USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 37
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During these pioneer years in the forties and fifties our ancestors did not have an easy time of it by any means. They endured the hardships of pioneer life and were subject to fevers, as well as homesickness, and frequently during the winter months they were exposed to the severity of the early Iowa winters when the log houses were both small and uncomfortable, but they were men and women of iron nerve, full of push and energy and perseveranee. They had taken up a tedious battle for existenee out on the barren prairies of Iowa, far away from home and kindred, and, at times, surrounded by wild frontiersmen, freebooters and ruffians who were making a last stand in these parts of Iowa until the opening up of the vast barren traets west of the Missouri river. It was not until after the Civil war that the people of Linn county became, so to speak, comfortably well fixed and had some of the comforts which they had so long looked for during the early years
CHAPTER XXX
Some of the First Things in Cedar Rapids and Linn County
The first log cabin was creeted on the site of what became Cedar Rapids, by Osgood Shepherd or Wilbert Stone in 1838. The first frame house was erected by John Vardy in 1842, and the first brick building was erected by Porter W. Earle at the corner of First avenue and Second street in 1844.
F. J. Upton, of the Star Wagon Company, received a carload of freight on the first freight train that ever eame to Cedar Rapids; this was in 1859. W. B. Mack received the first cargo of salt on the steamboat "Cedar Rapids" in 1855, bringing down the price of salt from $10.00 to $5.00 a barrel.
The first steamboat company, incorporated for $20,000.00, was organized in 1855, some of the incorporators being Alex. Ely, Dr. S. D. Carpenter, the Greenes, and other business men of Cedar Rapids.
The first grist mill was built by N. B. Brown in 1843. Isaac Cook was the first lawyer locating in Cedar Rapids; John Shearer was the first justice of the peace, and James Lewis was the first constable. The first general store was opened by George and Joseph Greene in 1842. Judge George Greene taught one of the first schools near Ivanhoe in 1839 and 1840. Alexander Ely, George Greene. and N. B. Brown, with others, erected the first school house in 1847 in Cedar Rapids, later selling it to the school district.
Joseph Greene was the first postmaster in Cedar Rapids and carried the mail in his plug hat and distributed the same as he happened to meet the people to whom the letters were adressed.
Dr. S. Il. Tryon was the first physician in Linn county. Dr. E. L. Mansfield was one of the first physicians locating in Cedar Rapids, in 1847. HI. W. Gray was the first sheriff of Linn county, being appointed by Governor Lucas in 1838. The first county fair was held in October. 1855. The first hotel was built in 1847, called the Union House, James Dyer being landlord; this building was destroyed by fire in 1865.
In 1855 W. D. Watrous, W. W. Smith, and J. J. Snouffer built the steamer "Blackhawk" for the purpose of navigating the Cedar river. It ran between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo for two years. It was later purchased by the gov- ernment and used for a supply boat on the lower Mississippi. In the '40s and '50s Mississippi steamboats made regular trips to Cedar Rapids. The first rail- road reached Cedar Rapids in 1859; it is now known as the Chieago & North- western.
The first fire company was organized in Cedar Rapids in 1869. In 1871 the Cedar Rapids Gas Light Company was organized. The first mayor of Cedar Rapids was Martin L. Barber.
The first steam mill in the county was built by J. P. Glass in 1845. The first hand raking reaper brought into Linn county was by William Ure, of Fairfax township, who hauled it from Chicago by oxen in the summer of 1847.
The first newspaper in Cedar Rapids was the Progressive Era, published in 1851 by D. O. Finch; the first newspaper in Marion was the Prairie Star, pub- lished by A. Hoyt in 1852: the first daily newspaper published in Linn county was called the Morning Observer, the first number being issued on September 1, 1870, and edited by Thomas G. Newman and Z. Enos.
MAIN STREET, SPRINGVILLE
QUAKER MEETING HOUSE, WHITTIER
WHITTIER
FIRST THINGS IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND LINN COUNTY 257
N. B. Brown erected the first flour mill in 1844; the first woolen mill was crected in 184S. The first judge of probate in the county was Israel Mitchell, appointed in 1838. He was also one of the justices.
The first bridge erected across the Cedar river in Cedar Rapids was in 1856 at what is now Seventh avenue. The oldest settler now living in the county is Robert Ellis, who arrived in 1838.
The first marriage in Linn county was that of Preston Scott and Miss Betsey Martin, which occurred in July, 1839.
The first white male born in Linn county was George Cone, who first saw light at Marion. April 12, 1839.
The first death in the county was that of Mr. Williams, who died January 15, 1839. He was buried in the Campbell cemetery near Bertram. The inscription on his tombstone is yet visible.
The first mill was erected by John S. Oxley in 1842-43 on Big creek. It was later purchased by Jacob Mann.
The first citizen to become naturalized was Peter Garren who, during the October term of court, 1840, as a native of Scotland, renounced all allegiance to the queen of Great Britain.
James E. Bromwell, who came to Linn county in 1839, will always be remem- bered by the residents of Marion. He helped lay out the county seat. He made the first coffin for the first interment in its cemetery, assisted in the erection of the first residence in the town, as well as in the erection of the first store buildings, besides taking time enough to procure the second marriage license issued in the county for his marriage to Catherine Gray, on August 26, 1841.
Elizabeth Bennett, a native of Syracuse, New York, who had been reared in Canada and married to Edward Crow, November 14, 1839, is supposed to have been the first school teacher in the county. She died in Buffalo township Feh- ruary 5, 1844.
The first white child born within the confines of Linn county was Maria Os- born, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Osborn, and was born in September, 1838. This statement has often been disputed and cannot be proved with certainty.
THE FIRST GRIST MILL
There has been more or less controversy as to the name of the man who erected the first grist mill in Linn county. Marshall Oxley insists that the first mill of this kind was built by John S. Oxley in 1842-43. It was located in the northwest corner of Linn township on Big creek. The material used was grown in the immediate vicinity. The dimension lumber was hewn out of the forest and the roofing was made of clapboard, then the primitive material used by the pioneers in covering their buildings. The machinery was purchased in Davenport and transported by wagon across the prairies. Before the erection of this mill the early settlers were compelled to take their grists to what was known as the Cat- fish mill near Dubuque. Frequently it required several days to go to the mill and to return home with the flour. Sometimes the good housewives ran short of flour while the meal was being ground. In such cases they would grind a little corn in the coffee mills, mix it with salt and water, cook it, and thank Providence that they lived in a land flowing with hoe cake, milk and honey.
After the mill had been in successful operation some time two well dressed gentlemen called at the home of the owner and asked to be given entertainment for the night. Their request was cheerfully complied with. Next morning they strolled down to the mill and looked it over. After they had been hospitably entertained and were about to depart they represented that one was a patentee and the other a lawyer and that the owner was using an infringement on their patent. They told him that if he did not pay them forty dollars they would
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
prosecute him to the full extent of the law. He paid them the sum asked but remarked afterwards that he gnessed he should have given them a charge of shot.
The mill was operated in successful manner by the miller, Jacob Mann, until August 15, 1848, when he purchased the property for $500. He continued to operate it until it was swept away by the flood of 1851, Mann at this time losing his life in the flood.
A FEW OF THE EARLY ENTRIES TO LAND
A number of people resided in the county and were, so to speak, "squatters" before the land was opened for settlement and entry could be made. A few of the following names and locations will give the reader an idea of some of the old settlers who came here, some of whom resided on their respective claims before entry could be made.
Peter Kepler entered land in section 1-82-5 June 15, 1842; A. M. MeCoy, James Huntington, Edward Isham, Horatio Sanford entered land in seetion 2-82-5 from May 17, 1844, to November 3, 1845.
Mary Ann Doty entered part of section 4-82-5 November 29, 1844; Abner Doty entered land Mareh 11, 1845, in section 3-82-5; William Abbe entered land in section 5-82-5 in 1844; Henry Kepler entered land in the same seetion two years previously. Jesse H. Holman entered a forty aere traet in section 6 in the same township and range October 12, 1842. During the year 1845 Horatio San- ford, William Abbe and William Johnson entered considerable land in the same locality ; also Allison I. Willits and Fred Kinley as early as 1842. James, Joe and Robert Boyd entered considerable land from February, 1843 to 1844 in see- tion 8, while entries were made in seetion 10 from 1842 to 1844 by John I. Gibson, Oliver Day, Oakley Parker, and Robert Stinson.
During the same period the following entries were made in section 11, to-wit : by Simeon Archer, Oliver Day, John I. Gibson, Nathan Peddyeord, and James Kelsey.
In seetion 13 the following entries were made from February, 1843, to 1845, viz: by Saul Elliott, Gabe Archer, James Bartley, and G. B. Bowman.
In seetion 14 entries were made from 1843 to 1844 as follows: by James Kelsey, Leonard Platner, John Donahoo, Joe Smith, Aekley Parker, and Reuben Ash.
In section 15 entries were made from February 22, 1843, to September 18. 1844, by Dan Hahn and James Muekalls; and in section 17 by John Stewart and John MeLaughlin.
In seetion 18 during the same period entries were made by Nate P. Wileox, Meron C. Barnes, and A. J. MeKean; George Greene entered a traet in section 29 February 21, 1843. Nearly all of the above described sections seem to have been picked up between the years 1842 and 1844.
A few names appear in various localities as having entered lands in smaller or larger tracts, viz: Hugh Downey, J. G. Berryhill, John J. Gibson, H. W. San- ford, William Abbe, A. J. Willits, and Morgan Reno; a number of those men were not residents of the county at any time as far as is known, with the excep- tion of William Abbe.
In Linn Grove township 83, range 5, the following entries were made :
In sections 1 and 2 by Cyrell M. Webster, Morgan Reno, and William Smythe during the years 1852 and 1853.
In seetions 4 and 5 Benjamin Simons, David E. Fussel, Joe S. Butler, and John S. Oxley made entries from 1843 to 1844. In seetions 6, 7 and 8 the fol- lowing entries were made during the years 1842 and 1843: John Milner, Le Grand Byington, Socrates H. Tryon. Jesse Tryon, Dennis Tryon, Alexander Panl, Jacob Mann, John Safely, Jane Safely, Jacob Safely, and Adam Safely.
FIRST THINGS IN CEDAR RAPIDS AND LINN COUNTY 259
In seetion 9 and 11 entries were made during 1844 and 1845 by Ann Whitlatch, Alonzo B. Clark, Morgan Reno, Matt Lynch, Dan I. Fineh, and Seward Kyles.
In scetions 15, 17, 21 and 22 the following entries were made during the years 1842 and 1844: James S. Varner, Levi Lewis, S. A. Yeisley, John, Thomas and Will Goudy.
In sections 25 to 29 the following entries were made: by John and Andrew Safely, Sam Ellison, John Goudy, George Krow, and Lewis Fink during the years 1843 to 1844. Dan Peet made entry to certain traet of land in section 14 at the same time.
In section 1-85-5 and 6 the following entries were made from 1852 to 1856 : by Stephen Conover, Barnett Cole, Nancy H. Hunt, and others. Richard Barber made the first entry in section 4 in 1848, while in section 6 Philip Coffits made entry in June, 1847, and John Smith in November, 1849.
In scetion 7 Chandler, Ebenezer and Moses C. Jordan entered land from 1846 to 1848. Richard Barber makes an entry in seetion 9 in 1848. In section 14 Edward Crew, or Crow, enters land in November, 1840 to January, 1845. In section 15 Jacob Mann enters land in May, 1845, followed by another entry made by George Paddington in February, 1846.
In section 23 Absalom Cain makes an entry February, 1846, and in section 25 George C. Perkins and Morton Claypool enters land in 1845. John Peet enters land in seetion 36 in 1844, and Joseph and Ormus Clark enters land in section 3 in 1844 and 1845.
In section 44, range 5, some of the early entries are by John Peet, Harvey Stone, and Nelson Crow from 1842 to 1845. Sam Kelly enters eighty acres in section 11 in 1840, and about the same time John Gillilan enters land in section 12. John Crow enters one hundred and sixty acres in 1840 in section 13.
Charles Pinkney makes an entry in scetion 28 in 1840; also another entry in section 29 the same date. In section 32 on August 5, 1840, Nathan Brown, G. H. Robinson, Thomas Sammis, and William Styles make entries. The first entry made in seetion 33 was made by Benjamin Simons and Abel M. Butler. Charles E. Haskins makes several entries from 1843 to 1848 in section 12-82-5, as well as in sections 1 and 2, Peter Kepler also making entries in January, 1842.
William Abbe made several entries of land in sections 5 and 6 from 1842 to 1843, while Thomas Craig made entries in sections 6 and 7 from 1843 to 1846, as well as Daniel Halın in section 15.
Israel Mitehell and James Hunter enter land in sections 4 and 5 in 1844, and Herman, or Harman, Boye made several entries in 1854 in sections 24 and 28. In sections 1 and 2-82-2 entries are found as of 1843 and 1844 made by Thomas Craig, Elizabeth D. Waln, Robert Smythe, and Samuel Littrell. In scetions 7, 8 and ) Thomas Crabtree, Abe Stotts, and James Hunter make entries from 1844 to 1846.
Daniel, William, Henry and Elias Rogers make numerous entries in section 14 in 1849; William Davey, Mary S. Legare, Edgar G. Stoney, J. G. Berryhill, and Thomas J. Cox entered this land from 1849 to 1850 in seetions 2 and 5-82-7. In seetion 12-83-7 entries were made in 1843 by S. H. Tryon, J. H. Blackman, M. Mitchell, and E. T. Lewis. In sections 14 and 15 J. Stambangh, N. and D. Chapman, Ambrose Harlan, H. Weare. Isaac Carroll, George Greene made entries from March 4, 1843, to June, 1844.
John G. MeCloud makes an entry in section 16 in Deeember, 1846. In section 17 Robert Ellis entered land July 19, and August 8, 1843, and John Lichtebarger in July of the same year. In section 18 the heirs of Dan Potter convey, and Thomas Gainer and Isaae Lichtebarger about the same time.
In section 21-83-7 Addison Daniels and N. B. Brown entered land March 31, 1843, and George Greene makes entry of land July 13, 1847 and October 31, 1848. From 1843 to 1847 entries were made in seetion 22 by A. Daniels, N. B.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
Brown, John G. Cole, Levi Lewis, Joshua Phillips, and Ambrose Harlan. In sec- tion 27 Otho S. Bolling, Levi Lewis, and Jason C. Bartholomew made entries from 1843 to 1845. In section 28 entries were made by David W. King, Tom Gainer, and J. M. May from March, 1843, to 1859.
The entries are made earlier in the eastern and southeastern part of the county, and later on the west side of the river and toward the west and northwest; the most entries were made from 1852 to 1859, when there seems to have been a wholesale tide of emigration.
ORGANIZATION OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE COUNTY
Copy of a paper given the Linn County Historical Society by Miss Mary Durham, daughter of Hon. Samuel W. Durham.
Marion, April 27. 1843
Committee of organization met at Marion, Linn county, Iowa.
Resolved, that a sufficient number of gentlemen in each township be appointed to act as a committee of organization.
Franklin Township -C. C. Haskins, S. Elliott, Robt. Smyth, A. M. Artz, Jno. Wolfe, Jas. Stewart, Benj. De Witt, Henry Kepler.
Linn Township - William T. Gilbert, Sam'l C. Stewart, Ira Sammons, And. Safely, Jno. Scott.
Brown Township - Geo. Perkins, Jas. V. Hill, Isaac Butler, IForace N. Brown, Sam'l Kelly.
Washington Township - Bart Magonigle, Sam'l Lockhart, Ben D. Springer, Wm. B. Davis, Thos. Lockhart, Sr., A. Moats, Win. Cress, Wm. B. Harrison.
Lafayette - Gilman Clark, Chas. Cantonwine. Daniel Richards, Sam'] Brazier, Jacob Cress.
Putnam - Jno. Barnet, Jno. Hile, Alex Cox.
Marion -- M. Strong, Geo. Greene, Iram Wilson, Prior Scott, Perry Oxley, S. H. Tryon, Jeel Leverich, John Hunter, Thos. Railsback, S. W. Durham.
Rapids -- N. B. Brown, P. W. Earle, Baker, Gainor, Justus Wells, John G. MeLoud.
Resolved, that each township send one delegate to Linn convention and those having 100 votes, 2, and 1 for every additional 50.
Resolved, that with order to an organization of the democratie party in Linn County the committee in cach township be requested to give due notice to the democratic citizens of their respective townships by written advertisement or otherwise, to meet at some convenient place in their said townships on the first Saturday of June next at 2 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of choosing delegates to attend the Territorial Convention at Iowa City on the 4th Monday in June, and also to appoint delegates to a Distriet Convention, to be held at William I. Gil- bert's at such time as may hereafter he agreed upon by the corresponding com- mittees in the counties composing the 8th electoral distriet, to nominate candidates for Representatives to the Legislature to be supported by the democratie party at the annual election in October next.
Resolved, that a committee of three be appointed.
L. M. STRONG, Prest.
SAM'L, W. DURHAM, Sec.
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MAIN STREET, CENTRAL CITY, FROM THE SOUTH
GENERAL STORE AT COVINGTON
CHAPTER XXXI Society in the Early Days
The early settlers in Linn county were intelligent and cultured. They did not come to the county because communities in the east were glad to be rid of them. It was for far different reasons our pioneer men and women made their homes here. They looked upon this as a goodly land, one filled with opportunity, and they entered in and occupied it.
Mrs. R. C. Rock, now in her 83d year, has vivid recollections of beginnings in Linn county. She came overland from Dubuque in 1850, and ever since has called Cedar Rapids her home. She says in her first years here the people took the best magazines of the day, passing them around so that all might read them. In 1852 there was organized a literary circle of ladies and gentlemen. This circle met once a week at the homes of the members. Original papers were read at these meetings, the subjects being assigned in advance. Occasionally distinguished lecturers from abroad were obtained. On one occasion Oliver Wendell Holmes was here, giving an entertaining talk to a large andience on the "Great Pyramids." Judge Williams, of Muscatine, one of the original members of the supreme court of the state, was also a lecturer here. From time to time Dr. J. F. Ely, Judge Greene, and other local men read papers or made addresses, "and they were always of a high order," says Mrs. Rock.
Occasionally there were formal parties, as in these days. There was a great- er amount of entertaining a half century or more ago here than there is now. There were no special distinctions of class, all the citizens were welcomed. Some of the most hospitable homes were those of the southern colony, mentioned in another chapter in this book. Dr. and Mrs. Ely entertained a great deal in their home located where now stands the old Post Office building. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Bever were always hospitable, and the Greenes did their share. Mrs. Rock says nothing as to her own entertaining in these days, but her home was recognized as one of most cordial hospitality, refinement and culture. Col. W. H. Merritt, Gabriel Carpenter, William Greenc, Lawson Daniels and their wives were also pleasant and hospitable entertainers.
Mrs. George C. Haman, whose husband by the way is the oldest business man in this city - oldest in point of continuous service - wrote in 1906 quite interestingly for the Republican her recollections of society in Cedar Rapids in the early days. We take the liberty of reproducing the same here. It is a vivid picture of social doings a half century and more ago.
Society in the carly days had one pleasant feature that we do not have at the present time. There was only one social circle and there was not so much society to the square inch as there is now. It was before the days of parties with the men left out and before the days of clubs and cliques. A large social function meant all the social people in town, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and nothing but sickness or death kept any away. The first social affair I attended was in '57. Even then Cedar Rapids enjoyed a social reputation equal to any town in the state and it soon took the lead with such families for social leaders as those of Judge Greene, Dr. J. F. Ely, S. C. Bever, Gabriel Carpenter Colonel Merritt, William Greene, Lawson Daniels and a few others.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
who believed that money-getting should not be the only aim in life, and believed in a high standard of social and literary enjoyment as well.
The social, literary and religious foundation laid by these far-seeing men and women is what gave Cedar Rapids the prestige it enjoys among the sister cities of the state. Of course in the forties and fifties most of the entertainments were simple, but there were red letter days. The first large social affair I attended was a wedding, and the first wedding I ever attended. It was the marriage of Miss Carpenter, daughter of Gabriel Carpenter, to Mr. George Weare, brother of the late John Weare and Mr. Charles Weare. The bride was lovely. The groom was a young business man of Sioux City, where they have lived ever since. The wedding banquet was a feast of all the good things that a good housewife could prepare, and Mrs. Carpenter was famous for her culinary achievements. Her turkey dinners brought joy to many friends. She is now in her eighties, and lives a retired life.
While writing the account of this wedding I received a paper giving the account of the wedding of a granddaughter of this bride and groom.
The second social affair that stands out prominently in my memory is a large party given by Dr. and Mrs. Ely. The social functions given at this hospitable home were always delightful. The genial personality of the host and hostess pervaded every corner of the home, and when one entered its portals one knew that Dr. and Mrs. Ely would give a cordial welcome. It was a home where all of the new-comers were always entertained, the lateh-string always being out. Mrs. Ely was a very philanthropic woman, was the leader of all of the charitable works for many years. Under her leadership many of the philanthropie women of today received their early training. Her noble works gave them their incen- tive. There were not so many spacious homes as now, but those who had them dispensed hospitality most generously and in a way not surpassed in these days.
The home of S. C. Bever, for many years the largest, stood where the Rock Island offices now stand. This home was where the bishops and other clergy of the Episcopal church were always entertained while in town. This home, with its large family of young people that drew like spirits, was the source of many gaieties. Mr. and Mrs. Bever's hospitality many times won financial success for Cedar Rapids. They entertained strangers who came to spy out the land. One occasion of this kind was in '55, when Judge Greene, Dr. Ely, John Weare, Lowell Daniels, W. W. Walker, S. D. Carpenter and S. C. Bever all went to Chicago to attend a national republican convention. All being business men, ever ready to build up Cedar Rapids, at this convention they made it their business to meet men from New York and Boston and to talk up the advantages of Iowa and what a railroad could do, until Mr. Ames of Boston, Crocker, Ber- tram and others came back with the Cedar Rapids delegation, and were taken in conveyance through central Iowa. While the men were working the eastern capitalists for a railroad the women all got busy and prepared for a reception and dance at the home of S. C. Bever. Some baked cakes, others prepared meats. others the bread and others the ice cream. The whole town was invited, so when the eastern men returned, they were won completely over and the projeet of the first railroad into Cedar Rapids was laid then and there.
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