USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > Historical and biographical record of Black Hawk County, Iowa > Part 62
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Since the original plat was made in 1854, a large number of additions have been made, and the primitive town comprises but a small portion of the present thriving city of Waterloo.
ORIGIN OF NAME.
In 1850 a petition was circulated asking for the establishment of a postoffice, and naming Charles Mullan as postmaster. There were seven names signed to the peti- tion, probably embracing all citizens of petitioning age. As to who named the town, and why it was called Waterloo, seems to be a somewhat mooted question, though there is no doubt that previous to the establishment of a postoffice it was called Prairie Rapids, or Prairie Rapids Crossing. A story is told by some old settlers that the people of Cedar Falls gave it the name of water-low, on account of the flat appearance of the original village, which by a slight change makes the name first given to the postoffice and afterward to the town. The citizens of Waterloo, however, claim that the name was selected by Charles Mullan, in the following manner: This question having been discussed for some time without arriving at any conclusion, Mr. Mullan was authorized to select a name when he went to Cedar Falls for the purpose of securing the endorsement of the postmaster there. In looking through the list of offices in the United States, he hit upon the name of Waterloo, and being well pleased with it, and finding no other one of the same name in the State, filled the blank with that name and sent off the petition. In due time he received his commission as postmaster of Waterloo, and first kept the
office in a small basket or box at his resi- dence in the west part of town.
THE FIRST HOTELS.
In 1853 Adam Shigley had built a story- and-a-half log cabin, about 16 x 24 feet, on the west bank of the river, near the ferry landing and near the corner of Second street and Cedar avenue. This was opened as a boarding house and sort of a tavern by Seth Lake, in the autumn of 1853, but it was a primitive affair, and the accommo- dations exceedingly meager. Very soon after the first survey of the town plat was made, in the autumn 1853, two brothers named Emerson, lumbermen, from Wiscon- sin, purchased lot 3, block 8, on the west side of Commercial street, and commenced putting up the walls of a log cabin. But before it was completed they sold out to Solomon Ayers, who completed the build- ing and lived in it during the winter of 1853-'4, keeping some boarders, as board- ers were plenty and boarding houses few and far between at that time. The next spring, in April, 1854, Ayers sold to Henry Sherman, who opened the cabin as a tav- ern, and called it the "Sherman House," which was practically the first hotel in Waterloo.
In the autumn of 1854 he built an impos- ing two-story frame addition southeast of the original structure. In this building was the " school section," which those who stopped at the Sherman House in those days may perhaps remember. The "school section" was one large room in the loft, in which a dozen or fifteen beds were placed. These beds were numbered from one to fif- teen, under Groat's management. It is said that when strangers came, the land- lord would very consequentially direct the boy to show the gentleman up to No. 10, for instance. "Is that a single room ?" the guest would query. " Certainly, sir! cer- tainly, sir!" The guest would vanish under
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the guidance of the factotum, with a tallow candle, but dismayed at finding fifteen beds in "his single room," each one, perhaps, except the one assigned to him, with two occupants, he would rush down stairs and salute the landlord with, "I thought you said, sir, that my room was a single one," only to return with a crest-fallen air to his dormitory when the landlord blandly re- turned for answer:
" Well, is there more than one room up there?"
Besides " the school section," there was another dormitory with five or six beds in it that was called "the prairie," the en- trance to which was only about three feet high, and which guests entered on their hands and knecs.
Sherman was genial, and kept a very fair house for those pioneer times. The old settlers tell numerous stories about the Sherman House and its jolly landlord. Perhaps some of the old settlers may remem- ber Charley McCloud, the tailor, who used to wait on the table for his board. The markets in 1854-'5 were not very liberally supplied, but when there were strangers at the table, Charley would politely ac- cost them with " Beef steak, mutton chop, or salt pork, sir ?" " I'll take a bit of steak, well done, sir." "All right, sir, in one minute." And away the enterprising waiter would hurry for a plate of fried pork, for he knew that was all the larder afforded ; and it was amusing to witness his gravity when he returned with a plate of greasy pork, and handed it to the disappointed guest with "I'm very sorry, sir, but the steak's all out."
In 1856 the house was leased by M. T. Williams, familiarly known in this region as " Dad" Williams, and a partner named Eichelberger, who changed its name to Tremont House. Mr. Williams's brother, Henry D., came soon after, and became the popular clerk of the Tremont. Eichel-
berger sold his interest to one Day, and Day to Fuller, and at the expiration of their lease Sherman again became land- lord, and the house was again known as the " Sherman." Soon afterward he leased to B. F. Thomas, under whose administra- tion it was the " Franklin House." Thomas was followed successively by Mr. Groat, Joseph Henry and a McCormick, when Sherman resumed possession and again changed the name to the Sherman House. Sherman was followed by C. Brubacker. In April, 1864, Robert W. Chapman and Henry D. Williams purchased the premises and changed the name to the "Central House." In May, 1865, Chapman & Williams removed the "school section" to the rear, converted it into a kitchen, and erected a three-story addition in its former place. In the spring of 1869 Williams purchased his partner's interest and became sole proprietor, but in 1872 leased to J. J. Sanford, and in 1873 sold to his brother, John H. Williams. Should any patron of the old "Sherman," "Tre- mont" or " Franklin" desire to revive old memories by a glimpse of the "school sec- tion" or the " prairie," Mr. Williams, of the " Central," will take pleasure in gratifying their wish.
The first tavern on the east side was of logs, built by Samuel L. May, on the corner of Fourth and Sycamore streets, on which stands Burnham's Block, and was kept by that gentleman un- til his death in the winter of 1855-'6, when it was closed for a short time. t was afterward reopened by Job Engle, succeeded in a short time by his son, John C. Engle, and still later by Asa Shinn.
The second was built by Myron Smith, in 1855-'6. It was a small frame structure on Water street, corner of Fifth. Since then a number have been started, most of which are now running.
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BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The first store in Waterloo was opened by Nelson Fancher, in 1853, in a log cabin on Third street, lot 10, block 2. He after- ward sold out to George W. Hanna, who removed to a log building on lot I, block I. Henry Kent had a store in 1854. The ferry landing was in the vicinity of these first stores. In May, 1854, B. J. Capwell & Co. opened a store in a log building fourteen feet square, on the corner of block 8, below the Sherman House. Mr. Capwell paid $250 for his corner, which probably in- cluded lots 1 and 2. He found seventeen buildings on the site of Waterloo when he arrived in 1854.
George B. Pratt and James Virden built and opened the first store on the east side, in 1853, at the corner of Fourth and Water streets. In 1854 Samuel Aldrich opened a grocery on Sycamore street, which was known as "Uncle Sam's Grocery." The public was attracted by a sign which, al- though not very artistic, was certainly novel, and read as follows: " Uncle Sam's Grocery ; Rough and Ready ; Walk In; Don't be Alarmed!" Whitney & Martin opened a store in the same year, and in 1855 S. P. Brainard opened a general stock.
The first dam across the Cedar River at Waterloo was built by James Eggers. He received permission from the County Court June 2, 1854, and commenced operations the same year. His dam was a short dis- tance above the present one, and was con- structed of logs and brush. In three weeks after he had received his permit he had a dam, which raised the water two feet.
The first mill in Waterloo was a saw-mill run by horse-power, which was located near where the City Mill stands, on the west side. This was in 1854. In 1855 James Eggers built and operated a saw-mill. The building, or part of it, still stands, and is now occupied by Daniel & Slade as a fur-
niture factory. Eggers was a man of con- siderable energy and enterprise, but had little capital. The panic of 1857 was too much for him. He became involved in law- suits and finally went West.
The first flouring mill in Waterloo was erected in 1856, by G. W. Couch and other parties, and it commenced grinding early in 1857. The first stone was hauled from Iowa City by C. A. Farwell, in the fall of 1856, and that winter Mr. Farwell hauled the water-wheel from Rock Island, Illinois. The mill was started with one run of stone, but shortly after another was added for corn and feed. Previous to the erection of this mill the settlers here had to go to Cedar Falls for their flour and feed, and before that to Cedar Rapids.
The first mill on the east side was a one- story building erected by William and E. Mears, in 1855, for a saw-mill, but was not put in operation until 1856. In 1857 a second story was added, and machinery was put in for a grist-mill. The building was located just above the present Cedar Mill.
PROFESSIONAL.
The first lawyer to locate in Waterloo was John Randall, who afterward, when county judge, located the court-house, for which act he has been and will continue to be held in remembrance by the people of the town and county. The first physician in Waterloo was Dr. McKinley, who lo- cated here in 1853. He was considered skillful in his profession, but remained here only a year or so, and then removed to Texas.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The first celebration of the nation's birth- day was in 1853. About 200 people gathered on that occasion. An arbor was built of brush on the river bank, just above Mill Square, under which tables were spread and a picnic dinner provided.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
Among the speakers were John Virden and John H. Brooks.
The next year, 1854, preparations were made for a big time. Various committees were appointed, and a free dinner promised; but before the time appointed there was a " split," and the result was two celebra- tions-one at the Sherman House, where Edmund Miller read the Declaration of Independence and George Ordway stirred up the American eagle ; and the other at or near the Public Square, where G. W. Mil- ler and Rev. S. W. Ingham performed like services for their country. It is said that Mr. Sherman had a flag, the only one in town; but the others, not to be outdone, manufactured one out of unbleached sheet- ing and red cambric, forty feet long, which floated triumphantly on the appointed day.
In 1855 another grand celebration was held in Virden's Grove, a barbecue in the form of an ox roasted whole being the prin- cipal attraction. There was also a " horse company," which went through with all sorts of tactics and performed many ma- neuvers not recognized in military works, to the great edification of the assembled mul- titude. The barbecue was not a success, the ox being burnt on the outside and much too " rare done" on the inside-an illus- tration of the old adage that "too many cooks spoil the broth." S. W. Rawson, Esq., delivered the oration on this occasion, and the instrumental music was furnished by Mason Hale and Elijah Balcom.
The first dance in the town was in Dr. McKinley's log house, 12x 14 feet, on the evening of July 4, 1854. It is said that the beauty and fashion of the city were out in full force on that occasion. The ball-room stood opposite the present residence of Judge Bagg.
The first bank was opened by A. P. Hos- ford and Edmund Miller, in 1854. Their banking house was a one-story frame build- ing, about 16x24 feet, on the southwest
side of Commercial street, above the Sher- man House, about where Forry's drug store stands now. April 9, 1855, there was a surplus of $1,200 in the county treasury, which, by order of the County Court, the treasurer was authorized to deposit with Hosford & Miller "on their giving ample security by notes and bonds." J. H. Leav- itt, who came to Waterloo in 1854, opened his bank on the opposite side of the street in 1856. William Hammond and Rensse- laer Russell were also engaged in banking in Waterloo at an early day.
On the east side, the first bank was opened in 1867, by C. A. Farwell, on the corner of Sycamore and Bridge streets, on the ground now occupied by the First Na- tional Bank. This bank was established in February, 1865, on the west side, with M. H. Moore, President, and G. W. Couch, Cashier. It was removed to its present lo- cation in February, 1874.
The Iowa State Register and Waterloo Herald, was the first paper published in Waterloo. The first number bears date of December 8, 1855. A copy, the first sheet printed, was secured by F. S. Wash- burn, and preserved by his widow. Some extracts from this first paper are entitled to a place in the history of Waterloo. Fol- lowing the salutatory, in which the editor returns thanks for favors received, is an article headed "Bridge at Waterloo," which he says " is one of the greatest wants of the present time," and concerning which there was considerable discussion, it being a question whether it should be built by sub- scription or by the county. The subscrip- tion plan was evidently the most feasible, as the paper announced that " some $4,000 had already been subscribed," and argued in favor of the construction of a " durable and capacious bridge, with sidewalks on each side, and room enough between for two teams to pass with ease." Following this is a description of a steam saw-mill
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then being built by F. S. Washburn. The editor, having attended the raising, pro- nounced it a jolly affair. The building was fifty feet long by thirty-six feet wide, two stories high, and was to contain a muley, rotary and lath saw and shingle machine, the whole to be operated by a thirty horse- power engine. The building was about thirty rods above the old railroad crossing, and in 1863 was taken down and the mate- rial used in the construction of elevator " B," at the Central depot. The machinery was used in a mill at Elk Run, and after- ward taken to Minnesota.
Then comes an article on the "Stage Facilities of Waterloo," starting out with the assertion that "perhaps no place in the West is better favored with conveniences of going everywhere than Waterloo." The stages left the Sherman House at 6 o'clock every morning for the south, 9 o'clock for the east; and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon for the north and west; and the editor con- gratulates "our citizens" in having such superior traveling accommodations. The heading of the next article is quite metro- politan ; it reads : “ Waterloo-Its Popula- tion, Business Position and Prospects." It states that the population, taken the week previous, was 903 souls; of which number 657 were on the west side, and 246 on the east side. The article goes on to illustrate the growth of the town, by saying that the year before the population was but 300, and that in the last of June of that year the census showed 714 inhabitants, and say- ing that in one year Waterloo had trebled its population. It then proceeded to state: "One year ago there were but three stores here; now there are seventeen, among which are dry-goods, hardware, stove and tinware, groceries, clothing, bakery, drug- gists, cabinet, etc., etc. There are twenty carpenters, three blacksmith shops; one har- ness shop, two shoemaker shops, one wagon shop, two livery stables and one millinery 60
shop; there are also six brickmakers, six attorneys and four ministers. We have three school houses, two of which are dis- trict schools, and one a seminary ;" and, after discussing various other topics, the article concludes : " Nature has done every- thing for Waterloo, and her future resi- dents will doubtless do the rest. We now want industry, shrewd management and capital, which will make it one of the largest cities in the interior of the State. As to the two first requisites, we have a large share of those, and we have some of the latter ; but there is a chance for the investment of any amount of capital to good advantage."
A sale of East Waterloo lots, belonging to the estate of Judge Pratt, took place on the 3d, 4th and 5th of December, 1856, which was largely attended. Bidders were present from New Hampshire, Massachu- setts, New York, Wisconsin and other States. One hundred and nineteen lots were sold amounting to $15,527. The largest price for a single lot was $200, and one-third of the mill property was sold for $4,067.
A literary society was in existence at that early day, a meeting of which was an- nounced for Friday evening, at which the question for discussion was to be : "Do the signs of the times indicate the speedy dis- solution of the Union?"
A notice of the "first ball of the season " also appears. This ball was at Capwell's new brick hall, then just com- pleted, below the Sherman House, on the corner of Commercial and Fifth streets. The paper remarks that " all the dancers appeared to be in fine spirits, and no doubt felt highly delighted to feel that the enter- prise of Capwell & Co. had supplied a suitable place for their amusement. For balls and concerts the hall is well adapted, and we have no doubt it will be well pat- ronized."
November 29, 1855, a Democratic Coun-
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
ty Convention was held, the proceedings of which were reported in the Register. George Ordway was President ; S. P. Brain- ard, Vice-President ; W. H. McClure, Ben- jamin Winset and S. D. McDowell partici- pated in the proceedings. The resolutions were short and explicit, but make inter- esting reading now. Among them were the following:
" Resolved, That in the main we approve of the administration of Franklin Piercc.
" Resolved, That the repeal of the Mis- souri Compromise is just and democratic in its spirit.
" Resolved, That we adhere firmly to the principles of Jefferson and his illustrious compatriots.
" Resolved. That we maintain the doc- trine of Free Trade and State Rights.
" Resolved, That we ignore the organiza- tion of secret societies in party politics in general, and the party called Know-Noth- ings in particular."
The third term of the Waterloo Seminary was announced to commence in January, 1856. The building was located on the corner of Ninth and Bluff streets ; J. B. Hewett was proprietor; Otis Daggett, Principal ; and Chloe Severence (since Mrs. W. Miller), Assistant.
George Ordway started a nursery a mile or two west of the town, in 1855, and his advertisement appeared in the first paper. Hosford & Miller (A. P. Hosford and Ed- mund Miller) advertised lands for sale, in- surance business, etc .; Randall & Miller (J. Randall and G. W. Miller), land surveyors and agents. Samuel Dearer was stone and brick mason ; Williams & Worcester, house, sign and carriage painters ; T. H. & J. El- well, hardware and groceries; B. J. Cap- well & Co., general merchandise; S. P. Brainard advertised his store on the east side.
The highest water ever known in the Cedar River, at Waterloo, was on the Ist
of August, 1858. During the whole season the river was very high, overflowing its banks and stopping the mills. The town was simply a group of islands, and boats sailed about in the streets. The supply of flour in town became exhausted, and for several days the people dieted on hulled corn. George Ordway went to La Porte City after something to eat, and after two days' hard work, by boat and wagon, he succeeded in reaching the submerged city of his home with 800 pounds of flour. During that wet season, thirty years ago, most of the business men of Waterloo went bare-footed, and generally with their trousers legs rolled up above their knees. In this way they went to church on Sunday, pushed the skiffs, in which the women were, before them through the sloughs. Boots and shoes and stockings were at a discount in 1858.
During the season of high water the current in the river was very rapid, but near the west shore was a large eddy ex- tending for some distance down stream up to the mill. In this eddy, or circular cur- rent, the townspeople amused themselves in boating. Paddling into the stream at the mill, boats were swept swiftly down the turbulent stream, when, drifting into the eddy, they were carried back again to the point of starting. On Monday, July 19, 1858, William Fiske, Melissa L. Corson, sixteen years old, daughter of Charles Cor- son, and Ellen Case, about the same age, daughter of W. Case, crossed the river in a skiff, from the east to the west side, to enjoy the pleasing circular boat-riding with others. After a time they started to return, were drifting down stream, when Fiske's brother, who was standing on shore, shouted to him to use his oars or the boat would be swept on the island-" Lover's Retreat "-over which the water was about four feet deep. Fiske heeded the caution and commenced rowing, but the boat struck
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an unseen snag, just above the head of the island, instantly capsized, precipitating the occupants into the water. The young la- dies were swept under and were drowned. Fiske managed to reach a tree on the island, to which he clung until he was rescued in an insensible condition by Dr. McFatrich. As soon as he recovered sufficiently to speak, he asked if the girls were saved, and when told that they were drowned, his intellect gave way and he became insane.
Several weeks afterward, funeral services were held at the court-house by Rev. A. G. Eberhart, and a few days afterward the decomposed remains of the unfortunate girls were found in the timber skirting the river about three miles below the accident. Their bodies had become entangled in the thick brush into which they had been swept by the flood, and when the water subsided they rested there, the bones dropping to the ground as the bodies decomposed. They were discovered by a party of men who were traveling through the timber in that vicinity, whose dog brought to them a woman's shoe in which was the remains of a human foot. The shoe was identified as belonging to Miss Case, and after a brief search her remains were found as above described. The remains of Miss Corson were found soon afterward, and were iden- tified by a gold chain she wore when she was drowned.
The first railroad train on the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad arrived at Water- loo, March II, 1861. On the Burlington Road, trains began to run in ()ctober, 1870.
On Saturday, September 22, 1866, the first span on the west end of the bridge across Cedar River fell into the river, car- rying with it three two-horse teams and a single team. Mr. Hutton, supervisor from Bennington, was standing directly over the first pier when the bridge parted, and he was precipitated into the pier and was in- jured severely. Several horses were killed.
Workmen were engaged in repairing the bridge, which had become unsafe, and they had stretched a rope across to prevent passing, but this was removed by one of the teamsters, who thought he knew better than they whether the bridge was safe. He lost one of his horses and his load of wheat.
The Waterloo Woolen Mill was built in 1866 by Messrs. Beck & Nauman, at a cost of $49,000, with Charles Blossburg as su- perintendent. The mill commenced run- ning in the spring of 1867, and was kept in operation at a sacrifice, until 1875, when it was sold to the Union Mill Company for $11,000. By this company it was rented to Holmes, Emerson & Frances, by whom it was operated until March, 1878. Since that date it has not been in operation.
The Waterloo Mill Company was or- ganized in the fall of 1867. Among the principal stockholders were Hon. S. Bagg, John Elwell, A. Hungerford, R. Marson and G. W. Couch, the last- named being president. Their mill on the west side was built in 1868-'9. Seneca Cleveland was the architect, and William Butterfield, millwright.
The Cedar Falls Company was organ- ized about the same time, perhaps a little before the Waterloo Company, and its mill was built on the east side in 1867-'8. The principal stockholders were W. O. Richards, A. Spencer, Nelson Fancher, J. Engle and E. J. Messinger. Mr. Spencer was president.
In 1873 the Waterloo Mill Company and Cedar Mill Company were consolidated under the name of the Union Mills Com- pany, with T. H. Elwell, President, and W. L. Illingworth, Secretary. President in 1886, A. T. Lane; Mr. Illingworth still remains secretary. This company owns twenty-three-twenty-fourths of the Mill Square and splendid water-power, the other twenty-fourth being owned by the Daniel & Nauman Company. The
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