History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 34

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1042

USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 34

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

sowed to winter wheat. John Heller settled on section 14 and M. C. Jacobs took up a claim on section 24. The first school house was a log cabin built in 1842 and slabs cut from logs were fashioned into benches for the pupils. Today the town- ship has seven school houses in as many districts and two independent districts, one in New Liberty and the other in Dixon. The school in Dixon is a graded one with two teachers. There are also three churches in the township, two at Big Rock and one at Dixon. The soil in Liberty township is of the best and more or less rolling. Two beautiful groves of timber, Big and Little Walnut groves, add very much to the beauty of the landscape, and cutting through these groves is Walnut creek, a beautiful little stream, fed by living springs of water. There is also in the township an abundance of good gravel and limestone.

BETTENDORF.

It would take no Rip Van Winkle awakening from a twenty years' nap to rub his eyes when he visits Gilberttown and descries Bettendorf. A very few years of stay would do it. The steady people of Gilbert raised onions and cultivated pretty flower beds, kept early hours and good habits and were content with quiet life in the eastern suburbs of Davenport, when all of a sudden they awoke in a whirl of industry, with chimneys that smoke and wheels that hum, mammoth hy- draulic presses that make steel cars and shears that chew up boiler plate. The necromancer, W. P. Bettendorf and his associates have worked the transforma- tion. The town changed in name as well as nature and has become the second in the county. An army of men are employed in axle works and car works, gas machine factory, automobile works, stone crushers and other industries. Betten- dorf has a mayor and council, is improving the streets and arranging for a muni- cipal septic tank. The trains of the C. B. & Q., the C. M. & St. P. and the I. & I. interurban stop for freight and passengers. The street cars of the Davenport system provide speedy and cheap transit. Suburban homes are becoming plenti- ful on the bluffs at Bettendorf. Everything points to a great growth in this city of industry. Davenport is already looking with covetous eyes and hopes to make this growing suburb the seventh ward of the city at no distant date.

BUFFALO.

The principal town in Buffalo township is Buffalo. It is about ten miles below Davenport on the Mississippi river and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa- cific railroad, whose track is also used by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway. This gives the town two means of transportation by railroad. I now has about 400 inhabitants. In 1900 one of the finest public school buildings in the county outside of Davenport was built at a cost of $5,000. It has Methodist, Catholic and Lutheran churches. Quite a number of coal mines are in operation within two miles of the village, and with quite a sprink- ling of timber land near at hand fuel is plentiful and comparatively low in price. One of the largest brick manufactories in the county is maintained here, which turns out superior quality of work and gives employment to about forty men. There are four pearl button factories in operation at Buffalo; three general

BUFFALO TOWN HALL

MAIN STREET, BUFFALO

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

stores; a bank; a drug store; bakery; meat market; lumber yard; farm imple- ment concern; a very good hotel; livery stable; blacksmith shop; two physi- cians; and three or four saloons.

NEW LIBERTY.

The leading town in Liberty township is New Liberty. It is situated on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad. It has a population of about 150. It has one bank; one opera house; three saloons; two general stores; an imple- ment concern ; lumber yard; physician ; blacksmith and harness maker; two ele- vators ; stock yards; and livery stable.

BIG ROCK.

Big Rock is in the northern part of Liberty township and on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. This place is noted as the home of Farmer Burns, the ex-champion catch-as-catch-can wrestler of the world. There are in Big Rock a lumber yard; elevator; drug store; general store; meat market; confectionery store; blacksmith ; wagon maker ; hotel; opera house.

DIXON.

Dixon is the leading town in Allens Grove township and is on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, twenty-two miles northwest of Davenport. In 1905 the population was 325. It has a good school employing two teachers. Oppo- site the schoolhouse is the Christian church. The town has one bank; two ho- tels ; saloons ; a drug store; two blacksmith shops; stock yards; meat market; implement concern; two general stores; two physicians; an elevator; and a livery stable.

NEW DIXON.

New Dixon, also in Allens Grove township, is situated on a junction of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail- ways, about one mile southeast of Dixon, and has a population of something like 100. The town has one general store; an elevator; lumber yard; hotel: a blacksmith shop.

MCCAUSLAND.

McCausland is situated in the northeast corner of Butler township on the Rock Island railroad, twenty miles north of Davenport. It has three general stores ; two implement concerns; two hardware stores; a bank; two blacksmith shops ; one livery; one elevator ; stock yards; a lumber yard; two physicians; a hotel ; a general machine shop.

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

DONAHUE.

Donahue is situated in the southeast corner of the township on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, seventeen miles northeast of Davenport. It has a hotel; a bank; a general store; a livery; an elevator; a lumber yard; a blacksmith and wagon making shop; and stock yards.

ELDRIDGE.

Eldridge is a town of 300 population. It is about twelve miles north of Daven- port in Sheridan township, and is on the junction of the Maquoketa branch and Monticello branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. It has a fine school building and Union church. In Eldridge are to be found one bank ; implement store; stock yards; lumber yard; elevator; two general stores; a meat market; two hotels; furniture store; two blacksmith shops; a physician ; harness dealer ; saloons; drug store; barber shop; jeweler; and livery stable.

LECLAIRE.

The leading town of LeClaire township is LeClaire. It has a population of about 800. It is situated about fifteen miles north of Davenport on the Mississippi river, directly opposite Port Byron, Illinois. It has good railroad facilities on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Illi- nois and Iowa Interurban railways; also passenger steamers on the Mississippi furnish the town with transportation and freight service. It has a graded school, employing five teachers, and is considered one of the best in the county. The Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian and Baptist churches have beautiful and large edifices. Here is the LeClaire stone quarry on the north edge of the town which employs a number of men. LeClaire has a flourishing bank ; a news- paper-the LeClaire Advance; six general stores; two meat markets; a hard- ware store; a drug store; three physicians; an implement store; two hotels; a dentist ; a livery stable; blacksmith shop; a shoe store; a tailor; two restau- rants ; saloons ; two meat dealers ; and two lumber dealers.

Among the famous ex-residents of LeClaire is Captain Sam Van Sant, river man, Ex-governor of Minnesota and commanders of the National organization of Grand Army of the Republic.

LONG GROVE.

Long Grove is in Winfield township about twelve miles north of Davenport, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. It takes its name from a large grove of timber near by and the village is surrounded by very rich farm coun- try. It has a fine school with two teachers; two churches; two dealers in gen- eral merchandise; a feed mill; a creamery; two farm implement concerns; two blacksmith shops; a cigar factory; a meat market; grain elevator; lumber and coal yards; a large nursery; a physician; and a hotel. It is the center of twelve telephone lines radiating in all directions.

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

PRINCETON.

Princeton has a population of about 500 and is the leading town in the town- ship of that name. It is directly opposite Cordova, Illinois, on the Mississippi river, and twenty miles from Davenport. It is on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Illinois & lowa Interurban railways; also steamers on the Mississippi furnish its citizens with transporta- tion. The school is a graded one employing three teachers. There is a Pres- byterian, Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal church, each having a liberal at- tendance of worshipers. There are two hotels; one bank; two physicians; an undertaker ; two general stores ; a hardware store; an implement store; a harness shop; a shoe store; a blacksmith shop; a livery stable; lumber yard ; photograph gallery ; meat market ; drug store ; an elevator ; two saloons, newspaper, the Prince- ton Review.

BLUE GRASS.

This thriving little village was laid out in 1853 by J. E. Burnsides, John Perrin and James W. Reynolds on sections 31 and 32, Blue Grass township and on sec- tions 5 and 6, Buffalo township. John Perrin was the first postmaster, from 1849 until 1853, when he was succeeded by a Mr. Colvin. A merchant of Muscatine, named John Baker, opend the first store here in the spring of 1856. Christ Meeke, in 1852, became the first blacksmith. The first wagon maker was Henry Greebe, in 1853. He remained a few years, then moved to Nebraska, where he became quite prominent in politics. The first shoe maker was William Souerman, in 1855. William Moss, in 1853, opened the first carpenter shop. The first hotel was built by J. E. Burnsides in 1855. Garret Clawson was its first landlord. The Baptists in 1854 built the first church and in 1859 the second church was built by the Metho- dist Episcopal society. The church building was subsequently removed from the village, after which the Methodists erected another church on a more elaborate scale. The Presbyterians came next in 1873 and built a church. In 1859 the first school house was erected at a cost of $1.000. J. E. Burnsides in 1856 erected a steam flouring mill. The second steam flouring mill was built in 1867 by a Mr. Dorman. Brick was first made in Blue Grass in the summer of 1845 by Ezra Car- penter. Within the limits of the brickyard, six feet below the surface, the fossil remains of a mastodon were found. The tusks resembled petrified hickory and were estimated to be eleven feet long. Blue Grass is located on a branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad, in the southern part of the township of that name, and is about ten miles west of Davenport. It has a graded school ; two churches ; a bank; two general stores; a lumber yard; meat market; implement store ; blacksmith shop ; barber shop; one physician ; saloons ; telephone, telegraph and express offices.

WALCOTT.

Walcott was laid out in 1853 on sections 7 and 8, by Cook and Sargent, of Dav- enport, and the first passenger train that ever ran over the Mississippi & Missouri railroad carried a delegation to attend the sale of lands of the village. F. W. Kef-

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

erstein was the first merchant. He removed to Davenport in 1871. The post- office was established in the town in 1855 and Mr. Keferstein was the first post- master. Samuel Venchoff was the first blacksmith and the firm of Bach & Sears established the first harness shop. The railroad company built a warehouse in 1855 and in 1867 an elevator was built. Walcott is an incorporated town and is on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad, twelve miles northwest of Davenport. It has a population of about 500. It has a graded school; water works; two banks, one of which has deposits of nearly $500,000; three general stores; two elevators ; two drug stores; a furniture store; a hardware and stove store; two blacksmith shops ; a harness shop; a meat shop; three implement concerns ; and is an important shipping point for grain and live stock. Contiguous to Walcott the country is mainly settled by Germans.

LECLAIRE VILLAGE.

The article here following is from the ready and faithful pen of Mary E. Parkhurst, and was prepared for and published in the Half Century Democrat :

"LeClaire is a beautiful, historic, and restful town, nestling beneath green hills and kissed by the caressing waves of the father of waters,' and bathed by the early rays of the morning sun. Health, happiness and prosperity are the guardian angels of her future welfare and destiny. The past to her is a rich treasury of sacred and historic interest. Many a noble and worthy citizen has passed to the beyond, yet the cherished history surrounding the early pioneer, breathing a hallowed influence upon this town like a sweet benediction, will ever abide.

"Following the tread of civilization, two towns, LeClaire and Parkhurst, sprang into being. Separating the two was a dense forest, called by Edward Russell 'The Gulf,' extending on the bank of the river westward between Silver creek and Holland street. A. H. Davenport and R. H. Rogers, owning this strip of land, divided it into town lots. In 1855 on petition of the inhabitants of both towns the legislature, by an act, incorporated the city of LeClaire, including with- in its limits the town of Parkhurst. LeClaire was a thriving city. It was the home of the river man, the professional and business man, and the craftsman, all find- ing an avenue for activity and success. At low water the packets and floating rafts, when darkness of night gathered, anchored at LeClaire, awaiting the early dawn when some trusty pilot would safely guide the way over the treacherous rapids. The social, religious, educational and commercial were interwoven into a harmonious whole for the growth of this promising city. Lectures were given before literary and temperance societies; musical societies met weekly; Sunday and public school exhibitions entertained the people; the Methodist, Episcopal, Congregational, Baptist, Disciples, and Universalist churches, all having worship, cultivated and fostered the religious sentiment. 'A vocal and instrumental soiree' was given by Miss Helen M. Ekin, now Mrs. Helen M. Starrett, a mother of sev- eral highly educated sons, and a well known writer and educator of Chicago. 'A May ball' was given in Davenport's hall. The committee of arrangements were selected from the surrounding towns. Room managers were C. S. Disney, L. S. Chamberlin, A. M. White. Supper was served at the Bratton House, M. D. West-

CATHOLIC CHURCH BUFFALO IOWA

CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUFFALO

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

lake, proprietor. Bill, $3.00. Music was furnished by White's band, conducted by Alfred Milo White, the noted violinist.

"The hum of industry was heard. From the LeClaire Marine railway the ring of the hammer in building and repairing boats, and the buzz of the saws from the two sawmills, joined with the machine shop of Charley Kattenbracker and Adolph Weithe, in musical notes of industry. 'The Swan Mills,' operated by Terhune and Grout, 'manufactured a very superior article of flour.' They stated in 1856, 'We deliver our flour by ten barrels and upward within fifteen or eighteen miles of our mill free of charge.' Disney, Stonebraker & Company, wanted thirty thousand bushels of corn for cash. Dry goods, clothing, hardware, boat and provision stores, blacksmith, tin, copper, cabinet, candy and tailor shops, house and ship carpenters, stone masons and bricklayers, supplied the grow- ing needs of the city. Drs. S. W. Treat, James Gamble, and Hill guarded the public health, while Rufus Linderman, the lawyer, promoted peace and tranquility. Messrs. H. Fleming, William Craig, Francis H. Impy and Edward Russell swayed public opinion, through 'The Weekly Express.'

"Education was an important factor in this progressive city. The school district was divided by the state into four districts under one organization. The following communication was received : 'Office of School Fund Commissioner, Davenport, May 15. 1855. To the voters of school district No. 10, LeClaire Town: It having been made known that your district is without officers, I have appointed Daniel Hagedorn, president, Dennis Barnes, secretary and Homer Carpenter, treasurer of said district until the first Monday in May, A. D. 1856, and until their successor shall be elected and qualified. H. Price, Fund Commissioner, Scott County, Iowa.' At a school meeting in LeClaire in district No. 7, in 1856, Mr. Spaulding, chairman, and A. M. Larimer, secretary, Laurel Summers, introduced the following resolution: Re- solved, That school district No. 7, LeClaire, is in favor of uniting with districts No. 2, 10 and II, and thereby forming 'a union of the four distrcts. Each district as it now stands does not forfeit or surrender its title or ownership to the school property.'

"In 1855 it was agreed between Daniel Hagedorn, Dennis Barnes, Homer Carpenter and Pardon H. Owen, that said Owen should teach one of the schools for the term of three months for the sum of $33.33 1/3 per month. A. P. Westfall was witness to the contract. Pardon H. Owen was a scholarly man. Eighty-seven bright boys and girls attended his school during the year. The following school- houses have been used in LeClaire during the last fifty years : the brick building in Parkhurst town ; the Baptist church on Wisconsin avenue ; the Presbyterian church on Jones street, called the 'black school' owing to the unpainted and weatherbeaten condition of the building ; the school house built in 1850 on Ferry street, called the 'White school :' the old Methodist church on Main street ; the Catholic church, beautifully situated upon one of the high bluffs; the German school house and the present building, built in 1870. Only two of these old buildings remain stand- ing. Four schools continued in LeClaire until 1868, when one primary school was disbanded, leaving three schools; the high school, one intermediate, and one primary, called for convenience 'the stone, the black and the white schools.' The first principal was Mr. Raymond, in 1857. Mr. Baldwin in 1858, L. W. Weller in

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY

1859, H. M. Hoon in 1860. The high school then moved from the old Methodist church to the Catholic church. H. M. Hoon completed his term of service and Mr. Stewart and Charles Clark were principals in this building. The high school then moved to the German school house, William Sanderson and J. W. Coates being principals. In 1871 all the schools were held in the present building. The following have been in charge of the schools since: J. W. Austin, J. W. Coates, C. E. Birchard, J. F. Lavender, J. T. Marvin, J. A. Holmes, E. A. Hamilton, W. D. Wells, Victor L. Dodge, E. S. Kinley, A. E. Baker, W. C. Hicks, C. W. Bartine, A. W. Schantz, John F. Ogden, S. M. Carlington, W. E. B. Marks, J. F. Norman. Messrs. Hoon, Coates, Birchard, Lavender, Kinley, Wells and Bartine married LeClaire ladies.

"Mrs. M. L. Marks taught a private school in LeClaire for ten years. Nearly every boy and girl at that time attended her school part of the year. In 1859 Dr. Ekin, the Presbyterian minister, conducted a Ladies' Seminary at Maple Dale; now the home of Captain I. H. Spinsby. The influence of Dr. Ekin and family was helpful and elevating to the people of LeClaire. In 1856 an 'English and Classical School' was kept in LeClaire by A. W. Alvord and R. C. Hitchcock. Miss Mary Payson conducted a private school for some time. She returned east and married a Mr. Pierce, the grandfather of one of Davenport's real estate agents. Mrs. Sarah Hurd and Mrs. M. L. Follette conducted, for some time, a select school. Mrs. Hurd taught painting, music, embroidery and other fine arts. In 1859 Mrs. Elsie A. Curtis, Mrs. Stella Tromley and Mrs. Sarah Daw- ley were elected school directors. They completed their term in office with credit to themselves and profit to the public schools.

"The LeClaire Lyceum and Library association was incorporated in 1867. The object of the society was twofold: literary improvement and the establish- ment of a public library. In 1867 an exhibition was given in Davenport's hall. The program occupied four hours. All seemed highly pleased. The proceeds were used in purchasing books. A season ticket cost fifty cents and included the regular weekly meeting, also the lectures. Ten cents admission was demanded at the door from all who did not have season tickets at the regular weekly meeting. Between five and six hundred volumes were bought by this society, which are now anchored in the school building and called the public library. Time, thought and labor were freely expended by this society for the public and future benefit of LeClaire. The following are some of the worthy citizens who were interested in this work: Hon. Laurel Summers, Hon. A. M. Larimer, H. A. Harrington, James Powell, P. H. Owen, Milton Parkhurst, F. Snyder, Captain S. E. Van Sant, N. F. Horne, Mrs. Mary Summers, Mrs. Sarah Headley, Mrs. James Powell, Mrs. James, Mrs. Decker, Miss Minnie Robinson, now Mrs. Waggoner of Blue Grass, and many others. A few remain in LeClaire; some have moved to other places, while some have journeyed to the other world. The public library is thie legacy these worthy citizens have left to coming generations. May it ever be guarded as a precious relic from the past !

"LeClaire still has much literary talent and many ambitious young people. Mrs. M. L. Follett writes verse which has the true poetic ring. J. D. Barnes is an interesting writer of historical sketches. Miss Gertie Dawley is a teacher of Greek and Latin in the high school at Oak Park, near Chicago. Miss Alice Lan-

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caster is a student at Iowa City and a teacher of physical training. Mrs. Rose Eldridge delights with her camera to reproduce the historic and picturesque. Miss Tuna Isherwood will soon complete her studies at the state university. Dr. Alvina Kattenbracker has been a practicing physician for twenty-five years. For a number of years she presided over a happy home. Her husband having died and her two sons married, she still continues to practice in her profession, having the confidence and esteem of the LeClaire people.

"Several newspapers have been started in this place; among them the Weekly Express and the LeClaire City Express. This paper was devoted to religion, art, science, literature, agriculture, mechanics, news, commerce, enterprise and progress. The motto, 'Be just and fear not; let all the ends thou aims't at be thy country's, thy God's and Truth's.' Several papers followed: The LeClaire Republican, the Scott County Register, the LeClaire Pilot, the LeClaire Journal, and the LeClaire Advance, which is now (1905) in the sixth year of success and prosperity. J. E. Fedderson is editor and publisher. A new press will soon be in use. Mr. Fedderson married one of LeClaire's fair daughters.

"The ferry, the Twin City, through the sweep of time and the lashing of the cruel waves, became disabled, and a new ferry was built by R. A. Edwards, named the May Flower. These boats, as well as the owners, served the people well and faithfully. They were owned by different partie's at various times, but P. M. Smith guided his neat ferries across the waters thirty-five years. With the advent of the railroad the ferry business departed.

"In 1858 this advertisement appeared in the LeClaire Enterprise: Banking house of Davenport, Rogers & Company. Exchange, gold, silver and uncur- rent money.' Forty-seven years drifted down the stream of time ere LeClaire was favored with the LeClaire Savings bank; C. S. Simpson, president ; W. P. Headley, vice president ; J. E. Parker, cashier ; capital $100,000, the stock being subscribed by thirty of the most progressive and influential citizens of the community. From the first the bank has proven a convenience and a help to the business interests. Its deposits average over $80,000 and are constantly in- creasing. Many of the active business men in this place today are brave sons of LeClaire, and are an honor to their native town. They loyally watch every public interest and carry many burdens of public responsibility. A. N. Davisson was a business man thirty years. C. P. Disney has been in busi- ness forty-six years and mayor seven times. Waldo Parkhurst was a merchant forty years. Dr. James Gamble practiced medicine fifty-six years. L. Schworm kept a boot and shoe store forty-eight years and Mrs. Jane Jack kept a millinery store thirty years. Mrs. Mary Summers is the only one living who has had a continuous residence in LeClaire since 1842.

"LeClaire is no longer a city but a peaceful, restful town of 800 inhabitants. Many of her industries have crumbled before the stern and re- lentless tread of Time, yet with the many beautiful homes, town hall, school building, churches and public-spirited citizens prosperity and happiness may ever await the guardian angels at her gateway. She is no longer isolated for the railroad and interurban have linked her with the great outside world, of which she is a beautiful and symetrical part."

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History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 34

Author: Downer, Harry E Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1042

Author: Downer, Harry E
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1042