USA > Iowa > Louisa County > History of Louisa County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1912, Volume I > Part 42
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The first effort to incorporate Wapello as a city was in March, 1852, when B. F. Wright presented a petition to the county judge, stating that it had become apparent to the signers who were citizens of Wapello that it would be expedient to have such town incorporated, and praying that a vote be taken upon that ques- tion. The petition was signed by E. B. Tripp and forty others and the record states that the county judge, being satisfied that the petition was signed by at least one-fourth of the legal voters of the village, and that the town or village had at least three hundred inhabitants, an election was ordered to be held on the first Monday in April, 1852. The result of this election is indicated by the fol- lowing memorandum on the county judge's record : "Wright Williams do hereby certify that an election held in the town of Wapello on the fifth day of April, 1852, the majority of the votes cast for and against incorporation were against incorporation. Therefore no further proceedings will be had thereon."
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On July 11, 1854, B. F. Wright again presented a petition, this time with forty-eight signers, asking for an election upon the question of incorporation, and it was ordered that the question be submitted at the time of the general election on the first Monday in August.
Under date of August 18, 1854, the county judge made a record entry, show- ing that the election returns on said incorporation in the village of Wapello show that a majority of the votes cast at the election were in favor of incorpora- tion, and it was ordered that an election be held in the court house in Wapello on Monday, September 18, 1854, to give the legal voters an opportunity of choos- ing five persons to prepare articles of incorporation for said town. Myron P. Vanloon, J. R. Milligan and John R. Sisson were appointed judges, and Thomas G. Taylor and James S. Hurley were appointed clerks.
No further proceedings seem to have been taken under this order: at least we find no record of it.
The next movement toward incorporation was on January 7, 1856, when L. P. Wells presented a petition of one-fourth the legal voters of the village of Wapello and England's Addition thereto, praying that an election be held for the purpose of incorporating said village, and it was ordered that an election be held on Saturday, January 19th, and that Levi Fisher. Leonard Robinson and John Corson be the judges, and Harrison Robinson and James S, Hurley be the clerks. Accordingly, the election was held on January 19th. the result being forty-six votes for incorporation and one against. Of the forty-seven voters at that election we believe there are but two still living and they are still residents of Wapello-John L. Sweeney and F. M. Ong. Among those who voted, we note the following well known to all who are familiar with the Wapello of that day : A. M. Taylor, Lewis Kinsey, James Semple, Charles Vanloon. C. F. Morris, R. E. Archibald, D. N. Sprague, Dr. T. G. Taylor, Dr. H. T. Cleaver. J. S. Hurley, B. H. Druse and James H. Hicklin.
It seems that the next step toward incorporation was to elect a committee of five to draft articles of incorporation and an election was held for this purpose on February 4. 1856, at which Lewis Kinsey, Thomas Stoddard, D. N. Sprague, H. T. Cleaver and John Corson were elected for that purpose.
Then there had to be another election to decide upon the adoption of the articles drafted by the committee, or commissioners, as they are called in some of the proceedings. The result was favorable to their adoption, twenty-eight votes being cast for and none against.
The first election of officers of the incorporated town of Wapello was held on the 8th day of March, 1856. One hundred and thirteen persons voted at this election. The vote on mayor was: John Corson, 75: Joel C. Parsons, 37; for recorder, Lewis Kinsey, 74, Philander Jenkins, 38: for marshal, James Semple. 70, J. W. Duggan, 40. The successful candidates for members of the council were H. T. Cleaver, D. C. Jackson, Leonard Robinson, Thomas Stoddard and L. P. Wells. Their opponents were Thomas Stewart, J. C. Stoughton, Obadiah Garrison, William Keach and Levi Fisher.
The people of Wapello intended to have a city and not merely an incorporated town, and therefore they applied to the legislature for a special act of incorpora- tion and this was granted, and the act approved on July 15. 1856. Wapello still retains her special charter there being but four other cities in the state now acting
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
under special charters. This charter fixed the limits of the city and divided it into three wards and provided for the election of a mayor, six councilmen, a recorder, an assessor, a treasurer and a marshal, and the first election under the new charter was to be held on the first Monday of September, 1856, and annually thereafter. This charter was amended by the act of January 21, 1857. For a number of years the elections for officers have been held biennially, this change having been made necessary by a general provision of law applying to all the cities of the state.
The first newspaper printed in Louisa county was the Louisa County Times, published at Wapello, beginning November 27, 1850, by D. Sheward and J. Noff- singer. Mr. Sheward did not remain connected with the paper very long but Mr. Noffsinger continued to publish the Times for about three years, when he changed the name of the paper to the Wapello Intelligencer. The Intelligencer had so many editors and proprietors that it would be a difficult matter to keep track of them, even if we had complete files of the paper. Mr. Noffsinger seems to have sold out to A. Hodge, September 27, 1853, but on January 24, 1854, Mr. Noff- singer again resumed control. In the fall of the same year he sold it to J. S. and W. H. Milligan, who ran it until January. 1855, when W. H. and H. N. Milligan became proprietors but in March of that year another change was made, when J. E. Harroun and L. P. Wells assumed control, and the latter was editor for the greater part of 1856. Wells, Miller & Company were the proprietors in February, 1857, and Hodge & Barr in April, 1857. Up to this time the paper had been non-partisan. but on October 18, 1857, Mr. Hodge took charge and an- nounced that thereafter it would be a strictly democratic paper.
In 1858-9 at different times it was edited or owned by J. B. Brigham ; Thomas S. Bell : William Keach : Kelly, Ives & Mintun : John Jenkins & Company ; Jen- kins & Barr and perhaps others.
The Wapello Republican was established by J. M. Edwards in 1859, and soon after this the Intelligencer went out of business, leaving the field to the Republi- can. The Republican had a variety of owners and editors prior to 1867, among whom were James D. Barr and S. E. Jones.
In 1867 it was purchased by L. W. Myers, who continued to publish it for a great many years. He sold to J. B. Wilson, who sold to Geo. E. E. Townsend ; then C. M. Wright owned it awhile, and sold to R. G. Hawkins, the present owner. In 1870 James D. Barr established the Louisa County Record and con- tinued to run it for several years. Julius Taylor. also edited the "Union Demo- crat" for a short period. L. P. Wells and Beard Brothers published the Lonisa County Times, and later Hon. Clint. L. Price published the "Democrat." The Wapello Tribune, now owned by J. A. Bigger, was established by J. B. Wilson, he sold to R. L. Reiley, who sold to Mr. Bigger.
We have compiled a number of items of interest from the files of the early papers published in Wapello. This was a difficult compilation to make. It was hard to tell what to put in, and what to leave out. When the Times was first published, its office was on Front street. two doors south of E. B. Isett's store. Local advertisers in the first issue were E. B. Tripp, proprietor of the Wapello drug store; E. G. Jones and Jacob Pilger, general merchandise. Mr. Pilger ad- vertised to sell his goods for "cash, wheat or pork." From Mr. Jones' ad. it seems that he was also conducting a store at Columbus City at that time. The
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lawyers having cars in this paper were J. Noffsinger, John Bird and E. H. Thomas. The doctors were H. T. Cleaver and J. Bell, Jr.
During December, 1850, we note the following advertisements: C. F. Morris, tailor : F. Mohns, saddler : John Carpenter, proprietor of the Ohio House, corner Jackson and Water streets: George Helbig, proprietor of the lone House.
The Times of December 31. 1850, says: "New and most favorable indications of coal were discovered within six miles of Wapello about a week ago."
In February, 1852. E. & W. Keach advertised the Union Hotel, being the building formerly occupied by Jacob Mintun. A. M. Taylor advertises to do wool carding in Wapello.
In May of this year appears the card of B. F. Wright, attorney at law, in which he states that he had recently come from Indianapolis. M. & J. Davison adver- tise their store this year.
On December 27. 1852, the Times shouts "victory" over the fact that Semple & Company's flour mill had begun to grind. It considers this the beginning of great prosperity for Wapello.
In the Times of February 24, 1852, is the entire directory of Wapello's busi- ness men advertising in its columns :
Merchants-E. B. Isett. E. Keach, M. Davison, J. Pilger.
Druggists-E. B. Tripp. E. B. Isett.
Tailors-Merkle & Mitchman, C. F. Morris.
Mechanics-M. Vanloon, carpenter; H. Hunt, J. Allison, wagon makers; Winter & Welker, H. Christy, cabinet makers; F. Mohns, D. P. Thompson, sad- dlers; Levi Fisher, tinner; George Graham, James Harris, J. Borchers, F. Weaver, blacksmiths : Tripp & Seely. A. Kent, shoemakers; P. G. Woodworth,
Sala, plasterers: Joel Parsons, cooper.
Lawyers-J. Bird, B. F. Wright, J. Noffsinger.
Physicians-J. Bell. Jr., II. T. Cleaver, T. G. Taylor. Hotels-Ohio House, Ione House.
Bakers-A. M. Mathews.
This same issue has an article stating that during the past week a paper had been circulated for a subscription to build a Methodist church and that it was being liberally met. The Times states: "Perhaps no other town in the state with the same extent of population and amount of means, is more needy than this in point of good houses for public worship."
About this same time the name of Rev. Obed Sperry appears in the paper as a resident Baptist clergyman.
May 6, 1852, F. L. ( Yankee ) Robinson and his troupe gave a performance in a water proof pavilion, said to hold a thousand people and the show was pro- nounced a success.
The Intelligencer of May 24, 1853, has a personal item about B. F. Wright. Esq., who had just returned from an extended visit to his parents. The closing paragraph is as follows: "Speaking of his profession, reminds us that there is now pending an 'action in court,' in which he is 'chief advocate,' and we sincerely hope that he will prosecute it to a judgment ere many more 'courts.' It is a state case entitled 'The State of Matrimony vs. B. F. Wright': the penalty, his heart
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and its affections ; evidence on part of the state, the ladies generally ; no doubt is entertained of his conviction. Sentence, for life. Don't know where the pen- itentiary of that state is located."
The Intelligencer of June 21, 1853, notes that the town is beginning to look up and prospects brightening ; improvements about town going forward very rap- idly. It is expected that the court house will be completed by fall. It is noted that the school district had recently voted $2,000 for the erection of a suitable schoolhouse, and Rev. Eastman had announced the opening of an academy on July TIth and had purchased the present (that is, the old court house) for a schoolroom and intended to add another story to it.
E. M. Dean advertises in 1853 as a stone cutter, and a local item praises the work he did for the courthouse, and states that the stone was taken from quar- ries at the bluff southwest of Wapello.
Dr. Andrew P. Ringer died in the summer of 1853.
In July, 1853, the Times published the business directory and in addition to the names given in the directory of 1852 we note the following :
Merchants-G. A. Jones.
Druggists- H. Howey.
Mechanics-Samuel Warn, carpenter ; E. M. Dean, stone cutter; D. Morgan & Company, saddlers; H. Weber, blacksmith : Ira Tompkins, shoemaker.
Lawyers-John T. Burris.
Hotel-Louisa House.
The Intelligencer of January 31, 1854, has the following item: "The large pens of corn on the premises of Messrs. Mark Davison and E. B. Isett, bespeak a brisk trade in that line, and are a passing comment on the productiveness of Louisa county farms. Whole trains of wagons loaded with corn are seen rolling into town nearly every day."
"The stacks of pork, too, in the establishment of the aforesaid dealers is un- mistakable evidence that prices have ranged favorably, etc."
In July, 1854, the Intelligencer notes that the Congregational church, the Methodist church, the new schoolhouse and numerous private buildings are being erected. During part of this year there was a literary society, which held meet- ings every Friday evening at the rooms of the Wapello Academy, conducted by Rev. Eastman, and in February the following gentlemen were invited to deliver addresses before the society during the fore part of the year ; Revs. Woods and Lathrop, Dr. J. Bell, Jr., Rev. Woodruff, B. F. Wright, Rev. Eastman, James Noffsinger, Rev. J. C. Tucker, E. Keach and Lewis Kinsey.
This year the law card of J. S. Hurley first appears in the paper.
There was quite a celebration on the Fourth in Wapello in 1855. We note that prayer was offered by G. W. Teas and that the Declaration of Independence was read by D. H. Reynolds, afterward a general in the Confederate army. The oration was delivered by L. P. Wells. J. H. Isett sang "The Star Spangled Ban- ner." "This piece was performed in a manner that brought down the enthusias- tic cheers of the audience upon the performer." A dozen or more toasts were given and it appears that the man who proposed a toast was usually invited to respond to it. These were Air Line railroad times and we give the toast proposed
·
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
by Dr. John Bell, Jr., and the editorial comment in regard to it: "The Pacific Railroad .- The wedding of the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. Nations stand ready to greet the bridal morn and serve the bridal feast ; and when the last link is laid, and the first fire breathing offspring has tried his metal lungs at a squall. and started on his triumphal Air Line march to greet his Pacific Father, at the setting sun, his track right across Aunt Louisa's bosom, may her oldest son, young Wapello, be out, with his mother's consent, on Stilts as one of the Land- marks."
Dr. Bell, being called upon, said it was too late to talk about the Air Line. It had been necessary to do a good deal of talking and it had been done, "and the railroad was no longer a creature of air, but a living, acting reality, a fixed fact," the Doctor sat down "amid thunders of enthusiastic applause."
This year the Wapello mill was grinding between four and five hundred bushels of wheat daily.
The card of D. N. Sprague, attorney at law, first appears in April of this year.
In December, 1856, we note that W. H. Milligan was conducting the Intelli- gencer ; also that during that month Lewis Kinsey was appointed by Governor Grimes as clerk of the supreme court to fill the vacancy occasioned by the declin- ation of the "late incumbent."
During this year there were many items concerning the Air Line railroad, but we have treated that matter pretty fully in its proper place.
In 1857 we find advertisements of Taylor & Muldoon, druggists and of J. B. Brigham, attorney and counselor at law.
September 7. 1857, the following officers were elected in Wapello: Mayor, John Bird : recorder, Henry Hintzen ; marshal, E. W. Brady; assessor, Thomas Stoddard; treasurer, John Hayes : councilmen, first ward. J. H. Rollins and David McMichael; second ward, William Keach and M. P. Vanloon; third ward. J. M1. Herrick, John Brogan.
In April, 1857, appears the card of the first bankers in Wapello, namely, Bird. Brown & Company, the firm consisting of John Bird. T. Horace Brown and Elias Keach. The firm was soon changed to Brown & Company, Mr. Bird retiring. During the close of the year Elias and James Keach advertised the exchange and banking house under the name of E. Keach & Company.
This year Sheriff Taylor advertises the sale of the Globe House on a judg- ment in favor of John L. Foor and against William Rankin. This house was situated on lot i, block to, in the original town.
We publish in full the business directory appearing in the Intelligencer early in January, 1859:
WAPELLO BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 1859.
"Intelligencer" Office, Empire Block, No. 3. Up Stairs.
Merchants C. Jackson & Co .. E. L. Crain, J. P. Bull, G. A. Jones, Gus. Jones. A. Runge. 1 .. P. Wells. R. Fuhrmann, Mark Davison, Henry Helverson, John Carpenter.
Druggists
M. P. Vanloon, Harris Howey.
SCENE ON THE IOWA RIVER AT WAPELLO
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1
. TUR LENOX IND
₹
L
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
Hardware T. W. Bailey. Shoemakers
George Plitt, J. Rock, A. Cook.
Books & Stationery
John Keller. Tailors C. F. Morris, G. Grieble.
Daguerrean Artist
S. T. Trimble.
Coopers
J. C. Parsons, Isaac Thorndike. Blacksmiths
A. Garret. T. Murtha, P. Drischal, J. Sprinkle.
P. Gilda. Masons
Tin Shops
Levi Fisher, Second street, one door north postoffice ; D. S. Stuart, over T. W. Bailey's.
Cabinet Makers
Christie & Stein, Henry Christy, John Stein.
Carpenters & Joiners
Archibald & Lincoln, J. C. Chase, John Sweeney. John Brogan, J. Stone. Mill Wright B. H. Druse. Harness Makers
N. D. Morgan & Brother, Henry Botha.
Wagon Makers .
John Allison Gray.
Millers
Wapello Mill Company, S. Townsend, James Semple, R. F. Charles, John Mann and Neal, millers.
Planing Mills and Sash Factorics
Archibald & Lincoln, J. C. Chase.
Lawyers
Hurley & Brigham, J. S. Hurley, J. B. Brigham, Bird & Sprague, J. Bird. D. N. Sprague, Richman Bro. & Perkins, H. W. Perkins, resident ; B. F. Wright.
Physicians & Surgeons
H. T. Cleaver ; Taylor & Muldoon, T. G. Taylor. J. Muldoon ; John Hurley.
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
Ministers of the Gospel
O. H. Miller, Presb. : J. H. Coggshall, Bapt. ; J. McClasky, Meth.
During this year Chase & Bull started the steam flour mill, and Thomas Owens began to advertise the Towa House.
From the Wapello Republican of January 12, 1860. published by J. M. Edwards and Henry Mintun we copy the following program of the Calliopean Institute : THE CALLIOPEAN INSTITUTE WILL MEET AT THE COURT HOUSE ON FRIDAY EVE,
JANUARY 13, 1860.
Programme
Strauss Band
J . Music
2. Reading Minutes
3. Miscellaneous Business
H. W. Perkins
4. Critique . B. F. Wright
5. Impromptu
6. Select Reading Miss Abbie Baker
Strauss Band
Music
8. Written Discussion D. C. Hurley-G. F. Danson
9. Poem T. S. Bell
. J. L. King IO. Essay II. Declamation P. P. Kinsey 12. Essay Miss Cal Ringer
Strauss Band 13. Music
14. Impromptu Levi Chase 15. Machine Poetry John Hale 16. Declamation Smith Galey
17. Essay J. E. Vale
18. Select Reading
Miss Mary Thomas
19. Song A. W. Kelly
20. Reading "Wreath" Miss Rose Davison
21. Essay G. B. Williams
22. Declamation .Jacob Hunsicker
23. Select Reading Miss Ella Wilson 24. Reading "Banner H. N. Milligan
25. Music Strauss Band Adjournment.
JOHN HERRICK, President.
J. N. BEATTY,
Secretary.
In January, 1860, fall wheat was worth 80 to 85 cents ; spring wheat, 75 to 80 cents : corn 25 cents ; potatoes, 30 to 40 cents ; flour $2.50 per cwt. : hogs, $5.50 per cwt ; coffee, 16 2/3 cents 1b. : sugar, 9 to II cents 1b.
The Republican changed hands several times during 1860. January 12, Min- tun & Edwards were publishers : May 31, J. & H. Mintun were the publishers, and
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
Henry Fulton, editor. August 9 the firm was Fulton & Mintun and on the 16th it was H. Fulton & Company.
The issue of the Republican for January 3, 1861, indicates hard times. Nearly one-half the paper was taken up with the tax sale list of Columbus City and Wapello townships alone. The list was so large that it could not all be printed in one issue.
Sheriff Taylor also had eight sheriff sale notices in this issue.
We have few items of interest concerning Wapello history during the war period, except such as relate to the war. Many of hier citizens responded to the call for soldiers, and their names will be found in the chapter devoted to that subject.
In June, 1865. James D. Barr was publishing the Republican. Among the advertisers we note R. Prentiss as an attorney. Shortly before this Mr. Prentiss had advertised at Port Louisa. Also E. B. Downs, M. D., of Wapello.
Howe's Circus visited Wapello in June.
About this time L. P. Wells was doing some poetical advertising. We quote from one of them to show their style :
"Hark on the air the music swells And list unto the tale it tells As o'er the plains and through the dells With sound as sweet as Switzer bells The fall of prices it foretells- Now list the sound ye city bells And each that in the country dwells Go buy your 'rig' of him who sells At cheapest price-that's L. P. Wells."
Monday, September 4, 1865, the following named persons were elected to office in the city of Wapello : Mayor, J. H. Rollins ; recorder, I. S. Drummond ; assessor, H. Lincoln ; marshal. R. Archibald ; councilmen, first ward, J. H. Keller and Joseph Jackson ; second ward. J. D. Barr and O. A. Taylor ; third ward, Charles Vanloon and Vinton Massie.
January 9, 1866, the Republican seems to have been published by E. H. Thomas and edited by S. E. Jones, who was also a physician and county judge. In this paper G. T. Whisler advertises as a lawyer in Grandview. H. D. Keller advertises a new photograph gallery. It also has the business cards of J. F. Grimes, M. D., and E. H. Burris, electric physician and surgeon.
Editorial reference is made to a recent meeting of the Louisa County Medical Society, in which it is stated that this is the oldest medical society in the state, having been organized nearly fourteen years ago.
In 1866 we find E. D. Ferguson as a doctor in Wapello, and Walter Fritzche, claim agent.
Among the business cards in the Republican in 1866 we note P. P. Kinsey. L. P. Wells, A. Runge, M. Davison, Jacob Mintun, A. Garrett, G. Jones, John Keck, S. Griebel, Hicklin & Mckay and M. P. Vanloon.
This year the Wapello woolen mill building was commenced in the fall. by Henry Botha. James Semple and others.
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HISTORY OF LOUISA COUNTY
Another institution that should be mentioned in connection with Wapello's history is the Louisa County Agricultural Society, which is believed to have been the first county society of this kind to hold a county fair. The most of its ex- hibitions were given at Wapello, although at one time it was "on wheels" for a few years, giving exhibitions at Morning Sun and at Columbus City. The Agri- cultural Society has had many ups and downs, possibly more of the latter than the former. A few years ago it was succeeded by the Wapello District Fair Association, and considerable money was spent in paying up old debts, erecting new buildings, fences, etc., but owing to unfavorable weather conditions for sev- eral years another heavy debt was contracted and the association practically re- tired from the fair business.
We do not have the date of the first fair, but our authority for the statement that Louisa county had the first fair, is an article from the Iowa Farmer, quoted in the Wapello Intelligencer of August 23rd, 1853, which states: "The first agri- cultural fair ever held in the state was held in Louisa county. It was projected and carried forward from year to year by the farmers of the county voluntarily and without that stimulus from the state government which perhaps induces the organization of some of the societies now days."
The original society held a fair at Wapello in October, 1853, and awarded to George Key the first premium for the "best acre of corn,-120 bushels to the acre." Soloman Fishthorn was given the second premium because he only raised III bushels to the acre. They either had some very tall corn or some very ac- commodating judges in those days.
We must not forget to mention the fact that Wapello once issued money. At that time it was called scrip, and bills of denomination of one, two, three and five dollars were issued in large numbers in 1857. Samuel Townsend was mayor and Levi Fisher was Recorder. It is said that they were largely circulated through the medium of the bank of Bird, Brown & Keach, or their successors, we are not sure which, as Colonel Bird was not connected with the bank very long. It is also said that Wapello never received any financial benefit from the issuance of this serip, but never lost anything by it, as none of it was ever re- deemed. A facsimile of the various denominations of this scrip is given herewith. During the war the Wapello soldiers distributed considerable of this scrip among the unsophisticated southerners, and for years afterward it was not an uncommon thing for the Wapello banks or the city officials to receive some of it for collec- tion. We have it on the authority of men who were living in Wapello at that time, that many of our neighboring cities issued similar scrip and that none of it was ever redeemed.
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