History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing a history from the earliest settlement to the present time biographical sketches; portraits of some of the early settlers, prominent men, etc., Part 27

Author: Keatley, John H; O.L. Baskin & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 648

USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing a history from the earliest settlement to the present time biographical sketches; portraits of some of the early settlers, prominent men, etc. > Part 27

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Charles Austin and James M. Bell, both printers in the Daily Times office, had a quarrel on the afternoon of the 20th of June. Bell was sober, but Austin was quite drunk. Just about sundown, they renewed the quar- rel. Between the two occasions, Bell had stated to comrades that if Austin interfered with him again he would kill him. Austin was near the sidewalk in front of the Times office on Pearl street when the second alter- cation began. Bell drew his revolver, and Austin began to retreat, when Bell fired, the ball striking Austin in the forehead and pen- etrating the brain. He was soon in the hands of surgeons, and Bell was placed in jail. The ball lodged in the brain, yet the wounded man lived five days, and at last suc- cumbed. Bell was tried for murder at the July term of the District Court. the State being represented by District Attorney Mil-

liard and Keatley & Hench, and the defend- ant by B. F. Montgomery, A. V. Larimer and J. R. Reed. The trial occupied a week, the time being mostly taken up with the exami- nation of medical experts; and, the jury hav- ing found a verdict of manslaughter, the de- fendant was sentenced to the penitentiary for eight years. He was pardoned by the Governor at the end of two years.

The Second Methodist Church was organ- ized in December, and a chapel built on Eighth street. The society flourished for a couple of years, and then the chapel was abandoned. and the building eventually sold, removed and transformed into a dwelling house in the southwestern part of the city.

The first Unitarian society was also organ- ized this year, and a brick building pur- chased for a chapel, on the west side of North Main street, near the bridge. The society maintained its existence and organization for about, five years, the Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald be- ing its first pastor. It at last went to pieces, and the building was sold, and is now the Kelley Marble Works.

In August, the Iowa editorial excursion visited Council Bluffs and spent the day here, the guests of the people, and a dinner given them at the Pacific House. Hon. J. M. Pal- mer welcomed them in appropriate terms, and John P. Irish, of the Iowa City Press, re- sponded eloquently on behalf of the mem- bers of the editorial convention. The census of the city, as taken under the auspices of the United States, showed 10,020 inhabitants.

All the railroad lines between Kansas City and Council Bluffs were that year consolidat- ed under one corporation, thereafter known as the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company. George L. Brad- bury, now the General Manager of the Peoria & Evansville Railroad, had charge of the in- terests of the new corporation at this end of

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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

the line. The first steps were also taken to build what is now known as the Wabash line to St. Louis. This was in the incorporation of the St. Louis, Council Bluffs & Omaha Railroad Company. The object was the con- struction of a short line from St. Louis by the way of Brunswick and Chillicothe, Mo., so as to enter this county diagonally. Gen. J. H. Hammond was the most active promot- er of this enterprise, and visited Council Bluffs several times to secure co-operation. When the panic of 1873 came, the line was in operation to Chillicothe, and there rested until 1876. In the latter year, the spirit of railway building revived all over the country. A new corporation was formed, called the St. Louis & Council Bluff's Railroad Company, under the auspices of Jay Gould and the Union Pacific. The counties in Iowa through which the line passed voted aid by taxation liberally, and in 1878 the road was in opera- tion to this city. As soon as the track was considered fit for general traffic, the consoli- dation of the Wabash lines took place, and the road ever since has been operated under that management.

The Congressional District was so over- whelmingly Republicau at this date that the nominatiou of a candidate on the part of the Democrats was only a matter of form. A few of the latter in a small mass convention nominated B. F. Montgomery, of Council Bluffs, who stumped the district in opposition to F. W. Palmer. The result was the usual one.

The building of the bridge over the river attracted more attention than any other enter- prise at that moment. To ordinary persons. the idea of thus spanning so treacherous a stream as the Missouri River was almost re- garded as absurd. To the engineers in charge, it had passed out of the domain of mere experiment. The process will always

be interesting. Adequate soundings had de- termined that solid rock lay beneath seventy - five feet of mud and water. To reach this, and to lay a solid foundation for the super- structure of the bridge, immense hollow iron cylinders, eight feet in diameter, and twelve feet in height. were placed upright, proper- ly capped with au air tight iron covering, the air exhausted, and the cylinders forced to their places through the soft earth by the natural atmospheric pressure. When two cylinders were thus set side by side and some distance apart to form the basis of one of the eleven piers constituting the foundation of the bridge, a second cylinder was placed so that when the exhausting process went on the latter would go to its place on top of the second, and so on until the requisite height was reached to place the bridge itself above high water mark. In that way the hollow pillars were set in pairs, and then filled in with concrete masonry, consisting of brok- en rock solidfied with water lime, forming an endurable basis for the immense structure de- pendent upon it. The pairs of pillars were united with massive iron bracing and stanch- ions. The piers bear an enormous weight of wrought and cast iron in the shape of a truss superstructure constituting the bridge proper. No wood is used except for the ties upon which the railroad track is laid. The structure hangs in air seventy feet above the water. The character of the shore on the Council Bluffs side required a long and hig'h grade as an approach. This was built by laying a narrow guage railroad from the point of entrance to the bridge to the bluffs in the southern part of the city, and night and day for over a year trains were engaged in conveying earth for this " dump," excavated with steam shovels. The entire structure was regarded as of sufficient endurance to resist both the action of wind, water and ice. yet

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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

but providing that, notwithstanding all these concessions and advantages, the Union Pa- cific should still operate its road, in conjunc- tion with the bridge, as one continuous line. This latter clause was satisfactory to the peo- ple of Council Bluffs, on their theory that President Lincoln had located the eastern terminus of the road in Council Bluffs.

The brick residence of John W. Ross, on the point of the bluff just north of the Wash- ington Avenue School building, then consid- ered the finest residence in Council Bluffs, was accidentally destroyed by fire on the 7th day of May.

June 3, the Congressional Convention of the Republican party was held here. The candidates were F. W. Palmer and John A. Kasson, both of Des Moines. The prelimi- nary conflict was a most bitter one. Twenty- three counties were represented. Palmer was the member from the district, and on the first ballot he was renominated, in a vote of sixty to twenty.

Charles Austin and James M. Bell. both printers in the Daily Times office, had a quarrel on the afternoon of the 20th of June. Bell was sober, but Austin was quite drunk. Just about sundown, they renewed the quar- rel. Between the two occasions, Bell had stated to comrades that if Austin interfered with him again he would kill him. Austin was near the sidewalk in front of the Times office on Pearl street when the second alter- cation began. Bell drew his revolver, and Austin began to retreat, when Bell fired, the ball striking Austin in the forehead and pen- etrating the brain. He was soon in the hands of surgeons, and Bell was placed in jail. The ball lodged in the brain, yet the wounded man lived five days, and at last sue- cumbed. Bell was tried for murder at the July term of the District Court, the State being represented by District Attorney Mil-

liard and Keatley & Hench, and the defend- ant by B. F. Montgomery, A. V. Larimer and J. R. Reed. The trial occupied a week, the time being mostly taken up with the exami- nation of medical experts; and, the jury hav- ing found a verdict of manslaughter, the de- fondant was sentenced to the penitentiary for eight years. He was pardoned by the Governor at the end of two years.

The Second Methodist Church was organ- ized in December, and a chapel built on Eighth street. The society flourished for a couple of years, and then the chapel was abandoned, and the building eventually sold, removed and transformed into a dwelling house in the southwestern part of the eity.

The first Unitarian society was also organ- ized this year, and a brick building pur. chased for a chapel, on the west side of North Main street, near the bridge. The society maintained its existence and organization for about five years, the Rev. Mr. Fitzgerald be- ing its first pastor. It at last went to pieces, and the building was sold. and is now the Kelley Marble Works.

209

HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

the line. The first steps were also taken to build what is now known as the Wabash line to St. Louis. This was in the incorporation of tho St. Louis, Council Bluffs & Omaha Railroad Company. The object was the con- struction of a short line from St. Louis by the way of Brunswick and Chillicothe, Mo., so as to enter this county diagonally. Gen. J. H. Hammond was the most active promot- er of this enterprise, and visited Council Bluff's several times to secure co-operation. When the panic of 1873 came, the line was in operation to Chillicothe, and there rested until 1876. In the latter year. the spirit of railway building revived all over the country. A new corporation was formed, called the St. Louis & Council Bluffs Railroad Company. under the auspices of Jay Gould and the Union Pacific. The counties in Iowa through which the line passed voted aid by taxation liberally, and in 1878 the road was in opera- tion to this city. As soon as the track was considered fit for general traffic, the consoli- dation of the Wabash lines took place, and the road over since has been operated under that management.

The Congressional District was so over- whelmingly Republican at this date that the nomination of a candidate on the part of the Democrats was only a matter of form. A few of the latter in a small mass convention nominated B. F. Montgomery, of Council Bluff's, who stumped the district in opposition to F. W. Palmer. The result was the usual one.

The building of the bridge over the river attracted more attention than any other enter- prise at that moment. To ordinary persons. the idea of this spanning so treacherous a stream as the Missouri River was almost re- gardel as absurd. To the engineers in charge, it had passed out of the domain of mere experiment. The process will always

be interesting. Adequate soundings had de- terminod that solid rock lay beneath seventy - five feet of mud and water. To reach this, and to lay a solid foundation for the super- structure of the bridge, immense hollow iron cylinders, eight feet in diameter, and twelve feet in height. were placed upright, proper- ly capped with an air tight iron covering. the air exhausted, and the cylinders forced to their places through the soft earth by the natural atmospheric pressure. When two cylinders were thus set side by side and some distance apart to form the basis of one of the eleven piers constituting the foundation of the bridge. a second cylinder was placed so that when the exhausting process went on the latter would go to its place on top of the second, and so on until the requisite height was reached to place the bridge itself above high water mark. Iu that way the hollow pillars were set in pairs, and then filled in with concrete masonry, consisting of brok- en rock solidfied with water lime, forming an endurable basis for the immense structure de- pendent upon it. The pairs of pillars were united with massive iron bracing and stanch- ions. The piers bear an enormous weight of wrought and cast iron in the shape of a truss superstructure constituting the bridge proper. No wood is used except for the ties upon which the railroad track is laid. The structure hangs in an seventy feet above the water. The character of the shore on the Council Bluffs side required a long and high grade as an approach. This was built by laying a narrow guago railroad from the point of entrance to the bridge to the bluffs in the southern part of the city, and night and day for over a year trains were engaged in conveying earth for this " dump," excavat . with steam shovels. The entire structure wis regarded is of sufficient endurance to resist both the action of wind, water and ice. yet

210

HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

on the 28th day of August, 1877, a singular fatality visited the two spans on the Council Bluffs side of the river. A terrific rain storm set in in the night time; but elsewhere than at the bridge, the wind accompanying rain, was of only an ordinary character, but in its whirl in some way the two spans were wrested from their foundations and hurled into the river. Traffic was suspended for about a month, until a temporary wooden structure replaced these spans, and the wooden spans eventually yielded to iron again. In the meantime, the transfer of the immense traffic of the Union Pacific took place at Plattsmouth by the way of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy route and the Burlington & Missouri of Nebraska.

The Odd Fellows Grand Lodge of Iowa was held at Council Bluffs that year, the ses- sion commencing October 26, and extending over two days. On the evening of the second day, the fraternity gave their visiting breth- ren a grand banquet. The Odd Fellows Pro- tective Association of Council Bluffs was or- ganized the same year, with F. A. Burke as President. This was intended as a mutual benefit or life insurance association to the extent of $1,000, to be paid at the death of the member to the party named in the bene- fit. It has flourished ever since. The mem- pership is limited to 1,000, and assessments are made of $1 10 upon each member when a death occurrs to make the necessary pay- ment. The funds are always in the treasury to pay the next loss, but the assessment is made, notwithstanding, to replace the funds so appropriated. None but Odd Fellows in good standing are eligible. Experience has demonstrated that it is one of the noblest and most efficient charities ever organized. The institute for the deaf and dumb had so far progressed that it was ready for the recep- tion of pupils at the fall term, and the

school was removed from Iowa City, in ac- cordance with the intention of the Legisla- ture. The wholesale grocery store of R. P. Snow, on Broadway near Bancroft street, was discovered on fire on the morning of Novem- ber 8. The fire was extinguished before the building was destroyed, but the latter was seriously damaged, and many of the goods entirely destroyed or rendered worthless. The effect of the fire was to cripple Mr. Snow's business energies, and to impair his capital to such an extent as to disable him from con- ducting one of the most important business enterprises of the city. The High School Building was completed so that it could be used by the 18th of November, and on that day it was formally dedicated by being ocen- pied, and by appropriate ceremonies, in which Gov. Merrill and State Superintendent Kis- sell took part, and made addresses.

This year, the Council Bluffs Agricultural Works went into operation, their establish ment being a set of wooden buildings located on the east side of North Main street, south of the bridge, and adjoining it. The business of manufacturing plows and cultivators was carried on at this point with eminent success for several years. In a year or two after the establishment of this corporation. what was known as the Power Company, an incorporated association, began the erection of a large brick building in the vicinity of the Rock Island freight depot, designed to furnish steam power to individuals engaged in manufact- ures. When the building was completed, it became the property of the Agricultural Works, and their establishment, buildings and business were transferred to that point. They were well under way, and had a career of prosperity before them, when on Thanks- giving night. 1877, the brick factory took fire, and was totally destroyed, except the bare walls. and these have remained gaping

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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.

ruins ever since. No serious effort has ever been made to revive the industry.

An interesting farmers' institute was held in the court house in Council Bluffs during the first week in January, 1871. The farm- ers of the county seemed to be spurred up to an unwonted interest in their necessary in- dustry, and the movement thus begun cul- minated eventually in the Grange organiza- tions all over the country. Prof. Welsh, of the State Agricultural College at Ames, took an active part in the proceedings of the insti- tute, and its work that session left a healthy influence upon the farmers who were present. That winter, however, was characterized by a serious depression in the wheat markets at this point. It was quoted and sold at 55 cents per bushel, corn realizing 25 cents.

Congress having authorized the holding of two terms of the United States District Court each year at Council Bluffs, the first term was opened by Judge James M. Love, the United States Judge for the district of Iowa, on the 18th of January. Col. W. F. Sapp was Unit- ed States District Attorney, and Gen. George W. Clark, of Des Moines, United States Mar- shal. The court was opened in the court house owned by the county, leased for that purpose, and has been held in that building ever since. Jurisdiction has been added to

by W. R. Vaughan, with D. C. Bloomer as editor. It continued to appear for a year and more, and was then discontinued. Gen. Hammond, in the interests of the St. Louis & Chillicothe Railroad, made his appearance here about the same time, and met the most prominent business men of the city in con- sultation, with reference to inducements to be given him in behalf of the railroad com- pany to establish its machine shops at this point. Nothing ever came of the negotiation, for before the project could be matured and definitely fixed, the franchise of the railroad company passed into other hands, and what- ever opportunity was involved was lost. It is a serious question now whether it was ever possible for Council Bluffs to secure those improvements.

The great Jefferies lottery will not soon be forgotten. Through that Council Bluffs got the benefit of more advertising everywhere than it ever received before. Mr. Jefferies during a long residence in the city had ac- cumulated considerable real estate, among it a handsome new residence. To dispose of it, he organized a vast lottery scheme, and tickets were sold in almost every city and town in the United States. A grand musical festival constituted part of the scheme, and the 22d of February, 1871, was fixed upon as the day the United States District Court thereby giv- : of the drawing and the concert. All the ing it power to try civil causes the same as the United States Circuit Court, and the great bulk of its business is civil causes either originally brought in that court or transferred from the State Courts. The Foreman of the first United States District Court grand jury ever held in Council Bluffs was Thomas Offi- cer, the senior member of the banking house of Officer & Pusey. halls in the city were devoted to the concert, but the drawing did not take place for several weeks later. The whole number of tickets sold was 20,000, at $1 each. The drawing was conducted fairly, and no complaint was heard in that respect. The event was one. however, of intense excitement, and the city was filled with strangers interested in the drawing. The receipts of taxes for school The Northwestern Odd Fellow, a monthly journal or periodical devoted to the interests of that order. was begun in February, 1871, purposes up to the close of the fiscal year in March were $70,360.31, and the expenditures for the year previous, $65,707. 14, of which

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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY

$41,610.62 was devoted to the erection of the high school building.

Council Bluffs, since the destruction of the Young Men's Library by fire, as stated al- ready, felt the want of such an institution. The Odd Fellows of the city had created a library, but this was not accessible to the general public, D. C. Bloomer, A. W. Street, Horace Everett and other enterprising citizens including many ladies, undertook the organ- ization of the Public Library Association. Horace Everett made a liberal donation of books, which formed the nucleus of the col- lection, and this, gradually expanded, often under the most serious difficulties, until it merged into the Free Public Library sustained at public expense, in April, 1882. D. C. Bloomer was again elected Mayor, and F. A. Burke, City Recorder. W. H. M. Pusey was chosen one of the Aldermen from the Fourth Ward, on the direct issue of reform- ing the finances of the city, and elevating the standard of its credit. The Council was fully in harmony with this desire, and that body set earnestly to work to raise the value of city warrants and thus ecomonize the pub- lic expenditures. There were outstanding a large amount of city warrants, for the payment of which there was no cash in the treasury and none in prospect. Some of the earlier issues of city bonds were also maturing, and had to be met. A special election was held in August to determine whether $25,000 should be refunded, and whether the out- standing warrants should be funded. The first proposition carried; the last was de- feated.

The annual Diocesan Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Iowa was held in St. Paul's Church May 30, Bishop Lee pre- siding, and about thirty clergymen also being present. St Patrick's Benevolent Society was also organized about the same time, and

has ever since, under the auspices of the Catholic Church, constituted one of the most admirable and efficient charities of the city. The State Dental Association held its annual meeting at Council Bluffs in June. Some of the sessions were held at the Ogden House, and others in the court room. Dr. E. I. Woodbury was chosen President for the ensu- ing year. During the same month, Rev H. P. Roberts resigned the pastorate of the Con- gregational Church, and was succeeded by the Rev. H. S. De Forest. The Rev. John Chamberlain resigned the rectorship of the St. John's Parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the same month, and in December following the Rev. T. J. Brooks was installed in his stead.

The delegates to the Democratic State Con- vention at Des Moines were J. P. Cassady, Robert Percival, B. F. Montgomery and David Dunkle. The delegates to the Republican State Convention, Capt. C. V. Gardner, A. E. Steinmetz, Leonard Kirscht, Dr. S. H.Craig, L. W. Ross and Eugene A. Street, son of Frank Street. The delegation had been in- structed to urge the nomination of John H. Keatley as the Republican candidate for Lieu- tenant Governor. These instructions were loyally carried out, and by their efforts his name in the balloting, amid five candidates, was second on the list, Dr. Bullis carrying off the nomination by a bare majority. At the fall election, John Beresheim, the Republican candidate for Representative, was elected, and George Doughty. Democratic candidate for Sheriff, over Philip Armour, present Postmas- ter; John W. Chapman, Republican, was re- elected Treasurer over Vigo Badolett, Demo- crat.

Bock's Garden, attached to Bock's Brewery, on Pierce street, and Horn's Park, west of the North-Western depot, were during this summer favorite Sunday resorts. Mr. Bloon-

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History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing a history from the earliest settlement to the present time biographical sketches; portraits of some of the early settlers, prominent men, etc., Part 27

Author: Keatley, John H; O.L. Baskin & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 648

Author: Keatley, John H; O.L. Baskin & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 648