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 34
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His funeral was attended by members of the bar from every county in the district, and he was universally mourned. After his death the Milwaukee railroad was sued for damages on account of the accident, but, after long litigation, the case was decided against the estate.
Daniel Brownson died, July 23, 1894, at National. He was born in New York in 1813, came to Clayton county, in 1846, and bought a farm in Farmersburg township. He was noted as a breeder of fine horses and live stock and did much to raise the standards of agriculture in the county.
C. L. McGonigle died, February 12, 1895, at Monona. He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1836, and moved, with his parents, to Monona, in 1847. He engaged in business in Monona and, in 1876, was elected county recorder as a Democrat. In 1893, he represented the county faithfully in the legislature. He was a very popular man and one of the leaders of democracy.
Charles Mentzel died at his home in Cox Creek township March 18, 1895, as the result of an accident. His team became unmanageable and he was thrown from his buggy, injuring his head. Mr. Mentzel was born in Saxony, in 1831. He received a liberal education and served in the Saxon army. He came to Garnavillo in 1854, and, in 1859, bought his farm in Cox Creek township. Mr. Mentzel was almost continuously in public service, being a township officer, a member of the board of supervisors and serving two terms in the legislature. For many years he was secretary of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Communia. His funeral was attended by large numbers from all over the county. Charles Reugnitz delivered an address in German and John Everall spoke in English. Charles Mentzel was a typical German-American citizen, loving his fatherland and cherishing its memories, but with a stronger love for his adopted home and a greater pride in his American citizenship.
John Paddelford died in California, April 4, 1895. He was one of the old settlers of Sperry township and underwent all the hardships incident to pioneer life. He located in Clayton county in 1842. He prospered in business and at the time of his death was the owner of 1,540 acres of Clayton county land. He was known and loved as "Uncle John" and he was a prime favorite at all meetings of the pioneers. On account of failing health he moved to California a few years prior to his death.
Dr. Frederic Andros died April 28, 1895, at the home of his daugh- ter, at Minneapolis, at the advanced age of 92 years. He was the first regular physician to locate west of the Mississippi, and for many years a prominent figure in the history of Clayton county and northern Iowa, being the first clerk of the courts and first recorder of the county. He was born, September 14, 1802, at Berkley, Massachusetts, the son of Rev. Thomas Andros, a soldier of the Revolution and a man noted for his classical and theological learning. After receiving his medical education, Dr. Andros removed to Plymouth, in western New York, where he married Eliza Bunker, a descendant of the original owner of Bunker Hill. Soon they removed to Paris, Canada, where he, becom- ing mixed up in a revolutionary conspiracy which was revealed by a traitor, was obliged to make his escape in the night. He made his
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way to Detroit, and was joined by his wife. He was at Detroit just in time to assist in quelling an epidemic of the cholera.
In October, 1834, he joined a party starting for the lead mines of Illinois and Iowa and located at Dubuque, and was the only physician west of the Mississippi then legally entitled to practice. In 1838, he took up a claim near Garnavillo, and adjoining Judge Murdock's old farm, and there his eldest son was born, one of the first children born in the township, fifty-six years ago. In 1843, the doctor was elected to represent northern Iowa in the territorial legislature. In that body he secured the passage of a bill changing the county seat from Guttenburg to Jacksonville, now Garnavillo. In 1846, he was appointed physician to the Winnebago Indians and with them went to Minnesota, where, in 1854, he was elected to the legislature. Later, he returned to his Garnavillo home, where he resided until 1861, and then moved to McGregor. In 1879, Mrs. Andros died from injuries received in a railroad wreck the previous year. Dr. Andros then moved to Mitchell, South Dakota, where he practiced, but, in 1899, he retired from active life, owing to the failure of his eyesight. No man enters so intimately into the lives of the people as does the family doctor and Dr. Andros was the confidential friend and advisor of the whole county in the early days. Many a man was indebted to him not only for professional services but for friendship and counsel. He must be named and remembered as one of the very foundation stones upon which the civilization of Clayton county was built.
O. B. Blanchard died May 11, 1895, at Edgewood. He was born in New York in 1823. He was one of the stage drivers in the early days in Pennsylvania and in Wisconsin. In 1871, he visited his brother, Dr. L. Blanchard at Yankee Settlement and was so impressed with the possibilities of the country that he remained, he and his brother platting the village of Edgewood. He was postmaster for four years, following 1885, was president of the bank of Edgewood and was one of the strong financial factors of the southern part of the county.
William P. Eno died suddenly at his home in Wagner township, July 15, 1895. He was born in Canada in 1828. He was employed as a travelling salesman until 1854, when he purchased land in Wagner township and made this county his home. He increased his land holdings until he owned more than 1,500 acres. He was postmaster at Wagner, held many township offices and was one of the founders of the Clayton County Fire Insurance Company. He was radical in politics and was a leader in the Greenback and Peoples party move- ment. He was known as the "Sage of Wagner."
G. Henry Frese, partner in law business with Noble and Hatch, at McGregor, died August 17, 1895. He was born in Germany in 1841, locating in Guttenberg in 1855 and moved to McGregor in 1861, where he entered the office of Noble and Drummond as a clerk. He remained as an employe until 1869, his health failed and he was forced to give up office work and he acted as deputy sheriff for some time. His health being somewhat restored he again entered the office with Judge Noble, but the confinement of office work soon ended his life.
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He was a brilliant attorney and had his health permitted would have been one of the leaders of the bar of the county.
August Borman died November 25, 1895, at Davenport where he had gone to consult a specialist. He was born in Hanover, 1840, and came with his parents to Boardman township in 1852. In 1882 he was elected sheriff and served two terms. He was noted for his charity and good heartedness and had a wide circle of friends.
Victor Baleff died January 13, 1896, at Strawberry Point. He was born in Wurtemberg, 1843, and came to Clayton county, in 1856. He enlisted in Company H. Sixteenth Iowa, and was with Sherman on the march to the sea. He was a business man of Strawberry Point and was a man well liked by all.
J. H. Shoulte died January 24, 1896, at Garnavillo. He was born in Hanover, 1820, and settled in Reed township in 1856. He was prominent in the early history of the county and held many positions of trust.
E. W. Stewart died at the home of his son-in-law, R. E. Price, in Elkader, April 6, 1896. He was born in New York, 1813, and settled in Highland township, in 1853. He was attracted to the gold- fields in the west, but returned to Elkader after four years and, after the death of his wife, in 1872, he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. R. E. Price.
H. B. Carter died April 22, 1896, at Los Angeles, Cal. He was born in Ohio in 1825, and came to Grand Meadow township in 1847, moving to Elkader in 1850, where he was one of the principal mer- chants for many years. He was the first president of the First National Bank of Elkader and, in 1856, was elected state senator. He disposed of his interests in Elkader in 1885 and moved to Ashland, Ore.
Buel Knapp died at Luverne, Minn., July 17, 1896. He was born in New York in 1827 and moved to Elkader in 1854. In 1870 he went to McGregor where for a number of years he was editor of the North Iowa Times. He left the county in 1880.
Hon. Reuben Noble died August 8, 1896, at McGregor. He was one of the most able men of Clayton county and was prominent in its history for nearly half a century. A sketch of his life appears in another chapter.
M. B. Sherman died August 5, 1896, at Farmersburg. He was born in New Hampshire in 1816, and made his home in Farmersburg township in 1845. For a number of years he was the oldest living settler of the county. His death was caused by a fall which broke his thigh bone.
Henry Froehlich died August 6, 1896. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1812, and emigrated to this county in 1847. The town of Froehlich is named in his honor. He was a typical German- American, honest, upright and industrious.
George L. Gifford died September 7, 1896. He was born in New York in 1824 and came to Clayton county in 1836. He took an active part in county affairs and was a member of the board of supervisors. His career included that of farmer, merchant and hotel keeper.
Casper Becker died October 26, 1896, at Clayton. He was born in France in 1813 and came to America in 1840. He enlisted in the
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regular army and saw service in the Seminole war and later at Fort Atkinson. He settled in Clayton township in 1845, and at his death was the owner of 555 acres of land. He was a prominent member of the Catholic church of the county.
Ingle Chapman died October 23, 1896. He was born in England in 1830, and came to Clayton county in 1856. He was one of the pioneers of Volga.
J. B. Shelhammer died Dec. 8, 1896. He was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1824. He lived in the various parts of Iowa and Minnesota, and settled in Elkader in 1857. He enlisted in the First Iowa cavalry veteran volunteers.
Samuel Murdock died January 27, 1897, at Elkader. More than any other man he was identified with the history of Clayton county in every phase from its origin until the time of his death, and his activ- ities only ended with his life. A sketch of this distinguished citizen appears in another chapter.
Patrick Dinan died July 9, 1898, at Littleport as a result of an accident when he fell from a load of hay. He was born in Ireland in 1822 and settled in Cox Creek township in 1857. Here, in almost unbroken wilderness, he and his wife struggled with the problems of the pioneers and by years of labor gained a competence for himself and family.
James T. Partch died, May 21, 1899, at Elkader. He was born in Vermont, 1817, and settled in Farmersburg township in 1848. He removed to Elkader in 1856 and he and his wife were among the most dearly beloved of Elkader people. He was one of the founders of the Universalists church of Boardman township. The Masonic fraternity conducted his obsequies.
E. R. Barron died March 23, 1897, at La Crosse, Wisconsin. He was born in New Hampshire, 1829, and came to McGregor in 1856 with ex-Governor Samuel Merrill and bought the mercantile business of Jones and Bass, the firm being Merrill & Barron. At the beginning of the war he bought the Merrill interests and the firm became E. R. Barron & Bros. In 1886, he moved to La Crosse, Wis- consin, but retained his interests at McGregor and was a frequent visitor at that city. Upon coming to McGregor he identified himself with every interest of the city and of him the McGregor Times said at the time of his death: "Better than any monument which artisan may rear, is that which is erected in the hearts of his townsmen who will always remember him as a noble, kindly gentleman."
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CHAPTER XII
THE NEW CENTURY-1900-1916
COUNTY GOVERNMENT-TAX STATEMENT-GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT- SOLDIERS' MONUMENTS-MISCELLANEOUS COUNTY EVENTS-OLD SET- TLERS-SCHOOL SYSTEM-SOCIAL LIFE-FINANCIAL CONDITIONS- CASUALTY AND CRIME-FLOOD OF 1916-CRIMINAL SENSATIONS- COUNTY SEAT EVENTS- OPERA HOUSE-SCHOOL BUILDING-MCGREGOR INCIDENTS -PEARL BUTTON INDUSTRY -SAND MOSAICS - PROPOSED NATIONAL PARK-PIKES PEAK-PICTURED ROCKS-THE HAND OF DEATH-20TH. CENTURY POLITICS-DEATH OF CHAS. REUGNITZ - ROOSEVELT CAMPAIGN-ELECTION OF 1908-FIRST PRIMARY-MURPHY- HAUGEN CONTEST-CAMPAIGN OF 1912-RECENT POLITICS-SUFFRAGE ELECTION.
T HE new century, although it has run its course less than sixteen full years, has been the most awe-inspiring period of the world's history. More has been accomplished during these years; more has occurred to alter the destinies of mankind, than has been crowded into any other century since the birth of Christ. Science and invention have revolutionized every industry and have made com- mon-place, in almost every home, luxuries which would have surpassed the wildest dreams of Roman Emperors. Most unfortunately, this great tide of invention has been accompanied by a tide of materialism, in which idealism has been largely lost and the wonder-works, which might have added so greatly to the joy of living have been turned into engines of destruction ; man's baser passions have ruled and the whole world is black with war. This has gone on until the senses have been numbed. Horrors, which would have chilled the blood but a few years ago, have become every day occurrences, and the destruction of cities, the devastation of kingdoms, the starvation of races, the killing of thousands and the mutilation of thousands upon thousands more, have become ordinary items from our daily news. Death surges up from the depths of the sea and hurtles from the clouds, poisonous gases asphyxiate whole regiments and unseen guns hurl tons of explosive shells upon unseen fortifications.
In the midst of this strife, which threatens the very existence of our civilization, it is like going from darkness into light, from storm
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to calm, from the funeral to the marriage feast, to turn from the scenes of carnage to the peace and prosperity of Clayton county. How long the sound of guns may be but echoes, how long before the war cloud which hangs over all Europe and which lowers upon our border, may swoop over the western hemisphere no man may know. "The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on." Blessed, indeed, is this fairest portion of the fairest land, where peace and plenty reign amidst a world gone mad.
Thus far, the years, which have brought such havoc to millions, have been filled with nothing but prosperity for the people of Clayton county. It has been a time of progress, of the perfecting of things old and the beginning of things new. While population has decreased, wealth has increased, largely. New impulse has been given to agri- culture and to home making and, whereas, all was done with an eye to present and temporary necessity, there is now apparent in every move and in every construction the idea of permanency and an assured and stable future. The first expression of this was in the great stone arch bridge which spans the Turkey river and which was built, seem- ingly, not for time but for eternity. All over the county the frail wooden structures are being replaced by bridges and culverts of cement and stone; gravel and macadamized highways are taking the place of the old dirt roads and, in the cities, the macadam is, in turn, giving way to brick. Public buildings are being erected with fireproof con- struction and the most substantial material. In fact the keynote of the history of Clayton county, since 1900, is this idea of permanency ; the thought that this is home and is to be the home, not only of this but of future generations, and that it is worth while to make present sacrifice that that home may be made as beautiful, as comfortable and as complete as possible.
The population of Clayton county in 1890, exclusive of its towns, was 21,752; in 1900, these figures had decreased to 19,632; by 1910, 3,000 more had left the farm and the population was 16,436, and, in the five years ending with 1915, 1,000 more had gone, leaving the rural population of the county at 14,431. In the meantime, the towns of the county had shown an increase nearly corresponding to the loss in the country. In 1890, the towns had a population of 4,981 ; by 1900 this was nearly double, the figures being 8,118; in the next census period, of the 3,000 who had left the farm, 1,000 evidently remained in the county, for the towns show an increase of that number and the combined urban population was 9,240. Again, in 1915, a portion of the rural loss is city gain and the towns in the county at the close of that year had a combined population of 9,700. This village population was divided among eighteen communities; running from 1,873, at Gutten- berg to 97 at Osterdock. The gain both in city and county, however, did not keep pace with the birth rate and two things are apparent, one, that the farmer, growing older and wealthier, has retired and has removed to the village, there to enjoy the added comforts of community life; and the other, that Clayton county is constantly send- ing out to the world its best and most adventurous youth and that the fledglings are leaving the home-nest and giving to the nation the best product of its farms and homes, in the shape of splendid men
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and women. Just as, during the Civil war, it was the boys from the farms of such counties as Clayton, which saved the Union, so now, it is the leaven of common sense, integrity and sturdy manhood from such counties as these that are the hope and the salvation of our country.
While Clayton county has lost in population it has gained amaz- ingly in wealth and culture, in the observance of law and order and in all the refinements of civilization. In 1834, there were 1,429 polls in the county and the gross amount of taxable property was $19,163.34, showing a per capita wealth of approximately $13 for each voter. In 1900 the 27,750 people of the county had property of the taxable value of $5,818,477; in 1910, whereas the population had decreased more than 2,000, the tax value had, increased nearly $2,000,000; the valua- tion for that year being $7,531,684. Again, in 1915, with a decrease of population of nearly 500, the taxable value had increased another $2,000,000, the figures being $9,623,941 and the assessed value, sup- posedly the actual value, was $38,495,764. With all due respect to assessments and tax valuations, it would be safe to say that the real wealth of Clayton county, on a market basis, would exceed $50,000,- 000, giving a per capita wealth of approximately $2,000. Not only this, but in few communities is wealth more evenly distributed and, while there are rich and poor, there are no overwhelming fortunes and the wealth of the county is not lodged in the hands of a few. With this firm basis of wealth and prosperity, which nothing short of a cataclysm of nature or of man can destroy, it is no wonder that Clayton county has progressed marvelously and that, within a generation, the county has never felt the pinch of poverty nor the real stress of hard times. After all, time is an essence of history, and the more recent the event the more difficult to write of it; for the very nearness destroys the perspective and time alone brings into view the rugged peaks which are of real historic value. Therefore, it is possible only to touch upon those matters which are apparently characteristic of the period and which will give future generations some idea of Clayton county as it was in the early years of the twentieth century.
County Government-Concerning the affairs relative to county government, the year 1900 had barely opened when ex-Governor Wil- liam Larrabee, then a member of the state board of control, threw a bomb shell into camp by the way of a severe criticism of the brand new county asylum which was the pride of Clayton's heart. The gov- ernor's strictures upon the asylum were harsh and he likened the cells to cages for wild animals. This aroused a storm of resentment, and the fact that the asylum had been occupied but a few days and that there had not been time to perfect details and plan a definite course of con- duct, makes the criticism appear to have been unjust. It was the effort of the board to meet the requirements of the state board which, later, led the supervisors into difficulty ; for, in 1903, the supervisors bought the Losch farm of fifty-two acres, adjacent to the hospital, for the sum of $4,000. This was technically illegal and, in August, 1903, a petition containing four counts was filed against the supervisors. They were charged with the payment of $2,300 for real estate without a vote of the people; with paying $1,669.89 to F. E. Heckel, against
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the advice of the county attorney; with the purchase of the Losch farm without the consent of the people and with appropriating $75 to the Iowa Publishing Company for the insertion of county statistics in a state book then being published. The case was submitted before the court, in October, and it was held that, in regard to real estate pur- chases, the board had exceeded its authority, but without wrong intent ; that the $75 appropriation was within the discretion of the board, and that no corruption was shown in regard to the Heckel case. Prior to the death of the treasurer, Reugnitz, F. E. Heckel was school treas- urer of Millville township. Not having occasion to visit Elkader frequently and having no safe place of deposit for funds, it was his custom to leave school funds in the county treasury, paying school expenses by check and reimbursing himself, from time to time, from the treasury. In this way he would receipt for warrants and return them to the treasurer to be credited to him. When the affairs of the treasurer's office were overhauled, after Mr. Reugnitz's death, a receipted warrant for $1,670 was found. Mr. Heckel acknowledged the signature, but claimed that he had never received the money. It was this warrant which the board ordered paid.
In January, 1901, the county employed a firm of so-called "tax ferrets" to go over the books and search for property which had escaped taxation. This firm was allowed a commission of 15 per cent. The assessed valuation for 1901 was increased $406,248 without the aid of ferrets and Clayton led the state in tax valuation. The ferrets were active and, in August, 1901, it was reported that they had col- lected $1,894 in a single week and had arranged for the payment of $10,000 more. The ferrets completed their work in February, 1902, having collected $34,762. They returned and, in March, 1908, it was reported that they had turned into the treasury $43,323 which, less commissions, etc., netted the county $34,199. It was at their instance, also, that, in 1901, the county brought suit against Mary Reynolds and the "Diamond Jo" estate for $160,000 taxes due, Joseph Reynolds having died in 1895, leaving an estate valued at $2,800,000.
Among the other incidents of county government was the suit brought against Joseph Vogt for obtaining over payment on bridge contracts. The case was tried in Allamakee county and Vogt claimed that he was sick at the time measurements were taken, that they were taken by others and that he had refunded the money as soon as the error was discovered. Upon this showing he was acquitted.
Despite the efforts of the tax ferrets and the increased tax receipts, it was found, by September, 1904, that the county finances were in bad shape and that a bond issue was necessary. There were stamped warrants outstanding in excess of $19,000 and a bond issue of $24,000 was resorted to, to maintain the credit of the county and to prevent loss of those holding county warrants. In 1908, the board at a special session ordered a vote on the proposal to spend $10,000 for the purchase of the Leonard farm as an addition to the hospital grounds, but this proposal was defeated. In 1909, the main building on the county farm in Read township was destroyed by a fire in which one inmate, an unknown tramp, lost his life. It was necessary to rebuild and, in July, a contract was let for $7,965. It was at this
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session, also, that, under a new law, banks of deposit were first designated for the county funds. Bounties offered at this session were as follows, for gophers, 5 cents; ground hogs, 25 cents; rattle snakes, 50 cents. Extensive improvements were made in the court house, in 1902, the small vaults being replaced by large ones of modern construction. The vaults cost $2,190, and the metal furniture cost $2,650. In 1903, a barn was built at the poor farm at a cost of $2,645 and, in 1907, $2,000 was expended for a steel ceiling for the court room and other interior improvements.
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