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 73
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feelings and outflank Aslin, called the creek "Dirty Face," as it was then called Dollarhide creek.
. Spring run was so named twenty years ago by the writer, from its being less liable to freeze than ordinary streams emptying into Purdoo creek.
Spring creek was so named for similar reasons as Spring run, and its neighborhood was first settled by Adolph Roberts.
Dry run, so named from its liability to rise very high during a thaw in winter, freeze over, and the water leave the ice sometimes ten or twelve feet, was first settled upon by O. G. Babcock and Henry S. Gould.
. NAME OF SETTLEMENT.
Big Bottom was the name known to frontier men before settlement; after settlement it named itself the Bend or North Bend, the Iowa river bearing nearly due north, and then nearly due west, making the name- North Bend of the Iowa River.
A scarcity of mills for grinding was among the privations to endure by those pioneer families. Before any mills were in the county, not an unusual mode of grinding corn was by a grate made of a piece of tin eight by ten or twelve inches, punched full of holes, and nailed, with the rough side up, on a piece of hewed wood, and raised in the middle by sticking a cob under it. The corn was boiled, then half dried, and it would grate easily. One of these primitive grates or mills is still in exist- ence, and ought to be preserved. The Switzer mills, near Iowa City, the first in the county, afforded some relief. Next, Mr. Chaney commenced building a mill near the mouth of Purdoo creek, the burrs of which he manufactured out of our prairie boulders. This was some help, but in low water Mr. Chaney had to sometimes help the water-wheel to start, and if it ceased to move help was applied, and it would grind and bolt some. At present the nearest mill on the Iowa River claims over two hundred horse-power, and there is another of considerable capacity, and a number of steam flouring mills, and the Iowa river water-power is still not yet half improved. Imagination may well be stretched to measure the next thirty years by the past thirty, or by looking at the little corn grate and then at our present merchant mills. It would be worth a little boat-ride on the Iowa river to the millers of the present day, to see the little corn grate of 1839 and 1840.
ANECDOTES.
In those early days Mr. Geo. Wein procured a Durham bull calf from Ohio, which grew to be a gigantic animal, and was known by the name of Santa Anna, not being handled much, and wild. Israel Clark became the owner of him, and his son Daniel, a young man in the prime of life, undertook to bring him home from the prairies, he being on foot with a bridle in his hand. Tbe bull refused to be driven and he could not drive him, so he concluded to mount him and drive him with the bridle. He
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succeeded in mounting him; the bull bellowing and making all manner of lunges, finally threw him, the bull being the worst worried; and Clark, an exceedingly active and light man, sprang upon his back again, bridle in hand, and this time succeeded in conquering him, and rode him home. Afterward it was said he could ride a buffalo home if he desired, but I think he never succeeded.
While one of those pioneer men was building his cabin, a number of Indians were encamped on the river. A hearty young Indian came up and addressed himself as politely as he knew how, and desired to swap squaws. The man, somewhat amused, enquired of him where his squaw was. He said she had gone up the river. He was then told, no swap.
TRAITS OF CHARACTER.
Notwithstanding the errors which have characterized some of the set- tlers, as is common since the days of Adam and Eve, three things have been foremost among the virtues of the people of this section, viz: 1st, The fear of God. 2d, Industry. 3d, Education. These three are com- mon to the State. This "Big Bottom" now [1870] contains about a dozen school-houses and four meeting-houses or churches.
CHAPTER XI .- PART 1.
HISTORY OF IOWA CITY.
FACTS, INCIDENTS AND SKETCHES OF THE CITY'S EARLY DAYS.
The history of Iowa City is so intimately connected with the early his- tory of Iowa territory, and also with the early settlement of the county, that it has to a large extent been already given in the state history part of this volume, and in the several chapters on different parts of the county history. There is not a chapter of the latter but what involves more or less of the city's history also. Hence there is left for this chapter only a few more especially local matters not presented elsewhere.
Iowa City was located in May, 1839, by the State Capital Commis- sioners. It was surveyed and laid out in June, July and August of that year, under the direction of Chauncey Swan, one of the commissioners. The first lots were sold August 20th, and the first one bid off was to John Trout, for the sum of $100, It was near where the Presbyterian Church now stands.
The city lies in forty-two degrees north latitude, very nearly on the same line with the cities of Cleveland, Ohio, Albany, N. Y., and Boston, Mass. Its longitude is 911/2 degrees west from Washington. No other large city on the same line north and south.
Iowa City township now comprises only the territory within the city limits, as ordered by the county board on January 15, 1873. It is divided
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into two precincts for state elections-north and south-Iowa Avenue forming the separation line; but it is divided into five wards, for city elec- tions and other municipal corporation business. [See history of Lucas township.]
February 4, 1878, in response to certain petitions, the county board ordered:
That the township of Iowa City be, and the same is hereby divided into two precincts for election purposes by a line commencing in the centre of Iowa Avenue at the western boundary line of said Iowa City township, and running thence east along the center of said avenue to the eastern boundary line of Iowa City township; that all that part of said township lying north of said dividing line, shall be called the north precinct of Iowa City township; that all that part of said township lying south of said dividing line shall be called the south precinct of Iowa City township.
September 7, 1878, the following was among the proceedings:
For the election in the north and south precints of Iowa City township the board appointed, as provided in section 606, code, the judges for the precincts, to-wit: South precinct, J. Norwood Clark, H. W. Fyffe and Michael Fitzsimmons. For the north precinct, E. O. Swain, D. S. Barber and J. W. Houza.
CHANGE IN THE BOUNDARY OF IOWA CITY TOWNSHIP.
April 7, 1879, it was by the county board-
Resolved, That the boundary lines of Iowa City township be and the same are hereby changed and extended so as to include that part of Lucas township recently annexed to Iowa City, and to the independent school district of said city and township, to-wit: Beginning at a point on the left bank of the Iowa river at the southwest corner of lot three, of sec- tion fifteen, thence east to the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section fourteen, thence north to the northeast corner of the west half of the southwest quarter of section two; thence west to the northwest corner of the east half of the southeast quarter of section three; thence south to the north line of section ten, all in township seventy-nine north, range six west of the fifth P. M., and the said annexed territory, together with the original territory of Iowa City township, shall from and after this date constitute Iowa City township for all purposes of township organiza- tion. Resolution prevailed.
Mr. L. A. Allen, present township clerk (1882) furnishes the following report:
Iowa City township was organized in 1840. There were then two townships in the county, Iowa City and Big Grove. The first board of trustees were David Griffith, J. W. Lee and J. K. Beranck. First clerk, Geo. L. Taylor.
The first election was held at James McCollister's place, in 1838.
The first school house was built by Jesse Berry, in 1840, adjoining the site now occupied by Seydel's grocery, corner of College and Clinton streets.
The first cemetery was a part of out-lot number ten, which now forms part of the Oakland Cemetery grounds. The equalized value of real
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
estate in the township in 1881 was $1,177,890; the personalty, $420,223; the whole amount of property taxed, $1,598,113. The present township trustees (1882) are J. Norwood Clark, Joseph Pisha and F. W. Rabenan. Clerk, L. A. Allen.] See history of Lucas township.]
LAYING OFF THE COUNTY SEAT.
November 9th, 1840, it was ---
Ordered by the board, that the northwest quarter of section No. fifteen be laid out in blocks and out-lots, as follows: Twenty-four blocks to be surveyed off the north at present,-each block to be three hundred and twenty feet square, including alleys. The north and south streets to correspond with the streets which run north and south in Iowa City, and the streets running east and west to be eighty feet wide, each block to be sub-divided into eight lots each, and alley to be twenty feet wide, under the superintendence of Philip Clark, one of said commissioners.
November 21, 1840, Philip Clark reported to the board that he had per- formed the duty assigned him, and had agreed to pay for services of assistants an aggregate sum of $74.37.
INCORPORATION OF IOWA CITY.
On January 24, 1853, an act was approved and took effect, "To Incor- porate Iowa City." Some passages of this act have a permanent historic interest, and we quote:
"That the town of Iowa City, situated in section ten and the north-west quarter of section fifteen, in township seventy-nine north, of range six west, in Johnson county, is hereby declared to be a city by the name of Iowa City.
"SEC. 2. The said city is made a body corporate, and is invested with all the powers and attributes of a municipal corporation.
"SEC. 3. The legislative authority of the city is vested in a city council, consisting of a mayor, and board of aldermen, composed of three from each ward in the city.
"SEC. 4. The said city shall be divided into three wards, as follows, to-wit: That the portion lying south of Burlington street shall constitute the first ward; that portion lying north of Burlington street and south of Jefferson street shall constitute the second ward; and all that portion lying north of Jefferson street shall constitute the third ward; Provided, That the said city council may change, unite or divide the said wards, or any of them, whenever they shall think it for the interest of the city."
Section 29 shows that the liquor trafic was a tribulation even at that early period in our State history, for it provided that
"When the laws of the State permit or refuse licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors, that the matter shall be within the exclusive authority of said council, and it may at all times prohibit the retail of such liquors, unless such prohibition would be inconsistent with the laws of the State at the time existing; and the said council is authorized to revoke or suspend any of the above licenses, when it deems that the good order and welfare of the city require it."
January 18, 1855, an act was passed to amend our city charter. This amendment provided that all property of the city corporation should be
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
exempt from state and county taxes; that Iowa City should constitute one road district; authorized the city to tax dogs; to borrow money, by vote of the people, etc. But the most important part of this amendment was in regard to extending the city boundaries, as follows:
SECTION 5. That the boundaries of said city shall be extended so as to include the following described premises, to wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of out-lot number twenty-five, as designated on the recorded plat of said city, running thence south along the east side of Gilbert street, as designated on the recorded plat of Lyons' first addition to Iowa City, to where said street intersects the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad depot, thence westerly along the north side of said depot to Maiden Lane as designated on said plat of said Lyons' addition, thence north along the west side of said Maiden Lane, to the south side of out- lot number twenty-four of Iowa City, thence east along the south side of said lot to the place of beginning; and the said described pemises is hereby added to, and included within the corporate limits of Iowa City, and made subject to the jurisdiction of the city authorities thereof in like man- ner, and to all intents end purposes as though the same had been included within the corporate limits of said city, at the time of the incorporation thereof, the said addition to said city shall constitute a part of the first ward thereof until changed by the City Council."
July 16, 1856, the city charter was again amended, and more territory taken into the corporate limits, thus:
"That all that district of country hereafter described, be andt he same is declared to be added to and included within the corporate limits of Iowa City, in the county of Johnson, to wit: Being bounded on the north and west by the present corporative limits of said city, and on the east and south in a line commencing at the southeast corner of lot No. 28, as desig- nated on the original plat of Iowa City; thence south to the Wyoming road as shown on the new map of said city compiled and drawn by J. H. Miller in 1854, thence west to the southeast corner of that part of said city laid out and recorded as the county seat of Johnson county."
A. D. STEPHENS' ADDITION TO IOWA CITY.
APRIL 15, 1846.
Ethiel C. Lyon, the owner of all the interests in and to the town lots, or out-lots, known as "Andrew D. Stephens' addition to Iowa City," this day presented his petition praying for the vacation of said town plot. To which John D. Abel, at the same time (being an owner of one of the lots), objects, and the objections being afterwards withdrawn, it is therefore
Ordered, That all of said town plot be, and the same is hereby vacated, except all that part of the south end of Van Buren street which lies between lots No. 21 and 22, and the south half of the west end of South street, as far east as the centre of Van Buren street, and all of Shoup street which lies on the west side of said town plot.
IOWA CITY IN 1840.
Major Newhall's "Sketches of Iowa," published in 1841, contains a sketch of Iowa City which is worth preserving. It shows what were the known facts of the situation at that time, and the ideas and hopes of the great future of the city and the State then cherished by the most intelli- gent people. Newhall says:
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
The unprecedented growth of Iowa City, from a wilderness frontier, beyond the pale of civilization, is indeed a wonder in the growth of towns. When the reader reflects that on the 1st day of May, 1839, this spot was the hunting-ground of the savage, where now refinement and even ele- gance have made their visible impress, the capitol rearing its massy walls above the forest, and brick stores and spacious hotels erecting where the council fires have scarcely ceased to burn; surely his mind must be rapt in astonishment in contemplating its rapid growth.
On the 4th of May, 1839, the commissioners appointed by the legisla- tive assembly selected the site of the new city, to be the future and per- manent capital of Iowa. The spot selected is near the geographical cen- tre of Johnson county, and occupied a convenient and central position in the territory of Iowa. It is situated about thirty-three miles west northwest from Bloomington, sixty-five miles west from Parkhurst on the Mississippi, about twenty miles east of the Indian boundary, eighty east of the mouth of the Raccoon fork of the Des Moines, ninety south from the neutral grounds of the Sacs and Foxes, eighty-three north of the Missouri line, eighty-six miles from Dubuque, and seventy-five from Burlington.
The principal requistes required by the commissioners in locating the permanent capital of Iowa were health, beauty of location, good water, and convenience to timber and stone suitable for building; all of which they found combined, in an eminent degree, at the same spot, and cen- trally situated in the midst of a region of country which, for natural beauty and fertility of soil, may safely challenge a comparison with the world.
The banks of the Iowa, which, in many places, are cut up by ravines and sloughs, are, from about three miles below this point to its sources, high and dry, abounding with rock, with a beautiful undulating country, with springs of pure crystal water, skirting both its shores, and exhibiting every appearance of health. The river opposite the town is about eighty yards in width, a clear, limpid stream, with sand and gravel bottom, and of sufficient depth of water for keel or flat boats at its lowest stage, being never less than twenty inches. Both banks of the Iowa, commencing at the upper part of the town site, and continuing five or six miles above, are stored with inexhaustible quarries of stone.
" Big Grove," which is situated between the Iowa and Cedar rivers, has been pronounced to be one of the largest and best bodies of timber in the territory, being about twenty miles in length, with an average width of six or seven miles. In short, it would have been difficult for the com- missioners to have selected a more favored spot, where building materials of the best quality are to be had in greater abundance.
The site of the location is one of unrivalled beauty. The most vivid imagination can scarcely picture to itself so captivating a spot, situated in the midst of all that wild rural scenery which can tend to embellish and render it desirable. The river first approaches the town from the north- west, through rocky banks of moderate height, covered with a thick grove of stately trees, and then turns to the south, and flows off between unequal banks scattered over with venerable oaks; opposite the city, on the west side of the river, the banks are abrupt and bold, and rising from the water's edge, about fifty feet above its surface, to the level of a smooth prairie, which approaches the river at this place, and then sweeps off westward in beautiful undulations of hill and dale.
The preceding remarks are the substance of a well written article that
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appeared in one of the Burlington newspapers soon after the location of "Iowa City" was made, and although to those unacquainted with the character of our scenery it may appear fanciful, nevertheless the delinea- tions are drawn with the fidelity of truth. The concluding remarks are from random sketches that the writer noted down in a little diary written upon my first visit to Iowa City in June, 1840. Since that period I have been informed that its prosperity continues unabated. To give the reader a faint outline of the unparalleled progress of this young city, I will state that about the first of May, 1839, Mr. Swan, the acting commissioner selected this spot, then in a state of nature, surrounded by sayages, Powe- shiek's band of Sacs being two or three miles below, (at what is now Napoleon.) And even as late as June following, the sojourner was com- pelled to sleep in his blanket for nearly two weeks. On the first day of July, 1839, the survey of the city was commenced under the direction of the board of commissioners, and the taste displayed and the liberality evinced in the size of lots, width of streets, public squares, school and church reserves, reflects the highest credit upon the enlightened judg- ment of the commissioners.
The design of the capitol is a chaste specimen of the Grecian and Doric architecture, with horizontal cornice and entabulature, surmounted by a dome supported by twenty-two Corinthian columns. It is 120 feet in length by sixty wide, two stories high from the basement. It is built upon Capitol street which runs upon the ridge, or third elevation from the river, and fronting Iowa avenue, which is the same width of the capi- tol, (120 feet), presenting a captivating and imposing appearance. The site of the capitol can be seen from every part of the city. The first grade or plateau from the river is devoted to a public promenade, being an average of 100 yards in width, and half a mile in length, bordering on the river. The second elevation is about twelve feet above the first. The third elevation about thirty feet above the promenade. A grade of fifteen degrees is contemplated, making about fifty feet from the bed of the river to the site of the capitol. On Ralston's creek, about half a mile from the capitol, there have been discovered three springs, within.a diameter of twenty feet, each possessing different properties-one of chalybeat, one of sulphur, the third very cold lime rock. The waters of the two first are said to be powerful cathartics. The celebrated "bird's- eye" marble was first discovered upon this creek, of a softer texture and more delicate whiteness than that found in the quarries.
Up to the present time, 1840, being about fourteen months from the commencement of Iowa City, it contains a population of about 700 inhabi- tants, a spacious city hotel, three or four brick buildings, and several others in progress, ten dry goods, grocery and provision stores, one drug store, one saddlery, two blacksmiths, one gunsmith, three or four coffee houses, four lawyers, three physicians, one church, and one primary school; in short, presenting all the appearance, bustle and activity of a city of years, rather than a prodigy of months.
Should the skeptical feel inclined to question the accuracy of this state- ment, I can assure them it has been the result of personal inspection. I counted, even in the middle of last May, rising of 100 buildings, and saw and heard the busy workmen engaged on as many more. At that time, conversing with a gentleman from Pennsylvania, who came to the "city" the week preceding, and had a frame house covered, and his goods in it; he said to me, "five days ago my house was in the woods, growing."
.
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY.
I have heard of cities springing into existence as if by magic, but in no case have I ever known the application so just as when applied to this young capital of Iowa. When the mind refers back, as it were, but to a single leaf in the calender of time, reviewing the recent past, and contem- plating the ominious present, rife with the coming developments of the future, how exalted must be its conceptions of the destiny that awaits us, if our institutions are formed on the broad basis of public morals, religion, and virtue! Then are our liberties secure, and our prosperity certain.
IOWA CITY POETRY.
On January 1st, 1842, the Iowa Capital Reporter, issued a "Carrier's New Year Address," comprising 158 lines of octometer verse. For a period of perhaps twenty years it was almost a universal custom in news- paper printing offices all over the country to issue such an address to the patrons of the paper. The rhymes were supposed to be addressed by the boy who carried the papers around every week to the houses of its sub- scribers in town, and this boy was known as the "printer's devil." The address was usually printed in such a way on a sheet by itself as to con- stitute a sample or specimen of the neat and tasteful quality of job print- ing which could be done at that office; and rival offices vied with each other to see which should put forth the finest New Year Address. The carrier boy or "devil" peddled these around town, and received for a copy whatever any one chose to give him, whether it were ten cents, a quarter, or half dollar. This was his perquisite, or rather "reward of merit" for faithfully delivering the paper in rain or shine, storm, snow, sleet, mud, wind, cold, heat, and if he had made himself something of a popular favorite, he would be liberally patronized on his New Year rhymes. The writers of these annual strophes had a large latitude of privilege, in sub- ject matter, but were expected to make at least some part of the address of a character local to the town where it was issued. This first Iowa City address rambled all over creation and part of Texas, in its lofty soar- ings on the wings of Pegassus; but we can only cite such passages as touched Iowa City or Johnson county. It was better than the average of such productions, but the author of it is unknown.
Where once the forest threw its shade,
On the hill-side and verdant glade; Where once the Indian riders lay Protected from the noon-tide ray,
Under the oak trees' covering strown,
The pale-face nation then unknown,
Stands now a city, which "they say" Will rival all in Iowa.
And wherefore not? If time by-gone
Foretells what fast is hurrying on, Then ev'ry prophet-eye may see Our city's great prosperity. Look where yon massive structure rears
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