USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 28
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The public schools were flourishing and Miss Field's Seminary was in good condition.
Two brass bands were organized during this year.
Wheat shipments reached 629,000 bushels.
1869
The board of supervisors voted Judge Couch $1,000 for the work he had donc on the bridge, largely with his own resources. Then he was compelled to use the money to build up an approach to the bridge proper. These bridge controversies, in one shape or another, were in the limelight for a period of four years.
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Central House.
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF WATERLOO, 1868
Courthouse.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
The first velocipede used in Waterloo was made by George Jackson, a wagon maker. It excited a great deal of interest.
A wild cat was killed in the second ward on March 30th. It was forced out of the timber by the high water, was set upon by dogs, and finally shot by John A. Ward. It measured forty inches in length and stood twenty inches in its stockings.
A largely attended and enthusiastic convention was held in Waterloo on March 24th to promote the building of the Des Moines & McGregor Railroad. There were delegates present from the two extremes and from points all along the line.
The season was cold and wet up until May and the people found comfort in the report that there was good sleighing in the New England states as late as April 15th.
Twenty-eight persons paid income tax this year, amounting in all to $1,895.45 ; those paying the highest were: Robert Manson, W. Brubaker, David Cobb, A. T. Lusch, J. H. Leavitt, Edmund Miller.
The fire department made its first parade in uniform on May 3d, Monday. There were seventy-five men in line. The Red Jacket Brass Band received a great ovation.
The first marriage in the county jail was celebrated January Ist, when Paul Kehoe, serving a sentence of eight months for burglary, and Maggie Campbell, in for six months for vagrancy and other offenses, were married by Justice Hastings. G. A. Eberhart paid the license and Dan Foote supplied the revenue stamp.
Wheat had dropped to 85 cents per bushel and the farmers were feeling very blue over their prospects, as they had most of their crops in bin.
The Fowler & Howe Block was constructed in this year, later known as the Henderson Block.
The Commercial House on the east side was closed late in the year.
The population of Waterloo was at this time 4,000 and the valuation of property $909,535.
1870
The old schoolhouse on the west side was converted into a new structure, considered one of the best in the state.
A military company was organized March 19th. Thomas J. Rice was elected captain. There were fifty enlisted men.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church was enlarged and improved in April. On April 14th the prisoners confined in the basement of the courthouse attempted to burn their way to liberty.
Swift's new hotel, occupying building later used by the Logan House, in- formally opened to the public on April 20th.
Cedar Valley Medical Society met in this city on June 7th and Dr. Edward Lichty elected president.
The big schoolhouse on the west side was destroyed by fire on December 6th. The loss was $30,000; insurance, $10,000. Dr. Bickley's office, Burnham Block, basement of the M. E. Church and the Nauman Block were utilized for holding classes.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
1871
There are now six daily trains on the Valley Road. The March freshet occa- sioned considerable of a landslide between here and Cedar Falls on the line of the B. C. R. & N. Road. A chapter of the Locomotive Union was established in this city in March with fifty-six members.
Beck and Nauman purchased the interest of Blasberg in the woolen factory in April.
Narrow gauge railroads held the interest of the people during this year. The proposition was before the people in April. A large meeting was held and articles of incorporation were submitted and agreed upon. H. B. Allen and R. H. Pardee went East and examined narrow gauge railroads.
The Manson Block, opposite the Logan House, begun by Robert Manson in July.
The bridge question was once again agitated, the structure deemed to be in bad shape.
The postoffice block, adjoining E. W. Burnham's Block, was completed in September, with three store rooms. The Courier was moved into this block as soon as it was completed. This was located on Bridge Street.
The Iowa Baptist State Convention was held in this city, beginning Oc- tober 13th.
The four piers to the new bridge in this city were completed on December Ist.
1872
Senator J. H. Leavitt and Representatives Cicero Close and George B. Van Saun gave a banquet at the Central House.
Fire destroyed the Progress plant in La Porte City.
On March 16th the sash and door factory of Beck, Nauman & Brother was burned, with a loss of $6,000 and no insurance.
Board of supervisors let contract for iron bridge across the river for $17,500. Waterloo voted tax for B., C. R. & N. Railroad.
German-American paper established by W. H. Hartman.
The Waterloo Agricultural Works organized and capitalized at $100,000.
1873
This was a year of fatalities. Among the prominent cases were : shooting of Byron Wright by Miss Myra Stickley; murder of infant charged to William Riley and Ursula Spangler; pitchfork war in Poyner Township; young man at- tempted to kill Miss Darin of Blairsburg; William Gallatin, a young man, found dead in bed ; suicide of Rev. W. B. Watkins.
The Waterloo Savings Bank went into liquidation during this year.
1874
Agricultural Implement Factory assured. Waterloo Cheese Factory made the first cheese.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
The Illinois Central Railway Company agreed in this year to erect a new station at Waterloo.
The city council raised the saloon license to $300 per annuni.
A new race track constructed by H. M. Conger and Whitney brothers.
An attempt was made by incendiaries to burn the Lincoln Block on the west side occupied by Leo Levi.
On June 10th the Water Witch Fire Company's new hall was formally opened. Parade by firemen and speeches by Mayor Lewis Lichty. Meeting was called to order by L. F. Walker, who made an address. Bob Chapman also spoke.
On July 8th Waterloo was visited by the most disastrous wind storm in the history of the county. Beck & Nauman's woolen mill and many small buildings were unroofed. The farm house of Levi Wambaugh was entirely destroyed and the family sought safe refuge in the cellar. Much live stock was killed in the county.
On August 28th there was a baseball match between East and West Waterloo; won by latter with score of 41 to 20. The next month a game between Waverly and Waterloo resulted in a 67 to 34 score in favor of Waterloo.
1875
January of this year was an extremely cold month. Mercury reached 25 degrees below zero. Railroads were blockaded by snow banks and trainmen suf- fered from frozen limbs. In February, with severe snow storms, mercury dropped to 30 below.
Tracy & Talcott of Rockford, Illinois, opened a dry goods store on east side. Pork packing house, Sessler & Redfield owners, secured for Waterloo and work begun on the structure in Hitt's Grove.
City council took action in regard to purchasing steam fire engine for the Red Jacket Brigade.
1876
Notes in Courier say that editor has taken a barrel of beans on subscription and desires a load of corn.
Railroad Chapel dedicated.
New Catholic Church in Barclay Township also dedicated.
1877
S. H. Rownd and his two dogs had a desperate battle with a prairie wolf early in this year and finally won out, although much cut up.
Hog cholera became prevalent in the county this year.
The enrollment of Waterloo schools was 484.
Jacob Gomeringer crushed his wife's skull with an axe and then attempted to kill himself. He died a few days later.
On June 17th Rev. H. O. Pratt preached the first sermon in the Jefferson Street Methodist Episcopal Church. DeWitt Talmadge lectured in Waterloo at Union Hall.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
A steam pleasure boat, the Lady Franklin, came to a point opposite the fair grounds and then stranded in shallows.
Corner stone of Methodist Church on the east side rifled of its contents.
A new town clock was placed in the tower of Grace M. E. Church.
New opera house was dedicated on November 25th.
City council decided to purchase fifty street lamps.
1878
During this year a great temperance revival was conducted in Waterloo by John W. Drew, evangelist. Prohibition had taken a strong hold on the people and the reformers were beginning to be very active in their work. A Reform Club was also organized. having as its members many of the best people of the town.
Street mains for gas company arrived and were put into place.
.A plan was proposed for the drainage of the second ward, so as to afford a means for carrying off the waters of Dry Run, so that they shall not carry pig pens, hen coops and sidewalks on their swelling current.
Initial steps were taken for the building of a new jail. A committee was sent to other counties to investigate different bastiles.
Waterloo sends quite a sum of money to the South to aid yellow fever victims.
1879
Active building was renewed in this year. The brick blocks were rather better than heretofore. The residences were also of better quality.
Meetings were held in January to promote the building of a railroad from Des Moines via Waterloo to connect with the M. & St. Paul. A committee was ap- pointed to look after the matter consisting of Matt Parrott, L. Alford, A. T. Weatherwax. H. B. Allen, Horace Boies and H. W. Jenney.
A new hotel on the west side was proposed, also an oil mill was cited as a good investment.
The Catholics began the agitation for a new parochial school in July.
In this year there was a good increase in trade. The drygoods trade bettered itself. although wholesale prices had advanced. Other trades were correspondingly good. The price of wheat ranged from 60 cents to $1.05 per bushel.
There were 231 marriage licenses issued and 72 people naturalized. There were 122 prisoners confined in the jail during the year. Eleven of them made their escape on July 11th by crawling through an iron door.
The fire department purchased the Jeanie Jewel steamer during the year.
1880
In many lines business increased from 35 to 50 per cent over last year. The year shows a total number of factories of one kind or another of twenty-five; number of hands employed in the whole of them, 490: the sales amounting to $924.905. The woolen mills were for a time shut up and supposed to be put in operation again when they were purchased by D. F. McArthur of St. Ansgar.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
In July the Waterloo Brewery was almost destroyed by fire. The brewery was leased by Julius Goldstein, who soon after purchased the premises and put in new buildings and other improvements, making the brewery one of the finest in the state. Other factories and brick blocks went up this year, some promoted by foreign capital and some local.
1881
There were twenty-eight factories of all kinds in operation during the year. The sales amounted to $1,196,310. There were 387 hands employed.
The creamery of Thompson and Casteel was destroyed by fire on the night of December 17th, together with entire stock. Loss, $5,000. Hitt's carriage fac- tory added the manufacture of 'buses to its business. Goldstein & Company made an extensive improvement of the brewery. Manson, Cleveland & Manson laid out $10,000 in machinery for their steam cracker factory.
During the year there were 2,829 hogs received for shipment at the stock yards.
The Union Mutual Aid Association was organized July 20th and began busi- ness on August 10th. Matt Parrott was president ; S. Bagg, vice president ; C. E. Mabie, secretary ; J. H. Leavitt, treasurer; D. W. Crouse, medical director; L. Alford, counselor. The Equitable Mutual Endowment Association was also or- ganized, and the Home Fire Insurance Company.
The total number of buildings erected or improved during this year was 100.
1882
A company was formed early in January with a capital stock of $30,000 for the further improvement of the city water power. The stock was all taken in less than one day. The project was to build the dam some distance below the courthouse, which was afterwards done, and dig a race two miles in length, the idea being that there was sufficient falls to justify such a movement. This was done a few years subsequently, but it never amounted to much.
Waterloo National Guards were organized in February. G. E. Fernald was made captain ; J. W. Richards, first lieutenant ; F. H. George, second lieutenant ; C. F. Kruse, sergeant.
Mail route between Waterloo and Blakeville established in April.
On the map published in 1859 the Waterloo and Des Moines Railroad is a prominent feature, but it all came to naught. The present idea is all in favor of the W. I. & N. :
There were seventy-nine buildings projected or in process of erection by the last of June.
The Alcohol Works Company was organized.
1883
Cicero Close was killed by a runaway team on June 2d.
General Benjamin Harrison of Indianapolis addressed 3,000 people on Sep- tember 18th.
The dam for the lower water power was completed in October.
232
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
1884
Firms of Daniel & Slade. Beck & Nauman, H. T. Roberts & Company, and T. M. Watts & Company consolidated under the name of The Daniel and Nauman Company with a capital of $100,000. The corporation organized March 3d.
During this year the Cedar went on a rampage, reaching almost to the high water mark of 1858. being 13 feet 8 inches above the low water mark on March 28th.
The Diagonal engineers were surveying through the city in April.
Hotel Irving opened on June 17th.
The egg packing plant of Antes, Garn & Company destroyed by fire with loss of $35,000.
1885
Judge Sylvester Bagg died on April 5th at Minneapolis.
Samuel Berry of Eagle Township lost 170 hogs by cholera.
Laying of the cornerstone of the Waterloo College May 23d.
On June 13th a cyclone swept over the city, doing considerable damage. The Waterloo College Building, under process of construction, was blown down. Several other buildings were unroofed. A hail storm. August 2d, inflicted con- siderable damage to the crops. Also to the windows of city buildings.
At several meetings held during this year the city council discussed the plan of city waterworks.
1886
A system of waterworks was inaugurated on July 4th with nine miles of mains and III fire hydrants.
In this year the Illinois Central sought entrance to the heart of Waterloo.
The sale of Waterloo real estate amounted to $220,000.
Congress passed a law extending the free delivery of mail to Waterloo.
1887
On January 7th of this year the mercury registered 40 degrees below zero. The different churches banded together and formed a musical society.
At Cedar Falls on January 12th, W. O. Crosby shot his wife to death and then shot himself.
At the spring election only 813 voters registered.
The Citizens Mutual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in this year.
This year was one of "boom" for Waterloo; real estate advanced rapidly in price. In the latter part of April there was considerable agitation over boring for gas.
Waterloo's free mail carrier system was inaugurated on July Ist. Twenty- six letter boxes were ordered to be attached to lamp posts throughout the city and two collections and two deliveries of mail in the business district.
Steps were taken for a second wagon bridge across the Cedar, and there was spirited discussion as to whether Park Avenue or Fifth Street was preferable. The board of supervisors appropriated $25,000 for the construction of the bridge.
Upriver view of east bank from Fourth Street bridge in 1871.
East Fourth Street between Water and Syea- more in the '70s.
Upriver view of west bank from Fourth Street bridge in 1872.
Brinckley 's Island, or Lovers' Retreat.
Union Block, Waterloo East, erected by Ed- mund Miller. View taken in the early '70s.
West Fourth Street, northeast from Jefferson, abont 1882.
EARLY VIEWS OF WATERLOO
233
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
On June 25th two men, while driving through the W. H. Palmer farm in Mount Vernon Township, discovered the body of a man hanging from a tree. The victim proved to be Christian Monck, who worked for a farmer named Roth. Among his effects were found notes valued at $2,600.
Regular through train service went into effect on the Diagonal on July 28th. On September 4th the city council appropriated $7,000 to aid in building a new bridge across the Cedar at Fifth Street.
On October Sth the body of Christian Hemme was found in a well on his farm in Mount Vernon Township by his nephew, William Mundfrom. It was proved that he was murdered by Mundfrom and Mrs. Hemme.
On October 22d three prisoners dug their way out of the county jail.
1888
Melting snow and heavy rains caused a great freshet on April 8th, when several bridges were swept away and other damage inflicted.
A small cyclone broke up a Fourth of July celebration at Cedar Falls.
A company was organized on June 15th to build a paper mill down the river. ...
A cyclone at La Porte City on November 2d caused $25,000 worth of damage.
1889
Early in January, Superintendent Wall of the waterworks announced that the company would drill a number of wells in the waterworks filler to supply water for drinking and culinary purposes.
In February it was reported that the Methodist Episcopal Church was just finishing the tenth week of revival services and that interest had in no way abated.
The street car company petitioned the council to allow them to erect wire and poles so that they could run their cars by electricity on April 22d.
The laying of cement sidewalks was growing in popularity during the early spring.
The Merchants' Carnival was held in Turner Hall the week of May 22d and was one of the best exhibitions ever held in the city.
Up to September 15th over one, thousand feet of sewer pipe had been laid and there remained 2,000 feet to be put in on the east side.
On September 30th three horse thieves confined in the county jail made a desperate attack on Sheriff Hoxie and made good their escape.
In this year the water of the Cedar sank so low that a man could cross from one side to the other on stones without wetting his feet.
In the November election Horace Boies of Waterloo was elected governor of the State of Iowa.
The paper mill completed at a cost of $39,000 ; the B., C. R. & N. depot com- pleted, $25,000; new First Methodist Episcopal Church completed ; large foundry and warehouse put up by Thomas Cascaden; business blocks built by the Doctors Bickley, I. C. Munger and A. Fernbaugh. Many other business houses were erected during this year, also the plant of the Cedar Valley Manufacturing Com- pany. The total improvements of the year estimated at $200,000.
234
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
1890
The postoffice was moved to the east side the first week of the new year.
In the early winter the subject of a public library was first discussed, and a great amount of encouragement received.
However, at the city election held March 3d the proposition to vote a one mill tax for a library was defeated. Every ward voted against it.
The Perpetual Building and Loan Association was organized in March. W. W. McFarlane was president ; George Dunham, vice president ; George Dawson, secretary ; E. L. Johnson, treasurer.
In April of this year there were $40,000 in improvements in progress.
The Waterloo Street Car and Omnibus Manufacturing Company was formed during the last week in June.
Officials of the Illinois Central were on the ground June 28th examining sites for the company's depot.
On August 4th. Dexter Jones was shot at Cedar Falls by Deputy Marshal Tom Stingley.
Matt Parrott & Sons began the publication of a paper early in December under the name of Rural Life.
George W. Hanna, the first settler of Black Hawk County, died on De- cember 12th.
1891
A box factory was secured for Waterloo early in January. The location was to be on Commercial Street and the concern operated by Henry Weis.
The Waterloo Improvement Syndicate was formed in the early part of April. Floods and wind storms paid their visit to Waterloo during the latter part of June.
The improvements made in Waterloo during this year were estimated to be over three hundred and sixty thousand dollars.
There was 225 marriages. 303 births and 89 deaths.
1892
At the beginning of this year the project for an electric line in Waterloo is still pending.
An institution for the curing of liquor and drug habits was established here early in the year.
Citizens held a meeting to consider the advisability of brick pavement.
In June and July more excitement over drilling for gas came up among the citizens.
On Sunday evening, July 9th, the steamer City of Waterloo and a barge loaded with passengers went over the dam. No one was hurt.
Work on the brick pavement on East Fourth Street was begun September Ist by Henry Besler. Pavement was to be laid from the bridge to Franklin Street and the cost was to be $2.15 per square yard and the curbing 50 cents a lineal foot. The second contract covered the paving of Lafayette Street from Fifth Street to Park Avenue.
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BRIDGE STREET, WATERLOO
CORNER EAST FOURTH AND SYCAMORE STREETS, WATERLOO
235
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
1893
A large meeting was held on the evening of February 3d to make an organized effort to get the Chicago Northwestern Railway to build a branch to Waterloo.
Snow storms were prevalent in the winter and spring and damage and in- convenience caused. The month of March was taken up by thawing out the sewers. The Mulberry Street sewer was frozen solid south of East Fourth.
The total expenditure for improvements this year was $1,610,943, the largest amount until this time. An appropriation of $150,000 was made for a public building ; the Sias & Cole wholesale house was built; the postoffice was moved into the new building in February; Swift & Company opened a branch produce house ; St. Joseph's Catholic Church was dedicated October 7th; the Iowa Tele- phone Company planned $15,000 improvements for the city.
1894
In this year there were forty-three inmates of the poor farm.
On April 24th the city council fixed the saloon tax at $1,200. The council also awarded the contract for paving to H. L. Wheelan of Rock Island. The district to be paved included Commercial Street from Park Avenue to Bridge Street, West Fourth to Bluff, Jefferson between Park Avenue and West Fifth, also between the southerly line of Commercial and the west end of the Fifthi Street bridge.
The third annual session of the Waterloo Chautauqua Association was held July 2d to 15th.
Pavement order August 27th from Commercial on West Fifth to Bluff Street. John A. Lusch died December 16th.
1895
A. H. Wolf came to the city early in January and succeeded in raising funds to insure the starting of a canning factory.
The new city building on the west side was accepted by the council at meeting of January 28th.
Paving was ordered on East Fourth Street from Franklin to the Illinois Central tracks.
The Cedar Valley Manufacturing Company was reorganized in February and the capital stock increased to $50,000.
During the year 1894, 11,676 feet of sewer were built in the fourth ward. Over four thousand feet of smaller size was laid on the east side.
The severest snow storm of the season was that of April 3d, when the snow fell at the rate of an inch an hour.
1896
The statement of the proposed new electric line was given January 18th. J. H. Rafferty at this time was interested in selling lots for the securing of the new trolley system for Waterloo and Cedar Falls. It was proposed by the street car
236
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
company to invest $200,000 and none of the officers of the company was interested in real estate in either Waterloo or Cedar Falls.
Judge C. F. Couch died on February 18th.
Four hundred women registered to vote on library proposition.
Rapid transit line assured for Waterloo on March 18th. It marked a new beginning of prosperity. The line in the city to Cedar River Park was promised to be completed by June 25th. Sale of lots amounting to $57,000 was accom- plished by Rafferty. A street car ordinance was passed by the city council on April 25th.
A meeting was held in early May at which a magnificent $20,000 Y. M. C. A. was assured.
The city council, on May 4th, adopted a resolution for the enlarging of the city limits and providing for a "greater Waterloo." In the middle of May agitation started for the new bridge across Fourth Street, the plan being for the county board to appropriate $25,000 and the city $15.000.
On May 7th the old-fashioned, slow-going horse car made its last trip through the City of Waterloo. The Waterloo Street Railway Company was organized in 1885 and continued operating the horse car until Messrs. Cass and Fosselman took hold of the concern. .
It was given out after the examination of the Fourth Street Bridge that there would be no new structure just at the present time.
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