USA > Iowa > Jackson County > Annals of Jackson county, Iowa, Vol 1-6 > Part 15
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CELEBRATED SIXTIETH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
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Mr. Arnold Reiling and Wife Married Over Half a Century. Two of Jackson County's Earliest Pioneers.
The following article of Mr. and Mrs. A. Reiling of Bellevue, with cuts. is furnished to the Sentinel through the courtesy of Publisher Brandt of the Bellevue Herald, and to be made a part of the annals of the Jackson Coun- ty Historical Society :
Mr and Mrs. Arnold Reiling, of this city, celebrated the 60th annivers- ary of their marriage at their home last Saturday, Feb. 10. Silver weddings are rarity, golden weddings still more so and it is but seldom that we read of a couple rounding out three score years of married life, and this fact makes the anniversary celebrated by our esteemed fellow townsman and his worthy wife of more than passing interest. Owing to various circumstances over which the parties most concerned had no control it was impossible for all the children who are not residents of this city to be present, but all who were not here sent their congratulations in the form of telegrams which reached here on the day of the celebration. Herman Reiling of Denver was here, and with the children who live here and the grand children made up a very pleasant party. Those present were Mrs. Christina Weber and daugh- · ter, May, Benjamin Reiling, wife and children, Arnold Weber and wife, and Phil Weber and wife. Among the presents received by Mr. and Mrs. Reiling was a beautiful Morris chair presented by the grandchildren. This chair has been placed in Mr. Reiling's favorite corner in the library and will serve to keep in his mind the love and respect which the younger genera- tion have for him.
Mr. Reiling was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Nov. 2, 1823 and at the age of 15 came to this country with his parents, landing at New Orleans in the fall of 1838 and moving to Galena in March of the next year and from there the family moved to a farm about four miles north of the present site of this city. Mr. Reiling's father passed away in 1859. In this same year Mr. Reiling moved into Bellevue and engaged in the mer- cantile business and followed this for some years, after which he took the contract for building seven miles of track for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad between Dubuque and Clinton, and for six years after that owned and operated the steamer, Reiling, in the river freight business and
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finally became interested in the milling business in this city and for a time the company of which he was a member controlled all the flour milling in this section of the state. Mr. Reiling still owns the mill property, but it is not operated on such an extensive scale as in years past.
Mr. Reiling has served a number of terms as a member of the city coun- cil and was for two years mayor of Bellevue, and has the honor of being the tirst county commissioner elected from the township of Tete des Morts. He has always been an ardent supporter of the principles of the Democratc party and has no small part in the political affairs of the county. The marriage of Mr. Reiling to Miss Mary Havemeyer was solemnized at Ga- lena on the 10th day of February, 1846, and to this union nine children were born, Mrs. Christina Weber, of Bellevue; Herman Reiling of Denver; Mrs. Regina Reilly of Wichita. Kansas, Benjamin Reiling, of Bellevue and Anna and Amelia who are both living at home. Three have passed to the Great Beyond.
Mr. Reiling has made a success of life: there is no more to say; in all that he has done he has had the support and help of a faithful wife who has helped him fight his battles, comforted him when the world seemed to go wrong and rejoiced with him in his successes. It is the wish of the Her- ald and a host of friends that this worthy couple may live to enjoy many anniversaries of the same character as the one just passed.
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Sketch of Anson H. Wilson, the Oldest Pioneer Now Liv- ing in this Locality, Who Came Here as a Full Grown Man in the Thirties.
(Compiled for the Jackson County Historical Society by J. W. Ellis, Curator )
Anson H. Wilson was born May 27th. 1816, near Niagara Falls on the Canadian side on a farm rented and occupied by his father for one season. The next spring after his birth the family moved back to the old homestead in Crowland township, Lincoln county, now Ontario, where young Anson grew up to manhood working on the farm in the summer and attending school in winter. In 1835 he traveled quite extensively in Michigan, being very favorably impressed with that country, returning home where he re- mained until June, 1838, when General Chandler came to him one day and asked him to drive him to Point Ebino. Mr. Wilson consented to do so and on the way the General told him that they (meaning himself and men) would attack St. John's on Friday of that week.
There was a company of Lancers stationed at St. John's whose tyranny, abuse and brutality had caused a revolt among the people who determined to fall upon them and crush them, and while Mr. Wilson heartily sympathiz- ed with the people in their desire for revenge on the brutal military. he had had all the military experience he wanted and made up his mind to go back to Michigan, and told his father that he would start next day. His father fully approved of his plans, but Mahlon Brookfield and Ira Stim- son, who were present, said if he would wait another day they would go with him. This he assented to, and the three young men set out with a two horse team and wagon, crossed the St. Lawrence at Black Rock Ferry, went to Buffalo and from there to Michigan overland through the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, striking the Maumee river at Perrysburg and crossing over to Maumee city and from there to Toledo, at which place they parted company, Brookfield and Stimson securing employment there, and Mr. Wilson went to Kalamazoo county, where he remained until the next February when he was joined at Niles by his brothers Jesse, Wm., Mark and Joe Current, and the tive young men made arrangement for a trip to the great west in search of a suitable location where they had their ideals. They wanted to find good farming land with good water and convenient to good timber and building stone.
Starting on the 6th day of April, 1839, they traveled on foot taking with them a horse on which they carried their baggage. They explored pretty thoroughly Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, a large portion of the country
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through which they passed being trackless prairie or tangled forest, swim- ming or wading the rivers, and experiencing almost incredible hardships and dangers. Arriving at Savanna on the east bank of the Mississippi they determined to cross over into the territory of Iowa. The ferry boat was out of repair but the ferry man told them that if they could get their horse in to his skiff he would set them across. The horse went into the boat all right and it fell to Anse to sit in the bow of the boat and hold the horse to keep him quiet, while the boat was being propelled across the stream, as any movement of the horse would be liable to capsize the boat. They land- ed safely and the ferryman went back after the remainder of the party and the baggage, and when all was safely over they started for the interior. Arriving at Deep Creek they found the stream quite deep and no bridge and their horse objected to enter the water. However they secured a stout pole and with their united strength forced the animal into the stream with Jesse Wilson on his back. Both horse and rider sank out of sight, but soon came up and made for the other bank, and the other men who had crossed on a log put a rope around the neck of the horse and pulled him out of the water and struck out in a westerly direction bringing up at the present site of Maquoketa, which at that time, was marked only by the log cabin of John E. Goodenow. After a journey of more than fifteen. hundred miles, occupying sixty days of continuous travel, here the party found exactly what they were looking for, beautiful prairie land adjacent to a heavy body of timber with an abundance of pure water and fine quarries of building and lime stone.
Mr. Wilson first found employment with Mr. Goodenow but soon found a tract of land nearby that had not been claimed and on this he settled and built for himself a substantial and comfortable home in which he has resid- ed up to the present time. Mr. Wilson always practiced rigid economy in business matters and was opposed to display and extravagance in any form. This trait in his character was strongly exemplified in his old age. In the spring of 1842 he was hauling rails from his timber land to his farm and on one occasion when passing through what was known as Montgomery's grove. he pulled up a small cherry sprout by the roots and laid it on his load and when he reached home handed it to his wife and asked her to plant it and they would raise their own cherries and have cherry bounce. The good woman planted the tiny tree which grew wonderfully thrifty, and in time bore large quantities of cherries, although the hand that planted the tree never was permitted to pick any of its fruit. In 1895 the sprout had grown to be quite a large tree and Mr. Wilson had it cut down and its body taken to the saw mill and sawed into boards, some of which were sixteen inches wide and took them home and put them in a dry place until thoroughly seasoned and in 1897, took them to a planing mill and had them dressed af ter which he took them to Reuben Kauffman's shop and had them convert- ed 'into a beautiful casket which he brought home when completed. He
then purchased of Sutherland & Tubbs sufficient Red Cedar lumber at the rate of $85.00 per thousand to make an outside case. When the case was made and the casket lined and all completed he had a burial casket fit for a king, and the entire expense for material and work was only $11.35. This
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casket is now carefully stored away to be used when Mr. Wilson is summoned.
During his military experience which was very irksome he did a great deal of thinking and formed certain resolutions which governed his conduct throughout life. He resolved to obey the Lord's commands by earning his bread by the sweat of his brow, working six days in each week and resting on the seventh, to treat all men as he would like to be treated and keep out of debt. It is his boast late in life that he has never had tobacco in any form in his mouth, never paid a cent of interest on his own account, and never was dunned for a bill or debt of his own making. In his home life he is noted for benevolence and hospitality and admired for his sterl- ing honesty and integrity and his well known disposition to attend strictly to his own affairs and avoid interfering with the affairs of his neighbors.
On Dec. 3rd, 1904, he sent for his old friend, J. W. Ellis, and made him acquainted with his wishes in regard to his funeral obsequies. He appoint- ed his pall bearers whose consent he had obtained to act in that capacity, and insisted that his body be taken to the cemetery in a wagon and that his pall bearers ride in a wagon, thereby exemplifying that simplicity of character and avoidance of display and extravagance for which he has al- ways been noted.
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Reminiscences of Anson H. Wilson.
The first sheriff of the county was W. A. Warren, who was also assessor and tax collector. In those days money was a scarce article, and furs of most any kind was legal tender. The collector would take furs for taxes and make change in furs. For instance if a man had an otter skin it was often worth more than the taxes amounted to and he would change back in coon skins or skins of some animal less valuable than otter skins. Not only tax- es was paid in pelts, but they were the medium of exchange in nearly all deals except with Uncle Sam. Coon skins would not pay postage.
The first post office in this locality was at Bridgeport, and of course the people of the Maquoketa settlement had to cross the river to get their mail, which was sometimes a hard proposition. The ford was never good by any means, and a slight rise in the river made fording impossible. The mail was carried in those days from Davenport to Dubuque on horseback. The carrier would ford the river at Bridgeport when fordable, and John B. Doan, the postmaster, had a rope stretched across the river to which he attached a pulley and a small rope or line was attached to this pulley. When the river was too high to wade or swim, the mail carrier would fasten the mail sack to the pulley and the postmaster would pull it over and get some one from that side of the river to take it on to Dubuque.
The people of Maquoketa soon tired of swimming the river for mail and set to work to secure a postoffice. At that time Frink and Walker had con- tracts for carrying nearly all of the mail for the government. J. E. Goode- now was elected postmaster, and received his appointment in due time, but he had no place to keep the mail which at that time was not extensive. He went to Dubuque and got a boot box which he transformed into post office fixtures, and said post office was kept under the table or under the bed to · be out of the way. When mail come, Mr. Geoodenow seldom had time to look it over and each one helped himself. A place was fixed in one corner of the box where the 25 cents, the price of each letter, was deposited. Doan, the postmaster at Bridgeport, was not pleased with the prospects for a post office at Springfield, as it was then called, and tried to injure the coming town. The Springfield people to get even with him concluded to build a ferry at another place on the river and leave Bridgeport out, and they did make a ferry near the forks of the Maquoketa, and operated it free, and made a road across the sand prairie to Andrew. A boat was made large enough to carry a team and wagon, and as it was free, of course each man done his own ferrying. Ropes were fixed so it could be pulled back and forth, and the work and expense of making the ferry and road was all by voluntary contributions. An Irishman, who helped cut out the road
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to Andrew, remarked that he always considered himself half way when he got to Andrew, even if he was going to Ireland.
A couple of neighbors fell out about something in a business way. and could not come to an agreement, and as the amount in dispute was not sufficient to hire a lawyer, it was agreed to leave the matter in dispute with Squire Clark, and abide by his decision. The squire decided that one -of the parties should pay the other a certain amount of corn, and the case was referred to for years afterwards as Clark's corn case.
The first convention held in the county to nominate officers was held by the side of the road between Andrew and Cottonville. There was not ma- terial enough out of which to make up two tickets, and it was decided that as each was named he should announce his politics. W. A. Warren was nominated for sheriff and said he was a Whig. . Uncle Tommy Wright was named for recorder, and declared himself to be a Jeffersonian Democrat. Some were Jackson Democrats, and of course all who were nominated were elected for the reason that there was no opposition at the election.
The first 4th of July I spent in Maquoketa was in 1839, and I was the only human being in the place on that day. Lorenzo Spalding was married on that day to a lady living near the four corners, now Emeline, and Mr. Goodenow, Mr. Nims and wife, and Lyman Bates left early in the morning for the wedding and I was left to look after the cabin. As the party had to go to Canton to cross the river they started early and came home Jate. I did not see a human being that day.
The next 4th of July, 1840, we had gained some in population, and we concluded to at least remember the day. We got Amasa Nims team and gathered up a load of settlers, taking provision along for our dinner, and started south over the beautiful prairie country which at that time was a veritable flower garden. We stopped at a spring about noon. ate our dinner and picked flowers, and enjoyed the day very much.
The next 4th of July, 1841, was a day long to be remembered by the settlers in the Maquoketa valley. Uncle Tommy Wright and I had talked about how we could get up a celebration, and finally concluded that if we could get Scott Kirkpatrick to make the oration we could manage the rest of it. We saw Kirkpatrick and he readily consented and thought it would be a good thing for the country to get the people together and have them get acquainted with each other. After deciding to celebrate, the next thing of importance was a flag. I went to Dubuque and got some white cotton cloth and some blue cotton cloth and some red paint, to make the strips with and Uncle Tommy Wright and I cut it out and Aunt Rachael Wright sewed it together and we had a pretty respectful flag. That was the first flag ever raised in the Maquoketa valley. We now had our orator and flag, and we sent out word through the country that we were going to celebrate, and called a meeting at Fred Mallard's to formulate plans and make ar- rangements. At that meeting Joe Brown volunteered to read the Declar- ation of Independence, William Y. Earle agreed to play the fife, Jason Pangborn to beat the snare drum and Ben Hanson the bass drum. Loren- tus Adolphius Ferdinand Corbin was elected marshal of the day, and Jonas Clark was selected as chairman and toast master. We set a day that we
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would meet and put up a bowery, but when we got the frame up we found that no arrangements had been made for lumber for seats and tables, so we got teams and went to Canton and got planks for seats and tables, and un- loaded it at the bowery. We had also built a place for the storage of the . provisions. On the 3rd of July we met again and covered the bowery with brush and got a liberty pole and made seats and tables. We got a very nice hickory pole, drawed it to the place where we were to raise it, dug a pit to set it in, but did not raise it that day. On the morning of the 4th we met again to raise our liberty pole, had our flag ready, but when we tried to raise the pole, we found that some one had bored it through with an augor near the middle and ruined it. We were determined to raise a liberty pole and Henry Mallard started after his oxen and some of us took our axes and went to the woods for another pole. We found a white oak that would answer our purpose and by the time we had it trimmed up, Mallard was there with his oxen and we hitched the cattle to the pole, and then some of us got after them cattle and we made them .make pretty good time to the bowery, and soon had our pole up and flag flying, and I never saw a fairer day. The peo- ple came from far and near, the crowd being much larger than we expected. When the hour arrived, the marshal formed a grand procession. headed by the fife and drums, and after a brief march, brought up at the bowery and was called to order by Jonas Clark, who introduced Joe Brown, who read the Declaration of Independence in a highly creditable manner; Scott Kirkpatrick was introduced as the orator of the day and talked for two hours, taking for his subject, the Declaration of Independence, and a finer address was never made in the Maquoketa Valley. After the speaking was over the ladies brought out the baskets, and loaded the tables with the best the country afforded, and we enjoyed the day as only pioneers can enjoy an occasion of that kind. After the banquet, the toast master, Clark, called for toasts, one for each of the original 13 states or colonies and after each toast Clark would call for so many cheers, either from the drum corps or au- dience. Nearly every one present had an opportunity to give a toast and a good many responded. Finally Squire Harris suggested that some one should give a toast to the man that bored the liberty pole and he, Harris, was elected to give the toast, he raised his glass and said, if he is as black outside as he is within, and his hair is as black and as curly as mine. he will pass for a native of Africa. That wound up the first 4th of July cele- bration. Many of us met for the first time that day and some of us formed acquaintances that ripened into friendship, which lasted through life.
Our next 4th of July celebration was held where the High School build- ing now stands and the officers were the same as on the previous year.
The next was held on Ira Stimpson's land where Willam Bodkin now lives and our officers were the same, except that Ira Stimpson was our mar- shal. The program was about the same as the preceding celebrations.
In 1844, Shade Burleson built a barn and got a roof on and floor laid in time for us to celebrate there. Zal. Livermore had been to Bellevue and had heard that there was a tine flag there that could be got cheap and the people chipped in and raised money and bought it. That flag was used at Burlesons and I don't know what become of the flag that Uncle Tommy
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Wright and I made. At this celebration Zal. Livermore was marshal and a man from Dubuque assisted our orator and made a fine speech.
Another notable celebration was held at A. H. Wilson's. He had built a large barn, in which was a matched floor where nine sets could dance at one time. There were 2,000 people attended this celebration and 129 num- bers issued to dancers. Dancing kept up all night and large tables were placed in the basement loaded with edibles which all had access to.
Anson H. Wilson tells an interesting incident, illustrating some of the difficulties experienced in the early days. It is about his first letter. He heard there was a letter at the Bridgeport post office for him, and he set out on foot for Bridgeport. It was late in the fall and he found a thin crust of ice along the bank of the river and the water looked cold indeed to the young man, but he was bound to have that letter and taking off his clothes and making them into as small a bundle as possible, he fastened them to his head and plunged into the water and swam and waded to the other shore, dressed himself and went to the post office and demanded his letter. But there was further trouble in store for him, for there was a charge of 25 cents for additional postage on the letter and 25 cents he did not have. The letter was from Canada and it cost 25 cents to send a letter to any part of the United States and an additional 25 cents to Canada. For instance, if he wrote to his folks in Canada, it cost him 25 cents to mail it and his folks had to pay 25 cents to get it out of the office; if his friends in Canada wrote to him it cost them 25 cents to start it and him 25 cents to get it from the office, in other words it cost $1.00 to write home and get an answer. Mr. Wilson could not raise the money nor could he trade his coon skin cap as he offered to, and had to go back without his letter. He went to his friend Goodenow, nor could he help him, for reason that he had no money. Mr. Wilson then went to Shade Burleson, worked two days, took his pay in corn, sold the corn to the miller and got money to pay postage on his letter.
Mr. Wilson says while staying with J. E. Goodenow, the first year I came here, I was taken very sick with fever. A Mr. Dunham, commonly known as Hog Dunham, with whom I had become acquainted, heard of my sickness and came to see me. After looking me over for some time, he said, "Ance, you are going to die sure as hell, would you like to die comfortably?" I said yes, if I have to die I would like to die comfortably. He got some
cold water, gave me all I could drink and poured cold water all over me. and he and Mark Current began rubbing me and rubbed me until I fairly shone, and in three days after the cold water treatment, they had me so I could ride horseback. I have always felt that Dunham saved my life.
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