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 24
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Revolution and came to Clayton county through the influence of the Western Settlement Society, in 1853. He made his home at Guttenberg and was active in the ranks of the Republican party, being elected treasurer and recorder, in 1859, and serving until January 1, 1866. He died at Elkader, when but 44 years of age. Of him it was said: "Almost every man in the county knew him personally, and none knew him that did not respect him. In his official duties he was untiring and obliging. He was honest, frank, and straightforward in all his duties and all agree that benevolence, honesty and integrity were among his cardinal virtues." Another pioneer to pass away at this time was John Downie, one of the early supervisors of the county who came to this country from Scotland, reaching here in 1838. He was one of the "war Democrats" who affiliated with the Republican party when the war for Union broke out. He left a respected memory and his descendants have been honored citizens of the county.
In July, 1866, the county was visited by a great freshet which did much damage to buildings and to crops. It is said that "Turkey river could be heard thundering a mile distant." The bridge over Pony creek on the McGregor road was swept away and stage communications stopped. At McGregor the main street was filled with drift wood and lumber and the merchants sustained heavy damage. In October the county was shocked by a number of accidents happening together. Edward, the 13-year-old son of Reuben Noble, was killed, being shot through the head while hunting. In Elkader, William Satterlie was killed by being struck on the head by refuse brick thrown from the top of Davis & Co.'s store; while, in Wagner township, John Wilkie was killed by having his neck broken in a fall from a haystack.
In November, 1866, the valuation of the county is given as $5,- 351,844, a gain of more than $1,000,000 within a year.
DEATH OF ELISHA BOARDMAN
Near the close of the year 1866 occurred the death of Captain Elisha Boardman, then sheriff of the county. Captain Boardman was a native of Vermont and came to this county in 1840. He was active in the enlistment of the Clayton county company of the Twenty- first Iowa and his act of bravery upon the field of battle has already been mentioned. He was very popular with the men of his command and he was elected sheriff by a practically unanimous vote. At his death H. D. Bronson, coroner, acted as sheriff, temporarily and the board then appointed James Davis.
EVENTS OF 1867
In 1867 a number of changes occurred in the Elkader Journal. Colonel Eiboeck retired and was succeeded by Lyman L. Ayers, who was editor for two weeks when he was succeeded by O. H. Mills. He left in another two weeks and, by February, Colonel Eiboeck was back at his post being urged by citizens of both parties who raised a fund for the enlargement of the paper which was done in May. The Journal
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is careful to conceal the reason for these sudden changes but enough is hinted to show that there must have been a sensation. In 1867, there was another attempt to revive interest in the soldiers' cenotaph project. This came to nothing although there were many publications concerning it and Judge Price suggested that a lottery be held for the purpose. Later the board of supervisors petitioned the legislature to permit counties to appropriate $5000 for a soldiers' monument. Clayton was one of the first counties to propose this patriotic action. The mill on the Volga river was built in 1867, by Reuth, Meder and Grotewohl at a cost of $20,000. Mr. Flenniken was the contractor and mill- wright.
Death of Alonzo Brown-The county lost two of its prominent men in 1868, one of them being Alonzo Brown, who was one of the foremost educators of the county. Of him it was said: "A better man never lived in Clayton county. His education and talent placed him often in a position to serve the public which he always did cheerfully and without hesitation. He was the most unselfish man we ever knew -a true philanthropist, in the broadest sense of the term. Deeply felt will be his loss wherever he was known." He was the first superin- tendent of public instruction, serving in 1858 and 1859. Speaking of him, Mr. John Everall said: "At the time of his election he was comparatively a stranger and for his nomination and election, the friends of education were in a large measure indebted to Judge Mur- dock. During the war, he was elected president of the teachers' asso- ciation and he was prominent at all educational gatherings. He was a provost marshal during the war. He did a great work for Clayton county in putting into effect the excellent school laws, formulated by Maturin L. Fisher, as state superintendent."
Death of James McGregor-Another death, at this time, was that of James McGregor. Mr. McGregor was possessed of strong character and was recognized as a man of force and ability. The law suit in which he was engaged for fifteen years, over the McGregor estate, caused him to be embittered and his interests were antagonistic to those of many citizens of the county, and thus, while he was respected, he did not have a place in the affections of the county such as was accorded Alonzo Brown or Mrs. R. R. Read, whose death occurred in November, 1867, not long after that of her honored husband.
The whole county mourned the death of Mrs. Read whose name was synonymous with hospitality and kindness. Regarding this couple the McGregor Times says: "In the year 1838, they halted upon the beautiful prairie about five miles south of Garnavillo, and here they reared up their children and made for themselves a loving home. To their dwelling the weary hunter and way worn traveler repaired to seek shelter from the storm and appease his hunger. The latch-string was never pulled in, and a hearty welcome awaited the adventurer at their fireside. Mrs. Read could not long survive her husband, and after a good long life, she calmly laid her head upon her pillow, gave a last parting blessing to human kind, and while her lips were articulat- ing the last words, her gentle spirit passed away to meet, as she often said, her Robin in eternal bliss."
Incomes in 1868-That Clayton county, and particularly
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McGregor, were prosperous is shown by the figures given for the income tax in 1868. Incomes of $1,000 and under were exempt and the figures show incomes over that amount. As these statements were made for purposes of taxation, unless human nature has changed greatly since that time, it is safe to presume that they were not over- estimated. According to this report Joe Reynolds of "Diamond Jo" fame, had the largest income, it amounting to $8,000 per year ; among the others of considerable income were J. S. Beerbaum $2,561, James F. Basset $4,000, C. S. Bell $2,350, E. R. Barron $2,151, G. C. Cone $2,135, E. Egbert $2,091, J. N. Gilchrist $2,515, W. I. Gilchrist $3,103, William F. Hunting, $4.000, A. T. Jones $2,271, O. McCraney $2,277, Reuben Noble $3,005, Henry Reubel $4,973, J. T. Stoneman $2,280, Henry Webb $2,414. With such incomes, on the modest scale of living then prevalent, it is no wonder that the attorneys of McGregor could tender Judge Milo McGlathery a banquet at which champagne was a prominent feature. A part of the exuberance of wealth of the time is shown in the project to dam the Turkey river to render it fit for navigation.
A prominent citizen dying in this year, 1868, was John Woodward of Farmersburg. He was born in Vermont and purchased land at National in 1848. He was a man of more than ordinary mental power, of unimpeachable character and of unflinching fidelity to his convic- tions. He served as Justice of the Peace but it is said of him that he settled almost all of his cases out of court. The only serious accident recorded during the year was when, in December, three sledge loads of passengers being transferred from Prairie du Chien to North McGregor, broke through the ice and a little child was drowned. The year closed with harder times and the merchants of the county com- plained of unsatisfactory holiday trade.
The last days of the year were saddened by the sudden death of Captain T. G. Drips of Clayton. He ate breakfast as usual with the family and went to the river for water for his team. Being gone longer than usual, he was looked for, and found dead, reclining against a board pile along the river. Mr. Drips was born in Pennsylvania, in 1820. He served with distinguished bravery as an orderly sergeant in the Mexican war, and came to Garnavillo in 1849. He served as deputy sheriff and was for four years sheriff of Clayton county. He was the captain in the Twenty-seventh Iowa and made a good record, resigning after two years' service on account of ill-health.
The Hagerty Murder-In 1869, the Hagerty murder furnished one of the greatest sensations in the criminal record of the county. The circumstances of this triple murder were very mysterious and, but for an accident, it would have gone undiscovered and unpunished. While seining for fish in a small slough above Prairie du Chien, John Conners, of McGregor, drew up a trunk which was found to contain woman's clothing and several photographs of individuals in the north part of the county, among which were pictures of Mr. and Mrs. John Hagerty who had been living at Giard. It was known that a man named Thompson had been living with this woman and had taken her and her children to Wisconsin, but a short time previously. The finding of the trunk lead to further search and the bodies of the
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woman, her daughter and her son, were found lower down the river. A cord was tied about the boy's neck and the woman was in a delicate condition. The story of the case, as developed at the time, was that Hagerty, who was something of a drunkard, left his family and joined the army ; returning, he had reason to suspect his wife and he drank more heavily and finally abandoned his family. His wife afterwards lived at the house of Andrew Thompson. They were last seen in November. Household articles identified as belonging to her were found in the river in February, but it was not until June that the trunk was discovered and it was still two days later before the bodies were found. The relations between Mrs. Hagerty and Thompson had been the cause of much comment and after some investigation a writ was issued for Thompson's arrest. Sheriff James Davis went to the home of James Love, a brother-in-law of Thompson, but was unable to capture him. The sheriff then sent to McGregor for aid and a posse of citizens volunteered and searched the woods for him all night. Thompson finally surrendered himself to Marshal Bergman. A pre- liminary examination was held and the best legal talent of the county was arrayed on each side. District Attorney Granger, John T. Stone- man and Judge Murdock prosecuted, and Noble, Odell, Hatch and Updegraff appeared for the defense. The evidence was voluminous and Thompson was bound over and, later, three indictments for murder were brought against him. There were many delays in bringing the case to trial and it was finally heard in June, 1870, in Fayette county. Thompson was found guilty and sentenced to be hung. Appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, which decided that, on account of a flaw in the indictment, he could not be executed. Being given his choice between a new trial and a sentence of life imprisonment, he chose the latter and expiated his crime at Fort Madison.
River Traffic-At this time river traffic was in its glory. The three leading concerns operating were the Northwestern Union packet line with twenty-one boats, the Northern line with thirteen boats, and the Diamond Jo line with four boats. These companies employed 155 barges. In 1844 the number of boat arrivals at St. Paul was forty- seven, by 1850 it had increased to 104, in 1855 to 603, the high mark was reached, in 1858, when the arrivals were 1068. This mark was almost reached in 1862, with 1015 arrivals. The number in 1869 was 792. The arrivals at McGregor would be approximately double those at St. Paul, as the latter place was the terminus, while boats stopped at McGregor both going up and down the river. These statistics give an idea of the busy port of McGregor which had added importance as the headquarters of the Diamond Jo line.
Elkader was prosperous during this period. Nearly every issue of its newspapers note some new building begun or some improve- ment contemplated. On August 11, 1866, the Elkader post office rose to the dignity of a money order office and there were many other evidences of increasing importance.
Court House-One of the first actions of the board of supervisors in 1866 was the appropriation of $2,000 for a treasurer's office, $2,000 for a vault and $2,000 for the transfer of the county records into new books. Later, $3,000 was appropriated for recorder's office, provided
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Elkader would give the site. This was done and Davis and Beardsley donated the beautiful lots upon which the court house stands today. The citizens also subscribed $1,000 for a wall along the river front of these lots. This action practically settled the county seat question. Garnavillo made an effort to obtain the county seat in 1867, but the campaign was not vigorous, the western part of the county voted almost unanimously for Elkader and that city won by 711. The erection of buildings and subsequent legislation ended the long drawn county seat controversy.
One of the dreams of Elkader for many years was the establish- ment of a woolen factory and in 1866 there were a series of meetings for this purpose and committees were appointed to solicit stock sub- scriptions. It was proposed to sell $50,000 worth of stock, the mill owners to take $10,000, in stock, for a half interest in the water power. These meetings covered a period of months but came to nothing.
Fenianism-One of the interesting developments of the times was the great interest in the Fenian Society. There was an active branch in Elkader, meetings were held, one of which was addressed by Mr. Finerty of Chicago, and the movement had the support of the local newspaper. It is related that at one time $50 was subscribed for the purchase of a Fenian flag. This money was forwarded to Chicago, but was returned, with the statement that the cheapest flag would cost $100. About this time there was a call from the head of the order for funds to buy ammunition for the Irish revolutionists and the ladies used the $50 for this purpose. A card notifying sub- scribers to this effect was signed by Cornelius Ryan who stated that any dissatisfied with this arrangement could receive a refund by apply- ing to John Moran. This Fenian agitation died out within the course of a year.
Hop Industry-A new industry which promised great things in 1866 was the hopyard, started by L. V. Davis, who advertised for forty young and elderly women to pick hops at 75 cents per box. This hopfield consisted of eighteen acres and between forty and fifty were employed in the hop picking. The Journal says, "Some of our best ladies, married and single, were there, arrayed in bloomers, stripping the richly laden vines. We did not notice the costume so much as the bloom on the cheeks of the fair pickers, who were making from $1 to $1.50 per day." The picking season ended with a grand hop at the hop farm which lasted until morning.
In October, 1866, Elkader was pleasantly startled by three wed- dings in a single day, Judge A. C. Rogers performing all the services, the contracting parties were Realto E. Price and Miss Sarah Filetta Stewart, Orrin P. Stewart and Mary Young, and Thaddeus Maxson and Mary A. McLane.
Some Elkader "Firsts"-Sidelights on Elkader history at this time are shown by the newspaper approval of Father O'Beirne's efforts to stop rowdyism ; by a statement that there was not a sidewalk the length of a block in all Elkader and by the agreement among the business men to close their stores on Sunday. In 1866, appears the first mention of Mr. Bayless as a business man. The Freeman Lumber Yards opened in that year ; the first express office was opened, with
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A. W. Daugherty as agent, and the first advertisement of oysters appears in an Elkader paper. The first effort at fire prevention was made, in 1867, when the Elkader mill put in a $1,000 pump and offered the use of it to the city, if the citizens would provide hose. It was in front of the mill, in 1866, that the first street light was installed, and at this time the mill made one shipment of 1,000 barrels of flour, by team to McGregor. In 1868, on New Year's day, Elkader gave a grand ball to celebrate the county seat victory and during that month Colonel Eiboeck published the first number of Clayton county's first German paper, The Herold.
Fairs-The Agricultural Society met at the Fair Grounds at National, May 18, 1866, electing James Parker of Monona president and J. E. Corlett secretary. Messrs. Merrill and Drummond addressed the meeting, stating that supervisors were permitted to appropriate $1,000 to the society. This was followed up, and, in June, the super- visors appropriated $1,000 to be effective when the society had ten acres free of debt. The fair held in October, 1866, was described as the "best ever." The fair, for 1867, took on more of the nature of the modern fair; one of the features being Ormsby's Female Equestriennes. The McGregor band was employed and there were races and lager and wine. Mrs. Taylor of McGregor won the prize as a horse-woman and Miss Minerva Mathews was the winner of the race for lady riders. In 1868, James King was president and C. A. Watkins secretary. The fair was held in October and there was a good display, a feature being woolen goods of Clayton county manu- facture shown by Otis & Co. W. S. Scott of Monona was president and Norman Hamilton secretary in 1869. The financial report showed that the paid admissions, for 1868, amounted to $720.75. The asso- ciation was then $1,300 in debt. The receipts for 1869 were not large on account of rain, but $600 of the old indebtedness was paid. In his report secretary Corlett describes the fair grounds and improvements as follows: "The society has beautiful grounds enclosed by tight board fence costing $1,000; a two-story fair building upon which there has been expended over $2,000. Also pens and stalls for stock, $200. The ten acres cost $900 of which $500 was paid by 1869, not less than $500 were expended upon the ground and buildings in 1867 and 1868. The entire indebtedness of the society is $1,300, leaving the net assets at $3,300."
County Government-Aside from the steps taken to build a court house the most important acts of the supervisors are to be found in the extensive appropriations for bridges. Three thousand dollars was appropriated for a bridge at Elkport and $5,000 for a bridge at Oster- dock. A good bridge at Bloody Run was also put in. The question of a tax for a jail was submitted to the people and carried and E. H. Williams, John Garber and James Davis were appointed as a committee to superintend its construction. In 1867, nineteen paupers were housed at the poor farm under the stewardship of August Millinghausen. The house is described as adequate, but the stable is of straw and the board was urged to appropriate enough to erect substantial buildings.
Rowroad Projects-Prior to 1870, there was but one railroad in the county, this being the McGregor Western, but the map of the
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entire county was overrun with surveys and proposed routes and it was a dull week when there was not a railroad meeting some place in the county. Judge Murdock proposed a road from the mouth of Buck creek to Garnavillo and thence by Dry Mill to Elkader and up the Turkey river to Otter creek and West Union and then "wherever it please." A meeting to consider this project was held in Garnavillo, in July, 1866. The following December, articles of incorporation were filed for a road from McGregor to Elkader, Cedar Falls and Des Moines. The incorporators were James Lawler and Joseph Reynolds of Chicago, R. L. Freeman of Elkader and Lindsey Seals of McGregor. Judge Williams also planned a line up Turkey river and attended a meeting at Dubuque to promote it. In 1867, a meeting was held at Guttenberg and resolutions introduced by Judge Price favoring the Dubuque and Northwestern. A survey was made down the river in 1868 and the McGregor and Western also surveyed a line from North McGregor to McGregor. In 1868 there was great excitement over the proposal of the so-called Forty-third Parallel Railroad to obtain a land grant from the legislature. McGregor was the storm center of this proposal and meeting after meeting was held with arguments pro and con. The majority at McGregor favored aid to the McGregor and Western rather than to the new company and this was the final action of the legislature. In 1869, meetings were held at McGregor relative to voting a tax for a line from Dubuque. Platt Smith spoke for the tax and Reuben Noble opposed it. It was agreed to solicit donations. A railroad convention was held at Guttenberg and that city subscribed $30,000 for the Dubuque line. The Des Moines and McGregor line was revived and, in this, Elkader was greatly interested and sent delegates to a convention held at Waterloo. A survey was made from McGregor to Elkader via Sny Magill and H. W. Bur- lingame, the promotor, declared that capital had been secured for its construction if the various localities would contribute. In December, 1869, a temporary bridge was completed at North McGregor and the first through train went across. This bridge piled the ice above and left clear water below, so that McGregor complained and questioned the right of a corporation "to dam the river above us, and thereby damn the team business below us." The result of all these meetings was to crystalize public sentiment, but no railroad mileage was added to the county from the close of the war to 1870.
Among the Teachers-The return of many young men after the war, who were compelled to make a new start in life, gave added interest to the teaching field and the schools of the county were never in better hands. The Teachers' Association held a meeting at Garna- villo in December, 1865, J. Bell was chairman and the program included addresses from Professor Briggs and Judge Murdock and an essay by Miss Prince of Garnavillo. The teachers were appreciative of their fellow workers as is evidenced by the presentation of a chair to "Father Tremain" at Strawberry Point upon his return from Pike's Peak and the gift of a silver cake basket to ex-Superintendent Kramer. The Briggs Academy at Garnavillo was in successful operation at this time ; J. Briggs was principal and Miss Sarah H. Prince assisted. Rev. G. M. Porter taught languages and Annette Huntley instructed in
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music. The institute for 1866 was held at Guttenberg with J. Piper as director and throughout this period there was increased school activity.
Town Progress-In May 1866 the town of McGregor was stirred by the murder of Ira Pritchard, a trapper from Allamakee county, who was brutally assaulted and robbed. Frank Lienhart was arrested for this crime and the McGregor News urges the authorities to clean up the city and get rid of the many objectionable characters. The moral tone of McGregor improved, however, and the material advancement was rapid. There were many new and substantial business blocks erected and a number of churches, among which was the Methodist church, erected in 1869. One of the most important permanent im- provements was the erection of the academy building. This was com- menced in the fall of 1868, and cost $20,000. A. J. Jordan was the supervisor and S. Jacobs was the architect. There were six large rooms in this building. At North McGregor, which was booming, Flemming Bros. spent $20,000 improving their saw mill plant, adding a shingle factory and a gang of twenty saws.
Monona, also, was prosperous and, by 1869, the town contained three large churches with a fourth under process of erection. A new school house had been built at a cost of $20,000 and Professor M. W. Baily was at the head of the school and in every respect Monona was a very live and up-to-date town. Guttenberg receives but casual men- tion from Elkader and McGregor newspapers, but there is every evidence that it was prospering finely, while Clayton was receding as a business point and the inland towns of the county were enjoying a slow but steady growth.
Political History-In politics, the larger issues of the war gave place to minor and more personal matters. The course of President Johnson relative to reconstruction became more and more distasteful to Republicans. This feeling grew and culminated at the time of his impeachment. As the Republicans denounced Johnson, the Democrats took him up, and before the close of his administration the peculiar sit- uation was created, that the president was supported by the opposing political party and denounced by his own. This was in the day of personalities in politics and the Republican papers did not hesitate to call Johnson a drunkard nor did the Democratic paper fail to return the compliment by accusing Grant of a like failing. One of the features of the campaign of 1866, was the formation of a new party called the National Union party. This was composed of the so-called conservative Republicans who endorsed Johnson and this division among the Republicans was naturally encouraged by the Democrats. At the Republican convention held at Elkader for the purpose of electing delegates to the judicial convention Reuben Noble was chair- man and Alonzo Brown was secretary. The delegates were instructed to support Milo McGlathery for judge and he was nominated at the convention held at West Union, July 12, and L. O. Hatch of Allamakee was nominated for district attorney. Thomas Updegraff was chair- man of this convention.
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