Jordan, J. P. June 20, Geo. Washington Gray to Prudence M. Berry, by Rev. D. Worthington. June 25, John Burge to Harriet Harless, by A. J. McKean, J. P. July 8, Luther McShane to Hester Willyard, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. July 16, John Wood to Elizabeth Jane Jaquett, by Ezekiel Cox, J. P. July 16, John G. McLoud to Martha Jane Vardy, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. August 17, Carmi Marshall to Mary E. Hazelrigg, by Isaac Butler, J. P. August 20, Benjamine Hoover to Sarah Ann Bressler, by Elder A. A. Sellers. August 31, David McCall to Eliza Jane Boxwell, by E. D. Waln, J. P. August 30, Abel Grove to Catharine Knoflock, by E. D. Waln, J. P. September 5, Thomas J. McKean to Sarah A. Gray, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. September 15, Wm. A. Thomas to Sarah A. Campbell, by Rev. Duff C. Barrows. September 28, James Nelson Howe to Margaret Hemphill, by L. Myers, J. P. October 5, James Poyner to Sarah Scott, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. October 5, Godfrey Heine to Lucy Barter, by Rev. D. Worthington. October 9, Darius M. Ross to Eliza Jane Stewart, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. October 26, William S. Rolff to Anna M. Wolf, by Andrew J. McKean, J. P. November 12, Henry Bressler to Mary Ann Seimiller, by A. J. McKean, J. P. Nov. 13, Edw. Crow to Mrs. Narcissa E. Bowman, by Rev. Lucas C. Woodford. Nov. 14, Lawrence Hollenbeck to Mrs. Prudence Millburn, by John Hunter, J. P. November 30, Turner McIntire to Elizabeth Gray, by Rev. D. Worthington. November 30, John C. Goudy to Amelia Jordan, by Rev. Lucas C. Woodford. December 14, Robison Conwell to Caroline Butler, by Isaac Butler, J. P. December 21, Dennis Tryon to Huldah Clark, by Andrew J. McKean, J. P. December 25, Alfred A. Holman to Lavinia J. Smith, by Rev. D. Worthington.
1849
January 4, John Stanley to Ann Maria Freeman, by Rev. D. Worthington. January 9, H. Austin to Mrs. Sarah Sutton, by L. D. Jordan. J. P. January 16, Henry D. Rogers to Lucinda K. McRoberts, by Rev. Alex Caldwell. January 18, Aaron Van Dorn to Elizabeth Boylan, by Rev. D. Worthington. January 18, John M. Robb to Permelia V. Axtell, by Rev. Bennett Roberts. January 18, Greenbury Doss to Elizabeth Cook, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. January 21, Abraham T. Darr to Mary Jane Hill, by E. D. Waln, J. P. Feb. 1, Samuel D. McCally to Bartheba McClelland, by Rev. Alex Caldwell. February 4, Abel E. Skinner to Mrs. Mary A. Nation, by A. J. Ward, J. P. February 11, Samuel D. Thompson to Lucetta Wilson, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. February 12, Preston Daniels to Mary Ann Keys, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. February 15, Barney Riley to Elizabeth Nation, by Abraham J. Ward, J. P. February 17, Thomas M. Rose to Turza Ann Knapp, by E. D. Waln, J. P. March 1, Orson Lewis to Elizabeth Nicholls, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. March 1, William W. Hastings to Elizabeth A. Vankirk, by John Hunter, J. P. March 11, Simeon D. Loveless to Sarah Weiser, by Rev. J. M. Westfall. March 27, Joseph C. Tilton to Harriet C. Eggleston, by Rev. D. Worthington. March 28, John Barkley to Elizabeth J. Barkley, by Rev. Lucas C. Woodford. April 2, Lyman Wordan to Elizabeth McGaflick, by Rev. Williston Jones. April 3, William Clark to Sarah House, by Isaac Butler, J. P. April 5, Ebenezer Hull to Mehitable Jacques, by Thomas Lewis, J. P. April 5, Francis M. Leabo to Harriet Bryant, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. April 8, Wm. W. Woods to Polly Whitlatch, by Ezekiel Cox, J. P. April 10, John Perkins to Christiana Forsyth, by Rev. D. Worthington. April 19, Jeremiah Beall to Mrs. Elizabeth Whitely, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. April 22, Jonathan Kees to Rebecca Wickham, by A. J. Ward, J. P. April 29, Wm. M. C. Kirkpatrick to Elizabeth Irons, by A. J. McKean, J. P. April 29, Nathan Chapman to Margaret House, by Isaac Butler, J. P. April 30, David Barrows to Susan Jane Rhodes, by Duff C. Barrows. May 1, Joseph Current to Margaret Hunter, by Lewis Meyers, J. P. May 6, Samuel F. Hook to Sarah Jane Kennedy, by Rev. W. Jones. May 6, Janus Martindale to Ann Myers, by Isaac Butler, J. P. May 14, Wm. H. Harland to Sarah E. Leffingwell, by Rev. D. Worthington. May 27, Richard Barber to Orphia Clark, by Rev. Samuel Farlow. May 27, John Craig to Frances Burge, by A. J. McKean, J. P. June 10, Joseph Mentzer to Maria Hollenback, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. June 11, Ira P. Aldrich to Martha Maria Leverich, by Geo. P. Smith. June 14, Edw. H. Oliphant to Samantha A. Ankrom, by Rev. D. Worthington. June 20, James C. Alexander to Susan Smyth, by Rev. A. M. Stewart. June 21, Thomas Baldwin to Jane Ann McClelland, by Hosea W. Gray, clerk. July 1, Abel Groves to Abigail Miller, by A. J. McKean, J. P. July 1, James Dill to Martha Harbert, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. July 1, Joshua S. F. Briney to Rhoda M. Wolfe, by A. J. McKean, J. P. July 4, Luther Abbe to Permelia Edson, by Rev. D. Worthington. July 5, Chauncey Blodgett to Phebe Doty, by A. J. McKean, J. P. July 8, Calvin Newman to Mary Ann Howard, by Isaac Butler, J. P. July 12, Benjamine Wisner to Mary J. McKnight, by Salmon Cowles, V.D.M. July 28, Homer Bishop to Elizabeth Smith, by Rev. D. Worthington. August 7, James W. Fee to Tabitha Osborn, by Samuel M. Brice, J. P. August 13, Buonaparte Stansberry to Nancy Jane Johns, by Lewis Myers, J. P. August 14, Joshua Morford to Elize Jane Gibson, by A. J. McKean, J. P. August 16, Wm. P. Henderson to Lydia Cox, by Wiley Fitz, J. P. August 19, Samuel Heaton to Rebecca Heaton, by Rev. Samuel Farlow. August 27, John Vardy to Mrs. Nancy A. Praigg, by Rev. Williston Jones. September 6, Richard Gray to Martha Jane Scott, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. September 7, Wm. Cahoon to Miranda Cook, by Frederick Kindley, J. P. October 4, Robert Holmes to Eliza Keys, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. October 4, Dean Cheedle to Ruth Ives, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. October 8, Frederick Fisher to Joanna Henrietta Ruhl, by Rev. Williston Jones. October 18, Otho S. Bowland to Adalina Frazee, by Rev. R. Swearengen. October 25, Samuel Bressler to Isabella Seimiller, by Rev. John S. Brown. November 1, Joseph B. Kyle to Sarah Samantha Goudy, by A. J. McKean, J. P. November 2, Geo. Washington Roberts to Polly A. Cue, by Thomas Lewis, J. P. November 4, James C. Traer to Marcia W. Ferguson, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. November 5, Edw. L. Pierce to Romelia Peet, by Frederick Kindley, J. P. November 15, Henry C. Oliphant to Martha Jane Moore, by Duff C. Barrows. November 18, Raphael Cheedle to Evaline R. Ankrom, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. November 22, Wm. Hunter to Nancy McRoberts, by Rev. Charles D. Gray. November 29, Wm. I. Burge to Sarah Ann Burge, by Lewis Myers, J. P. December 6, George Ives to Hannah Jones, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. December 20, Samuel Miller to Hannah L. Howe, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. December 27, Geo. D. McLaughlin to Capa Morford, by A. J. McKean, J. P.
1850
January 3, Walter L. Brockman to Ellen Worrell, by A. J. McKean, J. P. January 24, James M. Oxley to Mary Jane Reneau, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. January 24, Solomon Moriarty to Jane Osborn, by A. D. Battorff. J. P. February 21, Wm. F. Howe to Barbara Miller, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. February 28, David N. Glass to Polly Johns, by Rev. R. Swearengen. March 7, Andrew Moffatt to Catharine Smith, by James S. Fullerton. March 12, Wm. V. Lagorgne to Elizabeth B. Austin, by Rev. S. T. Vail. March 16, Albert Russell to Climena J. Gray, by Rev. J. B. Hardy. March 17, Samuel Stony to Sarah T. Robinson, by Lewis Myers, J. P. March 30, Volney Carpenter to Susan M. Usher, by John Hunter, J. P. April 9, Morgan S. Parks to Lydia Gentry, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. April 12, Asa L. Harrow to Sarah Ann Troup, by Rev. John S. Brown. April 12, Nathan M. Donahoo to Susan Shafer, by Rev. John S. Brown. April 15, Levi W. Johnson to Ann Maria Kirkpatrick, by Rev. R. Swearengen. April 25, John Harris to Mrs. Elizabeth Harris, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. May 14, John Heilman to Mrs. Mary Ann Carman, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. May 28, John B. Ives to Hannah Jane Wallace, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. June 4, Joseph S. Carson to Phebe Vaughn, by James S. Fullerton. June 23, David Hunter to Luray Ann Reynolds, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. June 24, Harry G. Thomas to Alvira M. Andrews, by A. D. Battorff, J. P. July 4, Christian Neidig to Nancy Huber, by Rev. Jacob Miller. July 4, George Bayley to Sarah J. Goudy, by James S. Fullerton. July 6, Seymour D. Carpenter to Sarah L. Weare, by Rev. Williston Jones. August 15, Charles D. Gray to Candace Smith, by Rev. Robert Miller. August 22, Miron Bunce to Elizabeth McAfferty, by A. J. McKean, J. P. August 22, David Myers to Elizabeth Carbley, by John Emmons, J. P. August 26, Bartley Openchain to Nancy Morse, by J. M. Williams, J. P. August 27, Gilman Wells to Catharine Priest, by Wm. L. Winter. J. P. August 29, Henry Seimiller to Deborah A. Falkingburg, by Rev. D. Wenerich. August 29, Wm. Jordan to Margaret Montgomery, by Rev. J. Williams. August 30, Nathaniel A. Abbott to Margaret J. G. Stewart, by J. S. Fullerton. September 2, Joseph Robinson to Hannah Sanders, by Wm. L. Winter, J. P. September 5, Henry Cummins to Mary Ann Hamilton, by Rev. Williston Jones. September 7, Seneca Townsend to Nancy Fussle, by Henry Wagner. J. P. September 19, James Jennings to Emily Gash, by Daniel Albaugh. J. P. September 21, Hiram Ross to Eliza M. Palmer, by Rev. J. Williams. September 27, Daniel Cory to Elizabeth Morford, by James McClelland, J. P. October 12, Ira G. Wilson to Eve Montgomery, by Rev. J. Williams. October 17, Samuel Veach to Mariah Jane Parks, by Rev. Duff C. Barrows. October 24, Wm. Stewart to Eliza Lucore, by Rev. Williston Jones. October 30, Win. M. Stewart to Mary C. Watkins, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. November 6, John Bozenbareck to Lucy S. Martin, by Rev. Edw. M. Twineing. November 7, Harvey G. Higley to Anna Bishop, by Rev. Bennet Roberts. November 10, G. W. Bressler to Hadessa Thompson, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. November 17, Joseph Thomas to Isabel Johnson, by A. J. McKean, J. P. November 21, Benjamine Lapham to Ann E. Evans, by Wm. Cooper, J. P. November 30, Michael C. Paul to Nancy Wiekam, by Rev. Stephen Porter. December 10, Alfred Thomas to Elizabeth Lewis, by J. M. Williams. J. P. December 10, Alfred Thomas to Elizabeth Lewis, by J. W. Williams, J. P. December 14, Isaac Grimes to Eliza A. Cox, by Adam Berry, J. P. December 19, Wm. M. Torrence to Jane L. Commons, by James S. Fullerton. December 26, Richard Abbott to Phebe Reonalds, by Wm. L. Wenter, J. P. December 30, Edwin Rogers to Emily J. Williams, by N. C. Gage, J. P.
1851
January 1, David Brooks to Jane Morgan, by Daniel Albaugh. J. P. January 9, William Anderson to Rachel Harvey, by J. M. Williams, J. P. January 12, Orsemas Lebo to Catharine Daniels, by A. J. McKean, J. P. January 14, Hiram Brooks to Martha Hendrickson, by Rev. J. Porter. January 14, George W. Gray to Harriet Stone, by Rev. Williston Jones. January 14, Willis S. Gott to Elinor Carr, by James B. Thomas, J. P. February 6, Walter Hilton to Sophia Frager, by N. C. Gagesby, J. P. February 16, Orlin S. Harding to Margaret Morehouse, by Fred. Kindley. J. P. February 18, Wm. S. Reed to Jane E. Gagesby, by Rev. John Williams, Jr. March 7, Charles Robinson to Elizabeth T. Runels, by Jas. B. Thomas. J. P. March 21, N. W. Matson to Sarah Romine, by Rev. N. D. McConnell. March 24, Warren Payne to Catharine Freeland, by Rev. Jas. Keeler. March 25, Wm. H. Carpenter to Mrs. Susannah Wilsey, by John Cue, J. P. March 31, John Lash to Harriette Belt, by James McElhenna, J. P. April 3, John Nicholas to Anna Lewis, by Daniel Albaugh, J. P. April 6, Joel S. Austin to Elizabeth Metcalf, by J. H. Walton, J. P. April 9, Nathan M. Day to Hannah Bearly, by A. J. McKean, J. P. April 16, Charles H. Johnson to Lucy Clark, by John Cue. J. P. April 27, Oran J. Draper to Elizabeth Haddon, by C. N. Moberly, S. B. P. May 4, John Daniels to Martha Rindley, by Frederick Rindley, J. P. May 4, Jonathan J. Nugent to Roxina E. Ford, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. May 6, Wm. H. Bristol to Mariett Jones, by Rev. Williston Jones. May 9, Simon Roll to Catharine Keller, by Rev. Sol. Kern. May 10, M. S. Oxley to Nancy Poyner, by John Emmons, J. P. May 11, Joseph Brison to Elizabeth Remington, by John R. Speake, J. P. May 15, William Lutz to Dulybella Sedwick, by Rev. Zenas Covil. May 25, James W. Gaeby to Cynthia A. Hobart, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. June 1, Samuel Soesbe to Mary A. Chapman, by A. J. McKean. J. P. June 23, T. J. Speak to Mary Chambers, by Wm. A. Thomas. J. P. June 24, John Boxwell to Elizabeth Houston, by A. J. McKean. J. P. June 28, Jacob Pugh to Harriet Dollerhide, by Wm. Cooper, J. P. July 3, John Ellison to Rachel Curtis, by A. J. McKean. J. P. July 3, James Curtis to Mary Johnson, by A. J. McKean. J. P. July 8, George Henderson to Jannet Thomas, by Rev. John A. Vance. June 8, Jacob Hogland to Harriet Hollenbeek, by J. M. Williams, J. P. July 10, Jeremiah Campstock to Mary B. Johnson, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. July 10, John F. Rogers to Martha W. Elliott, by Andrew Perry. J. P. July 13, Nathan C. Gillilan to Mary Heaton, by L. D. Jordan, J. P. July 24, Johnson Gardner to Esther A. Tolman, by W. A. Thomas, J. P. August 14, Wm. Freeman to Nancy Jane Plant, by Rev. A. J. McConnell. August 14, Daniel M. Funk to Barbary Blessing, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. August 17, Samuel Justin to Mrs. Lydia Servenson, by Jas. B. Thomas, J. P. August 19, Jas. McAfferty to Alma Jane Willcox, by Rev. Geo. B. Bowman. August 28, N. B. Batterson to Emma L. Akers, by James S. Fullerton. August 31, Jonathan B. Keys to Hariet A. Smith, by Wm. Cooper, J. P. September 1, Alpheus McIntire to Cordelia M. Phelps, by Rev. Wm. Philips. September 2, Sylvester McKean to Mary Ann Kyle, by James S. Fullerton. September 10, Edwin White to Emily Edkins, by Rev. J. W. Williams. September 14, John Manley to Susanna Kirkpatrick, by Adam Perry, J. P. September 16, Daniel O. Finch to Ellen M. Calder, by Rev. James Keller. September 16, Joseph Green to Eliza Denison Harvey, by Rev. James Keller. September 18, Irvin Wilcox to Eliza McClelland, by A. J. McKean, J. P. September 18, George R. Peet to Sarah A. Parsons, by Rev. J. Williams. September 24, James Bliss to Lutitia Osborn, by James S. Fullerton. October 2, Thos. Jacobson to Sarah M. Heaton, by Rev. E. W. Twining. October 2, Fielden Travis to Patsa Campbell, by John Emmons. J. P. October 12, Thomas Newel to Frances A. Allensworth, by Rev. D. C. Barrows. October 12, John W. McDaniel to Miranda Willson, by John Emmons, J. P. October 15, Sam'l H. Minear to Lucy Davis, by John Emmons. J. P. October 17, John McCartney to Eliza J. Caldwell, by N. W. Isbelle, co. judge. October 30, John Brison to Elizabeth Speaks, by Rev. Edw. W. Twining. November 19, Parson Jones to Harriet Phelps, by Fredk. Rinley. J. P. December 14, Joseph S. West to Susannah Hawn, by J. E. Kurtz, J. P.
1852
January 1, Peter Betzer to Catherine Gibson, by Rev. S. W. Kern. January 4, Isaac B. Reed to Mariah Vanderwork, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. January 4, D. S. Brown to Amanda M. Hunt, by David Albaugh, J. P. January 20, Thomas Milborn to Levisa Gower, by Wiley Fitz, J. P. January 23, Alexander Renfaw to Amanda Andrews, by Rev. Solomon W. Kern February 12, Emerson E. Barter to Esther McKnight, by Rev. J. S. Fullerton. February 15, Jesse Turner to Matilda Grandon, by Isaac Butler, J. P. February 18, Jonathan Hess to Nancy Mann, by Isaac Butler, J. P. February 24, Hannibal B. Davis to Elizabeth Acres, by Rev. J. S. Fullerton. February 27, Horatio P. Smith to Mary Severson, by J. M. Williams, J. P. March 16, J. C. McConnell to Sophronia Harrington, by Rev. E. W. Twining. March 23, Samuel Craig to Miranda Cheedle, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. March 25, John Hemphill to Elizabeth Thompson, by Rev. Elias Skinner. March 25, Oran Strewn to Emil A. Doolittle, by Rev. Williston Jones. March 25, Wm. F. Travis to Mary P. Willson, by Rev. E. W. Twining. April 1, Hiram Beals to Catharine Stinger, by Rev. E. W. Twining. April 7, Eber L. Mansfield to Lucy A. Warriner, by Rev. John Williams. April 7, Milo Bunce to Mary Ann Carnahan, by A. J. McKean, J. P. April 15, Wm. Kellernan to Elizabeth Allensworth, by John R. Speak, J. P. April 18, Isaac Robinson to Mary J. Daugherty, by Daniel Albaugh, J. P. May 1, John Rundall to Lydia Gregg, by Rev. Orlin Harding. May 6, George W. Harvey to Sarah R. Wolfe, by A. J. McKean, J. P. May 11, Horatio Morse to Miranda Smith, by John Palmer, J. P. May 11, Jacob Lanning to Sarah A. Yambret, by Rev. Elias Skinner. May 12, Thomas Allbones to Elizabeth Kirby, by N. C. Gagely, J. P. May 13, Abraham Ward to Nancy J. Lanning, by Rev. E. Skinner. May 13, Abraham Ward to Nancy Jane Lanning, by Rev. Elias Skinner. May 30, Luther H. Keys to Frances Nelson, by Rev. E. W. Twining. May 31, Alexander McKinnon to Martha Mathews, by James B. Forsythe. June 2, James McFarland to Hannah J. R. Walton, by Rev. O. S. Harding. June 10, Alex Glover to Susanna Frager, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. June 10, Joseph Myers to Sarah Dickall, by Rev. E. W. Twining. June 22, Albert Sytezman to Julia Ann Walker, by W. A. Thomas, J. P. June 24, Morris Neighbor to Laura Ann Hollenbeck, by Wm. A. Thomas, J. P. July 4, Clark Draper to Barbary Hesberger, by Rev. Elias Skinner. July 6, John Carnes to Dorcas Robinson, by John Palmer, J. P. July 15, Richard M. Jones to Mary E. Tyler, by John Palmer, J. P. July 25, John Winter to Christina Martin, by Rev. John H. Yambert. August 14, Gordon B. Parish to Laura S. Hughes, by Rev. E. W. Twining. August 19, Albert Taylor to Martha Hampton, by Rev. N. Rathburn. August 31, Samuel Worthan to Polly Frager, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. September 1, Hiram Jenkins to Elizabeth Sawyer, by Rev. E. W. Twining. September 2, Cephas Dood to Catharine Swan, by Rev. J. S. Fullerton. September 5, Wm. McLelland to Sally Ann Shanklin, by Rev. O. S. Harding. September 9, David Eckley to Mary Nihart, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. September 15, M. H. E. Higley to H. E. Emery, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. September 26, Frederick Enders to Rachel M. Carnes, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. September 30, Absalom Lanning to Nancy Hemphill, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. October 14, Thomas Hill to Mary L. Connay, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. October 18, Wm. Prosser to Cirena Bickerstaff, by Rev. O. S. Harding. October 21, William Oxly to Henrietta Benham, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. October 26, Samuel Cole to Mary Shaffer, by Daniel Runkle. November 14, James Johnson to Silvie Bliss, by Rev. John C. Ward. November 16, John Walser to Hannah Metcalf, by N. C. Gageby. J. P. November 21, Nelson Van Nott to Susanna McAfferty, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. November 28, Wm. J. Lewis to Joanna Blackburn, by Thomas Lewis, J. P. November 30, Joel Courtney to Mary Ann Keynon, by John Emmons, J. P. December 7, Washington R. Given to Emaline Chester, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. December 23, John Chambers to Emeline Reynolds, by W. A. Thomas, J. P. December 26, Jacob Shanklin to Sarah Bollinghouse, by Rev. Orlin S. Harding.
1853
January 27, Jonathan Pipes to Mary Laughrey, by N. O. Gageby, J. P. February 3, Edward Pugh to Ester Mann, by N. W. Isbell, county judge. February 10, John Busenbark to Agnes Martin, by Rev. G. N. Jannison. February 14, Amos Nicholas to Ruth Ransen, by Thomas Taylor, J. P. February 20, Simon S. Wickham to Hannah Conner, by Rev. E. D. Olmsted. February 24, John McArthur to Julia A. Straley, by Rev. Williston Jones. February 27, Wm. H. Warren to Rosina Neel, by E. F. Williams. J. P. March 9, Lysander Jones to Mary Straley, by Rev. Williston Jones. March 12, Jos. N. Kirby to Mary Ann Remington, by Alfred Wright. March 13, Waller C. Brooks to Martha Brooks, by Benj. Harris. J. P. March 24, Joseph Carnahan to Susan A. McLaughlin, by A. J. McKean. J. P. March 27, Daniel Smith to Anna M. Bruner, by Rev. David Winrich. March 27, Janus Ship to Rebecca Barkly, by Rev. James B. Burch. March 31, David Giger to Margaret J. Montgomery, by John C. Ward. March 31, Lewis House to Elizabeth Clymour, by Rev. Williston Jones. March 31, Daniel A. Newman to Lucinda Ennis, by Daniel Albaugh. J. P. April 19, James Holman to Phebe Blodgett, by G. H. Jennison. April 21, John W. Gray to Emeline Oxley, by Rev. G. H. Jennison. April 27, John Barr to Syntha Ann White, by Rev. John C. Ward. May 5, David Blakely to Julia A. Carroll, by Rev. Williston Jones. May 5, Mathias Kirshner to Irene Arrasmith, by Philip Smith, J. P. May 8, Henry Eaton to Sophia Hollister, by David W. Ring, J. P. May 12, Moses Albaugh to Sarah Wilyard, by Daniel Albaugh, J. P. May 15, Christopher Foremaster to Caroline Rhinehamer, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. May 15, John W. Courtney to Margaret Runan, by Rev. James B. Burch. May 22, Henry Busenbarreck to Judith Scott, by Rev. G. H. Jennison. May 25, Nathaniel Harris to Matilda Allis, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. May 26, Wm. B. Torrance to Nancy Rozel, by Rev. Hiram J. Burley. May 26, Fra A. Steadman to Eliza J. Foster, by Philip Smith, J. P. May 30, Joseph Parker to Rachel More, by Wm. L. Winter, J. P. June 9, Gabriel Carpenter to Mariah Clifton, by Rev. Charles A. Gray. June 12, John Carbie to Sarah G. Hampton, by Jos. Leonard. J. P. June 19, Wm. Lineback to Margaret A. Hutchison, by Rev. D. Runkle. June 23, Ezra P. Morehouse to Rachel Jordan, by Rev. J. H. Jennison. June 23, Joseph Brown to Susan C. Snow, by Benj. Harris, J. P. June 25, James W. Freeman to Jerusha Jones, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. June 29, Joal A. Doty to Mary E. Rollfe, by A. J. McKean, J. P. June 29, Oradon Lebo to Amanda Newton, by A. J. McKean, J. P. June 30, John Millse to Lucy A. E. Coleman, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. August 17, George Clark to Syrena Taylor, by Wm. Phelps, M. G. August 25, Frederick G. Mason to Mary McAferty, by A. J. McKean, J. P. September 4, Lanty Johnson to Narcissa Davis, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. September 13, Hiram Deem to Sarah Jane Vandorn, by Rev. Williston Jones. September 13, Jos. Morford to Barbary A. Welshimer, by Rev. J. R. Marshon. September 26, Lorenz P. Warren to Elizabeth Hamilton, by N. C. Gagely, J. P. September 29, Richard Wood to Effy Putnam, by Isaiah Booth, J. P. October 2, David Bedell to Minerva Holler, by Isaiah Booth, J. P. October 4, Jackson Quick to Nancy Ann Shanklin, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. October 20, John C. Summers to Mary Smith, by Benjamin Harris, J. P. November 1, Havir B. Sawyer to Permelia Andrews, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. November 4, Orrin H. Smith to Eliza Pisel, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. November 13, Robt. T. Holman to Mary E. Kepler, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. December 6, John Minehart to Rachel Slife, by Wm. Wagner, J. P. December 8, Simon Tuttle to Margaret Elliott, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. December 22, John Miller to Emily Callahan, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. December 28, Miron N. Nickerson to Sophia L. Snow, by Rev. John C. Ward. December 29, Isaac D. Worrall to Nancy A. Thompson, by Rev. G. H. Jennison.
1854
January 1, John C. Mackey to Sarah Grubis, by Wm. A. Thomas, J. P. January 4, Luther Stinson to Elinor Coleman, by N. C. Gageby, J. P. January 17, Wm. Neely to H. Louisa Roberts, by Rev. Jas. R. Marshon. January 19, Madison Fee to Phebe M. Wright, by J. K. Speake. J. P. January 19, George Booze to Elizabeth Straley, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. January 31, Thomas Flathers to Meralda McMillan, by Joseph Leonard, J. P. February 1, Philip Hoglan to Mary J. Cress, by John Carr, J. P. February 4, Henry Philips to Mary J. Harless, by Rev. J. K. Young. February 5, Geo. W. Harron to Margaret E. Schoonover, by Wm. Wagner, J.P. February 7, Abraham McAfee to Elizabeth J. Glison, by Rev. John T. Tate. February 26, Massom Metcalf to Augusta Egleston, by N. C. Gageby. J. P. March 2, Joseph W. Baker to Mary Jane Davy, by Rev. Josiah Jackson. March 2, Jesse Tryon to Mary L. Cron, by John Carr, J. P. March 9, Jacob Grey to Catherine Leabo, by Rev. E. Skinner. March 9, Martin Floyd to Elizabeth Hoover, by Rev. Jacob Newman. March 9, Chesley L. Brockman to Rizpah Lucore, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. March 12, Truman J. Peet to Mary Ann Connis, by Rev. J. F. Tiry. March 13, David Morgan to Charlott West, by Benj. Harris, J. P. March 16, Edwin Clark to Charlotte Thomas, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. March 16, Henry B. Hollenbeck to Emily C. Smith, by Rev. H. J. Busby. March 19, Martin Perrigo to Arvilla Griffin, by Benj. Harris. March 22, Wm. P. Hazlett to Margaret W. Kyle, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. March 22, George C. McCorckle to Ardelia Yates, by Rev. H. I. Burley. March 26, Milton Monroe to Elizabeth Terrill, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. March 29, Chas. E. Pollard to Fanny M. Hakes, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. April 2, Simeon Burge to Elizabeth Archer, by Rev. S. K. Young. April 13, Alexander Noble to Rebecca McFarland, by Rev. O. S. Harding. April 16, Julius Griffing to Mary D. Ellis, by Wm. P. Gardner, J. P. April 16, Alfred Davis to Maria Palmer, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. April 19, John G. Tennant to Esther Hill, by Benj. Harris, J. P. April 23, Volney Leverich to Elizabeth Griffin, by Wm. J. Gardner, J. P. April 25, Robert Berry to Nancy Thorington, by Rev. E. Skinner. May 3, Richard Aucutt to Louie Homer, by Rev. Elias Skinner. May 4, Addison Stewart to Cyrena Axtell, by Rev. James S. Fullerton. May 4, Walker Terrill to Jane T. Crue, by N. W. Isbell, by County Judge. May 12, Jacob McShane to Mary Milyard, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. May 14, Spencer C. Coleman to Belinda Kairns, by James Coleman. J. P. May 18, David Berry to Phebe McVay, by John Cue, J. P. May 25, Charles Cooper to Mary White, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. May 30, John Plummer to Mary Harshenberger, by James W. McKnight, J. P. May 30, Samuel Berry to Louisa Biggs, by Rev. Williston Jones. June 1, Absalom Sims to Mary L. Wadsworth, by Rev. E. Skinner. June 2, Daniel Myers to Matilda Burly, by A. J. McKean, J. P. June 8, Wm. D. Letzenberg to Lydia Crawford, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. June 8, Charles S. Kabler to Saloma Crawford, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. June 10, Taylor H. Tedford to Colesta Morris, by Benj. Harris, J. P. June 11, Henry Sutser to Emily Kelly, by T. J. Speake, J. P. June 28, Hugh Torrance to Rhoda Dyke, by Rev. G. B. Bowman. June 28, A. B. Mason to Mary Cone, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. June 29, John T. Hollenbeck to Mary Hepker, by John Cue. J. P. July 2, Henry Chamberling to Fanny Stine, by A. J. McKean, J. P. July 2, James H. Swain to Priscilla Walker, by John Plummer, J. P. July 4, Joseph S. Butler to Mariah Renau, by A. P. Risley, J. P. July 9, Frederick Helbig to Anna Hilman, by Daniel Albaugh, J. P. July 13, Daniel Bigler to Catharine Mikesell, by John Weare, J. P. July 19, Joseph B. Limback to Lucy A. Donahoo, by A. J. McKean, J. P. July 27, John M. Bailey to Emily Stoddard, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. July 28, William Lockhart to Catharine Miller, by Thos. G. Lockhart, J. P. August 2, George W. Osborn to Mary E. Rucker, by Rev. S. W. Kern. August 3, Benjamin Hampton to Caroline Shipman, by Rev. Elias Skinner. August 6, James S. Carpenter to Mary E. Klumph, by Rev. Williston Jones. August 12, E. D. Hazeltine to Mary Mitchell, by Thomas G. Lockhart. J. P. August 17, Enoch White to Adaline A. Waller, by Jas. M. Berry, Co. Judge. August 24, Francis Smart to Louisa Williams, by J. W. McKnight, J. P. August 29, Frederick to Joanna Bryan, by Rev. Jas. S. Fullerton. August 31, Christian Martin to Mary Barrer, by Jas. McKnight, J. P. September 7, Uriah Rumbaugh to Mary Ann Sutton, by Rev. John P. Fay. September 12, John Thompson to Mary Rogers, by Rev. E. Skinner. September 17, John Ringer to Barbary Hershey, by Rev. S. K. Young. September 17, Wm. B. Penn to Elizabeth S. Pearson, by Rev. Orlin S. Harding. September 28, George Howard to Lovinia I. Grigg, by Joseph Leonard, J. P. September 28, James Pennington to Elizabeth Pence, by Rev. A. Manson. September 30, Isaac Kinley to Mary A. Houghton, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. October 5, Ira Neal to Mary Fink, by Francis McShane, J. P. October 8, John T. Stewart to Charlotte L. Barter, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. October 8, Wm. Reynolds to Lucretia Vannote, by Rev. Asher Cattrell. October 10, Lowell Daniels to Harriet S. Weare, by Rev. A. Manson. October 12, James W. McAfee to Rachel Beerley, by Rev. A. Manson. October 12, Richard Scott to Priscilla Cox, by Rev. John P. Fay. October 13, Thos. W. Stephens to Sarah E. Fenlaw, by Rev. John Hindman. October 17, James Vanness to Nancy A. Whipple, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. October 22, John N. Smith to Charlotte Smith, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. October 23, Cyrus Ross to Mary A. Stoddard, by Rev. A. Manson. October 24, Charles Cameron to Mary Pardee, by James M. Berry, Co. Judge. November 2, Morgan L. Parsons to Sarah Beckner, by Rev. A. Manson. November 2, John Pugh to Charlotte Thurston, by Daniel Albaugh, J. P. November 2, Samuel M. W. Hindman to Jane McAlester, by J. Shanklin, J. P. November 5, John B. Leigh to Elizabeth A. Leigh, by Rev. Alfred Peek. November 7, Killion Lichteberger to Martha Gidons, by Rev. Williston Jones. November 8, Elson Ford to Mary McQueen, by John B. McQueen, J. P. November 9, Harvey Cook to Sarah Carnaga, by Rev. J. V. Dewitt. November 9, Samuel H. McClure to Ellen Fay, by A. J. Ward, J. P. November 9, Charles Cary to Christina Whitmire, by John Weare, J. P. November 12, Charles Hahn to Almira Wolfe, by Rev. Asher Cattrell. November 19, Manley Morgan to Sarah Barber, by Wm. P. Gordon, J. P. November 20, John Holman to Rebecca Tarlow, by Rev. E. Skinner. November 21, Geo. K. Mifford to Eunice A. Austin, by J. M. Berry, co. judge. November 22, Peter Fritz to Barbary Kale, by James Coleman, J. P. November 23, Elijah W. Gregg to Polly A. Barkley, by A. P. Risley, J. P. November 23, Thomas W. Wells to Martha I. Combs, by Rev. N. A. McConnell. November 28, John Morrison to Ellen Tedford, by Benj. Harris, J. P. November 29, Orrin E. Thomas to Irene Nuckolls, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. December 7, Edw. Bedell to Mary Hampton, by Joseph Leonard, J. P. December 7, Robert Rogers to Mary Jane Thompson, by Rev. E. Skinner. December 12, Wm. H. Coombs to Harriet A. Brown, by J. M. Berry, co. judge. December 19, Sidney Williams to Celia Oxley, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. December 25, Daniel Cavin to Mary H. Ellsworth, by Rev. Samuel Goodale. December 28, Geo. W. Garretson to Almira Corporan, by W. P. Gardner, J. P. Dec. 31, Wm. H. H. Flemming to Ann E. Eliza Eastman, by Thos. Taylor, J. P. ---- Jesse Beechley to Harriet Craig, by Rev. G. B. Bowman.
1855
January 3, John O. White to Mary A. Metkeff, by Levi H. Mason, J. P. January 3, Enoch Irish to Rhoda J. Dodd, by Rev. J. S. Fullerton. January 4, David Stambaugh to Sophia Boyce, by Thomas G. Lockhart, J. P. Jan. 9, Ladurnia Larrabee to Amanda S. Renfrew, by Rev. Williston Jones. January 24, Greenberry Daniels to Susan Doty, by Rev. Elias Skinner. January 25, Jonathan Simpson to Isabella McCaughey, by Rev. Daniel Runkle. January 27, Wm. Croghan to Cornelia Ellis, by Wm. P. Gardner, J. P. January 28, Thomas Skales to Lucy Serton, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. January 31, Henry Ogan to Charlotte Cress, by Thomas Taylor, J. P. February 19, Jas. Richardson to Elmira Blanchard, by J. M. Berry, co. judge. March 1, Wm. Wilson to Jane Thompson, by Rev. Daniel Runkle. March 9, Jacob Cress to Lucy Ann Porter, by Thomas Taylor, J. P. ---- Wm. Winsor to Rachel Leatherman, by John Plummer, J. P. ---- George Justin to Sarah Chandler, by John Plummer, J. P. ---- A. I. Allen to Ann Eliza Kaufman, by Rev. J. T. Tate. ---- James Biggs to Margaret Mitchell, by Rev. Rufus Ricker. ---- Byron Rice to Hannah C. Colder, by Rev. C. C. Townsend.
Chapter XVIII
Historic Roads and Other Monuments
In the early days it was essential to establish means of communication between points. Where there were no navigable rivers the legislatures, and even congress, passed certain acts establishing roads. The Territorial legislature which met in Burlington in 1838 and 1839 among many other road laws approved the following passed January 25, 1839:
"That Isaac [Israel] Mitchell, of Linn county, Iowa, John G. Fay, of Cedar county, and Jonathan Pettibone, of Muscatine county, be and are hereby appointed commissioners to lay out a road commencing at Bloomington, Muscatine county, thence to Rochester and Cedar county and thence to the county seat of Linn county. That said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall meet at Burlington on the first Monday of May next to discharge their duties."--Section 3, p. 461, Laws of Iowa.
"It is further enacted that Alfred Carter, Warren Stiles and A. F. Russell, of Scott county, be and are hereby appointed commissioners to lay out a territorial road commencing at Davenport, Scott county, thence to Hickory Grove, thence to Poston's Grove, thence to Red Oak Grove, thence to Pioneer Grove, thence to Big Linn Grove, thence to the seat of justice of Linn county, said commissioners to meet, or a majority of them, to discharge their duties at Davenport on the first Monday of May next."--Section 8, p. 462, Laws of Iowa.
A number of these laws were passed laying out what were known as "territorial and state roads." For example, there was the well known Dubuque-Iowa City road passing through Anamosa, Springville, and Mount Vernon. Then there were the two well known roads passing through Marion, one known as the Toledo road running nearly directly west of Cedar Rapids to Toledo, and a road much travelled in the early day; the other road branched from the Toledo road about four miles west of the city and was an angling road known in this county as the Marengo road, the State road, as well as the Des Moines road, which also was laid out over high ground in nearly a straight angling line to Marengo, and then west through Brooklyn, Grinnell, and Newton to Des Moines. This road was used much by the forty-niners crossing the state for the gold fields of California, and now and then some farmer has picked out of his field where the old road has been changed little horse shoes, shoes used for oxen, hammers and hatchets, and other utensils which had been left or lost by the early gold seekers.
There were two roads between Cedar Rapids and Marion well known in the early days, one called the old Marion road and the other running about where the street railway now runs.
Another road which was much used in the early days was known as the Cedar Rapids and Center Point road. It was much travelled by all people from the north part of the county.
Another road was the Marion-Mt. Vernon road, as well as the Western road, and the Mt. Vernon-Ivanhoe Bridge road leading to Iowa City.
The Code of 1851, referring to the State roads, directs that these roads shall be maintained by the respective counties but that such State roads shall not be discontinued or diminished in size.--Sections 557, 558, Code of Iowa, 1851.
At this time roads were under the supervision of the county court. Later they came under the supervision of the county supervisors.
For many years it was believed that a certain hill overgrown by trees near the Milwaukee tracks in the edge of Kenwood had been a fortification erected by the United States government in the early days for defending the settlers from Indian attacks.
A school house was later erected on or near this locality and was known as "Ft. George School House." Many of the old settlers remembered this locality and called it the old fort. An investigation was made and the following letter written by Samuel W. Durham explains itself:
"The house was built by a man by the name of George, of German descent, and afterwards bought and occupied by Ambrose Harland who gave the little irregular tract and house the name of Ft. George in honor of its first owner and its having the appearance of being constructed to resist, not Indians, but cold winds as they swept up Indian creek. Harland was a character, born in Kentucky, removed to Crawfordsville, Indiana, and was the sheriff of that county. This was the home of Lew Wallace, the author of Ben Hur, and also the home of Henry S. Lane who first named Abraham Lincoln as president in a convention in Chicago in 1860. Harland moved to Linn county succeeding Hosea W. Gray as sheriff, and was succeeded by me in that office. He was a six-footer and large and would fight, but once fell heavily before Perry Oxley's huge fist."
The person who erected the house which appeared like a fort was no other than George Hesing, who owned the land and was a peculiar character in his day. He did plant cottonwood trees around the house and also scraped up dirt so as to keep out the wind and snows as much as possible from his yard. In a few years the trees grew up and the rubbish accumulated, and they gave the place the appearance and made it look like an old abandoned fortification. It is said that a certain Mr. Willard having charge of the erection of a school house near this location named it the "Ft. George School House," which name it bore as long as it stood there.
A number of plats have been filed in the recorder's office at Marion, and these have again been transcripted for public use, but before towns could be platted a number of towns were staked out before the land was laid out and surveyed by the government; of these plats we have no record. The first plat was, no doubt, that of Westport, located on the banks of the Cedar river and near Bertram. This was staked out by Israel Mitchell July 4, 1838. Ivanhoe was laid out some distance below at the present Ivanhoe bridge in the same year. Another town was staked out by J. Wilbert Stone along the Cedar river at the lower rapids within the corporate limits of the present Cedar Rapids. There is no record of any plat of this town. In 1844 Westport was again platted as Newark by James M. Doty. This is the first recorded plat and seems to have been filed November 21, 1844, by John Zinbar, recorder. (See Vol. A, p. 301, Lands.) This is now a corn field and has long since been vacated.
New Linden was another town platted in the early days; this plat was filed by P. S. Embree, surveyor, April 15, 1853, being property owned by A. E. Simpson and A. P. Risley and located on sections 27 and 28, township 84, range 5, Brown township. This, also, now is nothing but a corn field.
Another was the plat of New Buffalo in the town of New Buffalo which is filed in Vol. 4, p. 217, of the Land Records of Linn county; this has also been vacated.
The plat of the town of Mayfield was made by J. M. May and filed for record in Vol. 143, p. 624. It bordered on the Cedar river and embraced lot 4 and part of section 34, township 83, range 7. It also has been abandoned, although May's twenty-five additions, re-plats, etc., made by Major May, are still parts of additions to Cedar Rapids. Major May was a man of enthusiasm, and speculated, believing, with Colonel Sellers, that in every enterprise he undertook there would be millions, but he died a poor, unknown and disappointed man.
Many of the old town sites have been vacated, and many of the old postoffices and country stores which one found throughout the county in the early fifties can no longer be found on the map. From Iowa as It Is, published in 1855, at page 153 we find the following notices concerning Linn county towns and postoffices: Spring Grove, Boulder, Central Point, Cedar Oak, Newark, St. Julien, Ivanhoe, and Hoosier Grove, besides such towns as Cedar Rapids, Palo, Marion, and Mount Vernon. The book also mentions Iowa Conference Seminary, with a three story building, and with Rev. S. N. Fellows as superintendent.
N. H. Parker in his Handbook of Iowa, issued in 1856, mentions a few more new towns not mentioned in the previous list, as follows: Fairfax, Lisbon, Lafayette, Mon Diu, Necot, Oak Grove, Prospect Hill, St. Mary, Springville, and Valley Farm. This author also speaks of the newspapers published in the county, the Register at Marion, and the Times, the Farmer, and the Democrat at Cedar Rapids.
Another handbook of the state, published by J. G. Mills, of New York, in 1857, mentions the towns set out in the handbook of a year previous and adds the new town of much promise by the high-toned name of Paris, located in Jackson township, near the present town of Coggon.
Few, if any, today can locate those villages and towns which sprang up from time to time over the county, and which long since have passed out of history and memory.
Of the newspapers published at that time only the Marion Register has continued to be issued. The others have passed away and one does not now know who were the editors and publishers of these early attempts at journalism in the pioneer days. These newspapers, no doubt, did much in keeping open the spirit of the people and in advertising the state.