USA > Iowa > Floyd County > History of Floyd County, Iowa : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 66
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The Bas Bleu Club was organized in 1875, with a member. ship of twenty. The following officers were elected: Miss Ella Patterson (now Mrs. Billingsly, of Vinton, Ia.), President; Miss Cary Barney, Ida Smith and Hattie Dyke, Dramatic Committee. The object of the society was mutual improvement and a good time. They gave a number of plays, parties, dances, and recep- tions, and gave over $200 for the benefit of the poor. This club was comprised of young ladies, and in their dramatic enter- tainments they were assisted by the Bas Sale Club. There were few changes made in the officers. The club disbanded some three years after its organization and the money left in the treasury was expended in books. The society was a very pleasant one and af- forded much amusement.
The Bas Sale Club :- About a year after the organization of the Bas Bleus,"a society of gentlemen organized themselves into a club to be known as the Bas Sale (soiled stockings), and gave a number of dramatic, literary and musical entertainments. First officers: Dr. I. S. Abbott, President; Phil. Wilbur, Vice-Presi- dent; Sam. Despres, Secretary; Alex. Despres, Treasurer; Frank Koehler, Musical Director; Emory Morse, Chaplain; Shale Ellis, Sergeant-at-arms; Niel Dyke, Business Manager. Mr. Koehler afterward left Charles City, and Geo. Kay was elected to fill his place. Among the exercises indulged in by this club were mock trials, in one of which Mr. Sam. Despres distinguished himself by imitating broken German, especially the dialect of a certain Ger- man lawyer in Chicago. The meetings of this society were held
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in Dr. Abbott's dental parlors. Only three of the above men- tioned gentlemen now reside in Charles City.
The Clio Club was organized in the spring of 1879, and was without doubt the finest and most successful dramatic organization in Northern Iowa. It was the last dramatic club in the city. Its career was successful from the first and never failed to pack a house. The members finally became scattered, and thus ended the organization. The officers were: President, J. Evans Owens; Secretary, P. R. Gniwits; Treasurer, S. H. Starr; Stage Manager, W. D. Balch; Executive Committee, E. A. Owens, W. S. Har- wood, Miss Hattie Dyke, Phil. M. Wilbur. This is but a very brief sketch of one of the most useful societies in Charles City. It was indeed an ornament to the city and a benefit to its members.
Sax-Horn Band .- This band was first organized by L. L. Hunt- ley, in 1864 or 1865. After he left the city the band did but little or nothing, until a German teacher from New York came and endeavored with his native tongue to drill the class, but with poor success. The next leader was Prof. J. F. O. Smith, who "led " them on to victory for about two years. The band then comprised twelve to fitteen pieces.
May 22, 1866, concert and supper at Union Hall. by the Charles City Sax-Horn Band, proceeds to by a wagon for their use to cost $500. It was a brilliant success. The desired chariot was soon afterward obtained, -a magnificent vehicle. During 1867 the band had a law suit, considerable opposition and a very discourag- ing time, but weathered it all bravely.
About this time the society, with the aid of friends, purchased a fine band wagon, costing $550. This wagon is still the property of the band.
Next after Prof. Smith came Joseph Kelly as leader, then Hall, Gibson, and then the "Sixth Regiment Cornet Band."
Nov. 3, 1880, the band was reorganized under the leadership of Earl J. North, with thirteen men, and still flourishes. consisting of Earl J. North, solo, B-flat cornet; A. Harvey, E flat cornet; Bird Cairns, first alto; James Ferguson, second alto; Warren Klinetop, first tenor; George Brown, second tenor; Everett Kel logg, solo baritone; Henry P. Mapes, bass; Irving Kellogg, drum and cymbals.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Many small items of interest cannot well be classified with the regular lines of history, which have " threads " extending through
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a number of years; and we are therefore obliged to throw them together under the head of " miscellaneous," arranging as well as we can with some reference to their general character.
TEMPERANCE.
Charles City is noted for its sober-mindedness. The citizens generally are not only " temperate," with reference to drinking spirituous liquors, but even given to total abstinence. During the summer of 1857, drinking and gambling are chronicled as being "introduced." Doubtless, however, both these things had been indulged in prior to this, but it became more bold. Three parties were arrested, one convicted, and a formal notice published in the city paper that special efforts would be made to convict others who might be guilty.
The above instance is typical and representative of the fight between law and order on the one side, and drunkenness, gam- bling, laziness and disorder on the other. When in 1869 Charles City became an organized " city " in law, and officers and alder- men had to be elected, the usual contest sprung up, of course, between the license parties, and sometimes one party would carry the day, sometimes the other, and sometimes "both," or neither.
In 1879 the license party carried every ward. Up to within three or four days of the election it was generally believed that "prohibition " was ahead, but then a general belief sprung up that a few were setting up a ring to control county politics, and straightway there was a general bolt. "In view of the result," said the Intelligencer, "the verdict cannot be otherwise than, ' Failed from an overdose of politics.'" At the present time, 1882, the common council is anti-license, and is very difficult for parties to obtain spirituous liquors to drink a's a beverage. Even the druggists refuse to sell such liquors, for any purpose whatever.
IN MEMORY OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
April 27, 1865, appropriate public exercises were held in Charles City, in accordance with the proclamation of the Governor that the day be observed with humiliation and prayer on account of the assassination of Lincoln. This was the day of his funeral ser- vices. Under the auspices of an organization, there were a pro- cession, music, oration, etc. A full account is given in Chapter VIII.
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IN MEMORY OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD).
As soon as the sad news of the death of President Garfield was confirmed, Mayor Burr issued the following proclamation, Sept. ember 20:
To the Citizens of Charles City :- Information having been received of the death of James A. Garfield, President of the United States, by the hand of an assassin; and whereas, it is deemed fitting that some expression of the emotions excited by this most calamitous event should be evidenced in a public meeting of the people of this city, therefore it is requested that all places of busi- ness be closed from and after 3 o'clock this afternoon; that the nation's citizens repair to the Baptist church at 4:30 P. M., for such services as shall be thought proper in view of the sorrow.
"P. W. BURR, Mayor."
Accordingly a large audience assembled at the church, where the Mayor called it to order in a few appropriate remarks. Short addresses were made by B. F. Wright, G. F. Boulton, Dr. S. P. Yeomans and Rev. C. T. Tucker, who were called upon by the Mayor to address the meeting. At the close, the Mayor appointed a committee of arrangements for holding funeral services the follow- ing Monday, the day of Garfield's interment. The programme for the day was, 1. Dirge, by North's Cornet Band; 2. Invocation, by Rev. C. T. Tucker; 3. Hymn; 4. Introductory, by Chairman, G. H. Nichols ; 5. Eulogy, by B. F. Wright; 6. Hymn; 7. Short addresses, by Mayor P. W. Burr, J. Evans Owens, A. W. Cook, A. M. Harrison, Major M. Lynch, Rev. Father Gunn and Rev. E. Casselman; 8. Selected poem, by H. C. Raymond; 9. Hymn; 10. Closing prayer and benediction, by Rev. H. Kaste. 11. Dirge, by the Band. These services were held on the Public Square, where a large and attentive audience assembled.
MEETINGS.
Oct. 10, 1871, the second day of the fire at Chicago, the citizens organized for the collection and forwarding of the necessaries of life to the destitute of that fated city.
Oct. 19, annual joint meeting of the Garnavillo and Mitchell Associations of Congregationalists at Charles City. April 11, 1872, first grange organized.
July 9, 1872, Methodist campmeeting in O. W. Hart's grove, eighty rods from the Milwaukee depot, Charles City. Weather
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favorable and a good time enjoyed. A hundred or more converts professed religion.
Aug. 25, 1874, Union Camp-meeting, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal church. Oct.13-14, Fourth District Press Association met in Charles City.
May 10, 1881, Masonic Hall, meeting of the Grand Chapter of the O. E. S. of Iowa; Mrs. R. C. Mathews, Rockford, Grand Matron.
June 7, 1881, ninth annual session of the Decorah District Con- ference of the M. E. church.
May 10-11, 1882, Editorial Association for the Fourth Congres- sional District.
June 21-23, convention of School Superintendents.
This list could doubtless be extended.
CASUALTIES.
1857, prairie fires around Charles City, destroying much prop- erty. To stand on an eminence a few miles east of the village and see the hills around it covered with fire was a magnificent spec- tacle.
1855, William Grow, drowned: the first death in the county. Elsewhere noticed.
1857, July 4, John Hill seriously wounded by the bursting of a sledge hammer under a pile of anvils.
1858, April 27, John W. Wyman, a highly respected young man, twenty-three years of age, was drowned in the Cedar just below the dam of the new saw-mill. He approached too near the dam, on the lower side, in a skiff, and the falling water capsized his boat and precipitated him into the raging waters. Two or three men endeavored immediately to swim to his rescue, but failed on account of the violence of the currents.
Mr. Hillman, of Union Township, was killed at Charles City by being thrown out of a wagon, his head striking against a saw-log near Kelly's mill. He was intoxicated.
1861, Feb. 10, Sunday, at St. Charles City, a lad of half a dozen years found himself an involuntary prisoner in the Baptist church. It appears that he had fallen asleep and remained so at the close of service, and being unperceived by the sexton he was locked in. Some time during the night he awoke, and finding how matters stood he made the church hideous with his outcries. A gentleman,
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living near, arrived just in time to hear the glass jingle and see the boy emerge through the broken window.
1862, June 30, Enoch Harvey was caught and drawn around a shaft in a steam saw-mill and killed.
1862, Oct. 10, A. HI. Buel was killed in a well, by a bucket falling upon him.
1862, Oct. 23, great conflagration in the city, which consumed two hotels, six stores, two jewelry shops, one tailor shop and one law office. Loss about $50,000. This constituted the greater por- tion of the business part of the city. The fire broke out in the roof of the Kelly Hotel about 2:30 r. M., when the wind was high, and it immediately became uncontrollable. By special efforts, the Intelli- gencer office was saved. The hotels destroyed were the Kelly Hotel and the Magnolia House ; the law office was that of G. G. & R. G. Reiniger ; the other principal losers were J. W. Lehmkuhl, Carl Merckel, D. Davidson, J. Stolle, Messrs. Smilie & Bennett, the jewelers, and Ferguson & Sampson.
1864, Sept. S, the dwelling-house of Samuel Hackley, on the west side of the river, was destroyed by fire, with all the contents. The family, who were absent when the fire broke out, had not even a change of clothing saved. Origin of the fire unknown.
Sept. 26, Charles Allen's house was burned. No insurance. Origin of fire unknown.
1863, one case of small-pox, but very light. Rumor abroad made it that the place was badly afflicted with that disease.
1865, Nov. 2, George W. Kellogg, son of Harvey Kellogg, accidentally killed himself by the explosion of a gun, while he was attempting to kill an owl in a barn.
1866, January, the wife of Col. Abner Root was fatally burned by falling on a cooking stove at her residence.
1866, April 2, ninety feet of the Charles City bridge and one pier were taken away by the flood.
1866, July 4, Frankie Slick was killed by the explosion of a rocket.
1867, June 13, the wagon shop of Wm. Korenkie, on Clark street was burned ; loss, $1,200 ; insurance, $800. Origin of the fire unknown. Created great alarm, as other buildings were in peril.
1867, October, a child, seventeen months old, belonging to Friedrick Phin, of Charles City, was scalded to death, by drawing
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upon itself a dish of hot sauce from the table, during a few min- utes' absence of its mother.
1868, Oct. 14 (or 17), Frank Weldon (or Welding) was killed by the falling of a bent at the engine station-house of the Illinois Central Railway. His residence was at Iowa Falls, where he had a wife and child. This was the first railroad casualty in the county.
1868, Dec. 8, an alarming fire broke out in the court-house, but was soon extingushed. Damage only $25. Cause, defective lathing.
1868. One cold morning in December, Augustus Grams found a horse frozen in the river nearly up to the gambrel joints, and had to get an ax and cut away the ice in order to release him. It is supposed that the animal crossed a strip of ice to get a drink, and found it too slippery to return to the bank, -or else he decided to take a foot bath!
1869, Nov. 17, Henry Sage was struck by a train at the railroad bridge and killed.
¿1870. In the fall, C. W. Atkinson, a druggist, drowned himself in the river. He had been sick for some time and confined to his room, but suddenly escaped from his attendants in a fit of delirium to commit the suicidal act.
1871, April 6, S. G. Bryant's building, a two-story frame oppo- site the Union House, was burned down.
1876, Jan. 13, A dog belonging to Sheriff Miner stopped a run- away team in Charles City, by catching hold of the lines.
1876, June 24 (or 25), Herman Gherken (or Gherkins), was drowned near the dam.
1879, diphtheria prevailed. Charles City, by its council, ap- pointed a board of health, which issued a proclamation forbidding assemblages of all kinds within doors, except court and election. Some people, of course, thought this a hard and inefficient meas- ure, and disobeyed the regulation. This board was also accused (but wrongfully) of endeavoring to impede the temperance move- ment, which depends to a great extent upon holding meetings.
Milwaukee Depot Burned .-- Just after the close of morning service, Sunday, May 15, the city was startled by the cry of fire. It was soon found that the Milwaukee depot was in flames, started in the roof by sparks from the locomotive of the stock express going east. The fire was discovered by the station agent, Mr. Gil- bert, who, with his assistants, made every effort to extinguish it. This was found to be impossible, and attention was turned to sav- ing the papers, etc., in the office and the articles in the baggage-
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room. All was rescued except the telegraph instruments and one trunk. The freight room was full of goods, but little was saved. Six cars of freight on the side track were consumed. The loss was in the neighborhood of $10,000, with but little insurance.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Henry C. Aldrich. M. D. and D. D. S., one of the leading phy sicians of Charles City, was born in the city of Minneapolis, Minn. Ilis parents were Cyrus and Clara A. (Heaton) Aldrich. She was a native of New York and he of Rhode Island, where he received his education. When a young man he emigrated to Northern Illinois, and was one of the owners of the Chicago & Galena stage line and helped build the Illinois & Lake Michigan Canal. He was a member of the Illinois Legislature and receiver of public moneys at the land office at Dixon, Ill. In 1856 he re- moved to Minneapolis, Minn., and engaged in the real estate busi- ness. He was elected a member of the Minnesota Legislature and a member of Congress from Minnesota, in 1861. He died in Oc- tober, 1871, aged sixty-three years. His wife resides in Minneapo- lis. She and husband had a family of three daughters and one son, two living, viz: Villa, wife of D. H. Wright, commission merchant at Minneapolis, Minn, and Henry C., subject of this sketch. He attended the Minneapolis High School and State Uni- versity until 1877, when he began the study of dentistry graduating from the Dental Department of the University of Pennsylvania. then beginning the study of medicine, graduating from the Hahne- mann Medical College, of Philadelphia. He located in Charles City, Ia., May, 1881, where he has since practiced the profession of medicine, establishing a large and lucrative practice. He is the city physician. Dr. Aldrich was married to Miss Mary Whit- ney at Minneapolis, Sept. 24, 1879. She was the first white child born at Clear Water, Minn., and in honor of that event was pre- sented a lot in Clear Water, Minn. She was a daughter of Sam- uel N. and Abbie (Hay) Whitney. Dr. Aldrich and wife attend the Congregational church in Charles City. He is a member of and Medical Examiner in the Iowa Legion of Honor, and in politics a Republican.
Edgar F. Atherton, one of the leading merchants of Charles City, is a native of Vermont, born in Moretown, Washington County, March 23, 1844; his parents were Joseph L. and Lucy B.
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(Adams) Atherton, natives also of the Green Mountain State. He resided in Moretown until 1858, when he came with his parents to Floyd County, Ia. They still reside on their farm in Cedar Town- ship, and have a family of four children, three sons and one daugh- ter, viz. : Ella A., who married John O. Adams; Eddie B., residing with his parents in Cedar Township; Walter E., also residing on the old homestead; Edgar F., subject of this sketch, was the eldest son ; his parents moved to Floyd, Ia., when he was fourteen years old and resided there until 1870, when he went to Orchard Station, Mitchell County, and opened a store of general merchandise, remaining until the fall of 1879, when he sold out and located in Charles City, where he established his present business. He occupies a building 66 x 21 feet two stories in height and carries a full and complete stock of imported and domestic goods, ladies' goods, dry goods, notions, and clothes, hats, caps, gloves and mittens. Mr. Atherton mar- ried Miss Amelia Wilbur, June 6, 1869, at Floyd; she was born in Otsego County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Henry and Ange- line (Moore) Wilbur, natives of New York, and of Quaker descent. Mr. and Mrs. Atherton are members of the Congregational church, and have had a family of two children, viz. : Earnest W., born Aug. 17, 1870, and Winifred L., July 11, 1877. Mr. Atherton is one of the enterprising representative business men of Charles City, and an old settler of Floyd County, having been identified with the county since 1858. He is a charter member of the V. A. S. Fraternity, Charles City Lodge. In politics rather independent and inclined to vote for the best man. He is of Scotch descent.
Edmund Austin, retired farmer, and Vice-President of the Charles City National Bank and Charles City Water-Power Com- pany, was born in Skaneateles, Onondaga County, N. Y., Jan. 4, 1821; his parents were Silas, and Mary A. (Patchen) Austin, natives of New York. He was a farmer and they were members of the Episcopal church, and had a family of five sons and two daughters; five lived to be men and women. Edmund, subject of this sketch, was the eldest child and soon after his birth his parents removed to Cayuga County, N., Y. where he farmed until his marriage to Eliza Browning, which occurred March 4, 1852. She was born in Sommersetshire, England; was a daughter of Mathew and Nancy (Davis) Browning, also natives of England. Soon after his marriage Mr. Austin moved to Skaneateles, N. Y., where he bought land and engaged in farming until the year o
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1854, when he went to Winnebago County, IN., and in the spring of 1855 came to Charles City, In., and purchased afarm in St. Charles Township which he still owns, and cultivated until March, 1852, when he rented it and moved into Charles City, where he bought a residence and has since lived, leading a life of retirement from active business. Mr. Austin and wife are mem- bers of the Christian church and have had a family of three children ; the eldest, John P., died in infancy, and two are living, viz .: Saralı N., born Nov. 28, 1856, resides with her parents, and Willis B., one of the proprietors of the Centennial Mills of Charles City, born Jan. 19, 1859. Mr. Austin was elected Vice-President of the Charles City National Bank upon its organization in 1876 and has been Vice-President of the Water-Power Company since Feb. 1880. He owns a farm of 365 acres in St. Charles Township and 240 acres in Union Township. He also owns property in Charles City, and stock in the Water-Power Company and in the Charles City National Bank. He is one of the few old settlers of 1855 now living and has seen Floyd County change from its old uncultivated state to its present prosperous condition. When he came to Charles City there were but three frame buildings and a few Ing cabins. In politics Mr. Austin is rather independent.
V. W. Baker, carpenter, was born in Worcester County, Mass., June 12, 1820. His parents were Vickery and Priscilla (Walker) Baker, natives of Massachusetts. His father died in 1870 in Vermont, in which State his mother still lives, at the age of eighty- seven. The subject of this sketch received a common-school edu- cation in Vermont. He was married in 1852 to Sarah P. Durkee, a native of Vermont. They removed to Illinois soon after, and lived at Rockford until 1857, when they removed to Floyd County. They had four children, two of whom are living-Alice, teaching in Indianapolis, and Estella, at home. Mrs. Baker died in 1870, and he was again married, in 1871, to Estella M. Patton, a native of New York. They have had two children-Clifford, and Gracie (deceased). Politically, Mr. Baker is a Republican. He is a member of the Baptist church.
William D. Balch, of the firm of Reiniger & Balch, bankers, of Charles City, is a native of New Hampshire, born in the town of Claremont, Jan. 2, 1834. His parents were William S. and Ade- line G. (Capron) Balch, natives of Vermont. He was a minis- ter of the Universalist church and is still living, a retired minister, of Elgin, Ill., now in his seventy-seventh year. She
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died in 1855. They had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. William D., the subject of this sketch, was the eldest son. When a child, his parents removed to New York City, his father having charge of a church there. He attended school in New York City until fourteen when he entered the Clinton Liberal Institute, at Clinton, N. Y., remaining three years. He returned to New York City and engaged in banking, on Wall street, until the spring of 1865, when he came to Charles City, Ia., and started the first bank in the city, under the firm name of Mitchell, Fairfield & Balch, and in 1867, E. C. Chapin, now editor of the Davenport, Ia., Gazette, purchased Mr. Mitchell's interest, and the firm remained Chapin, Fairfield & Balch, until 1873, when Mr. Chapin retired from the firm, and in 1875 Judge Reiniger bought Judge Fairfield's interest and the firm has since remained Reiniger & Balch. Mr. Balch married Miss Ellen M. Melville, Jan. 19, 1858. She was born in New York City and was a daughter of Henry B. Melville, a manufacturing jeweler, of New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Balch had four children, one living, viz .: Estelle L., born in New York City, in October, 1861. Their mother died in 1864. Mr. Balch married Miss Maria A. Palmer, at Charles City, Feb. 11, 1868. She was born in Maine, and is a daughter of Dr. William M. Palmer and Anna, nee Shaw. He was a physician, of Charles City. Mr. and Mrs. Balch have had four children, two living, viz .: Margaret and Stevens. Mr. Balch is one of the old settlers and an enterprising representative business man of Charles City. He was elected Mayor of the city one year, has been Treasurer of Charles City and Floyd County Agricultural Society, and also Treasurer of the Inde- pendent School District, a number of years. He is Vice-President of the First National Bank, of Mason City, and active in its man- agement. In politics he has always been a supporter of the Repub- lican party.
Col. V. G. Barney, formerly a marble manufacturer in Ver- mont, where he owned a quarry, is a native of the Green Mount- ain State, born in Swanton, Franklin County, Aug. 26, 1834, a son of George and Emma D. (Goodrich) Barney. They were also natives of Vermont and members of the M. E. church; they had a family of four sons and four daughters, Col. V. G. being the second son; he attended school until nineteen when he clerked in a store a couple of years, then took charge of the marble mills at Danby, Rutland County, Vt., and remained there three years;
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