History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume I, Part 56

Author: Ellis, James Whitcomb, 1848-; Clarke, S. J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 730

USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume I > Part 56

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The life and doings of William C. Boardman were of a noble type. He was a diligent man in things and ways that were good only. He was a pure man, no one ever heard a word fall from his lips that might not be spoken in any presence ;

391

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY

he was an economical and saving man, who learned in his youth the lesson-often not learned-that one's expenditures should not exceed or even equal his income ; he was a religious man, not warped by prejudice or filled with bigotry, who pro- foundly realized and showed by his daily life that man was created for the high purpose that he should contribute with his powers and talents to the great work of making the world better; he was an honest man, and his worldly possessions were acquired in doing that which was a benefit to others, and in strong contrast to the acquisitions of many magnates of the present day whose wealth has grown out of the oppression and wronging of others. He honestly earned every dollar he had.

Mr. Boardman made no pretensions of being a learned man or to literature. I am sure he never made a socalled speech in his life. He never wrote out even a humble essay, such as you are now listening to. It is not certain that he ever in- quired whether Shakespeare was an Irishman or a Frenchman; or that he knew whether the beautiful extract, "The quality of mercy is not strained but droppeth like the gentle dew from heaven," was written by Milton or Burns; but he well knew what was for him more important and perhaps better. No one could with more eloquence of conviction explain the merits and value of Fairbanks' platform scales than could he ; no one was a higher past master in the science and art of prop- erly setting those scales when once the eager customer had purchased them; and to crown all, when they were paid for, every cent of the purchase price that be- longed to Fairbanks & Company went as straight into their till as Uncle Samuel's mails could carry the money-an event that does not always happen in these days.

From what I have said as to Mr. Boardman's critical knowledge in literary matters, one must not think that he despised or undervalued education; far from it. He gave a thousand dollars to the son of his pastor, a worthy graduate of our high school, to help him to a college education. He was not only the owner of a share of stock in our pioneer library association, but he and his family often drew out and read its books, and he paid for and he believed in the editorials of Horace Greeley and the New York Tribune. The beneficence of Mr. Boardman in the founding of our library appeals to every young person especially in our community, as an example of right doing. He might have left that five thousand dollars to relatives who did not need it; or he might have devoted it to a monu- ment of bronze or marble; but he, as I think, wisely and nobly did otherwise. He consecrated it largely to the improvement of our young people of the present and coming generations, that reading what has been said and of what has been done in the past by the wise and good and truly great, they may acquire strength to discharge those duties which a free republic and a kind providence has laid upon their shoulders. God grant that they may see their opportunity and profit by it.

William C. Boardman died in Maquoketa nearly twenty-two years ago. The pupils in our public schools never saw him, except in his speaking likeness that hangs on the walls of our free public library ; and most of the citizens who now throng our streets have known him only by name. But in the endowment of our library he erected to his honor that which will be more enduring than the pyramids -in its usefulness expanding as the ages come-that which will bear richest fruit- age for the higher being of our people, as long as men shall aspire to and revere that which is truly great in human character and conduct.

HON. PHILIP BURR BRADLEY. Ellis.

Hon. Philip Burr Bradley, usually known as Judge Bradley, a distinguished resident of Andrew, was an early comer in this county, and its annals would be incomplete without reference to his work as a legislator and in the law courts. For thirty-seven years he was a prominent figure in the public life of the county

392

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY

and state, being leading member of the bar, and a statesman and a politician of high rank and influence.

He retired from the cares and responsibilities of public life while at the height of his power and fame, and devoted the last years of his life to his family and his private pursuits. He died March 30. 1890.

He came of good New England blood, and was himself a native of that sec- tion of the country. His paternal grandfather, Colonel Philip B. Bradley, was a native of Southport, Connecticut, and was a graduate of Yale College. He was a man of considerable prominence in his day, and took an active part in the public life of his native state. He was an officer in the Revolution, and was one of Washington's warmest friends. His colonel's commission was signed by Han- cock. He engaged in buying land which he rented, and was the wealthiest man in the town of Ridgefield. He was marshal of the District of Connecticut during both administrations of Washington and of John Adams, receiving his appoint- ment directly from them, and he was one of the most prominent men in the Fed- eralist party in New England.

He was a member of the Congregational church. He lived in his native state until his death. The paternal greatgrandfather of our subject, was born in Eng- land, and coming to America, located on the shores of Long Island Sound. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Dr. Amos Baker, a physician of note in New England. He moved from Vermont to Ridgefield, Connecticut, during some period of his life, and there practiced medicine until his death.

The father of our subject, Jesse S. Bradley, was born in Ridgefield, Con- necticut, and graduated at Yale College, where he was distinguished as being the best linguist in the class. He studied law with Judge Gould in his native state, and became one of the most brilliant members of the bar. He early received the appointment of judge, which office he held until death. He was also interested in the general merchandise business in Ridgefield, and had a large amount of landed property to look after.

He died on the judge's bench in 1832, at the age of fifty-one years, when scarcely past the meridian of life. His death was an irreparable loss to the com- munity and the state at large, as he was not only a great but a good man. Be- sides having exceptional talents as a lawyer and a judge, he was a shrewd man of business. He was a true Christian gentleman and was active in the support of the Congregational church of which he was a deacon.

He was a leader in the Whig party, and was influential in its councils. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Baker, was born in Vermont and died in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Seven children blessed their union, as follows: Sarah, (deceased) ; Philip Burr, subject of our sketch; Jesse S., who died in infancy ; Francis, a real estate dealer in Chicago ; Wm. H., clerk of the United States Courts in Chicago; Jesse and Amos B., are deceased.

Philip Burr, of whom we write was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut, January 5, 1809. He was reared in his native town and was graduated from the high school when but sixteen years old. In 1826 he was entered as a student in the classical course in Union College in Schenectady, New York, from which institu- tion of learning he was a graduate with high honors in 1829. After leaving col- lege he commenced the study of law in Danbury, Connecticut, under the instruc- tion of Hon. Reuben H. Booth. He remained in Ridgefield with his mother until the spring of 1834, when he started westward and landed in Galena, where he established himself in the practice of his profession at the August term, 1836. He was appointed prosecuting attorney for the term by Governor Ford, and in 1837 was commissioned postmaster. In the fall of 1839, he resigned his position, having decided to take up his residence in the territory of Iowa. He purchased three hundred acres of land in Van Buren township, Jackson county, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1840, an attempt was made to draw him back to the bar, and his friends elected him probate judge of Clinton county, but he did not care for the office and did not qualify. In 1843 he was appointed

393

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY

district clerk of the court for Jackson county, and removed with his family to Andrew. He held that office until the spring of 1845, when he was elected to the Territorial Council on the democratic ticket.

In 1846 an admiring constituency sent him to represent them in the state senate, and he served with honor four years. In 1850 he was elected secretary of that body, and served in that capacity, or as assistant secretary, every session except one, during his connection with the senate, until the capital was removed to Des Moines. In 1857 he was elected to the state legislature as representative from Jackson county in the first session of the lawmakers at Des Moines, after it had been made the capital of the state.

In 1861, Mr. Bradley was elected county judge for a term of two years, and in 1863 he resumed his practice before the bar. In 1877 he was again elected rep- resentative of the state legislature to assist in the deliberations of the seventeenth session of that honorable body. At the end of that term he retired to private life, having earned a rest from the weary exactions and demands of public life by thirty-seven years of earnest and tireless effort in behalf of the people and state.

He retired with honor and a stainless record after a brilliant and useful career, in which he had unselfishly labored for the good for the greatest number, irre- spective of party ; and as a statesman, judge and politician he was always true to himself and others, and was faithful and incorruptible in the discharge of his duties. He was for many years a power in the democratic party, and in 1852 was chairman of the Iowa delegation in the national convention that met at Baltimore, and cast his vote for Stephen A. Douglas until the last ballot, when Franklin Pierce was nominated for the presidency of the United States. The judge was Governor Briggs' right hand man during his administration, and had great in- fluence in the management of the state government.

Judge Bradley was married in Galena, July 1, 1838, to Miss Lucinda Car- penter, and their happy, peaceful wedded life was one of unusual duration, ex- tending over more than half a century. Mrs. Bradley was a woman of amiable disposition and quiet force of character, and was in truth, a homemaker. She was a sincere Christian and a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. She was a native of New Jersey and a daughter of Samuel D. Carpenter, also a native of the same state. She died October 21, 1906. Her grandfather, Carpenter, was a native of Germany, and a farmer, who, during some period of his life emigrated to America and settled in New Jersey. Mrs. Bradley's father was bred to the life of a farmer in his native state, and in 1827 removed from there to Galena, Illinois, becoming a pioneer farmer in that section of the country.

Later he removed to Rock Island, where he had an interest in a coal mine. He afterwards crossed the Mississippi River into this state, and taking up his residence in Van Buren township, this county, died there.

The maiden name of his wife was Crevling. She was born in New Jersey, and after her husband's demise she married Governor Briggs, of this state, and lived in Andrew until her death. To her and her first husband three children were born in their native state, New Jersey. Seven children were born to Judge and Mrs. Bradley : Frances C., lives in Andrew ; Sarah, deceased; Philip Burr, Jr., in Chicago; Henry S., in Oklahoma ; Charles F., deceased; Clinton H., deceased ; Walter S., deceased.

HON. WILLIAM M. STEPHENS. (In Sentinel Souvenir, 1904.)

Hon. Wm. M. Stephens first knew Maquoketa when he attended school in this city, coming from his father's place some two miles south of town. After leaving school he spent two years in Colorado, being in Denver a portion of the time and in the gold mines the balance. Returning he secured a position in the dry goods store of Pierce Mitchell and for over three years was an em- ployee of the store, devoting his time to work and to study.

394

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY

In July, 1868, Mr. Stephens purchased the store of Joseph Willey then oc- cupying the building known as the stone store. Within the year he purchased the building which he still owns (now occupied by Maxwell and Laird and other tenants).

With his enterprising disposition and his knowledge of the business, Mr. Stephens determined to establish some branch stores, a thing at that time quite novel and new to the trade. A fine brick block was built at Strawberry Point, Iowa, and a model department store founded. Later another branch was founded at Lanark, Illinois, which carried the largest stock and sold the most goods of any store in Carroll county.

In 1886, Mr. Stephens decided to retire from the mercantile business and within a year the stores were sold and the property on the northwest corner of Platt and Main streets purchased and converted into a bank room. During the same year the Jackson county bank was established with Hosea Goodenow as president and W. M. Stephens as cashier. Mr. Goodenow died many years ago and his connection with the bank has been severed a long time. Mr. Stephens would never be called a sentimentalist, yet he said, "Mr. Goodenow's name will remain upon our bank window while I live-a token of my regard and esteem for him as a true gentleman and honest man." The Jackson County Bank, of which Mr. Stephens is president and owner, started in business with a capital of twenty-six thousand five hundred dollars. Today the books show a capital and surplus of sixty-seven thousand five hundred dollars. On Decem- ber Ist of last year, the Jackson Savings Bank was established with Mr. Ste- phens as president. The combined capital and stockholders' liability of the two banks is over one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars with deposits of four hundred and thirty-eight thousand three hundred and fifty dollars (1904).

In politics Mr. Stephens has always been a republican. His first official position was that of a school director. He says that he did not understand his qualifications to fill this office unless the people wanted some one to figure con- tractor's bills on the new high school then building and to sell the district bonds. He did both and then declined a renomination. He was next elected as alderman from the fourth ward. Just before this our city fathers had been ex- perimenting a good deal with a view of locating the city well and pump house. A well had been sunk just north of the high school grounds which had proven a failure. Another was sunk north of the Whitfield woolen mills where the well driller's tools became fast and the job was abandoned. Mr. Stephens coming into office about this time had a trial well put down. This was successful and became the site of our present city well and pump house.

The next year Mr. Stephens was elected mayor and served two terms, de- clining another nomination. Some years later he was again elected and served two terms and quite recently was renominated and reelected for two additional terms, making the longest occupancy of that office since the incorporation of the city. During his term of office many improvements were made-among them the waterworks already referred to, the sewerage system started under his predecessor, Mr. Sanborn, but during his term largely extended; the city hall and jail, and the Carnegie library building. In the appointing of the library directors, Mr. Stephens showed his usual independence, as he named three democrats, two republicans and three ladies for this office. Of the gen- tlemen two were newspaper men. In the fall election of 1893, Mr. Stephens was elected to the legislature and served with credit to his district. He refused a renomination and later was nominated by his party for state senator, but was not elected. Mr. Stephens was married in 1867 to Seba A. Brace of this city. Two children are now living, Ralph, the son, is cashier of the Jackson Savings bank, and Camilla, the daughter, is attending school at Lake Forest, Illinois. The family reside at the corner of Niagara and Maple streets, where they have lived for over thirty years. Mr. Stephens has always been a great student and has perhaps the largest private library in the county.

395

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY

SOME OLD LOG HOUSES. (FROM THE SABULA GAZETTE.)

Recent reminiscences in the Gazette call to my mind several of the old land- marks that have disappeared some years ago. If I remember correctly, there were twelve log houses standing along the Maquoketa Road in what is now Union and Iowa townships, in 1852. One was in the ravine south of where Sam Clark now lives, one on the Carman place, now owned by John Kunau, one on the David Wyant farm, and another on the George Milliner place. The next was on the John Graham farm, now owned by Jerry Bruce. Then came the one on the Samuel Darling farm, just west of where Sidney Brake now resides, and the next that of John McCabe, on the farm now owned by Theo. Redden. The next on the R. C. Kellogg place, now occupied by Henry Biss, and another on the John Cotter farm, near Sterling, then owned by I. K. Millard, and later passing into the hands of J. P. Gage, an uncle of J. D. Gage of Sabula, and the last was the home of John S. Dille, in the big hollow north of Sterling.

C. R. Colis now owns the land where the Darling and Dille houses stood. The one on the Wm. Davis place was occupied by a man named Wills. He was a great reader and his wife was a neat housekeeper. Books and newspapers were scarce in those days as well as money. To hide the bare walls Mrs. Wills had papered them with all the newspapers she could get hold of, and many times I have been there and seen Mr. Wills with his face to the walls, reading the papers posted thereon, moving his chair along, or getting up, or sitting down as neces- sary to catch the piece he was reading.

The John McCabe house was a quarter mile northeast of the S. L. Watts place, now owned by Mr. Redden, and it was one of the neatest and cleanest log houses I ever saw. How he kept it so white in all kinds of weather was a wonder to me. John McCabe, as his name would indicate, was an Irishman, a very mild man- nered, inoffensive little old man. Johnny, as we used to call him, always worked out his road tax, and the only tool I ever remember him bringing was a hoe, and it was not such a bad tool either in the hands of Johnny, in leveling off the scraper's work. The Samuel Darling house was farther up the hollow, and I do not remem- ber ever visiting there while they lived in the log house.

The old log house on the Graham place was about half way between the pres- ent brick house and Sterling. Alex. James owned the place at that time, and he was quite a hunter. One winter while he was confined to his home by sickness, a flock of prairie chickens settled in a clump of trees near the house. James' old flintlock gun was out of order, but he could not resist the opportunity for a shot. It will be remembered by those who have seen an old flintlock gun, that there was a concave place in the breech which held a small amount of powder, which, being ignited by a spark from the flint, communicates with the powder in the barrel. It was the sparking part in James' gun that would not work, so after loading the gun, he put the powder in the pan, shoved the muzzle out of an open window, and getting aim at the chickens, had his daughter touch off the powder with a hot poker. The recoil sent James and the gun to the opposite side of the room, and I never knew just how many chickens he got.

One of the log cabins that I remember well was that of George Milliner and his mother, and it was a charm and a pleasure to sit by their fireplace on a winter's night and hear the crickets singing under the hearthstone. No other cabin, house or place was ever kept cleaner than Mother Milliner kept hers. The floors and walls were so clean, and the tinware seemed to shine just a little brighter than anywhere else. There were many interesting incidents connected with each of these old log houses, and each had its history-some pleasing, some pathetic, but all interesting-especially to the older pioneers. I do not think there is a trace remaining of any one of the twelve cabins referred to, unless it be the Milliner cabin. Two years ago I was at the spring near the site of this old cabin, and cu-

396

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY

riosity led me to follow up the path that used to lead to its door many years ago. Parting the tangle of woods and vines, I found a few stones burned red, and think perhaps if I had dug down in the mould, I might have found the old hearthstone. But it is now only a memory that we can cherish of those old log cabins.

AN INCIDENT OF EARLY DAYS WHEN THE CLAIM SOCIETY WAS SUPREME.

BY J. W. ELLIS.

George Ballou, who was an early pioneer of the big woods in the forks of the Maquoketa River, and who left the county in 1854 and came back to the Maquo- keta Home-coming celebration, told the writer of an experience that his father had with the Claim Society in 1851, which came very near to precipitating a bloody conflict. His father, Amasa Ballou, at that time owned with one Gammel, what was in later years better known as Slipper's mill on the north fork, near Fulton, and lived by the mill. In 1851 Ballou bargained with a man by the name of Lind- sey for the relinquishment of his claim of one hundred and sixty acres, eighty of which he, Lindsey, owned, and the other eighty he had claimed. The bargain was made in the morning and the parties were to meet at Squire Huntley's in the after- noon and complete the transfer. But before the time agreed upon, William Spicer met Lindsey and offered more than Ballou had bought it for, and Lindsey sold to Spicer. When Ballou found that he had lost the purchase he set out for Dubuque by way of Andrew and Bellevue, stopping over night at the latter place, and the next day entered from the government the eighty acres claimed by Lindsey. When Spicer learned that Ballou had gone away from home, he suspicioned his object, and he too started for Dubuque, but it was said that he met some convivial companions on the road and tarried too long, and when he reached the land office, found that Ballou had entered the land.

A few days later a committee of the Claim Society waited on Ballou and or- dered him to transfer the eighty acres of land in question to Spicer under penalty of being taken to the sawmill, tied on a log and being run through and sawed into fence boards. Ballou refused to be coerced and the committee left, setting date on which the Claim Society would come in force and carry out the sentence. After they left Ballou wrote several notes, addressing them to Nathaniel Butterworth, Dr. McMeans and several others, and told George to get on a horse and deliver the notes as addressed.

On the day set by the committee for carrying out the threat, about twenty men, all armed and for the most part on horseback, assembled at Ballou's home. About the same time of their assembling quite a large body of men were assembling in an open spot between the Ballou house and the sawmill. After apparently holding a council, a committee of three was seen approaching the house. There was a rail fence around the house and when the three men arrived at the fence, Ballou stepped outside and warned them not to cross the fence with their guns, assuring them that they would be fired upon and hurt if they attempted to do so.

George and his brother were stationed at a loophole up stairs with shotguns loaded with buckshot and had strict orders from their father in case the men whom they considered enemies attempted to invade the inclosure with guns, to shoot to kill, and George said they would have surely carried out his orders. The committee were at first inclined to disregard the order to halt, but finally became convinced that Ballou was in earnest, and halted for a parley, leaving their guns on the outside of the enclosure.

Ballou demanded to know their errand, and was told that they had come_to take him before the Claim Society, and of course Ballou refused to go, and about that stage of proceedings Ballou's friends came out of the house, accompanied the committee back to where the main body of the society was assembled, and Bal- lou's position was fully explained, and after a full conference of both parties the

397

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY

Claim Society decided that Ballou was in the right and withdrew, leaving him in full possession, and it was said they expelled his adversary from the committee. Some person or persons afterward sought revenge on Ballou by burning his property.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume I, Part 56

Author: Ellis, James Whitcomb, 1848-; Clarke, S. J., publishing company Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 730

Author: Ellis, James Whitcomb, 1848-; Clarke, S. J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 730