USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 12
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The powers mentioned above were conferred upon the county judge by the Code of 1851. A statute passed in 1853 turned the swamp lands of the state over to the counties, which were to sell them and use the proceeds for roads and bridges. The County Court was given jurisdiction in fixing the value of the lands and the supervision of their sale by the drainage commis- sioner .. Under the prohibitory act of 1855 the county judge appointed agents to buy liquor and sell it for medicinal, mechanical and sacramental purposes. The judge fixed their compensation, and drew from the county treasury such sums as he thought necessary for the purchase of the liquor. This plan remained in effect for less than two years.
A law passed in 1858 made it the duty of the county judge to cause such of the general laws, passed at any future session of the Legislature, as he might consider of interest to the people of his county to be published in two weekly newspapers, if so many were published in the county. The rate for publication was not to exceed 35 cents a thousand ems.
The act of 1851, creating the county judge system, was repealed by an act of the Legislature, approved March 22. 1860. By and under that measure a board of supervisors was to be elected in each county, consisting of one supervisor elected by each township and one additional supervisor in any township for every 4.000 inhabitants above 4.000. The act went into effect formally on July 4. 1860, but supervisors were not to be elected until November and were not to take office until the following January ( 1861). when the county judge system actually came to an end. The office of county judge was retained, but with only judicial powers. The office ceased to exist in each county when the first elected county auditor took office in accordance with the statute-which under normal conditions meant January, 1870.
Silas Osburn was the first person elected to the office of county judge. and fulfilled his duties faithfully and well. It was under his administra- tion that the second courthouse was erected, and his name was indelibly portrayed on a marble tablet placed above the front doorway. Judge Osburn remained in this office from 185t until 1857. when he was succeeded by Joseph H. Flint. Judge Flint managed the county's affairs until 1861. when he was retired automatically, under the act creating the board of supervisors. A glowing tribute to the excellencies of these two pioneer officials was rendered by Hon. E. Il. Stiles, on the occasion of the dedication of the new courthouse, which will be found in the chapter entitled "Organ- ization of Wapello County."
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
SUPERVISOR SYSTEM
The act creating the supervisor system went into effect in 1860, and the first board was elected to take office in January, 1861. Each township re- turned a member of the board, and was so represented until 1871, when an act of the Legislature changed the representation on the board to three members, elected at large. Below is given a list of all officials of the county from 1844 to 1914, with the exception of the county commissioners and county judges. Their names appear in the foregoing paragraphs. The office of probate judge and the incumbents are treated in the chapter on the bench and bar :
LIST OF COUNTY OFFICIALS FROM 1844 TO 1914
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
1861-William Cloyd, Thomas Bedwell, George Gillaspy, G. F. Myers, A. Major, J. C. Hinsey, William Knight, Silas Osburn, W. C. McIntire, L. Rose, George Neville, Aaron Harlan, Moses C. Israel, Peter Knox.
1862-Thomas Bedwell, William Cloyd, Martin Dickens, J. C. Hinsey, Peter Knox, William Knight, G. F. Myers, George Neville, Silas Osburn, L. Rose, J. Y. Simpson, G. W. Draper, M. C. Israel, Moses Fairburn.
1863-A. H. Butin, C. S. Carwile, Martin Dickens, Thomas Bedwell, George Neville, Silas Osburn, William Cloyd, J. C. Hinsey, Peter Knox, L. A. Myers, H. Reinhard, G. W. Dresser, W. C. McIntire, J. Y. Simpson. 1864-S. Packwood, P. M. Warder, J. W. Hedrick, S. A. Monroe, G. Temple, L. A. Myers, William Cloyd, J. Y. Simpson, C. S. Carwile, H. Reinhard, Silas Osburn, A. H. Butin, George Neville, M. Welch.
1865-James M. Hull, George Neville, Henry Reinhard, E. C. Myers, D. R. Swope, P. M. Warder, L. A. Myers, J. W. Hedrick, Silas Osburn, S. A. Monroe, William Cloyd, W. H. Dunlap, J. R. Kerfoot, George F. Myers.
1866-George Temple, Silas Osburn, J. W. Hedrick, Joseph Myers, Isaac W. Stanley, N. Williams, John H. Carver, E. T. Neville, Charles Barbour, M. L. Godley, George F. Myers, S. A. Monroe, Henry Reinhard, William Cloyd.
1867-J. W. Hedrick, George Temple, J. H. Carver, William Cloyd, Charles Barbour, John Harlan, William Evans, M. L. Godley, John Wilcox, Edward Neville, Joseph Myers, S. A. Monroe, Henry Reinhard, A. H. Butin.
1868-J. W. Hedrick, J. D. Ladd, A. Lotspeich, J. H. Carver, E. L. Randel, Charles Barbour, Henry Reinhard, John Molmuby, E. T. Neville, Moses C. Israel, William Cloyd, A. H. Butin, William Evans, R. W. Boyd, John Harlan
:
GRAND OPERA HOUSE. OTTUMWA
THE OPERA
THE OLD OPERA HOUSE. OTTO MWA
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
1869-A. Lotspeich, William Cloyd, Charles Barbour, John Harlan, Henry Reinhard, John Molmuby, John Carver, E. L. Randel, R. Hyatt, James D. Ladd, R. W. Boyd, W. H. Kitterman, William Evans, E. T. Neville, Moses C. Israel.
1870-O. D. Tisdale, William Cloyd, W. C. Reynolds, R. Hyatt, G. A. Derby, G. W. Dickens, R. W. Boyd, W. H. Kitterman, William Evans, S. A. Monroe, E. T. Neville, John Harlan, T. Slutz, T. Poster.
1871-System changed to board of three members: H. Canfield, Henry Reinhard, T. J. Nelson.
1872-H. Canfield, Henry Reinhard, T. J. Nelson.
1873-Henry Reinhard, D. H. Michael, T. J. Nelson.
1874-S. Mccullough, D. H. Michael, T. J. Nelson.
1875-D. H. Michael, S. Mccullough, S. M. Wright. 1876-S. Mccullough, S. M. Wright, D. H. Michael.
1877-S. M. Wright, D. H. Michael, John Postlewaite.
1878-John Postlewaite, G. W. Fair, D. L. Hardy, the latter to fill vacancy.
1879-John Postlewaite, G. W. Fair, Henry Reinhard. 1880-G. W. Fair, Henry Reinhard, C. C. Warden. 1881-Henry Reinhard, C. C. Warden, Mathew Henry. 1882-C. C. Warden, Mathew Henry, Page White. 1883-Mathew Henry, Page White, W. E. Jones. 1884-Page White, W. E. Jones, Frank Warder. 1885-W. E. Jones, Frank Warder, Curtis Chisman.
1886-Frank Warder, Curtis Chisman, J. B. Mowery.
1887-Curtis Chisman, J. B. Mowery, E. M. Whetsel. 1888-J. B. Mowery, E. M. Whetsel, David Jay. 1889-E. M. Whetsel, David Jay, J. B. Mowery. 1890-David Jay, J. B. Mowery, J. C. Ives. 1891-J. B. Mowery, J. C. Ives, J. F. Baum and O. P. Bizer.
1892-J. C. Ives, J. F. Baum, O. P. Bizer.
1893-J. F. Baum, O. P. Bizer, Norman Reno. 1894-O. P. Bizer, Norman Reno, Samuel Johnson.
1895-Norman Reno, Samuel Johnson, M. L. Kirk. 1896-Samuel Johnson, M. L. Kirk, J. M. Elder. 1897-M. L. Kirk, J. M. Elder, Samuel Johnson. 1898-J. M. Elder, Samuel Johnson, H. B. Wagers. 1899-Samuel Johnson, H. B. Wagers, J. M. Elder. 1900-HI. B. Wagers, J. M. Elder, J. H. R. Spilman. 1901-J. M. Elder, J. H. R. Spilman, John McElroy. 1902-J. M. McElroy, A. J. Gardner, T. J. Reinier. 1903-J. M. McElroy, A. J. Gardner, T. J. Reinier. 1904-T. J. Reinier, John M. McElroy, A. J. Gardner. 1905-T. J. Reinier, John McElroy, A. J. Gardner. Vol. 1-8
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
1906-A. J. Gardner, T. J. Reinier, William Wilson. 1907-A. J. Gardner, T. J. Reinier, William Wilson. 1908-T. J. Reinier, William Wilson, Johan Reinhard. 1909-William Wilson, J. W. Reinhard, A. J. Fairchild. 1910-J. W. Reinhard, A. J. Fairchild, J. W. Jordan. 19II-A. J. Fairchild, H. B. Patterson, J. W. Hall. 1912-H. B. Patterson, J. W. Hall, J. R. Stodghill. 1913-J. W. Hall, J. R. Stodghill, H. B. Patterson.
Sheriff-1847, Joseph Hayne; 1849, Duane F. Gaylord; 1853, D. H. Michael; 1855, William H. Williams; 1857, William Lewis, Jr .; 1859, L. E. Gray, resigned and A. M. Bonnifield appointed to fill vacancy ; 1865, George A. Derby ; 1867, Thomas Bedwell; 1869, Samuel A. Swiggett; 1873, T. P. Spilman ; 1877, D. W. Stewart ; 1880, S. Chaney ; 1884, J. W. Work- man ; 1888, L. J. Michael ; 1890, J. W. McIntire ; 1894, Thomas Stodghill ; 1898, B. F. Slutts; 1902, J. H. Cremer ; 1906, W. W. Jackson; 1910, W. E. Knox.
Treasurer and Collector-1844, Thomas Foster; 1845, Charles Overman ; 1846, William G. Ross ; 1847, Joseph Leighton ; 1851, James Pumroy ; 1855, Peter Knox; 1857, William J. Ross; 1862, Joseph Hayne; 1867, William J. Ross; 1869, Alfred Lotspeich; 1873, William H. H. Asbury; 1877, W. I. Poag; 1880, W. A. Nye; 1884, George Bane; 1890, I. D. Mowery; 1894, W. R. Warren; 1898, John H. Spry; 1902, R. P. Dana ; 1906, James V. Curran; 1910, Henry Glenn.
Recorder-1844, M. J. Spurlock ; 1845, Charles Overman ; 1846, William J. Ross; 1847, Joseph Leighton; 1851, James Pumroy; 1855, Peter Knox ; 1857, William J. Ross; 1862, Joseph Hayne; 1866, Daniel W. Tower; 1872, Wade Kirkpatrick; 1881, John Harness; 1885, James Hondyshell; 1891, J. M. Kussart ; 1893, H. L. Hedrick ; 1894, W. S. Parks; 1897, C. T. Porter ; 1901, George H. Smith ; 1904, L. L. Swenson; 1911, L. E. Cawley.
Judge of Probate-1844, Paul C. Jeffries; 1846, G. B. Savery (this judge could have held office but a short time, for in 1846 we find that James Weir was also judge) ; 1848, James Baker; 1849, D. M. C. Lane; 1850, George May. After 1851 this office was known as a part of the county judge system, a plan which obtained after the abolishment of the business office of county judge in 1861 and until the establishment of the Circuit Court in 1869, when the probate business passed under the juris- diction of the circuit judge. After Silas Osburn and Joseph H. Flint, in 1865, came S. Porter, until 1869.
Auditor-1869, the year the office was created, George D. Hackworth ; 1873, William H. Caldwell; 1875, M. B. Myers ; 1880, M. L. Godley ; 1882, E. Washburn; 1888, H. B. Wagers; 1890, James Hicks; 1893, H. B. Wagers ; 1897, Morgan Griswold; 1901, I. H. Hammond; 1904, J. R. Criley ; 1906, C. W. McCarty ; 1910, J. F. Stevens.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
Prosecuting Attorney-1846, H. B. Hendershott; 1848, William 11. Brumfield; 1852, James Baker ; 1854. Thomas Bigham. In 1858 the office was changed to district prosecutor.
County Attorney-1889, A. C. Steck : 1891, C. A. Walsh; 1893, Sumner Siberell; 1807, A. W. Enoch : 1901, D. 11. Emery : 1902, Seneca Cornell ; 1904. W. W. Epps; 1906, Seneca Cornell; 1911, Daniel F. Steck.
Clerk of District Court-1844, H. B. Hendershott; 1846, John W. Ross; 1848, Thomas G. Given ; 1852, Joseph Hayne ; 1856, Joseph Campbell; 1858. Joseph Hayne: 1860, Ilugh Brown: 1864. 1 .. M. Godley: 1879, W. C. Thompson; 1885. J. T. Purdue : 1880, C. E. Norton: 1801, John Shehan ; 1&)3. HI. I .. Hedrick: 1807, O. J. Garriott; 1001, H. W. Michael; 1904, Edwin Dungan ; 1906, George Phillips ; 1913. W. T. Wilson.
Surveyor-1844, William Dewey: 1849. George D. Hlackworth; 1851. Joel B. Myers : 1853. Thomas Fowler ; 1855. Walter Clement ; 1859. Thomas Fowler; 1861. W. M. Clark: 1865, John Grant: 1868, George D. Hack- worth; 1870, John D. Baker; 1872, 1 .. D. MeGlashon; 1870. John D. Baker; 1880, Samuel 11. Burton: 1882, John D. Baker; 1884, Samuel II. Burton; 1888, John D. Baker: 1800, Samuel H. Burton: 1892, John T. Brady; 1804. C. R. Allen : 1896, Gordon Bell; 1900, C. R. Allen; 1909, W. C. Wyman; 1911, Samuel H. Burton.
Coroner-1849. A. George ; 1851, Alexander Brown ; 1853. - Griggs; 1855, William E. Coe; 1859, C. G. Packard: 1861, J. G. Porter; 1865, A. L. Chamberlain; 1869. J. C. Hinsey; 1873. E. L. Lathrop; 1877, A. C. Olney; 1882, James Carter : 1884, E. H. Sage; 1888, S. A. Spilman ; 1800, E. M. Arenschield; 1892, L. Campbell; 1804. J. Williamson : 1898, John O'Donnell; 1900, C. C. Powell; 1901, David Throne: 1902, F. W. Mills ; 1906, S. E. O'Neill; 1908, Dr. J. C. Box; 1909. Dr. A. W. Slanght ; 1913, Dr. J. W. Elerick.
Superintendent of Schools-1859, George D. Hackworth ; 1863, John M. McElroy; 1865, B. A. Spaulding; 1867, S. L .. Burnham: 1860, Henry C. Cox : 1871, N. M. Ives; 1873, Clay Wood : 1877, W. A. MeIntire; 1880, T. J. Sloan ; 1882, W. A. MeIntire: 1800. George Phillips; 1894. Joseph Parks; 1900, Beniah Dimmitt ; 1903, Emma Nye : 1909. Mrs. Elizabeth Burgess.
CHAPTER X
OTTUMWA IS INCORPORATED
By the year 1850 Ottumwa had a population of about five hundred. The number of merchants had increased, the mill at the foot of Market Street was running full tilt, but was unable to keep up with the demand, both for lumber and ground cereals. The spring of 1849 had been unus- ually brisk in the way of building operations. Steamboat arrivals on the Des Moines, with freight and grain, began to be quite frequent. In the fall of 1849, a literary lyceum was organized and seventy-five dollars was subscribed for its library. The officers were: Rev. B. A. Spaulding, presi- dent ; 1I. B. Hendershott, vice president ; Bertrand Jones, recording sec- retary; J. W. Norris, corresponding secretary; R. H. Warden, treasurer ; James Leighton, librarian.
In 1848, the Des Moines Courier, now the Ottumwa Courier, had been established by Joseph H. D. Street and R. H. Warden. In the following year, James McFarland, a tailor by occupation, partially erected the first two-story brick building in the place, which was left unfinished for some time. It was used as a public hall and later the Temple Brothers Bank was installed within its walls. W. B. Bonnifield had a bank there, and later the First National Bank's headquarters were in the building.
In the year 1850 Ottumwa was still but little more than a hamlet. There were no sidewalks then and not until 1857, when Josiah Myers was the carpenter who laid a public board walk on the north side of Main, from Green to Market Streets. The elevation, from Green to Washington, was from three to five feet below the present level, the lowest part being decid- edly swampy, and on the south side the block on Main, between Market and Green, was Captain Davis' boat yard, where flatboats were constructed for the transportation of produce down the river and thence on to New Orleans. It was during this period that a public wharf was built at the foot of Court Street, for in those days the Des Moines River was not only considered navigable but in fact was traversed by packets and flatboats, carrying freight and passengers. The first consignment of goods to the Kittredge & Merrill wholesale grocery concern was shipped from St. Louis and arrived by vessel at the Ottumwa wharf in 1858. The event was an interesting one and was witnessed by the larger part of the men, women and children of the place.
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118
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
The matter of a church home for the Methodists took on concrete form when a lot was bought for $85 in 1850, upon which to erect a house of worship. Material was secured the next year but the building was not finished before 1857. The pioneer church building in Ottumwa, was built by the First Congregational Church society in 1851, on Court Street, near Second.
The name of the town of "Louisville" was legally changed to that of "Ottumwa," May 26, 1845, by Chapter 34, Acts of the Seventh Legislative Assembly. In the year 1851, the question of separating from Center Town- ship and incorporating the county seat as a village was submitted to a vote and carried. The preliminary proceedings of the district court were adjusted favorably to the project and commissioners were appointed to call an election, which was duly held and the following list of officers was selected by the electorate: President, George Gillaspy; clerk, Bertrand Jones ; treasurer, Duane F. Gaylord; assessor, Joseph Leighton; marshal, T. A. Taylor. A complete list of the two chief officials of the city from 1851 to 1915 follows:
NAMES OF MAYORS AND CLERKS OF OTTUMWA FROM 1851 TO 1915
1851-George Gillaspy, president of the board; Bertrand Jones, clerk ; resigned October 24, succeeded by William H. Bonnifield.
1852-Albert Mudge, president of board; H. B. Hendershott, clerk.
1853-Albert Mudge, president of board; H. B. Hendershott, clerk. 1854-A. L. Graves, president of board; William L. Orr, clerk. 1855-C. C. Warden, president of board; William L. Orr, clerk. 1856-James Hawley, president of board; Charles Lawrence, clerk.
1857-The city of Ottumwa was this year organized under its special charter. Duane F. Gaylord, mayor; James D. Devin, recorder.
1858-A. H. Hamilton, mayor; Newton Doggett, recorder: resigned October 18, succeeded by Walter Goldsmith.
1859-George Gillaspy, mayor; Walter Goldsmith, recorder ; resigned July II, succeeded by A. W. Gaston.
1860-William L. Orr, mayor; S. B. Thrall, recorder.
1861-Erastus Washburn, mayor; S. B. Thrall, recorder.
1862-Samuel Gossage, mayor; A. W. Gaston, recorder.
1863-Samuel Gossage, mayor ; A. W. Gaston, recorder.
1864-Manlove McFarlin, mayor; J. M. Douglass, recorder.
1865-Samuel Gossage, mayor; J. M. Douglass, recorder.
1866-James Hawley, Sr., mayor; Robert Burke, recorder; resigned November 5, succeeded by S. B. Thrall.
1867-James Hawley, Sr., mayor ; S. B. Thrall, recorder.
1868-The city this year reorganized under the General Incorporation Laws of the state. C. E. Fulton, mayor; S. B. Thrall, clerk.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
1869-C. E. Fulton, mayor; S. B. Thrall, clerk.
1870-W. B. Littleton, mayor; W. H. Caldwell, clerk.
1871-W. B. Littleton, mayor ; W. H. Caldwell, clerk. 1872-W. I .. Orr, mayor; G. F. Foster, clerk.
1873-W. L. Orr, mayor; G. F. Foster, clerk.
1874-W. L. Orr, mayor; W. II. Resor, clerk.
1875-W. L. Orr, mayor; W. Il. Gorsuch, clerk; resigned April 26, 1875, succeeded by W. II. Fetzer.
1876-City limits extended this year. O. D. Tisdale, mayor; W. II. Fetzer, clerk.
1877-J. S. Porter, mayor; W. H. Fetzer, clerk.
1878-J. S. Porter, mayor ; W. H. Fetzer, clerk.
1879-W. II. Resor, mayor; died January 25. 1880, H. L. Waterman appointed to fill vacancy, February 9, 1880; W. H. Fetzer, clerk.
1880-1[. I .. Waterman, mayor; W. H. Fetzer, elerk.
1881-City limits extended this year. H. L. Waterman, mayor; W. H. Fetzer, clerk.
1882-11. 1 .. Waterman, mayor; W. H. Fetzer, clerk.
1883-11. 1 .. Waterman, mayor; W. H. Fetzer, clerk.
1884-G. A. Madison, mayor; W. S. Coen, clerk.
1885-G. A. Madison, mayor; C. A. Walsh, clerk.
1886-Frank Dungan, mayor; C. A. Walsh, clerk; resigned April 5, 1886, succeeded by A. Melick.
1887-H. B. Hendershott, mayor ; H. D. Crawford, clerk.
1888-H. B. Hendershott, mayor; M. A. Roberts, clerk.
1889-W. W. Epps, mayor; M. A. Roberts, clerk.
1800-W. W. Epps, mayor ; M. A. Roberts, clerk.
181-City limits extended this year. J. R. Burgess, mayor ; James Conway, clerk.
1892-J. R. Burgess, mayor ; James Conway, clerk.
1893-5-In 1893 Ottumwa was organized as a city of the first class and the proper officers elected at the March biennial election. D. A. LaForce, mayor ; L. M. Godley, auditor and clerk.
18)5-7-D. A. LaForce, mayor; L. M. Godley, auditor and clerk. 1807-9-T. J. Phillips, mayor; W. A. Stevens, auditor and clerk. 1809-1901-T. J. Phillips, mayor ; W. A. Stevens, auditor and clerk. 1901-1903-T. H. Pickler, mayor; W. R. Lewis, auditor and clerk. 1003-1005-T. H. Pickler, mayor; W. R. Warren, auditor and clerk. 1905-1907-B. F. Slutts, mayor; W. R. Warren and F. A. Nimocks, auditor and clerk.
1007-1900-Thomas J. Phillips, mayor ; Charles Deeds, auditor and elerk.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
1909-1911-Thomas J. Phillips, mayor ; removed from office and suc- ceeded by S. P. Hartman, appointed August 22, 1910; Charles Deeds, auditor and clerk.
1911-1913-S. H. Harper, mayor ; died December 17, 1911, succeeded by L. A. Gordon, appointed December 21, 1911; M. L. Byrne, auditor and clerk.
1913-1915-Pat Leeny, mayor; M. L. Byrne, clerk; T. F. Norfolk, auditor.
OTTUMWA IN 1853
Ottumwa was quite a busy little trading point in 1853, and gave many evidences of prosperity. There were eight dry-goods stores, two drug stores, . one clothing and one grocery store, a stove store, with a tin shop in con- nection ; a harness shop, two church buildings-Congregational and Catholic -and a Methodist Church in course of construction ; two hotels, a tannery, saw and grist mill, a carding machine to prepare the native wool for cloth- ing ; a chair shop, gunsmith shop, three blacksmith shops, four shoe shops, three tailor shops, a bakery and confectionery, a printing office, a newspaper, a land office, and a daguerrotype or photograph gallery. The Masons, Odd Fel- lows, Sons of Temperance and Cadets of Temperance had established lodges and were flourishing. T. Sinnamon's chain ferry was in operation and every able-bodied man busy.
THE CITY HALL
The offices of the chief executive and other officials were for a long time in an old frame building that stood on Market Street, south of Main. This structure was destroyed by fire February 25, 1873. which compelled the removal of the officials to quarters in what was known as the Gerlach Build- ing. A few months later, on July 7, 1873. a lot was purchased for $3,000, situated on the east side of Market Street, between Third and Fourth, upon which the present two-story brick city hall was built in 1873 and occu- pied in January, 1874. The cost of the structure was about thirteen thousand dollars. On the ground floor the fire department had its para- phernalia until 1901, when the new building for No. I fire station was erected. Since then only the rear part is devoted to the patrol wagons, horses and city jail. Most of the front part of this floor is occupied by two rooms, the larger being the municipal court room; the other is police headquarters. The second floor contains the council chamber and offices of the clerk, city engineer and others.
STREET PAVING
The first street paving operations in Ottumwa began about the year 1870 and since that time this improvement has steadily progressed until today
MARKET STREET BRIDGE OVER DES MOINES RIVER, OTTUMWA
SARGENT'S
OTTUMI & NATIONAL TANK
Photo by Shaw
MAIN STREET, OTTUMWA
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
the city has many miles of splendid thoroughfares that will compare favor- ably with those in other cities of the state. The first work of the kind was begun in the business district, macadam and telford being the kind of pay- ing used. Brick for the construction of solid. durable streets, later came into vogue and in 1890 work of this class was started on Main Street from Wapello to Washington, vitrified brick being the material used. The same year paving was laid on Main from Washington to Court; on Washington, from Main to the Union Depot ; and on Court, from Second to Sixth. The following year paving was continued on Court, from Sixth to Woodland; on Washington, from Main to Second; on Main, from Court to Jefferson. From thence on to and including 1913, the work of improving the streets continued. In the year of 1904, Washington, from Second to Fourth, and Third, from Washington to Court were given asphalt pavements, and in 1910, a creosote pavement was laid on College Street, from Second to Fourth. Many alleys have brick paving. The aggregated amount of street paving, from 1800 to 1914, according to John T. Brady, the efficient city engineer, is approximately eighteen miles, and the total cost, $614,451.
SEWER SYSTEM
No city has completed its methods of sanitation until a system of sew- erage is evolved and in a fair measure completed. The utilization of water- works is but partial in results without proper drainage to carry off and eliminate refuse matter. The health of a community is always an impor- tant factor in the solution of public improvement problems and the virtue of subserving the health of the general public was recognized when, about 1870, a sewerage system was adopted and put in operation.
From 1870 to 1804. according to a tabulated report prepared and com- piled by the city engineer in January. 1914, there were 3.78 miles of sewers constructed of hand-made brick, laid in natural cement, at a total cost of $70,832. These sewers are all of the combined storm and sanitary system, and few are used exclusively for sanitary drainage.
The building of what is technically designated as trunk sewers com- menced in 1897 and continued to the present time. What is known as the Blake's Branch sewer is eight to ten feet in diameter and cost $103.600; the Mill Street, eight-foot, cost $40,000; Finley Avenue, six-foot. $45,000; Richmond, ten-foot, $4.000 ; Ballingall, five-foot, $19,800.
There has been constructed from the year 1870 to the present time. exclusive of catch basin laterals and service drains to houses, about thirty- five miles of main sewer. The trunk sewers are of two and three-ring brick, generally of composite construction by use of concrete cradles and rubble stone backing. First-class, hard-burned sewer brick and paving brick, laid in cement, were used. The total length of all sewers in the city approximates forty-two miles and the total cost $523.232.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
FIRE DEPARTMENT
In 1845 Ottumwa had about eighteen buildings, primitive in design and not of any great intrinsic value, as such things are now considered. But in those days of small things, while timber was plenty, lumber was scarce and a dollar looked as big as a cart wheel to the majority. A house then meant a great deal to its owner, and the loss of a home by flood, gale or fire was indeed a calamity. Precaution, therefore, was early observed and means devised for protection of the homes and business places against fire. The river contained plenty of water, but in cases of emergency it was not always available. Wells and cisterns had barely come into vogue. Public wells were soon dug, however, and the head of each family was cautioned to keep constantly on hand buckets to be used in case of fire. When a building did become a victim of the destroying element, "bucket brigades" were formed, by men, women and children, who stood in line and passed the buckets from hand to hand, emptying them on the flames and passing them back to the place of beginning, where they were refilled and the same performance gone over again. As the town grew larger and buildings in- creased, practically every able-bodied man was a member of a volunteer fire company, which had been provided with a few hundred feet of hose and a hand pump. In January, 1868, a fire broke out, in which Wilson & Com- pany's store and other property was destroyed, entailing a loss of $25,000. In the month of October of the same year, a real and terrifying calamity overtook the place, in a conflagration that swept the business district, entail- ing a loss of $400,000. Then the property owners began to wake up and realize the necessity of adopting more drastic and efficient means of fighting fire. Therefore, in the month of December of that year, a volunteer fire company was organized, which was not only equipped with rules and regu- lations, but also engines and other necessary paraphernalia for the work assumed. John Wood was the foreman, but no record is available from which to determine who were the other members.
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