USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 4
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He caused it to be improved by taking out the antiquated machinery, adding another story and storage room, besides installing the roller system. It was conducted under this management until the last few years. when Mr. Iloffmayr retired, since which time it has remained idle. Lately the machinery has been removed and the building condemned. And so a vener- able land mark of half a century must give way to something modern. But this applies to all of us as well as to inanimate things.
During this year J. M. Palmer built a three-story brick block of four store rooms on the northwest corner of Broadway and Scott street that for many years was the home of the Nonpareil. L. W. Babbitt also built a three-story block adjoining the Phoenix on the west, and the Hagg brothers a two-story one a half square farther west. In the second story of this build- ing one or two terms of the district court was held. after abandoning the old log one on First street, and later, one term was held by Judge Lynch, of which more will be related hereafter.
During this summer a finely uniformed military company was organ- ized, called the Council Bluffs Guards, with G. M. Dodge for captain, but he being absent, so much of his time being taken up in surveying. the com- mand devolved upon Lieutenants Craig and Dunn. A brass band was also formed and instructed by C. C. Kuhn. Its construction was substantially as follows: E flat bugle, - Whitaker: E flat saxhorns, N. T. Spoor and D. W. Griffey; B flat, Conductor C. C. Kuhn and C. E. Haggerty; E flat alto. G. F. Smith; B flat trombone, Sidney Smith : B flat bass, James Orton ; E flat tuba. John Huntington ; snare drum. Dr. Alex Shoemaker; bass drum and cymbals, Samuel Perrin. During the summer they made such progress that they could render plain music in a creditable manner.
Sioux City was now forging to the front and boats were frequently pass- ing up. and during the latter part of summer, arrangements were made with the captain of the -teamer Emmigrant, that was bound up for that place. to take on a large excursion party of Council Bluffs and Omaha people. and the band by invitation went along. and played at landing places as customary. The boat landed at the Omaha ageney and laid up for the night.
The music of the band. as it played from the boiler deck, was a revela- tion to the Indians.
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COUNCIL BLUFFS IN 1853.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
. I'M AND TID . F . 4 105.
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IIISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
During the evening there was a dance in the cabin and many Indians came down and looked on. One buck that appeared to admire one of the beautiful ladies, on being asked how much he would give for the white squaw. He answered quickly, "Four Horses." But as no one seemed authorized to act, the trade was not consummated. We were royally welcomed at Sioux City, this being the first appearance of a band this far up, unless there were some at the forts above.
It would be interesting to know how many of that party are living to-day. So far as the band is concerned, it is known Captain N. T. Spoor, of St. Louis, is the only one. Ile was with us at the last reunion of the Army of the Tennessee, and although his hair is white as snow, his face is as kindly as ever.
It will be remembered that up to this time banks of issue were not per- mitted in Iowa, but there were kindly disposed men on this side of the river as well as on the Nebraska side that were too generous to see ns struggling along without money, and accordingly they proceeded to establish banks at every steamboat landing on the west side. The reader will bear in mind these places were cities, there being no towns or villages at this date. These banks issued most beautifully engraved notes, and they went like hot cakes, circulated freely, and like all new banks were on a strictly sound basis, so we had plenty of money and as a result good times. The summer of 1856 was pretty dry and warm, but the crops were good, and we were a happy people.
The winter set in in dead earnest December 1 with a fifty-hour blizzard and when it subsided there was probably three feet of snow where it was not drifted. Many of the fenees were covered, and quite a while was re- quired to get the roads opened, and then another would follow. On the 18th of January, 1857, the mercury reached thirty-ix below zero. The hardest job was to get wood, that being the only fuel.
Mr. G. A. Slocum. of what is now Belknap township, in describing the severity of the storm and extent of the drifting. stated that he had a small flock of sheep that were missing after the storm had subsided, and after about a week, seeing some steam coming up from a huge drift, that had entirely filled a deep ravine, he began investigating, and found his sheep. They had huddled together and tramped the snow down, but the drifting formed a complete cover, and they were eating each other's wool, but were otherwise all right.
But for the known resemblance of the relator to George Washington, this might be doubted. However, a person was justifiable in believing anything of that winter. It gave us a farewell benefit April 18, 1857, with eight inches of snow and two degrees below zero, and all severe winters since have been by old settlers measured by that.
When spring came at last and boats began to arrive, business began to look up. Immigration was coming in, though not as rapidly as in the pre- ceding spring. Boats were arriving almost daily during the summer with large stocks of goods. Building commenced in good earnest, railroads were headed this way and all seemed lovely. In the meantime the surrounding.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
country was being settled, but had not got to raising produce sufficient for home consumption, let alone to ship, consequently, the gold and silver was gradually being drained away, and the pretty notes of the Nebraska banks came in to fill the vacuum and for a time all went well. Among the im- provements started during the summer were what is still known as the James block, on the southeast corner of Main and Broadway. by Judge W. C. James and Milton Rogers, a large public hall by J. M. Palmer, a large hotel near the present pumping station called the River house, and a large brick hotel - where the Congregational church now stands. These last two were started by companies with the view of bringing city lots adjacent to them into the market.
The River house was completed and opened with a grand ball, but was not a success, as persons going west would cross to Omaha, and those going east would keep on up town. It was a frame, and after standing useless for a year or two it was moved up town and used as a public schoolhouse, and finally the River house was built in front, and it still forms the rear of that hostelry. While the big hotel, the walls of which had risen four stories, was torn down and the material used in other buildings later on. Work on the James block and concert hall was suspended, and all owing to a money panie in the cast, that kept on and struck us early in the fall. Our cherished Nebraska bills dropped out of sight and we waked up one morning and discovered we had no money, and the people on the other side of the river were in no better condition. Thomas HI. Benton, of banking house of Green, Ware & Benton. had built a large dwelling in Glendale. It was not quite com- pleted, but he moved into it on Saturday, and on the following Monday the bank failed to open, but he had availed himself of the benefit of the home- stead law. We were all in the same boat and had to make the best of it. Merchants struggled to accommodate their customers, issued pasteboard chips good for ten, twenty-five and fifty cents, took what the farmers had to sell, while they went ragged and burnt ten-cent corn for fuel.
This condition could not last long. however. The ten-cent corn was raising lots of cattle and hogs, and the following spring. when Johnson's army was preparing for the Utah campaign, buyers arrived and money began to reappear, and bridged us over until a year later, when the Pikes Peak excitement filled the valleys with campers, buying supplies and waiting for the grass to grow before starting. We had no immense packing houses, but the merchants had been buying the dressed hogs of the farmers, and packed and cured, and having their cellars and warehouses full. were in pretty good shape, and this was the beginning of the large packing business that developed later on.
At the spring election for city officers, to serve for the year 1858-9, the following persons were elected: Mayor, J. Smith Hooten: recorder. Frank Street ; treasurer, C. W. Boyer; city engineer, Sammel Perrin; attorney. C. E. Stone: marshal, C. W. Bryant : aldermen. Henry Allen, Dudley S. Nye. T. P. Treynor. J. P. Casady. Addison Cochran. J. B. Lewis, D. W. Carpenter. Benedict lagg. Milton Rogers and Alex Shoemaker.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
This was not strictly a party victory, although the head of the ticket and half the aldermen were democratic. The balance were about equally divided between democrats, whigs and republicans-for, although the whig party had been dead since 1852. it still struggled for recognition.
During this summer a man appeared that has, during his life, donc more for the cause of music here than any one that preceded or has followed him. This was Joseph Mueller. He had fled from Germany on account of being connected with some revolutionary movement. He was without money or friends, and with little knowledge of our language. but an indomitable worker. He pitched into the first work he could find to do, which was that of sawing wood. While engaged in this at the home of William Folsom, the father of Amelia, afterwards Mrs. Brigham Young, he heard her and some of her young lady friends playing the piano in the parlor, and his quick ear detected an error in the playing. He stepped to the door and said: "Skuse me, ladies, you make some ledle mistake. Shall I show you?" Certainly, they said, anticipating some amusement. as he. in his rough clothes, seated himself at the piano. After showing them the proper rendi- tion of the passage, he could not resist the impulse to let himself out on some heavy work, and their amusement was turned to astonishment, and his career as a wood sawyer was elosed.
He soon had all the pupils the few pianos in town could accommodate, besides giving vocal instruction, organizing choruses and giving concerts.
During the spring of this year the Templeton troupe, a dramatic con- pany. appeared and played a month to good houses. They were the first to play Camille. East Lynne, The Stranger, etc.
Previous to this we had dramatic performances by home talent, but this seemed tame after seeing the real thing once more.
During the year 1858 Charles H. Stephan started a brewery a few doors east of where the Ogden house now stands. This seems to have been about the first manufacturing after the City and Wicks mills. This was followed the next year by one established at the angle of East Pierce street, where the new residence of Oscar Keeline is being built. by Nicholas Hagg, one of three brothers of that name. They were bachelors, and two of them died, leaving Benediet, the third brother, sole heir to the estate, which included a large amount of property besides the brewery, and thereby hangs quite a. romance. It appears that a young German named Charles Bock and a young woman named Louise Geise were engaged to be married, but for some reason the engagement was broken off. Mr. Hagg wooed and married Miss Geise, and Mr. Boek (Charlie, as they all called him) also married. In three or four years Mr. Hagg died, as also did Mrs. Bock. and in due time the old love revived and Charlie and Louise were married and lived happily, with a plentiful share of this world's goods.
During the summer and fall of 1858 marvelous stories were circulating of the discovery of gold in Colorado, which culminated in what was called the Pikes Peak excitement. which. in the following spring. filled our valleys with campers, and resembled the California emigration, ten years earlier. During the summer, however, conflicting reports came back denying the 1
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
finding of gold, and for a time the return tide became so strong that the column going west became discouraged, and turning about, joined the re- treating host, some declaring the whole thing to be a scheme gotten up by the Missouri river towns in order to sell supplies to the emigrants, and threats were even made to burn this city and Omaha in revenge. There was prob- ably no great danger of their doing this, still it was thought prudent to be prepared, and accordingly the Council Bluffs Guards were ordered, and held themselves in readiness to act if the emergency required. Fortunately, the reports came more and more favorable until all doubt was removed, and the great stream flowing west became permanent, as the reader will observe, with the wonderful result of founding a great state, with populous and wealthy cities, all within the life of one generation. Among those first in the push were many from Pottawattamie county, and among these was Henry Allen, ex-postmaster of Council Bluffs, who took his family along, and one of his daughters and Mr. J. B. Atkins had the distinction of being the first couple married in what is now the great city of Denver.
At this time it was only a mining camp, with no one authorized to issue license, but a preacher was found and the ceremony performed, which bound the couple until death separated them in 1905, by removing Mr. Atkins, who had been a prominent and honorable citizen, as well as a Mason of high standing in that order. Mrs. Atkins is still with us, beloved by a large circle of friends.
The opening up of this vast mining region made a demand for provis- ions of all kinds, as well as for the necessary implements for working the mines, and as a result long ox teams were constantly moving as long as the grass on the plains lasted, and the Platte valley was the great natural route.
A company was formed in the Bluffs, consisting of John T. Baldwin, G. M. Dodge, B. R. Pegram and John Warner, who engaged largely in the business. They bought the City mill and kept it running to its full capacity in furnishing flour. Thus the Utah, California and Pikes Peak route paved the way for the greater enterprise to come later.
The opening up of the mines in Colorado was the cause of the establish- ment of one of the first manufacturing industries here, as Charles Hendrie, who was largely engaged in manufacturing mining machinery at Burling- ton, came and built quite extensive works on the corner of Main and Ninth streets, where he and his son, and son-in-law, Mr. Corey, whom he had taken into partnership, did an extensive business for years, until finding it to their interest to get nearer their customers, finally moved their plant to Denver.
During all this time political feeling was becoming more and more in- tense. The failure of the south to establish slavery in Kansas created a bitter feeling in that section, in faet, the southern people felt that they had been betrayed, while the great republican party was growing rapidly through the north, and on looking back from this long distance, we can see that the "Irrepressible Conflict" was already on. As for our locality, the democratic party was largely in the majority, and Douglas was the idol. even as Bryan became forty years later.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
The republican party in Pottawattamie county was small, but in deadly earnest. It was during this time that Lincoln visited Council Bluffs.
From this long distance we can look back and see conditions as they actually were, and it appears now that the great tragedy was unavoidable.
Previous to this, the poliey had been to admit states so as to keep them about equally divided on the slavery issue, but now the preponderance of the free states, both in population and wealth, became so marked as to cause the slaveholders to fear for the safety of their peculiar institution. In addi- tion to this, about this time, two books appeared that produced a wonderful effect on the minds of the southern people and probably hastened the great struggle. The one being Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and the "Impending Crisis," by Rowan Ilinton Helper. and although some of our ablest statesmen strove to effect compromise measures, as in the days of Clay, their efforts were in vain, and freedom or slavery became the "para- mount issue," and as the history of this greatest of modern wars has been written by much abler hands, we shall, at the proper time, endeavor to record only the part enacted by those of our county.
In the meantime men of note were coming among us, and among them was one we take special pleasure in remembering, viz., Judge Caleb Baldwin. He was a giant, both in intellect and body, and modest as a woman. Soon after coming here he was made city attorney, and in 1859 was elected to the bench of the supreme court of Iowa, and by due process of law became chief justice of that court. In 1865 he was appointed United States attorney for the district of Iowa. He was also mayor of the city during 1866-67, and afterwards formed a law partnership with George F. Wright, which lasted until his death in the winter of 1876.
After the treaty of Washington was ratified and the Geneva conven- tion had determined the award to be paid by Great Britain for spoliation by their privateers, Judge Baldwin was appointed one of the commissioners to distribute the award. Socially. he was one of the most companionable of men and loved fun like a boy, and, notwithstanding his great size, he was active as most men of medium build. Being six feet and six inches tall and weighing four hundred pounds, he was always conspicuous.
To illustrate his physical strength wo will relate a little incident that occurred when he was in his prime. Mr. Pusey and Dr. Honn, both men of over two hundred pounds weight, were standing in front of Officer and Pusey's bank, and one of them dropped a half dollar. and they were scuffling to get it. Just then the judge came along and saying. "Boys, you must not be quarreling on the street," picked up one under each arm and carried them down the street, their feet sticking out behind like a pair of five-year- old kids. Ilis mantle seems to have fallen upon his son, John N., who was born and reared in this city, and graduated at the old high school on the hill, and has made for himself a national reputation as a lawyer.
At the regular spring city election on the 14th of March. 1859. George Doughty was elected mayor, Cornelius Voorhis, recorder. and J. C. Fargo, marshal. J. B. Lewis. G. M. Dodge, J. W. Damon, S. N. Porterfield, T.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
P. Treynor. H. H. Oberholtzer. John Hammer and D. W. Carpenter were elected aldermen, and Frank Street was made city attorney.
At this time John H. Sherman was county judge, and complaints became general that graft had entered that office by the corrupt issuance of county warrants. A committee was appointed to examine the affairs of his office, with the result that he was indicted by the grand jury on the 18th of February, and at the August term of the district court was convicted and removed from office. So corrupt had affairs become that county warrants were only worth thirty-five to forty cents on the dollar, and about all the county had to show for its outlay were some bridges, constructed of poles and slabs, across the little creek- by a favorite contractor at any price he saw fit to name. J. P. Casady was appointed to fill the vacancy, but it took a long time to get to a cash basis.
During this summer and fall Council Bluffs was visited by a number of eminent men, chief among whom was AAbraham Lincoln. He was ac- companied by Judge Test, of Indiana, and both addressed a large audience at Concert Hall, and later in the same hall General A. C. Dodge and T. J. Kirkwood, candidates for governor, held a joint debate. The democrats also had a barbecue and mass meeting, and were addressed by the eccentric but eloquent Henry Clay Dean and Chester C. Cole. All parties were pre- paring for the great event to transpire a year later.
Owing to the tardiness with which the railroads were approaching from the cast, people began to look south with a view of connecting with the Han- nibal & St. Joseph Railroad, which had already reached the latter city. On the 9th of November a vast concourse of our people turned out to witness the breaking ground in the construction of the St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad, and in the evening a large meeting in Concert Ilall was addressed by Colonel Sam Black. territorial governor of Nebraska, and Colonel Pea- body. chief engineer of the company. So thoroughly waked up were our people in the matter that a special election, held on the 8th of December, the proposition to subscribe $25.000 of the city was carried by a large ma- jority, and at a special county election, held on the 15th of February, 1860, the measure was supplemented by the transfer of the proceeds of the sale of -wamp lands to the same use to the amount of $40,000. The county held this stock for several years and finally made an absolute donation of the stock to the men in control of the company.
At the regular fall election Judge S. II. Riddle was elected representa- tive, Dr. S. 11. Craig, sheriff, and J. B. Rue, county superintendent of schools. At the annual city election, held on March 12, 1850. L. W. Babbitt was elected mayor. T. P. Treynor was elected city recorder for the second term, Perry Smith, marshal. and the following named persons were elected alder- men, to-wit: J. B. Lewis, John Jones, Milton Rogers. W. L. Biggs, Addison Cochran and D. W. Carpenter.
During the summer of 1860 the two great parties became very active, and, as before stated. Dougla- was the idol of the great mass of the Demo- crats. Thi- applied here in Pottawattamie county a- well as elsewhere, and.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
although a few old time whigs remained and chung to the old time prin- ciples of that party. they were not numerous enough to effect results, and in like manner, there was a small party to whom Douglas was not accep- table. This condition seemed to be general throughout the north.
The nomination of Lincoln struck a popular chord. He was a man of the common people, was hailed as the rail-splitter, and his logic seemed to have the effect of splitting the democratic party.
Although it was openly declared by the pro-slavery element that a dis- solution of the Union would follow in the event of the republican party coming into power, the great ma-s of the people were loath to believe it.
The political campaign of 1860 resembled the hard cider and log cabin campaign of 1840. Both of the leading parties were provided with speakers of great ability, and torch-light processions, stump-speaking and brass bands were the order of the day. Pottawattamie county had local talent of a high order in both parties. The republicans had their Wide-awake and Rail- splitting organizations, and the democrats their Little Giant clubs, and as for speakers, there was no lack. D. C. Bloomer, C. E. Stone, W. H. Kins- man and Frank Street were always available for a republican rally. while Captain Price, Colonel Babbitt, W. G. Crawford and J. C. Turk were equally qualified to entertain the democrats, while the brass band, whose mimbers were about equally divided politically, caught them "comin' and goin'."
During the summer the city became infested with what the president calle "undesirable citizens." One in particular named Phil McGuire, a pow- erful man. whose headquarters were about the Ocean Wave saloon, had made himself obnoxious in many ways, was finally located with some stolen mules belonging to John Jones in a temporary camp in the timber on the river bottom. Ile was found one morning hanging on a walnut tree on the western slope of the hill below Fairview cemetery. The coroner was not in the city, and he remained there all that day and the following night, and probably a thousand persons went up to "view the remains." A card was pinned to his coat collar on which was written, "Hung for all manner of rascality."
The coroner not returning, Justice Biggs. acting as coroner, had a jury summoned and held an inquest. Not being able to find any clue as to who were responsible, the jury returned their verdict, as follows: We. the jury. find that the deceased came to his death at the hands of persons unknown to the jury.
The inquest being over, the coroner proceeded to administer on the estate. On the person of the deceased was found a pocket knife, a pair of thimbles for playing the thimble game, a brass medal with chain attached, and a one dollar bill.
AA bystander suggested that the coroner and three jurors play a four- handed game of seven-up for the dollar, alleging that there was a precedent for it in scripture. This was overruled by the coroner, and the order was made giving the knife to one juror, the chain to one. the thimbles to a third, and the medal to the constable, providing they would accept them in full
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