CHAPTER XLV
_Odds and Ends of History and Reminiscence_
In this chapter we give some odds and ends of history and reminiscence that could not well be inserted elsewhere or that came into our possession after the foregoing chapters were written:
The result of the vote in Linn county in 1860 showed 2,227 for Lincoln electors, 1,220 for Douglas, 24 for Breckinridge, and 84 for Bell. In Rapids township Lincoln had 397, Douglas 201, Breckinridge 3, and Bell 26.
The first telegraph line reached Cedar Rapids February 24, 1860.
On the evening of Sunday, June 3, 1860, a destructive storm occurred, since known as "The Great Tornado." It was most destructive about five miles north of Cedar Rapids, and passed southward, leaving the county in the vicinity of Western. Some lives were lost and many buildings destroyed.
THE TOWN OF WESTERN
Western was laid out in March, 1856, under the auspices of the United Brethren church, with the design of forming proper surroundings for the college. Ground was first broken in June of that year. By August, 1857, there were forty-three dwelling houses and three hundred inhabitants. One college building had been completed. This was of brick, three stories in height, 36 by 62 feet. This was placed upon a campus of seventeen acres. Rev. S. Weaver was first president of this institution. The plan was to operate a large farm in connection with the college, that students might earn their way. In this new town there were already two stores, one hotel built and one building, a blacksmith shop, two physicians, and fourteen busy carpenters. Land in the vicinity was worth from $10 to $20 per acre. Its quality was proven when the college president, on his own farm, raised 1,800 bushels of wheat. There was a railroad coming there, of course, as there was one prospected to nearly every cross-roads in the state. This particular line was the Iowa Union, to run from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City.
Western was above all things a moral town. One Daniel Quin having opened a grog shop near the place, where the college authorities could not interfere, the people took up the matter. Sentiment was aroused and a mass meeting was held. At this meeting resolutions were adopted, which provided that a committee should wait upon the dram seller and urge him to desist. In case of his refusal the committee was to try legal methods for his suppression. If these proved ineffective the meeting was to be again called, to devise further measures. A very significant addendum was that the meeting would support the committee in any plan which might be considered necessary to eradicate the obnoxious business. It was further resolved to use the boycott--though the Irish captain had not yet given his name to the scheme. In other words they were not to employ or trade with any man engaged in the liquor business or who might in any way support the traffic. It is perhaps needless to say that Quin surrendered at discretion without forcing the committee and the people to extremities hinted at.
MT. VERNON
Mt. Vernon makes showing in several directions during 1857. The Congregationalists of that town being without a place of worship were enabled to rent from the Covenanters. But by the terms of the lease with that strict body promise was made that no minister of pro-slavery sentiments should be heard within the building, nor upon any occasion was a musical instrument of any description to be used therein. The institution at Mt. Vernon which had before this time been known as "Iowa Conference Seminary," was in August, 1857, changed in name to Cornell College. And Mt. Vernon, like the other college town of Western, was careful for civic peace and righteousness. Christianity in that time and in a new country was required sometimes to be of a stalwart and muscular kind, that it might meet evil tendencies sharply and effectively. Thus we learn of the discomfitures of a gang of rowdies from Linn Grove, who invaded the peace of Mt. Vernon and disturbed its Sabbath quietude, with intent to break up a religious meeting then in progress. These were overcome, after a tussle, by the worshippers, and held until passing of midnight brought a civic day. Then the justice was roused, the disturbers formally accused, tried and fined to the utmost extent of their resources. The affair was over before one o'clock Monday morning, the rowdies started home with empty pockets, sadder and wiser men, and the godly inhabitants of Mt. Vernon again slept the sleep of the just.
FIRST AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION
The Linn County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized in 1855, its first meeting being held at Cedar Rapids in May of that year. The organization was completed in July. The object, as stated, was "the encouragement of agriculture, manufactures and the mechanic arts." To accomplish this laudable purpose an annual county fair was to be held. The first of these was at Cedar Rapids in September, 1855, and the second at Marion the next year. These are reported as very creditable in exhibits, and fairly well attended. In 1857 the association was incorporated, and in consequence drew $200 from the state treasury. The third fair was again at Cedar Rapids, and the management took the public into its confidence in advance by revealing its slender resources. The premiums for '56 were not paid, but those of the next year were very promptly met, and a surplus remained over for the future. These annual fairs were recognized as something to be aided by all parties, and the various toll bridges notified intending exhibitors that all live stock taken to the fair would be passed free.
The statement of the association for 1860 shows total income of $462.00, of which amount $259.00 represented the gate receipts. The expenditures were $414.95, including $146.98 for premiums. The indebtedness of the society had increased to $618.65. The amount received from the state each year was $200.00. Officers elected for 1861 were: President, Charles Taylor, Cedar Rapids; vice presidents, Andrew Safely and W. S. Gott, Marion; secretary, S. D. McCauley, Cedar Rapids; treasurer, Lysander Jones, Marion.
FIRST TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Another organization, though having nominal existence before this time, was really made effective in 1857. This was the Linn County Teachers' Association.
On October 31, on call of J. L. Enos, the teachers and others interested met in Cedar Rapids. Mr. Enos was then editor of the _Voice of Iowa_, the educational organ of the state. At this meeting a reorganization of the association was effected, and officers elected as follows: President, Rev. S. Weaver, president of Western college; vice presidents, Prof. S. M. Fellows of Mt. Vernon, E. A. Cooley of Marion, Ira G. Fairbanks of Cedar Rapids; secretary, Prof. N. W. Bartlett, Western; treasurer, Hon. E. N. Bates of Cedar Rapids. The executive committee consisted of M. Bowman, Franklin township; S. M. Bruce, Washington; William Parmenter, Western; J. L. Enos, Cedar Rapids; and A. Witter, Franklin. The work of preparing a constitution was committed to J. L. Enos, E. A. Cooley, and Ira G. Fairbanks. A further meeting of the association was held at Western, December 12th, at which time the constitution was adopted and the organization started on a very useful existence.
[Illustration: STREET VIEWS IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IN 1910]
FIRST TEACHER'S CERTIFICATE IN CEDAR RAPIDS
The first teacher's certificate issued in Rapids township reads as follows:
"This certifies that I have this day examined Miss Susan A. Abbe, touching her ability to teach, both in regard to her education and to her moral character, and I find her well qualified for a teacher of common schools.
"This certificate shall be valid for one year.
"Rapids township, Linn county, Iowa, July 16, 1847.
"Alexander L. Ely, "Inspector of Common Schools for said Township."
Alexander L. Ely was one of the early settlers of Cedar Rapids, was interested in the public matters of the new town, and early engaged in politics. He was also largely interested in real estate, and operated one of the first mills on the Cedar river at the dam, which he caused to be built with N. B. Brown and other leading citizens.
Susan A. Abbe, the person to whom this certificate was issued, is still living in Hollister, California, and is known as Mrs. Susan Shields. She was seventeen years when the certificate was issued, and had then been a resident of the county ten years. She taught for a number of years in the public schools of this county.
Mrs. Shields maintains that she was the first legally qualified person to teach in the public schools of Cedar Rapids, according to the laws then in force in the state.
The evidence seems to confirm her contention.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE
A teachers' institute, first of which record is made and notable in point of attendance, was held in Cedar Rapids December 26, 1859, and continued for three days. There was constant drilling for the pedagogues in common school branches. Some sixty teachers were present.
Linn county teachers held their institute for 1860 at Western October 29-30, with Prof. F. Humphrey of Cedar Rapids, president. Some of the subjects discussed may serve to illustrate differences in the times. Question of teachers (presumably male) using tobacco came up, and a resolution was adopted expressing "disapproval of the use of tobacco by teachers, and recommend to those of Linn county to abstain therefrom entirely." Dr. J. Maynard of Tipton made an address on the subject of "Children's Rights." Prof. Wheeler of Cornell orated on "Demosthenes." Editor Jerome of the Iowa City _Republican_ urged teachers to use the press as an ally in the cause of education.
* * * * *
Mrs. Ruth A. Dale, of Cedar Rapids, sister of Elias Doty, now living near Bertram, where the family settled in the early days--1839--has distinct recollections of pioneer life in the county. She states that Aretas Crane and Daniel C. Doty, brothers of Elias and James M. Doty, the pioneers, settled at Ft. Stevens, now Davenport, in 1836 or 1837--1836 she believes is the correct date. Daniel Doty and his son, J. M. Doty, and his son-in-law, Aretas Crane, passed over the ground on which Cedar Rapids now stands in 1837. This being the fact, it is evident that these people were the first white men to look upon the present site of the city, with a view to finding a permanent settlement for themselves. They, however, after looking over the ground concluded that the site afterwards known as Westport, and somewhat later as Newark, was the preferable location. They returned to their home at Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, and arranged their affairs. James M. Doty and Elias Doty, sons of Daniel Doty, returned to the county in 1839 and took up a claim at Westport. There they started what was, without question, the first manufacturing plant within the limits of the county, and possibly in the state. This was a pottery. The date of its establishment was probably in 1840. Later the same year Elias Doty began the erection of the first saw-mill in the county.
The Dotys were induced to come to Iowa through the fact that their brother, Daniel C. Doty, was at the time engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi, his headquarters being at Davenport.
In this connection the following extracts from a letter written by Elias and J. M. Doty to their parents and dated May 2, 1841, are of interest:
"I have my mill frame up, that is, the lower frame. The upper frame is almost ready to raise. The millwright work can be done in about six weeks from the time we raise the frame. I have commenced the race. I have three hundred feet in length of a race and two hundred feet dam. As soon as I get water to it, it will be ready to run.
"There are hard times enough here for anybody. There is nothing that will bring cash that I know of. For my part I am hard run to live. I would like to have some money. It has not come yet.
"I cannot say that we are all well, but we are able to keep about. We had a great deal of sickness last fall. I cannot say that I like this country, it is too cold for me, the ground freezes from two to four feet deep. The frost is hardly out yet. The trees look like winter time. I think I will leave this place as soon as I can get my business settled, and money enough to carry me away. I have between two and three hundred dollars coming but can't get enough to buy myself a shirt. I bought corn last fall at three cents per bushel. I have three claims and want to sell them.
"Last night was a pretty moonlight night. Parmelia kicked up a fuss and after all night's watching about six o'clock this morning after a bright sunrise she was delivered of a prosperous looking son, weight nine pounds, seven ounces."
VOTE OF LINN COUNTY 1910
The vote of the county in November, 1910, for governor was as follows:
Twp. Rep. Dem.
Bertram 33 75 Brown 209 102 Boulder 76 90 Buffalo 40 27 Cedar 133 127 Clinton 52 64 College 49 95 Fairfax 60 111 Fayette 94 35 Franklin 385 182 Grant 124 95 Jackson 166 51 Linn 57 57 Maine 225 79 Marion 519 391 Monroe 99 66 Otter Creek 67 63 Putnam 43 96 Rapids 1761 2443 Spring Grove 83 22 Washington 145 168 ---- ---- 4420 4439
In addition to the above there were 382 votes cast for other candidates.
SOME MUNICIPAL FIGURES FOR CEDAR RAPIDS
The net taxable value of property in Cedar Rapids for the year 1910, on the one-fourth valuation, is $6,579,183. In addition the city has a mulct tax revenue and an income from licenses, police court fines, etc., of about $60,000 per year, giving a little more than $300,000 available for city purposes.
The real estate valuation for 1910 is $21,280,294, and the personal property is valued at $5,026,438. The valuation twelve years ago was one-half of the above amount. It has increased at the rate of one million dollars per year since 1898. This increase is largely due to improvements and new buildings. Land values have doubled in the past twelve years. For 1911 the valuation will go above these values as the city has increased in value so fast that it will be necessary for the assessors to raise the valuation on all property for 1911 at least three million dollars, which will bring the total valuation to nearly thirty millions by 1912.
EARLY DAYS IN LINN
IN CEDAR RAPIDS REPUBLICAN JUNE 20, 1910
Being in a somewhat reflective mood today I shall attempt to acquaint you of a few incidents in a life as memory unfolds them to me. It will be necessary before narrating these incidents to introduce to you my friend and acquaintance, Colonel McIntyre of Indian Creek bottom, familiarly known as "Pinkey" by his class mates at West Point. The colonel measured six feet two, symmetrically proportioned, tipping the scale at a trifle over two hundred pounds, eyes of steel grey, beard auburn, bordering slightly on the reddish and a military bearing in keeping with his long years of service as a disciplinarian. The incidents of this life take me back some years to that little cabin, that stood on the east side of the road running north and south past Indian creek bottom, built from roughly finished logs hewn from the trunks of trees cut from the nearby forest. Time does not seem to efface from memory recollections with the boys and girls of the sparsely settled neighborhood, attending spelling schools and such like. The unfolding of memory reveals to me versions of the old place and the childhood days spent beneath the clapboard roof as vividly as though it were but yesterday.
A little farther on up the road from this cabin, perhaps a half mile, there is a fork in the road, one fork leading on to what was then known as Turkey Grove and now to feather ridge, the other on to the Inn dwellers cave on the "Pinican" bluffs. On the flat iron point where the road forks was erected the first school house in that vicinity and is still standing as a monument to the men who were not afraid to do what they knew to be right regardless of the whims and petty clamorings of dissatisfaction that continually sway committees from the paths of rectitude and right. From this nucleus of education there go forth its quota of youth each year to enter higher institutions of learning or grapple with the more serious problems of life. The impressions I received while attending this school by the pleasant grove have not been eradicated by the conquering of new worlds or by the glamour of political conquests. Youthful dreams and the bewitching smile of some fair maid were a source of great pleasure to me; a smile from Miss Rose LaBelle during school time would set my heart going at a two minute clip and detract materially from my studies and the routine of school work.
From this miniature "college" have gone forth men and women who are now wielding an influence almost nation wide in its scope. Some are gradually wandering from the truths that were enunciated and make a cardinal principle of its teaching and are now searching in hidden paths of sociology for new light. I now recall an event that happened while attending this school that conveys to my mind another fact tending to establish the truth of the proposition, that "ingratitude" is no dream.
One bright morning in early spring when all nature seemed aglow with freshness and beauty, myself and a number of girls were the first to arrive at school, the teacher, Miss Theresa McCurty, being a little later than usual. On entering the school house we were held spellbound and speechless for a moment by a strange musical yet weird sound which seemed to come from the rear of the room. It took considerable effort to muster up courage to make an investigation, but finally a search was started and on approaching the rear end of the room the same musical weird sound would be at the other end of the room. Now in order to discover what it was that was making this strange weird noise and put the intruder to rout and discover if possible what kind of a looking monster he was, it was decided that two of us would go around to the rear and the rest remain in front and keep a sharp lookout for whatever it might be, when all at once one of the girls let out an unearthly scream and pointing at some object in the corner of the room shouted, "There it goes." We all gave chase, although some of the girls were rather timid on the start, and succeeded in capturing the intruder alive. It turned out to be a large white wood-mouse. What to do with this new and unruly possession was the important question now up for solution. Some were in for dispatching it at once, others said let's turn it loose, but Miss Orrie, who always had an eye for business when there was any fun in sight, suggested putting it in the teacher's desk and the result was that Miss Orrie had her way and we proceeded with all haste to carry out her plan, the girls holding up the lid of the old fashioned teacher's desk while I dropped the musical wonder in. This done, we went about our play as though nothing was ever expected to happen, impatiently waiting for something to happen, but not quite sure what. We didn't have long to wait.
Now the teacher, Miss Theresa McCurty, was of the type of spinsters who are apparently self-willed and thoroughly versed in the art of throwing round them an atmosphere of ability to convince others of their dependence only on themselves in case of emergency to take care of themselves.
We had barely completed the capture and imprisonment in the teacher's desk of the musical wonder, when Miss McCurty arrived, ready for her day's work of training the youthful intellect. It seemed as if this morning in particular she was more precise than ever and went about her work very deliberately.
It was her custom (a custom that the "Blasting at the Rock of Ages" ought not to minimize) to read a chapter from some book of the bible every morning to the scholars before commencing the further duties of the day, and that chapter which speaks about bearing false witness was the one chosen for this morning, a very fitting prelude too, to the further developments of the day. We were more prompt than usual in taking our seats after school was called this morning with an evident desire to impress the teacher as being very attentive to our studies, but at the same time keeping one eye in the teacher's direction, so as not to miss any of the movements of the teacher in case the anticipated fun was thrust upon us. Lowell Taylor, the boy who couldn't keep still if he had to, was bubbling over with mirth (every school has them) and was severely reproved for not keeping quiet and for disturbing the whole school by his antics. After delivering to Lowell this short lecture on disobedience she went to her desk to get her bible and as she lifted the lid out jumped the prisoner and such a screech as she let out seemed to almost freeze the marrow in your bones and sent the cold chills chasing up and down your spinal column as with one bound she made the first row of seats and in a jiffy was clean to the farther end of the room, perched upon the rear desk with her skirts tucked snugly around her shaking limbs and terror pictured in every line of her face.
In this position she remained impervious to all efforts to induce her to come off her high perch, until a second chase had been made and the intruder ejected from the room.
By recess time she had again settled back in the old well beaten path and assumed her usual calm and dignified way, her reason, which had been so suddenly dethroned by the advent of the harmless mouse, was again gaining mastery of the situation. With the return of reason came the tangled threads of suspicion, that perhaps she had been the victim of a designing bunch of scholars and that a huge joke had been perpetrated on her. With this object in view she began a systematic search for evidence and among the girls she struck a responsive chord. They were ready to convict any one in order to exculpate themselves. They gave the whole plot away and every last one of them persisted in their innocence so eloquently that the teacher was fully convinced of my guilt. She therefore proceeded to relieve her pent up feelings by putting into action several of her "suffragette" ideas about personal liberty. She restrained me of mine for the next two weeks during the noon hour.
EARLY DOCTORS IN THE COUNTY
The following extracts from a paper read in December, 1910, before the Iowa Union Medical Society at its meeting in Cedar Rapids, by Dr. H. W. Sigworth, of Anamosa, himself a pioneer physician in Linn county, is of interest:
I left northeastern Linn county thirty-four years ago.
In 1856 I commenced the study of medicine in Pennsylvania. After that I was a tramp schoolmaster, farmer, student at Wisconsin university, and U. S. soldier. I graduated from Rush in '63. After looking for a location in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, I located at Waubeek--think of it--in Waubeek, in Maine township, in 1863.
I had tried it a month at Fairview, in Jones county, before going to Waubeek. By the way, old Dr. Ristine made his first start in Iowa in the same historic town of Fairview before locating in Marion.
Northeastern Linn county at that time was very much on the frontier. There were no bridges on the Wapsie from Quasqueton to Anamosa, but at Central City; now there are five. At Waubeek we had a postoffice but no regular mail carrier. Any one going to Marion took the mail sack and brought back the mail.
Our first mail route was on Friday morning. It left Quasqueton horseback, making Paris, Central City (which was formerly called Clark's Ford), Waubeek, Necot (Perkins), Anamosa. Saturday it would return over the same route.
The earliest doctor of whom I can get any word of locating in this territory was Doctor Ashby at Paris. When I came in 1863, Doctor Patterson was at Central City. Dr. Lanning was at Paris. He sat next to me at Rush in 1861 and 1862. Dr. Stacy lived out the Anamosa and Quasqueton road at Valley farm. I never met him. He sent me my first case of fractured thigh in June of 1863; a boy, eight years old, who lived in a sod house with a board roof, two miles north of McQueen's (now Hill's Mill), now owned by Coquillette. The splints were made with an axe and pocket knife out of an old cradle found on the roof of the house. Extension on the ankle was by the top of an old shoe with strings through the foot-piece of the Liston splint. Results all right.
At Paris, after Lanning came Drs. Byam, Mrs. Dr. Byam, and my brother, M. P. Sigworth, Fullerton, McTavish, and Ellis, all of whom I knew, and not one of them alive now.
Where the thriving village of Prairieburg now is was a cross road, the northeast corner lying out to commons for years.
The first doctor to locate there was Dr. Young. He drove a little sorrel horse in a light rig with one wheel dished, which made a crooked track, and his disposition was something like the track of his buggy. Following him at this place was Dr. Ellis, who went to that place from Paris.
At Central City after Dr. Patterson came Mitchell, a state of Maine Yankee. At an early date a majority of the people here abouts were from the state of Maine, henceforth the name of Maine township. The Jordans, Friesons, Clarks, Waterhouses, were early settlers from the state of Maine.
Dr. Mitchell was a good doctor and a fine man. Poor fellow, he lost his life by having administered to him by a mistake a teaspoonful of poison when he was to have a tonic.
After his death at Central City the place was filled by Drs. Ristine, Fisher, McTavish, my son, Dwight Sigworth, and Percy, a scientific fellow. This field is now filled by Drs. Fisher and Woodbridge.
Waubeek was in the field of Dr. Love, he going northwest to Nugent's Grove at times. Dear old Dr. Love was a splendid man, a first-class diagnostician and a good physician and surgeon. If he lacked anything it was aggressiveness in surgery.
While at Waubeek I had for co-laborers Drs. Phipps, Scott, Bowers, and Grimm. Bowers tried to commit suicide by taking a teaspoonful of poison which made him very sick, but he ultimately recovered. Dr. Grimm was known as the Dutch doctor.
While I was at Waubeek when the river was high I had a stable on the north side of the river and I used to cross in a skiff to feed my horse and attend to calls on that side.
The north side of the river was all woods for three miles in those days, and my practice was largely on that side. I used to go into Delaware county, and I had a large slice of Jones county. And may I say it, there are some families in that county which have had no doctor but a Sigworth for forty-four years. After fourteen years I sold to Dr. Crawford and then in four years he sold to Dr. Woodbridge, who in ten years moved to Central City. At the present time Dr. Ward is in Waubeek.
The practice in those days was fraught with a great deal of difficulty and inconvenience. Swimming the river on horseback was one of the experiences which I did not like. Many times have I been wet while fording the streams with my feet on the dashboard of the buggy, my attention being taken in guiding my horse to an opening in the timber or a safe place to land.
Those were the days in which we drank brandy mixed with sorghum, which was browned in the oven. This served the place of coffee. Grape-nuts, I think, originated from this.
Of all of the forty-two doctors whom I have mentioned in this article I have met thirty-five, and at the present time there are six doctors on this field.
THE OLD MILL OF CENTRAL CITY
One of the land marks of the county is the old grist mill on the banks of the Wapsie at Central City. For a history of this mill, as well as for other interesting matter relative to the neighborhood, we are indebted to E. S. Wetherbee, editor of the Central City _News-Letter_, which paper in its issue of May 2, 1907, contained the following sketch and reminiscence:
There are in the history of every city or hamlet many incidents of early times which are interesting to the present day generation, and are often worth recording, otherwise they are apt to pass into entire oblivion. But few remain of the early settlers of this community to tell the story of those early days. Although not one of the first, yet being among the very oldest of those yet alive and living here is Mr. James Outing, and it is to him we credit the data of the contents of this article. [Mr. Outing died about a year after this interview.]
Among the very first people to settle here may be named Chandler Jordan, who still lives on his farm southeast of town, old "Uncle Joe" Clark, who came in 1839, and other families by the names of Heubner, Crawley, Pond, Tisdell, and others who might be named who appeared here about the same time. For a number of years the only way of getting across the river, and that only when the water was low, was by fording it somewhere near what is now known as the upper bridge. From this the place received its first name, and whatever honor was attached to it was given Mr. Clark by calling it Clark's Ford.
At that time Mr. Clark owned quite a large tract of land here, comprising all the land now inside the corporation west of Fourth street, the eighty acres lying east of Fourth street being owned by some land concern in Cascade. As did all his neighbors, Mr. Clark farmed in those days entirely with oxen.
The place went by the name of Clark's Ford but a few years, however, for Mr. Clark and a few others conceived the idea of laying out a town, and the Cascade men came over and together they laid off the plat, and it was then decided to call it Central City.
One of the first needs of the people of the little neighborhood was a more convenient way of crossing the Wapsie, and this meant that a bridge must be constructed. Accordingly one was built at the place where the north or upper bridge now crosses the river. It was not what in this day would be called an expensive structure or so very handsome when completed, but it represented much hard work, privations, and expense to those interested in the building of it. The county had but little to do with it, if any, the whole thing being done by popular subscription, and in those times, there not being many to subscribe, the task was indeed a big one for the little handful of people. There was some money raised, but more gave in work, others furnished lumber, a stick of timber, and so on, until finally it was completed and traffic over it was begun in 1857. This bridge did not stand the test long. In the summer of 1859 there came a big freshet and the bridge went down stream. With its going out occurred an incident, which, though possibly forgotten by others, yet still remains fresh in the memory of Chandler Jordan. He was on this side of the river and while the bridge swayed and was considered unsafe he concluded to risk it as he was anxious to get home. He was on horseback and over he started. When about half way across the bridge began breaking loose, and realizing his danger Mr. Jordan jumped off his horse and started on the run for the shore. The horse also made an extra effort to find solid footing and both succeeded in getting on the opposite bank just as the bridge swung out into midstream and started floating down the river. It was soon replaced by another wooden structure built by the county and costing about $4,000. This stood for many years but has long since passed away and been replaced by the steel bridge now spanning the river on the same site.
But we started out to write about the old mill. It still stands, and with the exception of the necessary repairs which from time to time have been made, contains the same timbers and lumber it did when built. In the early fifties there came to this neighborhood two men, one by the name of St. John, the other by the name of John Peet, both men of push and ambition. Realizing the tremendous power to be obtained from the waters of the Wapsie, and the ease with which a dam could be constructed where it now is, with the rocky banks on either side, and knowing the great demand for lumber, in the then fast settling community, they begun the construction of a dam with the intention of running a saw mill with it. The work on the dam was begun in 1855 by the two men mentioned, but was not finished until the next year, the work being engineered by old Mr. Bowdish, father of I. P. Bowdish. It was finished in 1856, as was also the old saw mill which stood for many years on the south bank of the river and did a flourishing business. Like many other old land marks it is gone. But many a stick of timber and lots of the old oak boards sawed there may yet be found in the older buildings about town.
The country all about here was fast settling up, and one of the principal crops was wheat. It was a long way to market, the nearest railroad station being at Marion. St. John and Peet concluded that a flouring mill would be a paying enterprise, and began the erection of the mill. The lumber was sawed at the sawmill, and the heavy timbers, of which there were many, mostly came from a forty on what now belongs to the Gus Hatch farm north of town.
Mentioning these timbers calls to the mind of Mr. Outing an incident which he threw into this narrative. There was a character who lived here by the name of Henry Hutchins. He was fond of hunting and fishing and would be gone often for a period of several days, no one knowing of his whereabouts. About this time he disappeared, and his absence became so protracted that his many friends began to fear that something had happened to him. It was while a party of choppers was hunting for timbers for the mill on the forty mentioned that one day they found Hutchins' lifeless body and beside it lay his gun with every indication that he had committed suicide.
When the timbers were all on the ground, hewed and framed, everybody for miles around was invited and came to help with the raising. It was a mammoth job and occupied the better part of a week. Mr. Outing was there from start to finish. The mill was completed and began operations in 1859. St. John and Peet ran it for only about three years when they sold it to E. R. Burns, who ran it until 1867, when it passed into the hands of Hatch & Co., they paying for it the sum of $16,000. They conducted it for five years when it again passed into the hands of Mr. Burns who owned and operated it until sometime in the latter eighties. Since then it has changed hands several times, but the valuation for many years has not been one-fourth of what it originally was. For a great many years it did a big business grinding thousands and thousands of bushels of wheat each season, the flour being hauled across the country to Marion by teams. As the raising of wheat played out so the value and popularity of the mill depreciated until finally, as now, it was used only as a grist mill. The building is now owned by parties in the east and is being run by T. J. Liddington who runs it and any day may be found there taking care of any demands made upon him. He works alone, surrounded by a vast amount of empty space that was once filled with piles of grain, machinery, and the several men required to look after the big business.[O]
LAND ASSESSMENTS
Statement showing total acreage, valuation and average equalized actual value per acre of land in Linn county for 1909 and 1910.
Township Acreage Valuation Average
Bertram 15,816 $ 705,880 $44.63 Brown 22,689 1,226,160 54.04 Boulder 22,275 1,149,447 51.60 Buffalo 14,985 568,850 37.96 Cedar 13,268 1,002,296 75.54 Clinton 20,689 1,256,772 60.74 College 22,361 1,350,511 60.39 Fairfax 22,852 1,451,070 63.50 Fayette 15,463 770,599 49.83 Franklin 20,621 1,222,768 57.92 Grant 22,267 1,030,492 46.27 Jackson 22,090 1,016,365 46.01 Linn 22,874 1,278,324 55.88 Maine 29,537 1,345,650 45.55 Marion 46,922 2,779,332 59.23 Monroe 22,025 1,044,440 47.42 Otter Creek 22,423 1,206,721 53.82 Putnam 17,467 786,950 45.05 Spring Grove 22,558 1,086,186 48.15 Washington 18,026 797,423 44.23 ------- ----------- ------ Totals 437,208 $23,076,236 $52.78
COMPARATIVE TABLE
Showing actual and taxable valuation of Linn county, 1899-1909.
Actual value Taxable value
1909 $67,148,140.00 $16,787,035.00 1908 64,391,760.00 16,097,940.00 1907 63,806,912.00 15,951,728.00 1906 59,215,180.00 14,803,795.00 1905 57,547,092.00 14,386,773.00 1904 59,404,000.00 14,851,000.00 1903 57,505,160.00 14,376,290.00 1902 51,864,092.00 12,941,023.00 1901 50,501,132.00 12,625,283.00 1900 48,876,016.00 12,219,004.00 1899 48,083,716.00 12,020,929.00
* * * * *
The history of the settlements in Linn county has been a history of struggle, of privation and of endurance. It was not an easy matter to have to go to Muscatine or Dubuque to mill and market; to travel by night on horseback some fifty miles for a doctor, and equally far to find a drug store. There were no roads passable for a greater part of the year; the rivers were not bridged, and the streams oftentimes were swollen so that the only means of crossing was by swimming or by making some temporary raft. The pioneer settler who wandered out over the prairie in a winter blizzard no doubt many times looked for the "smoke that so gracefully curls above the green elms" to indicate that a cabin was near.
The new settlers found Iowa as they had so often heard of it as "a wilderness of prairie land." It was well watered, and along the streams could be found enough timber to erect fences and furnish fuel and rails. They generally located in the edge of the timber and along the streams, and hesitated about locating on the prairie till much later. There they found richer land than along the timber. These first settlers came from the far east and south, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Virginia, South Carolina, and the New England states. They came from Maryland, from Kentucky, and Tennessee. Some walked, like Ellis and Crow. Still others came in canvas covered wagons, in which the family were housed. They brought enough utensils to cook their scanty meals. The wagon was drawn by horses or oxen, followed by a few cows, an extra horse or two, and several dogs. At night they would camp by the side of some stream or near an oak tree.
Not till the fifties and sixties did the foreigners arrive in any large numbers. As soon as they had been here a short time they wrote home their first impressions, and from that time a steady stream of foreign immigration poured into Iowa. These early pioneers waited long for railroads, for steamboats, and for good roads. Their produce was cheap and money was scarce, while interest was high. But they held on to their claims, ever looking for the brighter day. They possessed courage, hope, and the ability to wait and struggle till the times would change for the better. While many of the first settlers did not live to see their plans realized, later descendants sing their praises and embalm the memories of those who made the county, the cities, and the towns what they are today.
Truly it can be said of the settlers of Linn county that they were a sturdy class of men and women, of whom their descendants may be justly proud. And the old pioneers who remain--when they reflect on the past and recall the days of old lang syne--cannot refrain from shedding affectionate tears for those who have gone hence. They call to mind the lines of the poet:
"Two dreams came down to earth one night From the realms of mist and dew, One was a dream of the old, old days, And one was a dream of the new."
Pioneer days in Linn county were days of hardships, often of exposure, but their trials only served to develop the manhood and womanhood of the early settlers who never thought of returning, whose "only aim was to wait and see."
Certainly Kipling's lines apply to conditions as they existed in Linn county in pioneer days:
"To the far flung fenceless prairie Where the quick cloud shadows trail, To the barn in the neighbor's offing, To the land of the new cut rail, To the plough in the league long furrow, To the gray lake gulls behind, To the weight of half a year's winter, To the warm, wet western wind."
INDEX
Abbe, Augustus: letter from, 53
Abbe, William: mentioned, 10, 92, 102; government agent, 11; mentioned, 32, 33, 34, 35, 44; first settler in the county, 51; member state senate, 52; Ellis speaks of, 147
Abbe, Susan: probably first teacher in Cedar Rapids, 198, 481
Agassiz, Louis: quotation from, 1
Agricultural Association: first in county, 480
Albrook, Rev. J. B.: 209
Alderman, A. B.: gives information as to schools, 200
American Fur Company: 14
Atkins, John W.: superintendent of schools, 418
Attorneys: those now practising in the county, 188
Austin, Leonard: first settler in Spring Grove township, 289
Avery, E. H.: president Coe college, 227
Banks and banking: history of in the county, 435 ff
Bardwell, T. S.: early Marion physician, 87, 467
Barnes, William H.: Cornell professor, 204
Barry, Justin: writes history of Grant township and Walker, 279
Bassitt, James: comes to county, in 1839, 148
Bates, E. N.: tribute to, 112; lawyer, 178
Beales, Hiram: builds saw mill, 462
Belt, A. Sidney: lawyer, 179
Bench and Bar: chatty mention of, 177 ff
Bennett, Henry: early settler at Quasqueton, 101
Benton, Thomas H.: reference to, 19
Berry, James M.: county judge, 56
Berry, John C.: clerk of commissioners, 33
Bertram township: history of, 270
Bishop, Homer: postmaster at Cedar Rapids, 84
Blair building: 232
Blair, John I.: 232
Blair Town Lot and Land Company, 239
Black Hawk: mentioned, 9, 12
Black Hawk Purchase: mentioned, 14
Black Hawk War: 14, 31
Boggs, Governor: of Missouri, 15
Bohemian Element in Cedar Rapids: 121 ff
Bottorf, Andrew: lays out Center Point, 290
Bowling, O. S.: came to Cedar Rapids in 1838, 152
Bowman, George B.: founder of Cornell college, 201
Bowman, H. G.: brilliant lawyer, 186
Boulder township: history of, 278
Boye, Nels C.: first Scandinavian settler, 159
Brice, S. M.: postmaster at Center Point, 82
Bridges: the Cedar Rapids, 420
Brodie Gang: 38
Broeksmit, John C.: treasurer Coe college, 226
Bromwell, James E.: writes history of Marion, 460
Bromwell, James E., Sr.: early settler, 46, 257; makes first coffin in county, 466
Brown, Alpheus: school fund commissioner, 196
Brown, N. B.: mentioned, 11; lays out town site of Cedar Rapids, 43; buys portion of town, 49; a progressive citizen, 150
Brown, N. E.: speaks of railroad to Cedar Rapids, 64
Bryan, B. S.: 267
Bryan, Hugh L.: 267
Bryan, Michael: 267
Buffalo township: history of, 279
Burke, Thomas: 163
Burkhalter, E. R.: writes history of Coe college, 215 ff
Burlington: first capital of Iowa, 14
Burrell, H. A.: quotation from, 103
Butler, Isaac: first postmaster in Brown township, 84
Calhoun, Senator: quoted, 18
Calvin, Samuel: quoted, 1
Camburn, Dr. J. H.: an able justice, 189
Carroll, G. R.: his _Pioneer Life_ quoted, 92, 93, 215
Carroll, Isaac: came to Cedar Rapids in 1839, 152
Carpenter, Gabriel: buys much land in Cedar Rapids, 160
Carpenter, S. D.: early physician, 88; quoted, 154; writes of early banking, 435
Carondalet: Spanish Governor at New Orleans, 13
Catholicism in Linn county: 401
Cavanaugh, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew: first graduates Cornell college, 210
Cedar Rapids: townsite surveyed, 43; figured in county seat fight, 57; the postoffice in, 84; early schools in, 198 ff; beginnings in, 207; Robert Ellis reaches, 307; N. B. Brown here in 1839, 308; surveyed in 1841, 308; the Listebargers build log house in, 310; Rev. Carroll's reminiscences of, 310; railroad reaches, 312; ferries established in, 313; first brick building in, 314; first store, 314; first newspaper, 314; first mayor, 314; first school, 316; Dr. Carpenter's reminiscences of, 317 ff; early hotels in, 328; business of the city in 1856, 328; sketch of the city from an early directory, 332; sketch of Mrs. N. B. Brown, 333; Cedar Rapids today, 335; the railways of, 337; manufacturing in, 339; the street railways of, 341; Commercial club, 345; who paid the taxes in, fifty years ago, 347; text of incorporation act, 353; first city officials of, 356; second election in, 356; first tax levy in, 357; election of 1851 in, 357; first sidewalk ordinance, 357; election of 1853 in, 358; the cemeteries of, 358; election of 1854 in, 358; election of 1855 and 1856 in, 359; officials of the city from 1857 to 1910, 359; the city fifty years ago, 365; how the first railroad came to, 370; some of the early brick houses in, 374; some strenuous days in, 376; Mrs. Rock's reminiscences of, 379; when land was cheap in, 382; first decoration day celebration in, 384; first labor union organized in, 390; story of a mountain howitzer, 391; a fortunate tumble, 392; interesting bit of ancient history, 393; churches and fraternities in, 395; history of Catholic churches in, 402; bridges, 420; some municipal figures, 482
Cedar Rapids Clearing House Association: 442
Cedar Rapids & Marion City Railway Company: 344
Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad: 233
Cedar River: early steamboating on, 423
Central City: 284; old mill at, 486
Center Point: 290
Cemeteries: some of the old, 242
Child. J. J.: lawyer, 172, 182
Clark, Joseph: arrives at Central City in 1839, 148
Clay, Senator: quoted, 18
Clinton township: history of, 278
Coe, Daniel: founder of Coe college, 217
Coe college: history of, 215 ff
Colby, Farnum: early settler, 153
College township: history of, 287
Columbus (now Cedar Rapids): 43, 48
Commercial Club: of Cedar Rapids, 345
Company C, Cedar Rapids: brief account of, 477
Condit, R. A.: principal Coe Collegiate Institute, 223
Conkey, John P.: first member of legislature from Cedar Rapids, 158
Conklin, C. H.: judge, 173
Conway, William B.: territorial secretary, 14
Cook, Isaac: nominated for secretary of state, 158; mentioned, 170; lawyer of ability, 177
Cooke, Harriette J.: dean of women at Cornell, 204
Corbett, Thomas: 176
Cornell college: historical sketch of, 201 ff
Cousins, Robert G.: quoted, 20 ff; elected to congress, 305
Craig, John: 162
Crane, Joseph: early settler at Bertram, 159
Crocker, L. D.: 234
Crow, Edward M.: 45, 48; came to county, 56; mentioned, 92, 161
Crow, John: one of first permanent settlers, 48, 161
Dale, Mrs. Ruth A.: interview with, 481
Daniels, Addison: has first store in Marion, 461
Daniels, John J.: quotation from, 55, 270; early teacher, 148
Daniels, L.: postmaster at Marion, 82; at Cedar Rapids, 84
Daniels, Samuel: early settler, 462
Davenport: 44
Davenport, J. G.: postmaster at Cedar Rapids, 84, 108
David, John: 176
Davis, William: early settler in Grant township, 280
Dawson, James: 45
Deacon, Charles J.: quoted, 220
Deem, Hiram: early settler, 153
Democratic party: organization of in county, 260
Devendorf, Thomas: article on taxes in Cedar Rapids by, 347; article on first railroad to Cedar Rapids by, 370
Dinwiddie, J. M.: treasurer Coe college, 226
Dodge, A. C.: mentioned, 31; senator, 82
Dodge, Henry: mentioned, 31, 82
Donnan, Helen R.: writes of Masonic Library, 248
Doty, Elias: helps on court house, 34
Doty, Elias: a constant litigant, 188
Doty, James: helps erect court house, 34, 35
Doty, James M.: plats Newark, 143; first pottery maker in Iowa, 146
Doty, Susan: kind to the Indians, 11
Downing, Thomas: early settler, 152
Dows, S. L.: 263
Dows, W. G.: his military record, 477, 478
Dubuque, city: mentioned, 13, 20, 44
Dubuque, Julian: obtains grant of land, 13
Dudley, J. W.: 172
Durham, S. W.: letter to from Col. Merritt, 58; as to postoffices, 82; letter by, 143; address by, 164 ff; honored pioneer, 464
Eastman, A. V.: secretary Coe College, 225
Edgerton, Asher: gets contract for Court House, 34, 35
Ellis, Robert: knew the Indians, 10; agent for the government, 11; walked to Iowa, 45; meets Bill Johnson, 101; oldest living settler in county, 146
Elkhorn Land & Town Lot Company: 240
Ely, Alex. L.: 47, 50
Ely, John F.: early physician, 88; mentioned, 233
Endicott, W. I.: quoted, 335
Engle, Peter H.: letter written by, 19; referred to, 31
Enos, J. L.: newspaper articles by quoted, 84, 86
Evans, George A.: captain Company C, 477
Ewing, Senator: quoted, 18
Fairbanks, Ira G.: superintendent of schools, 196
Fairfax: Catholic church at, 407
Fairfax township: history of, 271
Fellows, Rev. S. N: 202 _note_
Ferguson, Henry V.: 233
Ferguson. Jason D.: killed in Civil War, 474
Fifth Iowa Battery: 478
Fifty-third regiment: 477
Fisher, A. W.: writes history of Spring Grove township, 288
Fiske, John: quoted, 8
Florida: admission of, 15
Flynn, Rev. P. J.: contributes article on history of Catholicism in county, 401
Fordyce, Emma J.: writes of early schools, 198 ff
Fort Atkinson: 10, 11, 12
Fort George school house: 143
Fortner, Catharine A.: early Cornell teacher, 204
Foster, Sidney A.: 17 _note_
Freer, H. H.: professor Cornell college, 208
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, 237
Gainer, Thos.: came to Cedar Rapids in 1839, 152
Garrow, Peter: first citizen to be naturalized, 464
Geer, C. M.: quoted, 13
Geology of Linn county: 24 ff
Gillilan, James: 45
Glass, J. P.: early settler, 46
Good, James W.: elected to congress, 305
Goudy, John, family of robbed, 38 ff
Grant township: history of, 279
Gray, George W.: builds present court house, 35
Gray, Hosea W.: 33, 35, 47, 48, 49; takes first census of county, 95, 463; first sheriff, 463
Gray, Miss Pethenia: early school teacher, 285
Grafton, Dr. S.: early settler at Ivanhoe, 159
Greene, George: school teacher, 34; member legislative council, 48; buys portion of Cedar Rapids, 49; letter to Col. Durham, 61; lawyer, 178, 465
Greene, Joseph: first postmaster at Cedar Rapids, 84
Grist mill: first in county, 257
Gunn, Thomas F.: 404
Hagey, Joanna: writes of Cedar Rapids library, 250
Hahn, Daniel S.: claimed to be first settler, 55
Hall, O. S.: a pioneer, 461
Hall, P. E.: 233
Hall, Samuel: early settler, 276
Haman, Geo. C.: tells of coming of railroad to Cedar Rapids, 64
Haman, Mrs. George C.: gives her recollections of society in the early days, 261 ff
Hamilton, John T.: elected to congress, 305
Harlan, James: senator, 82; state superintendent, 201
Harlan, James E.: president Cornell college, 208
Harland, Ambrose, early settler, 143; early politician, 300
Harman, Peter D.: did brick work on present court house, 35
Harper, Bill: a noted character, 181
Hart, Caspar J.: 159
Hart, J. A.: 159, 269
Hartigan, Father: in charge of the Catholic church at Marion, 410
Haskins, C. C.: 92; early settler at Mt. Vernon, 159
Hazeltine, E. D.: early settler in Grant township, 280
Headley, J. T.: early practitioner, 164
Heins, B. F.: lawyer, 183
Henry, John: operates store at Westport, 42, 92
Hershey, Christian: pioneer minister, 292
Higley, Harvey G.: 158
Higley, Henry E.: 158
Higley, M. A.: 158
Higley, W. W.: 158
Hoffman, John: postmaster at Springville, 84
Hollis, C. M.: editor of _Times_, quotation from, 111, 112
Hook, Samuel F.: early settler, 152
Hoosier Grove Settlement: 46
Hormel, Frank: able lawyer, 183
Hotchkin, James K: first postmaster of Walker, 280
Howlett, G. M.: postmaster at Cedar Rapids, 85
Hubbard, N. M.: eminent attorney, 179; anecdotes of, 180; Decoration Day address of, 387; mentioned, 467
Hubbard Smyth: political contest, 302 ff
Hull, Philip: 44, 147
Hunter, James: helps build court house, 34, 35
Hunter, John: helps build court house, 34
Humphrey, Joseph: early settler, 276
Illinois: admitted, 31
Indians: account of, 8
Indian nomenclature: 22
Ingham, W. H.: 163
Isbell, N. W.: first county judge, 169, 176, 468
Ivanhoe: 43
Ives, C. J.: pioneer railroad developer, 161
Iowa: a prairie state, 1; first inhabitants, 3; history of, 13
Iowa City: constitutional convention at, 15
Iowa Conference Seminary: founding of, 202
Iowa Falls & Sioux City Railroad: 236
Iowa Rail Road Land Company: 239
Iowa State Gazetteer: quoted, 47
Iowas: mentioned, 9, 13
Jackson township: history of, 285
Jenkins, John: first settler in Maine township, 282
Johnson, Alexander: early settler, 276
Johnson, Bill: hero of Canadian rebellion, 101 ff
Johnson, Kate: 101
Johnson, S. S.: early carpenter and builder, 154
Joliet, Louis: discovers Iowa, 4
Jones, Geo. W.: mentioned, 31; senator from Iowa, 82
Jones, Stephen M.: 109
Jordan, Chandler: early settler in Maine township, 282
Jordan, Charles: early settler, 163
Jordan, L. D.: early settler in Maine township, 282
Justices: early Linn County, 199 ff
Keeler, C. B: lawyer, 186
Keeler, Rev. R. W.: early president Cornell college, 204
Kelsey, J. H.: early settler, 152
Kephart, Cyrus J.: his history of the United Brethren at Lisbon quoted, 291
Kimball Building, 233
Kimbal, L. C: 233
King, David W.: came to Cedar Rapids in 1839, 152, 161
King, William Fletcher: president of Cornell college, 208
Kirkwood, Governor: dispatch from, 471; calls for additional troops, 475
Kynett, A. J.: helps found Cornell college, 201, 208
Knott, Richard: commissioner to locate county seat, 32, 33
Knox, Rev. James, 224
Kurtz, John E.: one of the founders of Lisbon, 161
Labor: first union organized in Cedar Rapids, 390
Lake, E. W.: early Marion physician, 87
Langworthy, L. H.: quotation from, 104
Lawyers: early, 169
Lazell, F. J.: author of article on newspapers of county, 106
Laylander, O. J.: quoted, 17
Lea, Albert Miller: quoted, 19
Lee, Guy Carleton: his _History of North America_ referred to, 13
Leffingwell, William E.: candidate for Congress, 179
Legare, Margaret S.: 267
Leverich, James: arrives in 1839, 148
Leverich, Joel: becomes owner of Mound Farm, 46; arrives in 1839, 148; Dr. Carpenter on, 148; Geo. R. Carroll on, 149; early politician, 301
Libraries: Masonic, 248; Cedar Rapids, 250; Coe college, 250; Mt. Vernon, 251; Marion, 251; Bohemian Reading Society, 251
Lichtebarger, Jos. H.: early settler, 148
Linn County: act organizing, 32; first survey, 34; first court house in, 34; names of townships in, 35; judiciary in, 35; circuit court in, 36; noted trials in, 36; outlawry in, 37; early settlement of, 42; first marriage in, 46; organized, 47; first election in, 48; first settler in, 51; county seat contests in, 57; first railroad in, 58; old settlers of, 66 ff, 145 ff; postoffices and politics in, 82 ff; physicians of, 86 ff; material growth of, 92 ff; first reaper in, 93; newspapers of, 106; early Bohemian settlements in, 121 ff; early marriages in, 127 ff; historic roads and monuments in, 142; early lawyers and courts in, 169 ff; chatty mention of bench and bar, 175 ff; early justices in, 189 ff; schools in, 194 ff; old cemeteries in, 242; libraries in, 248; wages and prices in, from 1846 to 1856, 253; some first things in, 256; first grist mill in, 257; early land entries in, 258; organization of democratic party in, 260; early society in, 261; history of townships, 270; politics in, 298; statistics for 1856, 332; Catholicism in, 401; population of, 416; early votes in, 417; members of legislature from, 417; banks and banking in, 435 ff; list of county officers, 451 ff; in war, 470; vote in, in 1860, 479; tornado in, 479; account of Western, 479; of Mt. Vernon, 479; first agricultural association in, 480; first teachers association in, 480; teachers' institute, 481; vote in, in 1910, 482; early days in, 483; early doctors in, 485; land assessments in, 488; taxable valuation in, 489
Linn County Medical Society: 89
Linn, Dr. Louis F.: mentioned, 32; Linn county named after, 47
Linn township: history of, 286
Lisbon: 291; camp-meetings at, 296; Catholic church at, 411
Loughnane, Rev. P. M.: Catholic priest at Marion, 411
Louisiana Purchase, The: 13
Love, J. S.: early Springville physician, 89
Lowry, Father: 403
Lucas, Robert: territorial governor, 14, 15
Lucore, R. H.: early settler, 148
Lund, Mrs. E. J.: early Cedar Rapids teacher, 199
Lynch, Jerry: a resourceful lawyer, 182; anecdotes of, 183
Lytle, James: early settler in Jackson township, 285
McCabe, Bishop C. C.: 163
McClelland, Freeman: 88
McCloud, Ross: county surveyor, 34
McConnell, N. A.: early minister, 289
McCormick, Samuel B.: president Coe college, 228
McDye, William E.: colonel, 475
McIntosh, D. M.: lawyer, 177; erects early brick house in Cedar Rapids, 267
McKean, A. J.: appointed constable, 33; clerk of circuit court, 36; early politician, 158; first constable and first assessor, 464
McKean, Thomas J.: first mayor of Marion, 466; sketch of, 470
McKinney, Ed: early settler in Maine township, 282
McKinnon, William: early settler, 277
McRoberts, Peter: chosen commissioner, 33
McVay, Luther: pioneer minister, 293
Maggart, Rev. C. W.: his sketch of the Cedar Rapids churches, 397
Maine township: history of, 281
Mann, Jacob: one of first settlers, 45, 48, 160
Mann, Sally: probably first white woman to settle in county, 160
Mansfield, E. L.: 88; came to Iowa on horseback, 162
Maple River Railroad: 238
Marion: named county seat, 33, 57; U. S. land office, 34; district court of U. S. and territorial court meets at, 35; railroad meeting at, 62; Catholic Church at, 409; history of, 460 ff; first house in, 461; first store, 461; first hotel, 461; first jail built in, 461; plat of town recorded, 363; first court held in, 465; fire department organized, 466
Marquette, Jacques: quoted, 4
Marriages: early ones in county, 127 ff
Marshall, James: president Coe college, 227
Mason, Albert A.: superintendent of schools, 196
Matsell, G. W.: early settler, 163
May, J. M.: files plat of Mayfield, 143; a stirring man, 157; lawyer, 178
Mayfield: now portion of Cedar Rapids, 143
Maynard, H. H.: field secretary Coe college, 228
Mekota, Jos.: contributes article, 121 ff
Melton, George: and Center Point postoffice, 82
Mercy Hospital, 413
Merritt, W. H.: storekeeper at Ivanhoe, 11, 153; writes political letter, 59
Mexican veterans: in county, 470
Miller, Wm. E.: judge, 173
Mills, J. G.: his _Handbook_ mentioned, 144
Mills, Mason P.: lawyer, 183
Minnesota: admitted, 31
Missouri: admitted, 31
Missouri Valley & Blair Railway and Bridge Company: 238
Missouri Valley Land Company: 240
Mitchell, Israel: lays out Westport, 33, 146
Mitchell, James: early settler, 275
Mitchell, John: lawyer, 177
Mitchell, John: early settler, 275
Moingona Coal Company: 240
Montrose: 20
Mound Builders: mentioned, 3; account of, 4
Mt. Vernon: account of, 479
Mulford, Charles R.: early merchant, 153
Murray, F. G.: contributes chapter on physicians, 86
Muscatine: 44
Muskwaki: mentioned, 10
Newark: extinct town, 143
Newberry, J. S.: quoted, 7
Newhall, J. B.: quoted, 47
New Lindon: defunct town, 84, 143
Newspapers: history of, 106 ff
Neutral Grounds: 14
Norton, William Harmon: contribution on geology of Linn county, 24 ff; writes of Cornell college, 201 ff
Nye, Benjamin: commissioner to locate county seat, 32, 33
Old Settlers' Association: members of, 66 ff
Otoes: mentioned, 9
Otter Creek: settlement of, 46
Otter Creek township: history of, 286
Owen, Dr. Norman W.: 467
Oxley, Marshall: 257
Oxley, Perry: early politician, 300
Parker, N. H.: quoted, 17, 144
Parvin, T. S.: 162
Patterson, William: does carpenter work on present court house, 35
Phelps, Stephen: president Coe college, 226
Physicians: of the county, 86 ff
Plummer, John: first justice in Spring Grove township, 289
Politics: county and district, 298
Pollock, S. L.: early settler, 153
Population: of county and towns, 416
Postoffices: early politics concerning, 82
Powell, J. J.: lawyer, 183
Powell, Major J. W.: quoted, 7
Practitioners' Club: 89
Prairie du Chien: 20
Prairieburg: Catholic church at, 407
Preston, I. M.: 171, 468
Public Instruction: superintendent of created, 195
Railroad: first in county, 58; letter from Merritt on, 59; Iowa Central Air Line, 63; Dubuque and Southwestern, 63; letter from C. H. Branch on, 64
Reiner, W. Fred: his experience as express messenger, 244 ff
Richardson, Rev. T. F.: 406
Risley, A. P.: postmaster at Springville, 84
Ristine, Henry M.: early county physician, 86, 89, 467
Roads: early ones laid out, 142
Roberts, Robert G.: chosen legislator, 33
Rock, Mrs. R. C.: early teacher, 198; mentioned, 261; reminiscences of, 379
Rockingham: 44
Rogers, Wm.: early settler at Rogers Grove, 163
Rood, H. H.: quoted, 210
Rothrock, James H.: judge, 173, 181; anecdotes of, 181, 182
Runkle, Jesse A.: quoted, 196
Sac and Fox, The: 10, 13
Sacred Heart Academy: 414
Safely, Robt.: 163
Sampson, A. E.: lays out town of New Lindon, 84
Sanford, Julius E.: one of platters of Cedar Rapids, 162, 176
Schools: early history of, 194 ff
Scott, General Winfield: concludes treaty with Sacs and Foxes, 14
Seerley, H. H.: 209
Shambaugh, B. F.: quoted, 19
Shane, John: judge, 174
Shaw, L. M.: quoted, 213
Shepherd, Osgood: 46, 49, 149
Sherman, E. A.: quoted, 341
Shields, Mrs. Susan: daughter of William Abbe, 10, 51
Sigworth, Dr. H. W.: address on early doctors in county, 485
Sinclair, Thomas M.: helps Coe college, 225
Sisley Grove: 279
Sisters of Mercy: 412
Sioux City & Iowa Falls Town Lot and Land Company: 239
Sioux City & Pacific Railroad: 235
Sioux Indians: mentioned, 10
Skinner, Rev. Elias: candidate for county judge, 57; letter from, 164
Smith, E. W.: Cornell professor, 204
Smith, Judge Milo P.: contributor, 169; early teacher, 194
Smith, W. H.: appointed constable, 33
Smith, William Wilberforce: president Coe college, 229
Smyth, Robert: an enterprising man, 161
Smyth, William: first county attorney, 170, 179, 468
Snouffer, J. J.: 84, 269
Snyder, Justice: 189
Society in the early days: 261
Southern influence: 267
Soutter, C. B.: president board of trustees Coe college, 228
Speake, John K.: early settler in Grant township, 280
Spring Grove township: history of, 288
Steamboating: on the Cedar, 420
Stephens, R. D.: builds elevator at Marion, 97; mentioned, 171; financier, 177; tribute to, 467
Stewart, J. O.: quoted, 109; commissioned captain in Civil War, 475
Stewart, Samuel C.: chosen commissioner, 33
Stewart, William: early blacksmith, 154
Stoddard, Jos. C.: in Civil war, 473
Stone, William: had store at Westport, 42, 46, 49; probable first settler in Cedar Rapids, 151
Stookey, S. W.: acting president Coe college, 228
Strong, L. M.: chosen commissioner, 33; builds first house in Marion, 461
Sullivan, John C.: surveys southern Iowa boundary, 15
Taylor, A. C.: 85
Taylor, Dr. Robert: 269
Teachers' Association: first in county, 480
Teachers' institute: first in county, 481
Tecumseh: 9
Thomas, Dr. Cyrus: 7
Thompson, Henry: erects saw mill, 460
Thompson, William G.: lawyer, 172, 186; anecdotes of, 187; tribute to, 468
Trans-Mississippi Exposition: 20
Troup, Reverend C.: first minister in county, 48, 291
Troy Mills: founded, 290
Tryon, S. H.: 86
Union Medical Society, 89
United Brethren Church: beginning of in Iowa, 291; at Lisbon, 292 ff.
United Presbyterian Church: origin of the Fairfax, 272
Ure, James: early settler, 275
Ure, Robert: early settler, 272
Ure, William: brings first reaper to county, 93
Usher, Dyer: first divorce action in county brought by, 36; ferries people across the Mississippi, 46
Vardy, John: erects first frame dwelling in Cedar Rapids, 49; arrives in Cedar Rapids in 1841, 152
Vinton, Samuel F.: attitude toward Iowa, 16
Walker: history of, 279; Catholic church at, 409
Washington township: history of, 290
Waubeek: 284
Weare, Charles: early contractor, 154
Weare, John: early banker, 154
Webster, C. L.: quoted, 8
Weld, L. G.: 3 _note_; 13 _note_
Western: stage line to, 47; account of, 479
Westport: 33, 43, 46, 48, 143
Wetherbee, E. S.: gives account of old mill at Central City, 486
Wheeler, David H.: Cornell professor, 204
Whittam, I. N.: pioneer lawyer, 178
Whittlesey, Charles: chosen senator, 33
Wick, B. L.: writes on early steamboating, 423
Williams, Joseph D.: judge, 35, 41
Williams, Horace: 239
Willis, James W.: first county commissioners meet at house of, 33
Wilson, George W.: noted attorney, 187
Wilson, Gen. James: 103
Wilson, Judge James: surveyor-general, 31
Wilson, T. S.: 82
Winnebagoes, The: account of, 9
Wisconsin: admitted, 31
Witter, Amos: early physician in Mount Vernon, 87
Woodbridge, Ward: writes history of Maine township, 281
Young, Joseph B.: lawyer, 177, 468
Zumbro, John: postmaster at Marion, 82
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote A: L. G. Weld, _Iowa Journal of History and Politics_, vol. i, no. 1.]
[Footnote B: This is the view of nearly all the writers and historians, but Professor Weld in vol. i, no. 1, _Iowa Journal of History and Politics_, holds to the opinion that the landing was made at the point in Louisa county where the Iowa river enters the Mississippi and gives cogent reasons for his belief.]
[Footnote C: Hon. Sidney A. Foster, Des Moines.]
[Footnote D: N. H. Parker in _Iowa As It Is in 1855_, p. xiv.]
[Footnote E: _Iowa As It Is in 1855_, p. xv.]
[Footnote F: Response to a toast at a banquet in Waterloo in honor of Hon. Horace Boise, ex-Governor of the State.]
[Footnote G: _Notes on the Wisconsin Territory_, pp. 14-15 (1836).]
[Footnote H: Letter written by Peter H. Engle, of Dubuque, in 1838.]
[Footnote I: _The Constitutions of Iowa_, pp. 23-24 (1902).]
[Footnote J: Rev. Dr. S. N. Fellows, _A Record of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Cornell College_, p. 91.]
[Footnote K: The pioneer settlements about Mount Vernon had sent several flat boats down the Cedar and Mississippi to New Orleans with cargoes of wheat, corn and potatoes. With the proceeds of sale of boats and cargo, sugar, molasses and other goods were purchased and shipped by steamers to Muscatine. Col. Robt. Smyth was one of those who thus made the voyage from Stony Point, three miles south of Mount Vernon, to New Orleans.]
[Footnote L: During the melee a farmer from north of town gave a stentorian yell for Jeff Davis and was promptly knocked down by a federal soldier home on furlough. The soldier was afterwards arrested for assault. On the day of the trial before Judge Preston of Marion some thirty Mount Vernon men were present armed with various weapons, including corn knives. The case was dismissed.]
[Footnote M: See _Minutes of Iowa City Presbytery_, Lyons, May 9, 1856.]
[Footnote N: This is according to Lawrence's history, and in harmony with statements from Dr. A. W. Drury. Mrs. Elizabeth Harner, daughter of Bro. Troup, says he came to Iowa in 1838.]
[Footnote O: Chandler Jordan, mentioned above, died about a year ago, and Mr. Liddington was killed in the mill in the winter of 1909-10 by getting wound up in the shafting, and since then the old mill has stood idle.]
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
Obvious typos and misprinted punctuation have been silently corrected.
Spelling and hyphenation variations have been retained to match the original book when no major preference could be determined.
Added to Contents: FOOTNOTES, End of document
Added to List of Maps: Reproduction of the First Map of Cedar Rapids, (Part 1) and (Part 2) 316.
Page 11: The Muskwaki Indians were probably the Meskwaki, also spelled Mesquakie or Meskwahki Indians. (a large number of Muskwaki Indians were camping)
Pages 67-81: Some names in the Members List are not in alphabetical order, but match the order in the original book.
Page 113: The following sentence was incomplete in the original book:
The grain rates from Cedar Rapids to Chicago were thirty cents a hundred pounds and the noise of protest which was made then was quite similar to the noise which is sometimes
Page 131: John B. Taylor may be a typo for Joel B. Taylor, as this is the only mention of John B. Taylor in the book. (May 26, John Zumbra to Angeline Eggleston, by Rev. John B. Taylor.)
Some illustrations and text have been moved slightly to avoid breaking up paragraphs. This might cause a few Index entries to be one page off.