Holland's Keokuk City directory : containing an historical sketch of the city, and complete list of all the residents : also a classified business directory, 1871-72, Part 1

Author:
Publication date: 1872
Publisher: Chicago : Western Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 260


USA > Iowa > Lee County > Keokuk > Holland's Keokuk City directory : containing an historical sketch of the city, and complete list of all the residents : also a classified business directory, 1871-72 > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20


PATTERSON HOUSE,


W. A. & J. C. PATTERSON,


PROPRIETORS,


Corner Third and Johnson Streets,


KEOKUK, IOWA.


First-Class in all respects.


(See Editorial Notice,)


Everybody should read page 214.


ESTABLISHED 1856.


SAM. G. BRIDGES,


GOLD & SILVER SMITH, And Manufacturing Jeweler,


Nos. 1 & 2 Estes House, KEOKUK, IOWA.


(See page C front colored,


LIBRARY Brigham Young University


FROM


Call No.


917.77


Acc.


221693


No.


H71


THE STATE!


Carter Bros. HATS, CAPS & FURS.


CARTER BROS.,


DEALERS IN


HATS. CAPS,


URS


Millinery, Straw and Buckskin Goods,


TRUNKS, VALISES, TRAVELING BAGS AND BASKETS, GLOVES AND HOSIERY, PAPER COLLARS, NECK TIES AND CANES.


No. 58 Main Street, bet. 2nd and 3rd.


Keokuk, Iowa.


Latest Styles. Best Goods, Lowest Prices.


B


Established in 1852.


I


Date Due


ANNEX


MAY 1 / 2003


DR


PA


ES,


Perfi


les,


PRINTED


IN U. S. A.


DI


Of every Description, &c.


No. 68 MAIN STREET, bet 2nd and 3rd, south side,


KEOKUK, IOWA.


--


Special attention paid to putting up of Prescriptions.


C


ESTABLISHED 1856.


SAM G. BRIDGES,


KEOKUK,


Nos. 1 and 2


ESTES' HOUSE.


IOWA.


Manufacturer, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in


Watches, Diamonds, Silverware, JEWELRY, CLOCKS, GOLD PENS, Fine Cutlery, &c.


Manufacturing Department.


Having every facility, can manufacture goods of every descrip- tion on the premises.


Notarial Seals, Door Plates, Wood Cuts, Masonic and I. 0. O. F. Marks and Jewelry made to order, also Engraving done in all its branches.


OPTI


CIAN.


GLASSES


Fitted to Frames for any condition of Sight.


D


ESTABLISHED 1859.


KARLE & SCHULZ,


Wholesale and Retail Dealers in and Manufacturers of


Furniture and Upholstery,


Reps, Brocatel and Hair-cloth PARLOR SUITS, WALNUT, MAHOGANY, CHESTNUT AND PAINTED CHAMBER SETS,


MARBLE TOP TABLES, Wardrobes, Mirrors, Book Cases, &c., &c.,


Also, Sole Agent for Keokuk for the Celebrated


UNITED STATES IRON SPRING BED.


140 and 142 Main Street, bet. 5th and 6th,


J. KARLE, CHAS. SCHULZ.


KEOKUK, IOWA.


-


J. A WALLACE,


THE LIVE


REAL ESTATE AGENT, AND AUCTIONEER.


Consignments of Real Estate, Live Stock, Furniture, and all kinds of Merchandise solicited. Outside Sales promptly made. Satisfaction guaranteed. Best of References given.


Salesroom : Cor. Third and Main Sts.,


KEOKUK


IOWA.


E


F


CONSTITUTION PRINTING OFFICE,


Corner MAIN AND SIXTH STREETS,


KEOKUK,


K


IOWA.


T. W. CLAGETT, Proprietor.


THE CONSTITUTION


IS PUBLISHED DAILY AND WEEKLY,


And has a larger uncontested field for circulation, than any other daily paper in the State-a fact that cannot be over esti- mated by advertisers.


THE WEEKLY


Is a large eight column sheet, and at the rate at which it is furn- ished to subscribers, is the cheapest paper in the entire Northwest.


- 0


TERMS:


DAILY.


Mail Subscribers, One Year, $8.00 ",


Six Months,. 4.00


66


Three Months,


2.25


WEEKLY.


Single Subscribers, One Year,. .$1.25 Clubs of Ten, or more, 1.00


0


Special attention paid to JOB WORK in all its departments.


G


J. B. CROSS, Keokuk, Iowa.


H. N. BIRD, Cincinnati, Ohio


J. B. CROSS & CO.,


Wholesale and Retail Dealers in all kinds of


FURNITURE, UPHOLSTERY


AND CHAIRS.


FINE CHAMBER SETS, BUREAUS, &C., A SPECIALTY. NO. 139 MAIN STREET, Estes House Block, (BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH STREETS,) KEOKUK, IOWA.


GATE CITY CARRIAGE FACTORY. ESTABLISHED 1856.


Theo. Myers,


MANUFACTURER OF


CARRIAGES, BUGGIES,


AND EXPRESS WAGONS, FACTORY : Gor. Johnson and 8th Sts.,


KEOKUK, IOWA:


Particular attention given to Repairing.


917.77 H71


HOLLAND'S


KEOKUK


IRECTORY,


FOR 1871-72,


CONTAINING AN


Historical Sketch of the City, and


COMPLETE LIST OF ALL THE RESIDENTS.


ALSO A


CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DIRECTORY,


WITH THE


Name and address of the Merchants, Manufacturers, Professional Men, &c.


221693 CHICAGO, 3


WESTERN PUBLISHING COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. [1872]


Office 146 South Water Street.


Printing Office, 95 & 97 West Randolph Street.


2


HAROLD B. LEE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO. UTAH


ii


HOLLAND'S KEOKUK CITY DIRECTORY.


A. MARKS


GENERAL


FIRE, LIFE & ACCIDENT


INSURANCE AGENT REPRESENTS


$13,555,385.00 Capital.


OFFICE,


N. E. cor. Main and 2d Sts.,


KEOKUK, IOWA.


I Represent the following Old and Reliable Companies :


FIRE COMPANIES. Assets.


Western, of Buffalo, N. Y., $650,000.


Home, of Columbus, O., .. 500,000


American, of Chicago, Ill., 105,000


National, of Hannibal, Mo.,


500,000


Commercial, of Chicage, Ill., 300,000


Reaper City, of Rockford, Ill.,


150,000


Hawkeye, of Des Moines, Iowa,. 150,385


St. Paul Fire and Marine, Minn .. 900,000


Keokuk Branch of Great Western, Chicago, ... 1,000,000 C. SCHULZ," Pres., F. CEASER, Director. A. MARKS,, Manager.


Railway Accident of Hartford, 900,000


LIFE COMPANY.


Knickerbocker Life Ins. Co., of N. Y., Assets, $8,000,000 A. MARKS.


EXCELSIOR!


.


Dedication.


TO THE ENTERPRISING CITIZENS,


AND BUSINESS MEN OF THE


CITY OF KEOKUK.


Gentlemen :- This volume, our First Directory of your beautiful and flourishing city, is most re- spectfully dedicated to you, as a slight token of regard, by


Your obedient servants, WESTERN PUBLISHING CO., 146 South Water street, Chicago. CHICAGO, Jan. 21st, 1871.


3


1871


JANUARY.


SMTWTF S


-


-


1


21 3 4 5 6 7


. 4


11 2 8 4


-


.


..


4


51


6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4


5


6


. 81


9 10 11 12 13 14


5


15 16 17 18 19 20 21


22/23 24 25126 27 28


19 20 21 22 23 24 25


19 20 21 22 23 24 25


16 17:18 19 20 21 22


21 22 23 24 25 26 27


18 19 20 21 22 23 24


28 29 30 31 .


.


25 26 27 28 29 30 - -


....


..


..


-


FEBRUARY.


MARCH.


APRIL.


MAY.


,


SMTWTF S


SIMIT


WIT


F


S


SMTWTF


S


5


MT


WITFS


SMTWTF


S


-


-


-


1


2


7


8 9 10 11


51 61 7 8 9 10 11


2


7 8 910


14 15 16 17 18 19 20


11 12 13|14 15 16 17


12 13 14/15 16|17 18


12|13 14 15|16|17 |18


9|10|11|12|13 14 15


23 24 25 26 27 28 20


26 27|28 29 30 81 . .


26 27 28 .


....... ..


FRANK MADDEN.


M. W. DORAN.


Headquarters for Dry Goods. MADDEN & DORAN,


DEALERS IN


DRY GOODS, NOTIONS, &C.


No. 141 Main Street, Near Sixth, Keokuk,


Iowa.


JULY.


SMTW


TFS


SIMTWTF S


-


-


-


-


-


1


2


3


81 9 8 9 10 11|12|18 14 5


6


7 8 9 10 11


12 13 14 15 16 17 |18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25


10|11|12|13 14 15|16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30


31|- -


..--------


-


..


..


..


.. -


NOVEMBER.


DECEMBER.


S


MIT E


W


T


F


S


-


-


-


1


6


7


..


..


1


..


1


2


3


4 5


G


9 10 11 12 13 14 15


16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30/31 - - - - - --- - -


0


AUGUST.


SEPTEMBER.


OCTOBER.


SMTWTFS


SMTWTF


S


-


4


.


.


..


.


2


4 5


6


7


8 9


15 16 17 18|19 20:21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28


26 27 23 29 50 · ·· ·


....


7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 - -


4 5 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 -


. .


2 4 5


:


1 2


R1 4 5


7


1


1 2 3 4


5 6


. .


1 2 3


-


29 80 311 ..


..


..


.. ..


JUNE.


SIMT WTFIS


FO


INTRODUCTORY.


OFFICE WESTERN PUBLISHING CO. ) 146 S. Water street, Chicago. Jan. 21st, 1871.


IN presenting this, our first volume of HOLLAND'S DIRECTORY OF KEOKUK we confess to feeling proud in having produced a work of such size, beauty and we hope accuracy. We return our warmest thanks to the numerous patrons of the DIRECTORY, and all who have assisted us in any way, cither by subscription, advertisements, or information, which has materially aided us in issuing this work; we earnestly hope it will meet their expectation and command their kind approval. We have spared no pains or expense in getting out this book to make it acceptable, having printed it on the best of paper, and bound it in a style both pleasing and durable.


In the present volume we find there are 3,706 names being a large increase over 1868. By the Uunited States census we find the exact population of the city to be 12,769, non-residents and transients are not included in these figures. We feel confident that in 1872 we will find a population of at least 15,000 souls. With many thanks to the business men generally and calling the attention of the City Council to the necessity of having the names of the streets posted up at every corner of a street, and assur- ing all we shall still continue to faith- fully represent the interests of KEOKUK, we bid you all good-bye until our next work.


We remain respectfully,


WESTERN PUBLISHING COMPANY, Publishers.


GENERAL INDEX.


Page Page


Business Directory


167|Elitorial Review. 20 Calendar.


IV General Directory of names. 57 to 166


Commencement of names.


57 Historical Sketch I


Dedication ..


IlI Introductory .. V


INDEX TO CITY RECORD.


Page Page


Allermen .. .9 I. O. O. F. 15 to 16


Carey School.


8 Keokuk Library Association. 17


Cen,eter os . 13 & 14 Keokuk Lyceum. 18


Central School.


7 Keokuk Progress and Prospects 1


Church Dir ctory 10 & 11 Keokuk Turn Verein. 18


Circuit Court


10 Masonic. . 14


City Calaboose.


.9 Mission Sunday Schools. 8


City Government.


9| Newspapers. 19


City Police force.


9 Post Office. 11


Concordia Society.


18 Private Schools. 8


County Offic rs.


10 Public Schools. 6


Council Rooms


10 Stolls School .. .8 .


Co'ored School


.8 Temple of Honor 16


District Court.


10


Torrense School. .8


Drnids. .


16 Union Agricultur I Society 18


Editorial Review 20 to 47


U. S. Court. 10


Fire Depa tinent.


12| Ward Boundaries


German School.


8 |Well- School .7


High Schoo .


Y. M. C. A. 16


History of Keokuk. 1 to 61


INDEX TO NAMES OF ADVERTISERS AND EDITORIALS.


Page! Page


Allyn Frank. .


.232, C. B. & Q. R. R. I back colored


Anchor Line Steamship-, 47, 242 &


.back cover.


Anschutz F. W .248


Bickus G. W.


J dack col'd Constitution, newspaper ..... F fro: t c I'd


Barter HI .. .41 & 178


Bawden John. .31 & 205


Beers W. A.


.29 & 216


Bischof Theod.


.194


Bower R. F. & Co. 25 & 194


Bostwick H. N. . ..


. bottom lines & 22


Bower Barchy & Co. 23 & 168


Bradstreet J. M. & Son .47 & 238


Bronson A. H.


.45 & 218


Briggs House, Chicago .back cover


.and side lines


Brownell & Mckenzie.


.25 & 172


Bridg 's Sam. G. ... C front co'd, front


Buckeye foundry & machine shop40 & 198 Burl E. R. & Co. .44 & 182 Carpenter, Johnson & Coles. .47 & 230. Carter Bros. .A front col'd & 22


Ford H. L.


.236


Ful'on W'ml ..


38 & 166


Gate City newspaper (daily).inset opp 216 Gate City carriage factory. .. . G front col'd Gibbons' Opera House. 234


Gibbons Patrick


234


Go:lm in & Bro.


. H back cold and 39


cover & 20 Goepel A. .240


Graley M. V. 35 and 208


Gunn F. R ... .43 & 204


Hagny Adam


45 & 200


M


College of physicians & surgeons,39 & 222


Cross J. B. & Co. . . . . G iront col'd & 28 Davis J. S. 240


Day J. H. 27 & 48


Dressel Casper .243


Eagle Mills.


28 & 228


Emerson C. H 240


Clagett T. W .F front cel'd


Cody Patrick. .230


HOLLAND'S KEOKUK CITY DIRECTORY. vii


INDEX TO NAMES OF ADVERTISERS CONTINUED.


Page Page


Harris J. L. I back col'd Miller A. 41 & 180


Heiser R.


26 & 188 Mississippi brewery


243


Hill George & Co. 36 & 184 Myers Theo. G front col'd & 31


Hirsch H. & Bro. 30 & 198 National Restaurant. 238


Hixson James


45 & 190 O'Connor Dr. F. H .. top lines, B front


Horn Wm.


.286


col'd and.


.21


Hornish J. P. 232 Patterson & Timberman .. H back cold&34 Patterson House. top card front cover & 21


Hughes medical and surgical infirmary and eve and ear institute ... .30 & 222 Pearce I. N .. 27 & 210


Hughs G. W. & Co.


.230 Peck Brothers.


37 & 176


Iowa Coal Co.


29 & 192 Peet W. T.


.28 & 238


Irwin Phillips & Co. 35 & 212 | Pond T. N .24 & 226


Ives J. M. & Co. .36 & 200 Reid & Anderson. 42 & 224


Johnson & Burk.


.234 Reimbold & Eisenhuth.


.31 & 226


Karle & Schulz ..


D" front col'd & 43 Reinold P H.


236


Kennedy & Co. .37 & 204|Rickey J. K. .236


Keokuk Hall. .243 Rinker Adolph. .32 & 174


Keokuk Soda Water Factory .234 Rothert Bros., top e'd back cover, 44 & 170


Keokuk Broom Factory.


. 230 Sample, Armitage & Co.


.40 & 196


Keokuk Marble Works.


.206 Scroggs J. W.


40 & viii


Keokuk Savings Bank.


42 & 208 Seaton Lee R.


.281


Keokuk Book Bindery.


.210 Seibert Stephen.


27 & 198


Keokuk Steam Bag Factory .216 Sievers F 41 & 224


Keokuk Post.


194 Skinner B. H .... back cover and side lines


Kerr & Fuller. 38 & 218 Stafford M. .. .232


Kimball W. W., Chicago.


47 & 244 St. Vincents Female Day School ...


.... 220


Knickerbocker Life Ins. Co., A. Marks,


46 & 222


Kunath J. E.


.232


Lombard H. H. & Co. 43 & 228


McMillan & Powell. 29 & 206


Weber A. & Co.


45 & 186


Madden & Doran ...


. card calendar & 32


Wickersham & Delaplain.


.33 & 214


Magoun & Andrews.


.33 & 210


Wilkinson, Bartlett & Co.


.38 & 216


Marks A ..


. back of title & 46


Wills & Yenawine.


28 & 228


Marshall S. T. & R. M.


26 & 220


Wooley Wm.


.35 & 212


Martin Wm. G. .234 Worley S. T. 35 & 202


T. P. & W. R. R.


J back col'd


Vogel R. & Bro.


.34 & 202


Wallace J. A ..


E front col'd & 32


Warrack James, card back cover, 242 & 47


....


J. W. SCROGGS.


Wholesale and Retail Dealer in


LUMBER, LATH, SHINGLES,


Sash, Doors, Blinds, Pickets, Posts, Eave Spouting, &c. OFFICES, COR. 5TH & CONCERT STREETS,


AND BONAPARTE, VAN BUREN COUNTY, IOWA.


--


viii


HOLLAND'S KEOKUK CITY DIRECTORY.


-


221693


THE CITY OF KEOKUK, IOWA.


HISTORICAL AND BUSINESS REVIEW.


ITS PROGRESS AND PROSPECTS.


Keokuk is a flourishing commercial and manufacturing city, and is located on the west bank of the Mississippi river, near its confluence with the Des Moines, about 200 miles above St. Louis, and 1,400 miles above New Orleans, in a very healthy climate, in north latitude 40° 20 min., and longitude 14°, 20 min .; west from Washington, on a high, commanding and beautiful site, surrounded on all sides by a remarkably rich and productive soil.


No circumstance is, perhaps, more note-worthy and remarkable, in the history of the western country, than the magnitude and rapidity of its growth. With us, from barbarism to civilization is but a step, the work, not of ages, but of years. Surely and swiftly the works of the white man over-run and obliterate the traces of the red skin ; stone and brick buildings rise from the ruins of the wigwam ; to-day it is the canoe and the war path ; to-morrow, the steamship and railroad. And as natural advantages offer inducements, cities arise, as it were, in a night, where the products of the land can find a market in exchange for such articles as minister to man's wants, his comforts and his luxuries ; and so it has been with the city of Keokuk. There are men living now among us, whose years have not nearly approached the allotted three score and ten, who remember the site of our present city of over fourteen thousand souls, a wild, unbroken forest. The plat of the village of Keokuk was laid out in 1837, and in the ensuing June a public sale of town lots was held, and attended by a great number of people when there were quite a number of lots sold ; people seeing at so early a day, that there was a glorious future awaiting. She is now, third if not indeed the second city of the State.


In 1840, the main portion of Keokuk was a dense forest, and where. Main street now is, were thick timber and underbrush. From 1840 to 1847, its growth was steady and satisfactory, and on Dec. 13th, of the last named year, the city was incorporated. The officers being inauger- ated the 10th of January, the following year. The first mayor of the city was W. A. Clark, with James Mackley, W. C. Read, William


1


2


HOLLAND'S KEOKUK CITY DIRECTORY.


Holliday, H. Bassett, John W. Ogden, and J. M. Houston, as aldermen. From 1848 to 1857, the prosperity of the city excelled that of almost every city in the Union, but owing to the fearful financial revulsion of the latter year, she like many other cities, was checked in her onward march of progress. For several years past, however, it has possessed the elements of substantial prosperity, and its growth is sufficient to satisfy all who are or may become interested in its welfare and prosperity.


Keokuk is an important railroad centre, having at the present time four roads in successful operation. The C. B. & Q. R. R., the T. P. & W. R. R., the D. V. R. R., and the T. W. & W. R. R., besides three others which are soon to be completed, viz : the Keokuk, Iowa City & Minnesota, which is to be completed the present year ; the Keokuk,. Alexandria & Nebrasky City, which is to be in running order in one year from date ; and last, though not least, the St. Louis & Keokuk R. R., which is in course of construction and being pushed to completion with vigor.


The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad is very important to the city, running to Burlington and thence in direct connection to Omaha, Council Bluffs, and the far West by the B. & M. R. R. R., and to Chicago on their own road. This is one of the best roads in the country ; its management and officers being among the most experienced and obliging.


The Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railway have 227 miles of road, run- ning from Keokuk to state line of Illinois and Indiana, and makes sure connections with Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway, and Penn- sylvania Central. Thus it will be seen it is an important route to the East. This road has Pullman's palace sleeping cars on all night trains, between Keokuk and Columbus. Only one change of cars to New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, connecting at Columbus with the through sleeping car line to and from New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. This road is fast becoming more and more deservedly popular, as its coaches are among the best. Road good, while every attention is paid to the comfort and advantage of passengers and business men. Geo. W. Backus is the efficient general agent at Keokuk.


The Des Moines Valley Railroad has its terminus here, and is an lowa road. It is now completed to Fort Dodge-beyond this it is being rapidly carried forward to the northern boundary of the State, where it will connect with roads to St. Paul, giving a line through the length of the great and growing State of Iowa. The machine shops of this com- pany are located here and gives employment to hundreds of men, and turn out some excellent cars and even engines for the road. In order to make it more convenient for shippers, passengers and others, it has been decided to erect an Union Depot, somewhere on the south part of the Levee, and although its dimensions, &c., have not been agreed upon. Still we understand that the management of the various roads, at a meeting held a short time ago, stated that it would be one of the finest structures of the kind in the United States.


Another important improvement of the city is the construction of the


HOLLAND'S KEOKUK CITY DIRECTORY.


bridge across the Mississippi river. It is a magnificent iron railroad bridge, and cost over one million dollars. It combines the novel features of a wagon and foot passenger bridge, and by its facilities of passage will largely increase the local trade of the city.


The ship canal being made by the Government will cost upwards of three million dollars. It gives employment to a large number of men, and will, when completed, furnish an amount of water power for mill driving and manufacturers, unequaled in the west. To give the reader some idea of this immense and invaluable undertaking, we clip the fol- lowing from the St. Louis Republican, of October 21st, 1870, written by John D. Godman, Esq., of Keokuk, the Republicans regular cor- respondent.


" The river is obstructed for 7} miles above the city by dangerous rocks and shoals, obstructing its channel and rendering it dangerous and not navigable to large steamers in low water, many of which have been destroyed and valuable cargoes lost, and to do away with this serious obstruction to the navigation of the upper Mississippi the canal is being built. The section work comprises all that part between the locks, technically termed "the prism and embankmetn walls." It ex- tends from Nashville, at the head, to Keokuk at the foot, a distance of 72 miles. Most all the excavation for the prism is completed and the greater part of the embankment. The prism is excavated from the bottom of the river, three hundred feet wide and constructed in such a manner as to give five feet navigation at the lowest stage of water. The embankment is built to an average height of' eighteen feet, which puts it two feet higher than the extraordinary flood of 1851. About one-half of the outer wall is done, but very little of the inner. The east side of the canal below Nashville is finished completely. The first spade full of earth raised upon this great work was lifted by John Hewegan, Esq., on the 2d day of Oct., 1867, over three years ago. The work is now being carried on under a contract with Mr. J. J, Diell, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Geo. Williams, of this city, gentlemen of great energy, who employ along the line from eight hundred to one thousand laborers, four locomotives, twenty-five to eighty-five teams, five pump- ing engines, a machine shop, four large blacksmith shops, running from four to six forges, and two large carpenter shops. The money to carry on this work has been furnished by congress in different appropriations. The first was $700.000, the second $200,000, the third $400,000. Of the last but $300,000 was devoted to the section work, the balance being divided on the lock work. Of this last allotment of funds there is re- maining probably enough to continue the work until some time in De cember, of the present year, when it will have to be stopped until an other appropriation is made. If the work is pushed on, it can be com- .pleted early in December, 1871, at a cost of $500,000, but if it is al- lowed to remain this winter, the embankment walls are in imminent dan- ger of sustaining serious damage from the spring floods, and if congress fails to make the required allowance it is quite probable that it will're. quire $800,000 before it is completed.


4


HOLLAND'S KEOKUK CITY DIRECTORY.


The survey for this great improvement was made in the spring and fall of 1866 and 1867, by Lt. Col. Herman A. Ulffers, a thorough scientific engineer and a gentleman eminently qualified for such an im- portant undertaking. Mr. D. C. Jenne, of Albany, New York, took charge of the construction of the work, furnishing plans and laying out the lines of location. E. H. Worrall, civil engineer, has been employed on the section work since its commencement. All of these gentlemen have been under direction of Brevet Gen. J. H. Wilson, U. S. army, who has just resigned his position on the work and is succeeded by Col. Macomb, whose headquarters are at Rock Island. Maj. A. H. Burn- ham, U. S. engineer corps, is in local charge of the work, who, although lately arrived here, has endeared himself to us by his many gentlemanly qualifications.


The lower lock, although thought by some to be a seperate under- taking, is part of the improvement, and the canal will not be completed until all three of the locks are done. The force of workmen employed upon this section numbers from two hundred to two hundred and fifty. Besides fourteen derricks. three of which are steam, there are two " travellers," one steam pump, two blacksmith shops. and three thousand feet of railroad. Ten cars are kept busy to supply the masons with stone. In fact it has been found necessary to run them day and night, to meet the masons' demands, who lay from 175 to 200 cubic yards of masonry per day. The pier head within the forth top courses, the . lower gate recess, as well as the drainage culvert, the rock excavation in the lower chamber, and the lock from shore, are completed. Work is progressing as rapidly as possible on the upper mitresill and left supply-culvert. A concrete bed, averaging ten inches in depth, under- lies the entire wall, and eventually the prism of the lock itself will be concreted. 'T'he approaches to the lock at each end are well advanced. With the exception of a few dimension stone, the required amount to complete the lock is prepared and ready to be placed upon the walls, and if pushed, the work could be finished in three months. But, un- fortunately, the work will have to be stopped about the 15th of next month, as the appropriation for that section of the work will be expend- ed by that time. The lower lock has been under charge of Lieut. Griffith and Maj. Middleton. Mr. Owen, of Albany, New York, the contractor on the lock, cannot receive too much praise for the manner in which he has fulfilled his contract. Six times the river has overflown the bank of the lock and occasioned him great loss, but not discouraged by these misfortunes, he has gone to work with greater vim and spirit, and now has the pleasure of seeing the lock near completion. The navigation of these rapids will still be obstructed, after the completion of the canal proper, by the Montrose or upper chain, immediately below Montrose. A formidable bed of rocks here comes within a little more than a foot of the surface at low water, and its removal by blasting will probably cost about half a million more. This work will be an indis- pensable accessory to the canal. It was thought best by the engineers, who first planned the work, to remove the obstruction by blasting in- .


5


HOLLAND'S KEOKUK CITY DIRECTORY.


stead of including it in the canal, saving thereby nearly five miles of additional embankment and probably one additional lock. I am under many obligations to the gentlemen connected with the work, and to Mr. Ed. Finn, superintendent of the lock, in particular, for their kindness in showing me about the improvements. It is to be sincerely regretted that the government has not made the necessary, appropriation for the completion of the canal at once, which, when completed will be of great importance to the commerce of the valley of the Mississippi, which will then be navigable from the Gulf to the Falls of St. Anthony.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.