USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 34
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CEDAR FALLS SCHOOLS
The first school ever taught in this city was in a small log cabin on Main Street opposite the present Lincoln School. There were only a few scholars and the schoolroom was as poor as the scholars were few. The furniture con- sisted of a few puncheon benches. The first teacher here was Mrs. Jackson Taylor. The school was supported by private subscriptions.
A school district was organized in 1853 with E. D. Adams, S. A. Bishop and J. M. Overman as directors and subscriptions were taken for the erection of a schoolhouse. It stood on the corner across Main Street from the present Rock Island Depot.
The graded schools were opened in the autumn of the year 1865 with G. A. Graves as principal. From that time until the present the schools of Cedar Falls have held an enviable position among the educators of lowa, because of the employment of the latest and most approved devices of educational science. There are five main school buildings in the city, namely : the High School, Lincoln Build- ing, Jefferson Building, Miner Building and the Humbert Building. The Cedar Falls school population is about 2,000 and the average attendance runs around nine hundred. The annual expense for the maintenance of these schools is near $30,000. The school libraries total 10,000 volumes.
The schools of Cedar Falls have distinct prestige and are noted among the schools of Iowa on account of their high efficiency. Many families move to this city every year in order to take advantage of the educational facilities offered.
The high school building is one of the handsomest and best constructed in the state. It was built in 1900 at a cost of $35,000. It is located on Main Street and occupies a whole block. The building is constructed in view of every need of every scholar and has departments for every conceivable subject which could be taught in such an institution.
All students in the city residing south of Eighteenth Street attend the pre- paratory department and training school of the State Teachers College.
A magnificent gymnasium building is now being constructed in connection with the high school and will cost $15,000.
BANKS
The first banking institution to be established in the City of Cedar Falls was known as the firm of Greene, Weare, Traer and McClure. The first two gentle- men were from Cedar Rapids, Traer was of Vinton, and McClure lived in Cedar Falls.
In the year 1861 J. T. Knapp and E. Townsend started a banking business known under the name of J. T. Knapp & Company. Townsend retired in a few
RESIDENCES ON EAST SIDE CAMPUS
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years after the establishment. This bank did a general banking business and was noted for loaning money for long periods at a low rate of interest. This bank failed in the year 1893.
The First National Bank was established in 1874 with a capital stock of $50,000. W. M. Fields was the president and C. J. Fields was the cashier. In 1893, when the financial panic struck the country, this bank became a failure completely.
The Cedar Falls National Bank was organized and opened for business April 26, 1888: president, James Miller; vice president, R. A. Davison ; cashier, Roger Leavitt. Capital stock, $50,000.
In 1893, owing to the failure of the two other banks in town, the capital stock was increased to $75,000, the additional capital being sold to prominent business men of the city. In 1900, C. H. Rodenbach became president and H. S. Gilkey, vice president. In 1910 Mr. Gilkey succeeded to the presidency of the bank, which position he still occupies. F. B. Miller is now vice president and H. W. Johnson, cashier, the capital stock having been increased to $100,000 in 1909.
This bank is affiliated with the Cedar Falls Trust Company, which has the same officers and directors and occupies part of the banking room.
The deposits of the bank are now about seven hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars. The officers and directors have had a large experience in banking business and endeavor to do a careful, conservative business. The bank has passed through two panics without any difficulty or without having to call in its loans. The busi- ness has been a profitable one to the stockholders.
The Citizens Bank, a private institution at first, was changed to the Citizens National Bank on July 19, 1900. It became the Citizens Savings Bank in Decem- ber, 1905, and now has a capital of $100,000; surplus, $18,000; and deposits of $710,000. C. A. Wise is president ; W. N. Hostrop, vice president; J. E. Evans. cashier ; William C. Nuhn, assistant cashier.
The Security Trust and Savings Bank, organized in 1908, has a capital stock of $50,000 ; surplus, $6,000; deposits, $130,000. George S. Mornin is president ; F. Ericksen, vice president; Leo H. Paulger, cashier : Arthur Ericksen, assistant cashier.
Cedar Falls Trust Company, organized in 1905, has a present capital stock of $100,000, and a surplus of $3,000. H. S. Gilkey is president ; Charles H. Roden- bach, vice president ; F. B. Miller, vice president ; and H. W. Johnson, secretary.
Among the loan associations which have done business in Cedar Falls have been : The Cedar Falls Building, Loan and Savings Association; Cedar Valley Building and Loan Association, organized in 1891 ; Cedar Falls Germania Build- ing and Loan Association, organized in 1892; the Permanent Savings and Loan Association, incorporated in January, 1893.
GAS COMPANY
The convenience and utility of artificial gas for heat and light in homes, stores and factories is enjoyed by Cedar Falls through the agency of the Citizens Gas & Electric Company.
The officers of the company are Morris W. Stroud, president, and S. P. Curtis, general manager, both residents of Philadelphia. Austin Burt, manager, and
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H. B. Maynard, secretary, have their offices in Waterloo, while J. Frank Mc- Sweeney is the local superintendent.
The company is strong financially and is operated on a broad and generous public policy. The character and ability of its representatives, the superior quality of its products and the efficiency of its service are matters of public pride and con- gratulation, while, at the same time, its rates are the lowest in Iowa for cities of anything like comparable size.
The advantages of gas for fuel are available to every section of the city be- cause of the attitude of the company in its belief that a public utility belongs to the entire citizenship rather than the congested and best paying portion. The mileage of distribution pipes is larger per capita than is the usual practice, and very much more than in other cities of similar population and larger in the state.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
The first brick paving laid in Cedar Falls was in the year 1898, when the total amount put down was 4,768 lineal feet. The coming of each year since has brought additional paving, as well as cement walks and sewerage facilities. There are now 101/2 miles of paving, half asphalt and half concrete and brick. There are 151/2 miles of sanitary sewers and 5 miles of storm sewers. There are 49 miles of cement sidewalks.
MUNICIPAL LIGIIT PLANT
The present city owned electric light plant started after the expiration of Citizens Gas & Electric Company franchise. At that time the lighting of the city was very poor. The Commercial Club held meetings for the purpose of creating sentiment in favor of a municipal plant and it was decided to circulate a petition for the calling of a special election to provide a bond issue for the build- ing of a plant. The result was a large vote in favor of the utility. Later another bond issue was voted. The first issue was for $50,000 and the second for $25,000. Contracts for the central station were awarded in July, 1913. The first service extended to the city consumers was on April 6, 1914. There are now 1,200 con- sumers; 217 residence street lights ; 8 alley lights ; 42 five-light ornamental elec- troliers on the main streets; and a few park lights. The plant is valued at $85,000.
WATER AND WATERWORKS OF CITY
The first-comers to the site of Cedar Falls drew their water from a spring located near the paper mill and from the springs near Dry Run. Still others did not hesitate to use the water directly from the river, which was perfectly safe at that time, when there were no contaminating sources.
In the year 1859 there occurred a fire and then the facilities for obtaining water were discovered to be very poor. Accordingly the city officials ordered that a ladder and two fire hooks and a number of buckets be obtained for the purpose of combating any more fires. A certain drayman also filled his wagon with bar- rels and in time of fire he would hasten to the river, fill the hogsheads and haul
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Cotton Theatre. Main Street. Bird's-eye view from college gymnasium.
Iowa State Teachers' College Library. View of the Cedar river. Iowa State Teachers' College.
VIEWS OF CEDAR FALLS
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them to the scene of destruction. In 1867 a very severe fire visited Cedar Falls and the primitive means the citizens had employed for their protection were not adequate, consequently, immediately after the blaze, a fire company was organ- ized with eighty-five citizens enrolled. In 1871 the Overman Block and adjoining buildings were destroyed by flames and once again the means of protection were inadequate.
In May, 1871, the city council began the construction of two large cisterns and also bought a Silsby Steam Fire Engine and two hose carts with several hundred feet of hose, thus filling the cisterns from the river and mill-race with the steam engine.
In 1888 the city council decided to construct waterworks and to use the flow from the Dry Run Springs in the southeast part of the city. A one-story brick building was located at the end of Twelfth Street, east of Main, for the engines, pumps and boilers. A large cistern was constructed of brick and cement ad- joining the waterworks, and was connected by pipes with the spring one-third of a mile distant. The pipes conveyed the water to the well and the water was raised from here by lifting pumps and sent to the reservoir three-fourths of a mile distant and located upon the highest point overlooking the city. The ca- pacity of the reservoir was 3,000 barrels or 1,500,000 gallons. The water was then distributed along the principal streets for domestic and fire uses. Fire plugs were placed at convenient points and seven miles of iron piping were laid during the first years. The plant cost the city in the neighborhood of $40,000.
The system was discarded three years ago and the present water supply of Cedar Falls is obtained from three large wells, drilled through forty-five feet of sand covering, thence through limestone eighty-five feet. These wells are double-cased to a depth of 110 feet and all surface contamination is shut out. The wells have a capacity of 3,500,000 gallons per twenty-four run or 350 per cent in excess of the largest consumption.
There are 19 miles of water mains in the city, 127 fire hydrants, 1,400 patrons, and the plant is valued at $120,000.
LIBRARIES
The first library to be collected for public use was in 1858. On February 18th of that year the Cedar Valley Horticultural and Literary Association was organized and accumulated a library of about five hundred volumes. This asso- ciation terminated its existence in 1865 by donating to the Library Association ยท of Cedar Falls their library. A few weeks after this was done money in the sum of $100 was raised with which to purchase new books. In 1871 these books were all destroyed by fire, but the association bravely went about the task of re- placing them and secured fully one thousand new volumes. In 1878 the associa- tion turned over to the city the books and all of its interest in the same, thus forming the nucleus of the first city library. The library, which was located in the Union Block on Main Street, had about four thousand volumes at one time and was supported by a tax of I mill on the assessable property in the city.
This library is now located in the splendid $15,000 Carnegie-Dayton Library Building and has about fourteen thousand volumes. The money for the build- ing was given by Andrew Carnegie and Mrs. M. L. Dayton generously donated
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the site for the building. This library is supported by the same tax as the old city library. The total value of the property is $25,000. There are about six- teen thousand borrowers from the library.
SOCIETIES
Black Hawk Lodge No. 65, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was organ- ized in 1853.
Valley Chapter No. 20, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under dispensa- tion on November 3, 1857. The charter was issued in October, 1858.
Baldwin Commandery No. 10, Knights Templar, was organized and dis- pensation granted on December 15, 1866. The commandery was instituted April 3, 1867. The charter was issued November 13, 1867.
Cedar Falls Lodge No. 71, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was estab- lished October 10, 1855, and among the charter members were Dr. H. H. Meredith, B. B. Smith, Andrew Kennedy and J. M. Benjamin.
Cedar Valley Lodge No. 233, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was insti- tuted by dispensation on February 1, 1872. The members named in the war- rant were: Henry Pfeiffer, Jacob Pfeiffer, Sebastian Klaus, Jacob Geier, F. Bepler, Adam Close. Phillip Hopp, Morris Lippold, Charles Hesse and John Collman.
The other organizations in Cedar Falls are: Modern Woodmen of America, June 27, 1887; American Yeomen, 1889; Knights and Ladies of Security, 1898; Knights of the Maccabees, 1892; Ancient Order United Workmen, 1885; Grand Army of the Republic James Brownell Post, June, 1883; Lyren Society, 1885; Danish Brotherhood, 1884; Danish Sisterhood, 1899.
The federated clubs among the women in Cedar Falls have no small part to play in the development of the city. In May, 1914, the women of the city in mass meetings organized a women's club, to serve as a center of thought and action for general betterment. The department of civics and philanthropy includes what was formerly known as the Civic League and has for its special field anything usually included in the term civic betterment, clean streets, markets, milk, drains, etc. A city market, a city deaconess, a travelers' aid, an employ- ment bureau and other things fall to the duty of this department. The home and education department has to do with the upbuilding of the home and the children. The department of political science and history has to do with work related to the inereasing power of citizenship of the women. The membership of the club is now well over three hundred women. The members are active in everything which pertains to the city and always head the subscription list for any worthy enterprise.
BLACK HAWK IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
This association was organized October 7, 1912, after funds had been sub- scribed by the citizens of Cedar Falls. Various lines of work have been in- augurated, among the most important being the experimental work which includes lime, corn, alfalfa, and the work of organizing local clubs, dairy and breeders' associations. Work has also been accomplished in the rural schools. A number of institutes have been held in the county which were promoted by the associa-
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tion. Several excellent clubs have been organized, including a boys' corn grow- ing club, a girls' cooking and canning club, a tomato growing club, and a farm and home improvement club. An action of the last Legislature permits counties to maintain their own farm improvement associations and agriculturists. The law limits the annual fund to $5,000, of which the national Government gives $1,200, leaving only $3,800 to be raised by the county.
SARTORI HOSPITAL
This magnificent hospital was made possible through the gift of Joseph Francis Sartori in memory of his parents, Joseph and Theresa Sartori. The building is three stories in height and is absolutely fireproof. All the floors are of the finest Mexican terazza and a beautiful solarium extends across the south end of the third floor and two smaller sun parlors are located on the west.
Both the parents of Joseph Sartori expressed before their death a desire to do something for Cedar Falls. The son asked to have the matter left in his hands and the result was the hospital. The structure now has been under the course of construction for a year and will be formally opened shortly after the opening of the year 1915. The gift of Mr. Sartori carries with it a twenty-year endowment of $1,000 per year. In addition to this a 2-mill tax was voted for maintenance. The affairs of the institution are run by a special hospital board of five members. Joseph F. Sartori, the giver, is now president of the Security Savings Bank of Los Angeles, the largest bank in the city. He is a lawyer by profession.
The site for the hospital, which was purchased by the citizens of Cedar Falls, is ideal for such an institution. It is located at the end of Sixth Street and embraces about six acres. The hospital has accommodations for forty patients.
MISCELLANEOUS
On December 1, 1892, Cedar Falls contained 1,005 dwelling houses within her corporate limits. All of them were occupied by families.
The ten acres bounded by Clay, Tremont, Seventh and Eighth streets and upon which the Central Schoolhouse stands, was in 1857-60 the Cedar Valley Agricultural Fair Grounds.
The first teachers' institute held in Black Hawk County was held at Cedar Falls in October, 1860, conducted by J. L. Enos of Cedar Rapids with thirty-one teachers present.
It is said that the first water wheel made in the Cedar Valley was made for William Sturgis for the sawmill put in by the Overmans and that he helped make it. It was called Prosperous Smith Wheel.
Mrs. George W. Clark brought the first piano to Cedar Falls in 1853. This was also the first one in the county. George Clark brought the first kerosene lamp to Cedar Falls in 1858.
The Indian name of Black Hawk, the Sac chief for whom the county was named, was Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah.
Jesse Morgan, who built Samuel Wick's house, was the first contractor and builder in the city. Ole Peterson built the first schoolhouse. The first house
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and sign painter in the city was W. W. Dow in 1854. E. E. Phelps worked at the same trade the next year. R. Lapsley was the first mason in the year 1854. Frank Cox was the first stone cutter. The first gunsmith was W. H. Philpot. The first blacksmith was Mr. Dow. The first wagon maker was C. C. Wells in 1855. H. A. Cooper and Brothers opened the first machine shop in 1859. WV. S. Loyed introduced the first billiard table in 1862. F. R. Sawyer was the first gardener in 1870.
On Tuesday, December 17, 1861, there were over four hundred teams on Main Street, mostly loaded with wheat and pork. The street was impassable.
A. F. Brown was the first notary in the city in 1846. Doctors Kerr and S. N. Pierce were carly physicians. Doctor Marsh was the first dentist in Cedar Falls in 1859.
In August, 1861, the city had ten liquor houses.
The first brass band in the county was started here in 1858 with Henry C. Overman as the leader.
The first church bell in the Cedar Valley was on the Presbyterian Church here. It weighed 1,000 pounds. This bell was broken in the winter of 1865 while ring- ing a fire alarm.
There was a railroad saloon and eating house at the east end of the Illinois Central Railroad Depot in 1861 and remained there until the road was pushed farther west in 1864.
The last Indian council in the vicinity of Cedar Falls was held at Turkey Foot Forks, near James Newell's house, on August 5. 1858, between the Winne- bagoes and Pottawatomies.
The old settlers will remember the old jail that stood on Washington Street between First and the race, built of 2 by 4 scantling laid up log fashion. Ole Peterson, housed there for drunkenness, set fire to it and destroyed the building and very nearly consumed himself.
On May 7, 1876, the people of Cedar Falls for the first time received mail from Dubuque which had been mailed the same morning.
The Fourth of July, 1860, was celebrated in the evening by an exhibition of flowers and vegetables at Horticultural Hall. D. J. Coleman read the Declaration of Independence and was followed by J. B. Powers with an essay on "Human Life."
On September 6, 1860, a great Republican mass meeting was held at Cedar Falls. There were estimated to be 5,000 people in attendance. Speeches, music and parades featured the occasion.
A New England Association was formed at Cedar Falls in February, 1861, with W. H. Sessions as president ; Erastus Edgerton, vice president ; A. S. Smith, treasurer, and W. H. Nichols, secretary.
The members of the Masonic Lodge celebrated Washington's birthday in 1861 by a supper at the Western Hotel. J. B. Powers made the principal address. A Bible was presented to the lodge by Mrs. John M. Cameron.
Early in March, 1861, the "Ranch," as it was called by the early settlers, was torn down. This building had been erected by Mr. Taubman in 1853 and had been used for a boarding house, tailor shop, law office, saloon, justice's office, and surveyor's office all at the same time.
Sixty-six buildings were erected at Cedar Falls in 1861 prior to August 2d.
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The Ladies Aid Society was formed December 16, 1861, with Mesdames Doc- tor Bryant, Doolittle, J. B. Powers, A. S. Mitts, and H. C. Wright holding offices.
The California Association was organized in December, 1861, and a festival was held in January following. A notice appeared on the streets about this time, reading: "Posey Countians. The natives of Posey County, Indiana, will meet at the Lime-Kiln on Christmas for the purpose of having a Tare. Pukes, Hoos- iers, Suckers, Badgers, Buckeyes and Hawkeyes are invited to participate. All natives of Posey County that have fathers will act as Committee of Arrange- ments. Many Natives." The following week the Empire State Club was organ- ized with Zimri Streeter as president .:
The telegraph line from Dubuque to Cedar Falls was completed December 9, 1863.
The walls of the schoolhouse were laid and the roof put on during 1864, under the supervision of J. Q. A. Crosby. The brick work was relet to Joseph Johnson and the carpenter work to William Ray and Joseph Godfrey.
On receiving the news of Mcclellan's nomination for the presidency in 1864 the democrats of Cedar Falls decided to burn a little powder. Two anvils were procured and two shots were fired between these without effect. The boys de- cided to make more noise, so a much larger charge was placed between the anvils and set off. When the explosion had occurred and the gunners recovered from the shock the top anvil had completely disappeared. Fortunately no one was hurt.
On September 14, 1864, the frame of the Baptist Church fell to the ground on account of insufficient supports. Henry Bogart was in the cupola and fell a dis- tance of sixty feet, breaking his neck.
CHAPTER IX
HISTORY OF LA PORTE CITY
The present La Porte City was first called La Porte, but later was given its present name because there was another La Porte in the state. This thriving town, originally located on the south half of section 25, township 87, range 12, Big Creek township, was surveyed by Wesley Whipple on June 5, 1855, and the plat was filed for record July 16, 1855, by the following proprietors: Dr. Jesse Wasson, Junia Wasson, W. Catlin and Rozella Catlin. Doctor Wasson named the town after his old home in the State of Indiana.
Dr. Jesse Wasson was also the first settler in the new town. He constructed the first building on the town plat, a store building located on the corner of Main and Locust streets. This general store did a thriving business in the early days and the many stories centering around this place or originating here are well told in the subsequent story of the city by W. L. Fox. G. Bishop, the first attorney in the town, was also an early comer and then came W. L. Fox, R. Moultrie, W. C. Kennedy, R. A. Brooks and George Cook.
The first sawmill was put up on Big Creek in 1856 by Doctor Wasson. The first grist mill was constructed by Lewis Turner about the same time. This mill was destroyed by fire and was not replaced until the end of the Civil war, when T. H. Elwell built another 200 feet below the location of the first one.
In 1856 W. L. Fox and John Rolph located a spot in the brushwood on the east side of Main Street, near Commercial, and there constructed a story and a half building, using native timber entirely. The upper story was utilized by Rolph as a paint shop while the lower floor was fitted with rough benches and here, in the summer of 1856, the first school was opened with Hattie Fleming as teacher. Miss Fleming afterward became Mrs. James Fosdick. The first regular schoolhouse was constructed of logs on the public square. The second was a frame building built in 1864 on the same spot. In the early 'zos a brick schoolhouse was built nearby.
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