USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 51
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Mr. Brown was largely engaged in milling at that time and owned and operat- ed a woolen mill and also a flouring mill, the buildings of both are still standing but have not been in operation for some time.
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Greene, Merritt & Co. were the bankers of that period and were assessed with one city lot, corner of First street and B avenue, value $700.00, together with their bank capital $20,000. Their city tax was $41.50. The senior member of this firm was Geo. Greene, who was the largest real estate owner of that date and who has been mentioned before in this article. Mr. Merritt, the other member of the banking firm, was a brother-in-law of Mr. Greene. Messrs. Geo. Greene, Wm. Greene and Josephi Greene were brothers and together were largely instrumental in shaping the development and growth of Cedar Rapids. They had faith in its future and did not hesitate to give their money and their time to every effort made to advance, build up and beautify their home city.
Wmn. Greene was assessed with some twenty city lots, the value of which was $5,625.00, which with some personal property assessed to him made his total valua- tion $6,360 and his tax paid in city serip $12.72. He was the owner of the east 1/2 of out lot 6 and Mr. Merritt was the owner of the west 1% of the same out lot. This property was assessed at $19.00, for both Mr. Greene's and Mr. Merritt's part. This out lot is situated between Fourth and Fifth avenues and Eighth and Tenth streets and is now built up with some of the finest homes in the city. A. C. Taylor, Luther A. Brewer, Mrs. N. Bourne, Henry S. Josselyn, Dr. Ruml, Wm. HI. Dutton, Geo. A. Mullin, John H. Taft, and many others have homes in this out lot.
Greene Brothers were assessed with eight lots, all well inside the business dis- triet, which were valued at $5.085.00; tax on same $10.17 ; lots 6 and 7, bloek 16, value $1,300.00; tax $2.60. These lots are on the corner of First avenue and Third street and are now occupied by Tony Naso on the corner for a fruit store and the balance of the lots by the "Fair Company."
Mr. Daniels was another large owner of Cedar Rapids real estate, fifty years ago. The assessor for that year had him listed with 38 city lots besides four entire out lots, together they were assessed at $17,025.00, and the tax on the entire property was $34.05, all paid in the usual eity script. Some of this property lying in and near the business part has beeome quite valuable. Lot 2, block 5, being a lot on Second street between Third and Fourth avenue, was listed by the assessor at $500.00. This piece of property was sold to John Murray some two years ago for some $12,000.00, or thereabouts. This is now occupied by the inter- urban railway as their depot. Another piece assessed to the same party. lot 6, block 12, corner of Third street and Fourth avenue, the rear part of this lot is being improved this present season by the Bohemian Turners. This lot was as- sessed at $425. Tax on same, 85 cents. Mr. Daniels was also owner of lots S and 9, block 14. These lots are on Third avenue between Second and Third street and are owned by Sam Armstrong and John S. Ely, the assessed value of the two lots was $1,250.00 and tax on lots $2.50.
Lot 10, block 42, value $375.00. This is the corner lot on which the Methodist church is located. Lot 1, block 43, value $350.00. This is the corner on which the Christian church was built.
Lawson and Lowell Daniels, under the firm name of L. Daniels & Co., were as- sessed with 19 city lots, value of which was $8,775.00. Merchandise, $1,000; five horses, $375.00; three carriages $150.00. The total tax was $21.40.
Lot 5, block 2, is the lot on which the Masonic Temple is now located, and was valued at that time at $2,400.00. They used it then and for many years after as a store room and did a very large business. They sold about everything to be found in a well regulated country store, and were known for many miles around as reliable and enterprising merchants. They were also owners of lot 3, block 15. This is the lot on which the Reps Dry Goods Co. is located and was valued at $700.00. They were also owners of out lot 16. valued at $350.00. This is located between Third and Fourth avenue and Twelfth and Fourteenth streets, is now
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nearly all improved with fine homes, the new Westminster church is on this block, corner of Fourteenth street and Third avenue.
Harvey Higley and his brother, Henry Higley, under the firm name of Higley & Co., were large owners of eity real estate, the larger part of which was in the distriet now given up to business. They were owners of the lot on which the Granby Block now stands, which at that time was only valued at $700.00. They were also assessed with the property on which the Denecke Dry Goods store is now located. This was assessed at a value of $80.00. On this lot was a large livery stable of which the Higleys were the owners, and which they conducted for many years after. They were also the owners of the lot, corner of First avenue and Second street, now occupied by Oscar Solomon, and ten years after erected the store building now standing thereon. This piece of property was valned at that time at $725.00. They were also assessed with lot 3, block 2, at a valuation of $1,700.00. This is on First street and is now occupied by Kubias & Son, as a harness store.
Sampson C. Bever was assessed with real estate to the value of $9,480.00, and personal property $515.00. On this assessment he paid a tax of $19.99. The most valuable piece of property held by himself that time was the homestead which was located on First avenue and between Fourth and Fifth streets. These five lots were assessed at $2,325.00; the house, which was a large brick structure, stood about where the old B., C. R. & N. Railway erected their general offices a few years since. The Milwaukee railway depot is also located on one of the lots of the Bever home property.
Mr. Bever was also assessed with lot 1, block 3, original town, at a valuation of $1.875.00. This is the lot on which the banking house of the Commercial Savings Bank is located and is a property which the Bever family have paid taxes on for over a half century. A large part of Mr. Bever's property was in lands lying outside of the city limits and which the writer of this article is not able to correctly describe. Mr. Bever located in Cedar Rapids in April, 1852, and for a number of years was engaged as a merchant, after which he became interested in banking and was the head of the private banking house of S. C. Bever & Sons. This bank afterwards became the City National Bank and was the first national bank to be established in Cedar Rapids.
H. G. Angle & Co. paid on a valuation of $4,700.00 real, $3,000.00 personal. They were largely interested in milling and also condueted a large store. The building in which they operated is still standing on the corner of A avenue and First street and is now ocenpied as a saloon. The company was assessed with twelve city lots.
A. M. Mekeel was assessed with personal property only, value $6,000 and paid into the city treasury the sum of $12.00. He paid the largest tax on money of any one in Cedar Rapids except the bankers on their bank capital.
Geo. Ohler, lot 8, bloek 11, value $375.00. He paid a tax of 29 cents. This was his home and was located on Sixth avenue and here he and Mrs. Ohler re- sided for over fifty years. Mr. Ohler died about four years ago and Mrs. Ohler more recently. The only member of the family remaining is Mr. Frank Ohler.
S. Nyere paid on merchandise value of $100.00. Mr. Nyere was a tailor and continued in that business for many years after. He was the father of Geo. Nyere, late candidate for mayor, also of John and Louis Nyere, plumbers, all successful and pushing business men.
Philip Otterbein, one eity lot valued at $250.00, tax paid, 50 cents. Henry Otterbein of the west side is a son of Mr. Otterbein.
S. L. Pollock was the owner of a number of eity lots, the value of which was $2,340, and on which he paid a tax of $4.58. He owned lot 8, bloek 2, on which is located Greene's opera house, and valned at that time at $700.00. He also
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owned a lot on First street about opposite the auditorium valued at $375.00, and also a part of the land on which the auditorium now stands.
Wm. Passmore was assessed with one business lot on First street about the middle of the block on the east side between First and Second avenues, and which was valued at $600.00. This with $535.00 of personal property, made his city tax $2.27.
G. A. Reicheneeker was assessed with lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, bloek 48, which were valued at $1,575 on which he paid a tax of $3.15. These five city lots are located on Second avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets, and on which are located the homes of the late Isaac Shaver and U. B. Sanders and Mrs. Lawson Daniels.
Mr. Sanford, a non-resident, was assessed with out lot 5 at a value of $1,700.00. This out lot is situated between Eighth and Tenth streets, Third and Fourth avenues, and contains the homes of J. S. Friek, David Blakely, Mrs. G. Carpenter, E. E. Pinney, all on Third avenue, and L. Benediet, E. J. Carey, Mrs. L. Wallace, J. C. Pickering, R. M. Garrison, David Lighty and Jas. W. Wiley, all on Fourth avenue. This property at that time contained nothing but native timber and a luxurious crop of sand burrs.
John Weare was the owner of outlot 2 and which was valued at $1,700. This property is on First avenue and between Eighth and Tenth streets, and on which is now located the homes of Col. Clark, John M. Redmond, E. E. Rothroek, Jno. B. Henderson, Henry Soutter, Chas. J. Fox, Wm. J. Greene, and a number of others. Mr. Weare paid taxes on several other lots and also some personal property.
Geo. Parr paid the tax on lot 2, block 21, value $300.00. This was his home lot and on which he had a good briek house. This was on C avenue and has now been entirely taken up by the Quaker Oats mill plant.
C. B. Rowley was the owner of several pieces of city property. Lots 1 and 2, bloek 31, which was valued at $875.00, was owned by him. The Perfection Man- ufacturing Company is located on lot 1. IIe was also the owner of lots 1 and 2, block 47, corner of Third avenue and Sixth street. The Sisters of Merey now own lot 1 and Jos. F. Kouba resides on and owns lot 2, these two last lots were valued at $575.00. Mr. Rowley was engaged in buying grain and other farm produce. The warehouse was located on ground now ocenpied by the Quaker Oats plant. lle was for a number of years a member of the school board of this city.
S. A. Shattuck was assessed with lots 4 and 5, block 29, which were valued at $650.00. On these two lots he paid a tax of $1.30. Mr. Shattuck built his home on lot 5 over fifty years ago and here he and his wife lived until his death. Mr. Shattuck was one of the pioneer business men of Cedar Rapids. He came here in 1852, and was active in a business way until a very reeent date. Ile was a partner of Geo. Dewey under the firm name of Shattuck & Dewey, and together they had a store on First street. Mr. Shattuck built the three store brick build- ing now standing on First avenue between the alley and Second street and then known as the Franklin block. Frank Kilborn owns one of the store rooms today.
Wm. Stewart became a taxpayer in Cedar Rapids at a very early day. He came here in 1847. Fifty years ago he was the owner of lot 9, block 16. valned at $700.00. This is on First avenue between Second and Third streets, and is now occupied by Russell Confection store. He was also owner of part of the property on which the Y. M. C. A. building is now located. Mr. Stewart was a blacksmith, plowmaker, and had a shop on A avenue. Ex-Alderman Jas. Hughes is now en- gaged in nearly the same business and in the same building that Mr. Stewart built and oeenpied fifty years ago.
M. S. Starr was assessed with lot 10, block 5, valued at $750.00. This is the property on which T. JJ. Lowell has his hardware store.
- EATLIS -
BAYLIO
COE COLLEGE BUILDINGS
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J. J. Snouffer was the owner of lot 6, block 3. This property was valued at that period at $1,000.00 and is the corner on which the Commercial National Bauk is located, and a part of the Denecke Dry Goods store. Mr. Snouffer also owned a lot on North First street opposite the mills, which was assessed at $700.00, also personal property valued at $130.00.
Mr. Snouffer came to Cedar Rapids in 1852, and was engaged in milling under the firm name of W. D. Watrous & Co. He was an alderman from the first ward for many terms and at one time mayor of the city.
D. F. Sprague was assessed with lot 5, block 25, which was listed at $500.00. This is the lot on which the Muskwaki block is located, corner of Second avenue and Fourth street.
Peter Snyder was the owner of lot 6, block 11, valued at $425.00. This prop- erty is on the corner of Sixth avenue and Third street.
C. C. Taylor was listed with lot 6, block 32 and valued at $425.00. This is the corner of Second avenue and Fifth street and was the home of B. F. Howland for many years. It is now occupied by the new and beautiful home of the Cedar Rapids Business college.
T. Wood was the owner of several pieces of Cedar Rapids property, in all amounting to $1,650.00, on which he paid a tax of $3.30. His home was on the corner of Fifth street and B avenue. He also was the owner of the lot on which the Y. M. C. A. building is located, which was valued at $900.00; also a lot, corner of Fifth avenue and Sixth street. Mr. Edwin Wood, for many years connected with the J. S. Cook Dry Goods Co., was a son of Mr. Wood.
The Iowa & Nebraska Land Company were assessed with 29 city lots and all valued at $6,875.00, the tax of which was $13.75. The Iowa & Nebraska railroad, from Clinton to this place, was then being built. It was nearly completed to this point and these lots were doubtless purchased for right of way and terminal pur- poses, as they were all situated on or near where the road was built. The next spring, after the road was open for traffic to this point, lot 1, block 25 was assessed to unknown owner and was valued at $700. This is the lot upon which the First Presbyterian church was built many years ago and remembered by the older resi- dents as the "Little Muddy." The new federal building is now erected on this lot.
Lot 1, block 26 was also assessed to unknown owners and was valued at $575.00. This lot is on the corner of Third street and Third avenue and was used up to a very recent date by the Second Presbyterian church.
Lots 3, 4 and 5, block 30 was also in the unknown list and was valued at $1,075.00 for the entire three lots. Two of these lots were bought about this time and the third one a little later for school purposes and on this ground was erected the first real substantial school building ever built in this city. In this building was grouped the high school and all the other grades from the primary up. This building was used for school purposes until demolished a few years ago to make room for the present Washington high school building.
Lots 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, block 13 were assessed to unknown owners at a value of $1,100.00. These lots are on Fourth avenue and between Second and Third streets. The new telephone exchange is located on the rear of lot 10.
TEXT OF THE ACT TO INCORPORATE CEDAR RAPIDS
Following is the text of the act incorporating Cedar Rapids, as passed by the legislature of the State of Iowa and approved by Ansel Briggs, Iowa's first gov- ernor, January 15, 1849 :
An Act to Incorporate the Town of Cedar Rapids, in Linn County.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, that all that part of the State of Iowa included within the boundaries of the town of
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Cedar Rapids in Linn County, as surveyed and recorded in the recorder's office in the said County of hinn, be and the same is hereby constituted a town corporate and shall hereafter be known by the name of the town of Cedar Rapids.
SEC. 2. It shall be lawful for the free male inhabitants of said town having the qualifications of electors to meet at the usual place of holding the elections in said town on the first Wednesday in April next and on the first Wednesday of April annually thereafter at such place in said town as the town council shall direct and then and there proceed to eleet by ballot a mayor, recorder and three couneilmen, who shall have the qualifications of electors, and reside within the corporate limits of said town, and said mayor, recorder and councilmen shall hold their offices one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified and any three of them shall be a board for the transaction of business, but a less number may adjourn from time to time until a quorum shall assemble.
SEC. 3. That at the first election under this aet judges and elerks shall be chosen by the electors present who shall each take an oath faithfully to discharge the duties required by this aet and at all subsequent elections the mayor and any two of the eouneilmen shall sit as judges and the recorder, or in his absence some one of the council pro tempore shall aet as clerk and at all such elections the polls shall be opened at 1:00 o'clock, p. m. and close at 5:00 o'clock p. m., of the same day, and at the close of the polls the votes shall be counted and a statement of the result proclaimed at the door by the elerk; the elerk of said elections shall there- upon make out a certificate to each of the persons so elected and the persons re- ceiving such certifieate shall, within ten days thereafter take an oath to support the constitution and the laws of the United States and of this state and faithfully discharge his duties according to the best of his abilities, which oath shall be en- dorsed on the back of said certificate and filed with the recorder of said town.
SEc. 4. The mayor, recorder and eouneilmen of said town shall be a body corporate and politie with perpetual succession to be known by the name of the mayor and eouneil of the town of Cedar Rapids, and shall be capable in law to acquire property, real, personal and mixed for the use of said town and sell and convey the same. May have a common seal and may alter the same at pleasure. May sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer or he answered unto in any court of law and equity in this state; and when any suit shall be commeneed against said corporation a certified copy of any writ issued against said eorpor- ation shall be left with the recorder of said town at least ten days before the return day thereof.
SEC. 5. That the mayor, recorder and couneil, or a majority of them, of whom the mayor or the recorder shall always be one, shall have authority to make, or- dain, and publish all by-laws and ordinances not inconsistent with the constitu- tion and laws of the land as they may deem proper for the promotion of morality. interest, safety, health and cleanliness of said town and the citizens thereof; they shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen by death or otherwise of any of the officers of their board herein named. They shall have power to appoint a treasurer, marshal and such other subordinate officers as a majority of said council muy deem necessary, to preseribe their duties and require surety of their perform- anee, to remove them at pleasure, and to establish the fees of all offices not other- wise provided for by this act. They shall have power to impose fines for the breach of their ordinances, which fines may be recovered with costs before any jus- tiee of the peace in said town by an action of debt in the name of said corporation. All fines collected in pursuance of this aet shall be paid over by the officer collecting the same to the treasurer of the corporation.
SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the mayor to preside at the meetings of the town eouneil, and it shall be the duty of the recorder to keep a true record of the by-laws and ordinances, to attend all meetings of the council and keep a fair and accurate record of their proceedings and perform such other duties as the council
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may from time to time require. Said recorder inay under his hand and seal appoint a deputy to perform his duties when ahsent, for whose acts the said re- eorder shall be responsible.
SEC. 7. That the town eouneil shall have power to assess for corporation pur- poses an annual tax on all property in said town made subjeet to taxation by the laws of this state for state and county purposes not exceeding in any one year one per centum on the valuation thereof which value shall be ascertained by an as- sessor appointed by the town council for that purpose, duplicate of which shall be made out and signed by the recorder and delivered to the collector. They shall have power to equalize any injudieious assessment then made on complaint of the person aggrieved.
SEC. 8. That the town marshal shall be the collector of any tax assessed by said council, and he is hereby authorized and required, by distress and sale of property, as constables on execution, to collect and pay over said tax to the treasurer within three months after the time of receiving the duplicate thereof and the treasurer's receipt shall be his voucher. The town marshal shall make per- sonal demand of every resident charged with tax if to be found, and before sale of property for delinquent tax shall give ten days' notice in advertisement in three of the most public places in said corporation, and if the property or any lot or piece of land for which no personal property can be found shall remain un- paid for three months after the expiration of the time by this act allowed the collector for the collection of the tax shall give notice in the nearest newspaper stating the amount of such tax and the number and deseription of the lots on which it is due and that the same will be sold to discharge such tax unless the payment thereof be made within three months from the date of such advertise- ment, and if such tax be not paid within that time the town marshal, after giving twenty days' notice of the time and place of sale at the three most public places in said town shall proceed to sell at public auction so much of said lot or piece of land as will discharge said tax.
SEC. 9. That if the owner of any lot sold for taxes as aforesaid shall appear at any time within two years after such sale and pay the purchase money with interest at thirty per centum per annum thereon he shall be entitled to the right of redemption. If, however, the owner or his agent shall neglect to redeem any real estate sold for taxes under the provisions of this aet within the time herein specified, it shall be the duty of the mayor to make and execute a deed to the purchaser countersigned by the recorder under the seal of the corporation. Said deeds shall also be acknowledged before a justice of the peace, and when so exe- euted and recorded in the office of recorder of deeds of Linn County, shall be deemed and taken as valid by law.
SEC. 10. Twenty days before each annual election the town eouneil shall put up in some conspicuous place within said town, an aceurate account of the money received and expended hy said corporation since the last annual election, with the sources from which they were derived and the objects on which they were expended, which shall be certified by the recorder.
SEC. 11. The said corporation shall have power to regulate all streets, alleys, sidewalks, drains or sewers, to sink and keep in repair public wells, remove nuisances, and make other such needful regulations not incompatible with the laws of the state as shall conduce to the general interest and welfare of the in- habitants of said town. To provide for licensing, taxing and regulating auctions, retailers and taverns, theatrieal and other shows of amusement. to prohibit tip- pling houses, gaming houses and other disorderly houses.
SEC. 12. The by-laws and ordinanees of said corporation shall be published in a newspaper in the county or posted up in some publie place in said town fifteen days before taking effect thereof, and the certificate of the recorder upon the town records shall be sufficient evidence of the same having been done and
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every annual election herein authorized shall be preceded by five days' notice thereof put up in three publie places in said town.
SEC. 13. That the streets and alleys of said town shall constitute one road distriet including the several roads leading from said town for the distance of one mile from the corporation limits.
SEC. 14. That the mayor or a majority of the councilmen may call a meeting of the town eouneil whenever in his or their opinion the same may be necessary. The mayor and eouneilmen shall receive such compensation as shall be voted them by the inhabitants of said town in legal meeting assembled.
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