USA > Iowa > Johnson County > History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882 > Part 28
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SAMUEL SPURRIER, THOS. COMBE.
The next day the board made the following order for an insane hospital.
On motion, ordered that the committee on poor-house be instructed to either construct a new building or remodel rooms in the poor-house, as in their discretion may seem best, for the purpose of providing suitable accommodations for the insane of this county, not admissable to the insane hospital of the State, said improvement to be completed as soon as possible.
COMPLETE RECORD OF COUNTY BRIDGES.
It is claimed for Johnson county that she is the best bridged county in the State. The location, kind and cost of these bridges is a matter of per- manent interest and importance to the people who use and pay for them: REPORT OF BRIDGE COMMITTEE FOR 1876.
Location of Bridge. Cost.
Length
of span.
40 ft.
Long's patent combination bridge on Burlington road in Pleasant Valley twp., including iron piling.
$481.05
Riprap for the same.
145.20
40 ft.
Long's patent combination bridge over Snyder creek on line between Scott and Lucas twps., including iron pil- ing.
565.00
Crossing over branch near same .
74.20
Grading approach to same ..
65.00
40 ft. Long's P. C. bridge over Soufal creek, Jefferson twp .. .
340.00
40 ft. Long's P. C. bridge over Justice creek in Monroe twp. Stone abutments, bend quarries for No's 3 and 4
1,987.67
Riprap and approach to No's 3 and 4 ...
219.83
Eleven Long's patent combination as follows:
340.00
36 ft. Bridge over Knapp creek, Monroe twp
44 ft. 66 Berry Branch, Oxford 66 S0 ft. Old Man's creek, Liberty twp
225
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
44 ft. Bridge over Stream, Fremont twp.
40 ft.
66 Wapsie, Scott twp.
36 ft. 66 Jones creek, Graham twp.
40 ft. 66 Mill creek, Cedar twp.
36 ft. 66
66
Single creek, Big Grove twp
30 ft. 66 Spring Run, Madison twp
36 ft. 66 Near Dalton's, Lucas twp
40 ft. 66 Brierton road, Hardin twp. 66
4,000.00
Including the foundations for seven of the foregoing. . .. Stone abutments, Iowa City quarries, for Berry Branch bridge, Oxford. 1,104.48
Riprap and grading approach to same.
152.50
Abutments, Iowa City quarries, for Dalton bridge
371.55
Temporary crossing here.
12.45
Stone abutments, bend quarries, for bridge over Spring Run. . 532.95
Stone culvert near Phil. Clark's, Newport twp. 83.00
Bridge on Saxton road, Hardin twp.
193.50
Grading approaches to new bridges
327.50
Repairing old bridges and approaches.
224.90 Bridge timber, lumber and sundry minor repairs.
119.97
300.
Stone abutments, pier, foundations and ripraps for bridge across Iowa river, Iowa City, one-half payments as per contract. . 3,186.63
Wrought iron bridge company, Canton, Ohio, for Iowa
river bridge, one-half as per contract. 3,900.00
Total $18,427.38
By the above report it will be seen that it has been necessary to carry over deferred payments in the sum of $7,086.63, provided for in the con- tracts, and made payable in March next.
Our estimates for the ensuing year are:
Cash in hand.
$ 1,463.31
Taxes for 1876 now being collected
18,507.01
Bridge fund for 1877
$19,970.32
Deduct deferred payments to be made 7,086.63
Balance for bridges for 1877 $12,883.69
Respectfully submitted,
J. A. STEPHENSON, J. H. CLARK, HENRY SULLIVAN,
THOMAS COMBE,
G. W. NELSON, Committee on Highways and Bridges.
PRIDGE BUILDING AND EXPENSES .- 1877.
Cost.
50 ft. span, on county line, Oxford, half, pile foundation $200 00
40 66 Washington, “ 200 00
60 Liberty township, pile foundation. 480 00
36
Scott 66
246 00
30 Newport 66 220 80
226
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
36 ft. span, Big Grove twp., pile foundation
264 96
30
Big Grove "
220 80
18
66 Cedar
138 48
1S
Lucas
stone
66
294 40
46
Union
66
66
33S 56
40
66
Pleas. Val. "
66
66
294 30
30
Madison
220 80
40
Scott
66
iron
294 45
30
66 Clear Ck.
stone, N. B. "
180 00
40
66
Penn
66
pile
294 40
36
Lincoln
66
66
338 56
50
66
Monroe
66
66
66
368 00
36
Clear Ck. 66
stone, N. B
66
216 00
60
66
Clear Ck.
66
66
66
441 60
40
Wash'n
pile
66
294 40
50
66
Wash'n
60
66
66
368 00
25
66 Oxford
66
c :
264 96
26
66
Oxford
66
66
294 40
The contracts heretofore required three piles for each foundation, giving one central support to the planking for the earth fill; this was found to be insufficient; the committee, therefore, ordered two extra piles for each bridge at a cost of $165.60
STONE WORK.
Abutments, Foster Creek, Lucas twp., blue stone, including riprap .
$ 691 50
Abutments at Wolf's, Clear Creek, North Bend stone. 705 43
Abutments at Watson's, Clear Creek, North Bend stone 782 73
Abutments at Tiffin, Clear Creek, North Bend stone
1,102 95
Iron pile, Scott township.
80 00
Raising pier of Free Bridge, North Bend stone
275 00
Riprap, sundry bridges
166 00
Macadam to approach to new iron bridge
121 62
Grading approaches and ditching
517 40
Lumber, material and repairs to old bridges.
531 14
Road change, Monroe township
40 00
Committee work, expenses and supervising work.
405 65
Driving piles at Oxford
20 00
Balance payment on new Canton bridge.
8,256 10
The bridges built during the year are ' Long's Patent,' except the two 'strain beam ' specified
Total cost of work completed. 20,966 24
Total amount paid. 19,607 46
Balance due
1,358 78
There are now in this county fifteen wrought iron bridges, three of which span the Iowa river, and fifty-two of Long's Patent Combination, making a total of sixty-seven first class, durable bridges, upon which in
132 48
40
Union
pile
66
220 30
30
Fremont
26+ 96
46
Monroe
[county line].
66
227
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
five years past there has been expended for repairs less than $100, nor has the county lost one by defect or high water.
REPORT OF BRIDGE COMMITTEE FOR 187S .- BRIDGES BUILT.
Townships. Length. Foundation.
Location. Cost.
Washington. . 40 feet
pile.
Deer Creek near Bender's,. $320
Hardin 30
pile.
North Fork O. M. Creek 240
Lucas 36
CC stone. Ralston Creek, near Irish's. 268
Hardin 30
pile.
Branch O. M. Creek, near Seeny's .. 240
Fremont. 60
iron.
Buck Creek, near Raynor's. 484
Lincoln . 46
pile.
Stream, near Heath's . 36S
Scott. 30
66
pile.
Stream, near Hinman's 240
Pleasant Val'y 30
pile.
Stream, near Bales' 240
Madison 30 66
pile.
Stream, near Anderson's. 240
Hardin .50 66
pile.
North Fork O. M. Creek, nr Healy's
400
Hardin. .36
66
pile.
Stream, near Flanney's ..
2SS
Union 30
66 pile.
·pile.
Stream, near Carr's. 240
Jefferson 36
66
pile.
McAllister Creek, near Anderson's .. 288
Monroe. .60
iron.
Knapp's Creek, near Wavera's. 468
Penn . 36
stone.
Pardieu Creek, near Zeller's.
268
Clear Creek .. 30 66
66
pile.
Clear Creek, near Barry's. 480
Sharon . 30
pile.
Stream, near Brenneman's.
240
Liberty. 30
pile.
Stream, near Gross'. 240
Union SO
66
stone.
O. M. Creek, near Welch Church. 620
Union . .50
66
pile.
O. M. Creek, near Carson's. 400
Clear Creek. . 30 66
pile.
·Stream, near McCraith's. 240
Clear Creek. . 30 66
pile.
Deer Creek, near Hogan's. 240
Graham .. ... 50
pile.
Rapid Creek, near Holland's. 400
Big Grove. .. 36 66
pile.
Big Grove .. . 40
pile.
Lengle Creek, near Fuhrmeister's .. 320
Big Grove .. . 36 66 pile. On line Johnson and Linn counties .. 288
Liberty .30 66
pile.
Old Channel, O. M. Creek. 240
Union . 75 66
pile.
O. M. Creek, at Kaufman's mill. 600
Union . 34 66
pile.
Old Man's Creek, near Sehorn's .. 288
Masonry-Abutments, Ralston creek bridge and riprap. $ 686.50
Masonry-Abutments, O. M. creek and riprap. 1,690.75
Masonry-Abutments, Pardieu creek bridge and riprap. . 566.26
Masonry-North Bend stone coping on R. and O. M. Creeks. 106.00
Iron-Eight iron columns, two iron pile caps, Buck creek bridge. 165.00
Iron-Eight iron columns, two iron pile caps, Knapp creek bridge
165.00
Cost of new work $14,343.51
RIPRAP, GRADING, MATERIAL AND REPAIRS.
Riprap stone work built in prior. 266.00
Grading approaches to thirty-four. SS5.38
Lumber and other material for repairs 84.05
Repairs to Hamilton's bridge abutments
149.25
Madison . .36 66
pile.
Stream, near Bealer's. 2SS
Stream, near Hufman's 240
Monroe 30
pile.
Stream, near Bond's. .
240
Oxford 60
Newport .. .50
pile.
Turkey Creek, near Plashel's 400
Mill Creek, near Conklin's. 288
Hardin . 40 66
pile. Branch O. M. Creek, near Callagy's 320
228
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Repairs to Robert's ferry bridge abutments. 82.00
Temporary crossings .. . 15.50
Removing old Buck creek bridge 12.00
Moving bridge, Monroe.
25.00
Extra piling in Hardin and Union
44.20
Repairs on old bridge, Clear creek.
29.75
Repairs bridge, Oxford 14.31
61.95
Committee work to bridge account .
21.00
Total new work, repairs, etc. $16,033.90
Balance to E. J. C. Bealer on account of 1877. 22.50
Balance to Richard Long on account of 1877 1,358.78
Total for 1878
17,415.81
Less one-half cost of county line bridge to Linn county .
164.00
Net expenses to bridge fund, 1878 17,251.18
At the close of 1877, there were, 'Permanent Bridges'
67
There now are, 'Permanent Bridges'
101
On stone abutments and piers
31
On iron foundation
6
On pile foundation
64
There is due Long on contract.
3,003.32
Balance cash on hand
1,888.84
Amount carried .over.
1,114.48
Iowa City, January 1, 1870.
REPORT OF BRIDGE COMMITTEE .- 1879.
To the Board of Supervisors-GENTLEMEN: The committee on bridges and highways submit herewith their annual report, showing the amount of work done during the year 1879, and the cost of the same:
Township.
Length of span.
Cost. $375
Oxford .
. 60 feet. 450
Fremont.
.30 feet.
675
Pleasant Valley and Lucas.
40 feet. 300
Pleasant Valley and Lucas 30 feet
225
Washington . .50 feet 375
Washington 30 feet
675
Hardin .
40 feet. 300
Hardin .
.50 feet
375
Jefferson
.30 feet 450
Jefferson
. 36 feet. 540
Monroe
.30 feet
225
Monroe.
40 feet
300
Big Grove.
. 30 feet.
450
Big Grove. 40 feet
300
Big Grove
50 feet. 375
Madison . .
30 feet
450
Clear Creek
.30 feet
225
Penn 30 feet
205
Oxford
50 feet.
Sundry minor repairs
229
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Cedar. 30 feet 450
Liberty 60 feet 450
Union . 40 feet. 300
Total.
$8,470
These bridges are Long's Patent Combination, and were built by Richard Long, of Iowa City.
There were also built:
One common strain beam bridge in Pleasant Valley . $
118.00
One common strain beam bridge in Lucas.
625.80
Masonry and riprap.
28.65
Iron abutments
658.00
Repairs and painting 897.09
Expenses board charged to bridge.
884.54
Total new work and repairs $ 12,433.33
Paid Long balance, 1878, account
$ 2,997.32
Total expenses to bridge fund
$ 15.430.65
The contracts are paid in full except a few claims included and uncalled for.
$ 15.91
Due from bridge fund.
$ 15.91
Balance cash on hand January 1, 1880. $ 1,723.30 Of the bridges built during the year, five have iron, one stone, and twenty-five wood pile foundations.
Bridges at the close of 1878
101
Added in 1879
31
On stone.
32
On iron.
11
REPORT CF BRIDGE COMMITTEE .- 1880.
To the Hon. Board of Supervisors of Johnson County-Gentlemen:
The committee on highways and bridges herewith submit their annual report of the work under their supervision for the year 1880:
BRIDGES BUILT.
Township.
Length of span. tion. . 30 feet . . pile $
Cost. 240.00
Lincoln.
.30
66
240.00
Pleasant Valley
30
480.00
Newport. 16
60.00
E. Lucas
.CO
66
240.00
Liberty .
30
·
480.00
Liberty
40
... .
320.00
Founda-
Fremont
15
Extra piling. 750.00
Grading.
230
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Sharon
30 feet
. . pile
465.00
Washington Union .
40
320.00
30
450.00
Union .
70
iron
700.00
Clear Creek
40
pile
300.00
Clear Creek
.30
225.00
Clear Creek
Arch.
stone.
989.60
Madison
30 feet
pile
450.00
Monroe.
30
450.00
Jefferson
30
66
675.00
Big Grove.
36
60
66
270.00
Big Grove
50
375.00
Oxford.
30
66
225.00
Graham.
30
225.00
E. Lucas
30
stone
300.00
Cedar
30
pile
900.00
Total $9,379.60
Of the above bridges twenty-nine are Long's patent combination arch and were built by Richard Long, of Iowa City. Two are iron bridges, "Whipple type," one combination truss bridge and were built by Geo. T. Baker. One stone arch, and one common wooden bridge.
Abutments
$
490.00
Repairs and extra piling
322.89
Grading
711.40
Riprap
863.73
Total new work and repairs. $11,918.12
The contracts are paid in full except a few claims included and uncalled for, as follows:
Due from bridge fund. $ 40.43
Balance cash on hand Jan. 1, 1881. $1,217.04
Of the bridges built during the year two have stone, one iron, and thir- ty-two wood pile foundation.
Bridges at the close of the year 1879
132
Added 1880 34
Total No. bridges
166
On iron foundation
12
stone
34
" pile
120
Respectfully submitted,
Jan. 1, 1881. JAMES B. STRONG, Chairman Bridge Com.
150.50
Expenses board of supervisors charged to bridge.
231
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
REPORT OF BRIDGE COMMITTE-1881. To the honorable Board of Supervisors of Johnson county :
GENTLEMEN: The committee on highways and bridges, herewith sub- mit their annual report of the work done under their supervision during the year 1881.
Township.
Length of span. . 50 feet
Founda- tion. Pile
$
Cost. 345.00
30
66
205.50
70
66
479.00
40
66
66
280.00
Oxford
40
66
66
280.00
30
66
66
205.50
36
66
66
246.60
Lucas
.30
616.50
66
.30
stone
205.50
20
66
pile
66
411.00
Scott
30
66
205.00
On county line between Cedar and Johnson counties
.30
66
205.50
Graham 66
30
66
205.50
20
66
105.00
Newport
.30
60
205.50
16
66
95.00
Lincoln
30
205.50
36
66
66
252.00
On line between Lincoln and
Fremont townships
30
٠،
205.50
Fremont 66
30
66
205.50
On the line dividing Muscatine
and Johnson counties.
.30
66
66
205.50
Sharon .
30
66
411.00
Pleasant Valley
30
66
616.50
Washington
40
66
66
554.50
.30
66
66
205.50
Hardin
30
60
66
411.00
Madison
60
66
411.00
Penn
16
66
90.00
Monroe
.36
66
66
411.00
Liberty
30
66
411.00
Big Grove
36
66
252.00
66
18
. . . .
70.00
. . . .
$10,013.10
.36
66
252.00
CC
252.00
Jefferson
30
.
Of the above bridges, twenty-six are Long's patent combination arch, and two common wooden bridges, and were built by R. Long, of Iowa City. Fifteen are Jayne's patent combination arch, and two common wooden bridges, built by Jno. E. Jaynes, of Iowa City. Also one com- mon wooden bridge, built by W. A. Palmer, of Solon, Iowa.
30
205.50
Clear Creek
30
90.00
Union
232
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
Appropriation to Iowa City for bridges $ 400.00
Care of Iowa river bridge at Iowa City 68.00
Abutments . . 997.25
Repairs, material and extra pilings.
Grading 1,768.48
1,240.70
Riprap
353.43
Expenses board of supervisors charged to bridge .. . 886.79
Total new work and repairs $15,727.75
The contracts are paid in full, except a few claims included and uncalled for as follows:
Due from bridge fund $ 74.18
Balance cash on hand January 1, 1882. 177.20
Of the bridges built during the year, one has stone foundation and forty- five have wood pile foundation.
Bridges at the close of the year 1880 166
Added, 1881. 46
Total number bridges 212
On iron foundation
12
On stone 66
3.5
On pile
165.
Respectfully submitted, BRUCE PATTERSON, Chairman Bridge Committee.
THE IOWA CITY BRIDGE.
Sept. 7, 1864. The undersigned bridge committee, to whom was referred the matter of the free bridge across the river at Iowa City, report :
1st. That said bridge has been completed and accepted.
2d. The cost was as follows:
Building new span $4,290.00
Repairing old bridge as per contract. 1,200.00
Extra work and material not in contract 162.06
Lumber furnished by Close & Gant. 78.00
Boomer for right. 250.00
Interest on sums borrowed, and stamps
250.21
Total $6,230.27
Which was paid as follows:
Note to state bank, due Oct. 18, 1864, for $5,972,42
Proceeds of old material 257.85
Total $6,230.27
Contract and vouchers are respectfully submitted.
[Signed.] JOHN P. HUSKINS, SAMUEL H. FAIRALL, S
Committee.
233
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
EARLY ROADS AND FERRIES.
The first ferry that was ever started in Johnson county, was by Ben- jamin Miller, in the winter of 1838-39, and was located just below the old mouth of Ralston creek, and a little below where the B., C. R. and N. R. R. now crosses the lowa river. It was just at or near the upper edge of the old Napoleon town site.
The first record of a ferry license issued by the county board is of date March 6, 1840, to Sturgis & Douglas-license to keep a ferry for one year, at the place on the lowa river, known as Sturgis' ferry. They were charged 'five dollars for the license, and the following was fixed as the toll rates for all ferries in Johnson county:
For a footman. 123 cents
One horse and wagon. . 37%
One yoke of oxen and wagon. 50
One span of horses and wagon 50
One horse and man. 25
66
Each additional horse or yoke of oxen 123
Each head of neat cattle in droves.
61
66
Sheep and hogs per head. 3
At the same date license was issued for "Andrew D. Stephen and others" (the old original record says "& Co.") to keep a ferry where the National road crossed the Iowa river; and they were charged fifteen dol- lars license fee-just three times as much as the Sturgis' ferry. That was the main line of travel in this region at that time. But this Stephen license was revoked October 13, 1840, because, as the record states, " the said A. D. Stephen having neglected an unreasonable time to erect the same." And the fifteen dollars license fee received was paid back to Stephen.
The next ferry license was issued October 12, 1840, to F. A. A. Cobbs, for a ferry at Napoleon, the one first started by Benj. Miller. He was required to pay ten dollars per year, and give a bond for two hundred dollars with free-hold security. This was the first bonded ferry license; and the bill of toll rates which had been ordered in March for the whole county was now changed for this ferry in the following particulars:
Footman, 62 cents, instead of 123.
Man and horse, 122 cents, instead of 25.
Horse and carriage, 25 cents, instead of 37.
Two horses or oxen and wagon, 372 cents, instead of 50.
Each additional horse, 62 cents instead of 122.
The younger readers of this history will wonder how change was made for one-half cents, and one-fourth cents in paying the above ferriage rates. And it is proper here to explain that in those days the silver coin used in the United States was mostly of Spanish or Mexican product; and they furnished a 122 cent piece, which was called by various names in different parts of the country, such as "bit," "levy," "'levenpence," "shilling," etc .;
234
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
while the 6} cent piece was called "fip," "fippenny-bit," "six-pence," "picayune," etc. This was before the days of "dimes" and "nickels." There was also occasionally a copper half-cent coin met with, but they never got into common use. One cent pieces, or "coppers" as they were called, were common; and very often in making change one party or the other had to give off the half cent.
The first ferry license at Iowa City was issued October 13, 1840, to John Abel, who was to pay fifteen dollars per year. The toll rates were fixed the same as at Napoleon, but there is no mention of any bond in the case.
But it appears that Mr. Abel relinquished this ferry the next year, and on Oct. 4, 1841, a license was granted to Pleasant Arthur to keep a ferry at the same place. The license fee was raised to twenty-five dollars, and this was paid by Dr. Ballard, on October Sth.
FIRST COUNTY ROAD.
The first mention that appears of record in regard to any road, is of date, May 15, 1839, where the "court orders that Samuel H. McCrory be appointed as a commissioner on the part of the county, to locate a ter- ritorial road leading from opposite Oquawka, Illinois, to Napoleon."
The next road item recorded is of date January 1, 1840, when the fol- lowing appears:
"Ordered, that John Gilliland be allowed ten dollars and fifty cents for services as surveyor on the territorial road from Oquawka to Napoleon." At the same time, Jacob S. Rinearson and Daniel Brewer were allowed nine dollars each for services rendered the county as road commissioners. The record does not show that McCrory ever acted on his appointment.
The next is March 6, 1840, when a petition was presented for a county road running northwesterly from Iowa City ten miles after crossing Clear creek. John Eagan, Warren Stiles and Jonathan Harris were appointed to locate this road; and this was in fact, Road Order No. I, of all that have ever been issued in Johnson county ..
The next road record occurs July 4, 1840, and pertains to the Johnson county part of the road from Iowa City to Burlington, on which Michael Ritner was the surveyor, and J. Larton and Luke Douglas the road com- missioners. Any roads prior to these were either the old Indian trails or the hap-hazard ox wagon tracks, wherever they could find a dry and level passage across the prairies. And any work done toward fixing a way to cross any brook, ravine, or creek, was a private matter, and no thanks to the county.
After this, road matters crowd on rapidly. It appears that Johnson county joined interest with the Bloomington people, to make a good wagon road between the two points, for on October 13, 1840, the county
235
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
board paid sundry claims for work on a new road from Bloomington [Muscatine] to the west line of Washington county, as follows:
Name. Amount paid.
Service rendered.
Cyrus Cox. $1 50 .commissioner.
A. H. Haskell 1 50 . commissioner.
I. B. Davis. 2 50 . surveyor.
Isaac Reeder .
1 25 . chainbearer.
Cyrus Cox again
1 25
. chainbearer.
Samuel Cooper 3 50 self, oxen and wagon.
The same day a lot of claims were allowed for services to the county in locating " the road from Bloomington to Iowa City;" and this is the first mention in the records of Iowa City in connection with any road. The claims in this case were:
Name. Am't.
Service.
T. L. A. Boalsby $ 3 75 chain carrier.
William A. Bagley
3 75 . axman.
J. G. Lane
7 50 with team.
William Grear
5 00 . chain carrier and preparing stakes.
Robert Stuart
7 50 · surveyor.
Samuel H. McCrory
16 00 commissioner.
On the same day bills were allowed for services on the road from Wyoming to Iowa City, as follows:
John Sherfy 17 50 ... commissioner and surveyor.
John Hesser 8 25 commissioner.
John G. Lane.
1 25. . with team.
A. Bagley
623. marking out the road.
William Grear.
623 chain carrier.
William B. Snyder 13 50 .. with team, etc.
FIRST ROAD PLAT.
The first plat, map or diagram of a road that was recorded and pre- served was made by William McCormick, surveyor, of a road from Iowa City, which kept on the east and north side of the river, to the west line of the county. The road was located by James Cavanagh, John Eagan and C. S. Foster, February 18, 1841. On this plat Rapid creek is marked Rabid creek.
In connection with these first county roads comes up the case of the old National or Military road between Iowa City and Dubuque. The " old settlers " of Johnson county differed among themselves somewhat in regard to it; but there was no records or official source within our reach, so we wrote to Hon. Edward Langworthy, of Dubuque, for a sketch of his recollections in regard to it, as he was one of the contractors who built it, and received the following reply from the aged veteran:
MR. LANGWORTHY'S LETTER.
DUBUQUE, Aug. 3, 1882.
H. A. Reid, Esq.,-DEAR SIR: In replying to yours of July 31, I have taken a part of my seventy-fourth birthday for that purpose, as it calls to
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
my mind the very many pleasant days I have spent in your beautiful Iowa City and the many acts of kindness I have received from the citizens of that place. In its darkest days it was in my power to render your town some service in hastening the construction of the capitol when almost a majority of the territorial legislature were determined on stopping its pro- gress; and I received a very cordial invitation to partake of a public din- ner there -- which my duties compelled me to decline. But I told them I would spend an evening with them on my return trip home-and a happy evening it was to me, as the whole city met me with kindly greeting and very complimentary addresses. I also had the pleasure of a residence, or stay, in your city, as a member of the first constitutional convention; but we made the state too large (northerly) to suit our southern friends, and it failed before the people. But my stay there was made very pleasant by my old-time friends.
Regarding the military road from Dubuque to Iowa City, I can give you some information. My brothers, James L. and Lucius H., and myself had the contract to make the road from Dubuque to the Cedar river, and at the risk of taking something from the romance of the late publications, I will give the facts according to my present recollection of them. There was an appropriation for that object and it was placed in charge of a Mr. Tighlman, a U. S. engineer, who made a thorough survey of the whole route and let the contracts, after which he directed Mr. Lyman Dillon, of Cascade, to plow a furrow on one side the whole length of the road, which he did under the personal superintendence of the engineer, as a guide to the contractors.
The road was sub-let by us in small sections from here to Cascade, and the balance was done by my oldest brother, James, who had a large force of men and teams all the season at work on the road, and completed the same to the entire satisfaction of the engineer. I remember driving my carriage with some eastern friends on that road to Iowa City while the work was progressing, and after looking over the city and its surround- ings we returned one afternoon and camped with my brother James and his men on the east end of the renowned Linn Grove, and reached Dubuque next day by early moonlight. In those early days the counties of Johnson and Linn were intimately connected with Dubuque in all their business relations; it was here they sold their pork and produce, and here they found moneyed men to enter their land for them at twenty per cent. interest, and here they found their political friends who, joined with the people of Lee and other southern counties, located the capitol in Iowa City as against the united voice of Burlington, Fairfield and the balance of then Central Iowa; and when removed it was west-not south.
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