USA > Iowa > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Iowa; Volume I > Part 72
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The Methodists claim the first church organization in that locality, conduct- ing services in that building about three miles north of the present location of the town in 1840. The First Methodist Episcopal church of Andrew was or- ganized by Rev. B. H. Cartright, in the summer of 1843, in the old log courthouse, their new church building not being erected until 1848-49.
The pastors of the Methodist Episcopal church of Andrew since 1875 are as follows : Rev. S. Y. Harmer, 1875; Rev. John Dawson, 1878; Rev. S. Goodsell, 1879 ; Rev. L. L. Lockard, 1883 ; Rev. Joseph Cook, 1886; Rev. - Blodget, 1887 ; Rev. F. H. Wyrick, 1890; Rev. C. B. Crinklaw, 1894; Rev. Edward Lee, 1895; Rev. B. A. Wright, 1897; Rev. Walcott, 1898; Rev. R. A. Miller, 1899; Rev. Gery Eberhardt, 1900; Rev. J. W. Westfall, 1902; Rev. - Hesse, 1906; Rev. Burt Bailey, 1907; Rev. Robt. Comyn, 1909-1910 (present pastor).
The Methodist church was rebuilt and rededicated in year 1897 at an expense of two thousand dollars, and stained glass in windows, and chairs instead of pews for seats, the outside of steel, brick veneered. About the year 1890 a new bell was swung, it never had one until that time. The membership has diminished now until there is hardly fifty in number. The Andrew circuit consists of Andrew, Lamotte, and Fulton.
TOWN OFFICERS OF ANDREW HAVE BEEN :
1863-Mayor, J. H. Smith ; recorder, Henry Todd ; council, J. Y. Blackwell, James A. Bryan, B. F. Thomas, A. L. Palmer, D. H. Daudel.
1864-A. L. Palmer, mayor; A. Palmer, recorder.
1865-Allen Palmer, mayor; W. B. Keeling, recorder (resigned in April and Thomas Ray appointed as his successor).
1866-J. S. Darling, mayor; Levi Keck, recorder ; council, Thomas Ray, D. H. Daudel, Joseph Palmer, P. B. Bradley.
1867-W. B. Whitley, mayor; A. D. Palmer, recorder; Richard Cobb, mar- shal; council, D. W. Trump, Thomas McMurray, B. F. Thomas, J. C. Rigby, J. Y. Buchanan.
1868-W. B. Whitley, mayor; D. W. Trump, recorder ; William Buchanan, marshal; council, B. F. Thomas, J. Y. Buchanan, William M. Trout, James Thompson, Joseph Long.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
1869-R. M. Smith, mayor; Allen Palmer, recorder ; A. J. Cheney, marshal ; council, B. F. Thomas, Joseph Long, William Trout, O. P. Butterworth, James A. Bryan, Mayor Smith resigned in June and W. B. Whitley took his place for the remainder of the year.
1870-A. S. Carnahan, mayor ; Allen Palmer, recorder ; Richard Cobb, mar- shal; council, Levi Keck, John S. Ray, John Donnely, William Trout, C. H. O'Brien, O. P. Butterworth.
1871-A. S. Carnahan, mayor; D. W. Trump, recorder; Richard Cobb, marshal, died in May and C. Starr appointed his successor; council, W. B. Whitley, O. P. Butterworth, T. E. Blanchard, J. P. Mann, A. Palmer.
1872-James A. Bryan, mayor ; John S. Ray, recorder ; J. L. Cannon, mar- shal ; council, D. H. Daudel, J. Hollister, C. H. O'Brien, O. P. Butterworth, William M. Trout
1873-J. P. Bradley, mayor ; John S. Ray, recorder ; James Buchanan, mar- shal ; council, Nathaniel Butterworth, Jr., A. M. Phillips, D. H. Daudel, J. P. Mann, Thomas Ray.
1874-W. C. Gregory, mayor; T. E. Blanchard, recorder ; John L. Cannon, marshal; council, Thomas Ray, D. H. Daudel, A. M. Phillips, Allen Palmer and J. C. Rigby.
1875-P. B. Bradley, mayor ; T. E. Blanchard, recorder ; Joseph Long, mar- shal; council, A. M. Phillips, J. C. Rigby, J. C. Blessing, Thomas Ray and D. H. Daudel.
1876-P. B. Bradley, mayor; T. E. Blanchard, recorder; P. N. Kimball, marshal, removed from town during the year and W. H. Moler appointed ; council, O. P. Butterworth, A. S. Carnahan, J. Hollister, James Thompson, D. H. Daudel.
1877-L. D. McCoy, mayor ; T. E. Blanchard, recorder ; C. L. Closson, marshal; council, Thomas Ray, D. H. Daudel, J. Y. Buchanan, N. B. Butter- worth, J. J. McCord.
1878-L. D. McCoy, mayor ; C. F. Bradley, recorder ; John W. Van Meter, marshal ; council, T. M. Hamilton, Thomas Ray, J. Y. Buchanan, J. J. McCord, Allen Palmer.
1879-Thomas Ray, mayor; N. E. Butterworth, recorder ; G. W. Downing, marshal; council, A. S. Carnahan, J. J. McCord, D. H. Daudel, N. B. Butter- worth, J. Y. Buchanan, M. W. Mechner.
1880-Thos. Ray, mayor ; C. W. Long, recorder.
1882-B. F. Thomas, mayor ; A. M. Phillips, recorder.
1883-B. F. Thomas, mayor; Thos. Ray, recorder.
1884-P. B. Bradley, mayor ; C. W. Long, recorder.
1886-J. Y. Buchanan, mayor; C. W. Long, recorder .
1888-N. B. Butterworth, mayor ; C. W. Long, recorder.
1890-J. Y. Buchanan, mayor ; C. W. Long, recorder.
1892-C. R. Bell, mayor ; C. W. Long, recorder.
1894-C. R. Bell, mayor; C. W. Long, recorder.
1896-J. H. Ottens, mayor ; D. H. Daudel, recorder.
1896-E. W. Beedle, mayor ; D. H. Daudel, recorder.
1899-J. H. Ottens, mayor ; F. H. Daudel, recorder.
1900-D. H. Daudel, mayor, resigned ; F. H. Daudel, recorder.
1900-W. H. Palmer, mayor ; F. H. Daudel, recorder. 1902-W. H. Palmer, mayor.
1903-Dr. S. M. Littlefield, mayor ; J. F. Weis, recorder.
1904-N. B. Butterworth, mayor ; J. F. Weis, recorder.
1906-N. B. Butterworth, mayor ; J. F. Weis, recorder.
1907-N. B. Butterworth, mayor; J. F. Weis, recorder.
1908-Osborn Sampson, mayor ; J F. Weis, recorder.
1909-Osborn Sampson, mayor; F. W. Gibson, recorder.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF ANDREW, JACKSON COUNTY, IOWA, was organized in 1857, by a number of people, the most of whom emigrated from the western part of Pennsylvania. Among its first members and sup- porters were the Gibsons, Hamiltons, Hunters, Orrs, and many of the children of them and others comprise present membership. Its membership has va- ried at different times, sometimes reaching as high as one hundred and eighty; of late years it has not reached that number on account of changing conditions. Its present session is composed of R. M. Gibson, Thos. J. Gibson and H. E. Strain, who are ruling elders. Its pastors since 1858 are as follows: Rev. Jonathan Stewart, '58-'65; Rev. G. W. Torrence, '66-'73; Rev. W. A. Pollock, '77-'79 ; Rev. W. W. Gordon, '80-'85; Rev. J. M. McArthur, '86-'90; Rev. G. E. Young, '92-'96 ; Rev. W. B. Gillespie, 1898-1902 ; Rev. E. H. Huston, '02-'06. The present pastor is the Rev. J. A. Shrader, who became pastor in 1907 and still continues in the relationship. The church building is a frame structure and stands on the west side of the town. The main part of the building was reared in the year 1861, and to this has been added a wing and alcove and a lecture room since, which makes it a very convenient place of worship.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ANDREW.
The church was organized Sunday, November 2, 1845, two miles west of Andrew, and was called the church of Cedar Creek. It was organized by Rev. Michael Hummer, of Iowa City. The petitioners were S. F. Glenn, Jane Glenn, Hester and Elizabeth Hawkins, Henry and Sarah Thompson, Samuel, Mary Ann, Sarah and Rebecca Wilson.
The first session was S. F. Glenn and Henry Thompson. The ministers have been : 1847, Rev. Enoch Mead; 1849, Rev. F. A. Pratt; 1851, Rev. James Gallatin ; 1852, Joseph B. Hadden; Rev. John Wallace, six months supply ; John P. Conkey, four months supply ; 1859-64, Rev. Moses Noerr ; 1864-68, Rev. J. S. Dickey ; 1868-69, Rev. W. A. Ferguson ; 1869-74, Rev. John Gilmore ; 1875-76, Rev. Wm. Gay ; 1878-80, Rev. T. C. McFarland; 1882-85, Rev. John Fisher ; 1886, Rev. I. D. Bernard ; 1887, Rev. C. R. Brinback ; 1889, Rev. A. M. Elliott ; 1891, Rev. W. Roland Williams; 1894, D. A. K. Creston ; 1897-98, Rev. Jas. Dudycha; 1900-01, Rev. Richard Pugh. Since 1901 the church has had no settled pastor but has been supplied by students from May to September each year, with preaching occasionally during the other months.
The present membership of the church is twenty-eight; of the Sunday school, forty-five; of the Y. P. S. C. E, twenty ; the elders are Frank March and Osborn Sampson. The present name of the church was adopted in 1859.
The building now occupied was erected in 1859.
The following are the business firms of the town of Andrew at this writing, 1910: George Baker, general merchandise and postmaster; J. H. Molenhoff, general merchandise and central for both 'phones; A. P. Kirby, hardware; Hiney Daudel, drug store; Merritt & Merritt, furniture and undertaker; Hiney Bender, racket store; B. H. Daudel, agricultural implements and blacksmithing ; Nick Koppes, blacksmithing.
The old courthouse is now owned by E. D. Hansen of Maquoketa, and is operated by him for creamery and feed mill. John Ostert has a skinning sta- tion, and also a pool room. There are two barber shops, one P. J. Van Meter runs a barber shop as does Fred Flagel, with confectionery and cigars.
Nick Achen has recently purchased the livery barn, which is conducted as a livery and feed barn by Leopold Siegel.
George Gibson runs the Gibson house, the only hotel in the town, and Mrs. Lena Achen is proprietress of an eating house at the old Chris Blessing place.
The genial Charlie Jacobs is still engaged in the harness business. Adolph Henrichs conducts the meat market and Dr. S. M. Littlefield looks after the sick people. Mrs. Jep Vanneter and Mrs. Sarah Williams are dressmakers and
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seamstresses. Miss Bety Shoaf, milliner. Carpenters are: John Vanneter, John Irwin, Tebbo Tebbins, Geo. Tebbins and Wm. Smail. John Ostert, con- tractor of cement sidewalks.
Dray lines, Albert Goepport and William Muschback.
PASTORS OF LUTHERAN SALEM CONGREGATION AT ANDREW SINCE 1879.
Rev. J. G. Rembold resigned as pastor of the Lutheran Salem Congrega- tion at Andrew and as superintendent of orphan asylum on account of feeble health in the fall of 1887. The successor of Rev. Rembold was Rev. J. V. Geissendoerfor for about ten years; he was succeeded by Rev. W. Adix, who had to resign in the spring of 1908 because he and his wife had very poor health. Upon his advice, the present pastor was called, C. Hast, who accepted the vocation in April, 1908, and arrived in May, 1908.
MAJESTIC MONUMENT DEDICATED TO ANSEL BRIGGS.
A STATE OCCASION ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS AT ANDREW, SEPTEMBER 22, 1909 EMINENT IOWANS PRESENT TO PARTICIPATE.
The Program.
Music-Andrew Band.
Call to order by President G. L. Mitchell of Jackson County Historical Society. Invocation-Rev. Shrader.
Song-Iowa, Beautiful Iowa.
Memorial address-W. C. Gregory.
Unveiling of monument-Mrs. Nannie Briggs-Robertson, granddaughter of Governor Briggs, while band plays "Star Spangled Banner," and military salute by Company M, Iowa National Guard.
Presentation of monument-President Mitchell.
Response-Governor Carroll.
Song-"America."
Address-Ex-Governor Larrabee.
Address-Senator Frudden.
Address-Senator DeArmand.
Address-Judge Graham.
Short talks-Senator Wilson.
Short talks-Representatives Boettger and Balluff.
The Monument
is twenty-two feet high above a concrete base, on an eminence which makes it visible for miles around.
First granite base is perfectly plain ; second base has name of "Briggs" in five by one inch letters on east, and on west side of piece or die, which is three feet square and polished, is an outline map of Iowa. Covering it completely on north is a bronze medallion portrait, life size, of Governor Briggs. On the east is the following inscription in one and one half inch letters:
Ansel Briggs, 1806-1881. Governor, 1846-1850.
Erected by the State of Iowa to honor the memory of its first governor. Act of the Thirty-third General Assembly, 1909.
Surmounting this a large monolith, two feet, six inches at base, twelve feet in length, and twenty inches square at top.
Monument is built of Barre granite from Vermont, and weighs thirty thousand pounds.
Andrew, Jackson county, Iowa, was the mecca for pretty much all travelers in this section of the state Wednesday, September 22, (1909). It was the day set apart by the Jackson County Historical Society for the dedication of the Ansel Briggs monument to the honor of Iowa's sturdy old commoner, and first governor of this great commonwealth.
ANSEL BRIGGS, FIRST GOVERNOR OF IOWA
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
Notwithstanding the lowering weather, the roads leading to the classical old geographical center and one time county seat of this county, were thronged with vehicles of every kind. It must be understood that Andrew, the old time home of the first governor, is eight miles from the nearest railroad at Maquoketa, and maintains a population as large as it ever had-four or five hundred. The old town is thrifty and with its numerous new and rebuilt homes and places of busi- ness bears evidence for keeping up with the times.
The citizens were alive to the importance of the occasion, flags were suspended across the streets and a cordial welcome extended to all visitors. A large speaker's platform had been erected in the beautiful hillside cemetery, underneath large evergreens near the majestic monument. Seats were arranged in tiers before the speakers' stand, but they were not sufficient and hundreds of the visitors were obliged to stand.
Besides the presence on the platform of Governor Carroll, ex-Governor Larrabee, Senators Frudden of Dubuque, DeArmand of Scott, Wilson of Clin- ton, Parshall of Jackson, Representative Boettger and Balluff of Scott, Kendall of Clinton, Ellis of Jackson, and Judge Graham of Dubuque, ex-members of the legislature, members of the historical society, the press representatives, and distant relatives of the first governor, there were Mrs. John Briggs of Omaha, a daughter-in-law with whom the governor made his home during his last years, and her daughter Mrs. Nannie Briggs-Robertson and husband of Washita, Iowa, and their son. Mrs. Robertson is the granddaughter of Ansel Briggs and had the honor of unveiling the monument.
Among the prominent members of the Jackson County Historical Society present at the exercises were: W. C. Gregory, Harvey Reid, George L. Mitchell, J. W. Ellis, W. B. Swigart, Dr. A. B. Bowen, B. A. Spencer, D. A. Fletcher, Jas. Fairbrother and Dr. Chas. Collins, all of Maquoketa, and Mrs. Elizabeth Harding of Clinton, granddaughter of Mrs. Frances Carpenter Briggs, third wife of Governor Ansel Briggs.
A feature of the afternoon exercises, and which followed the memorial ad- dress, was the presentation of a large and beautiful floral tribute from Omaha, accompanied by the following card from Mayor Dahlman and read to the audi- ence by Chairman Mitchell :
"To the Mayor of the City of Andrew, Iowa: In the name of the city of Omaha, we herewith present this wreath of laurel in memory of Ansel Briggs, first governor of Iowa, in recognition of the fact that Governor Briggs spent the last six years of his life in Omaha, and was an incorporator of the Omaha & Florence Land Company. He was highly respected by all of our citizens.
(Signed) JAMES A. DAHLMAN, Mayor."
Mayor Sampson made response in behalf of the city of Andrew, expressing the appreciation felt and in closing stated that Andrew had furnished the state its first governor and if the time ever comes when Iowa needs more good timber for governor, Andrew stands ready to supply it.
The program was carried out in the order and as above outlined.
MEMORIAL ADDRESS OF HON. W. C. GREGORY.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have assembled here today to do honor to the character, work and mem- ory of a pioneer lawmaker, a distinguished citizen and former resident of this town.
It was here that he spent many years of his active, useful life. The coming together of so many who personally knew him testifies to the love and esteem in which he was held by those nearest to him, and standing here in the city of the dead, where so many of his kindred and friends are buried, we feel, if possible, that the spirits of the departed are hovering over us with loving interest, and
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we read on the faces of this vast assemblage the satisfaction and hallowed joy that the purpose of this occasion has created.
Ansel Briggs was born in the State of Vermont on the 3d day of February, 1806. His boyhood was passed in his native state, where he attended the common schools and received a fair education, supplemented by a term in Norwich Acad- emy. He went to Cambridge in the State of Ohio in the year 1830 where he engaged in the business of establishing and maintaining stage lines. He soon imbibed the spirit of officeholding, so prevalent in that state, and accepted the nomination for the office of county auditor on the whig ticket but suffered de- feat. Thereafter he cast his lot with the democratic party. Having entered into a contract with the United States to carry the mail on horseback from Davenport to Dubuque, also to Iowa City, he moved his family to Iowa in the year 1836, and located at the town of Andrew, Jackson county.
He immediately identified himself with the community. He did more, His spirit of enterprise, his great desire to benefit the community, his comprehension of their wants and necessities, prompted him to take up and carry on nearly all kinds of business and work that was conducive to the wants of the community, and the upbuilding of the town in which he soon became first and foremost.
He became half owner of the plat of the town of Andrew in which is located the cemetery in which we are assembled and which he donated to the town. He also became the owner of the farm adjacent on the east, and cultivated its soil. He established the first grocery store in the town of Andrew, and established a newspaper, which he put under the editorial management of that able journalist, Joseph B. Dorr, who in the war of the rebellion became distinguished as colonel of the Eighth Regiment, Iowa Cavalry. He also built and caused to be operated a sawmill near the town of Andrew, and established a stage line from Muscatine to Dubuque.
Busy, hardworking man though he was, he was not unmindful of his duty as a citizen, to take part in the political affairs of his town, county and state, and such was his prominence and recognized ability, that in the year 1842, he was elected to represent Jackson county in the territorial legislature, and he thereby became prominent in the counsels of his party.
At the expiration of his term in the legislature he was elected sheriff of Jack- son county. Iowa having been admitted into the Union as a state, the political par- ties held conventions to place in nomination candidates for the office of governor and other state officers. The democratic party held a convention at Iowa City on the 24th day of September, 1846. Jackson county had attained prominence by reason of the fact that it had given the largest majority for the constitution in proportion to the number of votes cast at that election and therefore was styled "the banner county of democracy," and it was conceded that this county should have the privilege of presenting the first name as candidate for the nomination for governor. Accordingly John J. Dyer, then a resident of Andrew, and soon afterward appointed federal judge for the district formed by the State of Iowa, and thereby became the first judge of that district, and who had been favorably mentioned as candidate for governor, graciously presented the name of his fellow townsman, Ansel Briggs.
There were three candidates for the nomination, Jesse Williams, Wm. Thomp- son, and Ansel Briggs. Mr. Briggs received sixty-two votes to thirty-one and thirty-two to the other candidates respectively on the first ballot, whereupon the other candidates withdrew and the nomination of Briggs was made on the second ballot by acclamation. He was elected over the whig candidate, Thomas Mc- Knight, by a majority of two hundred and forty-seven.
One of the principal issues between the whig and democratic parties at this time was as to banks. The democratic party opposed all banks of issue. A short time before the convention was held which nominated Governor Briggs, he at a banquet, in response to a toast in defining his position on this question uttered the following: "No banks but Iowa soil and they well tilled." This seemed to
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sound the keynote to the position of his party, and made him the popular man of the day, and did much towards securing his nomination for governor. He was inaugurated as governor on the 3d day of December, 1846, and the work of build- ing a state began.
Zone girdles, territorial lines, broad prairies, fertile soil, coal deposits, beauti- ful river, valuable timber, magnificent water powers, do not alone constitute a state. When Iowa was carved out of the Louisiana purchase, extending about two hundred and fifty miles from north to south, three hundred miles from east to west, skirted and bounded on the east and on the west by mighty rivers, it be- came "The land of God's farm," "Beautiful Land," and to build a state for the people then living therein, and the millions who should come after, required men -men who had been moulded for such work, men of more brains than brawn ; men of heart and soul, who believed in the fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of man; men who from learning, practical work and observation had become broad, safe and strong, who would generalize, crystallize and condense into law the best from older states and from the lives, experience, necessities and observa- tions of themselves, so that in all that was good, Iowa would have the best in the constructive work of legislation, and enact laws that would produce the greatest happiness to the greatest number, and in fact have a state government, "of the people. by the people and for the people." Such was the type and character of Governor Briggs and the members of the legislature under his administration. It is far from my desire, as I know it would be from the approbation of him whom we have met to honor, to adorn his memory with a chaplet plucked from the brow or domain of others; but we claim that at the time he was placed in the executive chair, that he represented in his person, and measured up full in his qualifications to all of the requirements of his exalted position.
From his young manhood, in direct and vigorous contact with men and things -the great school of experience and observation-he gathered the strength of that character by which he was known, that character which is the most dis- tinctive and highly prized possession of the best citizen, measuring up to self- reliance, firmness and practicability, and he contributed no small amount of his time and store of practical knowledge to the preparation of bills and measures in the great constructive work of the legislature.
Acts of general interest were passed during the first legislature, to complete the change from territorial to state government; to provide for the election of United States senators; to establish certain new counties and state roads; to provide for common schools ; to elect a superintendent of public instruction, and management of school funds, and to provide for the instruction of the deaf, dumb and blind, and many other important measures we cannot take time to mention. We mention only such as show the general trend of legislation. The distinguish- ing act of the second legislature under his administration was known as the home- stead law, which affected every household and home in the state. The people were poor. There was but little money in circulation, the rate per capita being one dollar and eleven cents. The money shark was abroad in the land; the rates of interest were from ten to forty per cent, and the small beginnings and poverty stricken homes were being consumed in the whirlpool of judicial procedure, for the small debts contracted for the necessities of life.
An act was passed providing for the exemption of the homestead of the family from judicial sale. This law had been amended and improved from time to time, but the important and vital features remain the settled law of the state.
The enactment of the school law and its approval by the executive, deserves more than a passing notice for it is under the operation of this initial law and amendments, that our magnificent system of schools has been built up and the percentage of illiteracy of the state has been the smallest, and now is, of any state in the Union save one. In addition to the enactments as to the common schools, an act was passed for establishing and organizing of three normal schools, and providing for a state university at Iowa City. Governor Briggs secured the loca-
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
tion of one of the normal schools at Andrew. The work of constructing a build- ing under this act had progressed at this place to the completion of the walls when it was destroyed by a tornado, and it was never rebuilt.
Hail to the memory of the first governor and the members of the legislature who did so much for the intellectual growth and development of the children of our state, and for the protection of home and family.
His term of office expired December 4, 1850, on the inauguration of Stephen Hemstead, his successor. His administration had been able, honest and progres- sive and the state kept from debt. There was a balance of one dollar and thirty- nine cents in the treasury at the close of his administration.
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