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 45
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The amount of land in the Dubuque Land District yet unsold, having been reduced below 100,000 acres, the land office was re- moved from Dubuque to Des Moines in June, 1859.
A large meeting of the farmers and others, friends of agricul- ture, was held in Dubuque February 23, 1860, for the purpose of forming an agricultural society. The meeting was called to order by W. W. Hamilton and a discussion as to whether the old society should be reorganized or a new one formed was held. It was finally resolved to form a new association. A committee was ap- pointed to draft a constitution and by-laws. Remarks were made by Hamilton, Heath, Chamberlain, Lovell and others. The consti- tution proposed was adopted. The following officers were elected : John King, president; Mark Miller, secretary; W. C. Chamber- lain, treasurer. Every township in the county was represented on the directory.
The county fair at Tivoli Gardens, Dubuque, was a creditable ex- hibit. Great efforts for its success were made, the leaders in the movement being Doolittle, Chamberlain, Van Pelt, Heyer, Mattox, Lucius Langworthy, Mark Miller, Judge King, Solon Langworthy
410
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
and others. It opened September 18; many sheds, pens, etc., were erected.
In 1861, the fair was likewise creditable and a success; the re- ceipts were $1.922.96 and the disbursements $1,962.96. The so- ciety had $602.66 in resources and $150.90 in liabilities.
There were about 1,000 entries from all parts of the county. Omnibuses ran from down town to the grounds. All branches of production were represented. High grade cattle and horses were shown. The grape display was specially fine. Already this county was famed for its grapes and its grape wine. In all features the fair was a credit to the county. The attendance was large. So well pleased were the farmers and fruit growers of the county with the fair that they immediately organized a Farmers' club to meet once a month or oftener. The call for this club was signed by about fifty of the best citizens of the county-townsmen and countrymen. This county was well represented at the state fair, held this fall at Iowa City.
The organization of the County Farmers' club was completed October 6, 1860, and the following officers were elected: H. S. Hetherington, president ; J. C. E. Heyer, recording secretary ; C. C. Gilman, treasurer. Among the questions discussed were, "Can apples be raised successfully in Iowa?" "Is Hungarian grass worthy of cultivation ?"
In 1864 the plan to secure the state fair for two years was adopted, succeeded, and as a result the Society leased 1234 acres for five years, from January 1, 1864, at $50 per annum, for the first three years and $100 per annum for the last two years. The yard was enclosed with a good fence ; had 194 covered stalls; thirty- five roofed hog pens, twenty-eight sheep pens, one fine art hall, 120x30 feet, two buildings 100x24 feet, one ladies' salon, 40x20 feet, and other buildings. The trotting track was one-third of a mile. The only indebtedness was $226 to H. L. Stout for lumber.
The fair of 1860 was an experiment and was a success, but that of 1861 was still vastly better in all particulars. It was almost equal to several state fairs. It was shown that over fifty varieties of apples could be grown in this county. Plums, pears and grapes, especially the latter, were very successful here. The trial of horses to show their style and action was a feature. The receipts of the three days were about $1,400, exceeding by over $400 the fair of 1860. The expenses were about $800. The surplus, with $200 from the state, was to be used toward subsequent fairs.
In 1860, the Little Maquoketa was bridged at Burton's furnace; this had long been needed. The grand jury reported against the management of the poorhouse in February, 1860. On January I, 1860, it was shown that the delinquent tax for 1857 and 1858 amounted to $93,533.63 ; this shows how crushing were the times. It was estimated that farm lands throughout the county would not
4II
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
sell for more than $10 an acre on the average. A farmer came to Dubuque in September, 1860, with a wagon load of Pinkeye po- tatoes from a distance of twenty miles and received $3.50 for his load and his journey of forty miles. It was estimated that in 1860 10,000 gallons of wild grape wine were made in Dubuque county. The population (official) of the county in 1860, was 31,348.
The statute of 1860 provided for the election of a board of super- visors to take the place of the county court in handling county af- fairs. The board of supervisors consisted of nineteen members, as follows: Dubuque, J. H. Thedinga, J. H. Stewart and Arthur Mc- Cann; New Wine, John Christoph; Washington, C. Denlinger ; Prairie Creek, Dennis O'Brien; Whitewater, J. B. Kittler; Cas- cade, E. Macomber ; Table Mound, Dennis Donovan; Vernon, Levi Sparks ; Taylor, H. Young; Dodge, Arthur Cox; Center, Wesley Kyle; Iowa, Lawrence Duggan; Peru, F. M. Knoll ; Jefferson, Louis Miller ; Concord, J. H. Floyd: Liberty, Peter Nichols; Mosalem, Thomas McCallom. J. H. Thedinga was chosen chairman of the board. On January 7, 1861, the new board met in Dubuque for the first time. An important measure before the county board was the construction of a new bridge across the river near Hempstead on the military road. A committee reported the poor farm in good condi- tion, but had not enough land to give the inmates sufficient work. The old county poor farm had been sold for $6,000 to James Burt, the highest bidder-$3,000 cash and $3,000 mortgages, which had been foreclosed at $3,226, but execution was not yet issued. This land of the present poor farm was bought September 26, 1860, for $6,791. The cost of building and improvements was $14,777; other expenses were $1,576. During 1860 there were maintained in the poorhouse forty-nine paupers. The amount expended for the maintenance of the poor farm for the calendar year, 1860, was $5,175.97. An addition to the court house had cost $13,272.16. The number of persons maintained in the county jail during 1860 was 151 ; expense of keeping them, $1,682.10.
The farmers' club held regular sessions during the winter of 1860-61 ; grape culture, threshing. Hungarian grass, fruit trees, preparation of orchards, were several of the many subjects consid- ered. Godfrey Blocklinger lectured on grape culture. Judge King and the Langworthys took much interest in the society. In Febru- ary, 1861, Richard Bonson became president of the County Agri- cultural society. Immense quantities of barley were marketed here in 1860-I. The Farmers' club held a horticultural exhibit in the city hall in October, 1861 ; it was a splendid success. William
Langworthy exhibited 180 varieties of apples. Another exhibited eighteen varieties of pears, and C. H. Booth, thirty-three varieties of vegetables. Judge King showed seven varieties of grapes. It was stated at this time that Mathias Lux, in 1859, had raised 6,000 pounds of tobacco on an acre and a half of ground near Dubuque.
412
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
War time prices began to stimulate all business by 1862. The Hes- sian fly appeared in this county this year.
In 1862, the county assessment was down to $5,943,890. The county began to pay bounty to the soldiers in 1862-$10,200, and gave the state fair $300. Bridges cost $7,219.85. Bridges at Thompson's Mill, English Mill, Whitewater, Flaherty, Maquoketa at Colesburg, over Catfish on O'Brien's road, etc., were built or commenced.
The fairs of the early sixties were events of great importance to the county. In 1861, the County Agricultural Society leased a few acres for annual fairs and tendered the grounds to the state so- ciety, which accepted the offer. There were six acres, with many excellent buildings, forty pens for sheep and hogs, seventy-five stalls for horses and cattle, floral building, mechanical building, art build- ing, etc. The county gave $300 and the citizens raised a large sum to fit the grounds-$1,800 about. On the first day Hon. G. G. Wright addressed the crowd. The fastest horses of the country were here. There were over 1,000 entries. There were many splendid features and the fair was one of the most successful ever held by the state society.
In January, 1863, the county at one time was assisting about 200 families-a portion those of soldiers. At this time there were large amounts of delinquent taxes from 1857 to 1861, inclusive, and strenuous efforts to collect as much of them as possible were made. The interest alone collected was no insignificant sum. During the year 1863 the county assisted 243 families, of which 113 were those of soldiers. The whole amount of county warrants outstanding in August, 1863, was $10,000 ; they were taken at par for taxes. This year county bonds to the amount of $28,000 were paid to Sampson, Winslow and Clark, Dodge & Co. The special income tax in 1863 amounted to $23,717.33. The Farmers' Club was active and useful.
The state fair was held here again in 1863. A fine new building for displays was erected; it was 120x30x20 feet. Judge Wright was the orator at the opening; $4,000 was paid in premiums; it was not so great a success as in 1862.
In 1864, Timothy Davis was president of the Farmers' Club. Many of the best citizens of Dubuque city were members. In March, 1864, the railway bond question was discussed. Three mem- bers of the county board-Rugamer, Crawford and Stewart-and two outsiders-D. A. Mahony and W. G. Stewart-were appointed to settle with the Gelpcke Company, who held the bonds. The Gelpcke Company delivered to the county its $200,000 in bonds, $48,000 in coupons and interest on the coupons for 2,450 shares in the Dubuque & Sioux City Railway, and for $65,000 in five equal installments. The county and city of Dubuque paid a large internal revenue on liquors and tobacco in 1864-$150,000, estimated. On
413
. HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
August 7, 1864, chinch bugs flew in swarms over Dubuque city and county.
The county fair in 1864 was excellent-almost as fine as the state fair. Over thirty fast horses were present. There were many con- tests-baseball, equestrianism, plowing, etc. Many county roads and bridges were built in 1864-5. The census of 1865 gave the county a population of 33,078. The Farmers' Club met regularly during the cold months. The county fair of 1865 was a success, though not a great one. Paper from the Cascade Mills was exhib- ited. In October, 1865, county warrants were worth 90 cents and county bonds 65 cents on the dollar.
The total county indebtedness January 1, 1861, was $279,072.17. Of this sum $200,000 was for railroad bonds. In 1865-66 the county spent on poorhouse $6,621,20 ; poor relief, $2,551.87 ; super- intendent of poor, $616; volunteer relief, $13,621.09. The jail cost $1,679.45. The total county indebtedness January 1, 1866, was $238,065.16. The county paid in bounty to volunteers, in 1862, $11,000, and paid in bounty in 1864. $127,850.
A trial of reapers and mowers was held on the farm of George Brown, Vernon township, in June, 1866. The Excelsior, Manny, Eagle, Kirby, Dodge's, Ball's, Yankee, Buckeye and McCormick machines were shown. From June 30, 1865, to June 30, 1866, Deputy Collector Eighiney collected $1,200,000 for internal revenue in this district. The county fair of 1866 was good. The county assessment in 1866 was $9,242,756; the total tax was $213,982.63; of this sum $71, 140.30 was for school purposes. In 1865, $18,- 573.61 was spent on bridges; in 1866 less than one-third of that sum was spent. The county before this date had sent its insane patients to the state asylum ; as fast as they were announced cured, they were returned to this county. From September 1, 1851, to May 31, 1867, there were issued in county warrants $656,250.04, of which $634.327.40 had been paid, leaving outstanding $21.422.64. The highest issue in one year was $71,836.67, in 1865. The paid warrants that had accumulated for twenty-seven years were burned in 1867.
The board was petitioned in 1867 to create the city of Dubuque as Julien township and all outside the old Julien as Dubuque town- ship. The school census of 1868 gave Dubuque county 38,860 people. In February, 1867, many bridges were damaged by a severe storm. In 1868 the county board was increased to twenty-one mem- bers, instead of nineteen, as before, owing to the creation of Du- buque township. The law of 1868 permitted counties to compound and rebond their debts. A new poorhouse, two and one-half miles north, became county property in 1868; the house was four stories, 36x70, and built of stone ; there were thirty-seven inmates, of whom twelve were insane. The Farmers' Club was still active and suc-
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
cessful. The county assessment in 1869 was $9, 115,656. An attempt to put the city hospital on the poorhouse grounds was defeated in 1869. The county fair of 1868 was small.
The proposition of building a new court house was broached in 1869; the existing one was spoken of as an "old, inconvenient, ill- shaped affair." The back part had been built in the thirties, at Clay, Seventh and the alley. In 1856 the front part was built. under Governor Hempstead, county judge. In 1853 the jail and sheriff's house were built on the Eighth street side of the court house lot. Now, in 1869, the county had no debt of consequence, and therefore should have a court house and jail in keeping with the improved order of things, it was argued.
The population of the county by the government census of 1870 was 38,969. In 1870 the county board allowed $2,725 on the con- struction of two bridges within the corporate limits of the city of Dubuque; the obligation of the city to do this had been in dispute for many years. In 1870 the board sent to the state insane asylum fifteen patients ; the newspapers said that "over-excited religious fervor" was the cause of most of the cases. By January, 1870, the county owed vet of the Gelpcke bonds only $5,275.25, but it yet owed of the county bonds $107,000. The total assessment this year was $9.880,165, and the county tax $73,274.72; the bridge tax was $29,640.97 ; total county tax, $224,921.61. The old red brick court house on Seventh street was still an interesting landmark, but wholly unequal to the demands of a progressive and prosperous county like Dubuque. A new building was talked of. In the old house- second story-were the court, jury and supervisors' rooms; in the first story were the offices of sheriff, treasurer, recorder and col- lector. Bridge building at this time was extensive and costly.
The poor tax in 1871 was $28,831.38. County expenses in 1869 were $71,708.56; in 1870, $68,022.50; in 1871, $59,418.59. In February, 1871, county bridge warrants were worth 90 to 95 cents; county bonds. 82 to 84 cents; county warrants, 94 to 98 cents; in May, 1871, county warrants were at par. At this time there was no county debt, except about $102,000 old county debt and about $16,000 outstanding warrants. The day (May 19) that county warrants were at par, the treasurer expected a run, and was pre- pared, but none came ; only $96 was paid that day. The old Kar- rick diggings were tapped this year to secure pure water for Du- buque. From January 1, 1871, to February 15, 1872, old county bounty bonds to the amount of $100,447.77 were refunded in new twenty-five-year 6 per cent bonds. The relatives of Thomas S. Hinds, in 1872, sued the county for $25,000 for the drowning of him, his wife and his boy in May. N. W. Boyes became county superintendent, vice Mr. Norman, killed.
The county assessment in 1857 was $18,844,190; in 1859 it was.
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
$6,694,786; in 1862 it was $5,967,815, the lowest; in 1867 it was $10,415,960: then dropped and in 1873 was $9,972,104. The county tax in 1857 was $136,415; in 1859 it was $66,212; in 1867, $242,864; in 1873, $230,503. In 1873 county warrants and bridge warrants were at par and county bonds were 97 to 98 cents. In 1873 three commissioners took the place of the old board of com- missioners : L. Duggan, T. Crawford and W. Coates. The law of 1874 required assessors to assess at the real cash value ; the assess- ment was now about $18,000,000. The Upper Iowa or Northwest- ern Fair was held here in 1874-up the Couler. Track, buildings and grounds were put in excellent condition. D. N. Cooley was president ; on the third day over 15,000 people were present; the total receipts were over $20,000; it was a splendid success-just what could be done here when the good people tried.
In 1875 the population of the county was 43,845 by the state cen- sus. The fair was again held here and was another exceptional suc- cess. President A. S. Welch, of the State Agricultural College, was the speaker at the opening. The races drew immense crowds: Mr. Cooley was still president. The Brothers from Melleray exhibited high grade Shorthorn cattle; the art hall was beautiful and attract- ive in the extreme: the booths, amphitheater and power hall were features. In November, 1875, the poorhouse was destroyed by fire. At the time the cold was intense, and no water available. Through the efforts of Henry Patterson, no lives were lost and much of the furniture was saved. The inmates ( fifty-one) were cared for tem- porarily elsewhere near.
A new court house was talked of in January, 1876. In March the county board bought of W. H. McNear the farm known as the old Farley place, at Julien station, for a poorfarm; the 200 acres cost $10,000. Temporary buildings were occupied until a new building could be erected. The new building was planned to be three stories and basement and in size 35x69 feet; material, stone and brick: cost. about $10.500. Congress passed an act in 1876 giving the county the right to use Washington Square for a court house site. On April 1, 1876, the county was free of debt. This year the county board were: William Coates, Mark Sullivan and Jacob Kessler. Godfrey Blocklinger died this year; he came from Switzerland, about 1844-45, and was a prominent and useful citi- zen; he was for many years an active member of the Farmers' Club. In 1877 Dennis A. Mahony became county commissioner. There was much objection to the large amount of poor relief sup- plied by the county. The fair or exposition in 1877 was on a grand scale and a fine success; the total receipts were nearly $28,000 ; 15,000 people were present the best day. The expenses about cov- ered the receipts ; large prizes and premiums were paid ; the appro- priation for it was $500. A petition of the citizens for a new court
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
house was presented in 1878. The total county expense in 1878 was $95,204. 10; the total county tax was $240,535.80. In 1879 the Taxpayers' League was formed. In January, 1879. there were eighty-four inmates at the poorhouse; two were ninety-four years old and two others were ninety-two.
In the assessment case of the county against the bridge company, the county lost. The county assessment in 1880 was $10. 144.435, and the total tax $236, 161.25. The fair in the fall of 1879 was well attended and successful; it was the sixth straight success; the receipts were $19,084.38, less $77.59 on hand at the beginning. In 1881 there was paid in bounty on wild animals $957. There were sixty inmates at the poorhouse January 1, 1881 ; poor expense was over $30,000. In 1882 a county loan of $65,000 was taken by the German Bank at 102 per cent. In 1882 the bounty on wild animals was $1,134, and bridges cost $23,859.25. The total tax in 1884 was $264,174.66. The county school population in 1884 was 11. 152, the largest in the state. The total assessment in 1886 was $9,536,- 934. T. W. Johnson was steward of the poorfarm. The county assessment in 1873 was $9,142,625; in 1887 it was $9,353.589. Many argued that the present assessment was too low ; the Knights of Labor declared that rich tax dodgers were too numerous. The total county warrants issued in 1887 was $107,394.53. In 1888 the proposition of the county to the city of Dubuque for the latter to use the county prisoners on the streets was accepted; the county board said that prisoners had been so well treated that they did not want to be released, and when released committed offenses in order to get back again. In 1888 the county debt was $115,000, and in 1889 it was $90,000; $65,000 was bonded. In 1889 the county tax rate was 30 mills on the dollar and about one-half of it was for schools; the assessment was between 30 and 40 per cent of the real value. In 1889 $90,000 in county bonds sold for $90,800, to a Cleveland company ; they were for ten years. In 1889 the insane cost $11,953.80; there was too much insanity, alarmingly said the newspapers.
It was decided early in 1890 to build the proposed new court house on the present site and not on Washington Square, as had for years been suggested by not a few citizens. This spring ( 1890) the citizens of Dubuque, who on the question of erecting a new court house had been denied that privilege and opportunity so long, deter- mined to effect that result if it could possibly be accomplished. They knew that nearly or quite all the county outside of the city of Du- buque would oppose them, and accordingly began a stirring cam- paign, almost a crusade, to carry the question at the polls, where it was finally submitted. The election was held June 3. and resulted as follows :
417
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
PRECINCTS
For Bonds.
Against Bonds.
Cascade
3
222
Center
28
41
Concord
49
79
Dodge
7
162
Dubuque
44
17
Dyersville
42
184
Iowa
4
IOI
Jefferson
19
54
Julien, First
256
IOI
Julien, Second
499
II
Julien, Third
638
35
Julien, Fourth
574
26
Julien, Fifth (East) .
215
4I
Julien, Fifth (West)
357
39
Liberty
20
105
Mosalem
16
13
New Wine
42
72
Peru
38
9
Prairie Creek
27
75
Table Mound
18
69
Taylor
28
255
Vernon
5
95
Washington
7
95
Whitewater
5
197
Totals
2,94I
2,098
Dubuque city was overjoyed at the result, and began immediate preparations to build. The total county debt on January 1, 1891, not counting court house bonds, was $76,426.52. In 1890 the county supervisors were Klauer, Cunningham, Dunn, McNamara, Stewart, Schemmel and Schueller. For the calendar year 1890 the total county expense was $82,764.17; the insane cost, $14,366.65 ; bridges, $20,971.01, and late in the year there was paid on the new court house the sum of $4,258.59. Court house bonds to the amount of $125,000 were sold at par in April, 1891, to P. J. Lee. president of the Citizens' State Bank; they ran for twenty-five years and bore 4 per cent interest. Fred Heer & Sons were the court house architects. The corner-stone was laid with due cere- mony on July 11, 1891, a large crowd being present. The Greys and Sharpshooters were out. The leading speakers were Judge D. J. Lenehan, Hon. Alphons Matthews and Hon. F. B. Daniels. Present were the venerable Gen. George W. Jones and Judge Thomas S. Wilson. It was a memorable occasion. The cost of the building proper was $145,439.22; furnishings and superintending,
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY
$32.923.78; total, $178,463. It was completed and occupied in 1893.
The census of 1890 gave Dubuque county 49,848 population ; Dubuque city, 30,311 ; Dyersville, 1,272 (975 in 1880) ; Epworth, 348; Farley, 582; Cascade (all sections), 1,396. The population of the county in 1880 was 42,996. In 1891, M. Liddy was steward of the poorfarm; he raised during the year $2,081.82 worth of live stock and hay, and sold in hay and grain $3,060 worth. The live stock left on the farm was worth $3,683. For the calendar year 1891 the total county expense was $186,601.93. In 1892 the county refused to divide its bridge fund with the city of Dubuque.
The county board levied one-fourth of a mill on the dollar in September, 1893, for the purpose of creating a fund for the relief and funeral expenses of honorably discharged and indigent Union soldiers, sailors and marines, and the indigent wives, widows and minor children of such soldiers, etc., having a legal residence in this county.
In August, 1893. the townships of Washington, Prairie Creek, Whitewater, Cascade, Dodge. Vernon and Mosalem complained because they had no representative on the county board.
In 1893 the county assessment was $12.256,175. By 1892-93 there had been issued of the court house bonds $125,000; the bal- ance was in warrants. The county smallpox hospital was located near Asbury in 1894; the county and city jointly put up the brick building and bore the expense. In 1895 Dubuque county had twenty-nine butter and cheese factories, with an annual product of about $255,000. In the nineties telephone lines began to cross the county in various directions. On January 1, 1894, the county debt was $181,650.55 ; on January 1, 1895. it was $163,680.39.
In 1902 the county board was petitioned by 180 members of the Grand Army posts of the county to submit to the voters the ques- tion, Shall Dubuque county levy a one mill tax with which to build a soldiers' and sailors' memorial hall? The county tax in 1902 was $357.273.51, and in 1903 was $361,724.78. The total assessment in 1903 was $13,163.678. The number of polls in the county was 12,523 ; of this number, 8,426 were in Dubuque city.
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