USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of Scott County, Iowa > Part 69
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The following persons constitute its present Board of Trustees, viz .: Charles E. Putnam, James Grant, Louis Haller, Henry Kohrs, August Steffen, William O. Schmidt, J. D. Morrison, S. F. Smith and J. J. Richardson.
Charles E. Putnam has been the president of the bank since its organization. Mr. Francis Ochs was its cashier until August, 1874, when he resigned on account of ill-health. Since that time Mr. Richard Smetham has been its cashier, with the exception of a brief period, when the position was filled by Charles N. Voss. Louis Haller is Vice-President, and John B. Meyer, Assistant Cashier.
The career of the bank has been a marked financial success. It has furnished not only a valuable investment for the stockholders, bnt a safe and valuable depository for the savings of the people.
The following table will elearly indicate the successful workings of the bank, viz .:
776
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
DATE
Cash Capi- tal.
Annual Div-
idends.
January 1st, 1871.
$ 12,000 00
$ 1,200 00
66
1:
1873
18,000 00
1,800 00
=
1874.
18,000 00
13,140 00
66
1875.
54,000 00
6,480 00
1876.
54,000 00
12,840 00
16
1877
60,000 00
7,200 00
.6
1879
60,000 00
19,200 00
1880.
72,000 00
9,360 00
16
1881.
84,000 00
16,080 00
16
1882.
90,000 00
Total.
$102,900 00
Of above dividends, $39,000 were stock dividends and applied on capital. Thus, of the present paid-up capital of the bank, only $51,000 was paid in cash.
The steady increase in the deposits of the bank, and the acen- inulation of its assets, will be strikingly illustrated by the follow- ing annual statements, viz. :
DATE.
DEPOSITS.
ASSETS.
January 1st, 1871
$124,246 26
$129,300 56
1872
259,960 90
276,513 04
=
1874.
333,477 06
360,343 45
1875.
400,310 85
460,221 85
1876
468,095 98
531,239 40
1877
453.225 52
527,628 48
1878.
431,506 26
498,024 06
1879
456,338 41
538,297 15
=
1880.
612,148 08
693,151 35
66
1881.
664,597 73
760,886 04
1882
905,567 18
1,018,092 33
=
1872
12,000 00
8,400 00
1878
60,000 00
7,200 00
392,264 11
411,202 03
1873
Interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, compounded quar- terly, was paid on all deposits in the bank up to September, 1879. and since that date, five per cent. per annum for all full calendar months has been allowed. Thus, the large aggregate of $243,- 573.48 has been paid, as interest on deposits, since the organiza- tion of the bank.
The number of open accounts in bank Jan. 1, 1882, was 2,084, and the deposit that day, $905,567.18, thus giving an average deposit to each account of $434.53.
777
CITY OF DAVENPORT.
MANUFACTORIES.
MILLING.
Lumber was among the first needs of the settlers. Beams conld be obtained from the forests, but boards were almost a necessity. Lumber for doors and sash was brought by boat around from Cin- cinnati, but this was only within the means of the few; the many must haul in hard-wood logs to the mill and have boards sawn with which to finish their cabins. The pincries of the North were as yet undeveloped, and the use of steam too expensive to be then considered. The first mills were saw-mills run by water. It was Capt. Benj. Clark, the first settler in the county, who built the first saw-mill-built it at the mouth of Duck Creek, 15 miles up the river from his home in Buffalo. He wanted Inmber to improve his town site, the first to be located, and so got material, secured the needful machinery from St. Louis, dammed the then more plentiful waters of the creek, and sawed the first Inmber made in these parts. This was in 1834. The Inmber was rafted at the mill and floated down the Mississippi to Buffalo, while yet there was but a cabin or two in Davenport. The mill was a great blessing to the community and enabled not a few to shelter their families more comfortably. Most of the early houses of Buffalo were built of lumber from this mill.
Mr. Clark sold the mill to Doolittle, Moss & Co. In 1838 the firm became Doolittle & Bradley. the other partners having been bought out by a new comer named Horace Bradley, yet one of the most thrifty residents of the county. The mill made some money for the new firm; at least, when some seven years later Mr. Bradley concluded to go to farming, he had 8500 in cash to invest. The first mill was abandoned after Mr. Bradley left it, and but a slight trace remains. Mr. Doolittle was here but a short time, residing principally in the East.
In 1535 Samuel Hedges built a mill on Crow Creek, where that stream is crossed by " Middle Road." Crow Creek was more of a stream then than now, now that farm improvements and removal of woodland have sapped its sources. The mill did a fair business for some time; but not bringing promised success was abandoned, not, however, before the despondent owner had suspended his body from one of its roughly hewn beams. In 1837 Mr. Hedges at- tempted to retrieve his fortnnes by putting in a run of stone to grind grain; but this also proved a failure.
In 1838 Samuel Parker, a poincer from Pepperell, Mass., invested in a five-acre mill site on Duck Creek, back of what is now known as Camp MeClellan, and taking in Isaac Hawley and William Eldridge as partners, the firm built a good saw-mill. That it did not prosper was owing to a lack of water and logs. This circum- stance led to the abandonment of the enterprise and the demolition
778
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
of the mill in a year or two after its erection. In same year Stephen Henley and R. H. Spencer built a small saw-mill at mouth of Crow Creek, but it was of only four years' duration.
In the same year the Quinn Mill was built at Pleasant City, a village that had been started on seetion 9, Winfield township, by John Owens, merchant, and others. Like the village of which it was a part, it did business at small profit for a year or two, and then disappeared. In 1851 or 1852 Jabez Hitchcock built a wing- dam saw-mill at "the Rocks," on the Mississippi, near the present "Watkins Place," but the ice'swept the investment into the chan- nel of the Mississippi before any great results had been achieved.
In 1842 Thomas Wood built a grist-mill and distillery on the river bank in Davenport, near the lower saw-mill. He ground corn for the farmers and distilled corn into whisky. The invest- ment was not sufficiently profitable to encourage the enterprise. so it ended in a few years. This was the first and, so far as is known, the last whisky distillery in Davenport.
It was 10 years after the date of the last water-power mill that the first steam saw-mill was put in operation in this vicinity, to saw rafted logs, that by 1848 were being brought fom the Wiscon- sin pineries. This mill was built by a Mr. McCarthy, on a river site, between Gaines and Warren streets. Mr. MeCarthy died in the same year, or the next, and a firm named Rhodes & Perrin then operated it; afterward Mead, Smith & Marsh. Finally, in 1857, it being then the property of James Grant, it was improved and worked for a year or two by Grant & Kimball; then stood still for several years, went to ruin, and was finally destroyed by fire.
In 1849 a Mr. Howard erected the lower mill at Davenport, which, in a year or two, came into the possession of Alex MeGregor, who, in 1854, sold them to John M. Cannon, and later into the firm of Cannon & French, which firm was succeeded by French & Davies; then by John L. Davies & Son, and is now the property of Paige. Dixon & Co. Its eut in 1868 amounted to 7,000,000 feet, and in 1881, 13,000.000.
In 1849 Strong Burnell built a large saw and planing mill on Front street, between Scott and Ripley. In 1851 he took into partnership S. S. Gillett and J. H. Lambrite. The firm did a large business here and in the pineries until 1858, when it failed, and the mill remained idle until it was started up a year or two. after by G. K. Barce, who, after a run of a few years, sold it to Dessaint & Sehricker in 1865. In 1868 the firm became Sehricker & Mueller, and so remains. It cut 5,000,000 feet of lumber in 1868, and in 1881, 13,000,000 feet.
In 1850 a mill was built in East Davenport by Robert Christie, which was in operation until 1868, when it was purchased by D. Stanchfield, who ran it a year or two. It was destroyed by fire in 1862.
779
CITY OF DAVENPORT.
In 1854 the mill of Renwiek & Son was built by that firm, and has been run by them until within a few years past when the firm became Renwick, Shaw & Crossett. The lumber ent at the mill in 1868 was 4,000,000 feet, and in 1881, 14,500,000 feet.
In 1856 Bosworth & Allen erected a mill, corner of Front and Warren streets, which was operated by several parties, and de- stroyed by fire in 1858.
In 1867 Lindsay & Phelps built a mill in East Davenport which is still run by that firm. In 1868 the lumber ent was 2,500,000 feet.
In 1868 L. C. Dessaint built a saw-mill in East Davenport which began operation in the spring of 1869. Three years later he sold it to Price, Hornley & Kehoe-and two years later Mr. Kehoe sold his interest to his partners, and John Hornley and Gen. W. Cable leased the mill of the owners. The firm of Hornley & Cable was dissolved by the death of the former in 1879, since which time is has been operated by the Cable Lumber Company. Its cut in 1881 was 12,325,000 feet.
There have been two steam saw-mills in Le Claire, one owned and run by Alfred Jansen in 1854, and for some years later. It was destroyed by fire. The other built in 1856 by Davenport & Rogers was an unsuccessful enterprise, and the mill was removed else- where. In Le Claire, also, was a wing dam mill, which was later turned into a grist-mill, in which capacity it is now operated.
At Buffalo a steam saw-mill was built in 1854 by Shue Bros. It was torn down in 181 to make way for the track of the South- western Railroad. It was a mill of the smaller elass.
Bread is very much the staff of life in a new country. Previous to 1835 what settlers there were in this county got their milling from afar, the nearest grist-mill being on Henderson River back of Ognaka, 50 miles away; or had their meal and flour brought up from St. Louis. In 1835 a grist-mill was built on Crow Creek where it is crossed by the river road to Le Claire. It was the enterprise of Haskell & Davis, 16xIS, of hewn logs, one run of stones eut from prairie boulders, and a set of bolts. This served a purpose in a plain and gritty way until 1838 when it was abandoned and the timbers sold to A. C. Fulton, who split them into fence rails. This was the only grist-mill of its class that we have any rec- ord of.
In 1836 John . H. Sullivan got ont material for a steam flour and saw mill that went into operation in Rockingham in 1837. It was a strong building and ran in the custom and shipping line-afford- ing the farmers a needed home market for their grain. The saw-mill part was of small importance; it did a good business, running until 1847 when it was determined fully that Rockingham was to be no more a place upon the map. Two years of its time it was run by J. M. D. Burrows, which was his first milling experience in this county. A part of the machinery was bought by John Coleman
780
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
and used to run his boat the " Mary C.," the first and perhaps the last steamer built for river traffic in this county. The frame was bought by the late Rev. James Gilruth, with which he built a barn on his farm north of this city.
In 1836 D. C. Eldridge brought some horse-power mills, "Gentry's Metallic, " from Cincinnati, one of which he set up near his store on brimstone corner (Front and Ripley), Davenport. The grinding was done in an imperfect manner, the machine run by as many horses as the owner of the grist chose to put on. It is related of Ebenezer Cook that grinding a sack of corn with his old mare was the work of a full day. Two more of these mills were sold by Mr. Eldridge to a Prarie du Chien party for a pair of mules and a wagon. The former went and drowned themselves in the Mississippi, and the latter brought the seller $20. The remaining one was bought by David Miller, who worked it by mill power out on the Long Grove road at the Hull farm, with such poor success that a pair of boots were taken in satisfaction of the purchase price. The first steam flouring-mill built in Davenport went into operation in January, 1848. It was the old " Albion, " on Front street, cornering on Perry, built of brick, 43 x 38, and three stories high. It was begun by Ambrose C. Fulton in 1846, but before completion, he sold it to Burrows & Prettyman. It was enlarged and improved by that firm several times. and cost them many thousand dollars. Its highest capacity was 300 barrels of Hour daily. It was consumed by fire in 1863, and was not rebuilt.
Having sold the Albion Mills, Mr. Fulton immediately set about building the Etna Mills. alongside. They are of wood, the principal dimensions 57 x 60. three stories, with a engine house annex, 50 x27 and three run of stone. The mills were completed and flour made on the 15th day of January, 1848, and this was the first steam-mill grist ground in Davenport. The time occupied in the erection of this mill was five months and twenty-two days. When the excavation for foundations was begun. the lumber of which it wasto be built was growing in the forest. the stone was vet unquarried, and the brick not yet molded. It was considered a very enterprising feat. On its opening a great banquet was served in the second story of the mill by the appreciative citizens, in which 300 persons participated, and on which occasion speeches were made by James Grant, and others. Mr. Grant, among other things, stated to the assembled multitude that he had but just arrived home from Iowa City, where the State Legislature was in session, and that that body had just granted a charter for a railroad from Davenport to Council Bluffs, which information was received with three hearty cheers. More speeches, toasts, and responses followed and the first flour-mill was duly dedicated. It cost about $11,000. Mr. Fulton operated his mill a year or so, and then leased it to Mack- lot, Inslee & Davenport, who used it another, when it came into
781
CITY OF DAVENPORT.
the hands of the owners of the Albion Mills who swapped the machinery with Davenport & Rogers, of Le Claire, for Credit Island. The machinery was afterward used in Swan Mills, Le Claire. In 1853 the Atna was demolished to make room for Burrows Block.
In 1844 Richard Smetham built a mill at the corner of Ripley and Front streets to grind kiln-dried corn meal, which he proposed to ship to the Liverpool market, but the enterprise, as did one or two later ones of the same particular character, came to naught.
In 1853 Davenport & Rogers built the Swan Mills at Le Claire, using the machinery taken from the Etna Mills, Davenport. This mill was afterward run by Terhune & Grout, and burned down some years after.
In 1833 Mr. Win. II. Hildreth built the Economy Flour Mills at East Davenport. The structure was of stone, the machinery of latest improvment-four run of burrs. It was first operated by Hildreth & Dallam, afterward by George T. Elliot, but, proving a thriftless venture, was finally sold to be converted into a brewery, and is now run as such by Messrs Koehler & Lange. of Arsenal Brewery. This brewery firm came into possession also of a four mill built alongside by Squires, Christie & Hoath in 1856, which was likewise a financial failure, and changed hands to be used as stated.
In 1855 Spencer & Stafford, two thrifty farmers in Pleasant Val- ley township, invested 812.000 in a large brick flour-mill at Valley City. They hauled the coal and most of their grain from Daven- port, and hanled the flour back again to Davenport to be shipped. The mill ruined its builders, and afterward was run on lease ; finally came into the hands of Mr. Mitchell, of Rock Island, and after being run a while and standing idle more or less, it was fi- nally destroyed by fire.
In 1556 John Jackson, a well-to-do farmer just north of Daven- port, invested several thousand dollars in a flour-mill on his farm. It was run by him two or three years, proved a failure, ruined Farmer Jackson, and was abandoned. Farmer Nicholas J. Rusch built a flour-mill, driven by wind-power. on his farm six miles out of Davenport, on the Dubuque road. It consumed 88,000 of his capital. and after running and idling for seven or eight years be- caine food for the flames.
In the same year Green, Gillett & Co. built a flour-mill on Second street. Davenport, between Scott and Ripley streets, which did good for eight years, and then burned down ; and in the same year Smith's wing-dam saw-mill in Le Claire was provided with flouring apparatus. Steam-power has since been added, and it is one of the mills of to day.
In 1857 Jacob Wever. Jr., built a patent flour-mill on the south- west corner of Third and Perry streets which was not a success, and the machinery was removed elsewhere. The same year Fredk.
782
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
Rothstein built a steam four-mill in Allen's Grove, which prov- ing unprofitable, was by him in 1862 removed over to the Wapsie in Clinton County, where it is yet run as a profitable water-power mill. Out at Blue Grass, in the same year, M. Donahue, of Davenport, built a flour- mill, which he operated at a loss for a few years, then removed it to Davenport. by Donahue & Stribling, and afterward became well-known as Joliston's mill; later on it was sold to H. P. Beattie who enlarged and operated it as the Ex- celsior Mills until 1879, when it burned down. and was by him re- built on an improved plan as the Phoenix Mills, but soon fell into the hands of the Phoenix Mill Company, organized by F. U. Griggs, E. S. Carl, F. T. Binnek, Henry Pahl and Robert Krause. In August, 1881, when almost ready for business, it was consumed by fire, but was again erected larger and with yet finer equipment, with latest improved roller machinery. at an expense of 875.000. It has a capacity of 400 barrels per day.
In 1857 A. Nugent built a brick flour-mill in Le Claire, which was operated by different parties for several years, and then passed out of use.
A grist-mill was built in Princeton in 1859, and was operated by Steffle & Penner, but was destroyed by fire some 20 years ago.
In 1860 J. Nyce & Co. built a mill in Fulton's block, Perry street, which was operated but a year or two.
In 1862 D. A. Burrows built a mill on the levee cornering on Perry street, which proved a failure on his hands. It was after- ward run for awhile by several parties, but in 1867 came into the hands of J. M. D. Burrows, in whose possession it burned.
Meredith & Lockwood built the Davenport City Mills on Front street, east of Le Claire street, in 1867. which, after some time, was operated by a stock company, but suspended operations in 1872.
In 1863 J. M. D. Burrows brought in the Allolessa Mill and erected it on Fifth and Harrison streets. on the site of a burned elevator. It did good business for some years; then burned, and was not rebuilt.
In 1868 Dow, Gilman & Hancock built the Crescent Mills at Fourth and Le Claire streets, which are yet in full operation, largely increased in capacity since its building. It is a roller- mill, costing $60,000, with a capacity of 300 barrels daily. In con- nection with this mill is the elevator on Fifth and Sherman streets, with a capacity of 55,000 bushels.
In 1873 Winn & Blagrove built a four-mill on Harrison street, above Sixth, which in 1877 came into the hands of Warnebold & Wittenberg, which has recently been remodeled into a roller-mill at a total cost of $25,000, and has a capacity of about 200 barrels per day.
The Davenport Oat-Meal Mills were introduced in 1879, and first occupied the northeast corner of Front and Brady, and oper- ated by a stock company with a capital of $50,000. The first
783
CITY OF DAVENPORT.
Board of Directors were: J. HI. Murphy, President; J. F. O'Con- nor, Vice-President: N. C. Martin. Secretary; J. HI. Murphy, J. F. O'Connor, S. M. Williams, N. C. Martin, Thos. Johnson, Directors, The mills were burned in 1881, and the old Burtis Honse property purchased and remodeled for the enterprise. The capital stock was all paid up and a new board elected, consisting of F. H. Griggs, F. H. Miller. N. Petersen, J. H. Murphy and J. F. O'Con- nor. It has a capacity of 100 barrels daily.
The Davenport Woolen Mills were established here in 1863 by Joseph Shields, and were operated with success from the start, and enlarged from year to year until the proprietor had invested $60.000. They were overtaken by misfortune in 1878, in the sum- mer of which year Mr. Shields died, and the establishment fell into the hands of the Davenport National Bank, which leased it out to Jennings. Brady & Tearing, and afterward sold it to a stock com- pany. The capital stock is 840.000. It was the first mill of the kind, and the last, that has been operated in the county.
Renwick's Sau-Mill was built by Renwick & Son in 1854, and has been rebuilt and improved several times since. The son, Will- iam Renwick, purchased his father's share in 1859, and the mill was conducted by him until the spring of 1575 when it was leased to Renwiek. Shaw & Crassett; it has been enlarged and improved under their management. It was rebuilt and new ma- chinery put in. in the winter of 1879-50. also new boilers and new engines put in in the winter of 1880-51. They get their logs mostly from the Chippewa and Black Rivers, and own pine forests, which they have eut. When the mill was first built it had a ca- pacity of 12,000 a day; now has from 110 to 130 thousand. They employ 160 men in the mill yards and planing mill. Their annual expenses amount to 8500. 000. excluding what they pay their wood cutters. The mill has been in operation every year but one since it was erected.
DAVENPORT GLUCOSE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
In the fall of 1872 II. G. Weinert had sneceeded in producing grape sugar out of corn starch in small quantities on a cooking stove. and laid his results and samples before the Board of Trade who ap- pointed R. Krause, N. Kuhnen and Thomas Scott as committee to examine into merits, etc. They sent samples of the grape sugar to 40 or 50 wine growers, beer brewers and to Prof. Henrickson. and all answers came favorable. A company was formed with a capital of $20,000 by II. G. Weinert, F. H. Griggs, H. II. An- dresen, R. Krause, Otto Albrecht, H. O. Seifert. N. Kuhnen, John S. Davis, Geo. L. Davenport, J. H. Murphy. G. Schlegel: buildings and machinery were constructed under H. G. Weinert, superin- tendent, and after having operated about 15 months the company
784
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.
suspended operations, having sunk over 815,000. In the fall of 1874 Mr. L. P. Best, the present superintendent, opened correspond- ence representing himself as an expert in the manufacture of grape sugar and glucose and offered to invest 83,000 if the company would furnish the balance of needed capital. A new company was formed on a basis of $30,000 and new works constructed. This company operated about two years without material success, but it satisfied interested parties that it could be made a success, and a new building, five-story brick, and new machinery were erected ard the capital doubled to $60,000 in the summer of 1876. The enterprise now became self-sustaining; was consuming 700 bushels corn daily and had accumulated by July, 1877, quite a surphis when the works were destroyed by fire, which wiped out nearly all accumulations but left the capital intact and paid the old stock- holders the first cash dividend of 63 per cent. The stockholders, having great confidence in the growing demand of the product, at once resolved to rebuild on a greatly increased capacity, and work was begun immediately clearing away the debris, and in six months from the day of the fire the new works were again in oper- ation with a daily consume of 2,000 bushels of corn. Since then until the present time there have been large buildings and im- proved machinery added until the full capacity of the works to- day amounts to 3,300 bushels corn daily consume. The company increased its capital stock to 8200,000, on Jan. 1, 1881, and at present employs a capital of over $300,000, and consumed in the vear 1881 about 700,000 bushels corn. The works consist of four and six story brick buildings and have a floor room of 131,000 square feet, besides corn-crib capacity for 150,000 bushels, and give steady employment to 75 hands, besides four teams, office help, and about 25 coopers making barrels and kegs. The quantity and quality of water being of great importance the company have sunk two artesian wells, one to a depth of 960 feet, which flows about 300 gallons of water per minute, and a second, now over 1,500 feet deep, throwing about 450 gallons of excellent pure water per min- nte, and this well when finished is expected to force the water through stand pipes to the top of the highest building at the rate of 500 gallons per minute. The standard quality of the grape sugar, glucose and table sirups, of the Davenport Glucose Manu- facturing Company has a wide reputation and is being sold to all the principal cities in the United States, and when corn is ruling at average price can be successfully exported to Europe and Ans- tralia. The works have nine large boiler engines of 250 horse- power and consume about 6,000 tons of coal per annum and 400 tons of coke.
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