USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > History of Dubuque County, Iowa; being a general survey of Dubuque County history, including a history of the city of Dubuque and special account of districts throughout the county, from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 12
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
markets superseded this largely. Galena enterprise put a ferry across the river at Tete des Mortes and secured much of the trade of Jackson and southern Dubuque counties. Other points-Bellevue, Muscatine and Davenport-drew from the county west. It was then realized that Dubuque would have to improve its Indian trails and miners' paths."-(Express and Herald, October 24, 1855. )
Mahony and Dorr had business difficulties in the Express and Herald which were settled by the courts, Dorr remaining in pos- session. An immense coal yard, one of the first, was established here in October, 1855; coal was worth 30 cents a bushel and wood $5 a cord. In October, 1855, city scrip was worth only 75 cents on the dollar. Immense public works were under contract and the city needed at once $100,000. The Dubuque Library Association was organized late in 1855 with Platt Smith president; Austin Adams, vice president ; J. S. Blatchley, librarian. The object was to collect a library of general literature. In October, 1855, a special census showed 12,056 population in the city. Mandel Brothers (after- wards of Chicago) were prominent merchants in 1855. In a vote for the issuance of $100,000 in city bonds for general improvements the result was ninety-seven for the loan and forty-seven against it- a very light and unsatisfactory vote. The measure carried, being over two-thirds of all the votes polled. Protection Fire Company No. 2 was organized November 6 with thirty members under J. A. Parker, foreman. The Express and Herald under Dorr was less abusive, personal and libelous than it had been under Mahony. The city had over 12,000 inhabitants, but no efficient apparatus to fight fire. Two boxes sent from the land office here to New York and supposed to contain $25,000 in gold was found in New York to contain buck shot, pressed balls and sheet lead. The express com- pany offered $10,000 for the recovery of the money and $15,000 for the arrest and conviction of the thieves. On November 16. 1855, the suspended Dubuque Literary Institute was reorganized with John Hodgdon president ; a series of lectures was planned. On November 24 C. C. Flint began the publication of the daily and weekly Republican.
James L. Langworthy, Edward Langworthy, Lucius H. Lang- worthy and Solon M. Langworthy did a large banking business in Dubuque in 1855 under the name of "J. L. Langworthy & Brothers, Exchange Bankers." They offered to enter land for any one in the Dubuque, Decorah, Brownsville and Winona land offices on time. They received deposits and sold exchange on the East. They dealt in real estate.
"Many of us remember and some of us exult over the victory obtained by the people in their contest with the Miners' Bank of Dubuque, yet most of us meanly submit to be swindled by less responsible financiers than were the heads of the monster which the people have exultingly slain. Why was it that the Miners' Bank
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
was put down while the notes of other banks are circulated among us as money? There is no reason for making this distinction-for preferring the notes of the Bank of Galena, for example, to those of Major Mobley." The editor ended by appealing to the citizens "to get rid of the lying, swindling promises to pay that have driven from us the eagles, half eagles and sovereigns and we shall soon again be gratified with the sight of old friends who never break their promise. It is an injustice to our fellow citizens who have the peculiar talent for the business of financiering to place them under a ban, while strangers are given the preference."
"Dubuque Loan .- The city and county of Dubuque have nego- tiated a loan of $400,000 by Marie and Kanz, of New York, and F. S. Jesup & Co., of Dubuque. The loan was made to pay the subscriptions of the city and county to the Dubuque & Pacific rail- road. The coupons are payable in Berlin, Prussia, and the bonds bear 8 per cent interest. They are guaranteed by an equal amount of the stock of the road."-(E. & H., November, 1855.)
In 1855 the future prospects of Dubuque were bright and auspicious. Settlers were pouring by the thousands into Iowa, and in fact into the entire West. Chicago was growing with astonish- ing rapidity, as indeed were hundreds of other villages, towns and cities in the Mississippi valley. It was believed here that Dubuque was certain to become one of the greatest, if not the greatest, cities in the United States at no distant date-fifteen years, said the Express and Herald of November 27. It was noted that never before had the prospects of the city been so promising. "A person cannot take a minute's walk through this city now without having his attention engaged by evidences of progress and commercial prosperity, no matter in what direction he may turn his eyes. In anticipation of what Dubuque is destined to be every dollar that can be spared is invested in real estate." It was advised that all lead of this region should be manufactured here into lead products, and the same of wheat, which was not the case at that time. "Here in the midst of the lead region Dubuque ought not to send away a pig of lead except in the shape of white lead, shot, etc .; but instead of this being the case, this city exports the raw material to be manufactured elsewhere and brings back the same lead manufac- tured into shot, white lead, leaden pipe and other commodities. Not a bushel of wheat ought to be exported from this place, except as manufactured into flour; yet it is notorious that vast quantities of wheat find its way to the eastern and southern markets from this city." Many new business houses and buildings were promised for 1856. At this time five different railways had reached or practically reached the Mississippi river from the East, and it was firmly believed here that with proper effort Dubuque could be made the metropolis of the Mississippi valley. And the citizens prepared to
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
make such effort. In one day in November at Dubuque applications were filed for 200,000 acres.
"Yesterday Mr. Quigley, son of the receiver of public moneys at Dubuque, deposited with the sub-treasurer the sum of $300,000 received in payment for public lands. The money was conveyed on the Illinois Central and the Ohio & Mississippi railroads in the charge of five persons employed for the purpose." The express company was angry and made unwarranted exactions that caused sharp criticism.
"A larger number of good, substantial buildings have been erected in Dubuque this season than in any previous year."-(Express and Herald, November 30, 1855. ) Buildings by Doyle & Shine, Peaslee & House, Kniest & Lenssen, J. P. Farley and forty to fifty others of less note, among which was that of John D. Jennings, called "Com- mercial Row," containing a dozen or so of business occupants were erected. "The number of new firms is alone sufficient testi- mony of the rapid expansion of every branch of business. The ad- ditional number of houses does not at all diminish the business of those already established."-(Express and Herald, December I, 1855.)
In 1854 the exports were 11,736 tons and the imports 97,633 tons ; in 1855 the exports were 24,237 tons and the imports 276,690 tons. The value of each had nearly tripled. Men, women and chil- dren crossing the ferry in 1854 were 21,020; the number in 1855 was 38,400. The steamboat arrivals in 1855 were 846. In 1854 333 new buildings of all kinds were erected; in 1855 471 were erected, among which were one college, one church, twenty-seven stores, three hotels. At the close of 1855 the city had twelve churches, seven common or select schools, forty-one dry goods stores, thirty-two groceries, ten warehouses, twelve hotels, five breweries, ten drinking saloons, twenty-four land agencies, twenty- eight law offices, sixteen medical offices, forty-eight lawyers, thirty- one doctors and 2,600 dwellings. From April to January the city spent $23,565 on streets. The city assessment in 1854 was $4,323,530; tax, $32,006. In 1855 the tax was $50,006; licenses alone brought $18,000 .- (G. R. West's statistics.)
"City Improvements .- Strangers visiting this city are struck with surprise at the rapid growth and enterprise manifested here. In every part of the city is heard the carpenter's hammer and the voice and din of business. Dubuque certainly has a bright and glorious prospect for the future, and nothing will impede its prog- ress but the want of enterprise and public spirit."-(Express and Herald, December 6, 1855.)
In January, 1855, the Express and Herald installed an Adams book and news steam press of the largest size, weighing about six tons. Owing to ulterior reasons this press was not operated in 1855. In the meantime, in November, 1855, the Davenport Gasette
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
also established and put in operation a large steam press. Thus, though Dubuque was the first to install, it was second in putting in operation the first steam press in the state. G. W. Rogers built a shot tower here late in 1855. Graded common schools were estab- lished in 1855. The famous Hutchinson family of singers were here late in 1855-Judson, John and Asa.
On December 18, 1855, Washington Fire Company No. 1, with their new engine, "threw three streams at once over the flouring mill of Nadeau & Rodgers, nearly eighty feet in height-each pipe having 100 feet of hose. They then tried their engine on Main street and threw a stream about ten feet over the flag staff of the Julien House."-(Express and Herald, December 19, 1855.)
Lorimier Hall was not built by Peter Lorimier. It was erected by Coates & Wilde and christened in honor of P. A. Lorimier, one of the oldest citizens of Dubuque. The policy of having the city pay half the cost of paving the streets in vogue here was ridiculed and denounced here in December, 1855. It was demanded that the lot owners should pay the whole cost in proportion to their front- ages. Late in 1855 Odd Fellows Hall building was projected, to cost $40,000, and to be located at Eighth and Bluff streets.
The Northwestern Express Company (J. C. Burbank & Co. ) had been in existence here for many years. They dispatched pas- sengers and freight to St. Paul, etc. E. Hayden was local agent in December, 1855.
At a meeting of the board of trade December 22, 1855, it was decided that on January 10, 1856, the merchants and business men of Dubuque should commence to reject the issues of the Georgia, Tennessee and Nebraska banks. The best men of the city to the number of 120 signed the refusal .- (Express and Herald, December 24, 1855.) The banking house of W. J. Barney & Co. and F. S. Jesup & Co. refused to join the movement. They were criticised sharply by the press.
The postoffice in 1855 was only eighteen or nineteen feet wide and at the rush hours people had to wait in line to get their mail, so great had become the business of the office. This room had been occupied in the spring of 1855 and was on Sixth street on what was called the "public square." Numerous sites were discussed at this time-land owned by General Jones, L. Molony's lot, Jesup & Co.'s, the new concert hall in the proposed new city hall at Sixth and Locust streets, and elsewhere.
On December 3, 1855, the following prices prevailed in Dubuque : Timothy hay, $20 per ton; prairie hay, $15 to $18; wheat, $1 to $1.09 winter and 90 to 95 cents spring ; corn, 40 to 45 cents ; oats, 45 cents; barley, $1.12; pork, $4.50 to $5; beef, 7 to 9 cents ; mutton, 7 to 9 cents ; venison, 8 to 11 cents ; butter, 18 to 20 cents ; potatoes, 50 to 55 cents ; hides, green, 5 cents, dried, 11 cents ; flour, $8 per bbl. "Never before in the history of Dubuque have farmers
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
received at this season of the year 40 to 50 cents for corn and oats." -(Express and Herald, December 3, 1855.)
"The business in Dubuque seems scarcely to have diminished until the present week since the close of navigation, either in the busy market, the warehouses on the levee, at our wholesale and retail stores, or in the produce buying in the streets. The past season has been one of unexampled prosperity for our city." -- (Express and Herald, January 8, 1856.)
Several strong organizations for poor relief were in operation in January, 1856. On January 9 it was 26 degrees below zero here. From July 4, 1855, to January 1, 1856, 5,200 persons registered at the Peaslee House; others showed iminense registries. F. D. Henning & Co., of Pittsburg, opened a banking house in January, 1856: other bankers were Mobley, Dubuque Savings, F. S. Jesup & Co., W. J. Barney & Co., Dexter & Ripley, the Langworthys and others.
The old calaboose was removed in 1856 and the lot on which it stood was leased for building purposes. It was dark. low and damp and the terror of topers who were put there to "cool off." In February, 1856, the cellar and first floor of the store occupied by Coates & Wilde were leased for $1,600 per annum. This was about the highest rent thus far charged. In February, 1856, there came here in one wagon load thirty-two deer, brought from Bremer county by a Mr. Fogle.
On February 4. 1856, the firemen held a grand parade and ball, on which occasion Washington No. I and Protection No. 2. both new engines, were exhibited and greatly admired by the citizens. The engines were decorated with banners and festoons of artificial flowers.
J. P. Farley and others petitioned to have the old cemetery con- verted into a public park. New market grounds were secured in January. 1856, at Iowa and Clay streets-the present city hall now stands on these lots. On January 15 a water works ordinance passed the council. In March the islands were ordered surveyed and platted. In April, 1856, the Harbor Improvement Company asked permission to extend Fifth street to the river. Many ware- houses were going up along the levee and along Seventh and Jones streets. In February, 1856, a $1,000 share in the Harbor Improve- ment Company was sold to a Pittsburg gentleman for $2,000. Over a dozen new wholesale houses were established here during the last half of 1855. In 1856 judgment for $1,000 was obtained against Abel Hawley, at Milwaukee. Eighth street extended was the northern boundary of the Harbor Improvement Company's tract. Fire limits were established in February, 1856. Main street was continued south to Jones street. The $100,000 for city improve- ments was obtained from W. W. Corcoran, the famous philan- thropist of Washington, D. C. In March, 1856, the Dubuque
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
Library Association had sixty members and 200 volumes; the mem- bership fee was $5. On March 13 all persons having friends buried in the old cemetery were requested to remove them to the new cemetery. J. Bittman was connected with the Staats Zeitung in 1856.
"Never before in the history of Dubuque did the preparations for building commence so early in the season as appears to be the case now. No city of the Mississippi valley should be allowed to surpass her in the beauty, style, commodiousness and convenience of her buildings."-(Express and Herald, March 6, 1856.)
It was in 1856 and 1857 that Dubuque dealers awoke to the importance of the wholesale business here. Jobbers here for almost the first time agreed to duplicate St. Louis or Chicago bills.
Herron Brothers, of Pittsburg, opened a banking house here in March, 1856-on Main, between Third and Fourth. The Varieties theater in Lorimier hall presented Othello, Damon and Pythias, Black Eyed Susan, Ingomar, Virginius, School for Scandal, Romeo and Juliet, Iron Chest, Richard III., The Wife, Lucretia Borgia, Rob Roy, Irish Lion and Uncle Tom's Cabin early in 1856. Among the performers were W. S. Forrest, manager ; H. Van Liew, lessee ; H. Gossen, G. W. Johnson, Mrs. Powell, Miss Laura Bentley and Miss Azlene Allen. Theatres exhibited also at Globe hall. Mr. Bell packed about 700 hogs in 1855-6. At this time (spring of 1856) the following companies were conspicuous here: Harbor Improve- ment, Harbor, Dubuque & Pacific railway, Dubuque & Western railway, Dubuque & Minnesota Packet, Minnesota Packet, Water Works, Dry Dock, Tunnel. A fire alarm bell was demanded at this time. It was noted that in April, 1856, there were forty-one wholesalers here. From first to last such houses have constituted the backbone of Dubuque's business and prosperity. In the spring of 1856 the first three vessels upward bound brought 1,000 pas- sengers. The upper country was growing enormously and there- fore the great success of wholesaling here. Along Main street cisterns holding 1,000 barrels each were built for fire protection. A private house was converted into a calaboose in April, 1856. J. C. Jennings was resident government agent in charge of harbor improvement in 1856. It was necessary to open a smallpox hos- pital in April. Temporary fire engine houses were erected on the public square. On May 11, 1856, for the first time in Iowa, a newspaper was printed, dated and issued on Sunday. North's great circus was here in 1856; Colonel Wood's museum also; Professor Fowler, phrenologist, also; Ole Bull, violinist, and Adelina Patti, prima donna, also. The latter sang at the Congrega- tional church to an immense audience.
"Pure Water .- One of the things to which we wish to call the attention of the city fathers is the fact that most of the water which is supplied by the water carriers of Dubuque to their customers is
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
obtained along the inner levee and at other most improper places."- (Express and Herald, May 31, 1856. )
In 1854 a water company was chartered by the legislature, but nothing further occurred at that time. The gas pipe on Main street was re-laid in 1856. A big public schoolhouse in the Third ward, with a capacity for 600 children, was ready in September, 1856.
The shot tower of George W. Rogers & Co. stood on an extension of Seventh street. The cost of the tower by November, 1856, was $7,000; total cost would be about $10,000. The total height was about 150 feet-IIO feet of stone and 42 of brick. The measurement at the base was 18 feet 10 inches-walls three feet thick at base and twenty inches at top of the stone work. There were nine stories in the tower. When completed its daily capacity was from six to eight tons of shot.
Among the Masons of Dubuque in September, 1856, were the following: Dubuque Council of Royal 'and Select Masters : Charles T. Gilliam, R. Spaulding, A. D. Anderson, C. H. Booth, A. Levi, G. W. Cummins, M. Hooper. Dubuque Royal Arch Chapter : A. Biles, J. T. Everett, H. Rouse, J. H. Lull, B. R. Watson, W. P. Allen, C. H. Booth, W. W. Woolsey, A. D. Anderson, A. H. Dillon, A. Harr and Wm. Hooper. Charles Gilliam was W. M. of Dubuque Lodge, No. 3, and T. S. Nairn was W. M. of Metropolitan Lodge, No. 9.
In the fall of 1856 gas lighting was extended to the leading side streets. The bluffs back of the city began to be covered with resi- dences. Crowds of strangers thronged the city in the fall of 1856. The first two public cisterns were built at First and Second streets in September, 1856. Taylor Richards and Burden were bankers at Fifth and Main. The city was filled with law-breakers and robbers at this date. So bad was the money situation here late in 1856 that mass meetings of business men endeavored to devise means to improve the sitttation. In one meeting the merchants agreed to take at par the post notes issued by the Dubuque Harbor Company and expressed confidence in the post notes of the Dubuque & Western railway. At another meeting attended by Burt, Lewis, Wilson, Mills, Waples, Dorr, Stimson, Hackley and Bancroft reso- lutions of confidence in these post notes were voted down 116 to 103. This meeting demanded that the members of the companies should file a paper legally binding themselves as individuals to redeem the notes.
In October, 1856, the Express and Herald people installed their steam press and connected with it was a book-bindery.
The New England Society was a strong organization in 1856. The Sons of New York was another. The Northwest, a newspaper, was issued here in 1856 by H. D. LaCassitt.
J. F. Jesup, at his death in 1856, made the following bequest among others: "All the residue of my estate I give in trust to
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Morris R. Jesup, Platt Smith and Louis Boisot, to be used by them for the benefit of the poor of the city of Dubuque."-(Express and Herald, November 12, 1856.) Immense quantities of slaughtered hogs were marketed here in November, 1856. The Northwestern Stage Company put on extra coaches for the trip to St. Paul from Dubuque during the winter of 1856-7.
Late in 1856 Dubuque was infested with gangs of thieves, which fact caused the city authorities to double their efforts to catch and punish them. Morehiser was captain of police at this time. In 1856 (December) Judge Corkery was postmaster with office on Eighthi street in the Odd Fellows building.
The Express and Herald of February 4, 1857, said: "Twelve years ago (1844) Dubuque was what we may call a small village, remarkable for nothing more than its being in the lead mining region. It had then, if our recollection be correct, about 700 inhab- itants all told. There was not a single street of what is now the city of Dubuque graded. There were but two brick houses, most of the rest of the buildings being frame shanties. A few stores were suf- ficient to supply Dubuque and all the country for six miles around in Iowa with all the commodities of household, mechanical and agricul- tural use. Main street lots that would now sell for $400 a front foot could be purchased then for from $100 to $200 for a 64-foot lot. Lands in the vicinity of the city that now sell for $1,000 an acre, could then be taken up as claims and bought from the govern- ment at $1.25 per acre. The hotels then were the Jefferson, the Washington and the Western, three frame buildings, not a vestige of which remains we believe to awaken in the minds of the old settlers reminiscences of the early days of Dubuque. General Har- rison and Tim Fanning were then the principal caterers. Look at Dubuque now and judge whether she does not give warrant for future greatness which we anticipate she will ere long attain."
"A Cold Snap .- Sunday was the coldest day of the season. Before sunrise the thermometer marked 37 degrees below zero, at 8 o'clock 28 degrees below, and at noon 10 degrees below." --- (Erpress and Herald, January 21, 1857. )
"It is almost incredible to what a degree real estate has appre- ciated in this city within a twelve-month past. Take the Miller farm near town. A year or two ago it sold for $130 an acre. Now it is rated at $1,000 an acre. A short time ago Mr. Sanford bought two lots corner of Seventh and Iowa streets for $30,000. The same lots were offered a year ago for $6,000 and could not find a pur- chaser at that price. It is within bounds to say that all the real estate within the city limits of Dubuque has doubled in value within a year. Some portions, we admit, have not risen at all apparently, while in other localities they have appreciated a thousand per cent." -(Express and Herald, January 28, 1857.)
"We own to having become considerably indignant at the course
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
pursued by our city banks in relation to paper money. They bring bank notes here for circulation by the hundred thousand and after paying them out to the community for good money, they refuse to take them back the next day unless perhaps at a discount."- (Express and Herald, January 28, 1857.)
The Central Improvement Company was organized January 23, 1857, with a capital of $2,100,000. It became the owner of two islands with an aggregate of twenty-eight acres and with enough shallows to make a total of sixty acres when filled in. Its boun- daries extended from the line of the Harbor Company on the south to the line of the Harbor Improvement Company on the north. Its design was to make a levee the whole extent, to fill all the interven- ing lands and sloughs and to run First, Second. Third and Fourth streets to the Mississippi. The corporators were Jesse P. Farley, Franklin V. Goodrich, Austin J. Goss, Robert C. Waples, Chris- topher Pelan, Robert M. Walmsley, Alexander Anderson and Fred- erick E. Bissell. The company began swift operations.
Early in January, 1857, the bankers of Dubuque gave public notice that they would not guarantee the currency paid out by them beyond the day in which it should be paid out. In this extremity the press cautioned people to insist on specie in all their money transactions.
In January, 1857. the Central Improvement Company was organ- ized; they secured a large tract in front of the city between the grants to the Harbor and the Harbor Improvement companies. In February, 1857, Redman & Keim, bankers, succeeded T. S. Jesup & Co. and became associated with W. Y. Lovell under the name of Redman, Lovell & Co. In February Gen. John Hodgdon assumed editorial charge of the Northwest during the temporary absence of M. B. Mulkern, editor. In April Mulkern retired from the paper. The new constitution of Iowa was published in full here in March, 1857. The establishment of the Republican here in 1857, by A. P. Wood in June, 1857. gave the city its fourth daily. Thomas F. Meagher, Irish patriot and orator, lectured here in June on "Royalty and Republicanism"; he had been banished to Van Dieman's Land, but escaped and came to America ; he lectured also on "Life and Times of Daniel O'Connell," at the Julien theater. The firemen paraded in June-Washington, No. I, had fifty-four men in line ; Protection, No. 2, thirty-four men: Mechanic, No. 3, forty men ; they gave an exhibition of water throwing. The new Lorimier House at Bluff and Eighth streets was erected in 1857 at a total cost of about $90,000.
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