USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 69
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PREMIOPM
NEBRASAL
3
3
FONTENELLE BANK
OF BELLEVUE,
THREE
TRE WILL 9
22,20
FIVE DOLLARS Y A MK BELLEVUESURE
Cash:
SAMPLES OF CURRENCY USED IN PIONEER DAYS The lower two signed by John Weare, President
477
LINN COUNTY IN WAR
In the meantime Captain T. Z. Cook had received a comimssion as lieutenant colonel of the Eighteenth Iowa. At the time he was mayor of Cedar Rapids but resigned and Charles Weare was appointed in his place.
In April, 1862, Dr. J. H. Camburn, of Cedar Rapids, was commissioned as surgeon of the Sixteenth lowa and about the same time Dr. R. R. Taylor was appointed as medical officer of the Fourth cavalry, then stationed at Benton Bar- racks, St. Louis.
To speak at length of the services rendered in the field by the men from Linn county is not possible at this time. Our boys all distinguished themselves for bravery, and suffered patiently the many privations to which they were subjected. Many of them saw hard service, and quite a number were taken prisoners. At Shiloh among the Linn county officers made prisoners were Capt. John H. Stibbs, and Lieut. Hiel Hale of Company D. Twelfth Iowa. These officers were later released on exchange. Captain Ed Coulter of the Twentieth Iowa fell into the hands of the enemy down in Texas. It seems that officers of the Twentieth were somewhat unfortunate. Major W. G. Thompson was badly wounded at the battle of Prairie Grove. Captain Bates resigned because of ill health, returned home, and died. Captain Lucore became ill with the small pox and also died. Captain C. C. Cook resigned on account of sickness, and was sueeeeded by Joseph Mc- Clelland, who at the time was ill in New Orleans. Lieutenant Joseph Holland resigned and came home sick, dying soon afterward.
Company A of the Thirty-first Iowa reached Cedar Rapids after being dis- charged on July 3, 1865. This company went into the war 100 strong and returned with only about forty. Early in August of this same year, the three companies from Linn county in the Twenty-fourth Iowa reached home. Of Company C there were only twenty of the original members left.
On the 7th of September, 1865, Cedar Rapids gave the returning soldiers a big reception. The elaborateness of the reception was greatly marred hy a heavy rainfall. The spirit manifested was all right, however.
COMPANY C, CEDAR RAPIDS
One of the best known military companies in the state is Company C, of Cedar Rapids. This company was organized November 1, 1883, its first captain being George Greene. Many of the best known young men of the town at one time or another have been members of this organization.
After serving a number of years Captain Greene resigned, and for a short time W. G. Dows was acting captain. Ed. H. Smith was then chosen to the posi- tion. He was succeeded by George A. Evans.
W. G. Dows, long a member of this company, for a time was adjutant of the First Regiment Iowa National Guards.
Upon the call for troops because of the Spanish-American war, on April 25, 1898, the entire membership of Company C left that same night for Des Moines. where the entire First Regiment was assembled. This regiment was mustered in- to the United States service as the Forty-ninth Iowa United States Volunteer In- fantry, William G. Dows, colonel, commanding. After drilling for a time they went to Jacksonville, Florida, and then to Savannah, Georgia, where they took a government transport for Cuba. The members of the regiment did all kind of service in the army of oceupation, mnuch of it being very laborious. In May, 1899. the regiment returned from Cuba and shortly afterwards was mustered out at Savannah.
While the company was in the service in Cuba George A. Evans was its cap- tain.
A few months later the present Fifty-third Regiment was organized, cach city in the old regiment being allowed a company in the new. Company C was re-
478
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
organized, and is now a part of this regiment. The first captain of the new eom- pany was Frank Hahn. He was succeeded by T. A. Berkebile, and he by John Rau, who is now the captain of the company.
Col. William G. Dows, who is now a member of the governor's staff, served for twenty-five years in various eapacities in the same regiment, a service for con- tinuity unequalled. Though offered promotions, he maintained that he would rather stay by the old boys and the old regiment.
FIFTH IOWA BATTERY
Promptly upon the declaration of war in 1898 with Spain a battery was organized in Cedar Rapids for service in that war. It was mustered into the service as the Fifth Battery Iowa Volunteer Light Artillery. Nearly all of the 100 members came from Cedar Rapids and vieinity. The members were enrolled during April and May, and the battery was mustered in at Des Moines in June by Major Olmsted of the U. S. regulars. The battery saw no regular service, but it spent ten weeks in camp waiting, ready for service in the field if called upon. George W. Bever was the captain, R. Tasker Forbes and S. Craighead Cook, lieutenants, Charles A. Loring was first sergeant, Robert M. Witwer, quartermaster sergeant. Dr. C. H. French and Roy Waite were also sergeants in the company.
CHAPTER XLV
Odds and Ends of History and Reminiscence
In this chapter we give some odds and ends of history and reminiscenee that could not well be inserted elsewhere or that came into our possession after the foregoing chapters were written :
The result of the vote in Linn eounty in 1860 showed 2,227 for Lincoln eleetors, 1,220 for Douglas, 24 for Breckinridge, and 84 for Bell. In Rapids township Lineolu had 397, Douglas 201, Breekinridge 3, and Bell 26.
The first telegraph line reached Cedar Rapids February 24, 1860.
On the evening of Sunday, June 3, 1860, a destruetive storm oeenrred, since known as "The Great Tornado." It was most destructive about five miles north of Cedar Rapids, and passed southward, leaving the county in the vieinity of Western. Some lives were lost and many buildings destroyed.
THE TOWN OF WESTERN
Western was laid out in March, 1856, under the auspices of the United Brethren church, with the design of forming proper surroundings for the college. Ground was first broken in June of that year. By August, 1857, there were forty-three dwelling houses and three hundred inhabitants. One college building had been completed. This was of briek, three stories in height, 36 by 62 feet. This was placed upon a campus of seventeen aeres. Rev. S. Weaver was first president of this institution. The plan was to operate a large farm in connection with the college, that students might earn their way. In this new town there were already two stores, one hotel built and one building, a blacksmith shop, two physicians, and fourteen busy carpenters. Land in the vicinity was worth from $10 to $20 per acre. Its quality was proven when the college president, on his own farm, raised 1,800 bushels of wheat. There was a railroad coming there, of course, as there was oue prospected to nearly every eross-roads in the state. This particular line was the Iowa Union, to run from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City.
Western was above all things a moral town. One Daniel Quin having opened a grog shop near the place, where the college authorities could not interfere, the people took up the matter. Sentiment was aronsed and a mass meeting was held. At this meeting resolutions were adopted, which provided that a committee should wait upon the dram seller and urge him to desist. In case of his refusal the committee was to try legal methods for his suppression. If these proved inef- feetive the meeting was to be again ealled, to devise further measures. A very signifieant addendum was that the meeting would support the committee in any plan which might be considered necessary to eradicate the obnoxious business. It was further resolved to use the boycott - though the Irish captain had not yet given his name to the scheme. In other words they were not to employ or trade with any man engaged in the liquor business or who might in any way support the traffie. It is perhaps needless to say that Quin surrendered at discretion without foreing the committee and the people to extremities hinted at.
MT. VERNON
Mt. Vernon makes showing in several direetions during 1857. The Congre- gationalists of that town being without a place of worship were enabled to rent
480)
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
from the Covenanters. But by the terms of the lease with that strict body promise was made that no minister of pro-slavery sentiments should be heard within the building, nor upon any occasion was a musical instrument of any des- scription to be used therein. The institution at Mt. Vernon which had before this time been known as "lowa Conference Seminary, " was in August, 1857. changed in name to Cornell College. And Alt. Vernon, like the other college town of West- ern, was careful for civic peace and righteousness. Christianity in that time and in a new country was required sometimes to be of a stalwart and muscular kind. that it might meet evil tendencies sharply and effectively. Thus we learn of the discomfitures of a gang of rowdies from Linn Grove, who invaded the peace of Mt. Vernon and disturbed its Sabbath quietude. with intent to break up a relig- ious meeting then in progress. These were overcome, after a tussle, by the worshippers, and held until passing of midnight brought a civic day. Then the justice was roused, the disturbers formally accused, tried and fined to the utmost extent of their resources. The affair was over before one o'clock Monday mor- ing, the rowdies started home with empty pockets, sadder and wiser men, and the godly inhabitants of Mt. Vernon again slept the sleep of the just.
FIRST AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION
The Linn County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized in 1855. its first meeting being held at. Cedar Rapids in May of that year. The organization was completed in July. The object, as stated, was "the encourage- ment of agriculture, manufactures and the mechanic arts." To accomplish this landable purpose an annual county fair was to be held. The first of these was at Cedar Rapids in September, 1855, and the second at Marion the next year. These are reported as very creditable in exhibits, and fairly woll attended. In 1857 the association was incorporated, and in consequence drew $200 from the state treasury. The third fair was again at Cedar Rapids, and the management took the public into its confidence in advance by revealing its slender resources. The premiums for '56 were not paid, but those of the next year were very promptly met, and a surplus remained over for the future. These annual fairs were reeog- nized as something to be aided by all parties, and the various toll bridges notified intending exhibitors that all live stock taken to the fair would be passed frec.
The statement of the association for 1860 shows total income of $462.00. of which amount $259.00 represented the gate receipts. The expenditures were $414.95, including $146.98 for premiums. The indebtedness of the society had inereased to $618.65. The amount received from the state each year was $200.00. Officers elected for 1861 were: President, Charles Taylor, Cedar Rapids; vice presidents, Andrew Safely and W. S. Gott, Marion : secretary, S. D. MeCauley. Cedar Rapids; treasurer, Lysander Jones, Marion.
FIRST TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
Another organization, though having nominal existence before this time, was really made effective in 1857. This was the Linn County Teachers' Association. On October 31, on call of J. L. Enos, the teachers and others interested met in Cedar Rapids. Mr. Enos was then editor of the Voice of Iowa, the educational organ of the state. At this meeting a reorganization of the association was effected, and officers elected as follows: President, Rev. S. Weaver, president of Western college; vice presidents, Prof. S. M. Fellows of Mt. Vernon, E. A. Cooley of Marion, Ira G. Fairbanks of Cedar Rapids; secretary, Prof. N. W. Bartlett, Western ; treasurer. Hon. E. N. Bates of Cedar Rapids. The exceutive committee consisted of M. Bowman, Franklin township ; S. M. Bruce, Washington ; William Parmenter, Western; J. L. Enos, Cedar Rapids; and A. Witter. Franklin. The
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4.7
1
. 77
STREET VIEWS IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IN 1910
ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 481
work of preparing a constitution was committed to J. L. Enos, E. A. Cooley, and Ira G. Fairbanks. A further meeting of the association was held at Western, December 12th, at which time the constitution was adopted and the organization started on a very useful existence.
FIRST TEACHER'S CERTIFICATE IN CEDAR RAPIDS
The first teacher's certificate issued in Rapids township reads as follows:
"This certifies that I have this day examined Miss Susan A. Abbe, touching hier ability to teach, both in regard to her education and to her moral character, and I find her well qualified for a teacher of common schools.
"This certificate shall be valid for one year.
"Rapids township, Linn county, lowa, July 16, 1847.
" Alexander L. Ely,
"Inspector of Common Schools for said Township."
Alexander L. Ely was one of the early settlers of Cedar Rapids, was interested in the public matters of the new town, and carly engaged in politics. He was also largely interested in real estate, and operated one of the first mills on the Cedar river at the dam, which he caused to be built with N. B. Brown and other lead- ing citizens.
Susan A. Abbe, the person to whom this certificate was issued, is still living in Hollister, California, and is known as Mrs. Susan Shields. She was seventeen years when the certificate was issued, and had then been a resident of the county ten years. She taught for a number of years in the public schools of this county.
Mrs. Shields maintains that she was the first legally qualified person to teach in the public schools of Cedar Rapids, according to the laws then in force in the state.
The evidence seems to confirm her contention.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE
A teachers' institute, first of which record is made and notable in point of attendance, was held in Cedar Rapids Deeember 26, 1859, and continued for three days. There was constant drilling for the pedagogues in common school branches. Some sixty teachers were present.
Linn county teachers held their institute for 1860 at Western October 29-30. with Prof. F. Humphrey of Cedar Rapids, president. Some of the subjects discussed may serve to illustrate differences in the times. Question of teachers (presumably male) using tobacco came up, and a resolution was adopted express- ing "disapproval of the use of tobacco by teachers, and recommend to those of Linn county to abstain therefrom entirely." Dr. J. Maynard of Tipton made an address on the subject of "Children's Rights." Prof. Wheeler of Cornell orated on "Demosthenes." Editor Jerome of the Iowa City Republican urged teachers to use the press as an ally in the cause of education.
Mrs. Ruth A. Dale, of Cedar Rapids, sister of Elias Doty, now living near Bertram, where the family settled in the early days - 1839 - has distinct recol- lections of pioneer life in the county. She states that Aretas Crane aud Daniel C. Doty, brothers of Elias and James M. Doty, the pioneers, settled at Ft. Stevens, now Davenport, in 1836 or 1837 - 1836 she believes is the correct date. Daniel Doty and his son, J. M. Doty, and his son-in-law, Aretas Crane, passed over the ground on which Cedar Rapids now stands in 1837. This being the fact, it is evident that these people were the first white men to look upon the present site of the city, with a view to finding a permanent settlement for themselves. They,
482
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
however, after looking over the ground concluded that the site afterwards known as Westport, and somewhat later as Newark, was the preferable location. They returned to their home at Middletown, Butler county, Chio, and arranged their affairs. James M. Doty and Elias Doty, sons of Daniel Doty, returned to the county in 1839 and took up a claim at Westport. There they started what was, without question, the first manufacturing plant within the limits of the county, and possibly in the state. This was a pottery. The date of its establishment was probably in 1840. Later the same year Elias Doty began the erection of the first saw-mill in the county.
The Dotys were induced to come to Iowa through the fact that their brother, Daniel C. Doty, was at the time engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi, his headquarters being at Davenport.
In this connection the following extracts from a letter written by Elias and .J. M. Doty to their parents and dated May 2, 1841, are of interest :
"I have my mill frame up, that is, the lower frame. The upper frame is almost ready to raise. The millwright work can be done in about six weeks from the time we raise the frame. I have commenced the race. I have three hundred feet in length of a race and two hundred feet dam. As soon as I get water to it, it will be ready to run.
"There are hard times enough here for anybody. There is nothing that will bring cash that I know of. For my part I am hard run to live. I would like to have some money. It has not come yet.
"I cannot say that we are all well, but we are able to keep about. We had a great deal of sickness last fall. I cannot say that I like this country, it is too cold for me, the ground freezes from two to four feet deep. The frost is hardly out yet. The trees look like winter time. I think I will leave this place as soon as I can get my business settled, and money enough to carry me away. I have between two and three hundred dollars coming but can't get enough to buy myself a shirt. I bought corn last fall at three cents per bushel. I have three claims and want to sell them.
"Last night was a pretty moonlight night. Parmelia kicked up a fuss and after all night's watching about six o'clock this morning after a bright sunrise she was delivered of a prosperous looking son, weight nine pounds, seven ounces."
VOTE OF LINN COUNTY 1910
The vote of the county in November, 1910, for governor was as follows:
Twp.
Rep.
Dem.
Twp.
Rep.
Dem.
Bertram
33
75
Jackson
166
51
Brown
209
102
Linn
57
57
Boulder
76
90
Maine
225
79
Buffalo
40
27
Marion
519
391
Cedar
133
127
Monroe
99
66
Clinton
52
64
Otter Creek
67
63
College
49
95
Putnam
43
96
Fairfax
60
111
Rapids
1761
2443
Fayette
94
35
Spring Grove
83
22
Franklin
385
182
Washington
145
168
Grant
124
95
4420
4439
In addition to the above there were 382 votes cast for other candidates.
SOME MUNICIPAL FIGURES FOR CEDAR RAPIDS
The net taxable value of property in Cedar Rapids for the year 1910, on the one-fourth valuation. is $6,579,183. In addition the city has a mulet tax revenue
ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE 483
and an income from licenses, poliee court fines, ete., of about $60,000 per year, giving a little more than $300,000 available for eity purposes.
The real estate valuation for 1910 is $21,280,294, and the personal property is valued at $5,026,438. The valuation twelve years ago was one-half of the above amount. It has increased at the rate of one million dollars per year sinee 1898. This inerease is largely due to improvements and new buildings. Land valnes have doubled in the past twelve years. For 1911 the valuation will go above these values as the city has inereased in value so fast that it will be necessary for the assessors to raise the valuation on all property for 1911 at least three million dollars, which will bring the total valuation to nearly thirty millions by 1912.
EARLY DAYS IN LINN
IN CEDAR RAPIDS REPUBLICAN JUNE 20, 1910
Being in a somewhat reflective mood today I shall attempt to acquaint you of a few incidents in a life as memory unfolds them to me. It will be necessary before narrating these ineidents to introduee to you my friend and acquaintance, Colonel MeIntyre of Indian Creek bottom, familiarly known as "Pinkey" by his class mates at West Point. The eolonel measured six feet two, symmetrieally proportioned, tipping the seale at a trifle over two hundred pounds, eyes of steel grey, beard auburn, bordering slightly on the reddish and a military bearing in keeping with his long years of service as a diseiplinarian. The incidents of this life take me back some years to that little eabin, that stood on the east side of the road running north and south past Indian creek bottom, built from roughly finished logs hewn from the trunks of trees eut from the nearby forest. Time does not seem to efface from memory recollections with the boys and girls of the sparsely settled neighborhood, attending spelling schools and such like. The unfolding of memory reveals to me versions of the old plaee and the childhood days spent beneath the clapboard roof as vividly as though it were but yesterday.
A little farther on up the road from this cabin, perhaps a half mile, there is a fork in the road, one fork leading on to what was then known as Turkey Grove and now to feather ridge, the other on to the Inn dwellers eave on the "Piniean" bluffs. On the flat iron point where the road forks was ereeted the first sehool house in that vieinity and is still standing as a monument to the men who were not afraid to do what they knew to be right regardless of the whims and petty elamorings of dissatisfaction that continually sway committees from the paths of rectitude and right. From this nueleus of education there go forth its quota of youth each year to enter higher institutions of learning or grapple with the more serious problems of life. The impressions I received while attending this school by the pleasant grove have not been eradieated by the conquering of new worlds or by the glamour of political eonquests. Youthful dreams and the bewitching smile of some fair maid were a source of great pleasure to me; a smile from Miss Rose LaBelle during school time would set my heart going at a two minute clip and detraet materially from my studies and the routine of school work.
From this miniature "college" have gone forth men and women who are now wielding an influence almost nation wide in its scope. Some are gradually wandering from the truths that were enuneiated and make a cardinal principle of its teaching and are now searching in hidden paths of sociology for new light. I now recall an event that happened while attending this school that conveys to my mind another faet tending to establish the truth of the proposition, that "ingratitude" is no dream.
One bright morning in early spring when all nature seemed aglow with fresh- ness and beauty, myself and a number of girls were the first to arrive at sehool, the teacher. Miss Theresa MeCurty, being a little later than usual. On entering
484
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY
the school house we were held spellbound and speechless for a moment by a strange musical yet weird sound which seemed to come from the rear of the room. It took considerable effort to muster up courage to make an investigation, but finally a search was started and on approaching the rear end of the room the same musical weird sound would be at the other end of the room. Now in order to discover what it was that was making this strange weird noise and put the intruder to ront and discover if possible what kind of a looking monster he was, it was decided that two of us would go around to the rear and the rest remain in front and keep a sharp lookout for whatever it might be, when all at once one of the girls let out an unearthly scream and pointing at some object in the corner of the room shouted. "There it goes." We all gave chase, although some of the girls were rather timid on the start, and succeeded in capturing the intruder alive. It turned out to be a large white wood-mouse. What to do with this new and unruly possession was the important question now up for solution. Some were in for dispatching it at once, others said let's turn it loose, but Miss Orrie, who always had an eye for business when there was any fun in sight. sug- gested putting it in the teacher's desk and the result was that Miss Orrie had her way and we proceeded with all haste to carry out her plan, the girls holding up the lid of the old fashioned teacher's desk while I dropped the musical wonder in. This done, we went about our play as though nothing was ever expected to happen, impatiently waiting for something to happen. but not quite sure what. We didn't have long to wait.
Now the teacher, Miss Theresa MeCurty, was of the type of spinsters who are apparently self-willed and thoroughly versed in the art of throwing round them an atmosphere of ability to convince others of their dependence only on themselves in case of emergency to take care of themselves.
We had barely completed the capture and imprisonment in the teacher's desk of the musical wonder, when Miss MeCurty arrived, ready for her day's work of training the youthful intellect. It seemed as if this morning in partienlar she was more precise than ever and went about her work very deliberately.
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