USA > Iowa > Clayton County > History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained from original sources of information, Volume I > Part 14
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taverns, one saddle and harness shop, two sawmills, one window blind, sash and door factory, three blacksmith shops, one cabinet shop, one dealer in sash, door and blinds, one wholesale dealer in furniture, one printing office, five contracting plasterers, two shoe shops, one jeweler and watchmaker, five carpenter shops, one livery stable, one bank, one railroad office, four physicians and surgeons."
Judge Eliphalet Price-In January, 1857, Judge Price made an official statement as to the bridge fund of the county. There was realized from the bridge tax, $2,027, and this was used to assist in building twenty-six bridges, $300 going to each of three bridges across the Volga. The judge estimates the cost of these bridges at $5,500, the larger part of which was donated. He states that bridges are under construction across the Turkey river at Millville to cost $4,000 and at Elkport to cost $3,400. These bridges to receive $1,000 each from the swamp land fund.
The annual county seat fight began good and early in 1857, Judge Price publishing a notice that an election would be held between Gutten- burg and Elkader the first Monday in April. Perhaps it was to prepare for this that Clerk Updegraff announces that a special term of court will be held at Elkader on March 30, for the exclusive purpose of naturalizing foreigners. Maturin L. Fisher, who had gained prominence as president of the senate, was nominated by the democratic party as a candidate for state superintendent of public instruction. There had just been a scandal in this office, a former superintendent loaning himself a large sum from the school fund on his own note, which proved to be valueless. The knowledge that Mr. Fisher was a man of high integrity aided largely in his election, although the politics of the state were republican at the time. Mr. Fisher was elected, and proved one of the most efficient men who ever held that office, and it fell to him to select the nucleus for the library of the state university, and he traveled throughout the east on this mission. It was in 1857, also, that a postoffice was established at Read, with J. Louis Hagensick as postmaster. It was also in this year that the first map of Clayton county was published by J. O. Crosby, of Garnavillo.
Railroad Projects-Guttenberg was greatly interested in a rail- road project at this time, and a meeting was held to advance the Turkey River Valley Railroad, it being proposed to connect by ferry with a road on the east bank of the Mississippi, north from Galena. The legislature had enacted a law empowering Clayton county to issue bonds in favor of the Dubuque & Turkey River Valley Railroad and the McGregor, St. Peter & Missouri River Railroad, upon a vote of the people. Judge Price issued a proclamation on this issue, and also a proclamation providing for a vote as to whether the swamp. land fund should be used to aid bridges across the Turkey river, the erection of which had been delayed by inclement weather. A railroad meeting was held at Volga, at which M. M. Johnson, Alvah Bevens and W. H. Gould were appointed as a committee, which reported in favor of a route from Dyersville via the Yankee Settlement, Volga, Lima City and West Union. The railroad meeting at Guttenberg was largely attended. S. L. Peck was chairman and Francis Rodman secretary, and the meeting was called to order by Judge Price. They resolved in
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favor of a grant and that the Mississippi terminus of the proposed Turkey Valley Railroad should be retained in Clayton county. C. F. Remick, E. H. Williams, Judge Price, Reuben Noble and A. E. Wanzer were among the speakers. At the same time articles of incorporation for the Dubuque & Turkey Valley Railroad Co. were published, signed by Willis Drummond, M. M. Johnson and Jacob Nicklaus.
Agricultural Society-Michael Uriell, as president of the Agricul- tural Society, presided at the meeting which was held in Elkader February 21. At this meeting Dr. E. Trescott was elected president and William Kees secretary. It was resolved that the executive com- mittee should select a permanent location. There was a hot contest for this location; Clayton, Elkader, Read Township and Farmersburg entering the lists with various propositions. Farmersburg was first decided upon, but this was reconsidered, and Clayton Center won. This created much feeling in Farmersburg against Elkader, which was held responsible.
Guttenberg the County Seat-So busy were the people with rail- road projects that it was not until late in March that the county seat fight warmed up. Thompson and Davis were accused of having with- drawn the $5,000 which they offered to donate to the county if the county seat was located at Elkader in 1856. This was indignantly denied by the Elkader Tribune in an article headed, "A Lie Nailed to the Counter." The fact that this offer had been made and that no step had been taken to build a courthouse, however, operated against Elkader. A paragraph from one of the "county seat" editorials in the Guttenberg paper illustrates some of the arguments used in this fight: "LOOK OUT for some magnificent offer on the part of Elkader about next Monday morning. In what shape it will make its appearance is not yet announced. Whether it will be another grand scheme like a bond or an engagement by Hon. Mr. Davis to make a slack water navigation the whole length of Turkey River, or a proposition to build a magnificent courthouse and present it to the people of the county, or some other benevolent operation, we do not pretend to decide. Maybe Congress can be induced, through the influence of Mr. Davis, to make an appropriation to build a marine hospital at that point in the basement of which the county can be furnished with offices free of charge. Whatever shape it may come in, it will doubtless be fulfilled in the same manner the celebrated bond of last year was; that is to say, over the left." At the city election in Guttenberg less than 200 votes were cast, but for the county seat the vote of Jefferson town- ship was 565 for Guttenberg, Elkader none. At the same time the vote of all other precincts was extremely heavy. Guttenberg won by a vote of 1,477 to 1,456, and Timothy Davis and others protested against John M. Kriebs being allowed to assist in the canvass of votes, charging that more than 100 illegal votes had been cast in Guttenberg, and that Kriebs "must have been knowing to, if not active in procuring the same to be done." At the same election the vote for railroad aid carried by 1,651 to 969, and for bridge appropriations by 1,685 to 649. The democrats carried the county, Maturin L. Fisher receiving a large complimentary vote, the result being Fisher, 1,511; Bugbee (Rep.), 1,102. John W. Potts was elected county assessor.
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The protest on the part of Elkader came to nothing, and Guttenburg held a grand celebration when the county property was transferred to that city. The following is the account of the gala day: "The county property was brought to Guttenburg last Thursday, and the appearance of the big safe caused quite a sensation among our citizens, who gave vent to their enthusiasm by cheering, firing guns and rejoicing generally. All seemed to feel that it was a proud day for Guttenberg; but none seemed to enter into the real enjoyment of the victory more than Farmer William Schoulte, of Garnavillo township, who was the standard-bearer on the occasion, and whose countenance expressed the delight he felt at being able to enter Guttenburg as the county seat of the county with the flag of his country supported by his sturdy arm, and waving in glorious folds over his noble head. In the afternoon the ladies presented Judge Price with a most beautiful bookcase as a token of their appreciation of his efforts in the campaign. In the even- ing a banquet was given at which toasts were responded to by Judge Price, Reuben Noble, Mayor Wiest, Thomas Updegraff, J. O. Crosby, E. Odell, J. P. Kriebs and William Schoulte. The county officers were quartered in the academy building, which was leased for three years for $100 per annum." Judge Price announced that Clayton county would take $200,000 of bonds in the McGregor, St. Peters, Missouri Railway, and $200,000 in the Dubuque & Turkey Valley Railway, and Sheriff Davis announced, on behalf of District Judge Murdock, that court would be holden at Guttenberg on May 18.
Hard Times-As early as January, 1857, the hard times began to settle down upon Clayton county. From the reports of the varied activities of the county it has been seen, however, that this new terri- tory was affected less than almost any other portion of the United States. Money was not a necessity for the man who was not in debt. The soil provided a good living, and the surplus products of the farm could be exchanged for the few simple manufactured articles which the settler was obliged to have. But woe betide the man who was in debt. Interest rates were high. Twelve percent was about the lowest rate at which a farm loan could be obtained. The money price of produce was low. Added to this was the wildcat currency. The National bank had long since been abandoned, and, under lax state laws banks, almost without assets, had been allowed to issue currency. This currency floated at par, as a rule, when first issued, and the plentitude of money had inflated prices and encouraged speculation. The reaction came when these banks failed to redeem their currency and it dawned upon the people that the money which they had in their pocket was worth no more, or no less, than the worth of the individual bank by which it was issued. This led to suspicion, which was nearly always well founded, until things came to such a pass that no man, not even the best informed bankers, could be certain from day to day as to what these bank notes were worth. Just as the more modern "bucket shop" operator profited in grain deals by advance information, so financiers were able to profit by advance information as to the value of this state bank currency, and in every case it was the average man, the farmer, the laborer, who suffered. In January, 1857, the pinch was felt in Clayton county, but not so severely but that Colonel Rich-
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ardson could write of it in the following light-hearted way: "In the memory of the oldest inhabitant of this country times have not been so 'tight' as now. If we did not know by experience of rather a bitter character that times are in the habit of getting tight and recover- ing again we would conclude that commercial delirium tremens would supervene and upset the whole fabric of trade and dicker. Every man you see is demanding money of you, and the mails are now supposed to be carried only by Dun horses." Nevertheless the paper announces that from three to five hundred buildings will be erected in McGregor during the course of the year. On March 2, 1857, McGregor voted to incorporate, and on April 27 an election was held to vote on the charter proposed by a commission consisting of John T. Stoneman, J. H. Merrell and G. S. C. Scott. The charter carried, by a vote of 35 to 21, and Judge Price declared the town incorporated and ap- pointed A. T. Jones, F. Durand and J. T. Stoneman as the first elec- tion judges.
Railroad Reaches River-"Be it remembered that on Wednes- day, April 15, 1857, at 5 o'clock in the evening, the cars of the Mil- waukee & Mississippi railroad anchored on the banks of the great river. The shriek of the Lake Michigan locomotive was echoed by the bluffs and responded to by a shrill whistle of welcome from a Mississippi steamer just coming into port. Hundreds of persons were in attendance to witness the arrival of the first passenger train, and when the smoke of the engine became visible in the distance there was such an expression of anxiety as we have seen when a new and great actor is expected on the stage. As the train came in view, and the flags with which it was decorated were seen waving in the breeze, a shout of welcome broke forth from the gazers that told how many hopes of friendly reunions were awakened in the contemplation of an easy and speedy return to their eastern homes. One large banner carried on its silken folds the busy emblem of 'Wisconsin, the Bad- ger.'" This is the glad song of praise with which the Times an- nounced the coming of the first railroad train within sight of Mc- Gregor. There was feasting and rejoicing, and the high officials of the railroad visited McGregor and proclaimed it the "Gateway of Trade-the Thermopylae of North Iowa Commerce." McGregor held its first city election on May 9, 1857, and the first officers were A. T. Jones, mayor ; John T. Stoneman, recorder ; John H. Kinniard, treasurer; J. L. Dearman, assessor ; D. Allen, marshal. The first trustees were A. E. Wanzer, G. S. C. Scott, R. McMorrine, C. A. Southmayd and J. B. Bass. The Times celebrated by enlarging to an eight-column sheet and by publishing a lengthy writeup of all the business houses in the city.
Clouded Titles-One thing which seriously retarded the growth of McGregor was the fact that the land titles were in dispute, and no man could secure a clear title to his lot. This litigation in which the McGregors were involved, first as to the Giard grant, with the original owners, and later as brother against brother, dragged its weary course through the courts for many years. It was the hope of all McGregorites that this suit would be settled or compromised and in May, 1857, the Times mentions that "James McGregor, Esq.,
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brother to Alexander, our townsman, and one of the parties to the suit involving the title to the townsite of McGregor, is now here. It is hoped by all that the matter at issue will be compromised by the brothers, and we are pleased to learn that. there is strong ground to anticipate an amicable arrangement."
It was at this time, in 1857, that old Fort Crawford, across the river, but which played such an important part in the early history of this county, was sold by the government to the settlers. There was hardly an issue of the Times during this year which did not con- tain a notice of a railroad meeting, and this was the headquarters of the McGregor, St. Peter & Missouri railroad, of which John Thomp- son was president and Jedediah Brown was secretary. June 19, 1857. the new banking and real estate firm of H. S. Granger & Co. was announced, and the threshing machine is first advertised to the far- mers of the county.
Coming of Norwegians-This was the time of the great Norwe- gian immigration, and the picture of their coming, as given by the Times, is worth preserving: "On Saturday last the Northern Belle delivered at McGregor nearly one hundred emigrants from Norway. There was about the same number on board, bound for ports farther up. They were composed of middle age and young men and women and children, very few of the company looked to be over 35 or 40 years of age. Boxes, wooden trunks and cases of all shapes and sizes, strongly banded with iron, painted and marked with hiero- glyphics to us indecipherable, were carried from the boat to the levee until the wharf and road for several rods were completely blocked up. The appearance of some of the wooden trunks was very ancient, one of them we saw was marked 1707. There were others older in looks. The Norwegians are a most valuable accession to the state. They are frugal, industrious and honest; some of them are most talented business men, and scarcely one can be found that approaches, either from bad habits or imbecility, the condition of a pauper. They usually settle in neighborhoods, and a steady improvement of the country marks their footsteps. Iowa and Minnesota are receiving the best mental stamina of the eastern and middle states, as well as the most valuable physical and moral force of Europe. No better evidence of the value of Iowa lands can be shown than the direct influences they exert on the middle classes of distant Europe. A journey of 7,000 miles, or over one-quarter round the earth, is no light testimony in favor of the superiority of the Northwest."
Politics in 1857-The August election of 1857 resulted generally in a Republican victory, but it is also noteworthy that the proposition to strike the word "white" from the Constitution was defeated in this county by a vote of 239 for and 1,029 against. The vote of McGregor stood I for and 159 against. Judge Price, possibly owing to his activ- ities for Guttenberg, was defeated for county judge by O. W. Crary. Other county officers elected were B. F. Fox, recorder ; Alpheus Scott, attorney ; James Davis, sheriff ; M. E. Smith, surveyor; Nicholas Kriebs, coroner, and B. F. Schroeder, drainage commissioner. The attempt made by Farmersburg earlier in the year to take the county seat from Guttenberg died-a-bornin', but immediately after the elec-
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tion Elkader announced that it would make the fight in the succeeding April, and petitions were also circulated for Garnavillo, Clayton Cen- ter and Farmersburg. It was in 1857 that Benjamin F. Forbes, the prominent citizen of Garnavillo, who has been frequently mentioned in this history, died, and the Masonic lodge of Garnavillo passed resolu- tions in honor of his memory, signed by A. W. Drips, secretary pro tem. Work had already begun on the railroad to extend west from McGregor. By September, 1857, contractors were at work on seven sections of the road, and North McGregor, for the first time, becomes prominent.
' For the fall campaign the Republicans met in county convention at McGregor and L. G. Collins and W. H. Stearns were nominated for representatives. The Democratic convention was held at National, and Charles Watkins of Farmersburg and Michael Uriell of Read were nominated for representatives. At this time Clayton county was entitled not only to two representatives of its own, but to a "floating" representative elected by Dubuque, Jones and Clayton coun- ties. For this position the Democrats of the county placed in nomina- tion Dr. F. Andros, who had returned from Minnesota, subject to the decision of the district convention to be held at Dyersville. Dr. Andros was not successful át the convention, the nominee being W. S. John- son. In the meantime the Republicans nominated John T. Stoneman of McGregor. The October election in 1857 resulted in the election of all Republican nominees. The following list of Democratic committee- men gives an idea of the political affiliations of many of the prominent men of the county. The committee was: Jefferson, B. F. Fox ; Mill- ville, John Kinney ; Mallory, John W. Potts; Elk, John Wolf ; Volga, Isaac Otis; Lodomillo, S. R. Peet ; Boardman, R. L. Freeman; Wag- ner, Warren Hunt; Marion (Morasser), B. D. Worthing ; Read, J. L. Gilbert ; Garnavillo, Dr. Linton ; Clayton, N. Kriebs ; Mendon, George L. Bass ; Monona, Horace Emery ; Farmersburg, T. G. Drips ; Cass, J. H. Grannis; Grand Meadow, Alex Fay; Sperry, Dr. Woodward; Giard, J. Tapper. No committeemen were reported from Buena Vista, Cox Creek and Highland.
The fourth annual fair was held at Clayton Center, and of it the secretary, William M. Keys, says that the weather was so unpleas- ant that few were able to attend. The exhibit was small but of good quality and the stock exhibit was very superior.
Hard Times Reach McGregor-In October, 1857, the Times had the following to say concerning business conditions at McGregor : "Notwithstanding the uproar of bank, railroad and individual failures throughout the country, our little city keeps up an active business-like motion, and we happen to know that several of our largest dealers are selling a great many goods to Western Iowa and Minnesota merchants for PAY. The buyers who come here to replenish are dealing far enough west and northwest to feel the influence of the past season's emigration, and it matters little to them whether wheat is high or low in the eastern market. The newcomer has the GOLD, and he is com- pelled to spend it. Our streets are as full of people as ever, and though no grain is coming forward, we are having a good run of trade." Nevertheless, it is noticeable that the Times suspended publication
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for one week in order to collect sufficient to continue business, and, but a few weeks later, that paper makes a lengthy editorial statement relative to the times. It complains bitterly of the pressure to collect debts which is forcing many into the hands of the sheriff and adds, "the grain, upon which we rely for ultimate payment, will bring scarcely any price, and, even then, the farmers are required to receive in pay- ment for it the bills of banks which have set the first example of sus- pension. The patient is very sick and the remedy should be speedy. The severity of the money pressure is having some strange effects. Large numbers of persons anticipating destitution this winter on the seaboard are shipping back to Europe. Men who fear the winter are recruiting in the United States service as fast as their names can be written on the lists. All the discharged mechanics are going into the army. Telegraph stock is benefited, so great is the rush of bad news, that three times the number of wires would find employment. The boot and shoe trade is said to have suffered least. The lager beer saloons have suffered materially. Matrimony is said to have come to a dead standstill in eastern states."
Coupled with the political unrest resulting naturally from these severe hard times was the great moral question of slavery, and the great political question of the perpetuity of the Union. The flames of dissension, which had blazed up during the Kansas-Nebraska con- troversy, had not died down, and even in 1857 there were many signs of the perilous times to come. It was a noteworthy fact that the first mention of disunion found in the McGregor paper is a discussion con- cerning a convention, called to meet at Cleveland, Ohio, to take into consideration the propriety of the dissolution of the Union. This con- vention was called by abolitionists of the northern states, and would make it appear that secession ideas were not entirely of southern origin.
The Times, of December 2, notes that Mr. Reuben Noble of the law firm of Noble, Odell & Drummond has taken up his residence at McGregor, while Mr. Odell remains at Guttenberg; that Judge Wil- liams and Mr. Peck have formed a lawpartnership at McGregor and that John Van Orman of Osage has moved to McGregor and hung out his shingle.
At the close of the year 1857 McGregor is able to report that "since October, 1856, the village has more than doubled its population, and it has trebled in the length of its main street. Back country residents who have not visited the river since spring express their sur- prise now when they find themselves in town nearly one mile and a half from the river wharf. Not only is the coulee filling up with dwellings and business houses, but all the valleys intersecting the main road, the sides of the hills, and the uplands three to four miles in length, are being dotted with tasty residences, mechanic shops, houses of enter- tainment and small shops or provision stores. Notwithstanding the closeness of times improvements at North McGregor continue. A steam sawmill is erected, a large storehouse is finished, John Thomp- son of Clermont has the timber on the ground for a warehouse just below the mouth of Giard Creek; Granger & Co. have sold a large number of lots which will be built on in the spring."
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The McGregor, St. Peter & Missouri River railroad issued $4,000 in notes at 10 percent interest, which were expected to pass as cur- rency in McGregor.
At the close of 1857 market prices at McGregor were: Wheat, 40c to 45c; oats, 25c to 3oc; barley, 50c ; potatoes, 40c to 45c; corn, 3oc; cattle, 3c; fat sheep, $1.50 to $2 a head; hogs, $5 to $6; butter, 20c; eggs, 20c, but these prices were payable in a depreciated currency, and the market quotation contained the ominous statement, "Shin plasters not received on deposit."
Events of 1858-In January, 1858, there was formed at Elkader a "Female Temperance Society," the forerunner of the W. C. T. U. of today. Miss Griswold, Miss Mathews, Mrs. Warrener and Miss Dur- kee took part in this first meeting.
By February, 1858, the Clayton County Herald, at Guttenberg, had succumbed to the hardness of the times. The Tribune at Elkader had proved but a short-lived affair, and the Times of McGregor was left as the only paper in Clayton county.
In 1858 the census figures for 1856 had just been compiled, and the figures of the nativity of the county are of interest. Of the 15,187 inhabitants of Clayton county there were but five paupers. The nativity of the people was as follows: Iowa, 2,567; New York, 1,722; Ohio, 1,545; Pennsylvania, 1,328; Illinois, 635; Vermont, 561 ; Indiana, 344; Wisconsin, 278; Virginia, 219; Massachusetts, 188; Michigan, 165; Connecticut, 126; New Hampshire, 119; Kentucky, 117; Mis- souri, 102. None of the other states furnished as many as 100. Of the foreign born, 2,375 were from Germany, 756 from Ireland, 343 from Canada, 274 from Norway, 253 from England, 171 from Prus- sia, 155 from Hanover, 131 from Scotland, 120 from Switzerland, 82 from Bavaria, 41 from France and others scattering. Counting Prus- sia, Hanover and Bavaria as Germany, and the total of German-born citizens reached 2,783, or nearly 20 percent of the population. It has often been said that Maturin L. Fisher was the father of the common school system of Iowa and in many respects this is true. In 1858 he presented to the legislature an entire recodification of the school law, and it was upon this that our school system is founded. Not all the provisions urged by Mr. Maturin were adopted, but he pro- posed a thorough system, which included the rural schools, high schools, normals and the state university, and to this Clayton county man must be given the credit for much of the good work done by our schools.
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