USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 7
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The census taken under the auspices of the United States gave us 10,020 inhabitants.
The building of the bridge over the Missouri was commeneed. The process was sinking immense iron cylinders through sand and mud to the bed rock. These were set in pairs, each pair, when joined. thoroughly braced and filled with concrete, formed a pier. Upon eleven of these rested the superstructure, which was entirely of iron, the only wood being the ties. The work was commeneed under the immediate supervision of General Toney Smith.
In the meantime, while congress was in session, a bill passed the house providing for the charter of a company to build a railroad bridge to take the place of the one begun by the Union Pacific Railroad Company. The Council Bluffs people took the alarm, seeing in it a design to have the term- inns on the west side. An immense mass meeting was held and resolutions passed denouncing the seheme, and Colonel Sapp was authorized to convey the same to Washington with a view to have its passage arrested in the senate.
Senator Harlan eaused the bill to be amended providing that the bridge corporation might borrow money on the bridge bonds, providing that mort- gages on the bridge should not attach to the main line, but providing that
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the Union Pacific should still operate the road in conjunction with the bridge as one continuous line. Work had been suspended for a time, but was resumed and completed under supervision of T. E. Sickels, general super- intendent of the Union Pacific. according to plans devi-ed by General Dodge before his resignation as chief engineer of the road. The approach to the bridge required an immense fill, which was made by taking earth from the bluff south of the city. This involved the laying a track and running trains of dumping cars loaded by steam shovel continuously for over a year.
The entire structure was regarded as of sufficient strength to withstand the action of wind, water or ice, yet on the 28th day of August. 1877, an electric storm wrenched two spans from the east end of the bridge and hurled them into the river. In the meantime traffic arrangements were made by which the business of the Union Pacific Railroad was transferred to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy route and the Burlington & Missouri of Nebraska.
The Odd Fellows Grand Lodge of lowa was held at Council Bluffs this year. the session commencing October 26 and lasting two days, and on the evening of the second day the fraternity gave their visiting brothers a grand banquet.
The high school building was completed this year so that it could be used by the 18th of November, and on that day it was formally dedicated by it> being occupied. and by appropriate ceremonie-, in which Governor Merril and State Superintendent Kissell took part and delivered addresses.
At the annual commencement of the high school on the 14th of June the following young ladies graduated: Hattie Williams, Mary Warren, Lizzie Oliver. Ida Kirkpatrick, Ingaletta Smith and Verna Reynolds. These were the first of many that have gone out of its wall- to till places of honor, and to adorn homes all over our country from the Atlantic even to the Pacific. Of these above named all are living but one, Miss Reynolds. She chose the profession of teaching and continued to follow it until called to higher work above.
Realizing the importance of manufacturing in advancing the interests of the community, a number of our influential citizens, on the 1st of Novem- ber. formed an association for the purpose of promoting such industries. General G. M. Dodge was made president. G. W. Lininger, vice-president, S. Farnsworth and E. L. Shugart, secretaries, and H. C. Nutt, treasurer. The business of manufacturing agricultural implements was commenced on North Main street and prospered for a time, and the company built a large power building near the Rock Island freight depot into which the business was moved.
The Patrons of Husbandry also organized a grange during the same month, the leading members of which were D. B. Clark. Wooster Fay, L. W. Babbitt. 11. C. Raymond. H. A. Terry and J. A. Sylvester. They held their meetings in one of the buildings on Pearl street, between Broadway and First avenue.
During this year the three-story building known as the Brown block.
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BLOOMS OUTFITTING C
COUNCIL BLUFFS
LOOKING WEST ON BROADWAY-1854.
3.
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running through from Main to Pearl street, was built: also the Center street four-room schoolhouse.
Just at the close of the year '71 death claimed two of our prominent citizens, Sylvanus Dodge, the venerable father of General and N. P. Dodge, on December 24, and Major MePherson. U. S. attorney for this judicial district. December 29.
At the fall election John Bereshinn, republican, was elected to the legis- lature. and George Doughty, democrat, was elected sheriff over Philip Armour, republican, while J. W. Chapman, republican, was re-elected county treasurer over Vig > Badolett, democrat. During this summer we were witness to a phenomenon that at the time baffled the wisest. There was, and still is. a little lake called Spoon lake near the Union Pacific transfer, where the boy- were in the habit of catching minnows for fishing. Imagine their surprise, on going there to catch some for bait, to find the lake literally alive with fish weighing from one to twenty pounds. The news spread and people came and took them out by wagon loads with pitchfork -. In a day or two they disappeared as mysteriously as they came. None have appeared since.
A FALSE PROPHET.
Another phenomenon of a different kind appeared in the person of a crank called Potter Christ, which he had tattooed on his forehead. He would occasionally preach to crowds, and finally made preparation to ascend to heaven. One morning he appeared near the Methodist church on Upper Broadway arrayed in a white robe, riding a mule and carrying a cross, and as he rode down the street. strange as it may seem, he was followed by quite a number of disciples. This pageant was preparatory to his going on a forty-day fast, after which he was to ascend to heaven. One thing is certain. he disap- peared. An unbeliever reported that while in the wilderness fasting he was found sucking a cow: and another reported that he was caught up en- circled by an immense flock of blackbirds. Although the truthfulness of these statements is doubted, there seems to be no authentic record of his ending. Pathetic as his case appears, the old nursery rhyme seems appro- priate :
"Where he's gone or how he fares No one knows and no one cares."
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD BRIDGE.
Council Bluffs was now approaching a very critical period in its history. The Union Pacific bridge was completed. and the company ignored Council Bluffs, even to the extent of calling their temporary platforms "Lake Station," and with a switch engine transferring freight and passengers over to meet the trains on this side. The condition was this:
An active enterprising city was endeavoring by liberal offers to seduce the railroad company to make their terminus on the west side of the river in violation of the plain provision of its charter, and the railroad company appeared willing to be seduced, and it became evident that we must contend
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for our rights. But now the question was how to commence. Fortunately, we had men equal to the occasion. Colonel Sapp and Judge Larimer took the matter in hand, and with the assistance of Hon. George W. MeCrary, the member of congress from the Keokuk distriet, an act was procured con- ferring jurisdiction upon the circuit court of law in mandamus in cases con- cerning the Union Pacific Railroad Company. This passed and became the law on March 3. 1873.
This was the first step, and the next was to start the legal machinery to put the law into effect. A grocery firm ( Hall & Morse) were shipping goods west and had been compelled to deliver their freight to the railroad company in Omaha. They were advised, and tendered their freight to the company on this side, and on refusal on the part of the railroad company to receive it, a writ of mandamus was issued and the cause brought before Judge John F. Dillon, then of the circuit court at Des Moines, and after a full hearing the court decided adversely to the railroad company. In presenting the case, Colonel Sapp and Judge Larimer were assisted by Hon. John N. Rogers, of Davenport. The company appealed to the supreme court. and that august body affirmed the decision of the court below, thereby settling in our favor the vexed question for all time.
To the honor of Colonel Sapp and Judge Larimer, neither of whom are living, be it said that they rendered this service without a dollar of remun- eration. However, the city voted to pay Hon. John N. Rogers five hundred dollars for his services.
Still the company continued to designate the terminus as Lake Station until, during the meeting of the next legislature, Mr. Pusey, our state senator, procured the passage of an act requiring conductors or brakemen on all passenger trains within the state on entering any city or town to plainly and distinctly announce the name thereof, and fixing a penalty of fifty dol- lars fine for neglecting to make such announcement. This had the effect of abating this piece of impertinence.
After this the company complied with the orders of the court and pro- ceeded to erect the depot that still stands on the ground purchased several years before.
During 1872-3 Council Bluffs was made the headquarters of the sharpest gang of bunco men that ever infested a city. It was completely organized and each member assigned his place, which was mostly on incoming trains, and focusing at the transfer depot, with headquarters at a hotel on West Broadway, kept by a German named Gerspacher. Every scheme known to the craft was worked upon the unwary and their tricks were made to appear so simple that Old 'Squire Burke. the police judge, once declared that a man was a -- if he wouldn't bet on them. They were men of good address and had numbers of friends, gave liberally to any benevolent scheme, but finally carried their games so far that the legislatures of Iowa and Nebraska enacted laws with penalties so severe that the business became unprofitable, and they scattered to more congenial climes. .
At the spring election Dr. N. D. Lawrence and Sam Ilaas were the can- didates for mayor. and after a pretty lively campaign the former was elected.
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On the 5th of August the First National Bank was robbed of $20,000 in broad daylight and no clue was obtained to the perpetrator.
At the spring election of 1874 W. C. James was elected mayor, H. II. Field, R. L. Douglass, J. B. Lewis, John Hawthorn, E. L. Shugart, W. A. Wood, George Tabor and Horace Everett constituted the council, and Henry A. Jackson was city marshal.
During the summer of '74 John W. Ross retired from the management of the Ogden House, and by an agreement Mr. Baughn, one of the pro- prietors, took control, and was running it successfully. when, on the night of the 13th of October, it took fire from some unknown cause and. owing to lack of water and bursting of hose. it was burned to the ground.
At the regular election held October 13, 1874. R. T. Bryant was elected clerk of the district court. M. Flamont. county auditor. and J. P. Bolden and Robert Kirkwood. supervisors.
In March, 1875, one of the pioneer physicians, Dr. P. J. McMahon, died. He was universally loved. Although rough spoken, he was the kindest of men. When he realized that his end had come, he left orders that all the livery carriages in the city be hired so that his poor patient- might ride at his funeral, while his favorite. though retired. old horse. Jerry, followed the hearse. He also made provision for Jerry having the best of care without work while he lived. Ilis funeral was the largest that had ever occurred here up to that time. The Masonic services at the grave were rendered by N. F. Story. the worshipful master of Excelsior Lodge.
At the city election of 1875, C. B. Jacquemin was elected mayor, W. P. Wightman. F. O. Gleason. Peter Bechtel and Henry Metcalf were elected aldermen.
With the settlement of the Union Pacific terminal question, people began to make improvements. Horace Everett erected the brick block on the corner of Pearl and Broadway, Keller and Bennet the one on the corner of Broadway and Fourth, and Mr. Whitney the one occupied by the Metcalf Brothers, and a large number of dwellings were also built. The city was visited by two destructive fires, one of which was the Transfer Hotel, being the frame erected before the bridge was completed, and the furniture factory of John Chase. This was situated about where the new bakery on Mynster street now stands.
NON-PARTISAN ELECTION.
As the time for spring election approached many of the leading citizens believing it for the best interests of the city to have a non-partisan election, a mass meeting was called and a most excellent ticket nominated, with E. L. Shugart at the head for mayor. Both the democratic and republican papers supported it, and utterly refused to announce any other candidate.
A large element that had not participated in the mass convention were dissatisfied. They wanted a good old-fashioned election, but how to effect a breach was the question. With both papers and the leaders of both parties committed it seemed hopeless for any one to run independently. This sit- nation continued until within forty-eight hours of the time for opening the
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polls, when J. Il. Keatley consented to run providing requested to by three hundred voters. Immediately petitions were put in circulation, and the num- ber and more, too, of signatures obtained. Tickets were gotten printed some- how. although neither of our offices would print them. The thing went like wildfire, and there has never been such an election here sinee. It was not that the ticket was objectionable, but simply a rebuke to the promoters for ignoring the boys. The ticket was badly beaten and Keatty elected by a large majority. The aldermen elected at the same time were Lewis Hammer, M. Keating, C. R. Scott and W. C. James. E. W. Jackson was elected city mar-hal and G. A. Holmes was elected eity attorney by the council.
During the summer W. F. Sapp was nominated for congress by the republicans as against L. R. Bolter, of Harrison county. Near the close of the campaign reports of gross immorality were sprung upon Mr. Bolter. The matter with which he was charged happened in Michigan previous to his coming west. Whether true or false, he was defeated.
INDIAN CREEK.
On several occasions Indian creek had become troublesome, and it became a serious question how to control it. Mention is made of it in the part of this history relating to Hazel Dell township, but owing to the conspicuous part it has played, it deserves more than passing notice. When the first settlers arrived it was an insignificant little stream with an occasional log thrown across it for a foot-bridge. They built their cabins along its banks for convenience of its water. The territory drained by it is about three miles wide by six mile- long, forming a trough in which, during a heavy rain, it accumulates and runs off with tremendous force. It originally meandered, crossing and recrossing Vine street. Coming down from Frank street it approached near to Broadway and turned northwesterly to a point near North First street, where a dam was built and water taken along what is now Washington avenue, and turning around west of where the schoolhouse now is, discharged itself on a large overshot wheel driving a mill, from which Mill street derives its name, while the creek, after crossing First street, bowed southward, crossing Vine street, and. after running a short distance, crossed Second, and struck Bryant street where it is to-day, then turning southwest passed through the hay market. then turned west, crossing North Main and pasing in the rear of the Beno and Sapp buildings and the Opera house, then turned abruptly north along the cast -ide of Sixth street until it rejoined the water that had turned the mill and both kept on and spread over where the Northwestern yards now are, and finally found a sag running south- westerly, crossed Broadway near where it does at the present time, and con- tinued south, along which Pete Debolt and Jack Pouder, and later Ross, and still later Stewart. erected their slaughter houses.
When there was a downpour in Hazel Dell the water could not get through the windings rapidly enough and flooding of low grounds was the result, and with this problem engineers and city council have been grappling for half a century. What were its habits previous to the advent of the white
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man, we have only tradition, which represented it as gentle, but it seems to resent his intrusion. The first to incur its displeasure was George Parks, who started a lumber yard on the northwest corner of Sixth and Broadway. A heavy rain up at Hazel Dell was the means of scattering that lumber all over the low ground west of the Illinois Central depot. The next was Old Bill Powers. He had a beautiful lot with fruit trees in which he took great pleasure. The creek showed a disposition to encroach on the rear of his lot. and he got heavy oak posts, set them four feet deep and put on two-inch plank. only to see them sailing away the next freshet. But Bill was wealthy, and the next year he had stone hauled and had a wall built three feet thick across the rear of his lot at a cost of $1,600. Then he felt a kind of sym- pathy for his less fortunate neighbors. But another shower fell near the Hazel Dell church and that wall became a thing of the past. Then Bell became morose and commenced suing the city every time it rained. From Frank street to Benton it ran along the side of Green street. Another of the showers came, and all that is left of Green street is on Tostevin's map of 1854.
But matters were getting serious. After due consultation with eminent engineers, it was determined to make a straight ditch. This, it was supposed. would allow the water to escape so as to prevent overflows. This was done, but the creek rose to the occasion and commenced eating off the rear of the abutting lots, and a wail went up, and fluming was resorted to for a square or two, but it made short work of that. The old wooden bridges that spanned it on First and Bryant streets were replaced by arches of stone resting on piling at a cost of $6,000. Another shower in Hlazel Dell and those bridges became a memory. Although there is yet some uncertainty as to its future. the railroad companies seem to be on the right track. Of the fifty bridges spanning it within the city limits, by far the largest num- ber are the heavy iron ones to be seen along all roads where they cross small streams.
During the year- 1905-6 a dredge was put to enlarging the outlet, and at the same time material for filling many low lots was removed, giving it more waterway, and it is hoped the stream is at last under control.
The spring of '77 was an eventful one. John T. Baldwin and W. R. Vaughan were candidates for mayor. The former had managed to secure quite a following from among the working men, while Mr. Baldwin was the regular nominee of the republican party. After a pretty active campaign Mr. Baldwin was elected. F. A. Burke was elected city recorder over H. H. Field, the republican nominee. and Henry Dawson, A. C. Graham, W. S. Pettibone and J. W. Rodifer were elected aldermen.
During this summer the great labor troubles that prevailed in the east begat a spirit of unrest here. For a time it looked as if it might become serious. A large number of striking railroad employees went into camp near the city and became bold in making demands on the mayor and city council with the result that preparation was made to meet any unlawful demonstra- tion, and the campers after a few days dispersed.
At the regular election held October 9, 1877. B. F. Clayton and George
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Carson were elected as representatives, John Bennett, auditor; Thomas Bow- man, treasurer; Perry Reel, sheriff; Samuel Denton, surveyor: county super- intendent, F. C. Childs; coroner, Henry Faul; Eli Clayton and E. L. Shu- gart, supervisors.
As early as 1872 steps were taken to build what is now known as the Wabash line to St. Louis. This was the incorporation of the St. Louis, Council Bluffs & Omaha Railroad Company. The object being to secure a short line from St. Louis by way of Brunswick and Chillicothe. General J. H. Hammond was the active promoter of this enterprise, but the panic of 1873 put a quietus on it for a time. but in 75 work was resumed and in 1878 the road was in operation to the city, and a consolidation with the Wabash took place, under which name it has ever since been operated. Also the Union Pacific Railroad Company had built and opened their depot and transfer hotel. The business at the transfer brought many families into that vicinity, and the number of children increased until it became neces- sary to build another schoolhouse, and during the year a four-room house, known as the Eighth Avenue School, was built.
At the city election in April, 1878, N. D. Lawrence was elected mayor; F. A. Burke, recorder; O. M. Brown, treasurer: R. C. Hubbard, assessor; G. A. Holmes, attorney: engineer, L. P. Judson; marshal, B. F. Baldwin. The aldermen were Henry Dawson, A. C. Graham, John Epeneter, W. S. Petti- bone. J. W. Rodifer, G. HI. Tabor and George 11. Bicknell.
During this summer the greenback party held their convention at Council Bluff's and nominated William Hicks, of Montgomery county, for congress. Colonel Sapp was nominated by the republicans without opposi- tion, and Colonel John Il. Keatley by the democrats. Colonel Sapp was elected by a large majority over both candidates.
The subject of spiritualism had for some time been attracting consid- orable attention. Mediums of all degrees appeared and gave exhibitions, cabinet seances, etc., that seemed to be satisfactory to the believers, which included many of our best citizens. Eminent lecturers appeared here as elsewhere. and a large society was organized. and mediums, both male and female, flourished. As fast as one trick was exposed a new one would be devised. until the delusion had spent its force. The turning point here being from 1875 to 1880, after which it declined about as rapidly as it had advanced, until with the opening of the new century it had practically dis- appeared.
At the regular election held October 8, 1878, Fitz Henry Warren was elected clerk of the district court. J. P. Goulden, recorder, and Robert Kirk- wood, supervisor.
The wonderful discovery of silver in Colorado, together with the resump- tion of specie payment and coinage of millions of silver dollars, gave a boom to all kinds of business. Evidently previous to this the volume of money had not been sufficient or in proportion to the requirements of business. Many of our citizens caught the mining fever and rushed to the Leadville and other eamps to try their luck, but few, if any, were among the fortunate ones.
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During January, 1878, our people were shocked by one of the most horrible murders ever committed in any country. Mr. Frank Smith was living on a farm just east of the city limits. He had in his employ a half- breed Wyandotte Indian. Mr. Smith had occasion to go to Omaha, and the day being very pleasant, he took the two oldest children with him, leaving two smaller ones and a babe at home. The Indian had always conducted himself like any civilized man, and was treated as one of the family. The day was one of those we occasionally have, like Indian summer, and after dinner the children went out to play at the barn, and on returning to the house and not finding their mother, they started to the nearest neighbors, only a few rods away, thinking to find her there. but hearing the baby cry, they stopped and followed the sound back to a cave cellar in the rear of the house, where they found their mother dead, her throat being cut from ear to ear, and the babe was creeping in her blood. They ran to the neighbors and the alarm was given. A large posse scoured the timber, while men were started on each road on horseback and telegrams sent to all points, but to no purpose. The funeral was largely attended and the services were most impressive. On the day following the funeral something could be seen in the well, and on getting hooks and drawing it up. it proved to be the Indian.
The reasonable conclusion was that, when he approached her, she fled with her babe ont the back door and that he forced her into the cellar where she was found, that he then went to the well to draw water to wash the blood from his clothes. The well was provided with the common buckets over a wheel, with a very low curb, and that in his haste and excitement he pitched in head first and doubled down below the surface of the water until decomposition caused the body to rise. To add to the horror, many of the people attending the funeral, as well as those keeping the house, had been drinking the water for three days. Had the Indian been caught alive, he would never have seen the inside of the jail. This was one of the mildest winters for years. so much so that securing ice was quite a problem.
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