Chapter XXXI
Society in the Early Days
The early settlers in Linn county were intelligent and cultured. They did not come to the county because communities in the east were glad to be rid of them. It was for far different reasons our pioneer men and women made their homes here. They looked upon this as a goodly land, one filled with opportunity, and they entered in and occupied it.
Mrs. R. C. Rock, now in her 83d year, has vivid recollections of beginnings in Linn county. She came overland from Dubuque in 1850, and ever since has called Cedar Rapids her home. She says in her first years here the people took the best magazines of the day, passing them around so that all might read them. In 1852 there was organized a literary circle of ladies and gentlemen. This circle met once a week at the homes of the members. Original papers were read at these meetings, the subjects being assigned in advance. Occasionally distinguished lecturers from abroad were obtained. On one occasion Oliver Wendell Holmes was here, giving an entertaining talk to a large audience on the "Great Pyramids." Judge Williams, of Muscatine, one of the original members of the supreme court of the state, was also a lecturer here. From time to time Dr. J. F. Ely, Judge Greene, and other local men read papers or made addresses, "and they were always of a high order," says Mrs. Rock.
Occasionally there were formal parties, as in these days. There was a greater amount of entertaining a half century or more ago here than there is now. There were no special distinctions of class, all the citizens were welcomed. Some of the most hospitable homes were those of the southern colony, mentioned in another chapter in this book. Dr. and Mrs. Ely entertained a great deal in their home located where now stands the old Post Office building. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Bever were always hospitable, and the Greenes did their share. Mrs. Rock says nothing as to her own entertaining in these days, but her home was recognized as one of most cordial hospitality, refinement and culture. Col. W. H. Merritt, Gabriel Carpenter, William Greene, Lawson Daniels and their wives were also pleasant and hospitable entertainers.
Mrs. George C. Haman, whose husband by the way is the oldest business man in this city--oldest in point of continuous service--wrote in 1906 quite interestingly for the Republican her recollections of society in Cedar Rapids in the early days. We take the liberty of reproducing the same here. It is a vivid picture of social doings a half century and more ago.
Society in the early days had one pleasant feature that we do not have at the present time. There was only one social circle and there was not so much society to the square inch as there is now. It was before the days of parties with the men left out and before the days of clubs and cliques. A large social function meant all the social people in town, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and nothing but sickness or death kept any away. The first social affair I attended was in '57. Even then Cedar Rapids enjoyed a social reputation equal to any town in the state and it soon took the lead with such families for social leaders as those of Judge Greene, Dr. J. F. Ely, S. C. Bever, Gabriel Carpenter, Colonel Merritt, William Greene, Lawson Daniels and a few others, who believed that money-getting should not be the only aim in life, and believed in a high standard of social and literary enjoyment as well.
The social, literary and religious foundation laid by these far-seeing men and women is what gave Cedar Rapids the prestige it enjoys among the sister cities of the state. Of course in the forties and fifties most of the entertainments were simple, but there were red letter days. The first large social affair I attended was a wedding, and the first wedding I ever attended. It was the marriage of Miss Carpenter, daughter of Gabriel Carpenter, to Mr. George Weare, brother of the late John Weare and Mr. Charles Weare. The bride was lovely. The groom was a young business man of Sioux City, where they have lived ever since. The wedding banquet was a feast of all the good things that a good housewife could prepare, and Mrs. Carpenter was famous for her culinary achievements. Her turkey dinners brought joy to many friends. She is now in her eighties, and lives a retired life.
While writing the account of this wedding I received a paper giving the account of the wedding of a granddaughter of this bride and groom.
The second social affair that stands out prominently in my memory is a large party given by Dr. and Mrs. Ely. The social functions given at this hospitable home were always delightful. The genial personality of the host and hostess pervaded every corner of the home, and when one entered its portals one knew that Dr. and Mrs. Ely would give a cordial welcome. It was a home where all of the new-comers were always entertained, the latch-string always being out. Mrs. Ely was a very philanthropic woman, was the leader of all of the charitable works for many years. Under her leadership many of the philanthropic women of today received their early training. Her noble works gave them their incentive. There were not so many spacious homes as now, but those who had them dispensed hospitality most generously and in a way not surpassed in these days.
The home of S. C. Bever, for many years the largest, stood where the Rock Island offices now stand. This home was where the bishops and other clergy of the Episcopal church were always entertained while in town. This home, with its large family of young people that drew like spirits, was the source of many gaieties. Mr. and Mrs. Bever's hospitality many times won financial success for Cedar Rapids. They entertained strangers who came to spy out the land. One occasion of this kind was in '55, when Judge Greene, Dr. Ely, John Weare, Lowell Daniels, W. W. Walker, S. D. Carpenter and S. C. Bever all went to Chicago to attend a national republican convention. All being business men, ever ready to build up Cedar Rapids, at this convention they made it their business to meet men from New York and Boston and to talk up the advantages of Iowa and what a railroad could do, until Mr. Ames of Boston, Crocker, Bertram and others came back with the Cedar Rapids delegation, and were taken in conveyance through central Iowa. While the men were working the eastern capitalists for a railroad the women all got busy and prepared for a reception and dance at the home of S. C. Bever. Some baked cakes, others prepared meats, others the bread and others the ice cream. The whole town was invited, so when the eastern men returned, they were won completely over and the project of the first railroad into Cedar Rapids was laid then and there.
Homes were often called upon to open their doors to strangers in town, who often were induced by the warm hospitality and good fellowship to invest their money and join hands and build up Cedar Rapids. When a large function was given all the friends assisted. Dishes and table linen and services were offered. We could not hire a caterer to come and prepare refreshments and serve a company. Our friends were the helpers.
The home of William Greene was also one with open doors. It stood on the corner of Third street and B avenue. It was not a large house, but a very hospitable one. Later William Greene built a beautiful house in the block where A. C. Taylor, Dr. Ruml and Dr. Kegley now live. The grounds covered the whole block and were laid out with landscape effect. It was a beautiful place, and many fine entertainments were given there.
The Higley brothers, Harvey, Wellington, Mort and Henry, in the early days, lived in small homes, but that did not deter them from keeping up their end of social life. Lucy and Jennie Higley were fine cooks and charming hostesses. Mort and Wellington were jolly good fellows and every one knew they were sure of a pleasant time when invited to their homes, no matter whether it was to a church social, or a big "standup" party as they were called in those days.
S. L. Dows' first home was like those of the rest of the pioneers, small, but hearts were large and no one extended a more cordial welcome to their friends than Mr. and Mrs. Dows. After they built their new home on First avenue, many brilliant affairs were given by them.
The home of George C. Haman, on the corner of A avenue and Fifth street, is an old land mark. Mr. and Mrs. Haman have lived there for over forty years. Their children were born and brought up there, and like many pioneer homes, it has been the scene of many festivities and good times.
The home of the late John Weare, with its large family of young people, will always be remembered by the old settlers.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Belt, now owned by Mrs. George W. Bever, was the scene of many enjoyable house parties. Friends from eastern cities and prominent people throughout Iowa were entertained there. Mrs. Belt loved to entertain the clergy.
The entertainments given by Judge and Mrs. Greene were the crowning social events of early days. The home and estate were outside of town, but that was no obstacle to their entertaining. Judge Greene was ready for every emergency and the home was characteristic of the man. He was broadminded, warm hearted, foresighted, generous and philanthropic, and his home was conducted on these plans. His first house on his beautiful estate, Mound Farm, was not large, but he always found a way to entertain his friends and visitors to Cedar Rapids. For example, he had a house party of friends and wished Cedar Rapids people to meet them. He was at the time building some buildings to shelter his sheep, of which he had a great many. So he put floors in the building preparatory to entertaining his guests and friends. He found on short notice that if he expected to have the only good music in town he must take it next day. He and Mrs. Greene talked the matter over and decided to have the party. They sent word to the other members of the Greene family and intimate friends what they expected to do and they all came to their assistance. Early in the morning Mrs. Belt made out the list and the family delivered the invitations. Mrs. Belt and Mrs. William Greene baked all the cakes. I don't know just how many picked strawberries, but Mrs. Greene told me that eighty quarts were picked and hulled that day. Mrs. Greene superintended the making of the ice cream and the decorating of the building. Special train service over the Dubuque and Southwestern was arranged to bring the guests from a central point to the sheep pens. All was in readiness and the host and hostess ready to receive their guests at eight o'clock. It was a most enjoyable event, and is still recalled with pleasure by the old settlers. It is safe to say that with the conveniences of today, such a social affair could not be gotten up in one day. Later when Judge Greene built his large house on the crowning point of Mound Farm, in the center of the beautiful grounds which he had been ten or more years preparing, Mr. Paddington, an English gardener, had it in charge. Every kind of shrub and tree that could be grown in Iowa was planted. The place for situation and beauty could not be equaled in Iowa, and the grounds were the most beautiful. When Judge Greene had the walls up and ready to roof, a tornado tore them down. But notwithstanding this discouragement, his house was built and furnished with the richest furnishings of those days. Three thousand dollars worth of oil paintings hung on the walls. All the furnishings were bought in New York City. When all was complete, he opened it with a most brilliant house warming. As Judge Greene always considered Cedar Rapids and her citizens in whatever he did, all were bidden, as were many of his friends throughout the state, to the opening of his new house. The beautiful impression of the illuminated grounds and house and the cordial hand-clasp of welcome from host and hostess that thrilled each guest with good fellowship and heartfelt appreciation were never forgotten. Indeed it was an evening of rare pleasure.
There were a few years when fancy dress parties were all the rage. The first one given was in the home of Colonel Merritt and was novel and beautiful. Colonel and Mrs. Merritt were charming entertainers. Colonel Merritt built the house where Dr. J. H. Smith now lives. It was bought by John W. Henderson. He and his handsome and cordial wife entertained hospitably. After Dr. Smith owned the house, he and his wife dispensed hospitality lavishly and state politicians were often their guests.
The Daniels home was another of the hospitable homes, where many large parties were given especially for the pleasure of the younger set.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Cook was for several years the largest and most modern in the city. Mrs. Cook, with her charming daughters, gave many elegant parties. The house was built by I. N. Isham. He only occupied it for a few years and sold it to H. G. Angle, who lived there one year. J. S. Cook then bought it and lived there many years. Now it is used for the National hotel annex.
In the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. West, children as well as their older friends, found a warm welcome. The little folks loved to congregate there and entertainment and refreshments were always provided for them. "Papa and Mama West," as the children called them, were never too busy to answer all the questions asked by their young friends, who were always made to feel thoroughly at home.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Rock was one of hospitality and of culture and refinement, as well. No woman ever did so much toward the education of the young people in early days as Mrs. Rock. She was also a great worker in the church and is the only living charter member of Grace Episcopal church.
The first church wedding was in the little Second Presbyterian church. It was the marriage of Mr. George C. Haman and Miss Louise Wolf. It was at five o'clock in the morning, and the wedding breakfast was at 4 o'clock. The reason for having the wedding at this unseemly hour was that the bride and groom were going east and there was only one train a day left town, and that was at six in the morning. The attendants at the wedding were Mrs. M. P. Mills, nee Coulter; Mrs. Portus B. Weare nee Risley; Mrs. Taylor, nee Earl, and Miss Carpenter, bridesmaids. The groomsmen were Mr. James L. Bever, Mr. Carter Berkley, Mr. Mortimer A. Higley and Dr. Lions.
The first large public affair in Cedar Rapids that gathered together all the people of the town, all in the state who could get here and some from Chicago and the east, was in June, '59. The occasion was the completion of the first railroad into Cedar Rapids. It was the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska, now the Chicago & Northwestern. The citizens had looked forward to this for many years, and it was a financial struggle to get it through, but when it was completed there was great rejoicing. A great celebration was given. The tables for the banquet were spread where now stands the Masonic Library, and the George B. Douglas home. The women prepared all the edibles and with the assistance of the young men and girls, served the banquet. The men took charge of the speeches, parade and music. The depot was then in the lower end of town, about Twelfth avenue and Fourth street. The speeches were made there. At the finish the marshals of the day formed all in line and marched to the grove where the banquet was spread, and it is needless to say the feast was enjoyed. I fear there were not twelve baskets full left. The climax of the occasion was a ball given at Daniels's hall, that stood where the Masonic Temple now stands. It was a brilliant affair and the dancers tipped the light fantastic toe until the rosy dawn was breaking. The weary dancers wended their way home on foot, the girls in tarlatan gowns and white kid slippers. Public carriages were scarce, and the new and only bus had gone to meet the early train. Thus ended the largest public social event up to that time.
The years from '61 to '65 were years of great anxiety and all the entertainments given were to gather the forces to make all we could to get delicacies for our soldiers who were fighting in the Civil war. The women, as always, did their part. Mrs. Ely, with her loving heart and her capable leadership, directed the younger women. Dramatic entertainments were given by the young people. I recall some of those who took part: The Misses Carrie and Kate Ely, Dr. Lions, William Berkley, J. H. Haman, Miss Laura Weare, the Misses Coulter, Miss Earl, Miss Risley, Mrs. Dr. May, William Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Haman, Hall, Wood, Stibbs, and Carroll. The rest of the men had all gone to the war and most of these finally went. Sociables and fairs were then held to raise money. There were days and nights of sewing and packing barrels to be sent to the seat of war. These were the days when all personal sacrifice was a pleasure. When the war was over and the pall of horror was lifted, the first joyful events were given in honor of fathers, husbands, brothers and lovers home from the war. Days and nights were spent making flags and banners, twining arches that were placed over the street, cooking of good things. Nothing was too good for the soldier boys. When the tables were spread in the grove the returned soldiers, led by Colonel T. Z. Cook, Colonel Merritt, Colonel Coulter, and General Jack Stibbs marched up the street. Many were scarred and lame and with emaciated faces. The bullet-riddled flags were carried at half mast for those who fell in the battle or died in southern hospitals. Our tears of joy were mingled with tears of sorrow. For a year or two afterwards all entertainments were given to raise money for soldiers' widows and orphans. Parties and fairs of every description were given.
A colonial ball was given in '59, in which Colonel T. Z. Cook and Colonel Merritt and General Jack Stibbs came in military costume. All three were handsome men with soldierly bearing. All who attended this ball were in colonial dress. To me it was the most beautiful social function of those days. There were a number of beautiful women and handsome men who looked well in colonial style of dress.
This party was given at Carpenter's hall Tuesday evening, March 1, 1859, and was for the benefit of the Mount Vernon fund. The patronesses were Mesdames Wm. H. Merritt, H. G. Angle, S. C. Koontz, Wm. Greene, J. G. Graves, W. B. Mack, C. B. Rowley, H. W. Perkins, S. D. Carpenter.
The committee on arrangements was composed of Wm. H. Merritt, H. G. Angle, R. R. Taylor, W. B. Mack, D. M. McIntosh, Lawson Daniels, Edward J. Smith, Hon. Geo. Greene, S. D. Carpenter, Wm. Greene, John G. Graves, T. Z. Cook, H. B. Stibbs, T. S. McIntosh, Wm. Berkley.
In '69 and '70 there was a fine course of lectures by Bayard Taylor, Henry Ward Beecher, Barnum, J. G. Saxe and other noted lecturers. The money raised was used to fit up a small public library which was in circulation for a number of years.
Judge Greene built a fine opera house and always gave the use of it for entertainments for charity and the ladies gave a great many affairs. It was not unusual for them to make one thousand dollars at one entertainment, for everything was donated and people attended entertainments of that sort better then than they do at the present day. Years ago towns in the vicinity of twenty miles returned social courtesies. In the winter of '68 Iowa City and Cedar Rapids got very friendly. A party of young people were invited to a ball given at the Kirkwood in Iowa City. The weather was cold, the snow deep; but bob sleds were rigged up with buffalo robes. This party started out early, but owing to the deep snow and an upset or two, it was late when they arrived. But they had a pleasant time and returned late next day.
Marion and Cedar Rapids were very cordial to each other. When the homes of I. N. Preston, Mr. Twogood, and Preston Daniels were opened with social events a number of Cedar Rapids people were invited and these families gave beautiful parties.
Chapter XXXII
Southern Influence
In every frontier community we gauge the settlement by the influences which predominate. Thus we have the Buckeye, the Hoosier, and New England elements in certain states and communities, making these local influences more or less marked traits of character, according to the size of the settlements, and also the temperaments of the settlers. In an early day there arrived in Linn county a number of people from South Carolina, who located here and influenced the social side of this frontier settlement in a marked degree. These families settled here in 1849: The Legare, Bryan, McIntosh, Stoney, and other families. The Legare family came from John's Island, about ten miles from Charleston, where they had lived for several centuries, being of an old French Huguenot family, which had removed to England and from there emigrated to America. It was here, or rather in Charleston, that Hugh Swinton Legare was born in 1789, the mother being of Scotch descent and related to Sir Walter Scott. Hugh Legare first obtained a private education from a Catholic priest, later graduating from the University of South Carolina. He embarked in 1818 for France, later taking up studies in Edinburgh and on the continent. After a stay of two years he returned to America to take charge of his mother's plantation. Not until 1822 did he begin the practice of law in Charleston; he also edited the Southern Review, and in this journal advocated views opposed to nullification. His attitude on this question brought him into prominence, and he was elected attorney general of the state. While in Washington he met Livingstone, then secretary of state, who offered him a position as minister to Belgium, which he accepted. After his return to America he was elected to congress in 1836, but was defeated for re-election in 1840 on account of his opposition to the sub-treasury bill. He was rewarded by President Tyler with a place in the cabinet as attorney general, and for a time acted as secretary of state. He died in 1843, one of the best known public men of his time.
His sister, Margaret Swinton Legare, who had been her brother's travelling companion and most intimate friend, in 1849 brought a fortune to Cedar Rapids. She was accompanied by her nephews, B. S. Bryan, Hugh L. Bryan, and Michael Bryan. It is said that nearly $80,000 in cash were at one time invested in property in this county by this family alone. A large part of this amount was invested in lands and in a woolen mill, which was located near what is now known as the Cooper mills.
Michael Bryan was married to a Miss Dwight, a distant relative of General Marion. She was also wealthy in her own name. A bank was started by the Bryans and the Wards in the early fifties known as Ward, Bryan & Co.'s Bank. This bank failed in the panic of 1857, Colonel I. M. Preston becoming receiver.
Donald M. McIntosh, Mrs. Rutledge, and her sisters, Joanna and Harley, came about the same time and were related to the other families. Many other less prominent southern people during these years came to Cedar Rapids which could boast of a true southern society. Mr. McIntosh erected one of the first brick dwellings in the city and held various public offices. Michael Bryan was alderman in 1851, while B. S. Bryan was elected city recorder. The Bryans were not outspoken in politics, but McIntosh was a democrat, the aunt, Miss Legare, held to the whig tenets of her illustrious brother, whose speeches and works she edited. She was also interested in church work, as well as in the education of women.
Michael Bryan erected a fine residence where the old N. B. Brown homestead is now located. At this house social affairs of the little town were conducted in true southern style, and fortunate was the person who was favored with an invitation to visit in the Bryan home. Michael Bryan died here, and the widow with her family returned to South Carolina just preceding the Civil war. B. S. Bryan removed to the coast and is still living in Seattle.
Miss Legare organized a ladies' seminary, and was an artist of considerable talent. She was also an accomplished musician. It is said that she brought the first piano to the county. However, this claim has been disputed as it is said that the J. P. Glass family brought a musical instrument here in 1846.
In the '50s Miss Legare became the wife of Lowell Bullen, an uncle of the Daniels brothers, whose home was in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. They resided at Marion until Mr. Bullen's death in 1869, when the widow returned to her old home in South Carolina, surviving her husband a number of years.
Nearly all the members of the southern society were members of the Presbyterian church, and took an active part in the religious and social work of that people. Mrs. Bullen was kind and considerate. Her dignified presence was enough to give her entrance into any home. She took an active interest in the poor, and was interested in education in general. She loved and revered the memory of her statesman brother, and never forgot what place he held at one time in the affairs of the nation. During the rebellion she felt that her heart would break as she thought of friends and relatives fighting on both sides in that terrible struggle for the preservation of the Union.
A letter received lately from Bryan & Bryan, attorneys of Charleston, South Carolina, throws some light on this subject:
"In reply to your letter of the 10th instant, we beg to say that H. S. and B. S. (Benjamin Simons) and Michael Bryan, of whom you speak, were the sons of Col. John Bryan, a planter of this section.
"He (Col. John Bryan) married a sister of Hugh Legare, the writer and statesman, and attorney general of the United States. These sons went to Cedar Rapids before 1860.
"Michael Bryan married Harriet Dwight, a sister of my mother, Rebecca Dwight.
"It happened strangely enough, that my father, George S. Bryan, who married Rebecca Dwight, was no relation to Michael Bryan, who married Harriet Dwight. (In other words, the two Bryans being no relation, married two sisters.)
"Michael Bryan had several children, the survivors are Emily Bryan, married ---- Andrews, now living in Abbeville county, South Carolina, with a number of children, her husband being a planter; and William Bryan, whose residence is unknown to the writer.
"Michael Bryan's nephew, Edward Bryan, is also living on one of our Sea Islands, in the vicinity of Charleston, and is a planter. As far as we can ascertain, B. S. Bryan of whom you speak, was engaged in banking in Cedar Rapids, and Michael Bryan was engaged in real estate, having built up a portion of Cedar Rapids. He died in Cedar Rapids before 1860, and his family removed back to South Carolina. They were not Quakers, but Presbyterians, and attended the Circular church, Meeting street, in Charleston, S. C., which was a branch of the Presbyterian church."
In addition to the above mentioned, a large number of cultured and educated people came from Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Who does not remember the aristocratic and learned A. Sidney Belt, the robust, courtly old gentleman, Colonel S. W. Durham, the versatile and polite Judge Israel Mitchell, the genial Oxley brothers, and scores of other southern men and women?
The members of the Legare, Bryan, McIntosh, Durham, Oxley, Belt, Mitchell, and other southern families who located in Linn county did much in changing the manners of this somewhat cosmopolitan community. These families pursued education. The members had traveled much. They were descended from some of the most cultured families in this country. They were social, interesting, and entertained much, and it is needless to add that the citizens of the county were not slow in receiving the southern settlers into their homes. The presence of such an influence in the formative period of the county's history wielded an influence which has not been entirely effaced after a period of half a century.
Some time later came the Hart brothers, Jacob A. and Caspar J., and for years the influence of these sturdy men was a power for good in the city and the county. It will be many years before these splendid representatives of the southland will be forgotten. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob A. Hart was a most hospitable one. It was always open to the new settler from the south, and especially to those who came from Maryland, their old home. Their commodious brick dwelling that stood so long at the corner of Second street and Fifth avenue, was a center for long years of true and genuine hospitality. Its doors were never locked against a Marylander, and all these felt free to "come early and stay late." To many a young son of the south Mother Hart was ever the best of mothers, caring for the sick lads, satisfying their hunger with fried chicken and Maryland biscuits--oh, who that once was welcomed there will ever lose the memory of it! Mrs. Hart is yet a resident of this city, spending a ripe old age in dispensing the same well-remembered hospitality, going about doing the deeds of kindness.
Mrs. R. C. Rock, herself a pioneer of 1850, has vivid recollections of beginnings in Cedar Rapids. She knew the Bryans intimately, and also the Legares. She says they were people of culture. Mr. Stoney, the husband of Miss Bryan, was educated abroad, and came to Cedar Rapids in 1852 or 1853. These people were led to locate in the city through the influence of Judge Greene, whom they met in Washington. Mrs. Rock states that at this day it is impossible to estimate what Judge Greene meant to the young city. Through his influence people of means, culture, and learning were induced to come to the city and county. He traveled a great deal, and something good for Cedar Rapids always resulted.
J. J. Snouffer was another Marylander who came to Cedar Rapids in 1850, and for nearly a half century his was a powerful influence in the community. He was prominent in business and political affairs, and was ever a loyal citizen.
Dr. Robert Taylor, one of the prominent early physicians, came from Virginia in 1851. After remaining here a few years he removed to Philadelphia.
Chapter XXXIII
Some Township History
BERTRAM TOWNSHIP
In the history of Linn county Bertram township has played a conspicuous part, and was at various times about to be the township in which were located some of the most enterprising towns in the county. Ivanhoe, Westport, also known as Newark, and other places are well known names among the early settlers. Their locations have been wiped off the map, so to speak, on account of changed conditions. The following sketch is taken largely from manuscripts and articles written by the late John J. Daniels, one of the old citizens of Linn county, one of the early county recorders, for many years a justice of the peace, and a well known and enterprising citizen, who was always interested in the old settlers and in the development of historical research in the county in early days. Mr. Daniels says:
"In the early settlement of Linn county the territory now forming Bertram township was selected by the early settlers for very prominent reasons, it having good mill streams, good water, and plenty of good timber near at hand, which was so much needed by the early settlers for building and fencing. Two of the early pioneers were Thomas W. and Sarah Campbell, of Dearborn county, Indiana. They came in the fall of 1838 and settled on the northeast quarter of section 27, and obtained a patent from the United States March 7, 1844. Mr. Campbell was elected the first county treasurer in 1839, and in 1840 his first collection of county taxes for licenses, ferries, and lands was $985.85. He died February 22, 1876.
"Perry and Catherine Campbell Oxley, of Montgomery county, Indiana, first located in Linn township, but in the fall of 1838 came here and took up a claim on the southwest quarter of section 22 and built their cabin in the grove near the east line. Mr. Oxley was the first constable elected in the county in 1839, and was bailiff of the grand jury of the county. He was the best shot in the county. He died September 30, 1886, universally mourned.
"Norris and Ann Cone, of Connecticut, came in February, 1839, and settled on section 21. Mr. Cone later removed to Marion. George Cone, their son, claims the honor of being the first child born in the township in 1839.
"James and Elizabeth Leabo and Israel Mitchell, natives of Kentucky, in 1838 left the mining regions near Dubuque and settled on claims in this township on the north side of the river. Mrs. Leabo died September, 1852, and James Leabo removed to Oregon, where he died.
"Mr. Mitchell was a graduate of a Kentucky college and celebrated the first 4th of July at Westport in 1838, Judge Mitchell being the orator.
"The first and only election of the county that year was held there, thirty-two votes being cast. The first store opened in the county was at Westport, by Albert Henry in the fall of 1838.
"James and Mary Scott, of Indiana, came in 1838 or 1839. Mr. Scott was an enterprising farmer. He purchased a saw mill on Big creek and early built a large flouring mill during the fifties. On account of the failure of crops the mill was not a success. He died in 1894 in Marion township.
"Elias Doty, of Ohio, came in 1838 or '39, and in 1840 commenced the building of a saw mill on Big creek, but was accidentally killed at its raising. The mill property later passed into the hands of James R. Briney.
"James Hunter, a native of Ireland, came in 1838 and took a claim; he died May 14, 1888, at the age of sixty-nine.
"Everett Oxley, a native of Kentucky, born in 1812, at the age of fifteen removed to Indiana where he married Catherine Milner, also a native of Kentucky, coming to Linn county in 1840. Mr. Oxley died in 1887. Several of the Oxley family emigrated to Linn county.
"Jeremiah Daniels arrived in the spring of 1844 with a stock of dry goods, trading for wheat in the fall, shipping same by flat-boat to St. Louis. In the fall of 1847-8 he built a saw mill on Indian creek and a few years later located a flour mill on Big creek. Mr. Daniels died in 1882."
Mr. Daniels further states that some of the early settlers were the following:
"Michael and Peter McRoberts, Peter D. Harman, Ben and John Dewitt, John, Joseph, and Nancy Gourly, Andrew and Thomas Dill, Isaac, Lawrence, Elijah, and Joseph Wain, Louis Lafore, Perry and Ann Knapp, Ada J. James, Steve, Charles, Daniel, George, Theresa, and Ann Rose, Sylvester Lyons, Thomas Rose, James and Thomas Piner, James M. and Susan Doty, Abraham Darr, John Arford, Hiram and Mary Leabo-Deem, Sam and Rachel Stambaugh, Jonathan and Dorcas Paul, John Bromwell, Michael Cox, Louis Kramer, Dr. Grove, Dave Stambaugh, James Briney, Leonard Speckelmeyer, James Berry, James Anderson, Caleb Dyer, Joseph Caraway, John and Mary Scott, and Samuel Durham."
Some of the Bertram justices have been William S. Darr, Frank Allen, W. B. Plummer, E. Doty, J. C. Anderson.
Bertram township has been the location of a number of squatter towns. William Stone first staked out a squatter town and called it Westport. He sold out his right to Albert Henry and then staked out Columbus where Cedar Rapids is now located. Henry, it is stated, erected two of the first frame buildings in this town, and in fact in this part of the county. The only sawed lumber in the entire buildings were the window frames and the casings. The siding was what was known as shaved lumber. These buildings were torn down in 1861 by Elias and Daniel Doty. One of these buildings was used by James Doty for his pottery shop up to the time of his death. Perry Oxley bought Albert Henry's squatter claim and he later sold his right, title, and interest in the town as well as in about 117 acres of land at $2.50 an acre. Now for the first time James Doty thought he would comply with the law, and on November 12, 1844, filed a plat in accordance with the law and called the town Newark, from Newark, New Jersey, his birthplace. Ivanhoe was never platted, but was only a squatter town founded by Cowles. Colonel Merritt kept the first store at Ivanhoe for parties in Rock Island. This town had better prospects of becoming a great city than any other town in the county. It had a good river frontage, a rich country around it, plenty of timber and good water, and had the government road besides. For some unknown cause the place seems to have been ignored when Marion and Cedar Rapids began to flourish. This is true, that Ivanhoe and Westport were laid out expecting the river to be the means of communicating with the outside world. The railroads, mills, dams and other things changed conditions, and the Indian trading villages came to naught.
FAIRFAX TOWNSHIP
Fairfax township lies in the extreme southwest portion of Linn county. Prairie creek, at times an unruly stream, drains this part of the county. In the early day this portion of Linn county had more or less timber, especially in what is known as Scotch Grove, northeast of the town of Fairfax. This timber has, for the most part, been cut off.
The first settlers, as far as is known, who came to this part of the county were Robert and Jane Ure with their family of grown children, in the spring of 1841. The children were John, Margaret, James, William, Robert, Walter, and David. The family had emigrated from Scotland in 1838 and gone west, locating in Ohio for a short time, removing to Iowa territory in search of land. They located in the northwestern part of the township in the grove which has since been called "Scotch Grove." The Ures wrote back to Scotland to their friends, and for many years emigrants came who located in and around Scotch Grove in Linn and Benton counties. Later came the McDowell family, the Listebargers, the McKinnons, the Mitchells, Giddings, Knickerbockers, Flahertys, Ferriters, Henrys, Cahills, Hines, McFarlands, and many others.
A cemetery was established in Scotch Grove where a number of the early settlers are buried. The cemetery near Fairfax is now the one in use, and also the Catholic cemetery southwest of Fairfax.
One of the first school teachers in the township was Mrs. Keziah McDowell, who taught in a private house. The first school building was erected in 1855 on the place where the Elm Grove school now stands. The first teacher who taught in a school building was a Mr. Eckerman, who boarded around. The families who had children attending school at that time were the McKinnons, the Listebargers, and the Hodges.
The first reaping machine in this part of the county was purchased by William Ure at Chicago in the summer of 1847, and was a hand-raking machine. Mr. Ure drove with an ox team to Chicago and returned with a machine in time for cutting the grain that summer. After he got started all the neighbors helped and the machine was run night and day until the season was over and the grain harvested.
The Scotch families were United Presbyterians, and for many years attended church in Cedar Rapids. In May, 1858, the Presbyterian church was organized and established in Scotch Grove. The fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of this church was celebrated in 1908, and the paper read by Miss Jennie G. Mitchell, daughter of James Mitchell, now residing in Cedar Rapids, gives a full history of the church and of many of the old settlers of this county, and is herewith inserted in full:
"THE ORIGIN OF FAIRFAX U. P. CHURCH
"The first settlers in this part of Linn county, Iowa, were Robert and Jane Ure, who, with a family of grown children, came here in the spring or summer of 1841. The children were John, Margaret, James, William, Jane, Robert, Walter, and David. The family had emigrated from Scotland in 1838 and spent the intervening years near Springfield, Ohio. But land was high in the old settlements and they came 'west' where they could enter government land, settling, or at first camping, on the same ground where this church is built. Log houses were soon erected and some land entered and a few years later a brick house was built, the first in this part of the country. The brick was made by the boys and the entire house erected without the assistance of any expert, the lime being hauled all the way from Muscatine. The Ure family did not leave their religion in the Auld Kirk in the Homeland, but during all their travels, whether they tarried or camped for only the night, the morning and evening sacrifice of family prayer was offered; and on Sabbath at noon the family were gathered and God's word read, followed by praise and prayer. Thus they kept God's holy day and worshiped in their own home until preaching could be obtained, and by searching the records of the First United Presbyterian church of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, we find that on the 9th day of September, 1850, a meeting was held and a petition forwarded to the Associate Presbytery of Iowa, asking for a supply of preaching, and in 1851 the congregation in Cedar Rapids was organized, the Ure family uniting with them.
"The cheap land and plenty of timber attracted others, and in the early fifties the McKinnon family came from Scotland and settled in Linn county near Scotch Grove. In 1852 Samuel and Sarah Hall, with their large family, settled at Sisley's Grove, and in 1854 James Cleghorn, Sr., with his two children and John and Agnes Anderson. James Cleghorn and Agnes Anderson were brother and sister. James Cleghorn, Jr., is still living near where they located and built their first home. Robert Brownlie and family now reside where the Anderson home was built. This same year (1854) Joseph and Margaret Humphrey and family came and settled south of Prairie Creek, and in the spring of 1855, James and John Mitchell with their wives and families, and later Walter Mitchell and John and Jane McGregor with their families of sons and daughters, and a few years later Moses Mitchell, all finding homes in and around Scotch Grove.
"The Ure family, thus re-inforced, soon after began an effort to secure preaching at Scotch Grove. But who first proposed asking for preaching, or where the meeting was held, is not on record and can not be recalled, but a minute on the records of the Cedar Rapids church, dated May 25, 1856, reads thus: 'The people of Scotch Grove presented a petition and were granted one-fourth of the pastor's time.' But by whom this petition was presented is not recorded. Another record reads: 'At a meeting of the United Presbyterian church of Kingston, held on Tuesday afternoon at four o'clock, July 6, 1858, the following paper was adopted: Action of the United Presbyterian congregation of Kingston in relation to the organization of a church at Scotch Grove, Linn County, Iowa. Resolved: that we approve of the organization with the understanding that they continue in connection with us as the same pastoral charge until otherwise ordered by the Presbytery.' But the name of the Presbytery is not mentioned. It is supposed that Joseph Humphrey carried the petition to Presbytery. The organization was granted and on the 12th day of August, 1858, a meeting was held in the home of James and Mary Ure, a sermon preached and the congregation organized by Rev. Hugh Sturgeon. There were fifteen charter members, and the name given the congregation was 'Fairfax.' The names of all present can not be recalled, but we remember that John Beatty, who later with his family came to the neighborhood, brought Mr. Sturgeon and was present at this meeting. Three elders were elected, Joseph Humphrey, Alexander Johnson and James Mitchell. James Mitchell did not accept the office and at a later meeting James Ure was elected and with the other two, ordained and installed. Thus organized and equipped they began the work with high hopes and willing hands, if not much ready money. There being no public building which could be used for religious meetings, they were held in homes, most of the time in the home of Miss Margaret Ure. Rev. Sturgeon did not long remain and others came. Revs. Douthett, A. J. Allen, Sawhill, Fulton, and others. Doctor Roberts of the Covenanter faith preached a few times. One occasion is remembered when he was to preach in the home of Mr. Wadsworth, where Mr. and Mrs. William Russell now live. Heavy rains had fallen during the week and Prairie creek was over its banks, with the bridge either washed away or overflowed. Several families lived on the other side who must attend the service on the Sabbath, no thought of the high water being an excuse for staying at home. They wished to attend and were needed to assist with the singing. The names of three families are remembered: Dixon, Junk, and Humphrey. Among other plans some one suggested building a raft, whom we do not remember, but superintended by Andrew Mitchell the work was begun, and finished Saturday afternoon. Sabbath afternoon the families came in their wagons as far as the creek, where they were met by neighbors on this side, ferried across by Andrew Mitchell, and conveyed to the home of Mr. Wadsworth. After the service they were brought back to the place of crossing and again ferried over, all in a quiet way becoming the day and occasion. Thus obstacles were met and overcome with the persistent determination of people who retained some of the spirit of their invincible John Knox. But a school house was erected in the early sixties, known as the James Ure school house, and religious meetings were held here. If possible, preaching, if not, Sabbath school and prayer meeting until their first pastor, Rev. J. T. Torrence, came among them.
"Shall we ask: Did the work prosper? How well, vines transplanted from the Scotch Grove church in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho and far-off California will testify.
"Is it possible to over-estimate the courage and perseverance of our fathers and mothers, who began the work in this new country under the great difficulties and privations, and whose faith, as well as strength of arm, has made possible the privileges we, their children, enjoy? We trust we shall not forget, but to succeeding generations tell the heroism of the daily strife and the earnestness and value of the twice daily prayer, 'All honor to the builders of this Church.'
'The world may sound no trumpets--ring no bells, The book of life the shining record tells.'
"THE CHARTER MEMBERS
"Fifty years is a longer time than the memory of most of those living runs. The span of life is not always, in fact not usually, lengthened to include events so wide apart in space of time.
"Fifty years ago, the great Civil war had not been fought, and it was the hopes of those who held the welfare of their country nearest to their hearts that such a calamity might be averted. Fifty years ago, the memory of those two great national characters, Webster and Clay, whose eloquence and zeal postponed that great contest a decade, was fresh to the little band that bound themselves together here at Scotch Grove that they might have the privileges of a church home.
"In May of 1858, the United Presbyterian church was formed by the union of the Associate Presbyterians and Associate Reform Presbyterian churches. In the fall of that same year, fifteen devoted Christian citizens organized the new congregation and called it the United Presbyterian Church of Fairfax, Iowa.
"It is interesting to note that while these fifteen early pioneers were planning for the organization, Abraham Lincoln was debating with Douglas the merits of the Dred Scott decision.
"These fifteen charter members were:
"Samuel Hall and wife, Sarah Hall. "Joseph Humphrey and wife, Margaret Humphrey. "Alexander Johnson and wife, Janet McKinnon Johnson. "James Mitchell and wife, Margaret McArthur Mitchell. "John Mitchell and wife, Margaret Mitchell. "William McKinnon and wife, Janet McKinnon. "James Ure and wife, Mary Ure, and "Miss Margaret Ure.
"Associated with these fifteen charter members in word and work were John McGregor and wife, Jane Robertson McGregor, who later became members of the new organization.
"Of these persons, there are three still living--Mr. and Mrs. James Ure, who live at Denver, Colorado, and Mr. James Mitchell, who lives at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. [Mr. and Mrs. Ure are now deceased, 1910].
"James and Margaret Ure were among the very earliest settlers in this community. They, with their parents, had come to Iowa in 1841, five years before the territory was admitted to statehood. Both were born in Scotland and came to America in 1838, settling near Springfield, Ohio, where they lived till they came west. In 1857 James Ure was married to Mary Kerr. She was born in March, 1835, in Mercer, Pennsylvania, where she spent her early childhood, later removing with her parents to Dubuque, Iowa. They began housekeeping on their farm just east of the grove, where they lived till April, 1892, when they moved to Denver, Colorado.
"In September, 1879, Mr. Ure asked for his certificate of admission, which was granted. He was one of the ruling elders elected at the time of the organization.
"Margaret Ure was born in Scotland in 1821. After coming to Scotch Grove she resided on the Ure homestead, now owned by Jas. Rogers. She was a woman of great abilities and was always liberal in giving of her time and means to the work of the church. The church building was not erected for some years after the organization of the congregation and her home was always open for the holding of services during this time. The pulpit furniture now in use was a gift of hers. She removed to Cedar Rapids in 1884, where she died. She was buried in the Fairfax cemetery.
"James Mitchell, one of the three surviving charter members, and who now resides at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was born March 3, 1821, in Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire, Scotland. He came to America in 1851 and settled in New York state. July 8, 1853, he was married to Margaret McArthur and in July, 1855, came to Linn county, Iowa. Mrs. Mitchell was born June 8, 1823, and died June 20, 1904, at the age of 81 years and 12 days.
"At the time Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell came west, in 1855, the railroad ran no farther west than to Rock Island. At this point they, in company with Margaret and William Ure, were compelled to cross the Mississippi river on the ice. It was here that they received their first initiation into the life of hardship and peril that fell to the life of the early pioneer. While crossing the river, the wheels of their dray began to cut through the ice. There was danger of the ice giving way and all being drowned, but by means of levers and props they were able to reach the Iowa shore in safety.
"When Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell reached Scotch Grove, they took for their home a small log house some five or six rods southwest from the present church building, and with the munificent sum of ten dollars with which to furnish their home, started to carve out their career in the new country. With Mrs. Mitchell there was little thought of what her spring hat would be like, or what she should serve when it came her turn to give a Kensington to the ladies of the community. It would probably be some days before any money would find its way into the family purse, and those ten dollars must be guarded with jealous care. True, potatoes could be had, and Mr. Ure and his family had proven that the potato could be used as the sole article of diet for at least three months.
"In 1898 they removed to Cedar Rapids, where four years ago Mrs. Mitchell died. She was buried at Fairfax cemetery. Mr. Mitchell is now eighty-seven years of age. He was elected to the office of ruling elder in December, 1879, which he filled till the time he removed to Cedar Rapids. July 8, 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell celebrated their golden wedding.
"John Mitchell came to America in 1853. Margaret McGregor Mitchell was born in Sterlingshire, Scotland, September 8, 1831. In 1852 she came to America with her parents, settling in New York state. The following year she was married to Mr. John Mitchell and in 1855 came to Scotch Grove. Here they settled in a small log house near the present church lot. Robert Ure, father of James and Margaret Ure, had, during the time of the gold excitement in California, built three of these houses, the first being erected without the use of a nail.
"Mr. Mitchell entered forty acres of land west of where the Conley school house now stands. After the school house was built, preaching services and Sabbath school were held there, and Mr. Mitchell was one of the most active in lending help and maintaining the services. He died January 17, 1896, at Norway; she February 3, 1892. Both were buried in the Fairfax cemetery.
"Alexander Johnson was born in Pennsylvania, his father coming to America from Ireland. On coming to Iowa he lived at Cedar Rapids for a time, where he teamed. Here he lost his first wife and was later married to Janet McKinnon, who was born in Bo'ness, Scotland, and came to America in 1845.
"Mrs. Johnson owned some land at Que's Grove, now known as Quam's Grove. This she bought from the government. Mr. Johnson had money with which to build a house and they thus moved on the land, where they lived till the time of his death.
"Mr. Johnson was elected to the office of ruling elder when the congregation was organized, and was at all times an active and persistent worker in the church. He had become attached to his early church home and was reluctant to leave. It may seem strange, but yet it is true, that the place where a person spends the best years of his life, where he has toiled and labored to make a home, becomes in old age, after he is compelled to lay down his labors, the spot that is dearest to him. He had seen the community grow and develop, and as it had grown, his hopes had opened.
"Some time prior to his death, the members of his family wanted to remove to Washington, Iowa. He could not entertain the thought of leaving his old home community, whose growth and development had meant so much to him, and in a conversation with a member of the congregation remarked that he had said, 'If they take me away from here, it will be in my coffin, but now I have given my consent to go.'
"He was not permitted to make the change. During the latter part of his life he was confined to his bed. He died at Norway, having reached the age of eighty-four years. Mrs. Johnson died three years ago at Washington, Iowa.
"Joseph Humphrey was born in New York state, January 19, 1816, and when quite young his parents removed to Butler county, Pennsylvania. In 1836 he was married to Margaret Gill. She was born May 30, 1818, in Butler county, Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa May 5, 1855, and settled near Norway.
"In the church he occupied the highest office to which a private member can be called by the voice of the congregation, that of ruling elder, being chosen elder at the organization of the congregation. He had a high sense of the responsibility of his office, viewing it as one of divine authority. It was his study, as a steward of God, to fulfill its duties and maintain its authority. He was punctual and regular in attendance at all the meetings of the congregation and gave largely of his means and time in forwarding its interests. He believed that the minister was worthy of his hire, and rather than neglect this duty he would let his boys go barefooted to church. He died December 5, 1871, at the age of fifty-six years. Mrs. Humphrey died May 22, 1900, eight days before her eighty-second birthday. Both were buried in Fairfax cemetery.
"Samuel Hall was born March 29, 1806, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. His wife, Sarah Jobe Hall, was born October 8, 1808, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In April of 1851 they came to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and entered land just west of that place, where they lived till their removal to Cedar Rapids in 1883. Mrs. Hall died March 10, 1886, and Mr. Hall on the 13th, three days later. Both were buried in the same grave in Sisley Grove cemetery. They were one of the four couples mentioned here, who celebrated their golden wedding.
"Mr. and Mrs. William McKinnon were born in Scotland and were married before coming to America. They came to Scotch Grove at an early date, about 1852. For a time they lived with David McKinnon, east of the grove, and later moving to their new home north of Norway. Moved to the western part of the state and there died.
"During the early days of the new congregation, Mr. McKinnon rendered valuable services as leader in the singing. His clear and distinct voice could be heard and followed with ease by the body of the congregation.
"Mr. and Mrs. John McGregor were both born in Scotland, he May 11, 1801, in Callander, she August 13, 1806, in Bo'ness. They came to America in 1852, settling in New York, and in 1857 came to Iowa where they settled on a farm west of the grove. Mr. McGregor was active in the work of the church and especially in the raising of funds for the new church building. Both were loyal supporters of the church, and were among those who kept their membership in the congregation till the time of their death.
"The same vessel that brought them to America brought Mr. Jas. Mitchell. It was a sailing vessel and required six weeks to cross the ocean. This past summer their great-granddaughters made the voyage in the Lusitania in less than five days.
"In 1877 they celebrated their golden wedding at their home, the same home they chose when first coming to Scotch Grove. Mr. McGregor died November 8, 1894, at the age of ninety-three years, the greatest age reached by any of the early members. August 13, 1880, Mrs. McGregor died, being just seventy-four years old. Both were buried in the Fairfax cemetery.
"Conditions then and now are quite different. Railroads were not yet built into the community. At one time the produce had to be hauled to Davenport and Muscatine. It took a week to make the trip and when one got back home, little was left to encourage another trip. There were no roads in many places, and the oxen, which were often used in those days, frequently left the wagon stuck in some slough. Before railroads were built into Cedar Rapids, a steamboat came up the river from the Mississippi, bringing groceries and dry-goods and carrying the produce back. No money could be had for the grain and stock. One must take in exchange for them groceries and dry-goods. The panic of 1857 had not yet spent its force. Such were the conditions surrounding the early pioneers when the congregation was organized.
"These members were not only pioneers in carving out homes in a new country, but they were pioneers of the faith. Religious services, Sabbath school and prayer meetings were held at Conley school house, at Norway, and at Livermore school house, besides those held at the church. They cherished the hope and faith in the divine which they had brought with them to the new country, and were persistent in offering to all who might come, the advantages of the sanctuary.
"The early pioneers are always men of firm faith, sturdy and strong in their beliefs, set in their opinions. It is not to be wondered at, that when the question of where to erect the new church building arose, there were differences of opinion. Some wanted it located at Brownlie's corner, some at Conley's school house and some just west of the present site. It was at such times that William Ure stepped into the threatened breach and by his calm counsel brought unity to the opposing opinions. Although not a member of the Fairfax congregation Mr. Ure rendered services as valuable as any of its members in giving financial aid and in other ways.
"Of these fifteen charter members, Mr. and Mrs. James Mitchell, James and Margaret Ure, William McKinnon and John Mitchell were all born and lived during their childhood in the same community in Scotland. They were all baptized by the Rev. Mr. Russell, and they attended the same church and school. In coming west to the new country they chose out a beautiful spot, fertile and productive. During the fifty years, within the memory of one of the charter members, land that was bought from the government for $1.25 per acre has been sold for $150 per acre.
"Four of these couples, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Ure, and Mr. and Mrs. John McGregor, have celebrated their golden weddings. Of these early pioneers of Scotch Grove, one has passed the age of ninety years, six have passed the age of eighty years, and but two died before reaching the age of seventy, a beautiful commentary upon their rugged and sturdy character and habits."
BOULDER TOWNSHIP
Boulder township is located in the northern part of the county and despite its name is one of the most fertile and productive portions of the county. The surface is generally rolling, dotted in an early day with excellent groves of native timber. Buffalo creek in the days before windmills were in common use was a much prized stream which was used by farmers near and far, for the use of their stock. William Wagner is supposed to have made the first settlement in 1850. He was shortly followed by William McQueen and Silas Edington. Later came the following named persons: John Wagner, Will Ward, H. B. Brown, Frank Cooly, J. Wilds, J. Barnhardt and Ben Harrison. In the early fifties came an itinerant Methodist minister, John Bell, and organized a small congregation, services being held in a school house near the present site of Prairieburg. The John McQueen grist mill which began operation about 1854 on Buffalo creek, a mile southwest of Prairieburg, was a noted mill in its day and was largely patronized by the early settlers. The town of Prairieburg was named by Henry Ward, the first postmaster. The first house was a log structure built by Joe Barnhardt in 1853. N. Parsons erected the second house and Henry Wayne the third, which was a store building where he opened a store. In 1856, Will Wagner started a shoe shop, and other buildings, such as hotels and blacksmith shops came later. The recent advent of the railroad has boomed the town and the price of land has increased greatly. A number of the early settlers and their descendants are still land owners in this township, Coquillette, Whitney, Paul, O'Rourke, Carpenter, Walker, McQueen, Burke, Rundle, Pillard, Nelson, Lacy, Leonard, Le Clerc, Smith, Cushman, Hill, Soesbe, Garvis, Drexler, Tear, Considine, Matsel, and other well known families.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP
Clinton township, with a population of 1,000 people, located in the western tier of townships, has a rich, productive soil and has been farmed continuously for sixty years and the soil shows no sign of deterioration. The farmers residing in Clinton township have well improved farms, good roads and a number of fine school houses and churches. For many years the road known as the Toledo road, as well as the Marengo road, were the two chief thoroughfares for travelers, gold seekers, and others, and consequently it was early well advertised.
Among some of the early settlers in this township may be mentioned John Conley, Hiram Usher, Joe Brown, Dyer Usher, George Buchanan, Reese and the Langhams, and scores of others who came here in the '40s.
James Yuill, Henry Maurer, John Fox, Whiteneck, Sisley, Kuhn, Wieneke, Lederman, O'Connell, the Miller family, Misners, Scotts, Swetts, Hall, Snell, and many others of the early settlers came here in an early day, building up the community. They have long since passed away leaving their children and grandchildren large tracts of productive land.
Sisley Grove was at a very early time a place where all the settlers, as well as travellers, congregated. The grove at that time was much larger than it is at present, and many of the farmers adjoining owned small tracts of land in this grove where they cut rails and fence posts for their farms during the winter.
Here is also located a cemetery where many of the old settlers are buried, and at an early day a church was built at which the early pioneers congregated once a week to hear the word of God preached. In the absence of any regular preacher frequently the pioneer farmers preached to the congregations. This church was abandoned some years ago and the congregation has since worshiped at Fairview, a few miles further east.
Here, also, was located Kuhn's blacksmith shop and hotel. Kuhn was a queer old fellow, who not only was an expert blacksmith but the only one for miles who was competent to shoe oxen, and consequently during the winter months he was a very busy man. Kuhn not only was a good horseshoer and blacksmith, but he was a dentist as well and pulled teeth when blacksmithing was slack. At one time he pulled a tooth for an old settler with an instrument used in those days and as it was pretty severe he gave a drink of whiskey to stop the pain. After the fellow fully recovered his senses the tooth ached as before and the patient learned that the dentist had pulled the wrong tooth and so informed the blacksmith, to which the blacksmith replied, "That will be easy to remedy, just take another drink and we will go at it again, and you will not be out very much as my charges are only ten cents a tooth." Old Mr. Kuhn seemed to know the wants of the community, for he kept a barrel of whiskey in his blacksmith shop and sold the stuff at thirty cents a gallon, and served free drinks to anyone on paying his bill. The hotel was not a modern kind of a house, but was generally full, as travellers in those days were plentiful. The old man also sold feed to travellers and consequently he generally got a little something out of every traveller who passed by Sisley Grove.
The grove was named in honor of the first settler who owned most of the land, on which the grove is situated. During the early '50s and '60s Clinton township produced more wheat, it is said, than any other township in the county, all of which was hauled to Cedar Rapids.
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP
Buffalo township was first settled by George C. Perkins, who came here in 1839 and made a claim which he occupied thereafter during his lifetime. In the early days it was well wooded and consequently much of this land was sold in small strips to adjoining farmers.
GRANT TOWNSHIP AND WALKER
For the following interesting sketch of the early settlement of northwestern Linn county we are under obligations to Justin Barry, editor of the Walker News.
Grant township, forming the northwest corner of Linn county, was organized in 1872 as the result of a struggle over the levying of a tax in aid of the construction of a railroad. The B., C. R. & N., since incorporated into the Rock Island system, had projected a line from Cedar Rapids north toward the Minnesota line. Washington township, then embracing much more territory than at present, had voted a five per cent tax in aid of the road. Those living in the northern portion of the township rebelled, and in an effort to escape the tax petitioned for a division of the territory and the formation of a new township. They succeeded in the latter effort and the new township was designated Grant, in honor of General Grant, who was then president. However, the people did not escape the tax, and some of those who most vigorously opposed it later embarked in business in the new town of Walker, which sprung up with the coming of the railroad, and thus their defeat became in fact the foundation for modest fortunes, which came from the large territory and the equally large profits of pioneer business days.
As the earlier settlers sought out the timbered sections regardless of the quality of the land, what is now Grant township, comprised as it is almost wholly of prairie, was one of the last portions of the county to be developed. Some few settlers came early, but progress generally was slow. A family named Norris was the first to settle within its territory, being already located along what is now its southern border when John K. Speake and family came in 1840. The Norrises have since disappeared and no one seems to know whither they went. James Buforde Speake is now the oldest living settler in the township, and though past eighty years of age he continues to operate the farm in section 19 on which his father filed when the family arrived here from Illinois in 1840.
Other settlers came at long intervals, but for many years after the arrival of the first it was predicted with great assurance that the northern portion of the township never would be settled but would always remain a wilderness. And yet this valley, including the present town site of Walker, lying north of what in the early days was called Wright's Grove, now Fox's Grove, must have presented an attractive picture and one of rare beauty in its wild state, viewed from the surrounding hills, a little creek winding its way through the center, flanked all about by great rolling ridges and fringed on either bank with willows, with here and there a giant oak towering above all else.
William Davis settled in the southwest portion of the township in 1841, and on his farm in about 1850 or a little earlier was laid out the first cemetery in the township. It is still in use for that purpose and many of the monuments erected in the early days bear quaint inscriptions. Mr. Davis died in 1866, leaving a large estate to his sons, Hezekiah and Edward, who carried on extensive farm operations. The former kept a pack of hounds and for many years scoured the country for miles around in search of wolves. The Davises later met with reverses and left the county years ago shorn of a large share of the princely estate, which once had embraced many hundreds of acres of land in Benton and Linn counties.
E. D. Hazeltine, who died only a few weeks ago at his home in Center Point, was another early settler in the southern portion of the township, and he was long active in all its interests. He served for some time in the early days as a county commissioner. During the '50s numerous pioneer families arrived, including those of Thomas Fee, W. C. Ring, C. G. and Benjamin Gitchell, W. S. Bliss, Chorydon Gilchrist, Christian Iehl, and others.
Following the close of the Civil war development was more rapid, a number of soldiers fresh from the service joining the pioneers in their work of subduing the wilderness. In 1873 when the railroad arrived settlement had reached the northern border of the township, where James A. North, Walker Purviance, William Moses and others were located. The building of the railroad brought the establishment of a new town on section 4, which was called Walker, in honor of W. W. Walker, then chief engineer and afterward superintendent and receiver of the road.
James K. Hotchkin built the first business building, opening a general store, and he was also appointed as the first postmaster. The second business building was erected by Theo. Hamblin, present mayor of the town, who engaged in the grocery business. O. C. Barnes built a hotel on the site now occupied by the Walker News office, and Fred Hoffman erected the store building now occupied by S. Liddle. The first residence was built by C. G. Gitchell, who leased his farm in section 21 and engaged in the lumber and grain business in partnership with Fred Hoffman, and Mrs. Gitchell was the first woman resident of the town. Messrs. Gitchell and Hoffman prospered greatly in business, amassing modest fortunes, and both remained for many years among the leaders in business affairs. Mr. Gitchell later represented his county for two terms in the lower house of the General Assembly of Iowa.
The town grew steadily and at once became an important market point, tapping a wide territory of rich farming country, and for many years it has been recognized as the best shipping point on the Decorah division of the Rock Island, barring only one or two of the larger cities. The farmers soon turned their attention largely to dairying, and in the town now is one of the finest creamery plants in the state, "Walker" butter having gained a wide fame in the city markets.
Municipal affairs have been wisely and economically administered ever since the incorporation of the town in 1891, when the following were chosen as the first officers: Mayor, W. A. Jones; councilmen, C. G. Gitchell, J. P. Bross, H. J. Nietert, J. N. Keys, Theo. Hamblin and P. L. Hutchins; recorder, O. C. Swartz; treasurer, M. B. Dodge; assessor, E. R. Wheeler; marshal, J. M. Peyton. Walker now has a pretty park embracing about two blocks of ground, a complete municipal water-works system affording fire protection to all portions of the town, and a well equipped fire department. The water-works system has just been re-enforced by the sinking of a second deep well, affording an inexhaustible supply of water, and the installation of a second pumping equipment.
The town's graded school system has reached a high standard of efficiency, and its graduates rank well as teachers and as students in higher institutions. The school has four departments, all of them crowded to their full capacity, the enrollment including many tuition scholars. Several thousand dollars have already been set aside as the foundation of a fund for the erection of a new brick school building, which will be a necessity within a few years.
The town is well supplied with churches, having four protestant and one Catholic society. In the order of their organization they are: Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Christian. The first church organized in the town was in 1874 by the Wesleyan Methodist, but that denomination has since passed from the field.
That the town and surrounding country are prosperous and rapidly growing in wealth is shown by the fact that Walker now boasts of two strong banks having resources reaching a half a million dollars, and with deposits steadily increasing. Its business men are enterprising and progressive.
Regularly laid out, its streets lined with shade trees, bordering permanent walks and well kept lawns, the town presents a pretty appearance, and town officials and citizens seem to vie with each other in their efforts to maintain its reputation as being one of the prettiest towns in the county.
MAINE TOWNSHIP
We are indebted to a loyal citizen of the county for the following historical sketch of one of the finest districts in the county--Maine township. Dr. Ward Woodbridge has treated sympathetically the early days in and around Central City. He long has lived there, has been a potent factor in the development of his community, and knows whereof he speaks.
Maine township geographically is located in the northeast corner of Linn county, being in the second row of townships from both the north and east.
Its shape is an irregular triangle, containing forty-seven square miles, making it one-third larger than the average township. This is due to an early arrangement whereby a portion of Buffalo township became a part of Maine. The Wapsie river divides Buffalo township nearly in the middle. In its early history the larger number of people resided south of the river, as there were no bridges in those days, and the river held a high stage of water, making it difficult to cross. These people finally asked to be attached to Maine township for administrative purposes, and all that portion of Buffalo on the south side of the river was made a part of Maine, and has never been restored.
The Wapsie river runs along the northeastern border of Maine, and is the dividing line between it and Buffalo.
Along the river, and from one to three miles in width on either side, the land is somewhat hilly, sandy, and has been heavily timbered. When the more level country is reached it becomes a gently undulating plain, rich black loam and very productive.
As we turn in retrospect, seeing its growth and development, we can see the work of the hardy and determined pioneers on every hand. It was they who blazed the way. It was they who built this Appian way of progress. It was their devotion and privation, patiently endured, that have caused not two, but myriads of blades of grass to grow where hitherto the one blade was trampled under foot by the roving Indian and buffalo, and although their forms have vanished and their voices are stilled, and the hands roughened by honest toil lie quiet, yet their work lives after them. They left that imprint on both descendants and administration which makes of the Maine township citizenship today a sturdy, hard-headed class, whose public opinion always crystallizes on the side of righteousness, of truth and justice. Its people never have to apologize for their course.
Probably the first white settler was John Jenkins, who came in 1838 and settled on the farm adjoining Central City known as the Ormus Clark farm. In 1839 Joseph Clark bought the farm of Jenkins, he being a son-in-law of Clark. It lies to the southwest of Central City, and a portion of it lies within the corporation. It is now owned by C. C. Crane.
In the winters of 1838-1840 a few trappers wintered along the banks of the Wapsie, but the names of no permanent settlers are recorded.
In the spring of 1840 two young men, natives of Maine, landed in Maine township. They had left their state two years before and stopped at Peoria, Illinois, working there through the summer, and going south in the winter where they worked in the cotton yards of New Orleans. Returning from New Orleans in the spring of 1840 they bought three yoke of cattle, a big prairie plow, and what other necessaries they needed, and headed for the Mississippi river. Crossing it they drove on and on until arriving one evening at the place known as "Jordan's Grove" they camped for the night. The next morning they cooked breakfast, and while one of them went out to gather up the cattle, the other took his bearings, and when the cattle were brought up he had the plow out of the wagon. On inquiry from his partner as to what he was about he said, "This looks good to me. Hitch onto the plow." These two young men were L. D. Jordan and Ed McKinney. They broke enough to hold their claims, went to Dubuque and filed on them, returned, built cabins, went back to Maine and married sisters, returned and made homes, and Mr. Jordan lived his whole life on the spot where he unloaded the plow, dying there in 1890. McKinney moved from the neighborhood some years before his death. They both lived to be old men.
In 1840 the Heaton family came, and P. A. and Will Heaton still live in Central City, together with two or three of the women of the family.
In October, 1844, Chandler Jordan arrived at his brother's place. He remained all night, and in the morning got on a horse and rode north through the grove to the brow of the hill overlooking the Wapsie valley.
It was beautiful Indian summer. All was purple, yellow, and gold, and the blue-joint grass stood as high as the back of his horse all the way down the valley. He gazed fascinated, rode slowly down the valley of a small creek that meandered from its source in the grove, to the river. In a level place on the bank of the creek he stopped, staked out a claim, returned, went to Dubuque and filed on it, came back and began improvements.
He broke the ground and raised crops, and in the spring of 1847 built a cabin on the spot where he first dismounted, and married Sarah D. Waterhouse in June. They went at once to the cabin and began housekeeping. Later they built more commodious quarters, and in 1860 erected the brick house in which they both died in 1909.
Harvey Powell came in 1844 also, and entered a fine tract of land on the ridge west of Central City, where he lived to a good old age.
In 1846 N. C. Gillilan came; Jennings Crawford in 1854, and the Haas family in the early fifties.
About this time settlers began coming in so rapidly that honorable mention can not be made of all of them, even if they could be traced. It can readily be seen that the earliest settlers coming from the state of Maine gave the name to the township. They were a sturdy lot of pioneers, determined to win success from their surroundings. They knew no such word as fail or can't. They knew no surcease from labor, but toiled on without murmur or complaint.
Markets were a long way off, Dubuque and Muscatine being the principal places where they sold their produce. It took four days to take a load to Dubuque and bring one back. They never made the trip with empty wagons. There were no bridges. The roads ran across the virgin prairie, and often, when sloughs were bad, they had to take off part of the load, drive through a bad place, unload what they had hauled over and return for the rest, thus delaying their journey.
Finally the Northwestern road came to Cedar Rapids in 1859, and later a road to Marion and Springville, bringing, as they felt, markets to their very doors.
They turned the virgin soil, sowed, reaped, mowed, and garnered the fruits of their labor year after year, early and late alike, working with the primitive tools of that day when most of the work was done by main strength instead of machinery. They formed from necessity those habits of saving every thing which, with many, later resulted in an abundance for the rainy day. These early privations, sturdy devotion to the work, with a fidelity well worth emulation has brought its rewards in one of the richest agricultural regions on earth.
They saw the steady advancement of material things as a reward for their patient toil. They established schools and churches, overcoming as rapidly as possible the drawbacks and inconveniences of pioneer life.
They made the way of the transgressor a hard one, and when law breakers and horse thieves escaped through some sharp practice, they took the law in their own hands and rid the country for all time of the horse thief and general law breaker, thereby putting a premium on honesty.
The villages of Waubeek and Central City were established in the usual way. Blacksmith shops, stores, and post offices being a necessity, they were established on the banks of the Wapsie river, Central City on the north side of the river just at the north line of the township, and Waubeek five miles southeast on the south bank of the river.
Some dams were built across the river at both places and saw mills established to saw lumber for the pioneer houses to displace the log cabin. These were followed by grist mills to make flour for the settlers, and for many years the mills at both places were run at their full capacity. Gradually wheat was abandoned as a product, and the people were able to buy a better grade of flour than the home mills could make. They were allowed to run down and were neglected until finally the mill at Waubeek was allowed to fall in the river. The last vestige of its site is gone.
The mill at Central City has run until lately, grinding the feed for the farmers, but it, too, has quit, the wheel is still, and the busy scenes about its doors are but memories of its great convenience and usefulness to those it served so well.
After years of quiet and peaceful pursuits the mutterings of civil war began to be heard. The lowering clouds portending the storm made the heart of many a pioneer mother beat with anxiety as she felt that if it came she must lay a son on the altar.
Finally when the storm burst on the community Maine township was not backward in sending its quota of men, something like twenty of its best sons enlisting in the Twentieth Iowa, and others in the Sixteenth, the Twenty-fourth, and other scattered regiments.
With improved market facilities and the high prices of war times the farmers rapidly accumulated a competence.
The war over, the soldiers returned to peaceful pursuits, the young men of other states began to hunt up locations, and many of them found their way to Maine township.
Farms were rapidly opened up after 1865, and it was not many years until all the open prairie was turned, fenced, put to crops, homes built, and the whole face of the township changed to a busy, peaceful, and prosperous scene.
In its early days there was little chance or opportunity for religious gatherings. It was difficult to find ministers to conduct funerals, and church services were a long way apart, both in meeting places and appointment.
In 1854 a Methodist class was established at Central City, then called Clarksford. In 1856 the Jordan's Grove Baptist church was organized, and in 1858 the Congregational church at Central City was established.
In 1855 the village of Waubeek was laid out, and for many years was a fine trading point. Its stores, together with its mill, did a fine business. It has one of the finest store buildings in Linn county.
In 1856 the village of Central City was surveyed, and the same year the dam was built across the river where it now stands.
In 1887 the Illinois Central railroad built a line from Manchester to Cedar Rapids, running it through Central City. This little city, exactly half way between Manchester and Cedar Rapids, at once began to grow as soon as it was certain the railroad would be built.
This road was a great boon to the north part of Linn county, as before that Marion was its nearest market, and many had to haul their produce twenty miles to reach it.
Central City now has six hundred people. It has fourteen business houses, three churches, a solid bank, a fine school doing full twelve-grade work.
The post office is third class, with four rural routes. It is the distributing point for freight for all the surrounding country, with large hog, cattle, hay, and grain buying facilities. It has two lumber yards, and from 1,200 to 2,000 tons of coal are shipped in here every year.
The village of Waubeek has no railroad and has made no advance for the past twenty years. It has four stores, post office, creamery, two churches, good schools, and fine stone quarries.
It is not necessary to enlarge on this history. It is doubtless a repetition of the history of many other townships, but we, its citizens, have a local pride in its beauty, its bounty, its prosperity, its boundless hospitality. No finer cattle, hogs, horses, sheep, and poultry can be found on the face of the earth than are raised in Maine township. The physical, moral, social, intellectual, and financial condition of the people is on a high plane, and shows a steady growth and development through all the years since the first settlement. Its people have laid aside the miserly habits made necessary by their early struggles, and there is literally nothing too good for them to have and enjoy. This prosperity is shown by the fine modern homes being built, or remodeled from the older ones, all over the township, with every modern convenience in the way of plumbing and heating, and furnished in the latest and best way. Commodious barns and outbuildings, tiling of wet places, and building of woven wire fences mark the advances of farm work, making every acre available for cultivation.
The bounteous crops, the high prices of all farm produce, the solid improvements being made, the phenomenal price of land--and it is still soaring--all mark a prosperous, happy, and contented people, loyal, honest, industrious, hospitable, ready always to entertain the stranger within the gates. Farm life no longer carries with it the dreary isolation and monotony of early pioneer life. The work is done with modern machinery. Telephones extend to every home in the township. Rural delivery takes the mail each morning to their doors, and the latest literature is found on their library tables. They are in touch with every phase of life. The women no longer spin and weave, and then sew and knit, but buy ready made the best that is manufactured.
When the day's work is done they come to town in their automobiles, the women gowned in the latest fashions, to enjoy an evening of social pleasure, engage in club work, society work, lodge work, and church work. The village of Waubeek has a ladies' improvement club, and they have built over a mile of fine cement sidewalk.
As one rides over the great state of Iowa and sees its flocks and herds, its fine homes, cities, towns, and villages, the bounteous crops, and notes the intelligence and contentment of its people, we are led with the red men of virgin days to exclaim "E-A-WAH," the beautiful land, and no fairer spot can be found in its broad domain than Maine township, of which we are all proud to be residents and citizens.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
Jackson township is in the north tier of townships. It is bounded on the north by Buchanan county, on the east by Boulder township, on the south by Maine and on the west by Spring Grove townships. It is well watered by the Wapsie river as well as by Buffalo creek, both of which streams traverse parts of the ground called for political purposes Jackson township. The township is largely settled by Americans whose ancestors located on these verdant prairies in the forties and fifties. The township is supposed to have been named by David Sutton, in honor of his patron saint Andrew Jackson. James Lytle came from Indiana and took up a claim here in 1841. He brought his wife who was a daughter of David Sutton, who located here in January, 1843, with a wife and nine children. The first white child born in the township was Frances, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Lytle. Sam W. Justice came in 1845 and erected a house on ground where now is the town of Paris, which was staked out on the south bank of the Wapsie river on what is now sections 19 and 20, township 86, range 6. Sam Chamberlain opened the first store and established quite a trade, which later was shared by Rob. C. Powell, who erected a more complete store building and provided more pretentious quarters where he was besides store keeper the first postmaster. Dan McCrellis and Anos Bond located on lands on which this embryo town was started. Dave Long also saw fit to stop here in search of a home as early as 1848.
Miss Pethenia Gray taught the first school about a half a mile west of Paris in 1850. The first religious services were conducted by Rev. Little at the home of Sam Justin. Jas. Nugent settled in section 12 in the northeastern part of the county in 1847 at what for many years was known as Nugent's Grove. Mr. Nugent was for many years justice, school director, township trustee, and held other offices. He was a leader of the republican party for many years and well known over the county. He died a number of years ago, the widow passing away at an advanced age in the fall of 1910. S. D. Mills settled here with his family in 1853, followed the following spring by F. M. Philips who came from Illinois, but returned again and permanently located in the county three years later. The years from 1854-1857 were the most active in the matter of land purchase in this township. In 1854 came Wm. Henderson of Scotch descent from Canada with his family and located on lands a little to the west of the present town of Coggon. A large number of the descendants of this family are still large property owners and respected and enterprising citizens of this township. E. L. Ware, Henry Thorp, G. C. Edgerly and many others purchased lands and settled here during these years. John Bruce in 1858 during the hard times had the courage to erect a stone grist mill on Buffalo creek at the present site of Coggon and this property later came into the possession of Amos Green who operated the mill till 1876, when he erected a frame structure. This mill was much appreciated by the settlers and it was a busy place for many years. Up till the time of the Illinois Central railway extension in 1887, the place was known as Green's Mill, later called Nugent, after the postoffice, and then named Coggon. The first store at Green's Mill was run by John Bruce, who ran this in connection with his mill. The advent of railroads brought up the price of lands, markets were offered for grain and rents at once advanced and since that time the growth has been steady and healthful till Jackson township is not excelled by any other community in the state.
LINN TOWNSHIP
Linn township, in the southeastern part of the county, on account of its location was early settled by L. M. Kepler of Indiana, and G. A. Yeisley of Pennsylvania, who came here as early as 1837. By 1840 a large number had located in the township, such as J. C. Goudy, Dan McCall, Isaac Kyle and Oliver Clark who had emigrated from Ohio, Benj. Hoover, Alex Torrance, Jas. Varner, who had come from Pennsylvania; Chancy Neal, Geo. House, William Perkins and others from the eastern states. Sam Ellison had come from Ireland, and J. W. Walton from England. The descendants of many of these early settlers are still residents of the county, the owners of large farms, and of much personal property.
It was not until 1852-1857 that settlers came in any large numbers from the eastern states. Then nearly all the vacant lands which had not gotten into the hands of speculators were for the most part taken up and improved. Linn township was on the so-called Anamosa-Iowa City road, as well as on the Marion-Muscatine road, two of the early highways.
The township cannot boast of any towns with the exception of Paralta, which is only a junction point of the Milwaukee system. The residents trade at Mt. Vernon and Lisbon.
In this township can be found many descendants of the early settlers and even a few of the original pioneers. The Yeisley, Needles, Clark, Neal, Bussenbark, Ink, Leigh, Filloon, Ellison, Beechley, Chamberlain, Stinger, Paul, Remington, Lacock, Stewart, Goudy, Boxwell, Kearns, Ballard, Travis, and other well known early families are still owners of valuable farms within the confines of the old township borders.
OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP
Otter Creek township, containing thirty-six sections, situated nearly in the center of Linn county, has been considered one of the best farming communities in Iowa for years. The soil is excellent and there has always been plenty of water in the streams for cattle, which also affords good drainage for tilling purposes. During the last ten years nearly every acre of unproductive land has been reclaimed by a thorough system of drainage, so that now Otter Creek land sells at the top notch.
The first settler was William Chamberlain, who located in what later became Monroe township, in 1838. He is the father of the famous Chamberlain family who have made a fortune out of the patent medicine business in Des Moines. The children of William and Rachel Chamberlain were Davis and Lowell, and four daughters named Mrs. Mary Snyder, Mrs. Laura Weeks, Mrs. Lucy A. Taylor, and Isanna L. Chamberlain.
Other early settlers might be mentioned as follows: John Cochran, George Cochran, Alexander Nevin, James Hemphill, William Ward, Nate Reynolds, who came in the early '40s. Caleb Hendrix came, it is thought, in 1838. Of him, it is said by John Lanning, that old Caleb used to say that he made a claim and spread his tent on what became Cedar Rapids, but that a lot of bloodthirsty and ferocious Indians camped on the other side of the river and by their acts and grimaces and the noise they made Caleb sized up the situation that this was a case where it would be better to be a live coward than a dead hero and he pulled up stakes and removed further north, going to a number of places before he settled in Otter Creek township, where he finally decided to make his home. Mr. Hendrix married a daughter of James Hemphill in 1845 and for many years was a pillar in the Methodist church and an enthusiastic Sunday school worker.
Among other early settlers might be mentioned Perry Oliphant and his wife Susanna, as well as his sons Silas, Edward, John, William, and Henry, and his daughters Lizzie, Mary, and Rillar. These came in 1839 or 1840. Another of the old, well respected families who came here in the early '40s was the Neighbors. John Nevins erected the first saw mill in 1845 near what later became the village of Lafayette. This mill was later owned by John Yambert, James Greene, and A. Brenaman, still later it came into the possession of Fred Notebohn, who added a grist mill, and when the water gave out it was run by steam.
Other of the old settlers were James Wallace, Alfred Thomas, William and Samuel Fleming, the Mounces, Seversons, Pences, Fishels, Browns, Fees, Jackmans, Taylors, Chesmores, Hollenbecks, Andrews, Martins, Metcalfs, and many others.
One of the first stores kept was in the fall of 1847 when Morris Neighbor opened a small place in what was known as Shingle Town. This name, it is said, came about for the reason that clapboards were made in this vicinity.
John Carr, having married Neighbor's sister, also lived here for some time. The postoffice for Otter Creek township was moved around among the old settlers from time to time and was kept, of course, in the farm houses. William Hunt seems to have been the first postmaster. The office was afterwards removed and the postmastership held by Perry Oliphant, and later again removed, with Richard Lanning in charge. During the Civil war the postoffice was conducted by Yambert, Polley, and Moller. It was around the postoffice and country store that politics were discussed and news of the neighborhood commented upon, and it was also here that the pioneer settlers became acquainted and friendships were formed which continued through life. For this reason, no doubt, the country postoffice and the country store did much in an early day to lessen the hardships in pioneer life.
Otter Creek township was early visited by itinerary ministers, and as early as 1853 a Christian church was organized. William Kalb, John Yambert, and others being some of the first evangelical preachers in this part of the county. One of the first county meetings of this church was held at the home of George Cochran as early as 1859. The Evangelical church was later organized in this township and some of the early ministers in this denomination were Rev. Borchart, Rev. Maerz, Rev. Gerhart, Rev. Mayne, Rev. Brecher.
COLLEGE TOWNSHIP
College township is situated in the southern tier of townships in the county, the southern boundary being the county line between Johnson and Linn counties, while on the east and west respectively are Fairfax and Putnam townships. College township is well watered and well drained by several water courses, the principal ones being the Cedar river, Hoosier creek, and Prairie creek. It contains no towns of any size but most of its traffic is now conducted by the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City electric line running from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City. Much of the cream, milk and other products of the farm are shipped daily over this line to Cedar Rapids; since the construction of this line land in College township has gone up in price and the beautiful farm houses, magnificent and well tilled fields speak well for the population of this part of the county.
Some of the old settlers of College township are the following: Isaac Smith, Phillip Smith, Dr. J. H. Smith, James Smith, and others of the Smith family who came here in the early '50s. During the next few years came John Lagore, Joseph Custer, Jacob Inbody, the Garnett family, Thomas Philipson, Horn, Henry Rogers, Fritz family, James Snyder, W. F. Minor, Joshua Minor, Sam Minor, the Bakers, and many others.
One of the first Baptist churches was erected at Rogers Grove, and a large number of the early settlers in this community belonged to that denomination.
SPRING GROVE TOWNSHIP
BY A. W. FISHER
Spring Grove township is situated in the northern tier of townships in Linn county. It is bordered on the north by Newton township, Buchanan county, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Otter Creek, and on the west by Grant. The land is generally an undulating prairie excepting a strip about two miles wide beginning at the northwest corner of the township in section six, and extending in a southeasterly direction to section twenty-four on the east side of the township, through which the Wapsipinicon river flows. The land near the river on both sides is not only hilly, but consists of a light sandy soil, and was almost covered with a heavy growth of timber in the early pioneer days. Back from the river about one mile the land is prairie and has a deep black loam.
The early settlements of Spring Grove township were connected with the settlements in the neighboring townships, and divided themselves into three groups. The first one was on the north side of the Wapsipinicon river, while another settlement was made in the southeastern part of the township in what is called West Prairie, and the third settlement was in the western part of the township. The earliest settlers located along the Wapsipinicon river where the soil is of a poorer quality than it was on the open prairie. The reason for their choice was to secure timber for their buildings and for fuel. In a few cases the settlers were grouped around springs that furnished them with water.
Game was abundant in those days and this helped the pioneer during the long cold winters. Large herds of deer were often seen along the timber near the river and on the prairies. Wolves were too plentiful to suit the settler as they prowled around his cabin during the night and carried off poultry whenever the chance offered. Panthers were rarely seen but were too numerous for the more timid in those days. Often cattle and hogs were missing and their loss was attributed to the work of the panther. The early settlers of Spring Grove township did not escape the discomforts of the average pioneer. Their houses were, at the best, rudely constructed of logs, and the stoves used in those days were very poor. Many of the old settlers have informed me that their coffee, when they were lucky enough to secure it, was often frozen after being placed on the breakfast table.
The first settlement was on the north side of the Wapsipinicon river around two springs. One of them was in a grove in Newton township, Buchanan county, and the other one a short distance southeast in a grove in our township. To distinguish them the early pioneers called them the Upper and Lower Spring Grove. The name of Spring Grove then came in general use for the entire settlement and was adopted by our settlers as the name of their township.
The first settler in Spring Grove township was Leonard Austin, who with his family settled in section one of our township in the spring of 1845, and erected the first building from rough unhewn logs taken from the timber surrounding his building site. Mr. Austin was followed by A. J. Ward, who with his family settled near Mr. Austin during the fall of that year. Two years later, in 1847, Josiah Walton and Rev. Wm. Phillips settled as near neighbors to these hardy pioneers. These were soon followed by the Reeces, Holmans, Longs, McPikes, Peytons, Carsons, Whisenands, McKees, Fays, and Waltons, who settled in the northern part of our township and in the southern part of Newton township in Buchanan county, and who are remembered as the early pioneers.
The early settlers of the southeastern part of the township were the Bices, Andersons, Saxtons, Leathermans, Plummers, Swaims, Frank Dorr, E. B. Fisher, Bumgardners, Benedicts, McBurneys, Nutting, Carpenters, and Jordans. These settlers formed part of a settlement that extended into Jackson township. They located there during the early part of the '50s. About the same time the western part of the township south of the Wapsipinicon river was settled. Those early settlers were Edwin Jeffreys, A. G. Kibbe, Elmer and J. E. Atwood, father and son, Chas. Cook and sons, Edwin, Enos, George, and Charles, and George Parkhurst. All these early pioneers took an active part in helping to develop the new country.
In regard to religious worship the people of Spring Grove may be likened to the Puritans of the early colonial period, as among the earliest settlers came Rev. Wm. Phillips, a minister of the gospel who at first conducted meetings in his own home, and later became a "circuit rider," holding meetings every Sunday either in some private house or in a school house. The Christian organization that is now at Troy Mills was organized by Henry Holman during the summer of 1853 in John W. McKee's house near what is now Troy Mills. Mr. Holman preached the first sermon and continued as pastor until the organization was strong enough to secure a minister to take charge of the work. Isaac Holman, now a resident of Troy Mills, and a son of Henry Holman, was the first superintendent of the Sunday school organized in the township. Rev. N. A. McConnell, of Marion, was one of the ablest ministers of the early period, and would face the worst storms of the season in order to keep his appointment. The people living in the southeastern part of the township at first held services in private houses until the West Prairie school house was erected, where for several years they had a place for worship. They now have a splendid church near the West Prairie school house.
The first justice of the peace of Spring Grove township was John Plummer, but the best known justices of the peace of the early times were Elmer Atwood, Josiah Walton, and Wm. Bleakley. While the people of those days were not free from strife among themselves, yet they were obliged to band together to free themselves from a worse evil--the horse thief. The people finally with the help of the neighboring settlers took the law in their own hands and dealt summary justice to the offenders. One of these thieves was followed by a posse to his camp on the Buffalo creek in Buchanan county, and on his refusal to surrender he was shot to death. This put a stop to the stealing.
In politics the people of Spring Grove always took an active part, and for a long time claimed to be the banner republican precinct of the state. During the Civil war the republicans of West Prairie erected a flag pole on the bare prairie near where now stands the West Prairie church and raised the Stars and Stripes aloft and kept the flag there until long after the war closed. At one election during the Civil war not a democratic vote was cast. It was said that there were a few democrats in the township but they chose to stay at home rather than stand the jeers that were sure to assail them if they voted.
Troy Mills, the only village in the township, was founded in 1853, when a dam was built across the river at that place and a saw mill built. This mill continued to run about ten years when the present mill was erected. The mill did a flourishing business grinding all kinds of grain, but of late years has only been used as a grist mill. Jordon Long brought the first stock of goods to Troy Mills, amounting to ten dollars. Meeting with success in selling these, he turned all his attention to carrying on a general store which he conducted for more than forty years. Dr. John Dix and E. C. Downs started the first drug store in the town but soon sold out. E. N. Beach, one of the best known men in the northern part of Linn county, came to Troy Mills at an early day and started a drug store and has conducted the same to the present time. Dr. E. Wilson was the only doctor in our township for several years and enjoyed a lucrative practice. The first blacksmith shop was started by Elmer and John E. Atwood in 1854, who conducted the same for nearly thirty years.
Only a few of the old settlers remain who helped to transform the wilds into what it is today. Those now living here, who came in the early '50s, are David Reece, Isaac Holman, John E. Attwood, Mrs. Edwin Jeffries, Isaac Bice, Enos and Charles Cook. The others have either moved away or passed into that great beyond from which no traveler returns.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Washington township was early settled, for it is stated on good authority that Bartimus McGonigle settled near what later became Center Point in 1839. Some of the early settlers were Dr. S. M. Brice, John Osborn, Tom Lockhart, W. A. Thomas, James Down, Sam Stewart, E. B. Spencer, Alex Nevin, D. S. Way, Milt Squires, Will Cress, Jacob Thomas, Robert Osborn, Jonathan Dennison, Alex Thomas, Jas. Chambers. These came as early as 1842, a number coming in in 1839 and 1840. The following came before 1846: Thos. Fee, Isaac Berry, J. L. Benham, Levi Martin, L. Hollenbeck.
The town was laid out in 1848 by Andrew Bottorf. A re-survey was later made as of 1854, and done by J. McArthur for Dr. S. M. Brice and J. R. Grubb.
Most of the buildings in the town date from the time of the second plat, when the place began to thrive in earnest. Dr. Brice ran a store which was later sold to A. A. Adams. In 1855 Dr. J. P. Wilson opened a drug store. L. Hollenbeck also opened a general store in 1854. J. M. Bartleson, W. S. Bliss, and John Carr were also early settlers, Carr and Bartleson running a store for many years.
The locality in and around Center Point, then, is one of the first settled in the county. The early settlers were enterprising and the newcomers were made welcome. No doubt the close proximity to the river and the abundance of timber in this locality made the place inviting to the new settlers who needed above everything else timber for use in building and for fuel. The railroad which the people had expected many years did not get into town till in 1873, and was continued the following spring. For the purpose of securing this railroad Washington township voted $16,000, being about a five per cent tax.
In Washington township lived and died many years ago John Osborn, a revolutionary soldier, who is buried in Center Point cemetery.
Chapter XXXIV
Lisbon and the United Brethren Church
In narrating the history of Linn county mention must be made of that body of devoted men and women who early laid the foundations of the United Brethren church in this portion of what sixty years ago was the far west. The members of this christian body have had an important and conspicuous part in the history of our county. Their leaders have not only been men of piety, but they have also been men of ability, builders of commonwealths. Their work has been of a permanent character, and the descendants of these pioneer people are today doing grandly the work so nobly begun seventy years ago.
We cannot do better here than to quote largely from the Historical Souvenir of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ at Lisbon, Iowa, 1836-1904, by Rev. Cyrus J. Kephart, published in 1904 by the Lisbon Herald:
THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH IN IOWA
The work of the United Brethren in Christ in Iowa began, as far as known, with the labors of Rev. Christian Troup, a member of the Wabash Conference, who came to Iowa as a missionary in 1836,[N] and settled upon what is now a part of the site of Mount Vernon. He afterwards traded his 160 acre claim for a yoke of oxen, and settled near the Cedar river, on what is now known as the Horn farm. Here he passed through all the privations of a frontier life. His daughter, Mrs. Pate, states that for a considerable time he and his family ground the corn for their bread on an old-fashioned coffee mill nailed to the side of a tree.
Rev. Troup's field as a missionary extended from the city of Dubuque to Henry county. His preaching places were wherever he could find an opportunity to speak to the people. Thus he sowed the seed that afterward ripened into many an active Christian life.
One of his appointments was near Ivanhoe, in a log house of only two rooms. Here standing in the low doorway he would speak first to those gathered in one room, then stooping, for he was a tall man, he would pass his head into the other room and speak to those there.
He died in 1850 and was buried in the cemetery that then occupied the lot where the house of Mrs. Mary Hoover now stands in Lisbon. When the cemetery was changed his remains were removed to the present Lisbon cemetery.
In 1838 Rev. John Burns, a local preacher, settled in Lee county, and began preaching at various points. Rev. Christian Troup and he seem to have been the pioneers of the United Brethren in Christ in Iowa.
The first society was organized at the home of "Father" Edington, probably somewhere in Henry county, in October, 1841. This, however, was several years after Christian Troup began his work in the community in which Lisbon now stands.
The first United Brethren quarterly conference west of the Mississippi was held at the home of Mr. Gibson near the present site of Lisbon, May 10, 1842. It was attended by Christian Troup, F. R. S. Byrd, Ira B. Ryan, Lewis Hoffman, "Father" Edington, and others. Ira B. Ryan was licensed to preach, and Christian Troup was chosen presiding elder.
Another similar meeting was held in Henry county on September 10th of the same year. Considerable annual conference business was transacted at this meeting.
A third meeting of the same character was held, probably in the southern part of the state in March, 1843, there being present a presiding elder of the Wabash Conference, of the territory of which Iowa at that time was a part. At this meeting there were reported thirteen organized societies, with one hundred and ninety-four members in Iowa.
The first annual conference of the United Brethren in Iowa, and the first west of the Mississippi, convened at Columbus City, May 19, 1844, Bishop Henry Kumler, Jr., presiding. It was called the Iowa Branch of the Wabash Conference.
The next annual conference convened at the home of Wm. Thompson, in Louisa county, August 14, 1845, Bishop John Russell, presiding. At this session the Iowa conference was formally organized.
Other early conferences were held as follows:
At Columbus City, August 31, 1846, Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, presiding.
At the home of Wm. Thompson, Louisa county, August 24, 1847, Bishop Wm. Hanby, presiding.
At the home of John Shively, Henry county, September 1, 1848, Bishop Wm. Hanby, presiding.
At the Hershey school house near Lisbon, August 23, 1849, Bishop David Edwards, presiding.
During these years the preachers in charge of the territory including Lisbon were:
1843-44 John Peters. 1844-45 Christian Troup. 1845-47 J. W. Sterling. 1847-48 Luther McVay. 1848-49 Luther McVay, with John DeMoss, assistant.
Writing of the Iowa conference of 1845, Bishop Russell said: "Myself and wife left the state of Maryland in a carriage for Iowa. A tedious journey indeed. All went well until we got between the two rivers--Mississippi and Iowa. In the high prairie grass our trail ran out, and of course we were lost. How to get on the right course was the trouble.
"I went before, parting the grass, which was much higher than myself. After I had gone a certain distance, I put my hat on my cane to guide my wife to the spot. Thus I continued for some time till we got right again."
THE UNITED BRETHREN AT LISBON
Our life and work at Lisbon date back to the faithful labors of Rev. Christian Troup, who began preaching in this vicinity as early as 1836. Hence the church at Lisbon had its beginning with the very beginning of our church in Iowa.
The work here grew slowly, however, for several years, Bro. Troup often advising his converts to join other churches on account of the weakness of the United Brethren in Iowa.
In 1847 Rev. Christian Hershey led quite a large colony, chiefly his own relatives, from Pennsylvania to Iowa, and settled in Yankee Grove, the section of country surrounding where Lisbon now stands.
This colony, being largely composed of United Brethren, made quite an addition to the United Brethren forces of this vicinity.
In August of the same year Rev. Luther McVay was appointed to the Yankee Grove circuit. During the summer of 1848 he held a camp-meeting on the knoll now occupied by the Washington school building of Lisbon, with good results. He then organized "the United Brethren class in the Pennsylvania Settlement of Linn county, Iowa," with a charter membership of about forty, as nearly as can be determined from the original class book. About twelve names were afterward added, the year closing with a membership of 52. The effecting of an organization was strongly opposed by many of the older persons who took an active part in the camp-meeting; not because of opposition to the church, but feeling that it was not right to formally organize and put the names on a class book.
Of these charter members, two are yet members of the church, Mr. Michael Blessing, and Mrs. Nancy Neidig.
On August 23, 1849, the Iowa annual conference was held here. Lisbon had just been platted, and homes were scarce. To meet the difficulty occasioned by the coming of so many ministers, a camp-meeting was planned; tents were built on the camp ground, and the conference was held in connection with the camp-meeting. There were a number of conversions, and at the close of the camp-meeting twenty-five persons were baptized in the Cedar river near Ivanhoe, by Rev. Josiah Lindsey.
Rev. Christian Hershey and Rev. D. Wenrich were received into the conference at this session upon their transfers. Rev. John De Moss, assistant pastor of Yankee Grove circuit, reported $26.55 received as salary and presents for the year.
The Lisbon class proper, at first called North Yankee Grove class, was organized September 5, 1850, by Rev. S. W. Kern, pastor. The original record shows 36 members of this class, many of whom belonged to the "United Brethren Class in the Pennsylvania Settlement in Linn county, Iowa," and several were new members. That there existed some difficulty in connection with the work at this place at that time is manifest from the following from Rev. D. Wenrich in an article in the Telescope relative to the conference session of 1850: "On account of a peculiar state of things on Yankee Grove circuit it was asked that a good disciplinarian be appointed to the charge. The selection of Rev. S. W. Kern and the adjustment of the difficulty proved the wisdom of the choice." Just what the difficulty was, whether it was among members of the church of a personal character, or whether it was something in connection with the administration of the affairs of the church, there is no record to show.
The annual conference of 1852 chose Lisbon as the place of meeting for the next annual session. Rev. Christian Hershey, who had been in an important sense the father of the Lisbon church, looked forward to its coming with great expectations. When the time arrived for making necessary local preparation, he joined most heartily in the work. After cleaning the church and putting everything in readiness, he proposed to a friend who was with him to go into the church and offer prayer for the conference. He was in great joy. But on August 3d, the day before the assembling of conference, very suddenly the death angel called, and Father Hershey passed away. His death cast a gloom over the entire session. Rev. George Miller was chosen to preach the funeral sermon. The conference in a body marched before his corpse to the church and to the grave. His remains were buried in the cemetery beside the church and afterwards were removed to the present Lisbon cemetery, where they now rest.
The growth of the church following the year 1849 was quite rapid. But it is impossible to determine what the total membership has been, on account of the mutilation of the early records. So far as we can learn the number of persons received between 1840 and 1870 was fully five hundred. Since 1870 the accessions have been quite numerous. A number of very successful revivals have been held. From 1870 to the present time, as nearly as can be determined, the number of accessions has been about 790, thus showing a membership of nearly 1,300 since the organization of the church in 1849.
The Lisbon charge has been favored with a number of most excellent pastors. So far as the records show, the largest increase of membership was during the pastorate of Rev. William Cunningham. During his service of eighteen months there were eighty-four additions to the church.
Among those who have assisted largely to the development and growth of the church, the following seem to deserve special mention: Christian Hershey, Michael Hoover, Sr., D. Runkle, John Neidig, Jacob Kettering, A. A. Sweet, Samuel Long, John Eby, Lawrence Easterly, J. E. Kurtz, D. Dorwart, Henry Meyers, John Ringer, Sr., Elias Hahn, D. Buck, John Turner, George Graul, D. G. Zeigenfus, Thomas Runkle, C. H. Neidig, Abram Runkle, Adam Runkle, Amos Runkle, W. S. Furnas, Elizabeth Perry, Nancy Neidig, Sr., Mother Bressler, Anna Bitzer and Elizabeth N. Runkle. The list could be greatly enlarged with perfect truthfulness. But these are among the number who seem to have stood out with special prominence in the work of the church.
We would make special mention of Rev. S. E. Long, Rev. A. B. Statton, and Rev. M. S. Runkle, who were raised as members of our church and have gone into the ministry of the gospel.
Also Mrs. G. K. Little, daughter of Bro. J. Bittinger, whose sweet voice and loving life are living epistles for Christ, greatly assisting in the evangelistic work of her husband, Rev. G. K. Little, who for years was a faithful member here.
Rev. I. L. Buchwalter and his devoted wife, who have made Lisbon their home since he retired from the active ministry, have been active and liberal in their devotion to the interests and work of the church.
CHURCH BUILDINGS
In 1850 Rev. Christian Hershey built in Lisbon, chiefly at his own expense, the First United Brethren church west of the Mississippi river. This church, which still stands just north of Mrs. Mary Hoover's residence, was soon outgrown. In 1855 it was sold, and the proceeds were used in building the second church on the site occupied by the present edifice. This building served the church for twenty-six years.
During the pastorate of Rev. T. D. Adams and the early part of the first pastorate of Rev. I. K. Statton, the need of a more modern church became apparent. At the session of the quarterly conference on April 7, 1880, the first official steps were taken toward the erection of a new building. During the following summer the old church was torn down, and the present structure begun. It was completed at a cost of $9,200.00, and on January 23, 1881, was dedicated by Bishop Milton Wright. Great credit is due to the ever earnest and faithful labors of the pastor, Dr. I. K. Statton.
During the building of the new church, the congregation was favored in being granted the use of the Methodist Episcopal church for all its services.
PARSONAGES
The church during its history has owned three parsonages. The present building is an elegant frame structure of eight rooms, furnished with furnace, electric light, and city water. It was purchased during the summer of 1903 for $2,400, the old one being sold for $1,000.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Sunday school was organized early in the history of the Lisbon church, probably in the spring of 1853. It was first conducted as a union school, and so continued for a number of years, its development into a United Brethren school being the result chiefly of the organization of other schools in town.
At the first it was divided into male and female departments, with five male and seven female classes; among them were one female and two male spelling classes, and one female infant class. Among the first scholars were Henry C. Kurtz, and Solomon Kettering, who are yet living. The record of 1854 shows three infant classes, one male and two female. In the male class were two of our present members, Henry C. Meyers, and Jacob E. Meyers, with their father Henry Meyers as teacher.
The first secretary's record that is preserved begins with July, 1857. The enrollment was 121, the attendance 118. The superintendent was A. A. Sweet. May 27, 1860, is named as "the first day of the administration of B. [Benjamin] Hoover as superintendent, to which office he was elected last night." Other evidence states that Adam Runkle had served as superintendent, one year before this election. Following this the record shows nothing as to who was superintendent till April 2, 1865, when it states, "Had our annual election last evening for officers. Adam Runkle was re-elected superintendent, D. Dorwart, secretary, D. Buck, librarian." I. Scoles is the first secretary named, his election occurring May 2, 1858. The next named following him is J. E. Kurtz, who served a number of years, his term of office terminating with the election of D. Dorwart as above noted.
The enrollment did not increase rapidly, owing in part no doubt to the organizing of other schools. On January 1, 1860, it was 144; on January 6, 1861, 145, with 140 in attendance.
The record from 1857 to 1865 is rendered quite interesting by the recital of current events of the town and community. A few are here quoted:
July 26, 1857. "A stranger bathing last Sabbath in the Cedar river was drowned. Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy."
December 15, 1857. "Officers and teachers agreed to have a teachers' meeting monthly."
April 11, 1859. "The Lutheran church organized a Sunday school in the old church today."
July 9, 1859. "The school was opened at eight o'clock on account of the Methodist quarterly meeting in this house at nine o'clock."
November 6, 1859. "Small attendance on account of wedding in town, Mr. Joel Ringer and Miss Barbara Kurtz."
July 29, 1860. "Bishop Glossbrenner was here yesterday, and went to Western."
September 9, 1860. "We hear for the first time two bells ringing in town."
October 28, 1860. "Mrs. Easterly married to David Zeigenfus."
November 11, 1860. "Old Abe elected."
September 21, 1861. "Yesterday great military demonstration; young men leaving for the army."
November 1, 1863. "Yesterday all the liquor destroyed by the sheriff."
November 29, 1863. "No school in consequence of the Evangelical dedication."
January 16, 1865. "Large school, as both schools are united." "Both schools" seems to refer to our own and a Sunday school conducted for a short time by the Presbyterians. Enrollment 129; attendance 166.
April 16, 1865. "Our church was draped in memory of the death of our late President, Abraham Lincoln."
May 7, 1865. "The Missionary Board met with us. Bishops Edwards, Markwood, and Kumler, and Revs. S. VonNeida and J. W. Shuey were present."
Reference is frequently made to deaths that occurred in town. The burial of several soldiers is noted. The secretaries of later years recorded but little of such general events. The record of June 6, 1880, says: "On account of tearing down the church, school met in M. E. church at 2:00 p. m." On May 26, 1878, I. K. Statton, Mrs. T. D. Adams, J. Bittinger, Amos Runkle and wife and Miss Sue Fletcher were appointed delegates to the township and the county conventions.
The superintendents have been A. A. Sweet, Benjamin Hoover, Adam Runkle, J. Bittinger, W. H. Runkle, J. S. Smith, U. D. Runkle, and the present incumbent, Amos K. Runkle, who has served the school continuously for sixteen years, and has just been reelected.
The Woman's Missionary Association of the United Brethren church of Lisbon, was organized October 27, 1878, with the direction and assistance of Mrs. A. L. Billheimer. Mrs. T. D. Adams was appointed temporary secretary. The following officers were elected: Mrs. Mary Shaler, president; Mrs. A. K. Runkle, vice president; Mrs. Addie Eby, secretary; Mrs. Lizzie A. Runkle, treasurer; solicitors: Mrs. E. N. Runkle, Mrs. Holderman, Mrs. Nancy Neidig, Miss Maggie Houser, Mrs. Katie Kurtz.
The first regular meeting was held at the parsonage and was opened by devotional exercises by Mrs. Charlotte Davis (wife of Rev. Wm. Davis).
LISBON CAMP-MEETING
The earliest camp-meeting of our church in this vicinity, as far as can be learned, was held in 1848 on the site of the present school building. It was followed by the second in 1849, and a third in 1852. Similar meetings were held at various times and places for several years.
At a quarterly conference held July 7, 1879, a camp-meeting committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. T. D. Adams, and brothers J. Bittinger, D. Runkle, C. H. Neidig, A. E. Kurtz, A. K. Runkle, George Rupert, Sr., and J. S. Smith. The committee organized on July 11, electing Rev. T. D. Adams, president, and Rev. I. K. Statton, secretary. A plot of ground of about twenty-five acres, lying one and one-fourth miles southeast of Lisbon was purchased, and a camp-meeting planned to begin on August 26 following. At this time the temporary organization was succeeded by a permanent one, with Rev. T. D. Adams, president, and J. Bittinger, secretary. On September 3d, the grounds were dedicated by Bishop Milton Wright, Rev. T. D. Adams, Pastor, Rev. I. K. Statton, presiding elder, and a number of other ministers assisting.
The ground was a nicely wooded tract, with two good springs, and was fitted up with a number of neat cottages, a boarding house, chapel, speakers' stand, and seats, and was enclosed with a substantial fence. Among the prominent men who at different times took part in the meetings were, Bishops Weaver, Kephart, Hott, Mills, and Wright, President W. M. Beardshear, and Dr. J. W. Etter. Interesting meetings were held each summer up to and including 1893. Some hindrance at length arose, and at the annual meeting held on August 27, 1894, the association voted to sell the grounds and disorganize.
LIST OF PASTORS, YANKEE GROVE CIRCUIT AND LISBON STATION
1843-44 John Peters 1843-44 Christian Troup 1845-57 J. W. Sterling 1847-49 Luther McVay 1848-49 Luther McVay John DeMoss, Asst. 1849-50 J. S. Brown 1850-52 S. W. Kern 1855-56 J. B. Wells 1856-58 Martin Bowman 1858-59 George Miller 1859-60 Jonathan Wynn 1860-61 John Goodin 1861-62 A. Shessler 1862-63 Martin Bowman 1863-65 John Curts 1870-74 Wm. Davis 1874-75 S. Sutton 1875-76 Wm. Davis 1876-79 T. D. Adams 1879-83 I. K. Statton 1883-85 Wm Cunningham 1885-88 R. E. Williams 1888-92 C. K. Westfall
1852-53 F. R. S. Byrd 1853-54 Jacob Newman 1854-55 Daniel Runkle Jacob Miller, Asst. 1865-66 John Manning 1866-67 John Curts 1867-68 T. Brashear 1868-70 H. B. Potter 1892-95 V. A. Carlton 1895-99 I. K. Statton 1899-03 W. I. Beatty 1903 C. J. Kephart
SESSIONS OF IOWA CONFERENCE HELD AT LISBON
1849 Bishop David Edwards, presiding 1853 Bishop L. Davis, presiding 1856 Bishop L. Davis, presiding 1862 Bishop J. Markwood, presiding 1865 Bishop J. Markwood, presiding 1867 Rev. D. K. Flickinger, presiding in place of Bishop Markwood, absent 1869 Bishop J. Dickinson, presiding 1872 Bishop J. Dickinson, presiding 1878 Bishop M. Wright, presiding 1883 Bishop J. Wright, presiding 1888 Bishop J. Dickinson, presiding 1892 Bishop J. Dickisnon, presiding 1899 Bishop N. Castle, presiding
Chapter XXXV
County and District Politics
It has been stated that the first election in the county was held at Westport in 1838 when thirty-two votes were cast in the county. This is said to have been the most quiet election on record. Gradually the people located claims, as more lands were thrown open to settlement, and politics began to cut a figure at an early date. While many of the settlers came from the south, a majority, however, came from Ohio, from the middle states, and from New England. Thus it would appear that the population of Iowa was a part of the free state movement which had peopled the central states. The foreign population did not come to Iowa until the early '50s, when the Germans, Scandinavians, Scotch, and Irish came in large numbers to take up the cheap lands which were offered to the settlers.
The early settlers were for the most part democrats, with a sprinkling of whigs and abolitionists. Some of these voted for Taylor for president in 1844, nearly all of whom supported Fremont later.
Thus in Brown township Ed Crow, Horace Brown, and the Butlers were democrats, while the Plummers, Yocums, Hamptons, Stanleys, and Dewees families were originally whigs, who joined the republican party in 1856. In Franklin township the members of the United Brethren church in and around Lisbon, and the Methodists around Mount Vernon were stanch abolitionists, joining the republican party when that was formed. Around Bertram a large number affiliated with the democratic party, which was true of the settlers in and around Center Point. In the northern part of the county, James Nugent, A. C. Coquillette, Joe Whitney, Peter Henderson, and many others were republicans, or joined the party later. In Maine township the Jordan families were divided in politics, some belonging to one party, others to another. These men were a sturdy lot of pioneers and did much in a political and financial way to build up the county.
In Rapids township and Cedar Rapids, many of the old settlers were democrats, such as N. B. Brown, D. M. McIntosh, the Bryan boys, E. R. Derby, William Harper, the Weares, J. J. Snouffer, Hart brothers, and many others. Judge Greene was one of the most prominent democrats who joined the republican ranks in the Greeley campaign. The Weares joined the republican party during the Civil war period. Some of the prominent republicans of an early day were E. N. Bates, the Carrolls, Elys, Leaches, Higleys, J. S. and T. Z. Cook, Isaac Cook, Dr. S. D. Carpenter, Dr. E. L. Mansfield, Gabriel Carpenter.
In Marion township, which was then and for many years afterwards the political center of the county, the whigs, who later became republicans, were such men as N. M. Hubbard, R. D. Stephens, Joseph Young, William Cook, William G. Thompson, James E. Bromwell, William Smythe, Robert Smythe, Robert Holmes, the Herveys, and the Daniels family.
Among the democrats were such prominent men as Colonel I. M. Preston, S. H. Tryon, S. W. Durham, H. W. Gray, Dr. T. S. Bardwell, T. J. McKean, J. C. Barry, James Green, L. M. Strong, C. T. Williams, and James Brown.
During the territorial days Robert Lucas was a democrat, while John Chambers was a whig, succeeded by James Clarke, another democrat. During these early territorial days Linn county cut very little figure in the affairs of the newly organized territory, as the river counties had most of the settlers and otherwise controlled political affairs in general. In the first assembly which met at Burlington, November 11, 1838, this county was represented by Charles Whittelsy in the council, and by Robert G. Roberts in the house. The district then was composed of Cedar, Johnson, Jones, and Linn counties.
The second assembly met at the same place November 4, 1839, this district being represented in the council by Charles Whittelsy, and by George H. Walworth in the house. The district this year was composed of Cedar, Jones, and Linn counties.
The third assembly convened at Burlington November 2, 1840, and now, for the first time, Linn county was represented in the council by a resident of the county, in the person of George Greene. In the house sat George H. Walworth and H. Van Antwerp.
The fourth assembly convened at the newly selected capital at Iowa City, and in the council or upper house sat again George Greene, and in the house were Thomas Higginson and Thomas Denson.
In the fifth assembly sat J. P. Cook in the council and George H. Walworth and J. C. Barry in the house, the latter being a resident of Linn county.
In the sixth assembly sat J. P. Cook in the council, George H. Walworth and Robert Smythe in the house, Smythe being a resident of the county. For many years he was a prominent politician in Iowa, and sat in the lower and upper houses for many years.
In the seventh assembly, which convened at Iowa City in May, 1845, sat William Abbe in the council, and Joe K. Snyder and John Taylor in the house. William Abbe was the first actual settler in the county and one of the best known persons in eastern Iowa in early days. Mr. Abbe also sat in the assembly which met at Iowa City in December, 1845.
Linn county was also represented by able men in the constitutional conventions, and no doubt the members from this county did much in the adoption of our constitution. In the first constitutional convention which convened October 7, 1844, there sat as members from this county the following persons: T. J. McKean, L. M. Strong, and S. W. Durham, all democrats. This convention numbered fifty-three democrats and seventeen whigs. In the second constitutional convention, which met at the seat of government May 4, 1856, Linn and Benton counties were represented by Socrates H. Tryon, of Marion. In this convention, which was smaller than the first, the party vote stood twenty democrats and ten whigs.
In the third constitutional convention, which met January 19, 1857, there sat H. W. Gray, of Marion, as a member of the convention, and Ellsworth N. Bates, of Cedar Rapids, as assistant secretary, a young man of brilliant parts.
The first governor of the newly made state, Ansel Briggs, was a democrat, as was Stephen Hempstead, his successor. James W. Grimes, who had located at Burlington in 1836, was nominated for the office of governor at the whig convention in 1854, and made a memorable canvass. His well known anti-slavery views rendered him acceptable to all who were opposed to the extension of that institution. While many conservative whigs agreed with the democrats on the slavery issue, still all classes who favored free soil united in the support of Grimes, who was favorably known and had been a member of the legislature, and who had made a favorable impression upon the new settlers who had come into the state to find homes. Grimes was elected, and this was the first defeat of the democrats since Iowa was organized as a territory.
In January, 1856, Governor Grimes wrote the call for the convention, which met at Iowa City on February 22d, which founded the republican party. In this convention there sat a number of Linn county persons who later became noted men in the party, and well known in the state.
The first presidential vote in Iowa was in the election in 1848, when Cass, the regular democratic nominee, received 12,083 votes, Taylor, whig, 11,084 votes, and Martin Van Buren, free soil democrat, 1,126 votes. In the election of 1852, which was quite exciting all over the country, and not least in Iowa, the popular votes for president were as follows: Franklin Pierce, democrat, 17,763, Winfield Scott, whig, 15,856, John P. Hale, free democracy, 1,704 votes. This vote would indicate that the democratic party still held the balance of power in the state, but the change in old party lines was apparent.
During the years up to 1856, a large number of pioneers had come into the state from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan, as well as from the New England states, and bitter party feeling ran high. Many of the party leaders took the stump, and speeches were made in nearly all these settlements. Newspapers were established and an active campaign brought about. Politics was the topic of conversation at the country store, at the grist-mill, and at the country postoffices, and everyone felt that a change along party lines would be apparent. The vote in Iowa for president in 1856 was: John C. Fremont, republican, 43,954, James Buchanan, democrat, 36,170, Millard Fillmore, American party, 9,180. James W. Grimes, the candidate for governor on the Fremont ticket, was re-elected.
In this campaign the question of slavery was the main issue, and on this ground the newly organized republican party carried the day in Iowa. Iowa from this time was lost to the democrats, and they were unable to regain the lost ground by attempting to get away from the slavery issue. During the summer and fall of 1860 the campaign surpassed even the excitable campaign of four years previous. At the fall election Lincoln received 70,409 votes, S. A. Douglas, democrat, 55,111 votes, John Bell, 17,763 votes. J. C. Breckenridge, the regular democratic nominee, who aimed to carry slavery into the territory at any cost, received in this state only 1,048. The Douglas wing of the party "aimed to throw the responsibility of the slavery question upon the supreme court or upon the territories, or anywhere else, except upon the democratic party." Douglas had many admirers in this county, and he visited, in this campaign, Marion and Cedar Rapids, where people flocked to hear him, many of whom admired him, but there were few who could support his visionary schemes and many who doubted the outcome of his dubious platform. This year the republican state ticket received on an average a plurality of 13,670 votes. In this election the state had become one of the solid republican states, and has so continued. In the state campaign of 1861 S. J. Kirkwood carried the state in an exciting campaign over William H. Merritt, the regular democratic nominee. Mr. Merritt had become a resident of this county, and hence received a large vote in his old home. Kirkwood had won over A. C. Dodge by a majority of 3,000 two years before, and was a popular candidate, a man of many strong traits of character. The Civil war was on and the people felt that they must sustain the policies of the party in power, and hence, perhaps, the popularity of the prospective candidates cut but little figure.
During one of these campaigns as Perry Oxley and Ambrose Harlan were seated discussing politics at the county seat one day, Harlan in his wrath accused Oxley of being a traitor to the government. This was too much for the irate Kentucky-born democrat, and he knocked Harlan down with a savage blow aimed at the fellow's head. There was a trial for assault and battery, to which Oxley pleaded guilty, and later Harlan brought an action for damages in the district court, which damages were paid pro-rata by the democrats over the county. Col. I. M. Preston defended Oxley and the outcome of the verdict in fact made the issues for the next campaign.
At commencement exercises at Mt. Vernon a general free-for-all fight occurred on account of some girls wearing copperhead pins. This matter also came into the courts, and county politics at least changed conditions, as party feelings ran high, and perhaps the ultimate motives of party politics were lost sight of, in these hand to hand contests waged near at home.
During the early days Joel Leverich was a prominent political character in Linn county. He was called the "Bogus Coon," as it was claimed that he belonged to a gang of counterfeiters. However true that may he, no one knows, as he called himself a fellow who could make counterfeit money which would pass muster even in the land office. Leverich was a bright and intelligent person and wielded a great deal of influence as a sort of ward heeler before wards were organized in an early day, and it was frequently stated "that as Joel Leverich went, so went the county." Joel was not perhaps as interested in the political views of the candidates as he was in getting pay for his services and in having a promise of a pull with the officers if elected.
Bill Brody also wielded more or less influence in an early day in the county, and sometimes lined up with one party and sometimes with another. It was generally true, that if Leverich and his followers were all on one side, Brody and his companions would generally be opposed, and it was very seldom that both gangs were enlisted to work for the same political party in any one campaign.
At one time just preceding a county election, members of the two gangs met at the Joshua Glover saloon in Marion. All had been drinking, and it was not long until the street was full of people, there being fifteen to twenty on a side all engaged in a general free-for-all fight. No one tried to interfere, and blood flowed freely. While Bill Brody was the leader and perhaps the most active, his chum and follower, Barry Way, was the most powerful fighter, and is said to have cleaned out the entire gang and won the day. His political party was in power for a day at least.
While there was much disorder, and trouble arose on account of lack of enforcement of law and order, it would be apparent that if men were elected to office by the assistance and help of men of this type it was not surprising to hear that officials could not, or would not always carry out the provisions of the law. Ambrose Harlan, well known in an early day as a person who had nerve and considerable fight in him, came out as a candidate for sheriff on a platform all his own, claiming that "he would catch horse thieves, and would even serve a warrant on Bill Brody himself, leader of the notorious gang," referred to in these pages.
Harlan became an imaginary hero in the eyes of the people, and was elected by a large majority. For a long time after he had assumed the duties of his office there did not seem to be anything doing in his particular line. In fact the sheriff's office was the most deserted place at the county seat. It resembled a summer resort in winter time, and Harlan was about to resign for want of anything to do, for if there was anything Harlan loved it was a fight to a finish or a wordy contest with a political opponent. As sheriff there was nothing to do in either line, for people seemed for once to mind their own business.
At last, one morning a warrant was brought to the sheriff to be served on Brody, who had been charged with grand larceny of a team of horses. Harlan's moment had come, and he prided himself on the fact that he would lodge Brody in jail before the next sun set. A few inquiries were made, and Brody was located in the Way cabin, some five or six miles east of Vinton. At Vinton Harlan organized a posse and started early next morning to catch the culprit before he would leave for the day.
They surrounded the cabin, Harlan fearing that the fellows had already escaped, but he ascertained that the smoke issuing from the cabin was only an indication that Mrs. Way was getting breakfast ready. He found Bill Brody and his chum Barry Way in bed. He was not long in making his errand known, and Brody replied. "Do you want me naked or will you give me time to put on my duds?" To which Harlan replied that as it was still early and he had all day, he would wait till the fellows dressed. The men took considerable time in arranging their morning toilet, saying to one another that it might be a long time before they would get back, and that the trial court could do nothing without their presence, so there was no hurry. Harlan sat on a home-made rickety chair in one corner of the room, with a gun in his left hand and a hickory stick in the other, watching the two culprits, and recalling the old refrain, "Weep no mo' me lady," as he watched the poor mother Way walking about the room with tears in her eyes, wondering what her wayward son had been up to this time. Harlan kept special watch on Way, who was the athlete, not fearing Brody, who was a small person. As Harlan looked out at the tiny window to detect a certain noise he heard, Brody, nimble as a cat, was at his side in an instant. He wrung the hickory sapling out of the sheriff's hands and struck him a savage blow on the head so that the Linn county official was "dead to the world" for at least thirty minutes. The crowd outside were in hiding near a straw stack, and when they saw the two desperadoes come out of the cabin alone without any sheriff following, they took to their horses and rode away as fast as they could, never looking around till the town of Vinton was in sight.
When the sheriff realized what had happened, he was invited to breakfast by Mrs. Way, who said it might be a long time before her boarders would return. The sheriff would not accept the invitation, but asked instead for bandages for his head.
Harlan was asked on his return to the county seat, minus his prisoner, "Why didn't you take Bill when you had him?" Harlan replied, "How could I, when I had a gun in one hand and a hickory stick in the other, which he took away and rapped me over the head with, and when I came to my senses he wasn't there."
It was needless to say, that at the next election no one cared to enter the race on a strictly horse thief catching platform.
One of the most remarkable political contests ever waged in the county was that of N. M. Hubbard and William Smythe for congress in 1868. Hubbard had been a sort of political dictator since the organization of the republican party. He had held the office of county judge for a short time, and had been appointed attorney for the Northwestern railway, and for this reason was a powerful factor in financial as well as in political circles. Hubbard was quarrelsome, impertinent, and out-spoken, and used to say, that he "loved a nigger more than he did a democrat." In his aspirations for office he was backed by many friends and admirers, such as the Weares, Elys, Carrolls, and Higleys in Cedar Rapids, and by most of the prominent Marion men, such as the Herveys, the Daniels families, Captain Rathbun, Major Thompson, and Bob Holmes.
The people of Marion were bitter against Hubbard, especially R. D. Stephens, who had been Hubbard's partner for some time, which partnership ended in a row, the last formal dissolution of the partnership being to the effect that Hubbard said to Stephens that "he would not attend his funeral," to which the partner replied, "neither will I attend yours or ever darken your threshhold in any capacity."
Stephens by this time was a financial factor in the county and had many friends. It was thought that he should make the run against Hubbard, who had removed to Cedar Rapids, but the leaders of this faction of the party thought that a candidate must be selected who had been in the war, and thus the opponents of Hubbard selected William Smythe, who was a brother-in-law of Stephens, as the logical candidate to make the race. Smythe was an Irishman who had been an officer in the Civil war; was an eminent lawyer, a most affable gentleman, who had made a reputation for himself as a conservative and safe political leader.
In this canvass Smythe was also backed by Robert Smythe, an older brother, who had been in the legislature, and was favorably known throughout the county. Stephens was the financial backer and the organizer of the Smythe faction. He was far-sighted, wielded considerable political and social influence, and used his money freely in this campaign to get even with Hubbard, if for no other reason. In this fight Stephens enlisted the service of a number of prominent democrats who were unfriendly to Hubbard. Everyone expected that Hubbard would win hands down, and carry Cedar Rapids and many of the county precincts. Smythe enlisted in his cause such men as Colonel Preston, Dr. Thos. Bardwell, J. H. Preston, S. W. Durham, James Brown, and many other democrats who were on the inside of this movement to dethrone the republican county boss. Smythe carried Marion township much to the surprise of the local leaders who had thought up to that time that everything was cocked and primed for Hubbard.
The county went about half and half; both parties, of course, had expected a small majority. When the officers were selected and a contest came up to a show of hands, the convention stood a tie. The old court house was filled to overflowing, and many wordy contests took place outside as well as inside of the old dingy court room.
The afternoon passed and neither side got ahead. Stephens was the active leader on the floor of the convention and knew more about parliamentary rules than anyone else. Still there were others in the convention on the Hubbard side who were no novices at the business of packing a convention.
An agreement had been made that the winner should select his own delegates, and it was conceded that whoever carried the county would carry the district. Neither faction dared to adjourn, and so the fight was kept up on motions of one kind and another with voting now and then to ascertain if the members had changed. They all "stood pat," and it has since been suggested that this must have been the first time the word standpatter was used in a political sense.
In the evening Dr. Thomas S. Bardwell moved about in the convention hall shaking hands with his professional brethren and others. He invited a stanch supporter of Hubbard from up the county, and a professional brother, into his postoffice and into a back room where he lived. They got into conversation and Bardwell knew that the man wanted a little for his stomach's sake, for he had traveled a long ways that morning and had had nothing to eat all day. Bardwell fully agreed with the country doctor that the air of a dingy court room was bad for the lungs, and that a life of that kind would certainly ruin the health of any man, however strong he might otherwise he. The country doctor took one and then another drink from the city man's private supply, and the Marion man was not one of the kind that refused even to take a drink with his country friend. The conversation moved much easier and more pleasant after the first few drinks, and Bardwell, to show that he was a good fellow, brought out a variety of liquor, such as would have made the mouth of a true Kentuckian smack in anticipation. It was not long till the country practitioner forgot all about the convention and was "dead to the world." He was placed in the doctor's bed, the doors locked, and Bardwell hurried back to the court house, sending a note to Stephens to the effect that he must put the vote at once. Stephens did not know whether Bardwell was putting up a scheme on him or not, but he was about at the end with his objections and thought he would try just another vote and risk everything on a democrat's advice. Stephens withdrew his motion then pending and called for a vote by ballot. The Hubbard faction was glad of this opportunity, and as there were no objections the seesaw affair of balloting once more began.
When the votes were counted it was found that the Hubbard faction was one short. They counted and re-counted, and made the air blue with dire threats, wondering who had sold out, but no "Judas" could be found. Finally it was discovered that the country delegate aforesaid was missing. It was thought that he had gone home or had been called away on professional business, but such was not the case. The aforesaid country delegate was not made aware of the real condition of things till the next morning when he awoke in the back room of the doctor's office wondering how he had gotten such fine quarters without any assistance from either side, as far as he knew.
The convention went wild over Smythe's victory and the city of Marion, regardless of party, was caught in this wave of enthusiasm, and the only topic of conversation for a long time afterwards was "how William Smythe won the fight."
The newspaper which gave the best write-up of this political contest, and the paper which did more for Smythe than any other political organ in the county, was the Linn County Signal, edited by a nephew of S. W. Durham, by the name of Williams. The editorial writers, however, were such men as Dr. Thos. Bardwell, James Brown, S. W. Durham, Colonel I. M. Preston, and Judge J. H. Preston, who was just then beginning to learn the inside workings of politics. A tramp printer by the name of Tompkins came along some time before the convention occurred, out of money and out of work, and was employed on the paper. Tompkins looked and acted like a fool, but was in fact a genius. He could write better than the best of them, and knew shorthand as well. He reported the proceedings of this unique convention, and it is stated by all, regardless of party affiliations, that this write-up was the best of any political write-up of any convention before or since.
After Smythe had been duly nominated for congress, the democrats of Linn county refused to support the republican candidate any longer, as they were only acting in the capacity of beating Hubbard. William E. Leffingwell, of Clinton, one of the silver-tongued orators of the west and an eminent man in many ways, was selected as the standard bearer of the democratic party to oppose Smythe. As Hubbard and his friends knifed Smythe on account of the action taken by Smythe's followers in the county convention, there was hope that a democrat might be elected. The county democrats challenged Smythe to a joint debate, hoping that he would refuse to debate with a person much his superior. But Smythe accepted the challenge and it was decided that there should be three joint debates in the county, at Center Point, Marion, and Cedar Rapids. The first joint debate was to be held at Center Point--a democratic stronghold--and Smythe and his followers drove over from Marion in large numbers, for they wanted to protect their candidate in case any trouble should arise. Leffingwell and his party also started from Marion, made up of the most influential democrats in Cedar Rapids and Marion. Dr. Bardwell, one of the leaders of the democracy, and who had laid out the Hubbard supporter at the time of the convention, sat in the back seat of the buggy with Leffingwell and carried the same kind of wet goods along on this evening and for the same purpose that the candidate should take something for his stomach's sake. This time Bardwell was in earnest and really wanted to instill into the candidate a little of the spirit which would brace him up to a greater effort. He did not figure that Leffingwell's only fault was his love for the bottle. When they arrived at Center Point more liquor was added, and when Leffingwell sat in the stuffy room listening to Smythe's opening arguments half an hour, the liquor took effect, and he became so drunk that he could hardly stand up, and made a rambling sort of a speech as only one under the influence of liquor could make. Smythe replied to the rambling remarks of his opponent in a most masterly way and in such a telling manner that even the democrats got disgusted with their own candidate, and the Marion contingent felt that hanging would have been too good for Doc Bardwell.
This first meeting ended the joint debates with Leffingwell. Later in the fall the democrats secured another debater from southern Iowa in the person of Martin Van Buren Bennett, a rabid partisan and a fiery orator, who, perhaps, surpassed Smythe in oratory, but who failed to make any special gains for his party as he was an outsider who dwelt on past history and did not confine himself to present conditions.
The friends of Smythe were very active among the democrats within the county to obtain their support, knowing that a large number of republicans would bolt the ticket. It was told that a fellow democrat went to old man Hickey in College township, an old Irishman and a stanch democrat, wanting him to vote for Smythe on the strength that he was born in Ireland. Hickey replied, "What! ask me to vote for an Orangeman, let me tell ye, when an Irishman steals a pig he gives half of it to the priest; when an Orangeman steals a pig he takes the whole d--thing and gives the priest nathing. No, I'll vote for no Orangeman for any office, I tell ye."
Smythe was elected by a large majority and served until his death in 1870. Judge Smythe was one of the ablest men in the county; he had been a delegate to the convention that nominated Lincoln for president, and in 1861 was appointed to negotiate a bond issued by the state to provide a war defense fund. He was also a colonel in the 31st Iowa Infantry, and served in the field until December, 1864. Had he lived no doubt he would have been one of the United States senators from Iowa, and might have had the coveted place so long occupied by James Harlan and William B. Allison.
In the Greeley contest there was not very much activity in politics in the county, although a number who had previously affiliated with the democratic party joined the republican ranks. The Blaine campaign was one of the most bitter campaigns waged pro and con in the county. In this campaign Milo P. Smith, of Linn, was the republican candidate for congress against Ben Frederick, democrat, of Marshall county, who won out against Smith on account of wrangling within the republican ranks.
John T. Hamilton, in another exciting contest for congress, won out as a democrat against Geo. R. Struble, of Tama county, in 1890. Mr. Hamilton had served in the legislature for six years previously and had demonstrated his ability as an able and conservative legislator. He had many stanch supporters in the district and especially in Linn county, his home. Mr. Hamilton was defeated for re-election in 1892 by Robert G. Cousins, of Cedar county, who held the seat continually till he was succeeded by James W. Good, of Linn county, in the election of 1908. Mr. Good was re-elected in the fall of 1910.
This article was not intended to deal with present politics, but with past politics, and so the various contests which have been waged since the Bryan campaign of 1896 will be left for other historians to chronicle. The politicians of an early day in Linn county were men of force and ability, who were interested in the material welfare of the people of the state. These men always took a leading part in every political and financial issue which arose, abhoring mere party differences brought about for personal objects by selfish persons. Both the leading parties possessed efficient leaders, who were fully competent to cope with the issues under consideration from time to time. These political leaders were efficient stump speakers, strong political writers, financial backers and promoters of railroads and steamboat lines. Their knowledge of the affairs of county and state politics was unsurpassed, and as mere orators they held large gatherings spellbound by their magnetic influence.
The politician of the old school was always a gentleman and would seldom descend to anything low or unprofessional in order to obtain a political victory over another. The instances cited in those pages are only the occasional outbreak of party strife, or of selfish desire for vengeance to satisfy some wrong, real or imaginary. Many of the party leaders in the county in ye olden times, regardless of party affiliations, were men of culture and education, conservative men, keen, shrewd, and capable, who battled manfully, loyally, and truthfully for the young state in its trying days in the beginning. Nothing is more instructive than to read the early laws which were passed and to meditate over the proceedings as found of three memorable constitutional conventions. These deliberations show the good sense of those who took part in debates, and while the discussions took a wide range, the members never lost sight of the constitutional limitations and of the legal status of the state to the federal government.
Such men as Abbe, the Smythe brothers, E. N. Bates, Durham, Col. Preston, Judge Isbell, Strong, Gray, Kurtz, Col. Butler, Chandler Jordan, Squire Nugent, Squire Ure, Isaac Cook, Col. W. H. Merritt, Judge George Greene, Major M. A. Higley, and scores of other well known pioneers were an honor to any community and in their respective capacities wielded much influence in the county during the pioneer days.
Chapter XXXVI
Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids is not a new town. True, it has not been flourishing for centuries, like the old European cities, with histories which reach back several centuries, but as cities and towns in the middle west are spoken of, it has a lengthy history and one of more or less interest. Young as it is, Cedar Rapids has no definite chronicle as to who was the first actual settler. Dyer Usher claimed that he and a companion gazed upon the beauty of its banks and admired the river at the upper falls as early as 1836. Osgood Shepherd maintained that he was the first actual settler, and that he opened a tavern here in 1837 or 1838. He, at least, sold his squatter right in the embryo town, and made the first property deal involving landed rights in what later became the city. J. Wilbert Stone, also known as Bill Stone and William Stone, was here as early as any white man. He was born in the state of Rhode Island about 1803, and emigrated to Iowa Territory in the early thirties. Stone was a well educated, quiet, and refined man, who possessed all the traits of a trader. He drifted into Davenport and Rock Island, and came to Westport some time after William Abbe. No doubt he came from Rockingham up along the river looking for a place to barter with Indians, and the few white men who might come along as hunters and trappers. He conducted a small trading post at Westport some time in 1837, but whether he was the first storekeeper in the county is not known, as this honor has also been accorded to John Henry. Whether Henry bought Stone out or not is not certain, but this is true, that Stone disposed of his interests and removed ten miles by trail up to the lower rapids, at the bend in the Red Cedar river, where the large packing plant of the T. M. Sinclair Company now stands, and here laid out a squatter town, which he called Columbus. This town site is supposed to have been staked out on the east side of the river. The time must have been in 1837. He quarreled with Shepherd, who either came about the same time, or closely followed Stone. Stone, being a quiet, peaceable person, still single, was compelled to cross the river and take up a claim on the west side. Robert Ellis asserts that he found the first small hut on May 8, 1838, on what became Cedar Rapids, and that it was located on the east side near the packing plant, and was occupied by Philip Hull. Had Shepherd sold this cabin to Hull after having driven Stone across the river? That might be probable, as Shepherd tried the same dodge on Ellis a few months later when he was building a cabin on his claim on the west side of the river. In that instance Shepherd had a prospective purchaser who was willing to go into Ellis's shack, and but for the nerve and presence of mind of Ellis, Shepherd might have succeeded. From Stone's daughter, still living, it would seem that Stone was the first actual settler who came here to trade with the Indians, and the first to lay out the squatter town which later became Cedar Rapids, and that this plat or staking out was on the east and not the west side of the river, all of which would be natural as all the other squatter towns had been staked on the east side, and thus were better defended from an attack of Indians or border ruffians, who were apt to congregate more frequently on the west side of the stream.
Robert Ellis walked into the town and found Hull, and later Shepherd, located in a small cabin, which he called a tavern situated on the river bank on what is now First avenue. Mr. Ellis also found at this time John Young, a Scotchman, Granger, Fisher, and another Scot by the name of Galloway. Shepherd laid claim at that time to nearly all of the land on the east side of the river and especially the land adjoining the dam site and the slough now called Cedar lake. A few hunters and trappers came now and then and remained at the Shepherd cabin for days at a time and then would depart as quietly as they had entered the crude hotel on the river bank. It has been reported that Shepherd harbored border ruffians and it has been said of him that while "he did not willingly steal, he had not scruples about harboring those who subsisted from that kind of traffic." So far as authentic records indicate, we have no written or reliable sources of information except hearsay, till Robert Ellis walked up the river and found the cabins of Hull and Shepherd on the east side of the river, which property rights were claimed by these parties as squatter owners. By this time Stone had removed to the west side of the river and had already erected a cabin. Being a single man he was not at home at all times, and thus might have been away at the time Ellis arrived. Ellis soon discovered from what Shepherd said as well as from what Stone had intimated, that these men were at outs, and the best way to keep peace was to have the river between them. Ellis had been out in the world long enough not to mix in the quarrels of other men and to keep as close-mouthed as possible about the troubles between sworn enemies. They never associated after their quarrel. The daughter of Stone claims that her father told her many times that the reason he sold out and removed to the Iowa river bottom was on account of Shepherd's attitude and that of the members of his gang toward him. These men feared that Stone would inform on them and wanted him out of the way so long as he refused to become an associate of theirs or in any way to approve of their actions.
It would seem plausible that in a community where so many were law violators and enemies of law and order a man like Stone would not be tolerated and the ruffians would do all in their power to get him out of the way by intimidation or otherwise.
N. B. Brown, from what we have been informed by N. E. Brown and others, must have passed through what became Cedar Rapids as early as 1839 but he did not locate here till the following year, when he first realized the full value of the falls and the feasibility of a plan to erect a suitable dam across the river which would furnish power to run saw and grist mills. Galloway, Young, Granger, O. S. Bowling, and a few others were here in the meantime, all holding down claims, but no one thought of any future city to be founded or of any valuable asset in the water power which had never been harnessed to machinery. What appealed to them was the fact that the stream could be forded at this place, that the banks had plenty of timber, and that it was a sort of way station for straggling Indian trappers and hunters. Mr. Brown was not a frontiersman but a mechanic, who was a trained miller and looked into the future and saw that the location was ideal. While he had but little money, he could see far enough ahead that here would be the logical point for mills. Mr. Brown interested George Greene, H. W. Gray, A. L. Roach, and S. H. Tryon, and they purchased from Osgood Shepherd an undivided three-fourths interest for $3,000. The other one-fourth interest was later sold by Shepherd to J. E. Sanford and Addison Daniels. Mr. Shepherd had nothing but a squatter claim to sell, but Brown and the others figured that it would be cheaper to buy him out than to make a fight on him, and so the bargain was made. From an old account book still in the possession of N. E. Brown, we cite the following:
"August 4, 1841. Commenced surveying 'Rapids City.' August 7, 2-1/2 days by N. B. Brown, same, S. Durham, same, J. W. Carson, 1-1/2 days Geo. Greene, same, A. Daniels, 2-1/2 days O. Shepherd."
This proves that after the squatter right was purchased from Shepherd, and the embryo town was first named by Brown the actual work of surveying was commenced in August, 1841. All of the above named persons became later well known in the county. Greene and Tryon were clerks of court about this time, Durham was the newly arrived surveyor, while Daniels became a merchant and prominent business man. Sanford was an attorney and the owner of much land in this county, but died early leaving his estate to his widow and aged father, who resided in Connecticut. It would seem that Cedar Rapids was first called Columbus, next Rapids City, and finally Cedar Rapids, taking its name from the name of the river and the rapids which are formed here by the rock foundations in the river bed.
Shepherd lingered around the place till the next year, when he found that there was nothing further in his line, and that he was not interested in corner lots or in any enterprises such as appealed to Brown, David King, Greene, Sanford, Daniels, and many others. He disposed of all his remaining rights and left for Wisconsin with his family. He was later killed in a railway accident.
John Young also disposed of his squatter rights to Dr. J. R. Richey and J. W. Carson. These purchasers sold again to Brown the following year.
J. L. Enos, a newspaper man, has the following to say of Shepherd, writing in 1866: "The crimes committed by Shepherd and his gang were for years a constant annoyance. John Young and a man by the name of Granger were his immediate companions. The islands in the river, particularly the one above the dam, were used as places to conceal their plunder. A great many horses and much other property were stolen by them, and in many cases they succeeded in hiding their booty. It is known that this gang stole at one time six horses, getting away with four of them. Granger was later caught in Chicago and tried for passing counterfeit money. He was sent to the Alton prison for four years. Young, it is stated on reliable authority, was executed in a neighboring state, having been convicted of murder."
To prove that there is more or less truth in the stories as written of Shepherd by Enos, Mr. Ellis says that shortly after he had located on his claim and while he was building a cabin so as to hold his land, Shepherd and some stranger came along one day and Shepherd insisted that this was his claim and that Ellis should vacate as soon as he could, as there would be trouble in store for a newcomer who had the cheek to jump a claim of this kind. Ellis was much surprised and could not believe that Shepherd, with whom he had stayed for a short time, would come at him with such unfounded accusations. He had heard of the trouble with Stone and knew from Hull that Shepherd was not a very good man. Hull seemed to be all right. Ellis made up his mind that in a game of bluff he would not take a back seat, and that he had not come all the way from Pennsylvania on foot for nothing. He got mad and then did not stop to count noses, but raised his ax and came towards Shepherd, saying in his most emphatic way that the claim was his and that some one would get killed before he gave it up. He said he had picked out and improved the land and by right owned it till such time as the government saw fit to throw it open for settlement. He then accused Shepherd of some of the things he had heard and offered to back it up by proof if he wanted it. He said further, "You have bluffed others out of their claims, but you can't bluff me. You get off my land or I shall be compelled to use my ax." Shepherd moved away and the stranger turned pale and was uncertain whether he should run or stand there with his hands raised. He had never been in such a place before. Never again was Ellis molested, nor did Shepherd again refer to the unpleasant incident.
It was later rumored that Shepherd for a consideration was to locate the stranger on a good claim. He figured that as Ellis had already a cabin partially built this would be a good chance to get a bit of money and he reasoned that a stranger in the country would soon give in. He had not figured on the fact that Ellis was "the bravest of the brave," when it came to a question of asserting his own rights, which he knew were just. From this little episode as to the character of Shepherd as displayed toward Ellis it would seem that Shepherd might have gone at Stone in the same manner in which he tried to treat Ellis, and by force and intimidation made him give up his claim. Shepherd's course while a citizen of Linn county was not an honorable one and few, if any, of his associates speak of him except in an unfavorable light.
In April, 1839, arrived Joe and John Listebarger, who erected a small log house at what is now 818 North First street west and owned by Ferdinand Uebel. A younger brother, Isaac, arrived later the same summer. William Knowles erected a house on what later became known as Mound Farm. John Stambaugh built a log house in what is now Bever Park, which later was disposed of to John G. Cole. The upper part of the west side was settled by Farnham Colby, who came shortly after Ellis had staked out his holdings. During the years 1838-39 came others, such as Thos. Gainor, Joel and James Leverich, P. W. Earle, and many others. It was in July of this year that the family of Isaac Carroll arrived and located a little to the east of what is now Cedar Rapids. A son of Isaac Carroll, the Rev. George R. Carroll, writes as follows in his Pioneer Life: "I cannot now recall anything of importance on the way until we reached Linn Grove, where we found a few log cabins. In conversation with one of the women who occupied one of these primitive abodes we found that her language was so different from anything we had heard, that it left a decided impression on our minds and was a source of no little amusement to us children. Some of her peculiar expressions were by-words with us for many years. She seemed very cordial and ready as everybody was in welcoming newcomers, and she was quite communicative, although her accounts were not always of the most encouraging and inspiring character to the new arrivals.
"It was in the afternoon of July 4th, 1839, when we reached the county seat and the only thing to mark the spot was a bower of bushes under which our nation's birthday had been celebrated in primitive style and in which, judging from hilarious demonstrations of two or three men that we met on the way, whiskey must have played a somewhat conspicuous part. A little at one side of the town L. M. Strong had a little cabin. I do not remember of having seen either the cabin or the tenants at the time but Mr. Strong was for many years after a well known and highly honored citizen of this place. Passing on beyond Marion we crossed Indian creek about a mile north of the present crossings and where there was a beautiful crystal spring, near which was a little cabin occupied by Mr. James W. Bassett. From this point, turning in a southwesterly direction, we found our way by a dim track through the woods reaching, towards night, the little bark shanty of Ephraim T. Lewis, near where now stands the stone barn just south of the boulevard two miles west of Marion. Mr. Lewis and his son-in-law, Nathaniel G. Niece, were there and gave us a most hearty welcome and most cordial invitation to share their hospitality over night, which we gladly accepted.
"The next day we passed a half mile west to the little hut of Mr. Jewell, later occupied by Barnet Lutz. Passing on sixty or eighty rods west of Mr. Jewell's through the tall grass we found Mr. A. B. Mason breaking up prairie on the higher ground just north of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway at a point forty or fifty rods west of the boulevard crossing at Kenwood. This, I think, was the first furrow plowed between Marion and Cedar Rapids. Passing Mr. Mason, we found ourselves in a few moments on the ground which was to be our future home. At a point of the ridge near the mound, which in later years has been extensively known as Judge Greene's Mound Farm, we pitched our tent, the little brook near by affording us water, and the grove close at hand furnishing wood and poles and bushes for the erection of a bower, which for a few days were to serve us as a kitchen and dining room."
In this company came also B. F. and C. C. Cook, step-sons of Isaac Carroll, and Sarah Carroll, a step-daughter. There were also the following children: Isaac W., George R., and Julia Carroll.
Mr. Carroll, in his interesting recollections of pioneer days, speaks of a number of people who at this time and in the next few years resided in and around Cedar Rapids, such as William Vineyard, who married Sarah Carroll, and various members of the Lewis family, who arrived that same fall. James Ferguson and his family, the Weare family, William Stewart, A. Sines, Arvin Kennedy, Isaac and William Cook, members of the Ely families, Dr. J. W. Traer, J. F. Charles, the Daniels families, and many others came a little later.
Thus within a few years from the time that Brown and others purchased the claims of Shepherd, the scene along the banks of the Red Cedar had changed from an Indian wilderness and a resort of border ruffians to a landscape bearing all the evidences of a high degree of civilization. The old Indian burial grounds became the place of a Christian cemetery, and the pole tepees covered with leaves and skins were removed to make place for commodious log houses, erected by the whites.
In a study of the beginnings in Cedar Rapids it has seemed to the writer that heretofore due amount of credit for his work has not been given to N. B. Brown. His was indeed a constructive genius. He early interested himself in and in many instances began businesses that gave employment to labor, the backbone of any thrifty community. His enterprises were not always successful ones, whose are? All of them, however, were busy institutions for a time, and while they were going they gave employment to many people. It seemed to be the rule to send strangers in the city seeking employment to Nick Brown if no one else had use for their services, they being told that Mr. Brown was sure to give them something to do.
And he always did as it was intimated he would do.
His manufacturing industries were many and varied. He built and operated saw and flour mills, woollen and knitting factories, at one time conducting two saw mills in the city, one on each side of the Cedar. He also at one time ran a saw mill on Indian Creek, south of town. He built a starch factory at McCloud's Run, and when this failed owing to the dismissal by his foreman of the only man who knew the secrets of the manufacture he converted the mill into a distillery, thus making a market for the corn raised in the county.
Some of his early account books are now in the possession of his son, N. E. Brown. They show page after page of names of employes in his various manufacturing enterprises.
It is scarcely possible at this date to give a proper estimate to the value of his services to the infant city. Pioneers of the energy and public spirit manifested by Mr. Brown were indeed of great benefit to the community in which they wrought, and honor and credit ought to be extended accordingly.
We are glad here to testify to the great worth of Mr. Brown along industrial lines in the pioneer days of our beautiful and prosperous Cedar Rapids.
For the first few years the settlers got along as best they could. They had few if any luxuries. Dubuque and Muscatine were the nearest markets. It required from six to fourteen days to make the trip and frequently longer when the roads were bad and when fierce storms overtook the party. Robert Ellis built three flat boats in the winter of 1841 and took a cargo of wheat to Burlington, trading this for a cargo of flour which he delivered safely at New Orleans, in July of that year. He got back during the summer but did not make any money out of the enterprise and never again cared to try the experiment. Many years later he received a settlement with the Burlington firm which was hard pressed for money and could not pay for the 4,000 bushels he had delivered. So while he did not get a fortune he perhaps came out even on this hazardous trip.
While it is true this daring enterprise failed to make Robert Ellis a wealthy man it did stir people up to the possibility of river traffic and that of course helped. The venture was talked over and over time and again, flat boats were built now and then, and a little grain shipped. Small steamers made Cedar Rapids in the early spring of the year, bringing a few groceries and notions, and taking away wheat, oats, pork, and a little corn.
Artificial dams in the river were talked of but that was as far as it went. No one was able to have any pull with the legislatures. Robert Holmes, an old Marion resident, had a grain house at Ivanhoe, and took cargoes of grain down the river in 1844, '46 and '51; Henry Thomson also ran a few flat boats on the river as far as St. Louis.
In 1858 a body of enterprising young men had built the steamer "Cedar Rapids" at Beaver, Pennsylvania, at a cost of $20,000, the stockholders being Wm. and George Greene, J. F. Ely, H. G. Angle, L. Daniels & Co., and W. W. Smith. This steamer ran during much of the spring and summer and late into the fall, and did a big business. But within two years in an accident on the Mississippi river the "Cedar Rapids" ran into another steamer, litigation ensued, and the owners lost everything they had made as well as the steamer.
Thus ended the first big adventure of the Cedar Rapids spirit. In the same year another steamer, the "Black Hawk," was built to run up the river to Waterloo and for a time did fair business. This was owned by W. D. Watrous, J. J. Snouffer, W. W. Smith, J. Stanley, and several others. This steamboat was sold to the government during the war and used as a supply steamer on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. At one time N. B. Brown was the owner of the boat. Just as the people were demanding that another company be formed to invest in another steamer enterprise the railways came, and now these daring business men centered their efforts in developing railroads and won out, but not until after many struggles, and after many failures. The people of Linn county surveyed, planned, and talked about several lines before they could realize the benefits of any.
The Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railway was organized in what is now Clinton on January 26, 1856, the first officers being Charles Walker, of Chicago, president, James Purdy, of Mansfield, Ohio, vice president, T. T. Davis, of Syracuse, New York, treasurer, R. H. Norton, secretary, and Milo Smith, of Clinton county, engineer. Many Cedar Rapids residents put up money and notes to have the road come through the city. Most of the necessary means were put up by eastern capitalists and especially by John I. Blair, one of the most enterprising of the early railroad promoters in America. Mr. Blair was born in New Jersey in 1802 and passed away in 1892, one of the most noted men of this country. He was at least in an early day the owner of more miles of railways than any other man in the world, and had laid out more town sites and villages in Iowa and Nebraska than any other person in the west. It was John I. Blair who first saw the opportunity of making Cedar Rapids a center on account of its progressive people, the water power, and other advantages which this practical, wide-awake railway man saw here, and which were lacking in other localities. In June, 1859, the road was completed to Cedar Rapids. Its coming was the most important event in the history of the city. It was the beginning of the end in the unique struggle for railways in Linn county, and marks an epoch in the history of the city.
The road was extended west, and by 1862 the trains were running as far as Marshalltown. By 1867 the road was completed to the Missouri river. Both the Iowa and Nebraska and the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River railways have for many years been under one management and are now known as the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, which owns and operates nearly 8,000 miles of road with a capital stock of $130,121,838.
In 1865 D. W. C. Rowley began grading for the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway, which was organized in Cedar Rapids. A separate company, known as the Cedar Valley Construction Company, was organized to build this line to Waterloo. This company was composed of such men as Dr. J. F. Ely, president, William Greene, superintendent, D. W. C. Rowley, secretary. In December, 1866, another road was incorporated, running to Burlington south via Iowa City. The men connected with this enterprise were J. H. Gear, Burlington, president, J. E. Putnam, Burlington, secretary, directors Dr. S. D. Carpenter, of Cedar Rapids, E. Clark and Peter A. Dey, of Iowa City, and John Bird, Louisa county.
This southern branch did not progress rapidly and there was more or less of a hitch with the plans, and a question as to how the road should run. The articles were changed, leaving out Iowa City, and the board increased to fifteen members, among whom may be mentioned N. B. Brown, George Greene, and Charles Weare, who were added from Linn county. George Greene was elected president and Charles Mason, vice president. By June, 1868, the two roads were united under one name, the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, Greene becoming president, and D. W. C. Rowley secretary. By January 1, 1871, trains were running between Cedar Rapids and Burlington, and early the following year they reached to St. Paul, thus making one of the first great north and south roads in Iowa. For many years C. J. Ives was president of the road till it was absorbed by the Rock Island system, when the headquarters were transferred to Chicago, the Cedar Rapids office becoming merely a division point.
The Dubuque and Southwestern Railway was operated from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids in October, 1865. This was an important factor in the upbuilding of Marion and other towns along this road and in fact helped Cedar Rapids. Like all small roads, it was not a financial success, and in May, 1878, it was sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company and new life put into it. The Milwaukee road in 1883 extended this line to Kansas City. The main line of the Milwaukee was extended to Omaha.
The building of the interurban to Iowa City, a distance of twenty-eight miles, a few years ago concludes the railway building in Linn county, with the exception of the Anamosa and Northwestern, which runs along the northern part of the county; and the extension of the Illinois Central, which runs down from Manchester, connecting with the main line at that place.
We are pleased to give space here to the following account of beginnings in Cedar Rapids. It is from Bailey & Hair's Gazetteer for 1865:
"D. W. King and T. Gainor were the first settlers of any advantage to the county. They reached here in 1839, and soon after made a permanent settlement on the west side of the river.
"The first white man, however, who pitched his tent on the ground, now occupied by the Valley City, was a notorious counterfeiter and horse thief by the name of Shepherd, who took up his abode and erected his cabin on what is now Commercial street, near the mills, in the year 1838.
"Thus early was this location selected as a central point for commercial operations with the surrounding country, and although the character of the operators was worse than some who have followed them in business, it nevertheless indicates their wisdom in making a good location for their enterprise.
"In 1849 D. W. King established ferries for crossing the river, and continued to run them up to the time of his death, in 1854. They were located at Iowa avenue and Linn street crossings. They were self-propellers, being forced across the river by the power of the current. A wire rope or cable extended across the stream upon which a pulley was placed, and connected by ropes to the boat. The first dam across the Cedar river was commenced in 1842, and the first saw mill erected in 1843.
"In March, 1843, the lands came into market. The first flouring mill was erected by N. B. Brown, in 1844-5, at a cost of $3,000. Extensive additions have been made to this mill since. It is still owned and run by Mr. Brown. In 1845, A. Ely erected the second saw mill and the following year the second flouring mill at a cost of $9,000. In 1848-9, the first woolen factory was erected by N. B. Brown. Cost, $10,000. The first steam engine was set in operation in 1855, in the machine shop of A. Hager.
"The first store was owned by J. Greene in the building now standing on the northeast corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. The second store was opened by Mr. Cleveland, and the third by Mr. Mulford. The proprietor of these stores have all left the city. Mulford's store was destroyed by fire in 1850, being the first building thus destroyed in Cedar Rapids. The second fire occurred in 1855, when the buildings on the west side of Commercial street, between Iowa avenue and Linn street, were mostly consumed. The postoffice was established in 1847, and J. Greene appointed postmaster.
"The first brick building was erected in 1844, on the northwest corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street, by P. W. Earle, and is now occupied by him. The Union House, on the northwest corner of Adams and Market streets, was the first hotel. It was destroyed by fire early in 1865. The first school house was erected in 1847, and the first school taught by Nelson Felch. This structure is now occupied as a dwelling on the north side of Eagle street between Jefferson and Madison. The first white child born was the daughter of John Vardy, now removed to Texas. The first church erected is that commonly known as the 'Muddy,' and is still used as a house of worship. It is a small 'grout' building at the southeast corner of Eagle and Adams streets. The first death was that of a young man by the name of William Brookey, some time in 1843. The first frame building was built by John Vardy.
"The lodge of Free Masons was established in 1850, and James Keeler, an Episcopal minister, was the first W. M. The lodge took the name of Cedar Rapids Lodge No. 25. Its name was changed in 1864 to the more euphonious and Masonic name of Crescent.
"The first newspaper was established by D. O. Finch, in 1854. Three volumes only were issued. D. O. Finch, James J. Child, and James L. Enos, were successively its editors. The Era was purchased in 1854 by James L. Enos, and the name changed to the Cedar Valley Times, by which name it still flourishes. C. M. Hollis, Esq., is the present editor. The second paper was the Cedar Valley Farmer, J. L. Enos, editor. The Cedar Rapids Democrat was the third paper established, by W. W. Perkins & Co., in 1856. The Voice of Iowa was commenced in January, 1857, by the Iowa State Teachers' Association, and J. L. Enos elected editor. This journal reached a large circulation, and did much to give form to the school system of the state. The present public school edifice was erected in 1856-7-8, at a cost of some $15,000. It has six departments, and employs seven or eight teachers.
"Cedar Rapids was incorporated as a city in 1856, and Isaac Newton Whittam, Esq., was chosen the first mayor. A free bridge was constructed across the Cedar in 1855-6, but was soon carried away by the ice. As it fell, a large number were standing on the banks watching the ice as it rapidly tore the stone piers from their positions. Two sisters, daughters of Mr. Black, passed by the guard, which was stationed at the end of the bridge to keep the people from passing on, and had reached about the middle, when the frail fabric went down. Both young ladies were drowned, and the body of one was never recovered. A toll bridge was erected the following year, and though a slender structure, has thus far withstood the action of the ice, though occasionally broken down by cattle passing over it.
"KINGSTON CITY
"Is a place of about 350 inhabitants, situated on the west side of the Cedar river, opposite the city of Cedar Rapids. It is connected with this city by a wooden bridge, and is about one-quarter of a mile from the Cedar Rapids depot of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. In the year 1838 Robert Ellis and O. Bowling settled on land in the vicinity, and in the year following Messrs. Isaac, John, and Joseph Lichtebarger settled where Kingston now stands. During the summer following David W. King and Thomas Gainor arrived here. The first child born was Mary Jane, daughter of T. and R. Gainor, on the 15th of May, 1840. Rosannah Gainor died on the 8th of June, 1840. This was the first death in the place. There is in the place one paper mill, one saw mill, two blacksmith shops, two groceries, and one dry goods store. There are three religious societies, Methodist Episcopal, Congregationalist, and United Presbyterian. There is also a commodious building for school purposes, and three libraries. This region of country is especially adapted to growing grain. Large quantities are annually shipped to Chicago from this place. The immense water-power will at no distant day make this a large manufacturing town."
The following as to early things in Cedar Rapids is taken from a copy of the Cedar Valley Times, J. L. Enos, editor, in 1865:
"On the 4th day of July, 1841, N. B. Brown began construction of a dam for utilization of the power. Carson, Gray and Roach soon sold their interests to Messrs. Brown and Greene, who became the sole proprietors of the water-power, and constructed the first saw mill in 1842-3. This mill is yet standing in the rear of Brown's flouring mill, which was also the first grist mill, and erected in 1843, and extensively enlarged by the present owner in 1854-5.
"The first blacksmith in the place was Harrison Campbell, who opened a shop in Shepherd's old cabin in 1843. Isaac Cook, Esq., was the first lawyer, John L. Shearer the first justice, and James Lewis the first constable. The name of the first physician seems to be lost from the memory of the 'early day,' though many of his peculiar traits of character are remembered. Like some others in the profession he was disposed to blow his own trumpet, and the stories he told to the uninitiated ones were marvelous in the extreme. Once when he had returned from Muscatine he claimed to have lost forty pounds of quinine in one of the streams which put into the Cedar below the city--the water being unusually high. His credit was evidently then better than afterward, as was also his physical courage. Constable Lewis, at one time called upon him with an execution to secure a judgment, when the doctor becoming wrathy, threw off his coat for a fight. The constable being more intent on collecting the claim than emulous for notoriety as a pugilist, seized the coat and made away with it--finding a sufficient amount of money to pay the debt. Dr. S. M. Brice remained here for a few months and then removed to Center Point. Dr. E. L. Mansfield was the first physician who made a permanent location in this city, and still enjoys a large and lucrative practice. He came here in 1847 and has ever since been engaged in the noble endeavor--to heal the thousand natural ills that flesh is heir to.
"The first brick building was erected in 1844, by P. W. Earle, Esq., on the west corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. This building is still occupied by Mr. Earle, and shows but little the marks of age. A three-story brick store was erected the same year on the south corner of Iowa avenue and Commercial street. This building has since been removed to make room for the block of stores extending from Iowa avenue down the west side of Commercial street toward Eagle street. Greene's hotel, a fine-appearing brick hotel four stories high, also occupied a portion of this ground. It was erected in 1853-4 by George Greene, and was kept by various persons as a first-class hotel until it was taken down to make room for a new brick block, which was erected in 1862.
"The first store proper was opened in the building now standing on the north corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street, by Joseph Greene. As early as 1842 Mr. Greene had a store in one part of a log building located on the north corner of Commercial and Sugar streets, the other end of the same building being occupied as a boarding house or hotel.
"The first building erected for a hotel was built by William Dwyer in 1847, James Gunning being the first landlord. The building was destroyed by fire in January, 1865. It was known as the Union House and was located on the west corner of Market and Adams streets.
"The Adventists held meetings here as early as 1842-3; a Mr. Baker being the minister. The Protestant and Episcopal Methodists also had organizations at an early day. The Presbyterians organized soon after and erected the first church edifice, known as the 'Big Muddy,' taking its name from the material of which it was composed. It is a grout building, occupying the east corner of Eagle street and Adams street. The Universalists had an organization here quite early and were 'ministered unto' by Rev. Mr. Westfall. In either 1843 or '44 a somewhat noted discussion was held between Mr. Westfall, the Universalist, and Mr. Roberts, Old School Presbyterian, at which Joseph Greene acted as umpire. The discussion continued for four days and nights. The meetings were largely attended and the combatants were sharp and excited. The conflict ended as such discussions usually do--in the victory of both--and this was regarded by nearly all as a drawn game.
"The first school was kept by Miss Emily Coffman. The first school building was erected in 1846-7, by a company consisting of N. B. Brown, George Greene, Alex. Ely, and others, who sold it to the district, and had the satisfaction of being taxed to pay themselves for it. This building was on the north side of Eagle street between Jefferson and Madison. It is still standing and is occupied as a dwelling house. Nelson Felch was among the first teachers, also a Mr. Freeman, who has since been receiving instruction in a state institution located at Fort Madison.
"The second saw mill was erected by Alex Ely in 1844 and the second flouring mill in 1844-5. Mr. Ely died shortly after the completion of this mill. In 1848 N. B. Brown built the first woolen factory. The first steam engine was put up here in 1855 by A. Hager, in his sash, door and blind manufactory. He had an extensive amount of machinery connected with it and employed a number of workmen.
"The second store was established by Mr. Cleveland, and the third by C. K. Mulford. Mulford's store was afterward occupied as a dwelling, on the east corner of Commercial and Linn streets, and was destroyed by fire in 1850. That was the first fire in Cedar Rapids, and none occurred after it until the autumn of 1855, when most of the block on the west side of Commercial street, between Iowa avenue and Linn street, was destroyed. No precautions have been taken to prevent the spread of the destroying element, and were a fire to occur tomorrow no more means would be found of subduing it than existed twenty years ago. It would seem that a wise people would not thus neglect what may at any moment be of such vast importance. But so it is, and so it is likely to remain until a fire shall occur that will lay in ruins a large portion of our city and destroy thousands of dollars worth of property. Personal insurance can best cover a part of this loss and perhaps not one-half are provided with this protection."