USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 90
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1843 .- New city charter granted Davenport. Horse ferry-boat started by John Wilson. Iowa House opened in Davenport by D. B. Shaw, afterward called the Ohio House. Scott County Bible society organized. Ice in the river two feet
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thick. A Dubuque paper stated that for nearly four months the mercury stood at twenty, thirty-five and thirty-nine degrees below zero. Although the crops were abundant, yet on account of the intense cold and want of sufficient hay and shelter a great many cattle died. Seven churches in Davenport.
1844 .- Iowa College association formed in April. Stage office opened by Ben- nett & Lyter, and lines of stages to Dubuque and Burlington established, Bennett & Lyter having obtained the contract to carry the mail on their routes. By census taken of the county in June it was found to contain 1,750 inhabitants. Financial condition of the county at the end of the year flattering. Expendi- tures, $1,757.80, and the receipts in treasury, $2,503.80. The wheat raised es- timated at 100,000 bushels and no flouring mills in Davenport. A son of Ben- jamin W. Clark was drowned in the Mississippi near Buffalo. A child of Mr. Winfield, near Rockingham, was burned to death by its clothes taking fire. Ephraim Jenny died suddenly, January 16th.
1845 .- First fire in Davenport ; burned the building in which Mr. Eldridge had opened his store in 1837, situated on the corner of Ripley and Front streets, at the time occupied as a residence by three or more German families. On the 4th of July Colonel George Davenport was foully murdered in his house on the island by desperadoes. River within one foot of the rise of 1844, May, 1845. A Swiss man and his wife poisoned by drinking tea made out of jimson weed. Peaches raised in the county were sold at 371/2 cents per bushel. Arrest of Birch, Fox, Long, Baxter, Aaron Long and Young, murderers of George Dav- enport. Grand jury at Rock Island found bill of indictment against Robert Birch, John Long, Aaron Long, Granville Young, William Fox, John Baxter ; Birch, the brothers Long and Fox as principals, Baxter and Young as accessories before the act. Asahel Hubbard, one of the county commissioners, died in Nebraska in September. Charles, infant son of William Inslee, of Davenport, fell into a kettle of hot water and was scalded to death. John and Aaron Long and Granville Young hung at Rock Island, Wednesday, October 24th.
1846 .- The first plow factory was started in Davenport by John Bechtel. Aetna Flour Mill (the first steam mill in Davenport) finished, and business com- menced by A. C. Fulton. Burrows and Prettyman started their mill about the same time. First board of trustees of Iowa college chosen.
1847 .- First banking house in Davenport established by Cook & Sargent. who also opened the first land agency. April 23d, first Odd Fellows' lodge in Davenport instituted. First clothing store in Davenport started by Powers & Jordan. The Democratic Banner first published by T. D. Eagal. Preparatory department of Iowa college opened, Rev. Erastus Ripley, teacher. Albion Mills started, J. M. D. Burrows, proprietor. The German immigration was large this year ; 100 landed in Davenport on the 22d of June, nearly all of whom settled in the county ; 3,652 white inhabitants in county, and two negroes.
1849 .- First jewelry store in Davenport started by A. C. Billon. During July and August many died of cholera. There were now 4,873 inhabitants in the county. There were at this time in the city of Davenport twenty-two car- penters, nine stone-masons, two stone cutters, five brick makers, six brick layers, five plasterers, six printers, ten cabinet-makers, five chair makers, seven wheel- wrights, two coach makers, twelve blacksmiths, fifteen coopers, five saddlers
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and harness makers, one trunk maker, eight shoemakers, three tin and copper- smiths, seven tailors, four engineers, three millers, two sawyers, eight draymen, nine teamsters, three butchers, one dyer and scourer, one gunsmith, one watch- maker, one turner, one baker, one upholsterer, one barber, nine ministers, four physicians, two lawyers, two weekly papers. The public buildings were: two steam flouring mills, one steam sawmill, the Iowa College, the Medical college, five schoolhouses, three hotels, two billiard rooms, two coffee houses, nineteen stores, one public hall, one exchange office, two pork houses, one livery stable and one plow factory. A full grown bear was killed in the neighborhood of Blue Grass. The Gazette urgently advocated the building of the Rock Island & LaSalle railroad, and asked the citizens of Scott county to subscribe liberally to its stock. A medical institute established in Davenport.
1850 .- First exclusive book store in Davenport opened by W. H. Holmes, who bought out D. C. Eldridge's stock, he having kept a book and drug store. Der Demokrat, a German newspaper commenced in Davenport by Theo. Guelich. Pennsylvania House, Davenport, opened by M. C. Davis, on Second street, be- tween Main and Harrison. The first district school in Davenport, James Thor- ington, teacher, Mr. Thorington having taught private or select schools for some five or six years previous. Charter of Davenport City amended. First collegiate class formed in Iowa college. Population of Davenport, 1,848. First picture framing and gilding establishment opened by Frederick H. Weiss, in Davenport. Sash, door and blind factory and sawmill opened by Burnett, Gil- lett & Company, corner of Scott and Front streets, Davenport ; capital $125,000; employed ninety hands ; manufactured annually, $160,000. One hundred new houses erected in Davenport during the year. Twenty-two thousand and forty- one acres of land entered in the county. Plenty of prairie land to be had for $1.25 per acre. On Monday, April 5th, the county subscribed $25,000 in aid of the Rock Island & La Salle railroad. Postoffice established at Allen's Grove, in August, with George Frederick as first postmaster.
1851 .- The foundry, machine and finishing shops in Davenport started by LeClaire, Davenport & Company, employing twelve hands the first season. Coates & Davies' planing mill built in Davenport ; capital $75,000; employed thirty hands. The first daguerrean artist who opened permanently in Davenport was O. L. Burdick, although some had practiced the art previously. In April Judge Grant was chosen first president of the Chicago & Rock Island railroad. Robert Chris- tie's mill was erected at East Davenport. First wholesale grocery in Daven- port, established by S. Hirschl. June Ist, Stephenson & Carnahan opened a new drug store in Davenport. New city charter granted Davenport. In Febru- ary Charles Weston was elected mayor of Davenport, and H. Leonard, A. Wygant. Dr. Barrows, N. Squires, H. Price, aldermen. In the August election William Burris was chosen judge, and Harvey Leonard, sheriff. Second Baptist church of Davenport was organized. October 7th, S. Burnell's steam sawmill was built. Three hundred immigrants landed at one time from the Wyoming settlers for Scott county. Cholera very bad. Over 300 houses built in Daven- port. Gazette enlarged to a seven-column folio, May 22d. German Lutheran church erected. Heavy rain storm occurred May 21, which destroyed a large amount of property. Forty-five buildings were in process of erection in Daven-
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port in May. The river was higher than any year since 1844. Amity post- office, Hickory Grove township, established in July, with Philip Baker, post- master. Davenport & Rogers' grist and sawmill burned September 9th.
1852 .- First exclusive tobacco store and cigar manufactory opened in Dav- enport by James Burge, although H. Wagener was the first person who manu- factured cigars in the place. Steam ferry boat started by John Wilson. J. M. Cannon's steam sawmill was built. First tombstone and marble manufactory in Davenport started by W. W. Kennedy. Population 3,500.
1853 .- LeClaire foundry burned August 20th. First music store opened in Davenport by J. A. Crandall. Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company organ- ized. September Ist, ground first broken by Mr. LeClaire. East end of LeClaire's row (in Davenport) completed, the fourth story being LeClaire's hall. First express office started in Davenport, Renwick & Son, agents. Telegraph office opened in Davenport. Population of Davenport, 4,500. August Ist, tri-weekly Gazette started in Davenport. December 21st, remarkable; river not closed. Steamer "Jenny Lind" arrived from LeClaire and left next day for Galena with a load of goods. On Thursday, July 7, 1853, vote was taken for or against city of Davenport's subscribing $85,000 in aid of the Mississippi & Missouri railroad- 242 for and one against. Previously a vote was taken for or against county subscribing $50,000, Chicago & Rock Island-298 for and ten against. Wednes- day, October 26th, first snow of the season. Antoine LeClaire was offered $130,000 for 100 acres of land near Davenport. Davenport Weekly Ree being published.
1854 .- February 22d, completion of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad; the Atlantic and Mississippi united. On the 20th of July, a most terrible and de- structive tornado passed over Davenport, the most severe ever known in this region. Trees were torn up and houses unroofed and blown down. The Le- Claire foundry was partially demolished, the walls of the building falling in on some of the workmen, killing William Overton and injuring his son. Mr. Wickersham's store, a new three-story brick building, was completely demolished. In June of this year the Rev. Henry W. Lee, D. D .. was elected first bishop of Iowa. Central part of LeClaire's row, now North Putnam building, finished, which completed the block from Brady to Main streets. Witherwax's block and Orr's building completed. Third floor of the latter fitted up and occupied as Odd Fellows and Sons of Temperance hall. A portion of third loft of With- erwax's block named Literary hall. The Davenport Commercial was started in the spring by N. H. Parker; W. Atwill purchased it in December and changed the name to Davenport Courier. An extensive wholesale iron and hardware store was opened in Davenport in the fall by T. Close & Company. Daily line of stages established to Iowa City, Tipton and Cedar Rapids. First stove and hollow ware foundry in Davenport established by Davis, Boyd & Company. Renwick & Sons' steam sawmill was built during this year ; capital. $50,000 ; they employed thirty hands. First buckskin mitten manufactory in Davenport was established by Keith & Lewis. Davenport Gas, Light & Coke Company organ- ized. The first exclusive crockery store in Davenport was China hall, opened by L. S. Webb & Company. First exclusive book and job printing office in Daven- port established by Luse & Coles. September Ist cornerstone of the bridge laid.
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October 16th, the first daily paper in Davenport, the Daily Gazette, issued by Sanders & Davis. October 31st, LeClaire House, Davenport, sold to Dr. J. J. Burtis. November 25th, Scott House opened by R. Benton. First (German) Evangelical Lutheran church organized. Allen & Bosworth's steam sawmill built in Davenport. Hildreth & Dallam's steam flour mill at East Davenport fin- ished and put in operation. Population of Davenport, 6,000. Scott County Agricultural society held their first annual fair, October 4th; $400 paid in premiums. June 5th, ex-President Fillmore visited Davenport. June 24th, a public sale of lots was made on the bluff one mile below Davenport, at which unimproved lots sold at from $150 to $290. William Herrick & Company, of Cincinnati, commenced preparations to light the city of Davenport with gas, Sep- tember. Public school building dedicated in Davenport, Saturday, September 30th.
1855 .- January 2d, frost out of the ground and farmers plowing. Banking house of Yerberg & Barrows opened at Davenport. January 13th, Commercial Writing academy opened by C. Parker in Davenport. Steamboat "Minnesota Belle" arrived in port, the first arrival from the upper Mississippi for many years. January 26th, new city charter for Davenport. March 31st, Young Men's Chris- tion association organized. May 15th, new ferry boat, "Davenport" established between Rock Island and Davenport. July 20th, first locomotive ever seen in Iowa arrived in Davenport, called the "Antoine LeClaire." Track laid two and a half miles west of city. August 23d, city of Davenport first lighted by gas. Banner of Davenport changed hands, T. D. Eagal disposing of his interest to Dalrymple & Richardson. Enos Tichenor elected mayor of Davenport; William Burris, judge; Harvey Leonard, sheriff ; and James McCosh, recorder. Novem- ber 28th, the first steam power printing press introduced in Iowa by Sanders & Davis, proprietors of the Gazette.
1856 .- January Ist, Mississippi measured by Mr. Hogan at low water mark; found to be 2,580 feet wide, and at high water, 2,700 feet wide. January 5th, first number of the Daily Democrat of Davenport issued. January 20th, mer- cury down to twenty degrees below zero. February 8th, arrivals at the three hotels, LeClaire House and the old and new Pennsylvania House, during the past year amounted to 50,000, as per the registers in the hotels named. Febru- ary 28th, last span of the Mississippi bridge completed. March 6th, bold rob- bery of boots and shoes from the store of Moore & Brown, of Davenport. July 16th, the most destructive and extensive fire by which Davenport had ever been visited, broke out on Monday night in a frame building on Front street, near the corner of Rock Island, occupied as a warehouse by Hull, Allen & Company ; D. Moore's bakery, a two story brick building and a frame dwelling house occupied by Mr. Shields were also consumed; total loss, $15,000. September 9th, bridge over the Mississippi completed. Cars commenced crossing on schedule time. Oc- tober 3d, an ordinance passed by the city council of Davenport for the purchase of two fire engines, two hose carts and 1,500 feet of hose. First permanent or- ganization of a fire company. October 21st, dedication of St. Marguerite's church of Davenport. December 5th, the first concert given by the Philharmonic society. December 9th, ice bridge formed over the Mississippi. Davenport iron works established on Rock Island street, near Second, by Jemme, Donnelly & Lea; capital, $18,000. Value of manufactures, $100,000; employing fifty-five hands.
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County jail erected, under the superintendence of Hon. W. L. Cook, then county judge. LeClaire machine works bought by M. Donahue; capital, $50,000; em- ploy forty hands ; manufactures, $150,000 for the year.
1857 .- January Ist, dissolution of Sanders & Davis, publishers of the daily and weekly Gazette of Davenport, and partnership entered of Alfred and Add. H. Sanders. January 9th, Second Presbyterian church of Davenport destroyed by fire. January 2Ist, bill passed to amend the city charter of Davenport. Feb- ruary 16th, board of trade organized, and its officers elected. February 17th, sixteen persons baptized in the river by the pastor of Second Baptist church of Davenport. March 17th, Dr. Burtis disposed of his interest in the LeClaire House, Davenport, to Mr. Schuyler. March 9th, a fire broke out in a store on Brady street, Davenport, occupied by Mr. Meyers as a cigar store. The fire spread to a two story frame, owned by George L. Davenport, and occupied by Dr. W. W. Parker as a hardware store. Both buildings were consumed. Mr. Meyers' loss, $500, and Mr. Parker's $8,700. April 16th, Davenport furniture factory organized. May Ist, opening of Cook & Sargent's new banking house in Davenport, on the corner of Main and Second streets. May 19th, $70 asked for a ton of hay. May 29th, arrival of the two fire engines for Davenport, the "Pilot" and the "Witch," from Boston, Massachusetts, costing $3,400, throwing streams 200 feet from an inch and a quarter nozzle; "Pilot" weighing 3,670 pounds, and the "Witch," 3,610 pounds. The "Rover" reel, with her hose, weighs 2,080 pounds. June 15th, lively encounter between steamboat men and the bridge tenders, in which several were injured by stones being thrown from the steamer "William H. Nelson." July 6th, great fire broke out on Brady street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, in Davenport, destroying thirteen frame houses, used as stores and dwellings, and a large amount of household furni- ture. July 31st, a boiler explosion in the M. & M. workshops, opposite the depot in Davenport. Two boilers were blown to pieces, the engines and brick work being scattered in all directions; but few lives were lost. Damage to property estimated to reach $5,000. August 25th, gas cut off for two weeks in Daven- port during necessary repairs, and for new improvements and additions to the works. September 4th, a boiler explosion at Renwick's mill; no one hurt. Sep- tember 28th, first town clock in Davenport; put up by Cook & Sargent in front of their banking house, on the corner of Second and Main streets. October Ist, Trinity church, Davenport, first lighted with gas. October 19th, the Independent Fire Engine and Hose Company took possession of their new engine room.
1858 .- January, organization of the Pioneer Settlers' association of Scott county. February 22d, Burtis House, on the corner of Fifth and Iowa streets, Davenport, opened to the public and the first annual festival of the Pioneer Set- tlers' society. May 3d, German Fire Company, No. 3, organized in Davenport. August 4th, Cook & Sargent's bank refused to receive Burrows & Prettyman's currency, except on special deposit. August IIth, trial of Thomas Cellian for the murder of his wife. August 19th, the Buckholter arson case on trial. Au- gust 29th, a disgraceful Sunday riot. Fight between the police and ferry boat hands. Two policemen wounded and several other parties injured. September Ist, first edition of the Davenport Daily Times. On the morning of the 6th at 12:15 o'clock, a destructive fire broke out in the old Bazaar building, at the
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foot of Brady street, in Davenport. It started in one of the saloons in the base- ment. The building was erected in 1852 and was worth $30,000. Cook & Sar- gent burned 200,000 of Florence currency in the furnace of their new building. September 28th, the steamer "Fannie Harris" sunk and two lives were lost. Two firemen were knocked off the boat by the force of the collision with the bridge piers. Damages to the boat amounted to about $2,000. October 17th, the Denton House caught on fire, destroying all the furniture; loss, $10,000. No- vember 6th, a burglar effected an entrance into the postoffice by cutting out a panel in the rear door. About $12 were stolen. Arrest of two counterfeiters in Meyers' saloon on Brady street, with over $2,000 of the "queer" in their posses- sion. November 22d, a bold but unsuccessful attempt to set fire to the new bank of Cook & Sargent, in Davenport. December 14th, two children burned to death, and one child severely injured, belonging to the family of Richard Dut- ton, who lived on Harrison, between Ninth and Tenth streets, Davenport.
1859 .- February 22d, second annual festival of the Old Settlers' society at the Burtis House. March 20th, the steamer "Aunt Letty" blown against one of the bridge piers and about forty feet of her hull stove in. May 12th, the Pike's Peak excitement in full bloom. Grand review of the fire companies of Davenport and Rock Island. May 30th, the Pike's Peak bubble bursts and a large number of our citizens are daily returning. Several attempts at burglary and robbery from buildings and persons recorded on the 30th. June 6th, daring but unsuc- cessful attempt to destroy the Rock Island Railroad bridge over the Mississippi river. October 24th, two persons stabbed in Weideman's beer garden, on the bluff, by cabin boys from the steamer "Fred Lorenz." October 30th, death of William Herrig, one of the young men stabbed in Weideman's beer garden, Dav- enport. November 14th, daring but unsuccessful attempt to break jail frustrated by the plucky conduct of Jailer Graham's wife, of Davenport. November 8th, Sunday laws, a special ordinance passed by the city council of Davenport, that the city marshal be hereby ordered to prevent the unlawful assemblage on the Sabbath day at dance houses, beer houses, grog shops and drinking saloons, etc. November 21st, first malt house in Davenport started by Mr. Decker, corner of Fourth and Scott streets. The first operation in trachaeotomy, in Davenport, successfully performed by Dr. Adler, assisted by Drs. Fountain and Maxwell, on a little son of D. B. Shelley. November 26th, the Andalusia packet "Comet" met with an accident during the storm. While coming up the river under a heavy press of canvas, when a short distance above Credit island, was struck by a squall, and her mainmast and rigging were carried overboard, and encountering a heavy sea, sunk in five feet of water. The crew safely swam ashore. Old John Brown was publicly executed at II o'clock on the morning of December 2d, at Charleston, Virginia. A number of the German citizens of Davenport showed their sympathy for him by lowering the flag to half mast on Lahrmann's hall, and draped it in mourning; a number of stores had crape attached to the doors, and some Germans wore crape on their hats. December 16th, the Odd Fellows of Davenport dedicated their new hall on Brady above Fifth street. December 16th, suspension of Cook & Sargent's banking house of Davenport.
1860 .- January Ist, Hon. Hiram Price elected mayor of Davenport with a majority of 268 votes over Judge Grant. January 23d, destructive fire broke out
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at 90 Brady street, Davenport, occupied by Miss Renwick as a millinery store ; loss nearly $3,000. January 28th, Horace Greeley lectured on Northwestern America, and had the largest audience that had ever assembled for a similar oc- casion in Davenport. February 22d, grand military display to celebrate the an- niversary of George Washington's birthday. February 27th, first annual festival of the Scott County "New England Society," held in the Burtis House, Daven- port. March 21st, the city hospital, situated about one mile from the city of Davenport, on Locust street, destroyed by fire; work of an incendiary. March 22d, Messrs. J. C. Mathes & A. Winert erected a soap, candle factory and tannery in Davenport. Mr. Stroh also erected a fine two story brick store on Harrison, above Second street, and Richard B. Hill erected a block of five warehouses on Front street, corner of Brady. April 21st, Robert E. Campbell, of Davenport, a banker, committed suicide. June Ist, a brush manufactory was started in Dav- enport by Joseph Whisler, on Ripley street. Marble works opened by McCosh & Donahue. June 3d, the large ice house, 100 by 30 feet, belonging to E. Peck, blown down. June 25th, riotous and disgraceful proceedings at the elec- tion polls in the sixth ward of Davenport during the election for alderman. July 4th, an immense crowd of the citizens of Davenport turn out and enjoy the day. Splendid parade made by the military and other civic societies. July 19th, new grocery house opened in Davenport by A. J. Preston. John Rowe starts in busi- ness on his own account, in the gas and steam fitting and plumbing line. July 22d, a very narrow escape of Dr. J. A. Reid, of Davenport, from drowning. July 26th, completion of several of the fine stores in R. B. Hill's block on Second street. Kehoe & Carhart opened a dry goods store. August 9th, several new warehouses completed and opened by Charles Glassman, grocer, on Third, below Gaines street. William Dalzell put up a frame eighty by twenty-five feet on Harri- son street, above Fifth. J. S. Coates erected a stone building seventy-five by thirty, of one and a half stories, on the southeast corner of Perry and Front streets, Davenport. 'August 12th, extensive improvements made in the Great Western brewery ; the amount of capital invested is about $16,000. August 15th, Young Men's Associated Congress organized. September 9th, farewell sermon preached by Rev. George F. Magoun, pastor of the Congregational church of Davenport. September 12th, Mayor Caldwell, of Davenport, forfeited his position as mayor by moving outside of the city limits. September 16th, the Reformed Dutch church was dedicated at 10 a. m., and the Rev. C. G. Vanderveer was installed as pastor. The edifice located on the corner of Eleventh and Brady streets, Daven- port, is now Temple Emanuel. September 18th spinning mill opened. October 3d, the Davenport Gazette took the diploma and a $10 premium at the state fair for the best looking paper in the state of Iowa.
1861 .- February 24th, an attempt was made to assassinate President Lincoln, while traveling from Harrisburg to Baltimore. March 29th, sudden death of Dr. E. J. Fountain. Six attempts at incendiarism in one night. April 7th, election day ; republicans carry the day by a large majority. G. H. French elected mayor ; O. S. McNeil, marshal. Charles H. Eldridge succeeded A. F. Mast as post- master. Mr. Mast had held the office for eight years. April 15th, great excite- ment in Davenport over the reported surrender of Fort Sumter by Major Ander- son. April 24th, Governor Kirkwood's arrival at Davenport, and the acceptance
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