History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 64

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of Scott County, Iowa > Part 64

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1874 .-- Mayor, J. W. Stewart; Clerk, J. G. Tuerk, Treasurer, Charles Tuerring; Marshal, J. A. Le Claire; Police Magistrate, John Kaufman: Aldermen, Ed. J. Jennings, C. Foster, First Ward; Otto Klug, H. Lischer, Second Ward; C. II. Fieke, Chas. Priester, Third Ward; T. W. McClelland resigned, J. E. Stevenson. W. F. Skinner, Fourth Ward; Wm. Braithwaite. T. T. Dow, Fifth Ward; G. S. Shaw, I. II. Sears, Sixth Ward.

1875. - Mayor, Roderick Rose; Clerk, J. G. Tuerk; Treasurer, Chas. Tuerring; Marshall, Ed. J. Jennings; Police Magistrate, John Kaufman; Aldermen, C. Foster. Thos. Scott, First Ward; Otto King, H. Lischer, Second Ward; Chas. Priester. C. II. Fieke, Third Ward; W. J. Skinner, J. E. Stevenson, Fourth Ward; T. T. Dow. J. L. Hebert. Fifth Ward; 1. HI. Sears, D. Stanchfield, Sixth Ward.

1876 .- Mayor, Roderick Rose; Clerk. J. G. Tuerk; Treasurer, C. Therring; Marshal, Ed. J. Jennings; Police Magistrate; John Kaufman; Aldermen, C. Foster, Thos. Scott. First Ward; Otto Klug, II. F. Laverenz, Second Ward; C. F. Knappe, C. II. Fiske, Third Ward; W. J. Skinner, J. E. Stevenson, Fourth Ward; Jos. Hebert. T. T. Dow, Fifth Ward; D. N. Richardson, Daniel Stanch- field, Sixth Ward.

1877 .- Mayor. T. T. Dun; Clerk. J. G. Tuerk; Treasurer, Ru- dolph Priester; Marshal. Ed. JJ. Jennings; Police Magistrate, C. G. Blood: Aldermen, C. Foster. Thos. Scott, First Ward: Otto King. H. F. Lavernz, Second Ward; C. F. Knappe, Martin Kun- kel, Third Ward; W. J. Skinner. W. L. Marks, Fourth Ward; A. Burdick, W. G. Jones, Fifth Ward; I. H. Sears, D. N. Richardson, Sixth Ward.

1578 .-- Mayor, John W. Thompson ; Clerk. J. G. Tuerk; Treasurer, Rudolph Priester; Marshal, Louis Feid; Police Magistrate, C. G. Blood; Aldermen, C. Foster, Thos. Scott, First Ward; Otto Klug, John Spetzer, Second Ward; Martin Kunkel, Leo Schumacher, Third Ward; M. L. Marks, O. S. McNeil, Fourth Ward; M. V. Gannon, A. Burdick, Fifth Ward; John Whitaker, I. II. Sears, Sixth Ward.

1879 .- Mayor, Jerrie Murphy; Clerk, John McStein ; Treasurer, R. Priester; Marshal, Theo. Martins; Police Magistrate, John Kanfinan; Aldermen. C. Foster, Henry Lamp, First Ward; Otto

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

Klug, John Spitzen, Second Ward; Martin Kunkel, Leo Schu- macher, Third Ward; O. S. McNeil, A. P. Doe, Fourth Ward; M. V. Gannon, James Dooley, Fifth Ward; J. Babcock, Jolm Whita- ker, Sixth Ward.

1880 .-- Mayor, Roderick Rose; Clerk, John McStein; Treasurer, R. Priester; Marshal, Theo. Martins; Police Magistrate, John Kaufman; Aldermen, Wm. O. Schmidt, Henry Lamp, First Ward; Otto KIng. Fritz Vulstedt, Second Ward; Martin Kunkel, Wm. Claussen, Third Ward; A. W. Cantwell, A. P. Doe, Fourth Ward; James Dooley, F. H. Hancock, Fifth Ward; John Whitaker, E. J. Babeoek, Sixth Ward.

1881 .- Mayor, John E. Henry; Clerk. John MeStein; Treasurer, Fred Kruse; Marshal, Byron Rumsey; Police Magistrate, Bernard Finger; Aldermen, Wm. O. Schmidt, N. Kramback, First Ward; Fritz Volstedt, F. G. Claussen, Second Ward; Wm. Claussen, Henry Karwarth, Third Ward; A. W. Cantwell, John Hoyt, Fourth Ward; F. H. Hancock, G. R. Marvin, Fifth Ward; John Whitaker, W. F. Fidlar. Sixth Ward.

THE POSTOFFICE.

The first postoffice established in this neighborhood was on the island, Col. Davenport being the first postmaster. This was in 1824. Previous to this, during the occupancy of the island by Government troops, the mails came in at very irregular intervals, by military manipulation, onee a year or oftener, as supplies or re- inforcements were sent in. When Col. Davenport was appointed the nearest office was at the little town of Atlas, on the Illinois River. about three miles from its mouth. It was between this point and the island, about 300 miles distant, that the mail-carriers, either on foot or on horseback, made trips onee a month. A few years later the nearest postoffice was at Clarksville, Mo., 245 miles away; then the service got up as far as Hannibal, 208 miles, and a little later to Quiney, 183 miles. Between the island and Quiney the mail service was performed by Rev. Peter Williams, a Methodist minister. A local writer says of him: " Meager as to education, but chuek full of zeal, he faithfully served Uncle Sam and his Divine Master at the same time, delivering his mail and his rousing old backwoods Methodist sermons at the same time. Despite the well-known text upon the subject, he did serve two masters, and did it well. Parson Peter's loftiest efforts were re- served for the sinful men of sanguinary war who peopled Fort Armstrong. At that point, of a Sunday, in his plain, ungrammat- ical style, did the venerable old man thunder forth the gospel with most earnest vehemence. He was a Methodist, with the bark on, and he took no pains to eoneeal it. He was the pioneer Methodist of these parts, probably the first preacher of any denomination among the white men in this vieinity."

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CITY OF DAVENPORT.

The route from Quiney to the island was suspended in 1829 or 1830, and the island mail came in by way of Chicago and Galena, by horseback from the latter place until about 1835, when it com- menced coming by vehiele by way of Dixon, and it kept coming by that route until the advent of the steam horse. In 1838 there were several mail routes into this vicinity, bringing mail about half the days of the week.

Col. Davenport was in possession of the office several years before he was properly sworn in. Judge Irwin, of the U. S. Supreme Court, by chance visited the island and administered the long-neglected oath of office. Mr. Davenport was postmaster on the island until Nov. 25, 1834, when his charge was turned over to Miles Conway, at Farnamsburg, now Roek Island.

Davenport was the first point in Seott County endowed with postal honors, Antoine Le Claire receiving a commission as the first postmaster, April 19, 1836. He received his mail from the Stephenson (now Rock Island) office, and brought the letters there- from in his coat-tail pocket. It is said the first quarter's commis- sion netted Mr. Le Claire an actual ineome of 75 cents!

In December, 1836, D. C. Eldridge opened a store in a little log honse down on the corner of Front and Ripley streets, and Mr. Le Claire made him his deputy, and gave him charge of the office. The duties of this office were not yet burdensome, though provis- ions were made for bringing the mail over in a mail bag. Mr. Eldridge closed out his store in a year or two, and in the summer of 1838 built a little one-story brick house on the corner of Third and Brady streets, for his future residence, and just east of it, upon the same lot, erected the little briek office for a postoffice. It was not inch of a building, and would but poorly accommodate the business of to-day. But it was quite a neat little affair, and really a great improvement in its day. There was plenty of room for the neat little array of boxes, and for two or three city magnates to sit and talk awhile with the agreeable and chatty postmaster. It was the first expressly built postoffice building in Davenport, and the last. From a well-written artiele by D. N. Richardson, the follow- ing extract is taken : " Mr. Eldridge ended his service as deputy in February, 1-35, and was now commander-in-chief of the depart- ment. receiving his commission through the influence of Gen. George W. Jones, of Dabugne, then delegate in Congress for Wis- consin Territory. Mr. Eldridge had formed the acquaintance of the General in 1835, while moving into this country, and after- ward met him at Burlington, in 1837, while the Wisconsin Terri- torial Legislature was there in session. before which body he was a candidate for further Congressional honors. Mr. Eldridge was a Whig and the General a Democrat, but politics didn't amount to much on the border in those days, and if it did it didn't make any difference in this case. The General took a liking to Mr. Eldridge and got him the position, which he held, with but a single recess, for more than a dozen years. " The postoffice remained in

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

the little briek office for nearly two years, but in 1840 was removed to the White Hall tavern, but then newly ereeted upon the site now occupied by the Democrat building, Mr. Eldridge being its host. The postoffice was kept in the bar-room of the White Hall for a little more than a year, when Mr. Eldridge retired from hotel- keeping and established a handsome and spacions reading-room in the basement of the Le Claire House. The postoffice was removed into the reading-room and there remained until 1843, when a little frame bakery down on Main street was fitted np for its occupancy. and the reading-room abandoned to other less literary uses. " Here Mr. Eldridge kept his office until the inauguration of James K. Polk as President, in March, 1845, soon after which the office was handed over to John Forest, the village justice. In the same build- ing did Squire Forest hold his eourt and handle the mail during the entire Polk administration. Ile informs us that he was un- fortunate in his official career, in that abont the time he entered upon his duty, the rate of postage was redneed from 25, 188 and 123 cents per letter to 10 and 5 cents. which interference on the part of the Government in favor of the letter-writing masses for a while very seriously curtailed his percentage, which was no higher under the new arrangement than under the old. This tronble was but temporary, however. for under the reduced postage system the mail bags became much more weighty after awhile, and the re- ceipts got to be quite satisfactory before his office term had expired. He remained postmaster until the summer of 1849, when Gen. Taylor, having assumed the Presidential chair, executed a commis- sion to the former incumbent, and D. C. Eldridge again became postmaster. Upon taking hold of the office that gentleman re- moved it to Second street, into a new briek store building. He had bonglit out two drug stores just before, one of Dr. John F., now Judge Dillon, and another of Alfred Sanders, editor of the Gazette, and consolidated the pills and pestles in the aforesaid new two- story briek. So the drugs and mail matter were both dealt out over the same counter.

" This new postoffice location made trouble. It was away out in the country, the bulk of the city being between Main and Ripley streets. The people wanted very much to know what the mischief he was earting the postoffice away up to Princeton for? They wanted their mail. and they didn't want to hunt all over the prai- ries for it, either! Petitions were circulated. numerously signed, and forwarded to Washington, where the grievances of the people were taken under advisement. The Department called on Mr. El- dridge for an explanation of his sudden movement toward the lead mines. The worthy official responded by saying that he had sought to serve the interests of the Department by removing the office from a rickety old frame to a substantial briek, and the entire distance between the old postoffice and the new was but about 500 feet by actual tape-line measure, and he believed it to be his duty to keep it there. So the Governmentthought, and so the difficulty ended.

729

CITY OF DAVENPORT.

" The office remained there. In November. 1-52, was Gen. Frank Pierce chosen President. Mr. Eldridge wanted to spend the win- ter in Cincinnati, and concluded to give up the office, knowing that a change would probably be made in the spring, so he for- warded his resignation in favor of William Van Tuyl, a well- known Democrat, then as now a resident of Davenport. Mr. Van Tuyl was duly appointed postmaster, and continued the office in the same place until the following spring, when the Pierce admin- istration came into power.

" The record is now brought down to the spring of 1853, at which time Davenport had a population of about 3,000, and was on the eve of rapid increase. The Pierce administration had assumed the reins of government. While the people of Davenport had no reason to find fault with the manner in which Postmaster Van Tuyl had conducted the affairs of his office, the Democrats did object to the manner of his appointment. There were other aspirants to the position in the field, among whom were A. F. Mast, T. D. Eagal, editor of the Democratic Banner, Richard Shields and Gilbert Mc Kown, who with their backers vigorously disputed the right of Mr. Eldridge, the former incumbent and a Whig, to dictate as to which of the probably hungry and certainly expectant Democracy should enjoy the spoils of the glorious Democratic victory.

" The general disquiet culminated in an appeal to Gen. George W. Jones, still a member of Congress from this State, who, not wish- ing to take the postal bull by the horns, directed, as there were several candidates in the field. the choice of the Democracy be in- dicated by ballot. So they met at the court-house one quiet spring morning and voted-as usual. After a ballot or two Mr. Eagal withdrew his name in favor of Mr. Mast, who was the fortunate candidate. His name was sent forward and in due time his com- mission arrived. Mr. Van Tuyl, being of the opinion that his posi- tion would be sustained. did not go into caucus, and so lost his oflice.

"Mr. Mast assumed control of the office and held it for eight years. Its location remained on Second street, near Brady, about three months, during which time he put up a new postoffice build- ing on the corner of the alley on Brady, below Second street, which room becoming too small was deserted in 1855 for more commodious quarters further up Brady street.

" When Mr. Mast entered the office, Davenport was just becom- ing a point of importance. The Chicago & Rock Island Railroad was approaching completion; seven four horse mail coaches of Frink & Walker's line left this place daily for various Western points. The Western mail arrived by way of Muscatine, at mid- night, and about the office on the arrival and departure of the mails there was that noise and bustle, rattling of coach wheels, prancing of horses, cracking of whips, and slinging of mail bags that will never be seen again. In those days, and until 1861, the post- office boxes, now the property of the Department, belonged to the postmaster, together with all their proceeds. This income, to-

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

gether with the usual percentage of 40 per cent. on mail matter, amounted to about $800 the first year; increased to $3,300 in 1856 and 1857, and then under pressure of the panic subsided to $2,000 a year, in the latter part of his official term. With the exception of a few months at the beginning, Richard Sinetham was with him the entire term; and during the flush times spoken of, three clerks were employed. The opening of the mails on Sunday mornings in those times afforded a rare sight. the 'general delivery ' patrons being numerous and anxious. Taking place in line as they ar- rived, the 'rear sergeant' generally found himself well nigh out of sight of the postoffice. At that time the Davenport postoffice was only one of three postoffices in the United States that had a surplus over expenses. The room, which was originally about 50 feet deep, was extended some 30 feet farther back by tearing away the partition and taking in what was then the city marshal's office.

" In the spring of 1861, President Lincoln having been inaugu- rated, Charles H. Eldridge. having distaneed all competitors, who were neither few nor far between, was commissioned to take the office. The city had grown during Mr. Mast's term to a place of 15,000 when Mr. Eldridge went into the office. The war broke out about that time and postal matters became very important. The business of the office swelled rapidly again. Mr. Eldridge remained in charge until April 1, 1864, when his resignation was accepted, and Edward Russell, head clerk in the office, was ap- pointed in his stead. Again the office was found to be too small, and was removed to its present location, in the fall of 1864.

"'President Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, and Andrew John- son reigned in his stead, and many were the official heads that tum- bled into the gutter in those days. On the first of December in that year, Gen. Add. H. Sanders, the eighth postmaster of Davenport, presented A. J.'s commission and took Mr. Russell's place. Mr. Russell had really been removed on the 5th of October preceding, but by reason of a sturdy fight carried on by Mr. Price, then in Congress, the . taking off' was delayed until December.

"Mr. Russell retired in good order to the editorial room of the Gazette, of which paper he had been for some time editor-in -chief, and among quills, ink, paste-pot and scissors, bided his time until he should be able to ring the official neck of his official enemy. Gen. Grant was elected President in 1868, and in May, 1869, the coveted hour came: the gutter swapped heads, and Mr. Russell as- sumed control and holds it until the present time.

"Davenport has been a postal point 38 [now 45] years, and has had eight different postmasters: Antoine Le Claire, D. C. Eldridge, John Forest, William Van Tuyl, A. F. Mast, C. H. Eldridge, Edward Russell and Add. II. Sanders. The aspirants have been numerons; verily their bones whiten in the political burying grounds. Of the successful ones, but one has passed from earth, or Davenport. Great changes have taken place since An- toine Le Claire and his successor, D. C. Eldridge, brought the

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CITY OF DAVENPORT.

Davenport mails over from Stephenson in their hats or coat-tail pockets. Then the first quarter's salary amounted to less than a dollar; probably less than 50 letters were handled. Now they come in daily by the thousand. The position is a Inerative one. Then for several years the postmaster was wont to deliver letters to his pa- trons as he met them on the street; now he sends forth squads of men in uniform to scatter the heavy mails throughout the city. But recently the crowd assembled at mail openings, and the peo- ple who called at the postoffice during each day numbered in the thousands. Now under the free delivery system it has dwindled down to a mere shadow of its former self. Time was when the princi- pal number of letters were mailed at 25 cents, prepayment op- tional. Now you may write four pages and send it for three cents, or order $10,000 worth of goods on a postal eard. But a few years ago sending money by mail was extra hazardous; now by systems of registration and postal orders, you may transmit all you are worth in a short time and with perfect safety. Mail coming is no longer anxiously looked for; it is coming all the time, morning, noon and night. Mr. Eldridge tells us that time was when it was a great financial question how to take out a 25-cent letter. Money was painfully scarce, and often he delivered them on credit, tak- ing pay in farm and garden produce, days' work, and barter gen- erally."

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious service held in Davenport was in the spring of 1837, at the house of D. D. Eldridge, by Rev. Mr. Gavitt, a Methodist Episcopal minister. Some time during the same year an Episcopalian minister delivered a discourse, and shortly after, religious services began to be held now and then at the house of A. LeClaire, in which a priest from Galena officiated. There are now in the city the following denominations, with the number of organizations as given.

The First Presbyterian Church of Davenport, like many other churches in the West, is without a full record of its early history. Among the immigrants of 1835, '36 and '37, not more than 10 or 12 persons could be found who were of that denomination. These worshiped at first in common with other denominations, until the 20th or 21st of April, 1838, when a little band of 10 was gathered together in a small building that stood above the alley on Ripley street, between Front and Second, belonging to T. S. Hoge, and since destroyed by fire. Here they worshiped a year with such supply of ministerial aid as could be obtained. They were from various parts of the United States. Mrs. Ann Mitchell was from Alabama; Dr. A. C. Donaldson and wife from Pennsylvania;

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

Robert Cristie and wife from Ohio; Mrs. Jemima Barkley from Pennsylvania, and T. S. Hoge and wife from Ohio, and these com- posed the first congregation.

The following year JJ. M. D. Burrows and wife, and one or two others, were added to their number, and with these few a church was organized in a little frame school-house, standing near the corner of Fourth and Harrison streets. on the 5th of May, 1839. The pioneer elergymen who officiated upon this occasion were the Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury, of Macomb, Ill., now deceased; Rev. M. Hummer, of Stephenson, III .; Rev. Enoch Mead, of Rock- ingham, Iowa. Mr. Pillsbury preached the sermon upon the ocea- sion, from Mark xvi:15, 16.

Some six years of the records of this church have been lost, so that many of the facts and dates were arrived at by Mr. Mead cor- responding with Mr. Pillsbury; who spoke of his journey to Dav- enport from Andover, where he then resided, in the following way:

Mr. Hummer had requested his services upon the occasion, which were to take place on the following Sunday, and required him to leave home on Saturday. He had loaned his horse to a neighbor, and it had not been returned, and he walked the whole distance, 26 miles, and returned on foot. Mr. Pillsbury says that when he came to Rock River slough it was overflowed, and some 80 rods wide, and too deep to wade, when he applied to Mr. George Moore, who lived on the bluffs, some two miles from the slough, but the nearest resident, who kindly sent his son and team and set him across. This is but an incident among the many hardships of' pioneer ministers in the West.

The organization of the church took place, and the communion was administered. For four years this church had no stated minis- terial supply, during which time a few more were added, the church having preaching only occasionally from the clergymen above mentioned, and a few others who were traveling through the regions of country beyond the Mississippi River. In 1842 J. M. D. Burrows and T. S. Hoge were chosen and ordained elders of the church.

The first stated supply of preaching was in the spring of 1843, by Rev. Samnel Cleland. He had charge of this and the church at Stephenson, Ill., for abont four years. During this period the in- fant chinreh struggled on amid many discouragements. The emi- gration to the West during these years was slow. But tew were added to its numbers. But as an evidence of their zeal, faith and courage, they erected in these dark days their first house of wor- ship, a small brick building. Even after the completion and occu- paney of this church, they were at times almost ready to sit down in sadness and give up their most cherished object.

Charles C. Williams came to Iowa in August, 1844. He was from Newark, N. J. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of that city, and afterward in the Central Church for many years.

Johnc . M. Friday

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CITY OF DAVENPORT.

He was a man of most ardent piety, ever ready to lend his aid and influence in promoting the cause of his Redeemer's kingdom. His connection with the church of Davenport when it most needed spiritual aid and encouragement scemed providential. At this time Mr. Iloge, one of the elders, moved to Galena. So Mr. Williams and James M. Dalzell were ordained and set apart as elders in this church. Ilis first work, with the help of others, was to establish a Sunday-school, which continued to date, and of which he was superintendent to the time of his death, which occurred in September, 1852.

There were additions to the church as new settlers moved in, and the congregation increased in a measure; yet in 1846, owing to removals and death, there were still bnt 17 members.

At this time the Rev. George S. Rea became their minister, and oeenpied the pulpit about two years and a half. In the fall of this year (1846) the Sabbath-school of the church was first organized. During the summer of 1849, the church being again without a minister, the Rev. Erastus Ripley, of the Congregational body, and senior professor in Iowa College, preached for the church with mneh acceptance.

On the 27th of September. 1849, for the first time. a formal call was made out by the church to the Rev. J. D. Mason to become their pastor. The call was duly presented before the Presbytery of Iowa, and accepted. His services commenced the first Sunday in November. The church at this time consisted of about 30 mnem- bers. In 1857 the list of membership reached 200, but owing to removals in .1560, it only amounted to 150.

In October of 1859 the pastoral relation of Rev. Mason was dissolved, and in the autumn of this year a call was made to the Rev. S. McAnderson, of Pennsylvania, which was accepted, and he was installed in April, 1860. Rev. Chute is the present pastor, and the church is in good condition, spiritually and financially.

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History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 64

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280