USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 6
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The draft took some curious freaks. For instance, it took ten men out of the first ward, and two out of the block where it was conducted. It was no respecter of persons. It caught A. J. Bell. our representative in the legis- lature, and it took Charles, son of L. W. Babbitt, editor of the Bugle.
People supposed he would put in a substitute, but he declared he was able to do his own fighting and went, and ever since has been fighting for the government right in the city of Washington. In looking back to those exciting times, it is pleasing to remember that through it all moderation prevailed, and at no time was violence resorted to. In fact, some of the best friends of the writer were what were at that time called Copperheads.
The most trying time was on receipt of the news of the assassination of Lincoln. Even then, although there were a few cases of rudeness, modera- tion prevailed and nothing approached violence.
During the winter of 1864-5 fairs and festivals were held and quite large sums of money were raised to assist the families of the soldiers.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
EARLY AFFAIRS.
At the January. 1855, meeting of the board of supervisors E. MeBride was elected chairman : A. E. Clarendon was appointed county superintendent to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of L. S. Axtel. At the city election N. S. Bates was elected mayor. T. P. Treynor, recorder, HI. P. Warren. treasurer, and A. J. Bump, marshal; H. H. Field, Richard Rogers, C. P. Johnson, J. M. Phillips, Thomas Jeffries and John Hammer, aldermen. At the spring school election a four-room brick school building was author- ized on the ground now occupied by the Bloomer school. At that time it was thought to be ample but was soon outgrown, but did duty until 1880, when it was supplanted by the present nine-room structure. This was mis- named the Bloomer.
The old High School building should have been named for him, as it became a religion with him to get it placed there, and it became a subject of contention ever after and at this day it stands idle, representing $100,000. "with none so poor to do it reverence."
On the 15th of April came the dispatch announcing the assassination of Lincoln, and for a time we were almost dazed. Business was suspended. meetings were called and resolutions passed condemning it, even by those whose teachings for years had led up to it.
A few persons who had openly been in sympathy with the rebellion were notified to leave by self-constituted committees, but. a- before stated, there was no actual violence.
Many persons feared that disbanding so many soldiers at the close of the war might result in lawlessness, but the million of trained soldiers re- turned to civil pursuits with the same alacrity that they came to the front when needed.
At the June meeting of the board of supervisors Sheriff Voorhis resigned and H. II. Field was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In August the Council Bluff's branch of the State Bank of Iowa was transformed into the First National Bank of Council Bluffs, with Captain A. L. Deming as president and More> H. Deming as cashier.
September 21 was set apart by the citizens as a testimonial to the men who had gone into the military service and returned at the close of the war to resume their peaceful avocations. The testimonial was in the shape of a banquet, and all the citizens vied with each other in thus expressing their gratitude to the men who had so cheerfully done their duty.
At the fall election Colonel W. F. Sapp was elected to the state legisla- ture. Thomas Tostevin. county treasurer, and I1. 11. Field, sheriff.
In the latter part of November ground was broken on the west side of the river in commencing the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, and many went over from Council Bluffs to participate in the exercises, which consisted in throwing a few shovels of earth, when all adjourned to the Ilern- don Hotel to a banquet, after which speeches by eminent men were listened to and all concluding with a dance in which the elite of both cities partici- pated.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
After the burning of Concert Hall, there was no suitable room in the city for any public assembly and in the fall of 1865 Henry Burhop made the excavation preparatory to erecting a fine hall, but could get only brick for the cellar walls until the following spring when it was hurried to completion. It was 42x80 feet, with two ante-rooms. It was well adapted for balls, lec- tures and dramatic performances. Bayard Taylor was the first person of note to occupy the platform. It immediately became in great demand. Terms of the district court were held in the day time and balls at night, and church services on Sunday, while the bar on the ground floor did duty all the time.
During the winter of 1866-7 it was used constantly as a theatre, and as good plays were presented there as have been at any time since.
In January. 1866. the move to Imild a courthouse took active shape. A committee of the board of supervisors reported a plan and estimates, and the site where the courthouse now stands was purchased at a cost of $3.500. A committee consisting of Thos. Officer, J. M. Phillips and William Ward was appointed to let the contract and supervise the construction of the court- house. On the 13th of January, 1866. the contract was let according to plans and specifications prepared by William Ward, the architect, to John Hammer and F. T. C. Jolmson. contractors and builders, the cost not to exceed $42.000, bonds of the county having been authorized to meet the cost. The work progressed so that it was enclosed and the jail, which was in the basement, fitted up and offices on the first floor completed, but the court room was not finished until the winter of 1868, when it was formally opened with a ban- quet given by the contractors, and at last the Goddess of Justice had a temple of her own.
During this time a two-room brick schoolhouse had been built on the Washington avenue grounds. as had also been the Presbyterian Church on the corner of Seventh street and Willow avenue.
The pastor, Rev. James H. Clark. had held revival meetings during the winter and succeeded in getting a large addition to its membership. among whom were a number of the most prominent men of the city, when his con- gregation was shocked and humiliated to learn that he was guilty of gross immorality. and he was promptly dismissed.
Railroad building that had been suspended during the war was now resumed. The old contracts for construction of the St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad were surrendered and a new one entered into with Henry W. Phelps, of Massachusetts. for the completion of the road by January 1, 1867, and all the stock in the company held by the city and county was transferred to Willis Phelps, as one of the inducements to a resumption of the work, and under this arrangement work was vigorously resumed. A loco- motive (the Wahbonsy) was brought by steamer and landed at St. Marys, twelve miles below the city, and put to construction work and was the first to enter the city. but the connection was not made so as to form a through line until the following spring, while the Cedar Rapids or Northwestern entered as per agreement before the first of January. 1867. making the first through line. Colonel H. C. Nutt now entered into the business of trans-
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
ferring the freight destined for the west. This was all-important, as the Union Pacific was dependent upon it for the material for its own construc- tion. A temporary bridge was constructed by piling through the ice over which traffic was maintained until the ice bridge went out and a car ferry was established, which was continued until completion of the bridge.
While matters were being pushed in this locality, people were not idle "up town." The rivalry before mentioned still existed between the two sec- tions, and believing a good hotel would assist in holding trade it was deter- mined to ereet one, and after conferring as to location, that of the old City Hotel was agreed upon and finally William Garner, Charles Baughn and John Hammer agreed with a committee to build a hotel according to plans and specifications submitted by the architect (Cook), providing the committee would raise $10,000, which was done by subscription, and the Ogden House was launched.
After the dismissal of Rev. James H. Clark, the Rev. Thomas H. Cleland was called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church and. after the usual trial, was duly installed and remained as such pastor until May, 1882, when he resigned to take the pulpit of Westminster Presbyterian Church, of Keokuk, Iowa.
The old Ocean Wave saloon, having been on the decline since the palmy days of the California and Pikes Peak emigration, was at last struck by lightning and burned to the ground. Many of the good people thought it a good opportunity to get even with the Devil by erecting a church on its ruins. This was accompli-hed by Rev. Joseph Knotts, backed and assisted by the active members of the Methodist Church, and a pretty fair church was erected and, although defective architecturally speaking, it did duty until supplanted by the present larger and more elaborate structure.
In January, 1866, L. W. Babbitt sold the Bugle to W. T. Giles, of Free- port, Ill., who conducted the paper until October. 1867, when he resold it to Colonel Babbitt and returned to Illinois.
A change also took place in the management of the Nonpareil by W. S. Burke retiring December 26, 1868, and W. W. Maynard and J. W. Chapman taking control, the former being the editor and the latter manager. Several other changes were made from this time until 1870, when the other interests were absorbed by Mr. Chapman, then county treasurer. Tho -. P. Treynor and Spencer Smith, and was incorporated as the Nonpareil Printing Company and under that name continued to do business for many years.
Up to this time the state had been using temporary quarters at Iowa City in maintaining an Institute for the Deaf. Colonel Sapp, as a member of the House from this county, backed by leading citizens, secured a pre- liminary appropriation for the erection of suitable buildings for such an institute at Council Bluffs.
During this year Thomas C. Durant, vice-president of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, on behalf of himself and other members of the company, purchased a large body of land in the western part of the eity to be used for railroad purposes, and on which were later constructed their terminal depot and transfer grounds, round houses, car sheds. etc.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
At the spring election of 1867 Judge Frank Street was elected mayor, his opponent being L. W. Babbitt, and A. J. Bump was again elected mar- shal.
On the 24th of June the Empire block was destroyed by fire. There was no fire department at that time and nothing could be done to save the prop- erty. The loss was fully $100,000. The type, press and material of the Nonpareil were totally destroyed, as well as the young men's library.
On May 3 a new democratic newspaper was launched, called the Daily Demoerat, under the management of Alf S. Kierolf & Co. Mr. Kierolf was a sensational political writer, after the manner of Brick Pomeroy, with the result that a bitter rivalry sprang up between his paper and the Bugle that nearly disrupted the party.
The annual election for city officers was held on the 10th of March, and resulted in the choice of Thomas Tostevin for mayor. The school election was held on the same day and Mr. Bloomer was again chosen president of the school board.
A special elcetion was held on the 25th day of June, appropriating $20,000 of the $60,000 loan for the purpose of purchasing a steam fire engine. A Silsbe steamer was purchased, and Bluff City Engine Company organized to manage the steamer. An engine house was erected in the rear of the City building on Glen avenue, and the steamer arrived on the 17th of September. F. T. C. Johnson was made chief and Council Bluffs became for the first time possessed of a fire department.
Among the new enterprises was the establishment of a German news- paper, which first saw the light as the Frei Presse under the direction of Messrs. Wenbore and Worden in September. For a time it was prosperous, being patronized by the business men of the city and the German farmers of Pottawattamie and Mills counties. It changed hands with varying success until in 1880 it passed into the hands of a man by the name of Peiffer, who conducted it ably and placed it on a paying basis.
The summer of 1868 was a very active one. The location of the Union Pacific bridge, after thorough soundings had been made for quite a distance along the river, was finally fixed by General Dodge, chief engineer, at the point which it now occupies, and in consideration of this and location of proper depot and terminal facilities, the city agreed to donate its bonds to the amount of $205,000.
During this year the building known as Bloom's hall was crected by Gen- eral Dodge and Solomon Bloom, the third story of which was a hall 50x100 feet, with a stage across the Main street end. This was a popular place for lectures, concerts, balls and dramatic performances for many years.
July, 1868, marked the completion of the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Railroad. This connecting with the Hannibal & St. Joseph gave us another outlet to the east. During this year efforts were made to advance and im- prove the public schools. Professor Adam Armstrong, a graduate of Spring- field (Ohio) College, was employed as city superintendent and a graded sys- tem established. During this summer the Sixth street schoolhouse was built, being the sixth briek schoolhouse.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
The summer of 1868 was an extremely lively one. On the 30th of July General Grant, candidate for president, accompanied by Generals Sherman and Sheridan, who had been on a visit to military posts, came to the city on their way east, and, having an hour or two before the St. Joseph train was to leave, they took a spin through the city and down to the depot, where they were met by a large crowd anxious to pay their respeets, regardless of party feeling.
As the season advanced political excitement increased. Farmers' clubs were organized by the republicans and Seymour clubs by the democrats, who held their meetings in Burhop's Hall.
A large amount of building was done during this summer, among which were three large store rooms belonging to Mr. Keller, J. M. Phillips and Mrs. Knepper, on the south side of Broadway, between Main and Fourth streets; also the three-story brick on the southwest corner of Main and Broadway now the First National Bank. Conrad Geise erected a large brewery, but did not commence brewing until the spring of 1869.
As the time of the election drew near the enthusiasm increased until it resembled, if not excelled, the log cabin campaign of 1840.
It culminated October 22. so far as the republican party was concerned. in a grand rally to which the people of the entire county were invited and consisted of a big dinner served continuously from 10 a. m. to 10 p. m. and a grand procession. The dinner was served in the three new buildings just erected by Mrs. Knepper and Messrs. Keller and Phillips, each having two tables their entire length kept loaded with substantials that had been donated from all parts of the county until their storage room resembled a commis- sary's store for an army. At the same time C. L. D. Crockwell was installed in an adjacent building with a sugar boiler making coffee, of which fifteen barrels were consumed.
An arch spanned Broadway at the angle where the Hamilton shoe store now is, on the supporting columns of which the names of soldiers of the county who had lost their lives in the war were inscribed, while on the arch itself were many of those of the state, and in the center of which was that of Lincoln. The tables were served by a committee of a hundred men and a like number of women. divided into reliefs, each of which served two hours.
At one o'clock a grand procession was formed, with Colonel W. F. Sapp as marshal with a large detail of mounted aides. In the column nearly every institution was represented-the army by returned veterans, the navy by a gunboat, manned, and discharging rockets; the several states by girls dressed in white, with blue and red trimmings; mothers and wives of deceased sol- diers in carriages. Some features were beautiful, others comical. Among the latter was that of Grant's tannery. designed and conducted by Captain J. P. Williams, in which were hanging dressed hides of leather representing Lee, Buckner and Pemberton, while opposite hung the green hides of Seymour and Blair waiting their turn to be tanned.
As the long column uncovered in passing under the arch the effect was impressive, and not easily forgotten. In the evening the pageant was repeated, to which was added a monitor and a large delegation from Omaha
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
with a gunboat and brass band. On the whole this far excelled any political demonstration pulled off here, before or since.
During this year the old Dohany Opera House was built, being the upper story of a livery barn and, although the odor arising from the stable became pretty strong at times, it was for years the most popular hall in the city. Among the celebrities that have appeared on its stage were Ole Bull, Janausheek, Remenyi. Camille Urso, Henry Ward Beecher, Victoria Wood- hull, Clara Louise and Fanny Kellogg, R. J. Ingersoll, and a host of others. The old building is still standing, but its glory has long since departed.
During this year Conrad Geise erected a brewery on the north side of Upper Broadway, but did not commence the business until the spring of 1809.
The city having purchased an engine and a fire company having been organized, it became necessary to have water, and the plan was adopted of constructing immense cisterus at intervals along the business streets and filling them from Indian creek, using the steamer for this purpose, as well as ex- hausting them in time of fire.
At the city election on the first Monday in April, D. C. Bloomer was elected mayor, F. A. Burke recorder, Mr. Treynor having been appointed postmaster by President Grant. J. B. Lewis, John T. Oliver, J. B. Atkins, L. L. Spooner, John Huntington and L. W. Babbitt were elected alder- men.
A new code of ordinances was prepared under the supervision of L. W. Ross, but not published until 1870.
On the 2d day of February an ordinance was approved granting to Wm. Cones and associates, acting under the style and title of the Council Bluffs Gas Light Company, the exclusive franchise for lighting the city with gas for a period of twenty years.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad having obtained the right-of-way of the M. & M., had steadily approached the Bluffs, and as it became known that the first train would enter on the 12th of May, it was decided to connnemorate the event by laying the corner-stone of the Ogden House, for which preparation had been made. A great concourse of citizens, with the fire company, civic societies, band and artillery squad with gun, repaired to the grounds, where a temporary depot had been erected, and as the train pulled in it was given a royal welcome, being the third railroad to enter the city. From here they repaired to the site of the Ogden founda- tion, where Mayor Bloomer proceeded with the ceremony of laying the corner stone, and the festivities concluded with a ball that evening at the Pacific house attended by the elite of the city.
During this summer a two-room addition was added to the Washington avenue schoolhouse at a cost of $6,000.
On the 13th of May, Council Bluffs Lodge No. 49 occupied their new hall in the third story of the new building on the southwest corner of Broad- way and Main streets.
On the first of July a publie installation of its officers took place at Bloom's Hall, the exercises being conducted by Grand Master William Sharpe, of Ottumwa.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
Humboldt Lodge No. 174 was organized in October, 1869, and Hawkeye Lodge No. 184, a lodge in English, was instituted.
Twin Brother Encampment was chartered October 20 and duly instituted.
At the fall election John Beresheim, republican, was elected to the leg- islature over his democratic opponent, Robert Pereival, and John W. Chap- man, republican, was elected county treasurer.
A beginning was made on the state school for the deaf during '68, but no great amount of work was done until 1869. William R. Craig, of Nebraska. City, had the contract and pushed the work, the east wing and center being first completed. William Ward. of the Bluffs, was supervising architect. The plans were altered so as to involve greater expense than was provided by the appropriation, and when the contractor came to obtain his pay, he was con- fronted with the objection that the changes were not authorized. He was subjected to lawsuits by subcontractors and for material furnished, and finan- cially ruined.
Finally the legislature in 1878 made an appropriation that enabled him to extricate himself from debt. The ninety-six acres on which the insti- tution stands was purchased by the citizens and donated to the state as an inducement to locate the institution at this point, and no finer site could have been selected. A more complete history of the institution will be found under the head of The Iowa School for the Deaf.
The first street railway was licensed early in '69 and the track finished from First street west on Broadway to the river by the first of December, where it connected with the ferry. It remained and was operated here until the great bridge was completed, when it was changed to run to the transfer grounds along Union avenue. The car, were small and drawn by mules.
Masonry was in a flourishing condition at this time. Excelsior Lodge was instituted in the winter of '68-9, and Star Chapter about the same time.
In December. 1869, Ivanhoe Commandery of Knights Templar was organized.
The great social event of the winter was the opening of the Ogden House. It was finished and on the 22d of December opened with a banquet attended by nearly a thousand guests. It was the finest hotel at that time between Chicago and San Francisco. After a bounteous supper, toasts and responses, dancing, in which between four and five hundred couples of the elite of all nearby cities participated, was conducted in three different halls, and the like has not been seen here since.
On the 4th of December the fourth railroad, being that of the Chicago, Burlington & Missouri River, entered the city by forming a junction with the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph at Paeifie Junction and running in on its track.
The Daily Times office at this time was located in one of the small buildings near where MeGee's real estate office now is, and two of the printers employed there had a quarrel. The name of one was Austin, and the other Bell. It appeared that Austin, being drunk, was renewing a quarrel that had been patched up. and he was approaching Bell. when the latter shot
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
Austin straight in the forehead. This was on the sidewalk. Austin fell and was carried into an adjoining room, where he lay in a comatose state, breathing heavily. Doctors were called and they probed the wound, endeav- oring to locate the bullet, without success. To the surprise of all, he rallied, went about and conversed with friends, apparently without suffering until the fifth day after the shooting, when he rapidly sank, and died June 25. Bell was tried at the July term of the district court, and was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years, but was pardoned after serving two.
During the trial, the defense tried to make it appear that the probing by the doctors was as likely to have caused his death as the shooting. Experts were examined. among them Dr. Malcom. On his coming out of the court room he was asked what they were trying to prove by him. He replied : "They are trying to prove he was killed in the post mortem examination."
The first Unitarian church was organized this year, with Rev. Mr. Cham- berlain as pastor. The brick carpenter shop of G. F. Smith was purchased and fitted up into a very neat chapel and flourished for a year or two, but interest lagged and it finally died out, and the place was sold, and a marble works installed in its place.
In August the Iowa Editorial Association visited Council Bluffs and was entertained with a banquet at the expense of the city. The bill being some- thing like a thousand dollars, caused considerable kicking among the rank and file of the people.
The railroad lines between Kansas City and Council Bluffs were consol- idated under one corporation, thereafter known as the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company. George L. Bradbury had charge of the interests of the new corporation at this end of the line.
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