History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 92

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

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1879 .- The Gazette shows a record of 1878 of the business interests of Daven- port ; total value of manufactures, $4,458,908; amount of wholesale and jobbing trade as $5,048,500; building improvements, $160,000. During the year 1878, 29,189 passengers were ticketed from the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific rail- road ticket office at Davenport. January 7th, a Mrs. Hogan living about three miles from Davenport, burned to death; caught her clothing afire while warming herself. January 4th, quite a serious fire at Princeton, sweeping away an entire row of substantial brick buildings, the worst loss this place has ever had, being about $9,500. January 12th, John McManus and wife had gone to church and left their five children; the oldest boy, Frank, had the day before bought a pistol, and he got it out, and supposing it to be unloaded, pointed it at his sister Mary and pulled the trigger; the pistol was discharged, the ball entering her brain ; she died in a short time. January 15th, corn blockade at Chicago. Jan- uary 30th, General Sigel was in Davenport on a short visit to his friends. Feb- ruary 9th, quite a fire on the corner of Second and Brady streets; loss, about $3,000. February 15th, James McManus died at his residence at the west end of Third street. February 20th, death of Mrs. Clarissa C. Cook. March 29th, death of N. M. Rambo. April 4th, double death by suicide, of Harry Watt and Louisa Filter. April 15th, William Smith crushed to death by a boiler falling on him while helping to move it at the rear end of the roundhouse in Davenport. April 21st, Mrs. Schaumberg's and Mr. Becker's houses on West Ninth street were burned. May 2d, Frederick Winters committed suicide by jumping into the river. May 6th, Warren Chase fell from the top of Mr. Ballard's house in Davenport, where he was painting. His neck was nearly broken and spinal col- umn so injured that the whole body was paralyzed. May IIth, thirty-six girls and boys took their first communion at St. Anthony's church, Davenport. May 20th, Judge Dillon tendered the position of professor of municipal and real estate law in Columbia Law school, New York, at a salary of $7,000. May 22d, total destruction of H. P. Beattie's flouring mill by fire ; loss, $100,000. May 28th, telegram received by Charles E. Putnam that his son, John C., was drowned at Hoboken, New Jersey, while attending school. May 31st, government bridge opened permanently after being closed for repairs. Mrs. Dr. Keck bought the John P. Cook residence at the cost of $12,000. June 2d, the Mrs. Ebenezer Cook will case settled.

On the 4th of July a lad named Henry Gaston acted the part of a genuine hero in saving the life of James Collins, a boy of thirteen years, who was drown- ing in the river. A burglary was perpetrated at the residence of G. P. Knostman,

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on the night of the 3d of July, 1879; several valuable articles were stolen. One of the most furious storms of wind and rain that ever visited this locality occurred on the morning of the 9th of July ; not much damage was done to buildings; but the injury to the crops was enormous, whole fields of corn and oats being pros- trated. On Thursday afternoon, July 12th, a fatal accident occurred to one of Davenport's old and established citizens, Christian Rusch. He was carrying some shingles to the carpenters on a scaffolding just beneath the eaves of a barn they were building, when the scaffolding fell with him to the ground. He was taken up senseless and died from the effects of his injuries Friday_noon. He had been a resident of Scott county since 1857, and had always been a quiet man, honest and highly esteemed by his acquaintances. Jacob Breis, who was in his ninetieth year, died July 16th, at the residence of his son-in-law, Lucas Ruhl. The deceased had been a resident of Davenport for thirty years. At 10:00 o'clock on the morning of July 19th, the body of an unknown man was found in the river at the foot of Harrison street; an inquest was held, the jury's verdict being "death from accidental drowning." The glucose company had $7,000 worth of machinery under contract for their works, much of it nearly completed, when the works were totally destroyed by fire July 19th. The body of George Westphal, of Davenport, who was drowned off a government dredge boat, above Hampton, on Monday afternoon, July 28th, was recovered above Hampton, two days later. He had been a resident of Davenport twenty-two years. An attempt was made to rob the drugstore of J. F. Koch, on the night of August 5th, which came near resulting in the death of Mr. Koch; two shots were fired by the burglars which missed their mark. B. B. Woodward, for many years one of Davenport's most prominent citizens, died at his residence in that city August 19th, after a long and painful illness. Nathaniel Wilson died of old age in LeClaire township, August 19th. He was one of the first pioneers in that township and had resided in Scott county forty-two years. On Thursday morning, August 28th, the most costly, the finest, and one of the largest barns in Scott county, belonging to E. W. Gilbert, of New York, and occupied by C. Druehl, was struck by lightning and completely demolished. A shocking outrage was perpetrated in Winfield township on Friday night, Sep- tember 26th. Near midnight three masked men forced an entrance into the house of Farmer Flanery, dragged him from his bed, then, in spite of all resist- ance from him and pleadings from his wife, they took him out of doors and kicked and beat him in the most brutal manner and ended their infamous work by throwing him in a pond. His injuries were very severe. A shocking accident occurred on October 20th. The victim was Edward Fleming, son of James Fleming, No. 522 West Fifth street. He had been put to work by his employer to melt zinc to galvanize telephone wire. Following instructions he poured a composition of some kind into a kettle of boiling zinc, causing an instantaneous explosion which covered his face and neck with the scalding stuff, which sank deep in the flesh. He presented a horrible spectacle, both eyes being burned out. The burning of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul round-house occurred on October 30th, two engines being badly damaged. The death of John Burnside occurred at his home in Blue Grass township, November 8th. He was a true, upright and honest man, respected by all who knew him. On December 12th the

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livery stable of Judson Parcell was almost completely destroyed by fire. The live stock and portable property were all saved, but the buildings were almost totally demolished. After several months of illness Hon. Eugene Birchard died at home, in Pleasant Valley township, December 13th.

1880 .- January 28th and 29th, conference of bishops at Grace cathedral church, Bishops Whipple, of Minnesota, Spaulding, of Colorado, Clarkson, Hare and Perry present. February 28th, Charles Stewart Parnell, the great Irish patriot, received with enthusiasm. Speeches at the Burtis. March IIth, Howard Burtis, new landlord of the Burtis. The hotel renamed the Kimball House. July Ist, the Kimball house, evolved from the new Burtis by Howard Burtis, its purchaser, ready for guests. October 8th, work begun on the soldiers' monument site.

1881 .- March 21st, Grace cathedral receives from Mrs. D. J. Ely, of New York, a gift for the erection of a house in cathedral close for Rev. Dr. Barris; incumbent of the Ely professorship of Griswold College. May 8th, Pope Leo formally ratifies division of diocese of Dubuque and creates the diocese of Daven- port ; Very Rev. John McMullen appointed first bishop of Davenport. June 20th, the old Burtis House, corner of Iowa and Fifth streets, sold by Superintendent A. Kimball to Davenport Oatmeal Company, $10,000. July 31st, Bishop McMullen's first service at St. Marguerite's. August 3d, death of Peter Littig, a veteran of Waterloo, aged eighty-seven years. September 17th, Trinity chimes played the first time by Walter A. Marsh, of New York, "Old Hundred." September 20th, Davenport draped in mourning upon the news of Garfield's death at midnight. November 9th, the council discusses paid fire department.

1882 .- April 28th, first run of paid fire department. May Ist, an electric light company organized in this city. July 7th, the first street car built in Daven- port, turned out by Henry Thuenen. August 29th, death of Hon. Hugh M. Martin at Crested Butte, Colorado, from injuries received on a mountain several days before from a rolling boulder. October 3d, death of D. C. Eldridge, aged eighty-one. October 17th, fortieth annual convention of the Iowa Baptist State Association, held in Calvary church.

1883 .- May 29th, General Sheridan visits Rock Island Arsenal. July 4th, death of Bishop John McMullen. July 8th, the raising of silk worms begun in Davenport. September 16th, dedication of St. Joseph's church, northeast corner of Marquette and Sixth streets. September 29th, incorporation of the Hebrew Ladies Aid Society. October 28th, dedication of the United Presbyterian church, corner of Eleventh and Brady streets. November IIth, dedication of Swedish Baptist church, on East Sixth street. November 18th, new standard time adopted throughout the United States. November 19th, Young Peoples' Guild organized in Edwards Congregational church.

1884 .- April 8th, opening of supreme court at Kimball House. September 14th, consecration of Father Cosgrove as bishop at St. Marguerite's cathedral. Sermon preached by Bishop Ireland of St. Paul. September 24th, formal opening of St. Katherine's Hall. December 11th, first meeting of Scott County Democratic Club held at Turner hall.

1885 .- February 9th, fifteen inches of snow in twenty-four hours, followed by severe cold weather. February 28th, George L. Davenport dies at St. Au-

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gustine, Florida, aged sixty-seven years. Born at Fort Armstrong, on Rock Island, November 17, 1817; the first white child born in this entire region. March 4th, Davenport democrats have an "inaugural banquet," the first since Buchanan's inauguration in 1857. May 20th, the city council adopts the eight- hour day for city work. June 2d, Smith Allen dies; was Davenport's oldest living grain dealer. July 4th, laying of corner stone of St. Ambrose College. The park commission organized. August 3d, eight mules and two horses bought for the Central Street Railway. August 8th, business suspended in honor of funeral of General Grant. August 27th, special delivery stamps introduced. November 13th, first barrel factory in Davenport under construction.

1886 .- October Ist, special delivery of mail matter other than letters begun. October 30th, Captain James May, one of the town lot incorporators of Daven- port, dies. November 26th, end of a causeless run on the German Savings Bank.

1887 .- January 18th, first examining board meets at the arsenal for the pur- pose of examining ordnance officers in line of promotion. Opening of office of Associated Charities in basement of old high school building, corner of Sixth and Main street, Mrs. Nettie F. Howard in charge. March 10th, death of James B. Eads, of St. Louis bridge and jetty fame. May 10th, on account of the cap- tured Confederate powder being exhausted, salutes of sunrise and sunset guns discontinued at the arsenal. June 5th, the Democrat absorbs the Gazette. No- vember 6th, Rev. Elnathan C. Gavit, who preached the first sermon ever de- livered in Davenport, delivers an address at the First Methodist Episcopal church. November 9th, the main building of the Orphans Home is destroyed by light- ning ; loss, $50,000. November 29th, steam-heated passenger trains come into fashion. December 18th, the G-Whizz, the Rock Island's new limited from Kansas City to Chicago, makes its first run.

1888 .- April 20th, the Davenport Business Men's Association throws open its new rooms in the Masonic Temple. April 25th, grand opening reception of Masonic Temple. May IIth, destruction of water power dam at Rock Island by flood; loss, about $100,000. May 16th, Mississippi river reaches highest mark on record-eighteen feet, seven inches above low water mark. May 17th, opening of three days' festival in honor of the completion of the new Turner hall. August 8th, Chicago syndicate buys all the street car property in three cities, except the Central and Brady street line, in Davenport. August 11th, electric cars tested on Brady street hill; cars loaded with forty or fifty persons climbed the grade with ease; general rejoicing. August 28th, the first electric car accident; three-year old child of W. B. Wiley run over at Fifteenth and Rock Island streets and killed. November 7th, police patrol system in opera- tion. November 18th, the Rock Island starts vestibule trains between Chicago and Denver. December 16th, street car line being laid across the island. De- cember 24th, Davenport, Rock Island and Moline united by street car lines. De- cember 25th, cars begin running across the bridge.

1889 .- January 28th, inspection of new courthouse by board of supervisors. February 8th, the first call for police was sounded from box No. 3, on Front street, under new telephone patrol system. March 28th, the Hibernian hall as- sociation buys the Christian church property on east side of Brady street. May

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7th, death of Dan Renssellaer Rowe. Mr. Rowe built the first elevator in Daven- port. May 29th, a very fine portrait of Judge James Grant, the first judge of this district, painted by Miss Mamie Leonard, his niece, is presented to the Scott county bar. July 3d, contract let for Christian church building at Fif- teenth and LeClaire streets. August 19th, laying of corner-stone of the new Christian church. August 23d, Methodists of Davenport celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the church's work. September 7th, death of Jacob Orth, aged ninety-nine years. September 21st, corner-stone of Calvary Baptist church, Fourteenth and Perry, laid by the pastor, Rev. F. L. Wilkins. November 15th, Davenport Art Association organized at the studio of Miss Bianca Wheeler. De- cember 8th, the Christian church is dedicated.

1890 .- January 9th, death of Bailey Davenport in Rock Island. February 18th, German Free School association files articles of incorporation. Betten- dorf Wheel Works incorporated, authorized capital $1,000,000; incorporators, W. M. Bettendorf, G. Watson French and Nathaniel French. March Ist, wide wheel tire ordinance goes into effect. April 27th, cornerstone of the Sacred Heart cathedral laid. May 25th, dedication of the Calvary Baptist church, corner of Perry and Fourteenth streets. September 2d, first regular Labor Day celebra- tion in Davenport. Governor Boies speaks at Schuetzen park. October Ist, an ordinance is passed permitting electric power to be used by Holmes City railways.

1891 .- February 13th, death of John M. Eldridge, the first tailor in Daven- port. March 14th, Judge James Grant dies at Oakland, California, at the age of seventy-nine. March 15th, the Davenport crematorium is formally opened by the incineration of the body of Otto Kochert. July 18th, money is subscribed for the Outing Club. August 29th, first work begun on viaduct to Rock Island. September 19th, the Davenport Gas Company's plant electrically lights city for first time.

1892 .- June 27th, the Mississippi reaches the highest gauge ever known ex- cept the flood of 1851. Much damage and inconvenience in the tri-cities. Sep- tember 2d, incorporation of the Farmers & Mechanics Savings Bank of Daven- port. December 14th, twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the Acad- emy of Sciences is celebrated.

1893 .- July 2d, the newly remodeled Second Presbyterian church dedicated. December 1Ith, death in Washington, D. C., of Jeremiah H. Murphy, ex-con- gressman.

1894 .- January 18th, thirty-two trades unions notify Mayor Vollmer that they will call upon him to demand work. February 3d, Bethlehem Congrega- tional church organized. April 19th, Iowa Sons of the Revolution held their first banquet. May 5th, electric cars cross the bridge. August 26th, forty-sec- ond anniversary of the Davenport Turner Society is celebrated. November 6th, first chrysanthemum show at Library hall. November 30th, water ad- mitted to first section of the Hennepin canal.

1895 .- February 14th, first use in Davenport of anti-toxin. March 2d, trans- fers introduced on street cars of Mount Ida and Third street lines. April 9th, purchase of residence of Urial Roraback for Catholic orphanage, by Sons of the Sacred Heart. April 17th, Hennepin canal opens locks to receive the first boat. April 28th, St. Luke's Hospital is opened. August IIth, announcement

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of a new government bridge. August 15th, the Davenport clearing house as- sociation is organized. September 19th, Nicholas Fejervary dies at the age of eighty-four. September 30th, St. Luke's training school for nurses is opened. November 14th, the steamer Belcher brings the first cargo of coal out of the Hennepin canal. December 6th, the Citizens National and the German Sav- ings banks begin business in the new McManus block. December 27th, Kemper hall closed as a diocesan school.

1896 .- May 31st, the bicycle craze takes possession of Davenport and the coun- try at large. September 14th, the city hall clock bell strikes for the first time at 12:30. December Ist, bridge opened to the general public.

1897 .- February 23d, opening at the armory of the first bicycle show in Daven- port. March 31st, long distance telephone lines opened. July 18th, corner-stone of Roman Catholic orphanage of St. Vincent's home laid. August 2d, the old John P. Cook home, converted into a Young Men's Christian Association building, is dedicated. August 12th, the glucose works sold to glucose sugar refining company for $700,000. October Ist, Rock Island secures the seal, records and complete head office of the Modern Woodmen from Fulton, Illinois.

1898 .- March 27th, the Schleswig-Holstein veterans held their fiftieth anni- versary reunion. July 20th, the corner-stone of the new Presbyterian church. corner Kirkwood boulevard and Iowa street, is laid. September 13th, the Tri-City Press club is organized. September 20th, Company B returns home from the Spanish-American war.

1899 .- March Ioth, congress passes a bill establishing a gun factory at the Rock Island Arsenal. May 21st, the corner-stone of the German Free school laid on Western avenue. October 15th, the two Methodist churches merge and have their first joint service as the Central Methodist church. October 23d, the first rural free mail delivery in Scott county is inaugurated by Carrier Henry Ade, by way of the Utica Ridge road.

1900 .- The first passenger train from Clinton over the D. R. I. & N. W. ar- rives at the Perry street station. February 21st, Governor Larrabee presents the Orphans' Home with $3,000 pipe organ. March 12th, citizens of Davenport vote to buy the Griswold college property at $53,000 for a high school site. The women vote for the first time. May Ist, Baron Otto Von Schaezler brings the first automobile to Davenport. August Ist, the pink eye, an epidemic among horses, reaches Davenport. August 22d, a kindergarten organization comes into being in Davenport. November 4th, the remodeled Edwards Congregational church building is dedicated.

1901 .-- March 8th, Andrew Carnegie adds $25,000 to his gift of $50,000 .for the public library. April Ist, the chief of police enforces the curfew ordinance. May 26th. Davenport Maennerchor celebrates its fiftieth birthday." May 30th, Hon. Hiram Price dies in Washington at the age of eighty-seven years. June Ioth, Professor Willis H. Barris dies at the age of seventy-nine. July 25th, Davenport in danger of destruction by fire. The worst conflagration in this ter- ritory. Eight blocks and Weyerhauser & Denkmann's sawmill and yards swept by flames. More than 200 people lose their homes. Rock Island and Moline send help and save the city from greater loss. Damages, about $1,000,000. August 24th, McCowen hall, hotel for working women, is formally opened. October 26th,

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Davenport National Bank goes into liquidation. November 18th, the public kin- dergarten started in the old Methodist Episcopal church on Fourteenth street. December 7th, spitting in cars is prohibited by the street railway company.

1902 .- January 28th, the wagon shop of the Bettendorf Axle Company is burned at a loss of $200,000. March Ist, the Rock Island Company puts on a through service to California. March 4th, the Milwaukee Railroad Com- pany purchases thirty acres of ground in West Davenport for shops. March 11th, a pioneer, Ira Cook, dies in Des Moines. May Ist, the bolster works of the Bettendorf Axle Company is burned, at a loss of $250,000. July 30th, plat of new town of Bettendorf, nee Gilberttown, filed on record. August 3d, St. John's chapel, the new German Lutheran church on Lincoln avenue and Rockingham road, dedicated. August 24th, the Turngemeinde has its golden jubilee parade. October 2d, the cornerstone of St. Mary's chapel, St. Katherine's school, is laid. December 21st, the German Congregational church at Fourth and Pine streets, is dedicated.

1903 .- January 30th, Mrs. Henry W. Lee, widow of the late Bishop Henry W. Lee, dies at Salt Lake City at the age of ninety years. March 9th, the Bene- volent Order of Eagles is incorporated. March 20th, Mrs. R. R. Roraback dies at the age of ninety-four years. June Ist, the Davenport free public library is opened in Cook Memorial building at Sixth and Brady streets. June 28th, orders received by Major Blunt for the installation of a small arms plant at the arsenal. June 29th, the First National Bank celebrates its fortieth birthday. December 13th, St. John's Methodist Episcopal church, Brady and Fourteenth streets, is dedicated.

1904 .- January 19th, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd arrive from Buffalo, New York, and establish a home here. March Ist, the Security Savings Bank be- gins operations. March 13th, the Danish Lutheran church is organized. April Ist, Captain W. P. Hall, "the old man of the skiff," dies at Alton, Illinois. April 6th, the first contract for paving with asphalt is let by the city council. May 15th, the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes at Bettendorf is dedicated. August 27th, the new ferry boat Davenport went into commission to ply between Rock Island and Davenport. October 4th, the first session of the federal court opens. The con- tract for a new high school building is let for $198,358. November 20th, the I. & I. Interurban Company commences regular service between Davenport and Clinton.

1905 .- June 18th, the rapid rise of the river over the dam imprisons several thousand picnickers on Suburban island until taken off by boats. June 20th, the corner-stone of the new high school building, Main and Harrison, Eleventh and Twelfth streets, is laid. July 18th, the Davenport Commercial Club is incorporated. September 17th, Fejervary park is formally opened by a concert. October 19th, the B'nai Israel congregation, incorporated in 1868 and organized in 1861, is re- incorporated. October 22d, the Democrat publishes its Half Century Democrat, an illustrated paper giving the history of the county for the preceding fifty years. November 5th, 3,000 chrysanthemums are placed on view at Central park. No- vember 21st, St. Mary's Home, Eighth and Fillmore, is opened. November 24th, the American Can Company lays plans to increase its plant to a daily capacity of 1,440,000 cans. December 17th, the announcement is made that the mortgage of $7.200 on the Peoples' Mission building is canceled. December 28th, announce-

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ment is made that thirty cremations took place at the Davenport crematorium during the year 1905. December 31st, the Rummelpott Club closes twenty-five years of charitable work.

1906 .- January IIth, the Academy of Sciences pays off the last of its debt. January 30th, the Good Samaritan Society is organized, which provides free wards for the poor at the Mercy Hospital. April 4th, Odd Fellows dedicated Prosperity hall. April 21st, 800 children sing at the benevolent concert for kin- dergartens under the direction of Professor Otto. June 13th, the interests of the German Savings and the Citizens National Banks are merged. August 23d, a band concert at Fejervary park in honor of Miss Celestine Fejervary. October 14th, the German Savings Bank, after its merger with the Citizens National Bank, opens its doors for business. October 30th, the Citizens Trust & Savings Bank is incorporated. November 20th, Elks at Davenport organize a state association. December 22d, Bishop Cosgrove dies.

1907 .- January 15th, the Davenport Commercial Club house is dedicated by an elaborate banquet. January 22d, the Iola Cement Company of Davenport disposes of its interests to a trust for $5,000,000. February 13th, E. S. Crossett offers $50,000 for a new Young Men's Christian Association building. February 14th, Peter Willi, on his eightieth birthday, walks from Buffalo to Davenport. May 2d, the furnishings of the Kimball House are sold at auction and the hostelry closed for remodeling at a cost of $40,000. May IIth, the traveling men of Daven- port secure removal of the state headquarters of the Traveling Men's Protective Association to Davenport. May 19th, the Iowa branch of the American Folk Lore Society organized here. June 23d, the Arbeiter Sangerbund convention in Davenport voted to admit women to membership and to meet in Chicago in 1910. June 28th, the Young Men's Christian Association canvass for subscription reaches successful end with over $101,000. July 15th, Charles H. Davis celebrates the close of fifty years' service on the Rock Island road. July 23d, Jens Lorenzen sells crockery business established fifty years. July 29th, the Young Men's Chris- tian Association building site is purchased at Fourth and Harrison streets. July 30th, Aunt Lucy Williams, Scott county's oldest inhabitant, dies at the age of one hundred and twenty-three years. August 20th, Dan Patch paced a mile in 1 :581/2 seconds at mile track, giving the track a new record. August 25th, Barney Old- field gave the track its auto record of 1:00-1/5 seconds. September 8th, German veterans dedicated a monument in Washington Square. November 2d, Conrad Dietz and wife hold the distinction of having the largest family in Scott county ; their children number fifteen. November 4th, the magnificent new Hotel Daven- port is opened. December roth, the town of Bettendorf dedicates its new town hall. December 13th, the glucose plant's capacity being increased to grind 14,000 bushels of grain daily. December 15th, first dry Sunday in the history of Daven- port. December 30th, public reception of the new Home Savings Bank in West Davenport.

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History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I, Part 92

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

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