USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume I > Part 42
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
1902-Mayor, J. E. Coder; clerk, William Stingley; assessor, Lee Coder; treasurer, J. S. Smith; council, C. E. Mills, N. R. Espy, T. Dawson, M. L. Coyle, H. W. Shipley, C. H. Murphy.
1903-Mayor, J. E. Coder; clerk, William Stingley; treasurer, J. S. Smith; assessor, Lee Coder; marshal, F. M. Magee; street commissioner, Howard Leech; council, T. Dawson, D. S. Ward, James Leech, N. R. Espy, H. W. Shipley.
1904-Mayor, J. E. Coder; clerk, William Stingley; marshal, E. E. Wright; street commissioner, William Bohler ; council, T. Dawson, H. W. Shipley, D. S. Ward, N. R. Espy, O. O. Watson, James Leech.
1905-Mayor, J. E. Coder; clerk, William Stingley; council, A. G. Smith, L. C. Rawson, D. S. Ward, T. Dawson, H. W. Shipley, O. O. Watson.
1906-Mayor, J. E. Coder; clerk, William Stingley; treasurer, H. Leech; assessor, Howard Leech; council, T. Dawson, O. O. Watson, N. R. Espy, L. C. Rawson, H. W. Shipley, A. G. Smith.
1907-Mayor, J. E. Coder ; clerk, William Stingley ; assessor, Howard Leech; treasurer, Howard Leech ; council, C. W. Preston, Merlin Moses, A. E. Robert- son, E. E. Wright, A. G. Smith, Thomas Dawson.
1908-Mayor, J. E. Coder; clerk, E. L. Tomlinson; assessor, H. Leech ;. treasurer, Howard Leech; council, Thomas Dawson, C. W. Preston, Merlin Moses, E. E. Wright, A. E. Porter, F. B. Loomis.
1909-Mayor, J. E. Coder ; clerk, Edward L. Tomlinson ; assessor, H. Leech; treasurer, H. Leech; council, M. G. Alsever, T. Dawson, C. W. Preston, E. E., Wright. A. E. Porter. Merlin Moses.
Digitized by Google
420
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP.
THE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED.
The early settlement of Monticello township is so fully covered in the suc- ceeding pages in the writings of people who were on the ground while the history was being made, that further mention is unnecessary. Monticello town- ship, as known at the present time, in its political divisions, is not as extensive as in the earlier days of its history. Monticello was organized as a township June 10, 1847, from Richland township, and included all the territory south of the Maquoketa River, being most of the territory now occupied by Monticello, Lovell, Wayne, Cass and Castle Grove. Cass and Wayne townships were sepa- rated from Monticello and attached to Fairview, April 21, 1848. Castle Grove was separated from Monticello and organized as a separate township, January, 1855. Lovell township was organized in 1898, and separated from Monticello township, and included all that part of Monticello township not included within the incorporate limits of the city of Monticello. The city of Monticello is now co-extensive with the township of Monticello.
A PROSPEROUS CITY.
The city of Monticello is conceded to be one of the most prosperous of all the towns of Jones county. Its business district indicates thrift and prosperity along commercial lines. Its fine residences and well kept lawns indicate home comforts and a commendable degree of civic pride. Its elegant church edi- fices, its enlarged school buildings, its public library, give the visitor an impres- sion of moral intelligence, and of culture and refinement among the inhabitants. The total municipal indebtedness does not exceed the sum of seven thousand dollars, and in the present prosperous condition of the municipal affairs, this indebtedness will be entirely wiped out in a few years.
DEATH OF S. S. FARWELL.
In the death of Hon. S. S. Farwell on September 21, 1909, the city of Mon- ticello, as well as the entire county, has lost one of her first citizens, and a man of large affairs and of recognized business and literary ability. For many years, this large hearted man has been a part of the civil affairs of the city, and has borne his part of the burdens which fall to the lot of the patriotic citizens, nobly and well. Unselfish in his service in behalf of the public, generous in the per- formance of his duties, public and private, honest and straightforward in his dealings with his fellow men, he has abundantly performed his duties as a man, a citizen and a public benefactor, and endeared himself in the hearts of the community. His last public act was his gift of the Soldier's Monument and its dedication in the Monticello Cemetery on May 31, 1909. The services of Major Farwell in the war of the Rebellion in behalf of the Union, and his services in congress as a representative from this congressional district, have been with a strict regard to his duties as a citizen and with proper respect for the demands
Digitized by Google
---
421
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
of his constituents. Though ripe in years and in usefulness, his removal has meant a great deal to the charitable, benevolent and public interests of the city of Monticello, and its inhabitants, and leaves a vacancy which few can fill. History will record the passing of a good man.
EARLY HISTORY OF MONTICELLO.
The following in reference to the early history of Monticello, is largely compiled from the writings of John Blanchard, editor of the Monticello Express, and from the "History of the City," written by M. M. Moulton, mayor of Monticello for the year 1869, published the same year by G. W. Hunt, editor of The Express at that time. This was taken from the history of 1879 and is well worthy of a place in this history.
"The fall of the year 1836, Daniel Varvel and William Clark made the first settlement upon the present site of Monticello. Young and hopeful, they had pushed far away from the settlements to the outer verge of civilization, to make their fortunes and found for themselves new homes.
"The scene spread out before the sturdy pioneers was one of surpassing lov- liness. It was that of a fertile wilderness, instinct with beauty and pregnant with promise. The wide prairies 'stretching in airy undulations far away,' their sunny ridges and fertile slopes glowing beneath the brilliancy of the at: tumn sky, the beautiful Maquoketa and the smaller, but not less beautiful Kitty Creek, gliding beneath the overshadowing bluffs, and bordered with for- ests, upon the foliage of which the early frosts had spilled their golden stain. It was as the garden of Eden lapsed into primeval wilderness and solitude, with no man to till the soil. Those were among the times of frontier life that char- acterized the settlement of this vast region between the Mississippi and Mis- souri rivers. Those times that tried men's souls are, for the most part, passed away. The trail of the Indian no longer marks the native prairie, and the smoke of the wigwam is no more seen along our bluffs. No more will the twang of the bow-string or the crack of the rifle startle the solitude of the wilderness ; for a new race and a greater civilization have come in. We ques- tion if it entered into the anticipations of the pioneers, Varvel and Clark, that before they passed the prime of life, they would see spring up in that primi- tive wilderness a flourishing little city, with busy streets, imposing business blocks, elegant private residences, railroads, telegraph, mills, and all the ele- ments and evidences of an enterprising and growing community.
"By the time the winter had set in, Varvel and Clark were comfortably lodged for the season in a log cabin, prepared to bid defiance to tempest and frost, to savage and wild beasts. The entire winter was spent in lonely and monotonous seclusion; but as both were experienced and ardent hunters, and game plenti- ful, it is to be presumed that their situation was not without its compensation. We venture to say that they were not likely to forget their first winter's exper- ience in what is now the rich and flourishing county of Jones, then an inhos- pitable and wild region.
"Mr. Varvel was a native of the state of Kentucky and Mr. Clark of Ohio. Both men worked for some time in the lead mines in the vicinity of Dubuque
Digitized by Google
422
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
before locating here. Early in the following spring, 1837, Richard South set- tled here, his wife, who accompanied him, being the first woman who came to soften the rude hardships of frontier life with domestic comfort and home feeling that only woman's gentle presence can bestow.
"During the following summer, T. J. Peak, B. Beardsley, James McLaugh- lin and Thomas Gilligan moved hitherward, settling in this vicinity. The first breaking was done this year, Mr. Varvel being the first man to upturn the virgin soil of the rich prairie land in this section.
"During the summer of 1838, T. J. Peak was married to Miss Rebecca M. Beardsley. this being the first marriage solemnized in the young colony, and the first in the county. (Other records show the date of this marriage to have been on Christmas day, 1839 .- Editor.) In that early day circumstances and conditions were far from favorable to those who would a-marrying go. Obstacles were to be overcome, such as the devotees at the shrine of Hymen, in these later times of easy marriages-and equally easy divorces-little dream of. In this case, the ardent bridegroom was compelled to journey to Sugar Creek in Cedar county, a distance of sixty-five miles, to procure a license. Mr. Peak is an honored citizen of Monticello still, and both he and his excellent wife now rejoice in the results of their early labors. (Mr. T. J. Peak died at Mon- ticello, January 8. 1900, and Mrs. Peak died at the same place, December 24, 1907 .- Editor.)
"On the 7th day of December. 1838, a preliminary meeting was held at the house of Barrett Whittemore, of 'Bowen's Prairie, to consider the best method of securing a regular county organization. The object of the meeting was not, however, accomplished until the 24th day of January, 1839.
"In the same year. 1839, occurred a noteworthy episode in the history of the settlement, or, as Artemus Ward would have said: 'two episodes.' We refer to the birth of twins in the family of Mr. Richard South, already mentioned. The children were of opposite sexes. healthy and promising, and their advent was considered, under all circumstances, a happy omen, auguring a rapid growth and gratifying prosperity for the little colony. In this year, also the first contract for carrying the mail between Dubuque and Iowa City, via Monticello, was secured by Hon. Ansel Briggs, who afterward became the first governor of Iowa upon its admission into the sisterhood of states. By this route, settlers occasionally received intelligence from the outside world, but the place had not yet attained the distinction of a postoffice, and the mail was distributed directly from the pocket of the carrier.
"On December 15, 1840, Daniel Varvel then twenty-nine years of age, was married to Margaret F. Beardsley, twenty-two years of age. This was after the organization of the county. On July 26th of the same year, Edmond Booth was married to Mary Ann Walworth, and on November 10th, James Dawson and Fmily A. Wilcox were married. These were the only marriages in the county that year.
"The first postoffice was established here in 1841, and William Clark was appointed postmaster. Monticello was particularly favored in the matter of mail facilities, considering its tender age, there being a weekly mail from Du- buque to Towa City, the latter at the time the capital of the Territory of Iowa.
Digitized by Google
:
423
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
The seat of government was located there in 1839, by the commissioners ap- pointed by the territorial legislature to make the selection. It was in 1841 that Mr. James Skelley moved into the settlement. During the year 1839, the famous highway known as the 'military road' was surveyed, built and bridged and put into excellent condition, entirely at the expense of the national govern- ment. (The completion of the work took one or two years.) During the year 1844, Frink & Walker, the great stage firm, put on a four-horse daily coach between Dubuque and Iowa City. In the year 1849, the first doctor, W. B. Selder, of Indiana, came and settled in Monticello. The first schoolhouse was erected in the year 1849, the lumber being hauled from Dubuque, and the house built by five of the leading citizens, to-wit : Daniel Varvel, John Stevenson, Joseph Clark, Dr. W. B. Selder and George Gassett. The first blacksmith shop was started in 1852 by a Mr. Dunlap. From that date to 1854, the settlement grew apace. Men of intelligent foresight and enterprise were added to the rapidly increasing population. The county which in the year 1838 had but two hundred and forty-one inhabitants, in 1854 numbered six thousand and seventy-five. In the year 1853, Monticello may be said to have begun its exist- ence as a separate and distinct community, though previous to this time it had become a village of some note and considerable promise.
"The credit of organizing, i. e., first platting the village into town lots, laying off streets, and so forth, belongs to G. H. Walworth and Daniel Varvel. The village at the time of which we write, was located along the military road, con- siderably east of the site at present occupied by the business portion. D. S. Dewey moved to Monticello from Waukegan, Illinois, this year, and commenced the erection of a dam and sawmill, adjoining the site occupied later by the East Monticello Grist Mills. This year also, A. Holston built the Monticello House, and John W. Moore opened a small store. The original plat (September, 1853). contained sixty-three lots, Mr. James Finton, now deceased, becoming the purchaser of lot number one. The price of the lots at the time was but a small portion of what is now asked and received. During the year 1855, T. C. West erected a building for the sale of dry goods, groceries, and such general merchandise as is required in a country store. In the summer of the same year. John Tabor was made the first justice of the peace, he receiving his com- mission from the county judge. In this year also, Dewey's sawmill was burned. In 1856, D. C. Quimby was appointed the first notary public. In 1857, the first wagon shop was started by Frank Reiger. Changes were going on continually and the town was rapidly growing in importance and repute. The year 1858 was one of the most memorable in the history of the embryo city. It was during this year that the question of building the Dubuque & South Western Railroad was first brought before the enterprising, wide-awake, and far-seeing busi- ness men to whose industry and intelligent forethought Monticello owes much of its later prosperity and importance. The most liberal and substantial sup- port was accorded the important project, and through the energy and spirit of the people along the route through the country, it was pushed actively for- ward, so that the work was actually begun in the same year in which the enter- prise was first suggested to the people. As will be readily supposed, the in- auguration of such an enterprise and the sure prospect of the speedy opening
Digitized by Google
424
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
of a public thoroughfare of such inestimable value and importance gave a wonderful impetus to the town. Immediately, a new addition to the town was surveyed and platted, called the Railroad Addition, November, 1858. Lots were taken with astonishing rapidity and at figures largely in advance of former prices. New buildings were erected in all directions; a lumber yard was started by J. L. Davenport; work was begun upon East Monticello Flouring Mills by Mr. Dewey, already mentioned; the township was organized into a school dis- trict, under the school law of the state; Monticello Lodge, No. 117, I. O. O. F., was instituted; activity was the order, 'go-ahead' the watchword, pride in the town and perfect faith in its future, the prevailing sentiments of the day.
"The year 1859 was signalized by the completion of the railroad to this point. Trains, however, did not commence to run regularly across the bridge until the next year, the first freight being delivered in the month of January, 1860, in the shape of several carloads of lumber. This event was rendered ad- ditionally noteworthy by the arrival of a class of emigrants whose introduction could very easily have been dispensed with. We refer to the rats which were brought from Dubuque in those freight cars, the first of the long-tailed, trouble- some species of the genus 'varmint' ever seen in Monticello. The main part of the old school building was erected that year. Fred Grassmeyer started the first tinshop in the basement of a dwelling house on Main street Peak & Hogg opened a dry-goods store west of the railroad and near the depot. The first grain warehouse was erected this year by E. B. Kinsella & Brother. C. E. Wales also came on and opened a dry-goods store in company with William Merriam. In August of this year, the first attorney, A. J. Monroe, settled in Monticello. He was later city attorney for several terms. The prosperity of the town was now assured-changes were frequent and the population rapidly increasing.
"In 1864, Bradstreet's Addition was laid out and platted, July 7th, with fifty-nine lots; Turck's Addition, platted October 6th, with forty-six lots. In 1866, Varvel's Addition was platted with twenty-eight lots, making in all at that time two hundred and seventy-five lots in the city. In May of the same year the second New Railroad Addition was platted. Bradstreet's Second Addition was added in March, 1871. Burrough's Addition of Out-lot 3 of Var- vel's Addition was platted the next month. There were three Davidson's Addi- tions, numbers one, two and three, platted in April, 1889, May, 1889, and Jan- uary, 1891, respectively. Hefner's Addition was added to the town in July, 1900."
THE FIRST SETTLER.
The Monticello Express of November 15, 1867, contains the following ref- erence to Daniel Varvel, the first settler in Monticello :
"The first settler in Monticello was Daniel Varvel, a generous, whole-souled, rollicking Kentuckian of the old school, one of that class of men whose soul is as large as a meeting house, and whose hospitality is as boundless as the mean- ness of Andrew Johnson. He came to Dubuque in 1833 and after remaining there three years among the Indian squaws and pappooses, came to this point and built a log shanty within the limits of the present city of Monticello.
Digitized by Google
425
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
"He was the first white settler that ever located in this vicinity, and strange to say he came alone, being an incorrigible old bachelor then, but having re- formed, is now the head of a large and enterprising race of sons and daughters. Many are the tales that he relates of those early days of privation, want and hardship, of predatory bands of Indians who went roaming up and down the land begging and stealing, of summer shakes and winter snows.
"Upon one occasion, the members of the first territorial legislature slept all night upon the floor of his cabin while he cooked their meats with his own hands, without money and without price.
"The next settler was Mr. Levi Gassett. He also built a log cabin and cultivated a few acres of ground with the limited capital he had at his command. "No dry-goods, or groceries were to be obtained at any point nearer than Dubuque, while for many years the mail was brought through once a week on horseback from that place. Not a house was visible on the broad expanse between.
"Herds of deer gambolled within sight of the cabin of our squatter, and flocks of wild turkeys were in the habit of daily appeasing their appetites at his corn crib. One day he stood in the door of his cabin and killed two at one shot, the entire weight of which was thirty-seven pounds. This, however, in- stead of frightening them off, rather seemed to embolden their attacks, until he was compelled to cover up his corn to prevent their taking the whole of it."
HOP CULTURE.
In the early days of Monticello's history, the raising and culture of hops was one of the leading industries. It is interesting in this distant day to look back and see the extent of the industry and appreciate the profit to be made in the cultivation of this product. The following short sketch taken from The Monticello Express of November 15, 1867, will give the reader some idea of this industry.
"It may not be generally known that there are several very flourishing hop yards in this vicinity, and that the great question which at present agitates the good people of Monticello is the raising and culture of hops. The experiment was commenced two years ago by a few progressive citizens and has since rip- ened into an abundant success, and quite a large revenue is already derived from their growth and exportation.
"In 1866, S. Y. Bradstreet planted six acres of ground to hops and was soon seconded in the enterprise by H. H. Starks who also planted six acres. For this he paid sixty-five dollars per acre, and the total expense of the first crop, including planting, picking, poles, twine, drying and pressing ready for market, amounted to two thousand, four hundred and seventy dollars. The crop yielded six thousand pounds which Mr. Starks sold to Lewis and Chamber- lain of Dubuque for five and one-half cents per pound, amounting to three thousand and ninety dollars, leaving him a net profit of six hundred and twenty dollars.
"During the past season, forty acres have been cultivated and the crop has been sold at fifty cents a pound, amounting to five hundred dollars per acre,
-
Digitized by Google
!
426
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
and rendering a revenue to the city of Monticello of twenty-five thousand dollars.
"Of course with such large returns in greenbacks, every one is embarking in the enterprise and soon the country surrounding the city will be one vast sea of hop poles. At least one hundred acres will be put in cultivation in another year, and it is anticipated the crop will bring one hundred and fifty thousand dollars."
PERSONAL REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY DAYS IN MONTICELLO.
By Mrs. Martha J. Gallagher.
(The above writer is a recognized authority on early historical matters, and the matters referred to in the reminiscences can be relied upon as being au- thentic-Editor).
With my parents, I landed on the farm now owned and occupied by the heirs of the late James Skelley on the 10th day of June, 1850, about 2 p. ni. The farm was then owned and occupied by the parents of the late John and James Skelley (by the way, they were old neighbors of ours back in the Hoosier state). We were welcomed and taken in to stay until we could find some other place to stay.
Their house had two rooms. I don't remember how large they were. Their family consisted of father, mother and six children : John, Mary (Mrs. Tracy), Lucinda, Henry, Lizzie and James, and a son-in-law, Ezra Tracy, and baby Ellen. Our family had father, mother, two brothers and myself. I think we stayed about two months, and were as welcome as the sunshine. Just think of that in this day.
At that time, directly across the creek, near where the Kasper house now stands, was a log hotel built by William Clark and kept by Joseph Clark, com- monly known as Joe. This log house stood until a number of years ago, when it was blown down by the tornado. At that time, the Scotch Grove road ran diagonally across where the cemetery now is, by Skelley's, across the creek, to the hotel, or tavern. The military road ran by the hotel, now Main street.
Daniel Varvel lived in a log house on what is now the northeast corner of Grand and Main streets. Mrs. Varvel kept the postoffice. The stage ran every day from Dubuque to Iowa City, then the state capital. They changed horses and drivers at Varvel's, I remember some of their names, two brothers, Bill and Mate Stamates, drove for a long time. Then afterwards. Josh Tur- ner. I don't remember who changed with him.
Dr. Selder lived in a small house where the Chauncey Mead place is, and which was then called the South place. I don't know who owns it now. John Stevenson lived in a small log house in the timber two miles north. I think all the old settlers know where the Stevenson place is. Another house just at the edge of Bowen's Prairie was occupied by a family by the name of Moses. There was also a very small farm house at the east end of the fair grounds and occupied by Charles Rynerson. They moved out sometime in August, and we moved in until we could get our house built. These were all the houses for
Digitized by Google
427
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY
some miles around. The nearest house on the military road going south was where Langworthy now is. It was kept, I think, by' Roswell Crane, and was called the Buckhorn tavern. I well remember seeing two buck horns on an arch over the gateway.
I think there were two other houses between there and Anamosa, Spencer's and I think Mead's. You might say every house on the military road was a ho- tel, for no one ever thought of turning a traveler away that asked to stay. Whether he had money or not, it was all the same.
The same summer, Mrs. Ann George (in late years known as Mammie George) came and entered the land where Henry George now lives, and built a small house.
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.