USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 7
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Fortunes were made and lost in that day as easily as at present, but it is also true that the foundations were laid in those days for the big fortunes existing now. Many far-sighted men took advantage of the conditions and secured titles to the lands that were then considered not worth holding, especially when that holding required the expenditure annually of a small amount of money for taxes. All the pioneers will tell you that there was plenty to eat in that time, but actual coin was scarce.
The class of people locating in Black Hawk County soon demanded news- papers and it was in response to that demand that the Black Hawk Courier was established and after a short time was alone in three counties, Black Hawk, Bremer and Butler.
EARLY LEADERS
Charles Mullan was born November 10, 1811, at Eckland, Lycoming County, Tennessee. In 1840 he removed to Morgan County, Illinois, and in 1846 he came to Iowa, to the site of Waterloo. At that time George W. Hanna and William Virden lived here and William Sturgis and E. D. Adams at Cedar Falls. These were the only settlers. Charles Mullan was the first justice of the peace in the county, the first postmaster of Waterloo, also the first county surveyor. He was one of the original proprietors of Waterloo, laid out the town and did the survey- ing for the village boundaries, lots and streets in 1853. He donated the land for the Burlington depot, also contributing $1,000 in cash to the road. Mr. Mullan died on August 27, 1874.
Mrs. America (Virden) Mullan, the wife of Charles Mullan, was born October 24, 1817, in Tompkinville, Kentucky, and died November 20, 1902. When she was eight years old her parents moved to Wayne County, Illinois, and she arrived here in June, 1846. Her marriage to Charles Mullan occurred November 24, 1842. She was the mother of the following children: Charles W .. J. W., H. C., W. H., S. D., Marion, and Mrs. Lizzie Davison.
George W. Hanna was born in White County, Illinois, on November 20, 1817, and died December 12, 1890. In 1837 he married Mary Melrose and to this union eight children were born: John Quincy Adams, George Washington, Robert W., Phil C., Emily, Edith M., and Mary. George W. Hanna came to Black Hawk County on July 18, 1845, and settled on section 20, township 89,
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
range 13. Here he resided all of his life, with the exception of one year which he spent in Wright County, there founding the Town of Goldfield. One son, James Monroe, died in infancy, which death was the first in Black Hawk County. His daughter, Emily, was the third white child born in the county.
Mrs. Mary (Melrose ) Hanna was born in Edwards County, Illinois, on June 9. 1821, and died November 6, 1912, at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. She married George W. Hanna in 1837 and eight years later came to the site of Waterloo with him.
William Sturgis was born April 14, 1817, at Mount Pleasant, Province of Upper Canada, and died at New Smyrna, Florida, April 6, 1901. When eleven years of age he went with his parents to the State of Michigan and began farm- ing. When eighteen years of age he struck out for himself and in 1845 came to the spot where Cedar Falls is now located, being the first settler there. After a few years Sturgis left here and afterward roved over the whole country, starting in business in one place and then moving on to the next. He was twice married, first to Dorothy Kidder of Iowa City and then to Rosanna Steel of the same place. Three children were born to the first union and seven to the latter. More of Mr. Sturgis' work at Cedar Falls may be read in the history of that city.
A pioneer of Waterloo Township, who took an active part in the early settle- ment and of whom history records but little, was John Melrose. This sturdy frontiersman was a brother of the late Mrs. George W. Hanna and was born in Edwards County, Illinois, on March 21, 1818. July 16, 1845, he arrived at the future town site of Waterloo in company with George W. Hanna, the latter's wife and two children, the party comprising Waterloo Township's first permanent settlers. The trip was made overland with an ox team. The emigrants expected to find white men here, but none was in evidence and the first day, after pitching camp, Hanna went on foot up the cast bank of the river and Melrose took down stream in search of the supposed settlement. Both returned to camp that night without having discovered a trace of white men.
Melrose was active in the county seat fight in Black Hawk County and also took an active part in politics in the early days of Wright County and in securing the establishment of the county seat at Goldfield, where it remained for ten years. He possessed the easy going habits characteristic of many pioneers, locking his store to carry the mail or help in the hay field or harvest. Ile would loan his customers the keys, trust 'most anyone, and would sell traveling settlers goods on credit upon the strength of a promise to "pay you when we come back."
In 1864, while assisting the sheriff of Wright County in an attempt to arrest a party of horse thieves, Melrose was shot in the back of the neck by one of the gang, the bullet coming out below the car. The sheriff's posse was poorly armed and another member was shot through the lung. Melrose was armed with a dilapidated shotgun, which missed fire, and he was retreating from the scrimmage when stricken down. He recovered from the wound and died at Goldfield on March 31, 1884. He married after locating in Wright County. His first wife died and he married again. His second wife is still living in that county. Three sons, Charles, residing at Jasper, Minnesota; Myron, at Lehigh, Iowa; and William, at Hedrick, lowa, survive the father.
Henry Sherman, who came in 1854 and bought and improved the property which was afterward the Central House, was one of the most public spirited and
GEORGE W. HANNA First settler in Waterloo Township.
MRS. GEORGE W. HANNA
MIRS. CHARLES MULLAN, SR.
CHARLES MULLAN, SR. A first-comer to Waterloo.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
enterprising men in Waterloo at that time. He was a leader and with the means and forces at his command did exceedingly well for the time.
G. W. Couch, who came in the spring of 1856, deserves to be classed with the really enterprising men of the time. He was the man who led in the building of the first flouring mill; he practically built the first bridge. Both of these im- provements were great things for the town at that date. He built the frame building which stood next to Brown's crockery store, all in the year 1856, giving a wonderful impetus to business. Old residents pronounce Couch to have been a noble hearted, generous man and possessing the spirit of public enterprise in a large degree. He was of the kind of men who make cities.
Couch was heartily blamed for building the bridge at the point he did ; he was charged with locating it there for his selfish interest; his company owned the mill and other property adjoining. There were conflicting interests, Fifth Street and Sixth Street interests and even as far down as the old courthouse. At one time Fifth Street would doubtless have got it if the street had been a public *highway; but there was not enough private subscriptions to build the bridge. Couch said that he would build it if the subscriptions they had-$4,000-were turned over to him, and he built it. It was the shortest cut across the river and the only place that a bridge could be built by the funds on hand.
John C. Hubbard came in 1853. He was a large man physically ; socially, always agreeable; a man whose very appearance won him the confidence of his fellows, and, which events demonstrated clearly, was well placed. He was the leading man of the town and his home was the place of stopping when men of importance visited the city. Coming from Connecticut and belonging to a family of influence, he possessed a dignity that gave him the air of an autocrat ; but it was superficial or at least was mellowed by his native good nature into a genuine attraction. He built one of the first brick buildings, 1855, ever built in the town, elsewhere noticed; he was part owner of the first brick yard; he was postmaster; he was a power in securing the location of the county seat at Waterloo; but the great thing which he did to endear his memory to the people of Waterloo and the county, was his action in refusing to be cajoled, bullied or bribed into signing the $200,000 county bonds.
The people of the county owe him a debt which they can never fully pay. A stately monument to his memory is the least which they should be satisfied to do.
While it is natural to give especial prominence to those who led in the early development of the Village of Waterloo, it must not be taken for granted that they were the whole thing. They were the captains, but as in war, there were the men behind the guns. In investigating here and there, in records, as well as from people of those times still living, the liberal, enterprising, manly char- acter of many of that early citizenship becomes clearly discernible. Men gave $5 or $10 or days' work or both to an enterprise or improvement to whom that $5 or $io was worth more than hundreds or thousands to some of our people today. There were many of these.
A prominent man in 1855, and along there, was B. Kelly. He was the chief promoter in the erection of the first Catholic Church in the city. He was a man of some property and a good business man and successful in his younger days, and was an all-around man of worth. Vol. 1-4
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
POSTOFFICE HISTORY
The first postoffice in Black Hawk County was established on January 3. 1850, and Dempsey C. Overman was appointed postmaster. There was not much mail coming during those days; in fact, it is said that Overman, who acted as carrier, carried the letters in his hat, presumably a tile, and delivered them to the people. He traveled from place to place by horseback. This is conceded to have been the first free delivery service in the State of lowa. Thomas W. Case also carried some of the mail on horseback. It is interesting to note that the receipts of the first quarter amounted to $2.50. Thus, Cedar Falls had the first postoffice.
Waterloo came second in 1851, with Charles Mullan as postmaster. In the summer or fall of 1851 Mullan circulated a petition asking for a postoffice at Prairie Rapids, or Prairie Rapids Crossing, as the little village was then called. The petition had seven signatures when completed. The petitioners had not agreed upon a name for the office, but left the selection to Mr. Mullan, who" looked through the list of postoffices in the United States in search of a good name. He found the name of Waterloo and immediately chose it. The papers qualifying the office in Waterloo were dated December 29. 1851. The postoffice having the name Waterloo, the town and also the township were called the same. Greenbury Luck was the first mail carrier and he brought the mail on horseback from Cedar Rapids through Quasqueton and Vinton. Cedar Falls was the end of his route. At this time. however, Cedar Falls was the chief town in the county and was regarded as certain to be the future county seat.
The most interesting event in the history of the postoffice, which was first established in a log cabin on the west side of the river and maintained on the west side until the administration of L. H. Edwards, was the removal to the east side, which caused a strife between the two sides of town. Colonel Hender- son, then congressman from this district, secured the establishment of Station A for the accommodation of the west side citizens.
The first postoffice in Waterloo was established under Fillmore's administra- tion as President of the United States, on December 29. 1851, and was located on the site of the later Elizabeth Davison home, 166 Falls Avenue. After a number of years it was moved to near the site of the present postoffice build- ing. Between '55 and '60 the office was moved to a brick building, 710 Commer- cial Street. In a few years it moved to a building at 522 Commercial Street. and in 1869 to a building occupying the lot at 516 Commercial Street. The office remained here until 1875 when it was taken to 1& Bridge Street. About 1895 the east side began a campaign to secure the office and accordingly it was located a little later at 126 Fourth Street East. From here it was removed to the build- ing at Fourth Street East, where it remained until relocated at 611-613 Sycamore Street. The new government building was erected in the year 1905.
The following is the list of postmasters who have served at Waterloo: Charles Mullan, December 29, 1851 ; Levi Aldrich, August 12, 1854: Julius C. Hubbard, March 23. 1855: Seneca Cleveland, July 1, 1861 : Jeremiah P. Evans, November 2, 1866; Horace Barron, March 20, 1867; Miss Marion Champlain. March 26, 1860: William H. Hartman, March 10, 1873; L. H. Edwards, 1885 :
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
H. H. Saunders, 1890; J. P. Keiffer, 1894; I. C. Munger, 1899; William Sind- linger, 1903; W. R. Law, 1909; M. H. Kelly, 1913.
A FEW EARLY FOURTH OF JULYS
According to the testimony of some of the earlier residents of the City of Waterloo the first Fourth of July celebration of any consequence was held in the year 1853. The second celebration was on July 4 of the following year and was a double-barreled affair. Even in that early day there was a division of sentiment among the people, even when such a patriotic subject as this was under consideration. One portion of the people wanted to have the celebration partake of the nature of a picnic, where all the people might be fed free and where all could come together and feast their bodies on the fat of the land, which fat was composed of wheat and corn bread, vegetables and wild fruits, wild meat and tame, etc., and feast their souls on the patriotic utterances of the speaker of the day. But upon the rock of eating the old ship of harmony and unity was foundered. Sentiment divided the people something like this: those who wanted a picnic, which would be free ; those who wanted a paid dinner, where those who ate would be charged a nominal fee for their food. The affair resulted in two celebrations, one in the public square and the other near the Sherman House. As many people as there were in the country at that time came to the city to participate in either one or the other of these observances of the nation's natal day or to take in both of them. But the attendance was necessarily small. as there were not many people in the county.
The next summer the citizens got together beautifully and planned for just one large celebration. The place of holding it was at Mears' Grove. The day was bright and clear, without storms or excessive heat, and the visitors spent a most enjoyable day. Everybody came from miles around and entered into the spirit of the occasion with hearty zest, taking part in the sports and listening with rapt attention to the oration and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. On this occasion the oration, which was of the spread-eagle variety, was delivered by Atty. W. M. Newton, who came here from Jamestown, New York, and who returned to his native state after spending a few years here. There was a band and a procession, with the folds of Old Glory spread to the breeze. The color bearer was a blacksmith whose shop was located at the rear of the vacant iot on West Fifth and Commercial streets. Colonel Clough, on horseback, headed the procession through the streets.
There were among the sports the greasy pig, the greasy pole, foot and horse races, rifle contests and other feats of agility and endurance. One feature which drew like a mustard plaster was the serving of a barbecue, when a fat, juicy heifer was cooked in the trench.
For many years following 1855 the people entered enthusiastically into the work of having good Independence Day celebrations. However, when the city began to grow more rapidly and to spread out upon both sides of the river the celebrations were not so much of a success.
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CHAPTER III ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT OF COUNTY
ORGANIZATION
The county named Black Hawk was created in the year 1843, its boundaries being established by an act of the Territorial Legislature of Iowa, approved February 17, 1843. By the terms of the same act it was attached to Delaware County for judicial, election and revenue purposes. By the act of January 17, 1845, it was attached to Benton County and under this jurisdiction a single elec- tion was held at the home of E. D. Adams, near Sturgis Falls, on April 14, 1846. There exists no record of the votes cast at this election, although the number was very small. George W. Hanna, E. D. Adams and John Melrose were the judges of the election and William Sturgis and a man from Benton County the clerks. George W. Hanna, E. D. Adams and John Melrose were elected justices of the peace. So far as the records show there were no other officers elected, so it is reasonable to suppose that the justice of the peace was the supreme authority in matters demanding legal attention. The distance from the administration of Benton County may have had something to do with this.
There was no other election held in the county until 1851. By an act of the State Legislature of Iowa, approved February 5, 1851, Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler and Grundy counties were attached to Buchanan County for judicial, election and revenue purposes. The first act taken by the commissioners of Buchanan County relative to Black Hawk County was an order setting off Black Hawk and Bremer counties into separate election districts. The first election under this new order was held at the house of J. T. Barrick on April 28, 1851. There is no record of this election other than the order of the Buchanan County commissioners setting the date. It is known, however, that George W. Hanna was reelected justice of the peace and that John Melrose and Norman Williams were chosen constables.
FIRST ASSESSMENT ROLLS
The first assessment rolls of Buchanan County, on which appear the names of Black Hawk County pioneers, were made in the year 1851, when the following citizens of this county were assessed : E. D. Adams, F. Davenport, D. S. Pratt & Company, William Virden, Overman & Company, Mr. Brown, D. C. Overman, E. Brown, J. Morgan, Mahlon Lupton, F. Hohiner, A. Mullarky, George Phil- pot, David Davis, George W. Hanna, John Melrose, John Virden, R. Jones, L. Downing, William Sturgis, Henry S. Crumrine, James Wadell, Charles Mullan,
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
George Ellis, Hiram Hampton, James Virden, G. B. White, John Crumrine, J. L Kirkpatrick, J. 11. Pennell, Charles McCaffree. Thomas Pinner. A. Nims, Moses Bates. O. H. Hadon ( Hayden ) - Layseur. J. H. McRoberts, John Clark, Isaac Virden, C. 11. Wilson, S. Wick, Perrin Lathrop, J. R. Pratt, Thomas Newell. S. S. Knapp, M. L. Knapp. C. F. Jaquith, Benjamin Knapp, Elbridge G. Young. A. C. Finney. John Fairbrother, W. W. Paine, J. T. Barrick and S. T. Vail.
ROADS
The Third General Assembly, by a joint resolution, approved February 5, 1851, instructed the lowa senators and requested her representatives in Congress to use their influence to secure to the people of the state forty-six additional mail routes ; among them were: from Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County to Fort Clark on the Des Moines River; from Centerville in Fayette County by way of Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County, to the county seat of Marshall County.
By an act of the Third General Assembly, approved February 5, 1851, state roads were provided for in Black Hawk County as follows: James Allensworth, of Linn County: John Alexander, of Benton County, and David S. Pratt, of Black Hawk, were appointed to locate and establish a state road from Center Point in Linn County, on the most practicable route, to Marysville in Benton County, thence in a northwesterly direction by way of the residence of James Virden to the Big Woods near the residence of John H. Messenger, to Rice's old trading house. Thomas W. Close and Isaac L. Hathaway, of Buchanan County, and Andrew Mullarky, of Black Hawk, were appointed to lay out and establish a state road from Independence to Cedar Falls. John T. Barrick, Edwin Brown and David S. Pratt were appointed to locate a state road from Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County to the county seat of Marshall County. Samuel Davis, Benjamin Knapp and Daniel Parker to locate a state road from Cedar Falls to Fort Clark. Charles Mullan, James Virden and William Pennell to locate a state road from Independence to intersect the road from Cedar Rapids to Cedar Falls, at or near the residence of Charles Mullan.
FIRST LAND ENTRIES
From the records made in the United States Land Office the following were the first entries of land in each township:
Township 90, range II ( Lester)-Joseph Potterf entered a part of section 36, July 21, 1851 : Caspar Rowse entered a part of section 14, July 23. 1851 ; David S. Wilson, H. W. Sanford, Frederick E. Bissell, George Counts, John Somers, Alvin S. McDowell and John Stobie entered land in this township in 1852.
Township 90, range 12 ( Bennington)-Allen C. Fuller entered a part of section 36, July 20, 1854. Nearly all of the land in this township was entered in 1855.
Township 90, range 13 (Mount Vernon)-William Bergin entered a part of section 3, July 21, 1852; Thomas Gordon entered a part of section 3; William Joshua, Barney and William Kern entered in 1852.
Township 90, range 14 (Washington and Union)-James W. True entered July 18, 1850; Benjamin Knapp entered a part of section 27, November 1, 1850;
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
James Newell entered January 18, 1851 ; John Fairbrother, C. H. Wilson, Valori- ous Thomas, E. G. Young, C. F. Jaquith, William Kern, John C. Higginson, James L. Cumons, Margaret Roberts, Simon Wyatt, Jr., James Sween, Alfred Goss, Solomon S. Knapp, James Carlisle, S. M. Knapp, Jesse Morgan and others entered in 1851.
Township 89, range II (Barclay)-Joseph Potterf entered a part of section 13 and Edward Moiney entered a part of section 12, June 16, 1851.
Township 89, range 12 (partly in Poyner and partly in East Waterloo)-Joh! Crumrine entered a part of sections 31 and 32, December 5, 1850; Caleb H. Booth, John L. Kirkpatrick and Joseph M. Pennell entered in 1852.
Township 89, range 13 (Waterloo and East Waterloo)-Alvin R. Dunton en- tered parts of sections 22 and 23, July 24, 1847 ; George W. Hanna entered a part of section 17 and the northeast fractional half of section 26, July 26, 1847; John Hersley entered a part of section 21, September 13, 1849; James Waddell entered a part of section 6; William M. Dean, John M. McDonald, H. S. Crumrine, Lyman Downing entered in 1850, and Andrew Mullarky, John Adams, Norman W. Tottingham, Richard Goodwin, Oscar Virden, S. B. Philpot, James Wilson, America Mullan, William Virden, Cephas Clearwater, Peter Powers and Jacob Witten entered in 1852.
Township 89, range 14 (Cedar Falls)-William Sturgis entered a part of sec- tion 12, October 9, 1847; Jackson Taylor entered in 1849; George Philpot entered in 1850.
Township 88, range II (Fox)-Frederick E. Bissell entered September 29, 1852; John A. Dunham entered a part of section 19, November 10, 1852.
Township 88, range 12 (Poyner and Cedar)-H. W. Sanford entered Febru- ary 1, 1850; Samuel Owens entered a part of section 6, June 6, 1850.
Township 88, range 13 (Orange)-Samuel Owens entered January 6, 1850.
Township 88, Range 14 (Black Hawk)-Robert A. Jones entered December 17, 1851.
Township 87, range II (Spring Creek)-Moses Bates entered parts of sections II, 12 and 14, September 11, 1849.
Township 87, range 12 (Cedar and Big Creek)-David Baker entered a part of section 3, and Samuel D. Warner entered a part of section 15, January 2, 1852 ; Otto F. Hayden entered a part of section 2, July 10, 1852.
Township 87, range 13 (Eagle)-Joseph H. Mead and Cicero Close entered section 13, January 3, 1854.
Township 87, range 14 (Lincoln)-Madison E. Hollister and Watson V. Coe entered July 5, 1854.
VOTING PRECINCTS
In April, 1851, the county commissioners of Buchanan County erected Black Hawk County into a voting precinct, and ordered an election. In August of that same year the county commissioners were superseded by a county judge. On March 8, 1852, the County Court of Buchanan divided Black Hawk County into two voting precincts, as follows :
Ordered, That all that portion of Black Hawk County lying north of the cor- rection line ( which line falls at the south line of the tier of townships number 89)
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
and west of the Cedar River compose one precinct to be called Black Hawk Pre- cinet, and that an election be held in said precinct on the first Monday in April next, at the house of Andrew Mullarky ; and Edwin Brown, E. D. Adams and Sammuel Wick are hereby appointed judges of election.
It is further ordered. That all that part of Black Hawk County south of Black Hawk Creek and west of Cedar River, together with all that portion south of the correction line and east of Cedar River, shall compose one precinct to be called Cedar Precinct, and that an election shall be held in said precinct on the first Monday in April next, at the house of J. A. Durham ; and Charles Mullan, J. A. Durham and Moses Bates are hereby appointed judges of election.
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