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 27
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750,000
Dubuque & Bellevue. 100,000
Southern Wisconsin
I 50,000
Total
$1,650,000
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
Up to that time there had been issued only $200,000 for the Dubuque & Pacific and $250,000 for the Dubuque Western. It was now proposed, owing to the hard times, to issue no more of the bonds and the question of further issues was laid over to a subsequent date in the City Council.
In March, 1857, the Council of Dubuque was petitioned to lend the Dubuque, St. Peters & St. Paul Railroad $500,000 more, making in all $750,000. The press at this time demanded that the railroad company should now "show its hand" before expecting this large addition to its subscriptions. It was demanded that the route of the road should be made known. "The city has dealt even magnanimously with the proposed road already, having given it, or is ready to give it, $250,000, and now its directors ask a half million more. The city is rich, to be sure; she has sold a large amount of real estate recently, and has a large amount more to sell, and she may be able to give a half million to the first applicant : but we submit whether she ought not to know how and where it is to be put."-(Express and Herald, March II, 1857.) As a matter of fact the company proposed to start from Dyersville instead of from Dubuque.
On and after May 16, 1859, regular trains were run on the Dubuque & Western Railway. They left Farley Junction every morning at 9:30. The trains ran as far as Sand Spring, where stages received passengers who were bound farther westward. The trains at Farley Junction connected with those on the Dubuque & Pacific.
Both the Galena & Chicago Union and the Illinois Central Rail- ways practiced extortion on the shippers at Dubuque, and the river freight and packet companies and concerns did even worse. It was shown in March, 1859, that a saving of about 30 cents per hundred could be gained by shipping via Milwaukee. "It is well known that freight from Chicago to Dunleith has been kept at much higher rates than at any other points on the Mississippi; the consequence is that Davenport, Fulton City and McGregor have had a great advantage over Dubuque."-(Express and Herald Cor., March 23, 1859. )
Over one hundred of the leading business men of Dubuque petitioned the Illinois Central Railroad early in April, 1862, to cancel the new order concerning freight carriage between Dubuque and Dunleith, and asked that they be allowed to deliver and re- ceive their own freight at Dunleith. The order objected to was as follows: "In future the rates from Dunleith to Chicago will be the same as from Dubuque: On grain, 23 cents per 100 pounds ; on flour. 45 cents per barrel; and all freight will be transferred from Dubuque by our regular transfer agent at above rates."
In 1867 the Illinois Central and the Dubuque & Sioux City rail- ways were united and a railway bridge at Dubuque was planned.
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At this date the Sioux City line had ninety-nine miles in opera- tion and the Southwestern forty-four miles. In 1868 great efforts to secure lines that would compete with the Illinois Central were made. In the summer the tunnel through the bluff at Dunleith was being cut and 300 men were at work on the railroad bridge. Right of way upon reasonable terms was given at all times to railway companies that made the right showing and meant busi- ness.
In March, 1870, Dubuque undertook the task of raising $200,- 000 private subscription for the Dubuque & Minnesota Railway, which promised a very much desired communication with the upper country ; by March 19 $150,100 had been subscribed. A passenger station was located at White and Fifth streets. Work on the above railway was pushed in 1871; Guttenburg was the first large town it reached above Dubuque. The first passenger car for that line arrived at Dubuque about September 13; also twenty-five new box cars. October 9, 1871, the first regular pas- senger train ran up this line. A large excursion from Dubuque ran to Lansing May 8, 1872; this was the opening to that city. In 1872 the machine shops at Eagle Point were built. In 1872 the Chicago, Clinton & Dubuque road was opened to Clinton; a big excursion celebrated the event. The pivot in the drawbridge broke i: 1874, but another was secured from Pittsburg in a hurry. The Dubuque, Cascade & Western road was talked of late in the seven- ties. The railway tariff law was repealed by the legislature in March, 1878. By November 4 cars ran through to Zwingle on the Cascade & Bellevue road. In 1880 the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company bought out the Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque & Minnesota line. In the eighties, on the question of retaining the Milwaukee shops by a donation of $35,000, the city voted-for retention, 1,704; against retention, 54. The Dubuque & North- western was planned in 1882-3. This road was assisted by $160 .- 000 or more on a 5 per cent tax; it was called Chicago, Burling- ton & Northern in 1884; this line connected the whole Burlington system with Dubuque. This line paid General Booth $55,000 for a depot site. etc., from the Third street bridge to the river front. In March, 1886, Dyersville voted a 5 per cent tax to aid this line. The Dubuque & Northwestern and the Minnesota & Northwestern consolidated late in 1886. Dubuque assisted the Chicago, Milwau- kee & St. Paul line with $60,000 in 1886.
The ordinance of October, 1870, granted the Dubuque & Minne- sota Railway Company the right of way through the city, and made careful provisions for all probable contingencies. The ordi- nance of February, 1871, gave the Dubuque, Bellevue & Mississippi Railway Company the same rights. The ordinance of March, 1881, granted the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Com- pany the same right. The ordinances of March, 1884, and June,
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
1885, gave the Dubuque & Northwestern Railway Company the same privileges. The ordinance of February, 1886, granted the Chicago, Burlington & Northern Railway Company right of way through the city. The latter was given additional rights by ordi- nance October, 1890. The ordinance of December, 1884, gave the Illinois Central Railroad Company similar rights and privi- leges; other ordinances extended its rights and subjected it to further duties and accommodations. Ordinances were passed in April, 1878, and January, 1883, granting C. H. Booth and H. L. Stout and Ingram, Kennedy & Day the right to lay railway tracks along certain streets.
In 1888 the Dubuque & Southwestern Railroad was projected to pass through Monmouth, Canton, Garryowen, Maquoketa to Dubuque. It was shown here that $150,000 could be raised for this road.
In 1887 the talked of removal of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul shops from Dubuque caused considerable excitement, a great deal of inquiry and many angry articles in the newspapers.
Late in 1895 the plan to connect Dubuque with the Chicago & North-Western Railroad was favorably and enthusiastically con- sidered here. A company was organized in Dubuque with that object in view-to connect this city with Toledo and therefore with the whole North-Western system. A large meeting, held in Dubuque in December, 1895, to consider the subject, passed resolu- tions advocating a tax levy under the law of 1892 to raise the neces- sary funds. A pledge of $20,000 was necessary at once; this was promptly given. It was shown that the whole amount needed, about $150,000, could be raised here at once by private subscription. A meeting held in February opposed any new railway tax. Already Dubuque had four great trunk lines-Illinois Central, Great West- ern, Burlington & Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. The effort for the new line was made mainly by those business men here who were boosting Dubuque's trade and commerce.
The Clinton, Dubuque & North-Western Railway was projected in 1900. Offers of help were freely made here. Dubuque wanted more railways and was willing to pay for them.
In 1904 the citizens here quickly subscribed $151,000 for the Dubuque, Iowa & Wisconsin Railway. This movement seems to have been abandoned because in 1906 the citizens subscribed in two weeks' time $125,000 for the same road. In 1907 the Illinois & Western Railway was allowed to use the streets and alleys for rail- way purposes.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
S OLDIERS who had served in the Revolution may have been among the first settlers of Dubuque county ; and it is certain that volunteers of the War of 1812 and of the Blackhawk con- flict located here.
In December, 1836, Peter H. Engle was given the rank of colonel by the Wisconsin territorial authorities and was appointed aid to the colonel of the militia. In 1837 Col. W. W. Chapman resigned his position as colonel of the Fourth Wisconsin regiment of militia. In the fall of 1837, Col. William S. Hamilton was commander of the First brigade of militia of the counties of Iowa, Dubuque, Des Moines and Crawford.
General order No. I by Gov. Robert Lucas, commander-in-chief of the militia of Iowa territory, divided the territory into three divisions. In the Third division the counties of Dubuque, Clay- ton, Fayette and attached territory were constituted the Second brigade, and to Dubuque county was assigned the First regiment of this brigade and division. Peter Hill and John King, of Du- buque, were appointed aides-de-camp to the commander-in-chief. Warner Lewis, of Dubuque, was appointed major-general in com- mand of the Third division, and Francis Gehon was appointed brigadier-general in command of the Second brigade. Gen. Fran- cis Gehon died in Dubuque, April 2, 1849. He was born in Ten- nessee in 1797 and grew up in Kentucky and Illinois. He engaged in merchandising at Helena, Arkansas, and Dodgeville, Wiscon- sin. He commanded a company during the Blackhawk war. In about 1833 he came to Dubuque county and in 1836 was ap- pointed United States marshal and was reappointed until 1841. In 1842 he. was elected to the Iowa territorial legislature. In 1846 he was tendered the command of a company of dragoons for the Mexican war, but was compelled to decline on account of ill health. He was able and honest ; he was a Baptist.
A small squad of men from this county served in the "Missouri War" of 1839; they went down the river and joined companies at Burlington or Keokuk. Timothy Mason and George Wilson, the latter being a brother of Judge Thomas S. Wilson, were edu- cated at West Point. Dubuque, Delaware and Buchanan counties were constituted the Fourth regiment of the territorial militia in January, 1838. Paul Cain was colonel of the Wisconsin militia Fourth regiment. He commanded captains to parade their com-
251
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
panics June 23, 1838. Accordingly Capt. William Allen called out the First company at Dubuque.
Capt. George O. Karrick died here in July, 1869. He was edu- cated at West Point and soon afterward became first mate on the steamer Mandan on the Mississippi river. He came to the Du- buque mining regions in 1836 and soon became owner of Jordan's ferry, becoming also mail contractor, hotel keeper, etc. In 1845 he became a clerk in the surveyor-general's office. He was con- nected with many of the industrial enterprises of early times. He was elected captain of the only company raised in Dubuque county for the Mexican war. His training at West Point fitted him for this position. R. O. Anderson was first lieutenant. They raised a company of sixty-five volunteers, drilled constantly for two months, and were then informed that their services were not needed, whereupon the company was disbanded. He thus ob- tained his title of captain. He was a classmate of Capt. Joshua Barney, government engineer to improve the Dubuque harbor in 1843-4.
In May. 1846, Dubuque was called upon by Governor Clarke, of Iowa, for a company for the Mexican war, and accordingly sixty-five volunteers were promptly raised by George O. Karrick, R. O. Anderson, John Parker, George McHenry and others. They drilled and fitted themselves for service, but were not called out by the authorities. Over a full regiment was raised in Iowa by June 25, 1846, as follows: Des Moines county, two companies ; Lee, two companies; Van Buren, two companies: Muscatine, one company ; Louisa, one company; Washington, one company ; Du- buque, one company ; Johnson, one company ; Linn, one company ; Jefferson, one company ; total, thirteen companies. This regiment, as such, was not called into the service. About June 25, 1846, a full company under Captain Wright left Galena for the front and in it were a few volunteers from Dubuque county. Iowa sent only one company to the Mexican war, numbering 113 men, rank and file; they reached the front May 25 and in less than one year were reduced by disease and death to thirty-six men. They were called the "Iowa Dragoons." Capt. James H. Morgan was their commander.
In 1847, Capt. John Parker enlisted a few recruits here for the war, and at the same time Capt. John R. Bennett, of Bloomington, also called for recruits here. Late in 1847 Thomas H. Benton, Jr., was captain of the Dubuque Guards. "It was a fine company, but too few in numbers. It was uniformed and met regularly at its armory to drill," said the Express. John O'Mara, of this county, served in the Mexican war as a member of the Texas Riflemen; he fought at Monterey and in the battles before the City of Mexico ; he died here of ill health in 1848. In 1848 strong efforts to secure bounty and extra pay for the Mexican war veterans
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
were made; David S. Wilson and others here kept blank papers and proved up claims and discharges.
The Dubuque City Guards were organized in July, 1851; but as yet they had no uniforms. They were finally fully uniformed and paraded in full dress for the first time March 17, 1854, under Capt. M. M. Hayden; it was said that they were all Irish except the captain; Governor Hempstead reviewed the company. They were called upon late in 1854 to check strolling and marauding Indian bands in the Northwest. General Shields had general com- mand of the company during this movement; when called upon there were only about twenty men in the company, but enough to make sixty were promptly raised. They quit business, drilled, hired teams, but were not required to leave the city, though they were at great expense. Later they presented claims for pay, which were scaled down by the legislature and finally allowed.
In 1856 the Union Guards were organized with Peter A. Lori- mier captain; the City Guards were in existence at this time; thus Dubuque had two companies which appeared at nearly all public functions out of doors. They participated in the celebration of the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1855, and were out in full strength ; the occasion ended with a supper at the Julien House. A small company, of which Judge Hempstead was captain, was organized in February, 1858. This company, reorganized, became the "Governor's Greys," named in honor of Governor Hempstead. They were presented with a beautiful flag in 1859 by the ladies of Dubuque, Miss Sallie Lewis making the presentation speech, and Capt. J. M. Robison replying; this flag was taken to the field in 1861 and led and inspired the company at the battle of Wilson's Creek. In November, 1858, the City Guards tendered their serv- ices to the state to assist in punishing the Indians guilty of the Spirit Lake massacre, but they were not needed.
In August, 1859, there were four military companies here : City Guards, Capt. M. M. Hayden ; Governor's Greys, Capt. J. M. Robinson; Washington Guards, Capt. H. H. Heath, and Jackson Guards, Capt. S. D. Brodtbeck ; the latter company had just been formed. Captain Brodtbeck had seen service in the Swedish army. The Washington Guards was first organized in May, 1859. In February, 1860, the Greys received from the state sixty rifled muskets and the necessary accoutrements. In March, 1860, Cap- tain Brodtbeck was appointed major of the Third battalion of lowa militia by Governor Kirkwood.
"The Governor's Greys were out on parade yesterday in their new white accoutrements. We will defy any city in the West to turn out a better looking military company or a 'whiter' lot of boys than our own G. G.'s. 'Tis true they are composed of the very pink of our finest young men, still there is not a tinge of the cod-
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
fish in the composition of one of them."-(Herald, April 10, 1860.)
R. G. Herron soon succeeded H. H. Heath as captain of the Washington Guards, and was re-elected in May, 1860. The Greys were reorganized in April, 1859; in July they numbered thirty- three. In August and September, 1860, the Dubuque light artil- lery company was organized; thirty-two citizens signed the call for the meeting that organized this company. In September, 1860, the officers of the Dubuque regiment of militia were as follows: J. F. Bates, colonel; F. B. Wilke, lieutenant-colonel; N. G. Will- iams, major ; George W. Waldron, adjutant. In October this was announced to be the only organized militia regiment in the state ; they began to meet regularly and drill in November. In October a company called the "Douglas Rangers" was organized, its captain being Newton Mills. Captain Gottschalk commanded the Jackson Guards in November. A company called the "Blues" was organ- ized at Dyersville at this date.
On January 11, 1861, the First regiment of Iowa militia, Colonel Bates commanding, fired 200 guns from the heights above the town with two pieces of artillery in honor of Major Anderson. The colonel with his entire staff was out, and the Washington Guards, Governor's Greys and Jackson Guards were represented by their officers. Each company planted its flag on the height. "The demonstration was received with lively satisfaction by all the citizens -- Democrats, Republicans and all classes, irrespective of political affiliations. Hurrah for Major Anderson! and hurrah for the First regiment of Iowa militia!"-(Herald, January 12, 1861.) There were here in January, 1861 : Washington Guards, Governor's Greys, Jackson Guards, Turner Rifles, Dubuque Light Horse and City Guards.
Of these the City Guards were nearly defunct ; the Light Horse were unequipped : the Turner Rifles were an independent organi- zation; so that there were really only three companies here that could be depended upon for military service. Neither of these turned out more than an average of about thirty men each-in all about ninety men, or one full company. "A certain number of our companies should be broken up, for the reason that they are weak and inefficient for all military ends and purposes. Their members attend drills when it suits their convenience-act as best sttits their convenience when they do attend, and disgrace them- selves and everybody else when on parade." --- (Herald, January 23, 1861.)
On January 14, 1861, the Governor's Greys passed a resolution tendering their services to the state or the government for the suppression of the rebellion; this was probably the first actual tender of men in the state.
The Herald, in issue after issue, having both intimated and
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
stated what the Republicans ought to do, was answered by the Times of January 21, 1861 : "We hope our Disunion neighbor of the Herald will not permit himself to suffer much mental torture in his solicitude for the Republicans of Iowa. On reflection it will occur to him that they have heretofore not only managed to get along rather comfortably without his fostering care, but in spite of his bitterest warfare. They are in condition to do the same thing for a good while to come. The Herald says there are tens of thousands of Republicans in Iowa who favor the adop- tion of the Crittenden proposition. Does that paper know what it is talking about?" The Herald replied at length, saying among ther things: "We hereby reiterate the belief that there are tens of thousands of Republicans in Iowa who would save this Union if the adoption of the Crittenden proposition would do it; we trust we do but simple justice to the patriotism of a portion of the Republican party. The Times knows we are not Disunionists. We favor a settlement of the difficulties between the North and South on terms fair and honorable to both."-(Herald, January 23, 1861.)
On February 26, 1861, twenty sets of sabers and Colt's pistols arrived here for Captain Dillon, of the Horse Guards. A great carnival of three days' duration was held here at the anniversary of Washington's birthday, 1861. The two companies, Greys and Guards, paraded in splendid style and the famous Germania band was present at all functions. The event closed with a grand ball at City Hall. "All the captains in Dubuque have received letters from Adjutant-General Bowen requiring them to report their con- dition."-(Herald, February 3, 1861.) In February, 1861, Capt. M. M. Hayden applied to Governor Kirkwood for a piece of ord- nance in exchange for the arms in its possession, but was answered that there was no authority to make such an exchange. Captain Hayden had previously sent a portion of his muskets to the Dyers- ville Blues.
The Herald took the position in January and February, 1861, that the South was acting under the Constitution and should not be coerced. It said: "It is to be hoped that there will be no conflict between Fort Sumter and the South Carolinians; for if a con- flict ensues and blood be shed and lives lost, it will not be in the power of the federal government to restrain the fanaticism of the North from indulging itself in the commission of such acts of hos- tility against the South as it has long sought for a pretext to justify it in doing. The South commits the greatest folly in giving its northern enemies a justification for the course which will un- doubtedly be taken by the North. should the South become the aggressor as apprehended."-(Herald, February 1, 1861.)
The Herald could see no hope for the Union in President Lin- coln's inaugural. "The President's inaugural address pronounces
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
the dissolution of the Union, and it will be heard ominously as its death knell," it said.
A call signed by about 100 citizens appeared about the middle of January, 1861, for a meeting of "all persons who are impressed with the imminent perils of dissolution now threatening the Union and are willing in a spirit of conciliation and compromise to agree to an adjustment of the questions which now unhappily distract the country, upon the basis of the Crittenden Compromise proposi- tions." The date of the meeting was set at 7 p. m. on January 18. This Union meeting assembled at the court house, and War- ner Lewis was called to the chair and William W. Mills made secretary. A committee of five was appointed to draft resolu- tions-T. M. Monroe, Dr. James C. Lay, Thomas Faherty, James H. Williams and J. H. Emerson. While they were consulting the secretary read the Crittenden resolutions and the meeting was addressed in a strong Union appeal by John D. Jennings. The resolutions declared that the people were unalterably attached to the Union; that there was no natural conflict between the two sections ; and that the Crittenden Compromise or some other prac- tical proposition based upon a like spirit of material concession should be adopted. After debate the resolutions were unani- mously adopted. Among the speakers were Thomas M. Monroe, Dr. T. O. Edwards, L. H. Langworthy, George McHenry, M. B. Mulkern and others. The meeting adjourned after appointing a committee to prepare a memorial and procure signatures and for- ward the same to Congress praying for the passage of the Crit- tenden resolutions or others of the same spirit.
"The agitation and exciting news of the last few days, contra- dictory as it is, is nevertheless evidence enough of the intention of the administration to carry out the principles of the 'irrepressi- ble conflict,' come of it what will. Civil war, of course, will be the result."-(Herald, April 9, 1861.) "War has probably been commenced between the North and the South, consequent upon the persistency of the administration to hold Fort Sumter and to carry into effect the doctrine of the 'irrepressible conflict.' We have but little heart today for comment. In a day or two at farthest we shall probably have the result of the conflict in Charles- ton harbor. We anticipate it will be a bloody one-destructive of life and property, and the beginning of a revolution which will end in the destruction of the government and of course of the Union." -- (Herald, April 10, 1861.) The Herald argued that while in the abstract the government had a right to reinforce Fort Sumter, other circumstances overshadowed such right and a dif- ferent course should be taken - remedial measures should be adopted.
"A parental government would have tried remedial measures first before resorting to the exercise of its vengeance; but the
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BIRDSEYE VIEW OF DUBUQUE
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