USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1912, Volume I > Part 39
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"Columbus City is situated on an elevated tract of land about midway between the Iowa River and Long Creek. It forms the center of an area of country which for beauty of landscape scenery, fertility of soil and healthfulness of situ- ation, is rarely equaled. It is on the main travelled road leading from Muscatine west through the counties of Washington, Keokuk, Mahaska. Marion and so on to Council Bluffs. It is some twenty miles from Muscatine and about the same distance from Washington. It is also on the main road from Burlington to Iowa City, and nearly equi-distant from each of those cities. It is convenient to large bodies of timber and to quarries of rock. Beds of coal have been found in the neighborhood. Dating the period of its growth about two years back, it contains now a population of near 500 inhabitants, and is rapidly growing. Besides being the central point of important roads from nearly every point of the compass, we possess the advantage of being on the line of the Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant and Mus- catine railroad-one of the most important roads we think in the western coun- try. In June of last year a company was organized at Mt. Pleasant with a capital stock of two million dollars for the construction of this road. With less ex- penditure of noise and gas than any other company we know of, it has, we venture to say, made as much substantial progress as any other. Its able and efficient president, Col. Dewey, in a communication to the public, under date of October 31, 1855. speaking of the formation of the company and the prospects of the road says :
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" "This road extends from the City of Keokuk, by way of Mt. Pleasant and Columbus City, to Muscatine, and thence connects by means of the Junction, and Davenport and Iowa City road, with the railroad bridge across the Missis- sippi river, at Rock Island. With these connections it traverses the counties of Lee, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine and Scott, five of the most productive and wealthy counties in the State of Iowa. It crosses and connects, directly and indirectly, with six railroads located across the State from East to West, and is intended to connect the permanently navigable waters of the Mississippi below the Des Moines rapids, with the river above the Rock Island obstructions. The construc- tion is therefore an enterprise of great importance to the people of the entire State, and to all others who are interested in the trade, present and prospective of the upper Mississippi. It is also regarded as a link of that chain of roads which must soon connect St. Paul in Minnesota, with the Mexican Gulf.'
"From Davenport to Muscatine the road is finished and in operation. The section of the road from Muscatine to the Iowa river will be completed in Octo- ber next. This will bring the road within some three miles of our town. But it stops not there. Mr. Taylor, of Wisconsin, an enterprising and experienced railroad contractor, is understood to have the contract for building the bridge over the Iowa and for grading the road on this side of the river. He is on the ground making preparations for a vigorous prosecution of the work. A pre- liminary survey of the road from this point to Keokuk shows the distance to be about seventy miles. The estimates of the engineer gives the cost of clearing, grubbing, grading, bridging and masonry of the entire line to be $529.363 for a first class road. Of public subscription the city of Keokuk has taken $100,000, the county of Henry and the town of Mt. Pleasant $150,000, and the county of Louisa, $50,000. Not to mention other subscriptions along the line of the road. we are informed that the private subscriptions in Keokuk, Montrose and St. Louis amount to $100,000. From Keokuk north, the work is progressing with vigor. Judge Nash, the secretary of the company, under date of February 19. 1856, writes: 'We hope to have the road ready for freight and passengers in June, as far as Montrose. The engines, cars, spikes, etc. have already been purchased. The grading and masonry can be completed in six weeks after the spring opens. The ties are being delivered and all the means are now secured to complete this division without encumbering that or any other part of the road.
"This county we have said has authorized a subscription of $50,000 to the capital stock of this road. This is well as far as it goes, and shows the preva- lence of the right spirit among our people. Our efforts must not cease herc. Much more is expected of us. The company will draw upon us for a private subscription of at least $25.000."
This issue also contains the following business directory :
COLUMBUS CITY. Hotels
Cottage House, corner of Columbus and Washington; Columbus House, corner of Columbus and Jefferson.
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Physicians.
John Cleaves. West Side Market street ; J. M. & W. S. Robertson, southwest corner of town : Clark & Colton, south door Union building: B. G. Neal, west side of Market street ; Thomas Burns, Iowa street, north side.
Druggists.
Clark & Colton, south door Union building.
Merchants.
Harrison & Barratt. corner store Union building : Grubb & Allen, corner of Main and Columbus streets : N. G. Fitch, east side of Market street : W. P. Miller. southeast corner of Main and Columbus street: W. D. Moore, north side of Columbus street.
Iron, Stores & Furniture.
Garner & Reiner, corner of Columbus and Spring streets.
Groceries & Provisions.
H. V. T. Huls, west side of Market street: Geo. T. Burroughs, east side Market street : J. Q. Buffington & Co., corner of Columbus opposite Cottage House ; Gamble & Wren, northeast corner Columbus and Main ; I. M. Myler, Mechanics' Row.
Carpenters & House Joiners.
Warn & Kelley, corner of Columbus and Washington; John Gentzler, west side of Market street; M. M. Carson, corner of Main and Burlington streets ; John Orr, west side Main street : Milton Richey, northwest corner of town.
Tailors. P. Rasley, Mechanics' Row ; J. B. Freed, Mechanics' Row. Shoemakers.
Jacob Knott, east side Market street ; Charles Johnson, Mechanics' Row.
Wagon Makers.
Darrow & Calhoun, south side Columbus street.
Blacksmiths.
Jacob Getts, south side Columbus street ; Shaum & Klotz, between Main and Market : R. Stewart, west side Main street.
Auctioneer.
W. W. Paschal. Mechanics' Row."
Joseph Manners, whose name is not in the directory, advertises that he will commence the boot and shoe business in the south room of Esquire Denham's residence on the 15th of April.
In regard to the improvements that were in contemplation at this time, we
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cannot do better than to quote the following article, also found in the same paper :
"On every hand we hear the busy notes of preparation for building, the coming season. Col. W. W. Garner will lead the way, as he has the material all on the ground for the erection of his new family residence. The seminary trustees are also collecting the material for the seminary building and there is no doubt but that the work will be put under contract in a short time and the buikling completed the present season. It is also in contemplation to build a new district schoolhouse, the old one being unfit for further use. We earnestly hope that the citizens will vote a liberal tax for that purpose, that such a house will be built as will be an honor to the town and meet the wants of a rapidly increas- ing population. The Methodist church has also raised funds to build a house of worship, thirty-five feet wide by fifty feet in length. The house will be put under contract immediately and completed the present summer. Many of our citizens are making preparations to build family residences and numerous con- tracts are already let, so that we think we speak within the bounds of reason when we say that Columbus City will double its population within the next twelve. months. Why not? It is admitted on all hands that the country surrounding it is far in advance of the town, and a more fertile, beautiful and well cultivated country cannot be found in Iowa, and that is as much as need be said of any country. Add to this its beautiful location, its unrivalled healthfulness and the certainty that one of the best railroads in the state will pass through it, and another near enough for all practical purposes and then say if we have over- stated the bounds of probability or why Columbus City should not take rank with the best inland towns in Iowa."
Number 2 of this paper was published according to its date on May 22, 1856. Among the advertisements we notice nearly a column given to Levi J. North's National Circus, advertised as "the largest company in the world," and to exhibit at Columbus City on Friday, June 6th.
The Wapello ferry. Charles Vanloon proprietor, also has an advertisement ; and there is an advertisement of a steam ferry at Keithsburg. S. H. Redmond, proprietor. There is an advertisement of. D. A. Chapman & Company of the Fredonia ferry, stating that they have a new boat.
It would seem from the following advertisement that in those good old days the cook was expected to work in the kitchen: "Wanted-A good cook. None need apply that is too nice to work in the kitchen. I. Myler."
We also notice in this paper Jesse Phillips' advertisement as a cooper : E. M. Ashford's advertisement as a brick and stone mason : and T. Z. & D. M. Stark, as carpenters.
Number 4 of this paper was published June 5, 1856, and it contains the salu- tatory of Andrew Gamble, as editor. This salutatory is such an able and patriotic document and so characteristic of the honest and fearless old pioneers who wrote it that we copy it in full :
"Patrons of the Courier: The partiality of the Executive Committee who have charge of your paper, have selected me for its Editor. It is a new and untried field, in which I never have labored and I enter upon the discharge of my duties with the greatest reluctance. I shall not, therefore, make many pledges
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or promises as to the manner in which your paper shall be conducted ; but simply say that I will give it the best attention I can, consistent with my other duties. The paper, as the prospectus indicates, will be 'Independent on all subjects- Neutral in Nothing:' consequently, whilst I express my own opinions of prin- ciples of measures and of men, the columns of the paper will be always open, to a reasonable extent, to every person, who may either feel aggrieved or wish to be heard on any question or subject, interesting to the readers of the paper. The local news of our town, county and state, will always be first considered and constitute a prominent feature in the Courier. In regard to politics I deem it almost unnecessary to speak. Old party lines are lost and blotted out, and the great question now is, shall freedom or slavery be dominant, in the United States. On such an issue I have no hesitancy in ranking myself on the side of Freedom. From my earliest youth up, I have been, from principle, a Democrat, and uniformly voted the Democratic ticket. . Many of you have been acquainted with me for the last nine years, and you will know I shrunk from no issue, pre- sented by the party to which I belonged, but ever esteemed it no less a duty than a pleasure, to face the music, by whomsoever played, and advocate the principles of my party, as laid down by Jefferson and carried out in practice by Madison, Monroe and Jackson. But the great principles that were the guiding stars of those good men have been lost sight of. and ambitious and incompetent men are fast hurrying us on to destruction. Already the fires of civil discord are lighted up, and the children of the Republic are imbruing their hands in each others blood, a dark cloud has gathered and burst on our western frontier, a noble town has been sacked and pillaged, and defenseless women and children are now wandering houseless and homeless, on the banks of the Kansas. The government at Washington stretches forth no restraining hand, but her soldiers are compelled to be silent spectators, whilst the mob disarms the citizen and then butchers him. Such are a few of the reasons, dear reader, why I decline to act with what is termed the Democratic party at this time. But as I have said before, I have ever been a democrat and I cling with all the tenacity of life to the old landmarks of the bygone days. But names have lost all their terrors for me, and it matters not what I may be called, I shall be ever ready to act with that party that strikes for Freedom and the right. Through the columns of the Courier, I expect to enunciate my principles to the public, for which I alone will be responsible, and which I ask no one to adopt unless they agree with their own convictions of right and duty."
We copy the following item from this same issue in regard to the seminary :
"What has become of our Seminary? We hear no more about it. Was it all fuss and feathers, or are you waiting for a 'good ready?' We wo'd like to hear from somebody who knows, for it is a subject in which we are all interested. We understand that Messrs. Springer and Burt have offered to donate ten acres of ground north of town, than which no better or more beautiful location can be found in our vicinity. Friends, you cannot have too many schools, they cannot be too good, they will in the end pay you better than Congress lands or Corner lots in town. Come up to the work manfully then, you are abundantly able to give your children a liberal education, and when you are dead and gone they will 'Rise 11p and call you Blessed.'"
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Following are the Columbus City market quotations for June 5, 1856:
"Flour per 100 lbs .. $3.50 to $3.75
Wheat, spring per bushel .60 to 75
Wheat, winter 75 to $1.00
Corn, per bushel 18 to 20
Oats per bushel 18 to 20
Potatoes per bushel .50
Hams per lb .. 8 to 10
Sides per lb. 7 to 9
Shoulders per lb. 6 to 8
Butter per lb. 121/2
Eggs, per dozen
This issue contains the advertisement of J. L. Paschal, attorney and counselor at law, located at Columbus City.
The fifth number of this paper was published June 12th. One interesting item in it states that N. W. Burris had recently sold to Messrs. Craig & Bentley, brokers of Mt. Pleasant, five hundred lots at Burris City at an average of $70 per lot, an aggregate of $35,000. It is stated that "Messrs. Craig and Bentley intend to put up a large business house and otherwise improve their property."
This paper also has the advertisement of I. H. Griffin, house and sign painter.
Number 6, published June 19th, referring to "Our Railroad," states that the piling across the Iowa river bottom was being put in and that the contractors were getting out timber for the trestle work and that it was likely there would soon be a railroad on both sides of the Iowa river whether there was a bridge or not. It was also stated that if stone could not be obtained with which to build the piers for the bridge, timber would be substituted and the work be carried forward with energy.
We find in this paper the advertisement of George Darrow, advertising the sale of about five hundred and fifty acres of timber and prairie land with a good steam sawmill and also two houses and lots in Columbus City. The advertise- ment concludes : "For further particulars inquire of William Darrow at the drug store, or of the undersigned at his sawmill twelve miles north of town."
John L. Merrill advertises the finding of a six-shooter on the road between Fredonia and Muscatine and states that the owner could have it by proving prop- erty and paying charges.
The publication committee beginning with the second issue was J. L. Grubb, W. M. Clark and G. D. Harrison. We have been unable to find any copies of this paper later than No. 6 and it may be that this was the last issue printed. The press and material of the Courier was afterward moved to Burris City.
Columbus City was incorporated as a town in 1871, but steps were taken looking to that end as early as June, 1857, as will appear by the following peti- tion found among the files of the county judge's office :
"To the County Court of Louisa County, Iowa :
"Your Petitioners, Citizens of the village of Columbus City in Louisa County, Iowa, desire to become incorporated as a town, including the limits of the original plat of said village with such additions as may hereafter be made to it and respect- Vol. 1-22
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fully ask you to submit the same to a vote of the citizens. Your petitioners would also represent that upon an enumeration of the citizens of said village there are six hundred permanent residents.
"Columbus City, Iowa, June 2, 1857.
"Petitioners Names: W. A. Colton, Joseph L. Paschal. James S. Murphy, W. M. Clark, Jas. E. Nisbet, Wm. W. Paschal, Wm. H. Shaw, Peter Merrill, Jr., Henry Hobin. A. Gamble. Jno. Gardner, J. F. Titus, D. P. Matthews, H. L. Den- ham, Wesley W. Garner, W. G. Allen, M. Barratt, Jno. C. Murphy, T. Z. Stark, T. W. Widdecombe, G. D. Harrison, W. S. Robertson, John D. Dugdale, John H. Titus, John Cleaves, George T. Burroughs, John Orr. Patrick Dennis, Enos Grover, John C. Bell, T. Stronach, W. P. Hartman, John B. Freed. Jacob Hilde- brand. G. A. Elsworth, Jesse Philips, M .M. Carson, John Hulick, E. W. Elsworth, Isaac N. Paschal, John R. Nelson, John Walt. John Deitrich, J. W. Nicholson, J. H. Mumper, H. Will. Wm. Arning. H. S. Denham, John C. Smith, Thos. Mat- thews. Thos. Anderson."
This petition was presented to the county judge on June 15. 1857. and it was ordered that the question of incorporation be submitted to the people of the village of Columbus City on Saturday, June 27. 1857. and that Joseph Paschal, John Orr and John Gardner be appointed judges and J. Fitch Titus and James E. Nesbit, clerks.
The county court record for Monday, July 6, 1857, shows that returns from this election had been received and that a majority of the votes cast were in favor of incorporation and the election was ordered to be held on Saturday, July 18. 1857, to choose three persons to prepare a charter for such village, and John Gardner, WV. G. Allen and Joseph L. Paschal were made judges and J. Fitch Titus and Dr. W. M. Clark, clerks.
The returns of the election of July 18th show that Samnel Reiner, W. A. Col- ton and Andrew Gamble were elected to draft a charter for the incorporation of Columbus City. However, nothing further seems to have been done until 1871. at which time Andrew Gamble, I. Myler, Abram Fulton, George D. Harrison and H. P. May were appointed commissioners to call an election. The first officers elected were: Mayor, Abram Fulton ; recorder. W. W. Garner ; members of the council, H. P. May, G. L. Thomas, I. M. Smith. I. Myler and David Morgan. The present officers of Columbus City are as follows: C. N. Johnston, mayor ; J. W. Garner, clerk ; Frank Colton, treasurer ; F. M. Molsberry, S. J. Lewis. J. C. Richie, F. L. Snyder, W. T. Cutkomp. councilmen.
One of the noted organizations of Columbus City and one which did much to advertise the town for a time was the Union Guards, a military company or- ganized August 3. 1857. Colonel W. W. Garner was chiefly instrumental in the organization of this company and was its first captain. It was one of the best equipped and best drilled companies in Iowa. It gave exhibition drills at the state fair at Muscatine in 1858. at Washington at the celebration of the entry of the Mississippi & Missouri railroad; at Ottumwa in 1859. at the opening of the C. B. & Q. railroad, and at the state fair at Iowa City in 1860, meeting other com- panies at the different places.
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Following is a roster of the officers and privates of this company which we take from a card said to have been printed and used in 1860. There were quite a number of others who were members of the company before, and a few who were members after the time this card was made, whose names do not appear upon it. It is an interesting fact that thirty of the members of this company enlisted in the Union army and two in the Confederate army and that twenty of them became commissioned officers :
Captain, Wesley W. Garner; first lieutenant, Dr. Wm. S. Robertson; second lieutenant, Geo. W. Limbocker ; third lieutenant, Jolin L. Grubb; first sergeant, John Walt ; second sergeant, Hugh L. Denham; third sergeant, Matthias Shirks; fourth sergeant, Philip Rasely ; first corporal, Obed E. Denham ; second corporal, J. M. Edwards ; third corporal, T. W. Boice; fourth corporal, Andr. E. Gibbons.
Privates-Dr. M. O. Kulp. John Smith, John J. Wilie, Abraham Barringer, Wright Williams, James A. Fares, James R. Wilson, A. S. Limbocker, Franklin C. Manly, Jacob Luckey, James Manly, Leonidas Mitchel. Dr. B. G. Neal, James J. Billick. Charles Johnston, Taylor Jeffries, Wm. E. Limbocker, Wm. B. Gib- bons, John H. Acheson, O. P. Wallace, M. Y. Wallace, John Winkleman, Jere- miah Limbocker. John Albaugh, Jos. L. Paschal, Geo. D. Harrison, Andrew O. Easton. J. S. Limbocker, Albert Calhoun, J. Whitfield Garner, John P. Getts, Edwin S. Reiner, Samuel H. Manifold, Charles S. Phillips, John F. Reiner, S. B. Getts.
Musicians-George Darrow, Dan'l Homer Darrow, Walter F. Hall, Wm. W. Paschal, Adam Stebling, Andrew Stebling, Milton Darrow, Alfred Compton.
Hugh L. Denham, secretary ; John J. Wilie, treasurer ; William O. Kulp, presi- dent.
When the company went to Ottumwa at the opening of the C. B. & Q. rail- road it met three companies from Burlington and one from Mt. Pleasant, and all were commanded by Major J. G. Lauman, afterward a noted general and the hero of Altoona.
The building of the Mississippi & Missouri railroad, (now the Rock Island), from Davenport and Muscatine to Washington was at first of considerable advan- tage to Columbus City, even though the road did not hit the town. The nearest stations were first, Sand Bank (now Columbus Junction) and then Clifton, but for many years Columbus City was considered the town of that vicinity. Indeed, the railroad maps of that day show Columbus City as a station on the Mississippi & Missouri railroad.
Columbus City township at the time of the advent of the railroad and for some time after that was in many ways the leading township of the county. The census taken by the state in 1856 shows that Columbus City had more farmers, more laborers and more brick layers and more sawyers than any other township in the county, although Wapello township surpassed it in the number of black- smiths, carpenters and mechanics in a few other trades. In consequence of its growing importance Columbus City people became ambitious that it should be the county seat and on Monday, September 1, 1858, presented to the county court a petition signed by a majority of the local voters of the county asking that the question of a relocation of the county seat at Columbus City be submitted to the local voters of the county to be voted upon at the coming October election.
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Joseph L. Derbin was at that time county judge and he ordered an election on the county seat question to be held in accordance with the petition and issued a proclamation to that effect on September 13, 1858. At the same time the friends of Columbus City filed with the county judge the following bond :
"Know all men that we. James MI. Robertson & Son, W. W. Garner, Harrison & Barrett, James G. Hall, Win. M. Clark, Samuel Reiner, John Gardner, Jacob Wren, Alfred Limbocker, Hamilton Johnson, Benj. Stoddard, F. H. Johnson, I. Myler, Wm. A. Duncan, C. Johnson, M. Shaum, Peter Merrill, Jacob Getts, Peter Fullwiler. J. S. Douglas, W. G. Allen, John M. McConnell, John F. Reiner, Wyley & Farris, Jolin Cleves and H. S. Denham, are held and firmly bound unto the county of Louisa in the State of lowa, in the penal sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars, to the payment of which we bind ourselves, our heirs and our admin- istrators firmly by these presents. Dated this eleventh day of September, A. D., 1858.
"Whereas, the undersigned have signed a petition addressed to the county court of said Louisa county, asking the question of a relocation of the county seat of Louisa county aforesaid to Columbus City, be submitted to the voters of said county at the October election next, for their approval or rejection, and whereas, the said county has been to great expense in building a new court house at Wa- pello-the present county seat of the said county, and the people of Columbus City are willing to assume the whole cost and burden of constructing a Court House equal in all respects to that now built at Wapello, should the county seat be relocated at Columbus City.
"Now the condition of this bond is such that if a Court House, equal in di- mensions, workmanship and finish, and possessing all the requisite offices and rooms for county offices, court hall, and jury rooms, shall be erected at Columbus City, (in the event of the people voting a re-location of the county seat at the election aforesaid, without cost, charge or burden to the county aforesaid, ) and until said Court House is built, and ready for occupancy, will furnish the neces- sary county offices and court room free of all expense to the county aforesaid, and have a new Court House ready for occupancy or before the first day of April. A. D. 1861, and make a good and sufficient deed to said county of Louisa for the Court House square and the buildings thereon-then this bond to be void, otherwise in force.
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