USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume I > Part 54
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1838-Winter set in unusually early this year. About the 10th of November ice was running thickly in the river, navigation being so unexpectedly inter- rupted that the settlements on the Upper Mississippi were prevented from se- curing, in the usual way, supplies of necessaries for the winter. Dry goods, coffee, sugar, salt, etc., were conveyed in wagons from St. Louis to this place, and as far above as Prairie du Chien. Two barrels of flour sold for $25 and salt retailed at $6 per bushel.
1839-In February, Bloomington incorporated as a town of the second grade, and on the 6th of May, Joseph Williams was chosen the first president. The following officers were also chosen at this election: Arthur Washburn, Ben- jamin P. Howland and Henry Reece, trustees; Moses Couch, recorder; John Marble, constable; Giles Pettibone, street commissioner. The following are the names of the subsequent presidents of the town of Bloomington, with their respective years of service : 1840, John Lilly; 1841, Thomas Darlington; 1842, David Clark ; 1843, John A. Parvin ; 1844, Stephen L. Foss; 1845, Charles Evans ; 1846, S. L. Foss; 1847, J. M. Barlow; 1848, T. M. Isett ; 1849, William Leffing- well; 1850, William D. Ament.
The population of the town in February of this year was seventy-one, mostly males, and only four or five children. The number of buildings, including dwellings, stores, shops and stables was thirty-three, of which but three were north of Pappoose creek.
The citizens of Bloomington were much excited this year by what was termed the "Missouri War," or dispute in regard to the boundary line between Mis- souri and Iowa. The sheriff of Clark county, Missouri, in accordance with the
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claim of that state, proceeded to collect taxes in Van Buren county, Iowa, when he was arrested on charge of usurpation and brought to Bloomington for safe keeping. A disposition of resentment having been exhibited by the Missouri- ans, Governor Lucas ordered out the militia of Iowa. In October the citizen soldiers of this county formed a regiment of horse and foot and marched to- ward the border as far as Burlington, when, a compromise having been agreed upon, they returned from a bloodless triumph. The vexed question was finally settled in favor of Iowa by the supreme court.
The first brick house in Bloomington was built this year, on the corner of Front and Cedar streets, by Hiram Mathews. In November there were eighty- four houses of every description in the town. The first harness maker was John M. Kane.
Early in this year, or late in the preceding year (the record does not show which), John Vanater, Aaron Usher and Err Thornton, county commissioners selected the southeast quarter of section 35, township 77, range 2 west, under the act of congress, donating to each county a quarter section of land for the pur- pose of erecting county buildings. They assessed the quarter which now lies nearly in the center of the city at $18,000, and taxed the lots therein to that amount.
1840-The erection of the court house was commenced but not completed until the next year. It cost $15,000, raised by the sale of lots in the commis- sioners' quarters. On the 23d of October, the "Iowa Standard," the first news- paper published in the place, was issued by Crum & Bailey. The Standard was removed to Iowa City the next year and was discontinued for several years afterward. One week after the appearance of the Standard the first number of the Bloomington Herald was issued by Hughes & Russell.
The American Hotel was erected and opened by T. S. Batelle. In 1867 it was torn away by L. W. Old, who erected a brick block on the site.
During 1840, which was leap year, there were nineteen marriages in Bloom- ington, which had a population of five hundred and seven. It is doubtful if the statistics of marriage in any town of the same population will exhibit as many weddings in the same period of time.
1841-The first brick hotel was built and opened by Josiah Parvin. The first gunsmith was Henry Molis; first hatter, M. Hare; first tin shop and stove store conducted by James Brentlinger.
1842-A change of the name of Bloomington to Muscatine was first proposed at a meeting of the citizens, January 21, but so much opposition was manifested that no action was taken upon it. John B. Dougherty succeeded W. Hollings- worth in the drug business, the oldest establishment of the kind in the place. The first cigar maker was P. W. Hamilton.
On the 15th of October, the firm of J. Bennett & Company made the first shipment of wheat to St. Louis from this port. It consisted of one hundred and thirty bushels shipped on the steamer "Maid of Iowa," at eight cents per bushel. Shipments of produce were made at various times during the years 1844 and 1845, on the following boats: Ohio, New Haven, Lynx, Mermaid, Amarauth, War Eagle, Falcon, Sarah Ann and Jasper.
THE SMALLEY WINDMILL, BUILT IN THE EARLY '40s
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
1843-The winter of 1842-3 proved the most severe since the settlement of the country, and was long remembered as the "cold winter." Severely cold weather began about the middle of November and continued until the last of March. The following was the temperature on the coldest day in each of the five months of that winter: November, II below zero; January, 15 below zero; February, 19 below zero; March, 10 below zero. Mean temperature, 21.I. There was good sleighing from the last of November to the first of April-four months. The river was frozen over from November 26th to April 9th,-ice being from two feet to thirty inches thick most of the time, making one hundred and thirty-three days that it was closed. The average time is sixty-five days. The first steam flouring mill was erected by J. M. Barlow, on the corner of Second and Sycamore streets. It was destroyed by fire on the night of Novem- ber 1, 1850. In August, the cemetery now in use, was bought by the corporation. The eminence on which the Jefferson schoolhouse now stands had been pre- viously used as a burying ground. The first watch maker and jeweler was A. L. Beatty.
1844-During this spring and summer an unusual quantity of rain fell and the river was higher than ever before known. A hurricane passed through the northern part of the county June 5th, devastating forests, fields and houses in its course. The dwelling of Mr. Randall, in Center Grove, was blown down, killing his wife and maiming his son.
The first pork was packed by Isett & Blaydes. The number of hogs packed during the season was three hundred and twenty-two; average weight one hundred and eighty-nine pounds; price paid $1.7912 per hundred.
An appropriation of $5,000 by congress was expended this year in construct- ing a road from the ferry landing through the river bottom, on the opposite side of the river. This appropriation was secured by an allowable fiction in the title, which was "to construct a military highway across the Mississippi bottom to the bluffs east of Bloomington in the territory of Iowa." Such an appropri- ation could not be made legally by congress for a public work in the state, hence the title to the act was so worded that the highway was located in a territory.
1845-Muscatine Island and the mainland were united by a dam constructed across the head of the slough, by the Muscatine company. By this means con- siderable land was reclaimed from a swampy condition and safe access obtained to the island, containing about 22,000 acres of fertile soil, which on account of its abundant yield of sweet potatoes and melons, is now the most valuable in the county.
1846-This year Iowa was admitted into the Union. J. Scott Richman was delegate from Muscatine county to the convention which framed the state constitution.
Great excitement prevailed in consequence with the war with Mexico. Mus- catine county raised a company of volunteers, of which John R. Bennett was captain.
1847-The citizens of Bloomington and a man named John Phillips, living on the opposite side of the river, had frequent collisions in regard to the ferry; he professing to have a charter from Illinois for a ferry and opposing the char- Vol. I-29
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tered ferry of the city. This year the citizens ran a free ferry in opposition to Phillips. He, however, obstructed the highway on the opposite side and was otherwise obnoxious.
1848-Bennett's steam flour mill, 50x85 feet and five stories in height, with four run of burr stones, was erected by Joseph Bennett, on the site now oc- cupied by the Oat Meal Mills. In January, 1850, this mill ground and packed five hundred and twenty barrels of flour in one day.
The telegraph line was completed and the first dispatch received at Bloom- ington, August 23d. O. H. Kelley was the operator.
The first meeting of the citizens of Bloomington, to deliberate on the project of constructing a railroad from Davenport via Bloomington and Iowa City through the interior of the state to the Missouri river, convened December Ist, Dr. John H. Dayton acting as chairman, while N. L. Stout acted as secretary. Delegates were appointed to attend a similar convention at Davenport, the object of which was to secure a grant of land from the general government to aid in the construction of said road. Various meetings to consider the same subject were held subsequently and the citizens of these rival towns labored harmon- iously for the grant until the beginning of the year 1850, when a decided oppo- sition to having Muscatine named as a point in the memorial for a grant for said road was manifested at Davenport and Iowa City. Muscatine thenceforward acted independently upon the subject. At a large meeting of delegates from many of the central and western counties held in Muscatine, December 27, 1850, the Iowa Western Railroad Company was organized and steps were taken to- ward securing a grant of land for a railroad direct from Muscatine to Oska- loosa, and thence to the Missouri river. No grant of land for such a purpose, however, was ever obtained from congress.
The first book store was opened by Hinds & Humphreys.
1849-The reports of gold discoveries in California induced many persons to emigrate thither, which, together with the appearance of cholera, carrying off ten or fifteen victims during the summer, retarded, in a measure, the pros- perity of Bloomington.
"Old Nick," a man-of-all-work, in the employ of Phillips, the ferryman, was found murdered on the morning of the 23d of May, near Phillips' house. Phil- lips reported that his house had been mobbed during the night by a disguised party, who killed Old Nick in mistake for himself, and in corroboration of this exhibited bullet holes through his door. It was generally believed, however, that he himself had committed the murder, for fear Old Nick might disclose some of his nefarious transactions, and concocted his story for a double pur- pose of shielding himself from the crime and creating sympathy in his behalf. A short time after this event, Phillips removed to the neighborhood of Rock Island, and his property at the ferry landing was leased for ten years by A. J. Fimple and Irad C. Day, who also obtained the ferry privilege.
The name of Bloomington was changed to Muscatine by the district court in the June term, in accordance with the prayer of a petition numerously signed by its citizens. The name of Muscatine is pronounced as if spelled "Mus-ka- teen," the last syllable accented. It is of Indian origin, though whether derived from a tribe of the name, or the Indian word Muscuti Menesik, signifying fire
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
island, (in allusion to Muscatine Island, which was a large body of prairie, on which the grass was sometimes burned) has been disputed.
The first exclusive clothing store was opened by Heilbrun & Silverman.
1850-The emigration to California this year was greater than the previous year. The cholera appeared again with increasing malignity, and for a time almost paralyzed business. Thirty or forty citizens fell victims to the scourge.
The population of the city on the Ist of June, according to the United States census was 2,520; number of dwelling houses, 453; population of the county, 5,733.
The first exclusive boot and shoe store was opened by Charles Nealley.
1851-February 2Ist Muscatine became a city, upon the adoption by its citizens of a charter, which had been approved by the legislature on the Ist of the same month. This charter invested the city council with power to enact ordinances for the general welfare and government of the city and impose penal- ties for the violation of the same in any sum not exceeding $100. The charter was amended in 1854 so as to allow the levying of a tax of one per cent per annum upon the value of property subject to taxation for city revenue. The ratio was formerly one-half per cent. It was also amended so as to make the city a road district and the offices of marshal, recorder and assessor appointive. Z. Washburn was elected first mayor, March 5th. At the same election Harry Reece and John C. Irwin were chosen aldermen from the first ward; John B. Dougherty and H. D. LaCossitt from the second ward; A. Fisher and B. Bar- tholomew, from the third ward; G. S. Branham, marshal; C. F. Browning, wharfmaster; Thomas Crandol, recorder; L. . C. Hine, treasurer. Mr. Wash- burn resigned his office a few months afterward and the council elected A. Mc- Aulay in his stead.
A suspension bridge across Cedar river, nine miles west of Muscatine, blew down during a storm on the night of April 4th. It was 667 feet in length, twenty-one feet in width over the piers, narrowing to twelve feet in the center, and altogether one of the most magnificent structures of the kind in the west, combining all the elements of the wooden arch and the wire suspension bridges. It had just been completed, at a cost of $16,000, raised by subscription among the citizens of Muscatine, J. Bennett being president of the company. The bridge had not been firmly secured when the storm occurred. An ineffectual attempt was afterward made to rebuild it.
On Sunday night, August 10th, an unprecedented freshet in Pappoose creek proved disastrous to life and property. A Mrs. Laferty and three of her chil- dren were drowned while attempting to escape from their residence, a small frame building between Sixth and Seventh streets, which was surrounded by the flood. A house and three bridges were destroyed, embankments washed away and much furniture injured by the inundation of houses. The damage done to public works alone was estimated at $10,000. The bridges on Cedar, Third and Second streets were entirely swept away, and such was the force of the current that two giant sycamore trees of perhaps a century's growth which stood at the mouth of the creek, were uprooted and carried away.
Bennett's mill and five or six adjoining buildings were destroyed by fire August 23d. The loss was $40,000, with no insurance. The mill was rebuilt
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by its indomitable proprietor, upon the same foundation, within ninety days after this event. It had the same exterior appearance, but was materially im- proved on its interior arrangements.
The first banking house was opened by Green & Stone, and the first whole- sale grocery store by J. S. Hatch & Company.
1852-The first resident daguerrean artist was John Hunter, and the first exclusive hardware store was opened by Brent, Miller & Company.
1853-At the April election the question of loaning $55,000 to the Iowa Western Railroad Company, to aid in the construction of a railroad from Mus- catine to Oskaloosa, was decided in the affirmative, notwithstanding strenuous opposition to it in Wapsinonoc and Moscow townships. A similar proposition had been lost the preceding year, on account of some misunderstanding. In June, Mr. Farnum and others representing the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company proposed to the officers of the Iowa Western Railroad Company to build three lines of railways from Muscatine, namely: to Oskaloosa, to Daven- port and to Cedar Rapids-provided one-third of the means for their construc- tion should be raised by local subscription and taxation. This proposal was accepted and on the 3d day of October, a loan of $150,000 for the same purpose was voted by the county.
1854-Ground was broken on the Muscatine-Oskaloosa Railroad by the M. & M. Railroad Company, February 8th. At the April election the city agreed to loan $55,000 to the Muscatine, Iowa City & Cedar Rapids Railroad Company for the construction of a railroad direct to Iowa City. This company generally known as Lyons Iowa Central Railroad Company, having failed to comply with the conditions of the loan, it was forfeited.
Shafer's beer house on Chestnut street, was torn down by a mob August 17th.
W. H. Arrison, who murdered Isaac H. Allison and wife of Cincinnati, with an "infernal machine," was arrested October 8th. He had been employed in J. B. Dougherty's drug store for nearly three months.
The first queensware store was opened by J. H. Turner.
1855-This year was signalized by a greater increase of business and the erection of more houses than during any previous year. More than forty busi- ness houses, mostly brick, were built and opened during the year, and about 200 dwellings, nearly all of substantial character.
Railroad operations, which had partially suspended on account of the money pressure, were resumed with greater activity, and altogether it was a more prosperous year to the city and more profitable to all branches of trade than any preceding one. The completion of the M. & M. Railroad from Davenport to Muscatine, the first railroad opened in Iowa, and the arrival of the first train of passenger cars at Muscatine, November 20th were celebrated with great eclat by its citizens and their invited guests from the surrounding country, and from towns and cities on the line of the railroad connections eastward. It was a most brilliant affair and has long been remembered as an era in the history of Musca- tine-the era of railroads.
1856-This year the primitive log house, the home of a number of the early pioneers, on West Second street, was removed to Dr. Weed's farm and the erection of a large building commenced.
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THE OLD "WIENKER FURNITURE FACTORY," BUILT IN 1856
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
1857-The first prohibitory law was submitted to vote August 3d, Musca- tine county casting 1,227 for and 356 against. It also cast 194 votes for negro suffrage and 1,405 against.
August 18th, introduction of gas into the city was celebrated in Tremont Hall.
1858-This winter was one of unusual mildness. The ferry boat was run- ning January 16th and the steamers Chattanooga and Clara Hine arrived from below, January 27th. Pansies and violets were in full bloom in Suel Foster's nursery. A mysterious fire occurred May 18th in the wholesale grocery store of J. T. Brown, on East Second street, which was destroyed. Brown was drawn insensible from the building, having apparently been gagged. He recovered but was unable to explain satisfactorily his connection with the affair. He shortly afterward returned to his home in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
1859-This year was noted for its business activity in the city and good crops of all kinds in the surrounding country. During the early part of the year considerable work was done on the Tipton & Anamosa Railroad. Money was raised and considerable grading was done, but the road never materialized.
The first shipment of pork was also made to the Atlantic seaboard from Muscatine.
1860-This was a year of great political excitement throughout the country. The republicans organized a "Wide Awake" company. On the 12th and 13th of September, there was an encampment and prize drill of companies, at which the Muscatine company was presented with a banner, prepared by ladies. Miss Annie Robbins presented the banner and Hugh J. Campbell, the president of the company, received it, each making a speech. A silk flag was also presented to the Goshen township company, commanded by Captain Lundy.
1861-The mutterings of secession and war became louder and more fre- quent. The firing upon Fort Sumter April 12th by the rebels, aroused the loyal north. Muscatine was soon in a state of excitement, never before felt. The rolling drum, squeaking fife and blaring trumpet were heard upon the street. The "Wide Awake" companies became companies of volunteers and two com- panies were raised and sent to the front in the first regiment-Company A, under Captain Cummins, and Company C, under Captain Mason. These com- panies went into camp at Keokuk, were ordered forward May 18th, went to Hannibal, out on the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad, across the country to Boon- ville, Missouri, joining General Lyons and participating in the bloody battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri, near Springfield, August 10th. The first soldier killed in defense of his country from Iowa was Shelby Norman of this regi- ment. The G. A. R. post of this city is named for him. Private H. S. Tullis, of Company C, First Iowa Infantry, died of typhoid fever at Keokuk, and was brought back and buried in the city cemetery, the first Union man buried at home. Captain John Reed with his company of rifles, left July 23d and joined the Seventh Iowa Infantry at Burlington, as Company A. Captain E. Hatch joined the Second Iowa Cavalry with his company, as Company A. Muscatine had the post of honor in three regiments.
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Hare's Hall was improved this year and the banking house of Green & Stone suspended July 3Ist. M. Berger erected a substantial two-story building on the avenue, for a vinegar factory.
Companies A and C, First Iowa Infantry, upon their return home were welcomed and banquetted by our citizens. Muscatine grew more and more like a military post, troops coming in by rail to take transportation by river. Com- pany A, under Captain Compton, Company B under Captain Grant, and Com- pany H under Captain Beach, joined the Eleventh Infantry. Captain Lundy with Company G, joined the Second Iowa Cavalry, and Captain Palmer's com- pany, the Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, at Davenport. Nothing but the war for the Union and care for the boys in the field and those at home was thought of, talked of, or acted upon at the close of this eventful year.
1862-The excitement of the war continued unabated. Muscatine's loyalty was kept up to the front. The empty sleeves, the crutch, the widow's weeds, grew rapidly in numbers. A calico or hard times hop was held at Reuling's hall. All the ladies dressed in calico.
The cow ordinance called for the following: "January 27, 1862, I, A. B. C., being duly sworn, do hereby inform George Meason, mayor of the city of Mus- catine, etc., one brindle cow did eat hay out of my sled without my consent, and contrary to the provisions of an ordinance of said city, made and provided. Signed, A. B. C." The cow escaped.
Hard times and high cost of coffee brought this out: "The best substitute for coffee: Boil a quantity of corn until it is soft, then dry and brown it well and make as other coffee." The rich and poor began to use such substitute for coffee, while the soldier in the field got the pure berry, if he did have to drink it out of a tin cup or can. The celebrated confidence man, Piper, secured $3,- 700 on two drafts raised from $14 each. The first festival of the Ladies' Sol- diers' Aid Society netted $105, January 30th.
In March, Muscatine county's jail was without a boarder, for the first time in its history. Richard Cadle's residence on Iowa City road burned March 3. Trains were snow-bound on Wilton Branch April 30. Four inches of snow fell on the night of March 26.
April 6 and 7-The battle of Shiloh caused great excitement, as nine Iowa regiments were engaged and our city was intensely interested. The Soldiers' Aid Society immediately dispatched a box of clothing and eatables valued at $152.45, to the Iowa soldiers at Pittsburg Landing. Grain and flour were shipped to New York via St. Louis and New Orleans.
May 8-The Muscatine County Soldiers' Aid Society was organized, with H. O. Connor, president; E. H. Thayer and William C. Evans, vice presidents ; Rev. C. H. Remington, secretary ; and S. G. Stein, treasurer.
May 14-A sensational case of suicide occurred at the Ogilvie (new Com- mercial) House. A young man, not seventeen years old, named Robinson, from Burlington, took poison rather than give up a woman with whom he had run away from home.
June 5-Tappe's brass band was organized. Companies A, H and I of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry, sent home to their families their two months' pay,
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$3,400. Chester Weed and James Jackson were the distributing agents. The first issue of the long expected newspaper, the Courier, appeared June 24.
July 10-Captain Hugh J. Campbell's company was mustered into service. It became a part of the Eighteenth Iowa Infantry. This made the thirteenth company from Muscatine and the war was not half finished. Gold reached fif- teen and a half per cent premium and was still going up.
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