USA > Iowa > Muscatine County > History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time, Volume I > Part 57
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December 14, The Turner Opera House was opened and dedicated by a German Theater Company. It cost $19,000.
The deaths of well known citizens this year were: Jacob Hershe, aged eighty, February 15; Jacob Horr, aged sixty, April 1 ; Mrs. Ruth L. Cadle, aged sixty- one, April 12; Mrs. Frances Tuttle, aged eighty-five, April 29; Gilbert H. Wood, aged sixty-eight, July 15; Joseph Heinly, aged sixty-one, October 30; Mrs. F. R. Leffingwell, aged eighty-three, November 19; Richard Lord, aged eighty- two, November 30.
472
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
1886-January 16, a large meeting of citizens in the county, in the court house, adopted a report from a committee presented by Rev. H. E. Wing for the impeachment of Judge Hayes, on the ground that he had prostituted the district court in this county for the protection rather than the punishment of persons sell- ing liquor illegally. This report, with other accusations, was presented to the house, in Des Moines, which censured Hayes but because of lateness of the ses- sion did not institute impeachment proceedings.
January 26, two trains telescoped just above the city. John A. Owens, an engineer from Oskaloosa, was fatally injured.
February 16, the thirtieth anniversary of the Old Settlers' Society was cele- brated in the Academy of Science room. Addresses were made by Dr. A. B. Robbins, J. Bridgman, P. Jackson and others.
June 12, the most appalling and disastrous fire that ever visited this city broke out in a lath pile of the Muscatine Lumber Company at about II o'clock in the forenoon, communicating with the lumber piles of the company and the mill, which were destroyed, together with other property belonging to Huttig Brothers and others. The total loss was nearly $200,000, with about two-thirds insurance.
Harry Killian and a boy named Ward drowned in the river while bathing, on the Illinois shore.
Among the prominent citizens who died this year were: Suel Foster, aged seventy-five, January 21; R. W. H. Brent, aged seventy-six, February 20; C. Cadle, aged seventy-seven, March II; Henry Funk, aged sixty-eight, June 6; Pliny Fay, in Santa Cruz, California, aged seventy-five, August 14; George Mea- son, aged seventy-nine, October 1; Dr. I. L. Graham, aged sixty-three, Decem- ber 3.
1887-April 10, the Young Women's Christian Temperance Union was organized.
May 19, The Muscatine Rifles left for a national encampment in Washington, D. C.
June 3-4, a reception was given the Rifles on their return. The Journal is- sued an illustrated edition.
June 22, a public meeting in the court house was called to protest against enforcement of the prohibitory law. There were some exciting speeches but no resolutions.
August 10, a reunion of the First Iowa Regiment was held.
August 31, the Old Settlers held a picnic at Cherry Bluff, near Moscow.
October II-12, the Second Iowa Cavalry held a reunion.
October 30, three alleged officers of a proposed railroad (Chicago East & West) conferred with citizens of Muscatine. The project did not materialize.
November 29, The Muscatine Bridge Company organized.
Deaths of old settlers and prominent citizens were: Dr. W. S. Robertson, aged fifty-six, January 20; Hiram Gilbert, aged sixty-nine, March 4; Michael Murphy, aged fifty-eight, March 8; John A. Parvin, aged seventy-nine, March 16; Lewis Coe, aged seventy-three, April 16; John Semple, aged seventy-six, July 28; Joseph Crane, aged seventy-three, December 6.
473
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
Building improvements were made this year at an estimated cost of $200,000. A carefully prepared statement showed one hundred and ninety-six business establishments in the city, with two thousand, five hundred and sixty employes. Among the public improvements was a stone arch bridge over Pappoose creek, on Third street.
1888-January 4, a wolf was shot on the bluffs near St. Mary's church.
January 14, trains were blockaded by big snow storms.
April 3, A. LaValle proposed to establish a beet sugar factory on terms, however, which were thought to be too hazardous to those who were asked to mortgage their farms.
May II-15, frosts damaged tender crops on the island.
May 16, there was high water in the Mississippi, 17.53/4.
July 4, there was failure of a balloon ascension by S. Y. Baldwin, at a much advertised celebration. A severe storm also sank a boat with hundreds of dollars worth of fire works.
The deaths of old settlers and prominent citizens this year were: Christian Kegal, aged seventy-one, March 7; A. F. Adams, aged sixty, March II; Ira Nichols, of West Liberty, aged sixty-eight, March 22; and Samuel Mckibben, aged sixty-seven, October 6.
1889-January 23, the first bridge meeting was held in the city hall, at which initiatory steps were taken for the high bridge.
February 24, the Van Nostrand collar factory was destroyed by fire.
February 27, the citizens vote cast was 1,464 to 197 in favor of a three per cent tax for the high bridge.
April 8, the bridge company was reorganized.
April 12, Captain A. Kennedy's old 1865 Moscow canal survey was un- earthed and discussed in the Journal.
June 5, a public meeting was held to help the Johnstown (Pa.) flood sufferers.
July 6, the Milwaukee Bridge Company's proposition to build a bridge was accepted.
June 12, John McGrew, the oldest settler of the county, was killed in a run- away at the foot of Chestnut street.
June 14, the heaviest rainfall for years-4.1 inches.
July 15, work was begun on the high bridge.
August 15, Carrie Simmons was run over by a railroad train in South Mus- catine and killed, and Ona Sala was crippled for life.
September 17, an advertising carnival was held in Olds' Opera House.
October 17-20, a semi-centennial celebration of the organization of the First Methodist church was held.
1890-January 5, Hon. R. M. Burnett was elected superintendent of the First Baptist Sunday school for the twenty-sixth time. All Saints' Chapel on East Hill was dedicated by Bishop Perry.
January 15, Wilton struck a good flow of water at a depth of 1,450 feet.
January 20, the Thirty-fifth Regiment Infantry issued a neat historical pamphlet.
January 21, the great wolf hunt took place but not a wolf was seen.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
The death of William D. Ament occurred, when he was sixty-eight years old. Shelby Norman Post made a requisition on the war department for head stones for ten comrades.
January 23, the school board took action to secure cheaper school books.
January 24, the McColm Dry Goods Company was organized.
January 27, Muscatine citizens held a meeting to take action in the matter of securing a government building.
January 28, the death of William Achter occurred, at the age of sixty-four. February I, R. T. Thompson died at the age of fifty-nine.
February 3, the cemetery committee made an extended report as to the mat- ter of the city regulating city burial ground.
February 6, Muscatine's government building bill was introduced in the house by Congressman Hayes.
February 13, the Journal inaugurated a system of displaying weather signals. February 14, the Van Nostrand Saddlery Company was organized.
March I, occurred the death of Tallant at Sebastopol, California.
March 3, Mrs. Stephen L. Foss died at the age of seventy-one.
March 10, the annual school meeting was held and the board was instructed to call a special election to vote on the high school. Messrs. G. M. Scott and I. B. Richman were elected members of the board.
March 18, the board of supervisors opened and considered bids for the in- sane hospital at the county farm.
March 23, the Young Men's Christian Association district conference met in Muscatine.
March 25, the Citizens' Electric Light Company asked for a franchise for an electric street railway. The Street Railway Company gave the council notice of a proposed extension of lines.
March 31, Martin Bartlett's house on Cedar street was destroyed by fire.
April 26, there was a heavy frost at night but caused no damage to fruit on account of extreme drought.
May 8, Dr. Joseph Hardman died at the age of sixty-five.
May 17, J. P. Lewis, city assessor, died at the age of seventy-two.
May 18, the death of Mrs. George Schafer occurred, as the result of burns received May I.
May 22, George Seay (colored) was killed by lightning. The firemen held their annual parade. The Iowa City fire department were guests of Muscatine.
May 23, the Methodist septuagenarians and octogenarians had a social time at the First Methodist Episcopal parsonage.
June 4, Joseph Bridgman and wife, who were married in Muscatine, cele- brated their golden wedding.
June 10, Company C returned from the Inter-State Encampment at Kansas City, having taken $1,250 in prizes. They were given a reception at Hotel Web- ster on the evening of the 11th.
June 12, Constantine Hinkle died at the age of sixty-two.
June 16, Jacob C. Berdine died at the age of eighty years.
June 19, lightning killed twelve cows on Andrew Cochran's farm in Lake township.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
June 25, four horses in the county died from excessive heat-98 degrees.
June 28, W. G. Taylor died at the age of sixty-three.
June 29, Mrs. Marx Block died at the age of sixty-two.
July I, The Journal was first printed by electricty.
July 7, Mrs. Milton Rice died on the county farm at the age of fifty-two.
July 24, Rev. S. H. Parvin and Miss Mary Dobbs were married at Walla Walla, Washington.
July 30, Mrs. Margaret R. Thurston died at the age of sixty-nine.
J. M. Shellabarger died in Seventy-six township at the age of seventy-five.
August 9, the First Iowa Veterans commemorated the battle of Wilson's Creek with a picnic at Nesselbush's point. Samuel McNutt received news of his appointment as consul to Maracaibo, Venezuela, and Alexander Clark as minister to Liberia.
August 13, the county insane asylum was completed.
August 18, the school boards of the county met at the court house to discuss the uniformity of school book law.
August 19, the board of education took advantage of the new school book law and adopted the contract system of supplying books to pupils at cost.
August 21, the council passed the cemetery ordinance by which the city took charge of the cemetery.
August 23, the Rifles went in camp at Des Moines.
September 1, Labor Day, Ancient Order of United Workmen excursion to Davenport. Several Muscatine parties were hurt by a collision at Davenport.
September 3, the Old Settlers held a picnic at Wilton.
September 5, Rev. A. B. Robbins' forty-seventh pastorate anniversary re- ception was held.
September 6, Jesse B. Henniker died at the age of eighty-one years.
September 10, Consul McNutt departed for Maracaibo.
September 12, Mrs. R. Altekruse was a fatally burned at her home in Sev- enty-six township, while lighting a fire.
September 15, United States minister, Alex Clark, was given a reception at the African Methodist church.
September 16, the Davenport Baptist Association began its session in this city.
September 20, Barnum's Circus visited Muscatine and drew the largest crowd ever seen in the city.
September 25, The Muscatine Rifles won first money, $125, in a competitive drill at Davenport.
October I, ex-Alderman George E. Jones died at the age of fifty-nine.
October 7, Major A. O. Warfield retired from active service in the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific freight office after thirty-five years' faithful work.
October 8, the Des Moines branch of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society met in Muscatine.
October 21, Consul McNutt arrived home from Maracaibo, having resigned. November 24, the Lutheran church dedicated their new pipe organ in a grand concert.
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HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
December 3, L. P. Rosseau, while acting as a flagman, was run over by the cars at the foot of Iowa avenue and instantly killed.
1891-February 7, announcement was made that articles of incorporation were filed at Rock Island by the Muscatine, Rock Island & Peoria Railroad, which was expected to run from Rock Island to Muscatine and then to Peoria.
February II, Dr. Charles Drury, a retired physician and old resident, passed away.
February 16, Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the institution of Masonry in Muscatine was celebrated.
February 21, United Brethren congregation planned to erect a new church.
March 6, the first fatal accident on the Muscatine high bridge occurred- Charles Schwin fell from the structure.
March 26, a Law and Order League was formed at the Muscatine County Alliance Convention.
April 25, John Graham and son were killed by the Firefly.
May 7, Eden Brown was killed by the Wilton train, the first crossing made on the high bridge.
May II, George Weber drowned in Muscatine slough.
September 14, The fortieth anniversary of the United Brethren church was celebrated.
October I, the Thirty-fifth Iowa Regiment held its reunion in Muscatine.
October 28, nortorious Dick Lane (afterward reformed) was arrested at Moscow for burglary.
November 3, Dick Smith, a brakeman, was killed in the local yards.
November 27, Haydn's Creation was presented by the Musical Union.
November 30, the German Congregational church was dedicated.
1892-January II, Simon G. Stein, a prominent merchant, passed away.
January 22, Muscatine raised $190,000 for a beet sugar factory.
February 16, the funeral of Alexander Clark, late United States minister and consul general to Liberia, was held.
March 8, Sam Jones delivered an address at Stein's Music Hall.
March II, the Congregationalists decided to erect a new church.
May 2, Trinity church celebrated its golden jubilee. Citizens Electric Light & Power Company was sold to F. P. Sawyer for $10,100.
May 12, Albert Koepping and John Dremel were drowned.
September 5, Park place improvement project was planned.
October, 3, an ordinance for an electric line was introduced into the city council.
October 24, Rev. J. S. White was mobbed at Olds' Opera House when he at- tempted to deliver a lecture entitled Romanism as It Is.
. November 26, a temporary organization of the Muscatine Commercial Club was perfected.
December 18, the new United Brethren church was dedicated.
1893-January 3, first services in the remodeled Methodist church were held, with a number of visiting members present. Dr. H. W. Bolton, of Chicago, delivered the address.
January 29, the contract for the Heinz pickle factory was closed.
477
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
February 8, Past Commander Brown was in Marshalltown attending the dedication of the cottage pledged to the Soldiers' Home by Shelby Norman Post and the Relief Corps.
February 15, articles of incorporation of the Muscatine North & South were filed, with William Huttig, Richard Musser, George M. Titus and Henry Jayne as incorporators. The capital stock was $10,000,000.
March 5, the new Congregational church was dedicated by the Rev. L. W. Munhall, of Philadelphia, who started a series of revival services.
March 16, R. T. Wallace was officially succeeded by J. M. Gobble as mayor of Muscatine.
April 4, Mrs. B. TerStege was fatally burned while raking her dooryard.
May II, the homes of John Mahin, E. M. Kessinger and N. Rosenberger were blown up by dynamite, following activities against the saloons. The crime was committed at 1:30 A. M. and that evening $5,000 was pledged at a mass meeting to apprehend the criminals.
May 13, Judge Wolfe granted fourteen injunctions against saloons.
May 29, Muscatine's first electric car made its maiden trip over the new lines.
August 10, Jewel, the rainmaker, experimented at Fruitland and brought a precipitation.
September 8, J. M. Gobble was nominated for senator by the democrats.
October 14, the Congregational church was damaged by fire to the extent of $1,000.
October 29, the Rock Island roundhouse was destroyed by fire.
November 7, Muscatine went republican for the first time in twelve years.
1894-January 18, council appointed a committee to prepare plans for a sewerage system.
February 26, D. V. Jackson was elected lieutenant colonel of the Second Regiment, Iowa National Guards.
March 5, municipal election was held and Dr. E. B. Fulliam was elected mayor.
March 10, the council awarded the contract to Beckel, Hayde & Company for the Cedar street sewer for $9,350.
March 28, the Iowa United Brethren conference convened in Muscatine in its fiftieth annual session.
March 29, the city council ordered two miles of brick paving on Mulberry street from Sixth to the Fair Grounds, on Second, from Mulberry to Pine, and on Iowa avenue from Front to Eighth street.
May 2, the board of supervisors made an appropriation to bridge over Cedar river near Breckenridge ferry.
June I, degree of honor of the Ancient Order of United Workmen was organized.
Guy Baker fatally shot George Rexrode while riding in South Muscatine.
June 25, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Lee celebrated their golden wedding at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Mahin.
June 27, J. M. Gobble was appointed receiver for the Williams Rolling Mill. July 2, business was practicaly dead on account of railroad strike. No trains
478
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
except on the Muscatine Western for a week or more. David Eberling was killed by being caught in the machinery at Musser's mill.
August 7, J. Irving was killed in a runaway in South Muscatine.
November 15, the German Congregational College at Wilton was dedicated.
1895-January 25, Brown and Foster, the West Liberty safe blowers were sentenced to ten years each by Judge Brannan.
February 8, William Huttig was appointed postmaster pro tem.
February 9, George Moore was found frozen to death.
February 26, Florient Braunagle was drowned while trying to cross on the ice at the head of Burdett Island.
March 2, the Rolling Mill was sold by receiver J. M. Gobble to I. M. Bollinger for $35,000.
March 5, A. S. Lawrence was elected mayor and the entire republican ticket won with the exception of one alderman.
March 16, Mrs. Elizabeth Hershey donated $10,000 to Iowa Western Uni- versity at Mt. Pleasant for the Elizabeth Hershey Hall.
March 26, six horses roasted to death in the fire at the corner of Iowa avenue and Third street, when Hoopes, Murphy and Bernhart barns and other buildings were destroyed.
April 25, an injunction suit against Sunday baseball players was argued be- fore Judge Brannan.
May 30, Hershey lower mill was sold to the Consolidated Box Company.
July 6, Abe Seabrooks was shot in the neck by "Bob" Robinson (colored).
July 22, William Dwyer was killed by a freight train in the Rock Island yards.
August 27, Iowa Evening Newspaper Association met in Muscatine.
September 27, "Bob" Robertson was sentenced to four years for shooting Seabrooks.
1896-January 24, George Crippen and Mart S. Woods were arrested for dynamiting the home of E. N. Kessinger in 1893.
February 24, Allison Club was organized, with W. L. Roach as president.
March 9, a special election was held for $15,000 high schools bonds, 2,170 for and 184 against. One thousand ladies voted.
May 8, jury in the Woods case returned a verdict-"Guilty as charged."
May 22, M. S. Woods was sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary for dynamiting.
June 13, Policeman Jacob Neibert was foully assassinated by supposed tramps. June 21, German Lutheran Orphan Home was dedicated.
July 14, Tony Gorham was drowned while bathing in the Mississippi river.
July 29, Belle Knott and Gertie Bishop, aged fifteen and thirteen respectively, were drowned in a pond in Musserville.
July 31, Silas Powell, a deaf mute, was killed by being run over by a pas- senger train in Muscatine.
August II, Frank Toyne was instantly killed by lightning in Bloomington township.
August 25, A. L. Lindner resigned from the agency of the Rock Island Railroad.
BUILDING PAPPOOSE SEWER BETWEEN THIRD AND SECOND STREETS IN 1895
BUILDING PAPPOOSE SEWER BETWEEN SECOND AND FRONT STREETS IN 1895
479
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
September 3, C. M. Gould was appointed agent of the Rock Island Railroad in Muscatine.
October 14, The Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry held a reunion in Muscatine.
November 2, The Mckinley Club had a grand torch light parade, with fif- teen hundred marchers in line.
November 7, Harold Edgerton, aged twelve, accidentally shot himself.
December 3, Columbus Theater was destroyed by fire.
December 21, D. V. Jackson was elected colonel of the Second Regiment.
1897-January 2, the high school was formally dedicated with addresses by President Huttig, Joseph Bridgman, J. R. Hanley, Superintendent Witter, Mrs. Barbara A. Detwiler, Elmer Batterson and A. S. Lawrence.
January 3, memorial services in commemoration of the life and eminent services of Rev. A. B. Robbins were held at the Congregational church.
January II, Err Thornton, who came to Muscatine in 1834, died at the age of ninety years.
February 21, $15,000 was appropriated for a harbor at Muscatine.
March 8, button workers organized a union.
March 16, Jesse Bryant was badly crushed by a cave in while excavating on East Second street.
April 20, the cases against George Crippen, Mart Woods, Adam Von Dresky were dismissed in the district court.
May 9, First Methodist Episcopal church was destroyed by fire. Loss $15,000.
July I, postal department inaugurated the two delivery day system in Muscatine.
August 2, Hotel Grand was opened to the public. An explosion of gas in the evening caused much damage and excitement in the billiard hall and saloon. September I, W. L. Roach assumed the postmastership.
September 22, women suffragists held a county convention at the United Brethren church and perfected the organization.
October 4, a boiler explosion at Moscow killed Will Speers and Fred Ma- rolf, and injured others.
October 12, Colonel C. C. Horton was selected as commandant of the Old Soldiers Home at Marshalltown.
November 12, Muscatine Building and Loan Association dissolved.
1898- January 21, council adopted the Gamewell fire alarm system which was later dropped.
February 14, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Berry celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.
February 16, great excitement prevailed in Muscatine when news of blow- ing up the battleship Maine was received.
February 22, Young Men's Christian Association basketball team won state championship at Cedar Rapids.
February 26, the council at a special session granted Hubinger Company a telephone franchise.
April 23, Colonel D. V. Jackson received orders to have Company C and Second Regiment ready to report at Des Moines for the Spanish-American war.
480
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
April 25, Company C was on arms all day. Great excitement prevailed on account of war prospects.
April 26, Company C left for the front ; over five thousand at the train to bid the soldiers good-bye; whistles blew, bells rung and the city suspended busi- ness during the morning.
May 13, Colonel D. V. Jackson was mustered into the United States service. May 17, Company C was mustered into the United States service as a part of the Fiftieth Iowa Volunteers.
June 15, Firemen's State Tournament opened a three days' meeting, with good attendance and fine parade.
July 6, John Haney was killed by the cars east of the city.
July 21, J. D. Husted was killed by a train near Fairport.
July 28, work was begun on the Muscatine North & South road at Wapello. August 20, Company C came home and was given a rousing reception.
August 22, J. C. Hubinger bought the electric light and railway plant.
September 7, W. L. Roach declined the nomination for congress.
October 28, St. Matthias parish extended a royal welcome to Rev. P. Lau- rant from his sojourn in France.
November 3, First Muscatine North & South train arrived at Wapello.
1899-January 20, First Muscatine North & South train carrying passengers ran over the new road.
January 21, A. E. Keith of Creston, ex-sheriff of Muscatine county, was burned to death on an ocean steamer.
February 4, one span of the high bridge fell; two horses were killed and several persons narrowly escaped.
February 21, C. W. Hawley, formerly of Muscatine, was murdered in San Francisco.
April 7, Ottie Snyder's livery barn was destroyed by fire and ten horses burned.
May 9, The German-American Savings Bank was organized.
May 13, Dr. James Weed donated sixty acres of land in East Hill for a city park.
June 2, a hurricane visited the city, doing much damage.
June 23, Muscatine Western passenger train on Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway was wrecked outside of the city. The engineer, fireman and several passengers were injured.
July I, assessor finds actual value of city property, $9,578,296.
July 4, Weed Park was dedicated with much ceremony.
July II, Mrs. Chester Lillibridge and Mrs. Ben Lilly narrowly escaped death on a burning gasoline launch.
July 23, Mrs. Nellie Crippen was shot and killed by George Wright.
August 23, Rev. J. N. Elliott, of Union City, Indiana, accepted a call to the First Presbyterian church.
September 9, Muscatine public library was formally opened in the basement of the high school building.
September 28, Will McGaughey died as the result of football injuries.
481
HISTORY OF MUSCATINE COUNTY
November 18, old settlers marked with marble slab site of first home in Mus- catine at Iowa avenue and Water street.
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