USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 71
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BASEBALL IN DAVENPORT IN THE SIXTIES.
Today, like other cities of this great republic, Davenport has its professional baseball team, which is a member of a league formed of various clubs in other cities, which play a stated number of games in the home places during the sea- son, each club alternating in cities forming the league. Every member of the club has first been tried out for his particular position on the diamond and is expected to "make good" in the place he has especially fitted himself to "hold down," and he draws a salary commensurate with his skill and agility. The battery, made up of the pitcher and catcher, is the most important section of the club and much depends on the ability and generalship of the two composing it in preventing their opponents from scoring. The "national" game has, there- fore, become not only a recognized sport of the American people, but it has also taken its place in commercialism and many millions of dollars are expended annually by devotees of the game. One city has its million-dollar baseball park and a number of others in the national leagues have grounds and their appur- tenances that individually cost many thousands of dollars. The players, many of them, demand and receive the salary of a bank president of the first class, and the president of one of the great leagues was but recently voted a salary of $25,000 annually, to continue a stated number of years. Such is modern baseball and the incidents relating thereto. In the '6os the
777
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
game was altogether different, not only in the methods of playing it, but also in the stipend of the players. Today every player is an artist in his position on the diamond, and a run around the bases and to the home plate, making a tally, is now the exception in an inning rather than the rule. Hence, the winning team is rarely a victor by a score of more than, say, from one to five or six tallies. To show the difference in the game of yesterday, so to speak, and today, the following accounts of games played in 1866, as written by the sport- ing (?) editor of The Democrat, will make interesting, if not amusing reading, for the baseball "fan":
THE DAVENPORT UNION BASEBALL CLUB.
"Anything calculated to develop the health and muscle of the young men of our city should certainly meet with all reasonable encouragement. A new club has been organized in our city with the above title and on Saturday last had a trial of skill on the level ground near the stone schoolhouse on West Third street. The following are the officers and members: President, Parker W. Mc- Manus; vice president, Charles S. Glaspell; secretary, Theodore K. Caldwell ; treasurer, Samuel J. Priest; members, William J. Bailey, J. A. Bamber, H. T. Bawden, M. Carroll, J. W. Coon, E. P. Cook, L. S. Davis, E. Glaspell, A. L. Mossman, R. Moore, D. Moore, J. T. Temple, D. C. Porter ; directors, M. Car- roll, R. Moore, T. K. Caldwell.
"The matched baseball game between the Union club of this city and the Wapello club of Rock Island came off on Saturday last at the appointed place and resulted in the victory of the Wapellos. A large number of spectators at- tended, the greater portion being ladies. The game commenced at 2:15 o'clock, the Wapello boys having their first inning. The following is an official report of the game. We wish the Union boys better luck next time :
Wapello, Rock Island.
Union, Davenport.
E. Glaspell, Ist b. I
W. Dart, c. f .. II
J. W. Coon, s. s .. I
M. Weiser, 2d b. 14
A. L. Mossman, 3d b O
J. Hodges, 1. f 14
Samuel Priest, 1. f
I
C. Platt, p.
I3
C. Krum, r. f.
I
S. M. Eggleston, r. f. II
C. Glaspell, c.
1
H. Platt, s. s. 15
John A. Bamber, c. f. O
M. Sturgeon, Ist b. 15
D. Porter, 2d b.
R. Chamberlain, c. 13
P. McManus, p.
I
Total
119
Total
7
Innings. Runs.
Innings.
Runs.
Wapello .9. II9 Union
9. .7
"Fly balls caught by the following gentlemen of the Wapello: C. Platt, I ; H. Platt, I; M. Sturgeon, 2; R. Chamberlain, I. Union: J. W. Coon, 2; A. L. Mossman. 3; C. Krum, I ; Glaspell, 1; P. McManus, I. Umpire, Wil- liam Sayles, of Moline ; scorer, W. S. Gates, of Rock Island.
W. Gleim, 3d b. I3
778
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
"The Scott baseball boys played a match with the Union boys-both organ- izations of this city-at the grounds of the latter, corner of Sixteenth and Rip- ley streets, on Saturday afternoon. The weather was delightful and a large audience, among which were many of the fair sex, was present. The boys were all in excellent trim and the result is shown by the following figures which indicate that the Scotts took the palm :
Scott Club O. R. Union Club. O.
R.
A. L. Mossman, c.
2
14 J. Iles, s. s.
3 4
A. H. Weir, r. f.
2
13
P. Frame, c. f.
5
3
F. Angel, 2d b.
2
13 S. Priest, c.
4
2
S. Reed, s. s.
2
12 R. Moore, r. f.
7
2
C. Krum, c. f.
6
IO H. Bawden, l. f.
3
6
J. A. LeClaire, 3d b.
5
II
C. Glaspell, 3d b.
I
7
L. Barnett, 1. f.
3
12
E. Glaspell, Ist b.
2
6
C. West, p.
2
13 H. Robbins, 2d b.
O
6
C. Watson, Ist b.
3
12
P. W. McManus, p.
2
5
Total
27
IIO
Total
27 41
Innings
Ist
2d
3d
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th 9th
Scott
.9
I
6
32
4
30
14
4
IO
IIO
Union
5
O
4
6
4
4
7
2
9
41
"Fly catches-Watson, I; West, 2; Reed, I; Robbins, I; C. Glaspell, I ; E. Glaspell, I; McManus, I. Umpire, W. E. Carmichael.
THE PESTIFEROUS WAPELLOS.
"Democrat," October 9, 1866 (Base Ball Items) .- "For some time past politi- cal matters have prevented us giving that attention to local news which we always endeavor to do. On last Saturday afternoon the Scott Baseball club of this city paid another friendly visit to their rivals at Rock Island, the Wapello club. Those Wapello boys play a heavy game and are very hard to beat. The Scott boys are new hands at the amusement and did not expect to win a victory, but proposed to do their 'level best.' The Wapellos won the game, but as the Rock Island Argus states, 'were a little surprised at the improvement the "Hawk- eyes" had made since their last visit.' We predict that the Scott club will come out all right in the end. These contests are carried in the most friendly man- ner, the members of either club conducting themselves as gentlemen. At the present time the baseball fever is spreading from Maine to Texas. In every state in the union the young men are banding together for the fostering of this athletic amusement. As in all our towns and cities the brain is taxed much beyond the dictates of discretion, it is to be hoped that this healthy diversion will everywhere be encouraged by the press and public."
CLEANED UP PEORIA.
In "Gazette," October 22, 1866 .- "Welcome to the Wapello club. The Wapello Baseball club of Rock Island were received at the depot there last
779
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Saturday evening on their return from Peoria, where they had a trial of skill with the Enterprise club of the latter place. The Wapellos carried off the first prize of $100, also the prize of $25 for the best thrower. The game was well played, with many fine runs, catches and battings. The score was eighty-five to fifty-four in favor of Wapello. A supper was provided for the Wapellos on their arrival in Rock Island. We congratulate them on their success. We understand from one of the club that they had a very pleasant visit. The Peoria club did the handsome thing by the Rock Islanders."
PLAYED IN UNIFORM.
From the "Gazette," October 8, 1866 .- "A friendly game was played last Saturday forenoon between the Quickstep club of Rock Island, and the Mis- sissippi club of this city, composed of young lads from fifteen to eighteen years of age. The grounds were in fine condition and the participants in the game did their best. The sport was witnessed by quite a crowd of spectators. The Rock Island club wore a uniform cap of blue and white and were a wide-awake crew, and proved themselves too much at baseball for our boys. The result of the game was: Rock Island, 55; Davenport, 42. The clubs separated with the best of feeling and another meeting will soon come off between them, when we wish the Mississippi better luck."
PUBLIC LIBRARY, DAVENPORT
-
POSTOFFICE-GOVERNMENT BUILDING
CHAPTER XXVII.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES, OLD AND NEW.
IN 1839 THE CITIZENS MOVED FOR A COLLECTION OF BOOKS-LIBRARY PROGRESS FROM THAT DATE TO THIS HAS BEEN ALONG A DEVIOUS PATH OF HARDSHIP AND DIS- COURAGEMENT-LADIES MANAGED THE LIBRARY FOR YEARS-MR. WATKINS TELLS OF YEARS OF DEVOTION TO THE IDEAL OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY-ANDREW CARNEGIE, A LIFE MEMBER, SENDS MONEY FOR A NEW BUILDING.
By Mrs. Maria Purdy Peck, President Davenport Historical Society.
Before Iowa had assumed the dignity of statehood, before the contest over the location of the county seat had been decided in favor of Davenport, an effort had been made to establish a public library in the town.
At the beginning of the year 1839 the total population of the county was 1,000. A liberal estimate would place about one-third of this number as resi- dents of Davenport. These citations are made to call special attention to the quality and character of the pioneers who laid the foundations of our city and gave thought at the outset to its spiritual and intellectual as well as material needs.
If the reference to the early endeavor to found a public library rested upon a newspaper report, some allowance would be made for the constitutional desire of reporters to make a good story. But as it is copied verbatim from the first book of records ever used in Scott county, no allowance for reportorial imagina- tion is required.
From Journal A, page 48, the following is transcribed :
"At a meeting of subscribers at the Davenport Hotel on the sixth day of April, 1839, in the County of Scott, Territory of Iowa, for the purpose of organiz- ing a Library Association for said town of Davenport the following subscription paper was read with the names thereunto subscribed, as follows, to wit: For the purpose of establishing a public library in the town of Davenport, we, the sub- scribers, agree and bind ourselves to pay for every share set opposite our names the sum of $5.00, as soon as we may be called on for that purpose by the officers to be elected, so soon as 20 shares are subscribed : Andrew F. Russell, R. Bennett, Frazer Wilson, Richard Pierce, A. W. McGregor, W. H. H. Patten, John Forrest,
784
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
J. W. Parker, Jno. D. Evans, Thos. Dillon, James Hall, David Wilson, Wm. H. Conway, Geo. L. Davenport, James McIntosh, Andrew Logan, Antoine LeClaire, A. C. Donaldson, Duncan C. Eldridge, Wm. B. Watts, M. Hummer and Wm. Nichols. The above named individuals had signed one share each, except Antoine LeClaire, who had two shares. Two-thirds of the above named subscribers, to wit : A. Russell, R. Bennett, R. Pierce, A. W. McGregor, W. H. H. Patten, T. Dillon, J. Hall, F. Wilson, D. Wilson, D. C. Eldridge, W. B. Watts, W. Nichols, J. McIntosh, A. Logan and John Forrest, being present at said meeting. James Hall was viva voce chosen chairman and James McIntosh clerk. An elec- tion by ballot was held and the following named persons chosen: Andrew F. Russell, Frazer Wilson, Alex C. Donaldson, Antoine LeClaire, M. Hummer, James Hall and Jonathan W. Parker. On motion it was unanimously Resolved, That this Association be called the 'Carey Library Association of the Town of Davenport.'
"The number of subscribers present at said meeting was 15, the amount sub- scribed $115.
JAMES HALL, Chairman.
"Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2d day of May, A. D. 1839.
JOHN FORREST,
Justice.
"Recorded May 4, 1839, I o'clock.
HENRY W. HIGGINS,
Recorder."
If Andrew Logan, one of the subscribers to the library stock, and editor of the first newspaper published in Davenport, ever told his readers what became of the Carey Library association so auspiciously launched, the information has not been handed down, for beyond the original recorded document it is to us as though it had never been.
It is not too far fetched to suggest that a direct connection may be traced in the establishment of a reading room supplied with all the leading newspapers of the country, some forty in number, on the ground floor of the new $35,000 LeClaire House the following year by D. C. Eldridge, one of the library incor- porators.
The tradition that our present public library is directly descended from the Young Men's Library association founded in 1854 seems to be supported by facts.
In a communication to LeClaire Fulton of this city under date Nov. 5, 1905, M. M. Price writes: "I was the founder and first president of the Young Men's Library association and collected the first 2,000 volumes of its library, which collection was inherited by its offspring, the Library association."
Other authorities give quite a little time between the inception of the Young Men's Society and the acquisition of the 2,000 volumes. In a published report it was credited with having acquired 500 volumes in the early part of the year 1855.
At this time General George B. Sargent, a leading banker and enterprising citizen, offered to donate to the society $500 on condition of the organization of an incorporated library society the privilege of which would be accessible to all inhabitants of Davenport and vicinity, at a charge not exceeding $3.00 per annum.
THE READING ROOM, DAVENPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY
787
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
Accepting the conditions, the title Young Men's Library association was assumed. And a public library was opened.
That such institution was not yet established on a firm and sure foundation may be judged by a contribution to the library chapter from the pen of C. S. Watkins covering a period of exceptional library storm and stress as well as a period of prosperity.
Mr. Watkins says: "The original 'Library association' collapsed during the winter of 1857-8. At the close of that season the rooms were vacated and the books, shelving, furniture, and so forth, were placed in storage in the basement of the Cook and Sargent banking house. In the following October Mr. F. H. Griggs assumed the responsibility of removing the entire properties to a room on the second floor of Merwin's-now Fulton's block-on Perry street. He had the shelving properly arranged, and then invited me to assort and place the books. Their total number then slightly exceeded 1,000-Patent Office reports and other public documents made up about one-third of the whole. After a few weeks the books had been consecutively placed and numbered, and properly cat- alogued. Mr. Griggs then engaged a young man-one of Luse, Lane & Com- pany's employes-as librarian and the rooms were opened two evenings each week. The membership fee was placed at $1 per annum. This arrangement continued about two years when the library was moved to the northwest corner room on the second floor of Griggs' block, Perry and Third streets. During the following year, 1862, the 'Associated Congress,' a debating society organ- ized by the young lawyers and doctors of the city, made a formal proposition to assume control and care of the library and continue its public usefulness. This was agreed to and during the ensuing ten years the 'Congress' remained in con- trol. Early in 1872 I was notified that I had been elected president of The Library association. On enquiry, I was told that the concern was dead and that I was expected to give it proper burial. I found the remains in a room on the third floor of Cutter's block, Second and Brady streets, and under the care of Miss Sarah Allen, as librarian. The Academy of Sciences, which was then struggling for existence, had its specimens and exhibits arranged on a few tables and shelves in the library room. Evidently the library had, during the past year, been continued in existence solely by the efforts of Miss Allen in canvassing the city for subscriptions and sale of membership tickets. The books had diminished in number and had decidedly deteriorated in condition. At first view the outlook was certainly discouraging. Mr. B. B. Woodward was nominally treasurer, but he mournfully admitted that many months had passed since he had been able to show a satisfactory balance of his accounts.
"After much consultation, it was decided to make a direct appeal to each one of several prominent citizens, for a donation of $50. The response in each case was prompt and compliant, and the treasury was enriched by nearly $400. Part of this was applied to closing the floating indebtedness ; part went to the rebinding of all such books as were deemed worthy of such repair; and the remainder was used in the purchase of several sets of standard works, and an assortment of more recent publications. The improved condition of the library was soon made known, and the attendance rapidly increased until the library was at least self- sustaining. Encouraged by this, the management began looking for more com-
788
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
modious and convenient quarters. The old Methodist church building, Fifth and Brady streets, was just then being remodeled, and an option of a five years' lease at $300 per annum, was obtained. Everything was now in readiness for the grand culmination toward which all these movements had been aimed. This was the placing of the future of the library in the entire control of a board of lady managers. Mrs. W. F. Peck, whose interest in and friendship for the library had always been active, was requested to arrange a meeting of prominent ladies and present the new proposition. This finally resulted in the election of a board of lady directors, who at once took control, stipulating, however, that the rental during at least five years should be provided for by the retiring management. General subscriptions to this end were easily secured and faithfully paid dur- ing the occupancy of the church building."
Mr. Watkins, it may be said, was one of the few men of Davenport whose abiding faith in the beneficence of such an institution as a good public library caused him to invest his capital freely together with his time and effort in the maintenance. He and Mr. Griggs were of the few who enrolled their children as life members and then when necessity for funds again arose enrolled them over again. Mr. Watkins always kept in mind a future time when Davenport would have a library supported by a tax; consequently when the acceptance of the Clarissa C. Cook donation was under consideration, regarding it as post- poning the date for a public library in fact as well as in name he hesitated before acceding to the conditions imposed.
Miss Sarah Allen, the faithful librarian, eulogized by Mr. Watkins, continued in her position during the five years the association was officered by women, then under the new regime until 1884. On October 29th of that year she passed from life almost literally with the harness on.
Miss Ella Webb succeeded Miss Allen as librarian and then Miss Sophia Bil- lon. She retained her position as long as the association existed.
After a long period of financial embarrassment, a short period of renewed life and activity as sketched by Mr. Watkins, the passing of the library from a single room in the third story of the Cutter block in the spring of 1874 to com- modious apartments comfortably fitted up on the second floor of the old Metho- dist church on the corner of Fifth and Brady streets, then in less than five years. further up Brady Street hill into a permanent home of its own marks a distinct epoch in library history.
All the events which conspired to bring these changes about cannot be told in the short space of one chapter allotted to this history. The principal event was the passing of the official control of the library from a board of men to a board composed of women at the annual meeting of the Library association in April, 1874.
By tacit agreement it was understood that the ladies would assume the man- agement of the library as a sort of experiment for a period of five years, the gen- tlemen mostly of the retiring board pledging that they would assume the responsi- bility of the rent. It is needless to add that both parties were faithful to the com- pact.
The first board of officers was Mrs. John F. Dillon, Mrs. William Renwick, Mrs. W. C. Wadsworth, Mrs. J. F. Barnard, Mrs. Geo. H. Ballou, Mrs. James
789
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
T. Lane, Mrs. H. M. Martin, Mrs. D. S. True, Mrs. Edward Lounsbury and Mrs. W. F. Peck. Mrs. Thomas Mccullough was appointed chairman of the auditing committee and in this way became a member of the original board.
The gentlemen retained their membership in the organization, attended the meetings, were always ready to serve on special committees or in any other capac- ity when their services were desired.
Mr. B. B. Woodward, the retiring president, furnished at his own expense the magazine table. Mr. E. P. Lynch, the retiring treasurer, furnished new book cases ; the press of the city gave unstinted praise and helped the movement along in the truly generous manner characteristic of Davenport newspapers. General interest was stimulated and the management could get anything it asked for. If the entertainment committee wanted a set of window cards to advertise an attrac- tion they slipped into J. H. Harrison's drug store, made their wants known and later called and found a package neatly wrapped containing a set of hand exe- cuted cards ready for distribution.
The lecture committee existed primarily to provide a "star course" of enter- tainments for the purpose of raising a revenue for the purchase of books. A resulting benefit was that through this channel men and women of national repute were introduced to the Davenport public who would not have been heard in any other way. Prof. David Swing made his debut on the lecture platform under the auspices of the library lecture committee. It was about the time that the reverend gentleman had preached himself out of his church pulpit and made himself the most talked-of man in the country. When asked to come to Daven- port and open the lecture course, a ready response came, saying that "it had not occurred to him to lecture, but as his daughter was soon to be married the remu- neration offered would help to defray extra expenses." The lecture specially prepared for Davenport was afterward delivered in hundreds of other towns. The course opened by Prof. Swing netted the library $712 for the purchase of books.
At each annual meeting during the five years that the ladies had the exclusive management of the library large gains in books and patronage were noted. A free reading table was early provided for and no expense was spared to make this feature a special attraction.
On July 6. 1877. a communication from Mrs. Clarissa C. Cook was trans- mitted to the executive board of the Library association, through Mrs. John F. Dillon, offering to donate the sum of $10,000 for the erection of a library build- ing with the stipulation that a suitable lot be purchased by the citizens, and that such alterations in the constitution be made as would be satisfactory to J. W. Drury. her representative; sixty days' time being given for the acceptance or rejection of the proposition. It was further communicated that Mrs. Cook wished to make the gift in memory of her husband who had in his lifetime cherished the desire to found a public library in Davenport. Not having executed this plan he had in his will bequeathed the sum of $10,000 to the existing library to be paid at his wife's death. That the library might have the benefit of the bequest while the ladies had it in charge Mrs. Cook anticipated the time of its payment.
On July 28th, at a regular meeting of the association the amendments to the constitution required by Judge Drury were presented by Judge Dillon. Mem-
790
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
bers present at the meeting were Mrs. W. F. Peck, president, presiding; Mrs. J. B. Young, secretary ; Dr. W. D. Middleton, Geo. P. McClelland, Edward Rus- sell, S. F. Smith, J. H. Harrison, C. S. Watkins, John F. Dillon, J. B. Young, Dr. C. H. Preston, Dr. E. H. Hazen, Mrs. S. F. Smith, Mrs. Geo. E. Hubbell, Mrs. Daniel Gould, Mrs. Geo. Wing, Mrs. W. C. Wadsworth, Mrs. Thomas McCul- lough, Mrs. H. M. Martin, Mrs. E. M. Worley, Mrs. Geo. H. Ballou, Mrs. B. Ruch, Mrs. Geo. P. McClelland, Mrs. Geo. H. French, Mrs. S. P. Bryant, Mrs. M. E. Churchill, Mrs. J. F. Dillon, Miss P. W. Sudlow, Miss Margaret Renwick, Miss E. M. Gould, Miss Celestine Fejervary, Miss Harriet Rogers and Miss Mary Raff.
With a number of important modifications the amendments proposed were unanimously adopted and Mrs. Cook's donation accepted. It is worthy of note that at the same meeting Andrew Carnegie was elected to honorary membership in the association.
Public-spirited citizens responded to the calls for money from Mrs. Dillon and Mrs. Peck to purchase a lot, and on Nov. 7, 1877, the corner stone of the Cook memorial library building on the corner of Sixth and Brady streets was laid under Masonic auspices, Judge Dillon delivering the address.
Under date Chicago, Nov. 6, 1877, Judge Drury wrote the following letter to the Library association :
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