History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 89

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 89


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


Rather a neat little speech that President Fillmore made when the six boat- loads of excursionists reached Davenport. The Gazette of June 10, 1854, quotes him : "In this excursion I have visited many beautiful scenes on the Mississippi river, which have excited my admiration and surprise, but after having taken a view from one of your beautiful hills of the river and surrounding scenery, I must say that if there is a paradise on earth, it is here." Fellow passengers on the trip were Senator John A. Dix, Epes Sargent, Col. William Davenport, Bancroft, the historian, and other notable people.


The first cars reached Iowa City over the M. & M. at 11 p. m., on the night of January 1, 1856, after a tremendous effort in very cold weather and night work to save the $60,000 subscription of stock. It was intensely cold. Men worked all night of December 31st.


The early editor was a little particular. After a Sunday stroll he remarks in his paper of November 13, 1855: "The locomotive was running on Sunday. We are not advised of any particular necessity to call it forth that day. We hope Mr. C. may be enabled to finish his contract without infringing on the day."


Byron S. Hall, who grew to manhood in Davenport is quoted as follows : "After the M. & M. was built and before the bridge was built cars were trans- ferred on flatboats with tracks. Tracks were laid to the river at Fourth and Front, also on the Rock Island side. The flats were towed across the river by a steamboat. This was done for a year, and was resumed at the time the bridge was burned by the Effie Afton. There was an incident of a runaway car which broke from a train at the top of the grade out of West Davenport which at that time had not been lowered, and the track was the height of the bridge on West Locust street. This car got away, and as the people saw it coming they got out of the way, and the car ran clear into the river." Byron was the right size to take the trip to Walcott when the lots were auctioned by Hallet Kilbourne. He ate roasting ears out of a field to keep alive until the returning train should bring him within hailing distance of the maternal cupboard.


What a Davenporter Secretary W. B. Conway would have made had death spared him. The Sun tells us that in 1838 this enthusiastic citizen wrote several letters to the secretary of war urging the establishment of an armory and arsenal on Rock island. He received assurance that the island would be retained for national purposes.


THE MEANING OF IOWA.


T. S. Parvin quotes Antoine LeClaire as to the meaning of the word Iowa in an article in the Annals of Iowa. April, 1864-"This is the place." And the meaning is derived as follows: A tribe of Sac and Fox Indians wandering or hunting were in search of a home, and when they crossed the Mississippi, not the Iowa, they reached a point they admired, and finding all they wished they.


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


exclaimed, "Iowa-this is the place." No man had better knowledge of Indian dialects than Antoine LeClaire, and his translation is authoritative.


THE FIRST COUNTIES.


The Black Hawk Purchase was divided into two counties, a line extending west from the Mississippi river opposite the lower end of Rock island dividing them. The north side of this line was called Julian township and Dubuque county, the south side, Flint Hills township and Des Moines county. The then small village, now the city of Davenport, was in the latter jurisdiction.


EARLY TRANSFERS.


The first piece of land sold in Scott county of which there is any record was a quarter section sold by Joseph M. Robertson, and filed for record June 2, 1838. Thirteen days later D. C. Eldridge sold some fractions of lots and the buildings at Front and Ripley streets to a St. Louis firm. The third transfer was that of a quarter section now located in Blue Grass township, George B. Sargent to James Grant. The consideration was $100. That sum does not buy an acre of Blue Grass land these days.


The papers of 1861 note that each officer and private leaving Camp McClel- lan for the front was presented with a neatly bound copy of the scriptures by Willard Barrows, president of the Scott County Bible society.


CALHOUN OUTWITTED.


When it was proposed to separate Iowa territory from the remainder of Wisconsin territory the plan was strongly opposed by that forceful southern statesman Jolin C. Calhoun, and the friends of the measure feared that his oppo- sition would defeat their plans. Gen. George W. Jones is credited with block- ing the Calhoun opposition at the right time. The General at that time was a great ladies' man and in setting his wits to work to prevent a speech from Mr. Calhoun when the bill should come up for passage he hit upon his acquaintance with a young lady relative of the South Carolina champion of states rights. To this young lady, then on a visit to the national capital Gen. Jones paid marked and ardent attention, and in return for his chivalrous efforts in her behalf she expressed the wish that she might at some time reciprocate in friendly sort. That was the opportunity the general had been seeking, and he said: "You can, if you will, do me the greatest favor in the world," and went on to explain the terri- torial bill and the opposition of Mr. Calhoun thereto. "Now," said the general, "It will come up on such a day. You be in the gallery, and when I send you my card, call out Mr. Calhoun, and on some pretext keep him out an hour or so." She consented, and carried out the arrangement, and during that absence the bill was passed, and Mr. Calhoun's opportunity to oppose was gone. At that time General Jones was representing the territory of Wisconsin of which he secured the organization when he was a delegate in congress representing Michigan ter- ritory. Later he served the state of Iowa for many years as senator.


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


THE PRISONERS.


During the time when thousands of captured confederate soldiers were con- fined on Rock island rumors of an uprising and raid were not infrequent. At one time the military authorities on the island apprised Gen. N. B. Baker of a plot which comprised the seizing of the railroad bridge and ferry, and a descent upon Davenport to seize the military stores there and weapons in magazine. Gen. Baker ordered out the militia, and the companies of Capts. Mueller, Peters, Frazier and Eldridge responded, and Company A of the Fourteenth regiment was sent down town from Camp McClellan. The draw was opened and the bridge guarded. Detachments were stationed at the National bank, the State bank, the United States express office, and the remainder of the troops kept under orders. Excitement was intense and many did not sleep all night.


CROSSING THE RIVERS.


Before 1842 there were no less than twelve ferries chartered in Scott county, the most important one as shown by its longevity and volume of business being the Wilson ferry between Davenport and Rock Island. In a chapter of ferry history written by the late D. N. Richardson are these paragraphs: Among the improvements instituted by Mr. Wilson was the ferry alarm. In very primitive times in order to arouse the night ferryman on the opposite shore, benighted Stephensonites who had been over here to attend evening service and overstayed their time, or zealous Davenporters who after dark had occasion to visit Stephen- son in the missionary cause had raised the war whoop. In order to discourage this relic of barbarism Mr. Wilson introduced the ferry triangle, an ungainly piece of triangular steel which when vigorously pounded with a club, sent forth from its gallows tree a most wretched clanging noise. But it brought the skiff, though it waked the whole town. That triangle was immortalized by Daven- port's local bard-the same who is now grilling beneath a torrid sun in a far off consulate. In an inspired moment he ground out an epic or a lyric or some- thing, in seven stanzas and from seven to seventeen poetic feet, from which we select as follows. We would produce it all, if we were quite certain that our readers were all prepared to die. Thus sang the bard :


Melodious and sweet instrument of sound, Your tinkling notes are heard all over town. There's various ways to give you the alarm, Some gently ; some by the full strength of the arm.


Once late at night I thought it was your last, You were cut loose and thrown amongst the grass. Ah, the ways of the wicked are hard; you were found, And straight to the gallows again you were bound.


Great men live for honor, preferment and fame, With Davenport you're sure to have a name, Whether in or out, 'tis said labor's no sin, 'And you will find a trusty friend in Jim.


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


The old Davenport mansion on the island was overhauled and repaired in 1863 to accommodate the officers connected with the military prison. It fur- nished commodious office accommodations.


FACETIOUS SOLDIERS.


It required a fine brand of Davenport patriotic patience to excuse the pranks of the citizens who were being turned into soldiers at the various Davenport camps during the war of the rebellion. Considering the number of men who went to the front from these camps the mischief was slight, but at times it was annoying. When the soldiers on leave had taken on what is lately known as a goodly package their homeward route to the camp was likely to be illuminated by fireworks more or less vivid. The street lights suffered from good mark- manship later to be utilized in the service of the country. Much noise was in order and an occasional shot through some slumbering residence was proof of complete absendmindedness on the part of some bibulous warrior. The people on upper Harrison street were especially grateful when the troopers of the cav- alry at Camp Hendershott were moved to the suburban location now occupied by the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' home. Good and brave men they were-let nothing be said against their service to their country, but their Davenport days of ap- prenticeship made life in a college town seem like a sound nap.


IMPULSIVE JUVENILE.


"Among the brave soldiers at Camp McClellan awaiting transportation to their regiments is a youth of only eighty-two years of age, a private in the Grey Beards. He is very anxious to join his regiment, which, he understands, has left St. Louis for the seat of war. So restless is this juvenile that it is with some difficulty that he can be kept in camp. He says that 'if the cars ain't ready, he will walk down.'" The Democrat, January 12, 1863.


A TINNERS' STRIKE.


Walter Hender used to have a story of how he lost his roofing force when the Eighth regiment marched down the street on the way to the front to the se- ductive rhythm of their martial band. "At the time of their departure," said Mr. Hender, "we were puting a new tin roof on the Hiram Price house, situated on the southeast corner of Seventh and Brady streets, now the Berryhill property. As the regiment came marching down Brady street headed by their band, the men on the roof were. filled with enthusiasm and the spirit of the hour. Drop- ping their tools they left the roof unfinished, hurried down the street, and joined the marching men, and marched with them down to the boat landing where they boarded the boat which carried them to Keokuk, at which place they enlisted. My brother Matthew who was in charge of the workmen on the roof went with them."


J. S. Drake, a newspaper man and therefore supposed to be on the inside, says that the first $25 which was contributed to found the first Y. M. C. A. in


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


Davenport was a pot made up by five young men who were far from being in sympathy with the purposes and objects of that association.


TO AID THE POOR.


Back in the times when Davenport was young, men had an idea that the work of relief should be administered by them. Later the idea got about that it was better to let the women do the work. The first meeting of the Davenport Relief association was held in November, 1857, at the office of Justice Eagal. Austin Corbin was president and donated his salary as alderman to the fund. John Johns was secretary and T. D. Eagal secretary. At this meeting it was reported that $700 had been expended during the year closing. Ward commit- tees were named-First ward, Edward Jennings, John O'Brien, John Schutt ; Second ward, A. Dohrmann, George Scheible, Adolphus Smallfield; Third ward, Harvey Leonard, H. W. Mitchell, F. X. Fitzpatrick; Fourth ward, R. M. Lit- tler, Dr. John M. Adler; Fifth ward, Peter Kerker, John Lillis, Louis Hebert ; Sixth ward, I. H. Sears, John Guy, W. H. Hildreth.


FOUND BLANKETS.


In 1861 the soldiers quartered in the city needed bedding. Of course it was somebody's business to see that the men slept warm, but there was a hitch some- where. A committee appointed procured donations of over 300 blankets and comforters. One old lady told them she had but two comforts in the house, but warm weather was coming on and before next winter she could probably get some more. Let it be hoped that her trust in Providence was not misplaced.


October 13, 1855, the Young Men's Literary association announced a course of lectures through its secretary, J. W. Guiteau. The lecturers were R. W. Emerson, Parke Godwin, J. G. Saxe and others.


At a meeting held at the home of Willard Barrows February 1, 1859, an or- ganization known as the Young Settlers' association was formed. Edward E. Cook was its first president and David L. LeClaire its secretary. Among those participating were Byron Hall, B. H. Barrows, F. H. LeClaire, Edward Finley and George C. Sanders.


GREAT ARGUMENT.


The Davenport Literary society met October 14, 1848, at the school room of W. P. Campbell and elected officers-Alfred Sanders, president; William Guy, vice president ; V. M. Firor, secretary ; Wm. S. Collins, curator. The debate was on the question: "In organizing the territories ought the Wilmot proviso to be incorporated?" D. P. Mckown and W. P. Campbell upheld the affirmative and J. F. Dillon and V. M. Firor the negative. At the meetings of the Davenport Lyceum which met in Pere Pelamourgues church in 1840 a range of topics came up for consideration. November 16th it was "Is love or revenge the stronger passion ?" December 7th they wrestled with the query, "Has civilization tended to increase the general happiness of mankind?"


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


Judge John F. Dillon is quoted: "In the campaign of 1840, 'Tippecanoe and Tyler, too,' General Harrison was elected president on the alluring cry of 'two dollars and roast beef.' Davenport thrilled with the excitement of the hard cider campaign, built a log cabin at the southeast corner of Harrison and Third streets, which was afterward used as a schoolhouse and where I attended school."


In the Gazette of July 31, 1845, there appeared a notice inviting all Odd Fel- lows living in Davenport, Rock Island or vicinity to meet at Mr. Brooks' store in Rock Island to consider the propriety of establishing a lodge.


STRONG FOR TEMPERANCE.


Davenport was early a stronghold of temperance. The Scott County Tem- perance society was organized February 15, 1842. The first prohibitory liquor law in Iowa, passed by a democratic legislature, by the way, was conceived and put in legal form here in Davenport by Hiram Price, David S. True and John L. Davies. The Gazette of September 7, 1855, tells of the seizure of wine and beer in the shop of A. Offergeld and in the evening a demonstration which was dispersed by Marshal Parmele. Strange weapons ranging from pitchforks to ancient muskets made their appearance on this occasion. Later in making the arrest of the leader of this company Sheriff Leonard received a severe blow on the head from a club.


FULFILLMENT LONG DELAYED.


In view of the recent incorporation of the Davenport Water Power Company and the efforts to finance this new project which seem to have been crowned with success this newspaper article is timely. It appeared in the Davenport Gazette issue of March 27, 1845:


"There is one advantage possessed by Davenport that must ultimately rank it among the most prosperous business places of the West., This is found in the almost illimitable water power furnished by the upper rapids which terminate at this place. It is remarkable that while so many water privileges of less avail- ability situated in districts of country abounding in manufactures of every de- scription are invested with so much importance and are the fruitful sources of expensive outlays, that a privilege of this character should be allowed to remain inactive and that too in a country the best adapted in the world for the rearing of sheep and the producing of hundreds of thousands of bushels of wheat with an ill supply of grist mills. The upper rapids are about 18 miles in length with a fall of more than 23 feet. Four miles below the head of the rap- ids is situated Vanosdel's island, which rises above high-water mark, and has a foundation of solid rock. Between this island and the Iowa shore runs a branch of the Mississippi river about 100 yards in width. It is proposed to throw a dam across this branch near the foot of the island which will obtain a head of two feet of water at low tide, cut a canal race from this point to within a mile of Davenport where it can debouch into a large reservoir formed by nature to receive it where but a short dam will be required to retain it for hydraulic pur- poses.


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


"This, it is thought, will obtain a fall of 15 feet in descent of the race, or 17 feet, altogether. The land on which it is proposed to cut the race is very favorable, and will require but little deep cutting. Several small streams will have to be crossed and a few light veins of limestone cut through. From the contemplated reservoir to the town of Davenport the land rises from 15 feet to 20 feet above low water mark over a bed of limestone rock, adapted and now used for all the purposes of building. Along this bank, secure from high water a line of factories might be erected fed by a never-failing supply of water. Eligible mill-seats with a sufficiency of water are very scarce in this part of the country."


Colonel T. N. Hooper has the honor of building the first street car that nego- tiated the Brady street hill. It was in 1870 and Mr. Hooper was not at that time the superintendent of the Davenport Water Company, but a member of the firm of Hooper & Smith in Rock Island.


PIONEER PRESIDENTS.


In the Barrows history is recounted the organization of the Pioneer Settlers' association and mention is made of the hickory cane which was presented to the society by the sons of Ira Cook a pioneer of 1835, W. L. Cook, Ebenezer Cook, John P. Cook and Ira Cook. This cane has been the badge of the presidency for over fifty years and is now in the possession of the president for 1910, O. P. Nichols. The cane has a gold head with a suitable inscription and a gold band two inches in width encircled the wood at the presentation which was to receive the names of the presidents. This band has been filled with inscriptions, also a second, and now a third has been added. These are the names of the presidents inscribed : Antoine LeClaire, first president ; Antoine LeClaire, second president ; Ebenezer Cook, third president, 1860; D. C. Eldridge, fourth president, i861 ; Willard Barrows, fifth president, 1862; John Owens, J. M. Bowling, Harvey Leonard, James McCosh, Israel Hall, James Grant, J. Parker, Charles Metteer, Dr. E. S. Barrows, William L. Cook, Dr. James Hall, C. G. Blood, Philip Suiter, W. S. Collins, Wm. VanTuyl, Horace Bradley, J. E. Burnside, Enoch Mead, Johnson Maw, Daniel Moore, John Evans, Jared D. Hitchcock, Alfred C. Billon, Backus Birchard, twenty-ninth president, 1886, James Thorington, Gen. Add H. Sanders, D. C. Mckown, John Lambert, Captain W. L. Clark, Wm. M. Suiter, John Littig, Jacob M. Eldridge, John M. Lyter, George J. Hyde, Andrew Jack, A. C. Fulton, Henry Parmele, L. W. Clemons, Jesse L. 'Armil, James Dyer, Henry Karwath, James H. Davenport, J. H. Wilson, W. H. Gabbert, John F. Kelly, J. W. Olds, fifty-first president, Hugh Briceland, O. P. Nichols, fifty-third president, 1910.


CHAPTER XXXVII.


CHRONOLOGY.


THIS IS SOMETHING OF A RECORD OF THE YEARS IN SCOTT COUNTY FROM 1832 TO 1910-OTHER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED BUT THESE APPEAR NOTABLE, AS THE LIST IS SCANNED FOR ITEMS THAT LOOK WORTHY OF TYPE-IT IS A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES SOMEWHAT LACKING IN DESCRIPTION BUT GOOD WHAT THERE IS OF THEM.


The following chapter is devoted to the more important things that have oc- curred in Scott county from 1832 up to the present time. It was in 1832 that a treaty was entered into and completed by and between General Scott and the Indians under which the title to the lands in Scott county became vested in the United States. George L. Davenport, son of Colonel George Davenport, made the first claim of land in Scott county. Taking the years in their order from 1833 on down, the salient events relating to the county and Davenport are here given :


1833 .- First settlement in the county made by Captain Benjamin W. Clark, near the present village of Buffalo. Antoine LeClaire received a commission as justice of the peace from the governor of the territory.


1834 .- Antoine LeClaire established a ferry between Stephenson, now Rock Island, and Davenport.


1836 .- Davenport laid out .- First hotel, built by Antoine LeClaire and Col- onel George Davenport. First public sale of lots in May. Governor Dodge, of Wisconsin, held another treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians by which the tract of land reserved by the Indians in previous treaty was ceded to the United States. First law offices opened in Davenport by Alexander McGregor and G. C. R. Mitchell. First marriage in Davenport occurred this year, the contract- ing parties being William B. Watts and a niece of Antoine LeClaire. The first surveyor, William Gordon. The first plasterer, William B. Watts. The first white child born in Davenport, a son of Levi G. Colton; it died in 1840. Dr. E. S. Barrows settled in Rockingham, being the first physician in the county and second one in the territory.


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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY


1837 .- Rev. Elnathan C. Gavit, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. Enoch Mead, Presbyterian, and Bishop Chase, Episcopal, preached a sermon in Davenport, in the order named, Mr. Gavit's being the first ever preached in the village. D. C. Eldridge built a grist-mill run by horse-power. First blacksmith shop, by Louis LePage. First shoemaker, David Miller. First tailor, James O. Kelley.


1838 .- The Presbyterians effected the first church organization. G. L. Daven- port & Company opened the first lumber yard. Harvey Leonard made the first brick and erected the first brick house, on the northeast corner of Third and Main streets, on the site of the Masonic temple. The Catholics erected the first church edifice in Davenport, St. Anthony's. The Iowa Sun started by Andrew Logan.


1839 .- City charter granted the town of Davenport. Davenport had its first physician in the person of Dr. A. C. Donaldson. First drug store, by Charles Lesslie. First wagon-maker, Seth F. Whiting. First school by Rev. Hummer. Catholic school, by Rev. J. A. M. Pelamourgues. First paint shop by Riddle & Morton.


1840 .- First agricultural society in Scott county organized, with A. W. Mc- Gregor, president, and John Forrest, secretary. County seat removed from Rockingham to Davenport. LeClaire House completed and opened by Mr. Hulse, of Cincinnati, and the White Hall Temperance House, on the site of The Democrat, by D. C. Eldridge. The first pork packed by Shays & Gano, Dav- enport. First stove, tin and sheet-iron store in Davenport opened by R. T. Craig.


1841 .- Courthouse and jail built by the citizens of Davenport, and presented to the county. The first shoe store opened in Davenport by L. B. Collamer. Mr. Armitage and Captain Nichols started the first butcher stall. The first shipment of wheat made by John Owens to Cincinnati; price 50 to 56 cents per bushel. First watch repairer and goldsmith in Davenport, R. L. Linbaugh. Newspaper, now merged with The Democrat, commenced by Sanders & Davis as a weekly, under the name of Davenport Gazette. October 14th, first regular service of the Episcopal church in Davenport, the Rev. Z. H. Goldsmith offici- ating. November 4th, Trinity church parish of Davenport was organized. The first harness shop in Davenport was opened by Jacob Sailor, but soon after removed to Rock Island. Flour this year was sold at $5.00 a barrel and wheat 50 cents a bushel. Pork was worth but 11/2 to 2 cents a pound.


1842 .- Protestant Episcopal church organized on the 4th of November in Davenport. Steam ferry-boat built by J. Wilson, but abandoned the same year. Bakery opened in Davenport by Daniel Moore. Stephen Lindley started his harness shop in Davenport. The Iowa Sun discontinued. Good winter wheat sold at 37 and 40 cents per bushel. The best flour sold for $4.50 a barrel, and the same autumn sold in Chicago at $3.00 and in St. Louis at $2.50 per barrel. There was no money; everything was barter in trade; pork sold at $1.00 and $1.50 per hundred.




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