USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 70
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UNION SAVINGS BANK.
One of the junior members of the Davenport Clearing House, the Union Savings bank, has made a remarkable record for the length of time it has been in business. It had hardly started on its career when the great panic of 1903 broke over the country, and yet it continued to grow and develop, laying a firm and last- ing foundation. Upon this, in the later years of its existence, it has builded until it has become one of the important factors in the commercial life of Davenport. Organized September 1, 1891, with a capitalization of $50,000, it has forged ahead
762
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
until its deposits have reached a total of $1,651,766, with surplus and undivided profits of $100,460.
In addition, it owns its own banking house, worth, conservatively, $75,000. The organizers of the bank included such men as M. J. Eagal, Colonel J. R. Nutting, Colonel Henry Egbert, A. F. Cutter, W. C. Hayward, now secretary of state, Uriah Roraback, now one of the leading lumbermen and financiers of St. Paul, Fred B. Sharon and W. H. Snider. The officers of the bank were, in addition to the above who were its directors: president, W. C. Hayward; vice president, Fred B. Sharon ; cashier, A. F. Cutter.
Shortly after its organization, Mr. Cutter having other important interests, S. L. Ely was elected assistant cashier. On January 13, 1897, he succeeded Mr. Cutter in that position, holding it until his death in 1904. On August 1, 1904, William Heuer assumed the duties and is still the efficient cashier of this growing bank. Mr. Hayward, its first president, was succeeded by John W. Ballard, and Mr. Ballard was succeeded in turn by Fred H. Bartemeyer. The present vice president is W. R. Weir. In September, 1901, the capital stock was increased to $100,000, the deposits at that time amounting to $798,525, while the dividends paid that year amounted to thirty per cent, which included the stock dividend of twenty-five per cent on the capital of $60,000. Indicative of the growth of this bank during the past few years, it may be stated that in 1904 the total amount of deposits was $868,000, while at the present its deposits exceed $1,600,000, show- ing a larger percentage of growth, in proportion to its capitalization, than any other bank in the city.
FARMERS & MECHANICS SAVINGS BANK.
The Farmers & Mechanics Savings bank was organized and opened for business on September 3, 1892, with a capital of $100,000. Its officers and or- ganizers were: directors, E. H. Dougherty, George Mengel, J. B. Meyer, L. A. Ochs, Rudolph Rohlfs, Julius Sander, Claus Stoltenberg, Fred Heinz and George Wolters; president, Fred Heinz; vice president, Claus Stoltenberg; cashier, J. B. Meyer.
There has been but little change in this bank since its organization. Fred Heinz served as first president until his death in 1904, and Claus Stoltenberg, then vice president, was elected his successor on January II, 1905. In 1904 J. B. Meyer retired as cashier, and Julius Hasler, the present incumbent, was elected to succeed him.
The bank has always been prosperous and one of Davenport's substantial financial institutions. It has won for itself a good name by its conservatism and careful conduct of the business. It now has surplus and undivided profits of $57,143, while its deposits amounted to $1,090,521, at the time of the public state- ment, November 3, 1909.
CITIZENS TRUST & SAVINGS BANK.
The youngest member of the Davenport Clearing House is the Citizens Trust & Savings bank. This bank was organized and opened for business on Novem-
763
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
ber 1, 1906, with the following officers: directors, F. B. Sharon, J. A. Hanley, P. H. Wolfe, J. P. Calnan, J. J. Fleming, G. H. Higbee, E. C. Walsh, J. W. Walsh and A. E. Walsh; advisory board, J. R. Nutting, C. D. Martin, W. M. Chamberlin, W. F. Winecke, Charles Maher, Edward Dougherty, R. K. Brown- lie, W. A. Shirk and Edward Hidden, president, E. C. Walsh ; vice president, A. E. Walsh ; cashier, H. R. Krohn (who had since been succeeded by W. T. Brownlie) ; assistant cashier, C. J. Calnan. Its capital stock is $100,000 and a paid-in surplus of $100,000 makes it one of the leading financial institutions of the city. Its de- posits now exceed $300,000, and its loans and discounts are over $400,000.
One of the particular features of the bank is its safety deposit department. It has an extensive vault, private retiring rooms for the depositors and an arrange- ment whereby absolute safety is guaranteed from impostors or those not entitled to privileges of the vault. A master key in possession of the bank must be used in connection with the private key of the depositor. This master key is never given to anyone except those who are authorized to use the private key. This safety deposit department furnishes absolute protection for valuable papers, such as insurance policies, deeds, notes and for safe keeping of jewels, plate and other valuable property.
The commercial department is becoming quite popular, as it handles the ac- counts of corporations, firms and individuals, and extends to them every facility and convenience consistent with sound and conservative banking policies. The savings department is equipped to handle the savings of men, women and chil- dren. Accounts may be opened, subject to their exclusive control, with interest at the rate of four per cent for full calendar months.
DAVENPORT'S TRUST COMPANIES.
A statement of the financial institutions of the city of Davenport would not be complete were nothing to be said of its trust companies. The more imporant of these is the German Trust Company, organized August 9, 1894. The organ- izers of this institution were H. H. Andresen, L. Wahle, Jens Lorenzen, Henry Techentin, Charles N. Voss, T. W. McClelland and Otto Albrecht. Its capitaliza- tion was fixed at $100,000, $25,000 of which was paid in upon organization. Later $25,000 more was called in and the balance, $50,000, was paid in in 1905. Its first board of directors was composed of the following financiers : H. H. An- dresen, F. H. Griggs, Henry Lischer, L. Wahle, Henry Techentin, Jens Lorenzen, Charles N. Voss, Christian Toerring, T. A. Murphy, H. P. Seiffert and John D. Brockmann. Its first president was F. H. Griggs; vice president, Charles N. Voss; secretary, Richard Andresen ; treasurer, John Bredow. In 1905 the stock of the German Trust Company was placed with the officers of the German Sav- ings bank, and it is now held in trust for the benefit of the stockholders of that bank.
The purpose of this institution is to do a general trust business. It acts as administrator, executor and trustee under wills, and accepts and executes trusts of every description from courts, corporations and individuals. One of the most important features of its business is the issue of debenture bonds, secured by the first mortgage loans, for people desiring safe and long time investments.
764
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
The present officers of this company : directors, F. H. Griggs, W. P. Betten- dorf, Ed. C. Mueller, H. O. Seiffert, T. A. Murphy, F. G. Clausen, J. J. Richard- son, Charles N. Voss, Dr. Henry Braunlich, A. W. VanderVeer and John D. Brockmann ; president, Charles N. Voss ; vice president, H. O. Seiffert.
DAVENPORT TRUST COMPANY.
The other institution belonging to this class of Davenport's financial con- cerns is the Davenport Trust Company. This company has an authorized capi- talization of $50,000 of which $15,000 is paid up. Its officers are : president, John F. Dow ; vice president, August E. Steffen ; secretary and treasurer, Henry C. Struck. It was organized December 9, 1902, with John F. Dow as president.
This company has never pushed its business, owing to the fact that the laws governing trust companies in the state of Iowa are not considerable favorable to the promotion of such enterprises. The organization, however, is maintained in the hope that the legislature will see fit to deal justly with institutions of this kind.
BUFFALO SAVINGS BANK.
The Buffalo Savings bank was organized May 1, 1909, with a capital of $12,000, and the following officers were elected : H. S. Morehead, president ; J. G. Dutcher, vice president ; A. H. Dorman, cashier. In its third report, issued February 16, 1910, it showed deposits amounting to $32,000. This is the first bank to be estab- lished in Buffalo and bids fair to become one of the important financial institu- tions of that section of the county.
BLUE GRASS SAVINGS BANK.
The above institution has for its president W. I. Vanderveer; vice presi- dent, Julius Schiele; cashier, H. F. Wonder. It is capitalized at $25,000 and last reported deposits of $277,000.
DIXON SAVINGS BANK.
John Lanseth is president of this bank, E. P. Woods, vice president and B. L. Clark, cashier.
DONAHUE SAVINGS BANK.
The Donahue Savings bank is capitalized at $10,000 with deposits amounting to $100,000. Its president is G. F. Burmeister ; vice president, Frank Keppy, Sr .; cashier, Frank C. Keppy.
NEW LIBERTY.
The German Savings bank of New Liberty is capitalized at $10,000 and has deposits at its last report of $150,000. William Treimer is president, J. C. Bolte, vice president and George Lueders, cashier.
765
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
ELDRIDGE SAVINGS BANK.
The Eldridge Savings bank has a capital of $25,000 and reported in its last statement deposits of $417,000. M. H. Calderwood, president; Henry Gertz, vice president ; H. W. Bruhn, cashier.
M'CAUSLAND SAVINGS BANK.
This bank has a cash capital of $10,000 and in its last report shows deposits of $109,000. L. Litscher, president; F. J. Lessen, vice president; F. E. Ringey, cashier.
LECLAIRE SAVINGS BANK.
C. S. Simpson, president ; W. A. Shirk, vice president; F. C. Michael, cash- ier ; capital, $10,000; deposits, $114,000.
WALCOTT.
The Farmers Savings bank of Walcott has a cash capital of $25,000 and last reported $153,000 in deposits. E. F. Kegel, president; C. A. F. Koeppe, vice president; C. F. Emler, cashier.
The Walcott Savings bank is capitalized at $60,000 and its last statement shows deposits amounting to $845,000. L. Bennewitz, president; Louis Hinz, vice president ; J. H. Stouffer, cashier.
PRINCETON.
The Farmers Savings bank of Princeton has for its president J. H. Shaff ; vice president, J. D. Dennis ; cashier, C. H. Suiter. This bank is in a flourishing condition.
BETTENDORF SAVINGS BANK.
The Bettendorf Savings bank was organized March 1, 1909, capitalized at $25,000. Its officers are : president, P. W. Peck ; vice president, F. C. Siebengart- ner ; cashier, J. E. Brownlie. This is one of the last banks to be established in Scott county but shows by its deposits of $41,000 that it has gained the confidence of its clientele and bids fair to grow in proportion to the wonderful little manu- facturing town of which it is the financial center.
SCOTT COUNTY'S FIRST COURTHOUSE, ERECTED 1840-41 Present Courthouse occupies same site. Standing on the steps are Dr. E. S. Barrows, James Thorington, Harvey Leonard and Judge W. L. Cook
SCOTT COUNTY COURTHOUSE
CHAPTER XXVI.
AT THE COURT HOUSE.
THE HANDSOME PALACE OF JUSTICE-TABLETS WHEREON THE PIONEER SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION HAVE INSCRIBED THOSE COMING TO SCOTT COUNTY BEFORE 1846 -FULL LIST OF NAMES-THE COUNTY JAIL-THE SCOTT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST FAIR-BASEBALL WHEN THE PITCHER OVERSTAYED HIS TIME IN THE BOX AND GENTLEMEN CAUGHT FLY BALLS.
The present temple of justice was erected in 1888 at a cost of $125,000. It is bounded by Fourth, Scott, Fifth and Ripley streets, and is constructed of stone. The architecture is quite pleasing to the eye. A number of decorations of allegorical design are placed in con- spicuous places on the exterior. These are illustrative of historical periods of the Mississippi valley. The interior is conveniently arranged and is quite spa- cious. Upon entering the building, on each side of the main entrance, are marble tablets inserted into the walls upon which are inscribed the names of many of the earliest settlers of Scott county. The list and inscription follow exactly as they appear today :
MEMORIAL TABLET Dedicated to the Pioneers Who Settled in Scott County on or Before December 31st, 1846. Erected 1901 BY THE OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.
1833.
Clark, W. L. Clark, Ben W. Clark, Margaret B. Davenport, George L.
LeClaire, Margaret
LeClaire, David
LeClaire, Sarah
1834.
Davenport, Sarah G.
Davenport, George A. LeClaire, Antoine
Smith, Ira F.
Davenport, A. H.
Davenport, Harriet
770
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
1835.
Bowling, James M.
Armil, John
Bowling, Margaret A.
Armil, Susanna
Condit, S. G.
Armil, Jesse L.
Condit, Phoebe
Armil Thomas H.
Cook, Ira, Sen.
Armil, E. Bradon
Mitchell, G. C. R.
Armil, William
Baker, Philip
Baker, Louisa
Barrows, Willard
Bennett, Rodolphus
Curtis, Phineas
1836.
Averill, Leverett
Burnside, James E.
Burnside, Elizabeth
Burnside, Elizabeth Baker
Cook, Ira, Jr.
Fuller, Dennis R.
Cook, William L.
Cook, Ebenezer
Forrest, John
Cook, Clarissa C.
Forrest, Annie E.
Forrest, John G.
Forrest, Eugenia R.
Cassell, Mary L.
Glaspell, Susan
Dodge, Capt. Leroy
Eldridge, D. C.
Eldridge, Rebecca
Hyde, Emma M.
Eldridge, J. M.
Hall, Mrs. Mahala
Eldridge, C. H.
Hedges, Sarah M.
Friday, John M.
Lyter, Samuel
Hyde, Andrew
Lyter, Sophia
Hall, Dr. James
Leonard, Harvey
Hall, Capt. W. P.
Leonard, Pelagie
Higgins, Henry W.
McIntosh, Robert
Higgins, Maria W.
Macklot, Louis A.
Jones, Thomas
Mead, Rev. Enoch
Leonard, Maria H. Little, Samuel
Rowe, William Rowe, Mary
Mitchell, Anna Rhea
Summers, Laurel
McIntosh, James Parkhurst, Lemuel
Wallace, Mrs. M. A.
Spencer, Roswell H. Sullivan, David
Rowe, Christopher
Rowe, Elizabeth F.
Welch, Cornelia M.
1838.
Brownlie, James Brownlie, Richie Burrows, J. M. D. Burrows, Mrs. Sarah M.
Smith, P. M.
Van Tuyl, William
Van Tuyl, P. V. Cook
Curtis, Louisa B.
Coleman, Andrew
Carter, Vincent S.
Carter, Ann Eliza
Dyer, James
Fuller, Lovencia
Cook, Hon. John P.
Cook, Eliza A.
Grant, Hon. James
Hyde, Julia R.
Pelamourgues, Rev. J. A. M.
Mitchell, Nat'l.
Summers, Mary
1837.
Matthews, Margaret D.
771
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Collins, William S. Collins, Miles A. Cook, Mary Christie, Robert Weston, Col. Charles
Dillon, Thomas Dillon, Rosanna Dillon, Hon. John F. Dillon, Anna Price Dow, Hildah A. Hall, Israel Hall, Rachel B. Hall, George F. Hickson, W. H. Hyde, George J. Hoge, David Hutt, Abraham Hitchcock, Jared Hitchcock, Lucy Jordan, Anna E. Jacobs, Mark C .- 1837 Jacobs, Louise Littig, Peter, Sen. Littig, Mary Baily Littig, John, Jr.
Littig, Louisa Littig, August N.
Littig, Mary Logan, Andrew Maw, Johnson Maw, Julia Munger, Cheeney Munger, Priscilla L. Mead, James R. Mead, Mary E. McArthur, Gabriel
McArthur, Elizabeth Owens, James F. Owens, John Parmele, Moses Parmele, Laura Parmele, Henry Parmele, Emma Condit-1835 Parmele, Edwin Parkhurst, Waldo Pope, John Paddock, Lenora
Taylor, Edward Taylor, Precilla Wells, Bartholomew
1839.
Billon, A. C.
Billon, S. J. Wood Burrows, L. W.
Burrows, Ruth Baldwin, Richard C.
Baldwin, Flora C.
Bradley, Horace
Bradley, Eleanor
Collamer, L. B.
Collamer, Mary A.
Donaldson, Adam
Donaldson, Rachel
Donaldson, G. H.
Donaldson, P. A.
Donaldson, J. R.
Donaldson, A. C.
Evans, John
Forrest, George
Eldridge, John M.
Eldridge, Joseph
Eldridge, Mary A.
Holbrook, John C.
Inslee, William
Jack, James
Jack, Eliza C.
Jack, Andrew Johnson, Ben
Kober, Christian
Kober, Sarah
Lesslie, Charles
Myers, C. F.
Morton, John
Prettyman, R. M. Prettyman, Mrs. R. M. Randolph, D. F.
Randolph, Mary J.
Rumbold, James, Sen. Rumbold, Margarette Rumbold, James, Jr. Rumbold, Isabella
Rumbold, Dr. Thomas
Rumbold, William Shaw, D. B.
772
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Thorington, Hon. Jas. Thorington, Mary Walraven, John Witherwax, Dr. J. M.
1840.
Armil, Henry B .- 1837
Armil, A. Jackson-1837
Pope, Mary Allen
Armil, James L .- 1837
Wood, Sarah Pope
Burrows, Elisha
Wood, James W.
Burrows, David A.
Sanders, Alfred
Burrows, Mary
1842.
Buckwalter, David
Fulton, A. C.
Fulton, Mary
Fulton, LeClaire
Mitchell, Rose Ann
Steinhilber, Ezekiel
Steinhilber, Wilhelmine
Van Patten, John P.
Winrow, Catherine R.
1843.
Cook, Edward E.
Gray, William
Gray, Mary A.
Hughes, John
Johnson, Elizabeth
Reading, Kensyl
Reading, Hannah
Reading, August
Stephens, James
Townsend, Robert
Williams, C. C.
Williams, Eliza
Williams, A. F.
Barnes, Dennis-1842
Gabbert, Capt. W. H .- 1846
Belken, Henry-1838
Moore, Levi-1835
Moore, Phebe-1835
1844.
Adams, Rev. Ephraim E.
Donaldson, E. B.
Price, Hon. Hiram
Peaslee, Ezekial
Peaslee, Eliza
Rigg, William
Price, Mary Ann
Pope, Isaac Tracy
Pope, Mary Ann
Pope, Robert H.
Pope, Angeline H.
Pope, Justus
Pope, Sarah Wood
Pope, William Henry
Buckwalter, Elizabeth
Blood, Dr. Cyrus G.
Dutton, Jerome
Dutton, Celinda P.
Hickson, W. H.
Kelley, Walter
Kelley, Mary
McLoskey, A. A.
McLoskey, Elizabeth
Speer, William
Speer, James
Speer, Margaret
Parker, Samuel
Parker, Francis
Parker, Rhoda C.
Parker, Diantha
Parker, F. J.
Parker, Mary
Parker, Rhoda
Parker, Celinda
Parker, Elizabeth
Parker, Laura
1841.
Ames, Charles Ames, Letitia Blakemore, F. V.
Blakemore, Emily A.
Davies, John L. Davies, Margaret J. Hall, Byron S.
Newcomb, Daniel T. Newcomb, P. Viele Price, James
Scott, J. Bowman Scott, Dorcus H.
773
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Stephens, Wesley B. Stephens, William Stephens, Hannah Wick, Marie Louisa Southland, Catharine Wick Follett, Maria Wick Wick, J. Edward Wick, Adrian F.
1845.
Cook, Lowe P. Friday, Elizabeth
Kessler, Frank
Kessler, Mary Ann
Kessler, John B.
Kessler, Mary Kessler, William
Karwath, Henry R.
Karwath, Julia A. Belken
Leonard, Thomas
Meinhardt, J. L. B.
Meinhardt, Regina K.
Miller, Andrew
Miller, Barbara
Miller, Frank A.
Sanders, Gen. Add. H.
Smith, Mary Reed
Reed, Rev. Julius A.
Reed, Caroline B. Wilkinson, Anna Reed 1846.
Barr, Simon Barr, Susanna Briceland, Hugh Baurose, Louis
Connor, John
Connor, Ellen Clemons, L. W.
Clemons, Mrs. E. L. Gilmore, Stewart Gilmore, Mary A. Grapengeter, Fritz Gillin, D. Gillin, Mrs. Ann Greehy, John Greehy, Margarette Jamison, John Kelley, John F.
Miller, Nicholas Miller, Jane P. Miller, Mary J. Miller, Henrietta Martin, Luke Martin, Mary
McLoskey, Charles A.
Sherman, Ebenezer
Wilson, George Guy, John A .- 1845
Guy, Elizabeth J.
Rambo, N. M .- 1839
Rambo, Elizabeth
Kessler, Franz X .- 1845
Morton, Allibone
Wilson, Nathaniel-1840
Wilson, William-184I
Wilson, Sarah-184I
Wilson James H .- 1842
Wilson, W. R .- 1844
Wilson, N. J .- 1845
Morgan, David-1841
Morgan, Mrs. Rebecca
Woodward, Joseph-1842
Woodward, Mrs. Mary F .- 1842
Woodward, Benjamin B .- 1842 Woodward, Elizabeth E .- 1841
Littig, Peter N .- 1846
Littig, Emma G .-- 1846
Comm .- J. M. Eldridge, Jesse L. Armil.
1833.
Hebert, Louis Hebert, Margaret-1841 Hebert, Joseph L .- 1845 1835.
Noel, Adam Noel, Susan Gabbert, Henry
1836.
Suiter, Philip Suiter, Nancy Suiter, John H.
Suiter, Polly Ann Suiter, William M.
Suiter, Jacob G. Suiter, Philip L.
774
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Suiter, Joseph-1837
Suiter, Francis M .- 1839
Suiter, Hannah-184I
Suiter, James W .- 1842
Wertz, Mary
Suiter, Ellen E .- 1844
Suiter, Alice M .- 1837
Eads, Col. Thomas C.
Eads, Ann Buchanan
Eads, Capt. James B.
Stone, Hannah-1840
Stone. S. Clarissa-1844 1838.
1838.
Davenport, James H.
Elder, Charles
Cody, Mary B.
Elder, Mary Elder, Joseph
Glynn, Mary H.
1839.
Collamer, Lucian B.
Collamer, Mary A.
Cooper, Rafield
Newby, Robert
1840.
McGinnis, William
McGinnis, Mary 1843.
Spencer, Roswell Hopkins-1833 1838.
Snyder, Harriet Snyder, C. D .- 1846 1844.
Nichols, O. P.
Nichols, Caroline
Nichols, G. M.
Robeson, Thomas
Robeson, Sarah B.
Robeson, John E.
Nichols, Isabell
Coleman, J. H. S .- 1840 Coleman, Ada H.
In explanation of the seeming lapses in the chronology of Scott county settle- ment it should be said that the tablets were placed at different times, the later ones amplifying the previous lists graven in marble. It is probable that the record has now been made of early settlement. In this list will be noted the best known man in the world, Buffalo Bill, and the builder of the great St. Louis bridge and Mississippi jetties, Capt. James B. Eads.
THE JAIL.
North of the courthouse and in the same lot and connected with it by an un- derground passage, is a fine stone structure built after the courthouse, which is the county jail. It is fully equipped with devices for the restraint and safe lodg- ment of prisoners. It is modern in every particular and in its exterior presents a fine appearance.
1842.
Houghton, James, Sr
Houghton, Eliza
1844.
Backus, George-1849 Backus, Eliza
Robertson, John
Robertson, Mary Neil-1847
Holm, Caroline-1846
Nichols, R. E.
Nichols, W. J.
Robeson, David S. children of T. and S. B. Robeson
1846.
Coe, Joseph Coe, Catherine
Cooper, John T .- 1839
Stone, Horatio G .- 1836
Cody, Isaac
Cody, Col. W. F .- 1846
775
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
SCOTT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
In 1853 the Scott County Agricultural Society organized, with H. M. Thomp- son as president ; Judge James Grant, vice president, and John R. Jackson, secre- tary, and in 1854 the society held its first annual fair south of Sixth street, near Farnam street. In 1855 the next fair was held on land belonging to the asso- ciation near the Orphans' Home, and the amount paid for premiums was $325. Meetings were held annually on these grounds until 1860, when the fair for that year was held on grounds leased of Antoine LeClaire which were situated north of Thirteenth between Perry and Farnam streets, and all of these meetings were well patronized. The next location was the present Central park and a later lo- cation was in northwest Davenport. The association continued to hold these annuals fairs up to about 1898, and since that time interest in such annual meet- ing of the farmers have ceased to be of interest to the community. Later on the Mile Track Trotting Society was organized and had its grounds just outside of the northwest limits of the city, where was built one of the finest mile tracks in the country and where a number of records for speed were broken. The so- ciety held annual meetings up to about 1908, when they ceased.
THE FIRST FAIR.
Miles A. Collins, an early settler of the county, contributed the following amusing article to the Half Century number of the Democrat and it is deemed a fitting finale to this subject, although it treats of the beginning of things in that regard :
"Early on a morning in September, 1854, Eugene Bird and I husked a load of corn, where the Oakdale line of the Tri-City Railway Company is now run- ning, bound for the first fair ever held in Scott county directly that work was done. Bushels of luscious peaches lay west of the house in the peach orchard, and we did not forget to fill our pockets. We paid twenty-five cents each to get inside of an enclosure made by setting railroad ties on end, resting on each other till the enclosure was complete. Almost the first person we met was my father, who asked, 'How did you get in?' 'Why,' we said, 'we paid.' 'You ought not to have done it,' he replied. 'My family ticket (for which he had paid a dollar) lets us in free. You might just as well have saved your money.' Well-I thought that, as William A. Collins, commonly called Uncle Billy, the carpenter, had four sets of children in his family, all those admissions for a dollar might bear a little hard on the society, and it was no harm to help them out. Anyhow I saw the sights of the fair.
"In the early summer of 1853 an organization had been formed, calling it- self the Scott County Agricultural Society. It chose H. M. Thompson, presi- dent, James Grant, vice president, John R. Jackson, treasurer and James Thor- ington, secretary. Thursday, September 1, 1853, was a big day for Davenport. On that day the Mississippi & Missouri railroad was started, on the corner of Fifth and Rock Island streets, just north of father's house, which is still standing, doing duty as the storehouse of the Rock Island's dining car department. An- toine LeClaire threw the first shovelful of dirt that began the work. The start
776
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
was witnessed by two brass bands of the city, the Odd Fellows in regalia, the Turn Verein, forty of Strong Burnell's sawmill men in a large wagon drawn by four horses, and a great throng ; some estimated 2,000 persons on the ground. I speak of this to show how it happened that so many railroad ties came to be on the ground that lay east of the corner of Fifth and Rock Island to the river, in LeClaire's cornfield. There were thousands of them. It was not so hard a matter for John R. Jackson to place them in line as a fence. This fence en- closed about an acre, from Sixth street south to about where the U. N. Roberts Company's sash and door factory is. The first thing that I noticed, after getting on the grounds, was the treasurer of the society driving a span of mules hitched to a self-raking reaper, going slowly around the grounds. This reaper had a way of automatically taking the sheaf from the platform, as a man's arm would do. As it was the first reaper of the kind that I ever saw in motion, its opera- tion was interesting. Flour barrels were strung around the fence, covered with unplaned boards. At the foot of the same were bushels and bushels of po- tatoes and grain, and on the top were placed pantry stores and things good to eat. Not much show for trotting horses; did not take time to make a track; but there was a good show of carriage horses and farm teams. Adam Donald- son, I think, got first premium on carriage team. He also got first on his hogs, which were not numerous, as every man was expected to care for his own family, especially pigs. There was a large crowd in attendance and a good social time. Antoine LeClaire, of course, was there with his carriage. He had just finished his mansion on the hill above, now the house of Bishop Cosgrove, and he told us that we would find everything about it first class, from the stair rail of solid mahogany clear through."
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