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 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
John P. Kriebs-He was a Prussian and joined the Guttenberg Colony in 1850, and soon became prominent in the politics of the county, being one of the leaders of democracy. His name was closely identified with all the civic affairs of Guttenberg. He was mayor of that city, in 1853, and was twice elected coroner of Clayton county. He died in Guttenberg, August, 1873.
Louis Reuther, a native of Prussia, who came to Iowa in 1853 when but 20 years of age, to join the Communia Colony. He came to Elkader in 1855 and in 1867 he joined with Henry Meder in build- ing the Mederville mill. The greater portion of his life, however, was spent as a merchant in Elkader. He was an ardent republican and was elected to the legislature in 1871. In 1876, he visited the father- land and there is supposed to have contracted the disease which ended his life.
I. B. Gates, a man prominent in democratic circles, who came to Iowa in 1850 and resided at Pleasant Ridge, near McGregor, until 1871. The manner of his death was tragic, as he fell dead at the com- pletion of an address which he delivered before a convention of the People's party at Anita, Iowa.
Old Settlers' Reunions-It is no wonder, with these many deaths, the thoughts of the pioneers turned to the old days and that they longed
Digitized by Googto
228
MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
to meet as often as possible and to form some association by which they might keep green the memory of the departed; preserve the his- tory and traditions of the county and keep alive the friendships of many years. Eliphalet Price, then the oldest living pioneer of the county, was the man to whose lot it fell to inaugurate the movement for an old settlers' picnic. In a characteristic letter to the press Judge Price issued a "proclamation" which was filled with wit and pleasantry, as well as with a vein of serious regard. He ordered the pioneers and old settlers to convene at Elkader on February 15, 1872, and appointed a committee on arrangement as follows: Mrs. Victor Carter, Mrs. Timothy Davis, Mrs. Elisha Boardman, Michael Uriell and Henry B. Carter. Those having resided in the county 25 years and less than 30 years, were to be called old settlers, and those residing in the county more than 30 years were to be known as pioneers. A feast of roasted coon and corn bread was proclaimed and Horace D. Bronson was ap- pointed as master of the feast. Robert Thompkins of McGregor was to be poet laureate and Henry Gifford, Clayton's pioneer preacher, was to deliver a suitable prayer "of the old fashion, Turkey river, common sense kind." This proclamation was dated December 21, 1871. This was followed by a proclamation by Horace D. Bronson ordering all the faithful to bring coons for the feast. These proclamations cre- ated much interest throughout the county and were followed by many suggestions, especially the one that summer would be a more suitable time for the reunion. This suggestion was followed and Judge Price issued a second proclamation, in January, 1872, postponing the reunion to June 11. He also reorganized the committee, making it consist of Mrs. Elisha Boardman, Mrs. Lafayette Bigelow, Mrs. M. Cook, Michael Uriell and R. C. Place. This committee met at Elkader and temporary officers were appointed as follows: President, Hon. John Garber ; vice-presidents, Boardman township, Elisha Boardman ; Buena Vista, R. Meuth ; Clayton, R. Only ; Cass, James Tracey ; Cox Creek, G. L. Gifford; Elk, M. W. Lovett; Farmersburg, J. Francis; Giard, James Tapper ; Grand Meadow, P. G. Baily ; Garnavillo, J. W. Gillett ; Highland, J. P. Quigley ; Jefferson, E. Price; Lodomillo, F. C. Madi- son ; Monona, P. P. Olmstead; Marion, J. C. Rounds ; Millville, J. W. Gillmore; Mallory, S. V. Peck; Mendon, George L. Bass; Reed, M. Uriell; Sperry, Elder Whitford; Volga, John Garber ; Wagner, George Walter ; Orator, Hon. E. Price; Chaplain, Rev. H. Gifford; Poet Laureate, R. Thompkins ; Marshal, James Davis.
First Reunion-The place selected for the first annual reunion was the beautiful grove on the east side of the Turkey River, north of the Counth building. Twenty coons, an ox, and deer were secured and roasted for the occasion. The following account of the affair. is from the Clayton County Journal: "The 11th day of June will long be remembered as one of the most important and eventful days in the history of Clayton County. It was the occasion of the convening of the pioneers and old settlers and their friends of Clayton County, and they came not by hundreds but by thousands. From every nook and corner of the county delegates came pouring in, and even from the adjoining counties of Fayette, Delaware and Allamakee hundreds of visitors had come. Between the hours of nine and ten in the morning
Digitized by GoogTo
229
DEVELOPMENT PERIOD-1870-1880
all the several roads leading into town were lined with teams coming hither to participate in the festivities. Fully 6,000 people were here by twelve o'clock, and more came in the latter part of the day. There were four bands of music here-three cornet and one martial band. The first to arrive was Oc. Cole's Fayette Silver Cornet Band, which came Monday evening and favored our citizens with some of their soul-stirring pieces. The band was not complete, but, nevertheless, under the leadership of Oc. Cole, of the Fayette Times, it made excel- lent music. The next to arrive was the Strawberry Point Brass Band, which is composed of some of the prominent citizens of that place, and, considering the brief time of its organization, plays some very difficult pieces admirably indeed. The next was the McGregor Cornet Band, which is the oldest band in the county, and of course furnished excel- lent music. Then came the martial band of Highland, which is always welcome here, and never fails to stir up the patriotic feelings of our people, and which played especially well upon this occasion. At II o'clock the procession was formed on Front street by the marshal, James Davis, and his assistants, H. H. Barnard and A. W. Daugherty, and while not one fiftieth joined in the procession, it was much the largest ever seen here. On arriving at the Grove, Hon. Michael Uriell, chairman of the committee of entertainment, introduced Hon. Samuel Murdock as president of the day, who made some very happy and appropriate remarks. Then came music by the bands, when the president introduced Rev. Henry Gifford, who, in a very lengthy, but powerful and eloquent prayer, besought the blessings of Heaven upon those assembled. After more music, Hon. Eliphalet Price was intro- duced as the oldest living pioneer in the county and the orator of the day. Much was expected of the Judge, but more was realized; his oration was one of the finest literary treats the people of Clayton County have ever been favored with, and while the Judge has not been well of late, yet he delivered it in a clear and distinct voice. At the conclusion of his address and before taking his seat he called upon Miss Marion Murdock for the recitation of A Hoosier's Vest, which was responded to by Miss Murdock in her happiest manner. After music by the Strawberry Point Band, the old settlers organized a per- manent society, with Eliphalet Price as President; M. Uriell, Vice- President ; H. B. Carter, Treasurer ; Joseph Eiboeck, Secretary. Then came the coon feast. The tables were laden with the abundance of good things, and the old settlers partook of them with a hearty relish. General sociability followed. Hand-shaking and congratulations were numerous, and a few hours were thus highly enjoyed by all.
"We have no means of telling just how many pioneers and old settlers were present, but think that out of the 6,000 people assem- bled at least 1,000 were pioneers and old settlers, including, of course, their children and grandchildren. The only pioneers, those living in the county thirty years and upward, who were born here, were Will- iam Walker, William Griffith, William Quigley, R. E. Price, Louis Cooley and Charles Howard. Of sons of old settlers there were sev- eral hundred. There was one remarkable feature about the celebra- tion which is worthy of special comment, and that is the general good order, sobriety and good feeling that prevailed. Not one unkind word
Digitized by Googto
230
MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
was heard on the streets among all that vast crowd, and not one person was seen that showed the least intoxication. There had been thirteen policemen sworn in, but there was no use for them, thanks to the amiability of the old settlers and all others who were present. The fact was, everybody seemed to have too much to say to one another to cause them to drink. Men met here who had not seen each other for fifteen or twenty years, and the few hours left them for sociability they improved rapidly. As has been shown, the festival was an entire success, and we would do injustice if we did not give credit to those who worked hard for a week in making the necessary arrangements. To R. C. Place, L. A. Mahoney, G. W. Cook and T. G. Price belong the thanks."
At a meeting of the old settlers in Elkader, May 21, 1873, Hon. M. L. Fisher was chosen Chairman, and F. D. Bayless, Secretary. Judge Williams, Judge Rogers and J. W. Shannon were appointed a committee to draft a constitution for the government of the society.
At the close of the reunion, Samuel Murdock was elected presi- dent for the ensuing year, John Everall, secretary, and A. C. Rogers treasurer. Rev. Henry Gifford and Rev. Elisha Warner were selected as chaplains. Hon. Reuben Noble was invited to deliver the address, and the next meeting was set for McGregor on July 4, 1873. The pioneers of Crawford county, Wisconsin, were invited to attend.
The Second Reunion-McGregor made great preparations for the second reunion. Cambrian Hall was engaged, the railroad gave reduced rates and the ferryboat "City of McGregor" met the trains at North McGregor. Gregor McGregor was chairman of the local committee and a dance invitation was issued using the picture of a coon, which became the insignia of the pioneers.
Cambrian Hall was well filled when President Murdock called the meeting to order. Rev. Elisha Warner was an honored guest and he told some of the stories of olden times. Among his anecdotes was one that, when a pony was lost or stolen, it was sure to be found in "Pony Hollow." Hon. Reuben Noble made a brief address, stating among other things that "While many of the old settlers of Clayton county are dead, yet such was the vigor of constitution of the early settlers of the county, that of the 75 to 100 settlers of 30 years' stand- ing more than one half survive."
Rev. William Fawcett delivered an able address and he was fol- lowed by Orlando McCraney, as the oldest resident of Iowa present. The officers of the association were re-elected unanimously and El- kader was selected as the next place of meeting.
Later Gatherings-With this auspicious start the meetings of the association continued from year to year without interruption. They grew to be the great annual event of county, were attended by large crowds and shared in public popularity with the county fair and the Fourth of July. For the pioneers they meant more than any other day of all the year. The reunion of 1874 was held at Garnavillo and two brass bands headed the procession. President Samuel Murdock presided, and, as Hon. Reuben Noble, orator of the day, was unable to be present, Mr. Murdock delivered the address. The officers were re-elected with the exception of chaplain, to which office Rey. N. W.
Digitized by GoogTo
231
DEVELOPMENT PERIOD-1870-1880
Bixby was chosen. The day ended with an old time dance led by Messrs. Bronson, Cooley, Paddleford and Jones.
Guttenberg was the scene of the 1875 reunion. Samuel Murdock retired from the presidency and the following officers were elected: President, S. D. Peck; secretary, John Walter; treasurer, Michael Uriell. Resolutions were passed thanking Judge Murdock for his services as president and he delivered the address of the day. The centennial reunion was also held at Guttenberg, June 10, 1876. There was a parade and an extra large crowd. S. D. Peck presided and Samuel Murdock was again the orator. Other speakers were Judge David Wilson, of Dubuque, Orlando McGraney and S. H. F. Schulte. The officers elected were: President, William Sullivan; secretary, Alvah Rogers; treasurer, John Walter.
Not less than 2,000 people, from all parts of the county, attended the sixth reunion, which was held at Elkader, August 23, 1877. Capt. W. A. Benton, assisted by H. H. Barnard, was marshal of the day. Judge Murdock delivered the address and Henry Gifford acted as chaplain. A feature of the day was the talk by E. Dickens, one of the first pioneers, who told many amusing incidents of the early days. Frederick Hartge was elected president and Alvah Rogers secretary. Elkport was fairly swamped with visitors at the seventh reunion, held June 11, 1878. The citizens of the south part of the county, especially, turning out in large numbers. A feast had been prepared for the honored guests, and the usual parade. Judge Murdock, who had come to be regarded as the accepted orator for these occasions, was the speaker. The officers chosen were Michael Uriell, president, and A. C. Rogers, secretary. Nearly 200 pioneers were registered at this meeting. June 11, 1879, the reunion was held at Guttenberg. J. H. Stahl, as marshal, led the parade in which the pioneers marched first, then the old settlers and then the citizens generally. For the first time Samuel Murdock was unable to be present and J. O. Crosby was the orator of the day. Michael Uriell made a brief taik and other speakers were J. H. Bowman of Colesburg and E. P. Moore, one of the founders of Monona. P. P. Olmstead was elected presi- dent; James Uriell, vice-president, and George H. Otis, secretary. Although it had been voted to hold the reunion at McGregor, the gathering for 1880 was held at Garnavillo and the people of this his- toric town gave the pioneers a cordial welcome. The streets were gaily decorated with evergreens and banners. The honored guest was Judge Thomas S. Wilson, the pioneer judge of the county, who came from Dubuque to meet with his old friends in Clayton county. There was an exceptionally fine parade and P. P. Olmstead presided, Rev. William Cummings acted as chaplain, and the oration of the day was delivered by Judge Wilson. Another feature was an address in German by Dr. William Hoffbauer of Guttenberg. Frank Schoulte of National also spoke. The officers were re-elected, except that S. H. Shoulte was made secretary and S. D. Peck treasurer. While stress of weather had compelled a change of date on some years, June II had come to be accepted as Pioneer Day, and by 1880 the association had grown to be one of the most potent factors in the life of the county.
.
Digitized by Google
232
MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
McGregor-While the "Golden Era" of McGregor is said to have ended in 1866, it was still a very lively place, easily maintaining its position as the largest and most important business point in the county. The figures of stock shipment and the amount of grain handled are staggering, and the two towns, which were rapidly becoming as one, easily led all northeastern Iowa. As a river and railroad center it had a distinctive population and was more metropolitan than the remainder of the county, as it came much more in touch with the outside world. There were many men who enjoyed considerable income and who did large business and the life of this city differed from that of any other part of the county. For instance, McGregor became noted as the home of fine horses. There was a driving asso- ciation and horses owned and bred at McGregor were noted throughout the country. The fact that it was the railroad terminus and the head- quarters of the Diamond Jo enterprises was, alone, sufficient to make it a place of importance. The Flemming mill at North McGregor was a large enterprise which in 1870 was enlarged, making it one of the most extensive mills on the river. This mill had four boilers, three engines, thirty-two saws and employed fifty men, turning out 40,000 feet of lumber daily, beside much dimension lumber. In April, 1870, the Mississippi was the highest that it had been since 1828, exceeding the floods of 1858 and 1866, North McGregor and Prairie du Chien were under water. Passenger trains stopped two miles east of Prairie du Chien and ferry boats went up Bloody Run to the railroad round house.
The city was much interested in the proposed ship canal to connect the lakes and the Mississippi by way of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. Meetings were held and committees were sent and, for a time, it looked as if there might be considerable traffic developed from Wisconsin points. In June, 1870, the steamer "Lawson" arrived at McGregor with a cargo from Appleton, Wis., and the "Energy" docked at Clayton with a cargo from Oshkosh.
The fire fiend seemed to have a special spite against McGregor. In June, 1870, there was a $30,000 fire which led to the establishment of the first hook and ladder company. A year later the great Flemming saw mill at North McGregor was consumed with a loss of $125,000, and, in October, of the same year, the railroad elevator and Kellogg's mill were burned with a loss of $50,000. In this fire the beautiful monument to Alexander McGregor was destroyed. It had not been unloaded from the car and the great heat caused it to burst into fragments. The Flemming mill was rebuilt and, in October, 1871, Stauer and Daubenberger began the erection of a saw mill at McGregor. The development of the town and the fact that it was fast outgrowing pioneer days is evidenced by the fact that in 1873 the old No. I ware- house, erected in 1851, was torn down to make way for a more modern building. The Larrabee interests had for some time been engaged in the banking business at McGregor, and in 1873, Frank Larrabee moved to McGregor, beginning a long career of influence and im- portance to the community. During these days McGregor had the distinguished honor of furnishing the governor of Iowa and it was in recognition of this fact that the palatial steamboat, 255 feet long, of
Digitized by Google
233
DEVELOPMENT PERIOD-1870-1880
the Diamond Jo line was christened the "Samuel Merrill." By 1873, the Flemming Bros. mill was again in operation and it is recorded that Artemus Lamb, of Clinton, brought down the river, for the Flem- ming Bros., the largest raft then known upon the Mississippi waters. This raft contained twenty strings and covered about five acres. It was 335 feet wide, 510 feet long and contained 1,300,000 feet of lumber. No oars were used and it was controlled by the steamboat with a crew of eight men.
In 1874, the total trade of McGregor amounted to $15,631,988.10. This large business was divided as follows: Wheat and produce, $3,905,284.63; banking and exchange, $8,218,314.44; wholesale, $1,- 471,000 ; retail, $2,864,630.92 ; manufacturing and lumber, $706,642.89. No other towns in this region, except Dubuque and St. Paul, could boast larger clearings. An enterprise which should be mentioned was the carriage works of G. Hawley & Co. This factory was noted throughout the United States for its fine work and orders for expensive vehicles, where the best workmanship was required, came from all over the country. In 1875, the city was again visited with a disastrous fire, at which time appeals were sent to Prairie du Chien and Dubuque for aid.
Ringling Bros. First Show-In the early 7os there lived in McGregor, a family of six brothers, named Ringling. The father ran a harness and saddle shop. He was an expert workman, noted particularly for his fine saddles. One of his masterpieces was a beauti- ful and expensive saddle ordered from him by John Buell, of New York. There were many circuses in those days, all of them traveling overland and few of them carrying a menagerie. Barnum was abroad in the land and was giving the people their first lesson in that great American institution, the circus. The Ringling boys undoubtedly attended the overland circuses and the boat shows which came to McGregor and, in some way, Al, as the ringleader of the boys got it into his head that he would like to have a show of his own. Many are still living in McGregor who remember the first performance of Ringling Bros. circus. One of these has contributed the following account of the beginning of the career of these kings of the big top, who are now said to own and control all the great circuses of America. Their cousins, the Gollmar Brothers, entered the business later, being attracted by the success attained by the Ringlings. The following is the account of the first Ringling Bros. show: "About forty years ago there resided in this same town, McGregor, Iowa, a firm in the harness business known as the Ringling Bros. The firm was composed of quiet young fellows of apparently mediocre business ability, and the last fellows on earth one would suspect of being afflicted, not with the hook worm, but with the show worm. But they were, nevertheless, and what gets into the heart of a fellow is sure to crop out. That is the reason why they gave their first show and that it happened in McGregor, was because they were then here. On a vacant lot in the rear of S. J. Peterson's drug store, they pitched their first tent. It was fully thirty-five feet in diameter, and well filled. There were three star performers just three and no more. Two were on the parallel bars, but Al Ringling was the star. He balanced a big plow on his
Digitized by GoogTo
234
MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
chin, which he borrowed from Lon Boyle for that special occasion. The exhibition was limited to one performance, and this in the evening. The orchestra was made up of one fiddle. George Williams was the one member of the band and he knew one tune. This he played over and over and when he had finished the audience invariably demanded the second verse, but there was no second-it was all first. George was the local plasterer as well as the violinist. There are men in town who can yet whistle that same tune.
"The show went from here to Prairie du Chien. Three flat boats carried the complete aggregation-boats about the size of those now used for clamming, and they rowed across the river. Who would ever imagine that this was the beginning of the world's greatest shows ? The harness shop owned by the Ringlings stood where the photograph gallery is now located. The tent was held in place by ropes contributed from clothes lines from the neighbors' backyards. The writer knows whereof he speaks for he got in the show on a pass for contributing these same clothes lines to the good of the cause."
A letter from Charles Ringling dated July 11, 1916, questions some of the statements above, although it is not disputed that the first performance, from which the Ringling circus grew, was given at McGregor. Mr. Ringling's letter is as follows: "The mention of the harness shop of Al Ringling at McGregor ; this is an error. Al Ringling was never in the harness business at McGregor. August Ringling, Sr., father of the Ringling Brothers ran a harness shop at McGregor from 1860 to 1872. At intervals during this period several of the older boys worked in the shop, but only one of the seven brothers actually took an interest in the harness business. This was A. G. Ringling who followed this trade in McGregor for a time and also in Elkader and in Garnavillo, joining his brothers only after the circus had been established for a number of years. There were seven brothers in the family, (in order as to age) Albert, August (A. G.), Otto, Alfred, Charles, John and Henry. The first three have passed to the great beyond. The remaining four brothers, now the firm of Ringling Bros., were born in McGregor. While it is true that the brothers gave a number of amateur circus performances at McGregor, under tents made by themselves, and that they actually planned, while mere boys at McGregor, to own and operate a circus, they did not actually start their first professional show from this point. Though the first circus run by the brothers was small it represented some investment and the necessary funds had to be earned in some way. For several years the brothers gave exhibitions in halls and small-town theaters and from the savings of this business they were able in the spring of 1884 to start their first real circus. The first performances were given at Baraboo, Wis., and it was not until several weeks later that they appeared at McGregor."-CHARLES E. RINGLING.
McGregor Events-Among the other activities may be noted the formation of a citizens association in December, 1874, with Thomas Arnold as president and A. Chapin secretary ; the enlistment of an artillery company under Captain Rowland and, in 1876, the successful sinking of an artesian well. The artesian well company was incor- porated with $3,000 capital, J. P. Patrick, president ; E. R. Barron,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.