USA > Iowa > Wapello County > History of Wapello County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 14
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CHAPTER XI
SOUTH OTTUMWA
The history of any community can best be told by the one who has been a citizen and has grown with its growth. Such a one is E. H. Thomas, whose large experience as a river man, newspaper publisher, postmaster and early resident is well fortified with facts gained through actual contact and observation with and of the things he portrays. Although depending entirely upon memory, the accuracy of his statements are accepted by even the most critical. He has to say in this relation :
In the early days the place appears to have been called Pickwick-by what authority I do not know. More properly speaking, it was the fifth ward of the city. Among the early residents were the Hartmans, Doughertys, Davises, Prossers, Finleys, Williams, Powells, Inskeeps and Overmans. Philip Overman and Carey Inskeep, then young and active, were here in 1851, during the high water year and assisted in the work of moving people and stock from the lowlands. My first glimpse of South Ottumwa was in 1881, when a party of us passed through the place on our way to the Bear Creek gold mines, where J. O. Briscoe was grinding limestone and telling the people that the dust from his mill was full of gold and silver. The bursting of this bubble did not affect South Ottumwa. In that year of 1881 the business end of the place was down near the south end of the approach to the Market Street bridge. The bulk of the residences appeared to be on Moore and Davis streets, and there were a few scattered along Church Street, and a number in old Richmond. There was no drain- age ; the land looked low and swampy and the weeds appeared to be in full possession of the town site. After passing through, our party agreed that this village on the edge of Ottumwa would never be much larger. Six years later, in 1887, I came to Ottumwa and located on the south side.
The place had been building up slowly through the 'zos and early 'Sos. Some sidewalks had been laid and the weeds destroyed, and it looked better to me. There I built a home and have lived here for more than twenty-five years. About the year 1885, through the activity of the boosters, South Ottumwa took on a new life. The population was small, but every resident of the place was a hustler and a booster.
Dr. W. B. Smith, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, owned the town site, and he came here frequently to assist in the work of building a town south of the river. He sold the lots on contract, with small annual payments, and
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often assisted the purchasers in erecting homes. He sold hundreds of lots on this plan, and shortly before his death he told me that he had taken but one lot back. The purchasers were largely honest, industrious wage earners, and they paid out on their contracts.
But the town builders met with some opposition. There were some influential men north of the river who said, and apparently believed, that the building of what they called a rival town would be a serious injury to the business interests of the City of Ottumwa, but the lapse of time has shown that these men were mistaken. South Ottumwa, with its 8,000 population, is a part of the city, and all of our people feel an interest in the growth and prosperity of Ottumwa. The river is now and always was an imaginary line. What is good for North Ottumwa is good for South Ottumwa and vice versa, and we feel that we should all pull together.
From 1885 to 1890 about one hundred buildings per year were erected. Many of our substantial business houses were erected during that period. The business section was extended along Church Street from Mr. Beaver's "Wash" or "mouth of the funnel," to Ward Street. Through the building in 1890 the population had reached about 1,600. As I remember it the entire population at that time north and south of the river was 14,000. The south side boosters were proud of their work during the five years and began to want some public improvements such as their neighbors had north of the river. The streets along the level required but little work, and little had been done. There were no sewers. The Town Council was made to believe that South Ottumwa was so flat that it could not get rid of the surface water or rainfall. There was no water for fire protection. There were no lights and the street-car system consisted of several small cars which were hauled back and forth across the river by mules. The good old "Jap Rose," now dead and gone, was mule driver, conductor and general manager of the car system. A. C. Leighton was the owner of the south side car lines. There was no money in the business, but the owner, always a loyal friend to South Ottumwa, had operated the cars for the accommodation of the people.
About this time the boosters held a number of mass meetings and resolved to make a vigorous effort to secure some public improvements, but the men in charge of the public utilities of Ottumwa said no, that there was not sufficient business in the new town south of the river, to warrant the extension of the light, water and electric car systems. More mass meetings were held, night sessions, and then the boosters in groups of fifty and one hun- dred at a time went before the council, but the city fathers would take no action. Receiving no encouragement from any source, more meetings were! held and a new plan of action was formulated. To secure the fire and water protection, they organized the South Ottumwa Water Company. The new company's plan was to secure a block of vacant lots, and there go down to the gravel bed, about eighteen feet, where they could secure an inexhaustible supply of clear, pure water which would sell in the market on both sides
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of the river for drinking purposes, and could also be used for fire protection. Pipes were to be laid all over the city. E. E. McElroy, then a member of the City Council, introduced an ordinance granting the new company a franchise. The ordinance passed its second reading. On the night of this meeting fifty south side men were present, and Mr. Wiley, then manager of the Ottumwa Water Company, was also there. When the motion was made to suspend the rules and adopt the ordinance on its last reading, Mr. Wiley squealed. He said that if the south side men would stop the proceedings then and there, he would at once lay the water pipes across the bridge and into South Ottumwa. The council did not vote the third time and Mr. Wiley was given one week to start the work. He made good and on the following Monday a large force of men were laying the water pipes across the river and into South Ottumwa. The South Ottumwa Water Company had served its purpose and went out of business.
The next important thing to do was to secure rapid transit to and from the city, and this movement was started by the organization of a company which was given the high-sounding title of The South Ottumwa Belt Line Railway Company. Connected with the enterprise was Charley Burkhalter, a veteran railroad engineer, who soon had an option on a small locomotive and a number of passenger cars. This rolling stock was in Des Moines, and Burkhalter was to bring it to Ottumwa and be placed in charge as general manager of the belt line. Arrangements were made for trackage over the Wabash and Milwaukee bridges and tracks, the trains to run from Church Street to the Milwaukee Junction, then down through the city and across the Wabash bridge into South Ottumwa to the place of starting. The belt line project was going along all right and there was much enthusiasm among the boosters, when the unexpected happened. The Ottumwa Electric Railway & Light Company purchased the Leighton 'mule car system on the south side and very soon thereafter the larger cars operated by electricity came spinning across the Market Street bridge and through South Ottumwa. With the improved car system came the lights, the boosters were swelled up and putting on city airs and South Ottumwa was at once recognized by one and all as a very lively part of the city. The great South Ottumwa Belt Line Railway Company at once took in its sign, closed its office and quit business. At the commencement of the agitation, some of the town builders and boosters asserted that no town could be built without a newspaper ; that they wanted an "organ" through which to talk to the people. As a result of this demand the South Ottumwa News made its appearance with its battle flag unfurled. It was a small sheet-a seven-column folio-but each and every week it went to the homes of the people of South Ottumwa and urged them to assert their rights and demand their portion of public improve- ments. The News did a paying business under one management for eleven years. It announced the meetings and many of them were held in the
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printing office. When the critical moment arrived, it aroused the people to action, and certainly did its share in boosting the town.
After South Ottumwa received the water, the cars and the lights, the controversy between the north and south side people ceased to a large extent. Since that time it has been much easier to receive needed improvements and we have had many of them. The river bank has been protected by rip- raping, a sewer system started, fine school buildings erected, factories have been located here and other improvements made. Our wage earners are employed and many things have come to us in the past twenty-five years for which we should be thankful.
From the story I have told of the pioneers and their struggle, the readers can see that this town of nearly eight thousand people is not here by chance. It is the result of the work of the early settlers in giving it a start. Their brave efforts brought to them the financial assistance of some of the leading citizens of the north side who had interests here. Many of them now have passed away, but their good work is remembered by those who survive. They have left as their monument a city of 8,000, an up-to-date town, and a desirable place to live and do business in. And another thing, as you look down the level, shaded streets, you will see many beautiful homes. These represent the savings of the occupants during the past twenty-five years. I doubt if there is any other town of equal population in this section of the country where so large a per cent of the workers own their own homes. Building operations are still going on in the valley and out on the hills.
South Ottumwa as the fifth and seventh wards, now has over one-third of the population of the city. If nothing occurs to disturb the business of the country, and our wage earners are kept employed, within a few years South Ottumwa will have one-half of the population. The increase in the city in the past twenty-five years has been about ten thousand, six thousand of which has been south of the river. In the latter part of the 'Sos business was very slow in the City of Ottumwa. Our people concluded to build a coal palace to show up its many natural advantages. The coal palace cost a lot of money, and under the conditions it took an extra effort to raise the necessary amount. Bands and halls were hired and meetings held in every ward. The few merchants and wage earners in South Ottumwa went down in their pockets and put up $1,600 for the coal palace fund. And it was a . good investment. The coal palace and the meetings held in it brought thousands of people to Ottumwa. They came from every portion of the country. As a result of this advertising, business conditions were much improved. In this movement all took a part. The same spirit of enterprise now would make Ottumwa what it should be-a great and prosperous manu- facturing city. In the old days the capitalist, the merchant and the wage earner, one and all, had their shoulders to the wheel.
POST OFFICE BUILT IN 1889, OTTUMWA
Photo by Shaw
COUNTY JAIL, OTTUMWA
CHAPTER XII
POSTOFFICE
It has generally been taken for granted that Paul C. Jeffries was Ottum- wa's first postmaster, but this is a mistake. He may have been the first incumbent of the office to have a public place for the distribution of mail, but he was not, by any means, the first to hold this position in "Uncle Sam's" service.
The postoffice at Ottumwa was established on the 19th day of June, 1844, and Isaac Mckeever was appointed and commissioned postmaster. The office was a sinecure without emoluments and wherever the postmaster happened to be, there also was the postoffice. No regularly established mail route to Ottumwa had been established, and the receipt of letters from the outside world was uncertain and intermittent. Postage stamps were not in vogue and when Postmaster Mckeever met a neighbor and took off his hat, or dove into his coat-tail pocket, the latter became expectant, as the aforesaid signs usually indicated that a letter or other missive was forth- coming. And before a letter was delivered in those days of primitive things the receiver, if he had it, paid twenty-five cents, the prevailing tariff on written messages passing through the then unpracticed hands of the Gov- ernment mail service.
David Glass, one of the Appanoose Rapids Company, who took a promi- nent part in the making and building of early Ottumwa, was the second person to hold the office of postmaster here, his commission being dated April 2, 1845. He gave way to Duane F. Gaylord, August 26, 1846, and then came Paul C. Jeffries, April 20, 1848. Mr. Jeffries figures quite largely in the early history of the county and its seat of justice. He kept the postoffice in Seth Richards' store, the only one in Ottumwa in 1848, which was under the management of Heman P. Graves. In the year Mr. Jeffries was installed in the postoffice, the Courier, of date October 6, 1848, gave the pertinent and gratifying intelligence to its readers, that "the enterprising contractors on the route from Keokuk to Fairfield, and from Fairfield to Oskaloosa, via Ottumwa, carry the through mail three times a week, when they are paid for carrying it only once a week from Keokuk to Fairfield, and twice a week from Fairfield to Oskaloosa." That was a declaration of vast importance to the men and women of the village. Before that time, mail came whenever it listeth and, when it could be looked for with assurance of its coming once every week, the pioneers felt they had gained a long stretch
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in the march toward civilized conveniences. "Three times a week" was going it pretty strenuously and frequent, but they soon got used to going for their mail so often; in fact, when mail came daily, no one made any particu- lar clamor, and eventually, when the footrunner and the "pony express" gave way to the stage, and the latter was relegated to the rear by the "fast mail," all, by the time each event occurred, was taken as a matter of course, and but little comment was aroused, good or bad. Now, and for years past, Ottumwa citizens have had mail brought to the doors of their homes and business places. The man on the farm, no matter in how secluded a place he may live, is no longer compelled to "go to town" for his letters and weekly paper; today he is a subscriber to the local and metropolitan daily publications, and gets them daily, too, together with his letters and the like, practically in front of his doorway. So it is a far cry from the cleverly folded and sealed letter of the days of Paul Jeffries, before the advent of envelopes and postage stamps. A-foot, or a-horseback, the mail man trudged his way, often a rough and dangerous one, which mayhap consumed weeks at a time. Today, the ponderous, fleet-winged iron horse practically flies over the ground, pulling in its wake massive steel cars laden with tons upon tons of mail matter of every description, at the rate of forty, fifty and sixty miles an hour.
R. H. Warden, on the 2d day of May, 1849, took up the duties devolving upon the postmaster of Ottumwa, which was then assuming proportions as a growing and masterful little trading point. The doctor held the position until April 14, 1853, when Stephen Osburn received his commission and took charge of the office. Thomas Holmes was appointed March 28, 1856, and gave way to John C. Fisher, May 21, 1858.
Stephen Osburn kept the postoffice in the rear of a tumble-down building, which stood on the lot now occupied by the Ottumwa National Bank. Before the expiration of his administration, however, the office was moved to a build- ing but little better than its predecessor, on the west side of South Court Street.
Alfred Hawkins' administration of the postoffice began July 12, 1859. He moved the office to a small frame building on the northwest corner of Court and Main streets. His successor was J. W. Norris, whose appointment was of date April 20, 1861. Mr. Norris also saw fit to consult his own con- venience, and possibly the wishes of his constituency, by establishing his headquarters in a little building on South Market Street.
Capt. S. B. Evans became postmaster at Ottumwa, November 9, 1866. He moved the office into a building that stood on the site of the Potter Building, corner of Court and Second streets. Here the postoffice remained a short time, when it was removed to the corner upon which stood the State Bank. It should be here stated that Gen. J. M. Hedrick was for a few months post- master, from April 10, 1866, to November 9. 1866. General Hedrick suc- ceeded Captain Evans, the date of his commission being March 8, 1867, and
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during his term of office he received and distributed mail in a building owned by Pat Doran on East Second Street, just east of Court. He re- moved from this location, however, into an old building that stood on the site of the Hofmann Building, corner of Market and Second streets. It was again removed to the corner of Main and Court streets, in the building now occupied by the Ottumwa Savings Bank.
Maj. A. H. Hamilton was appointed postmaster February 16, 1871. He later moved the postoffice to the Leighton Block, corner of Second and Market, now the home of the Pastime Moving Picture Theater. Capt. S. B. Evans was again appointed June 21, 1885. R. L. Tilton succeeded Captain Evans December 21, 1889, and those who followed him in the responsible position are the herein named persons: J. R. Burgess, February 14, 1894: A. W. Lee, February 7, 1898; Fred W. Wilson, November 23, 1903; Frank A. Nimocks, January 26, 1909; Charles W. McCarty, July 23. 1913.
THE OFFICE ASSUMES METROPOLITAN PROPORTIONS
In 1889 Congress made an appropriation of $35,000 for the erection of a Federal Building at this point. The site was selected and secured on East Third Street, opposite the City Park, whereon a splendid Federal Building was erected and, in 1890, occupied by the local department, which was then under the administration of R. L. Tilton. This fine brick structure cost the Government about $40,000, and was occupied until April 1, 1910, when tem- porary quarters were found in the Armory. Here the business of the postal department was performed until June 1, 1912, when it removed to the new Federal Building, which stands on the site of the old and cost something over $200,000. This is a magnificent modern structure of steel and stone, and has every device and convenience that could be secured by the Wash- ington authorities. The upper floor is devoted to the United States Court. which was established at Ottumwa, May 8, 1907, the first terms of which were held in the Wapello County Courthouse. Here Judge Smith McPherson presides. The district attorney is Hon. Claude R. Porter, of Centerville, one of the leading lawyers of the state. Other officials of the Federal Court are : N. F. Reed, United States marshal ; Frank M. Hardy, deputy clerk; W. C. McArthur and Miss Rilla Stain, deputy clerks.
The Ottumwa postoffice department employs a force of fifty-three per- sons, among which are sixteen clerks, sixteen city carriers, nine rural carriers, two city substitutes, two rural substitutes, one special messenger and three screen wagons. This list does not include the postmaster and his assistant. There are also five janitors for the building, and it may not be out of place to say that recently a representative of the treasury department stated that there was not a better kept building belonging to the Government in the United States than the one in Ottumwa, and he had inspected all of them.
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The free city delivery system was established here under the administra- tion of Maj. A. H. Hamilton, with three carriers. The rural mail service was established in 1899, one carrier being appointed as an experiment. This employe's salary was $500 per year, but to eke out his compensation he was allowed to carry bundles and solicit for newspapers, etc. There are now nine rural carriers, and on July 1, 1914, the salary of eight of them was advanced to $1,200 per year.
The postal savings system was established here October 14, 1911, with twenty depositors. Since then 204 accounts have been opened with the bank, and that department now has on deposit $9.386. The business indicates a gradual growth. Government bonds have been sold to depositors to the amount of $2,100.
The money order department of this office was established July 1, 1865, under the administration of J. W. Norris. During the fiscal year 237 money orders were issued for the aggregate amount of $2,996.50. The fee for the smallest money order drawn for that time was ten cents, as against three cents under the present system. To show the growth of the money order business of this office the following statement for the year ending December 31, 1913, is given:
Number of domestic orders issued. 26,312.00
Amount for which drawn. $139,282.25
Number international orders issued 614.00
Amount for which drawn. $15,442.53
Number domestic orders paid, 20,685 ; amount 134,582.38
Number international paid, 33; amount. $1,027.46
Amount received from other offices as a depository $372,352.00
In connection with the above it might be well to state that the accuracy of the clerks in this department is worthy of note, from the fact that the auditor for the postoffice department gave the local office a credit of two cents, to close the money order business for the year ending December 31, 1913, that being the difference in the accounts.
Some time in 1912 the parcels post system was inaugurated, and at once began to make large inroads in the registry business, as most of the parcels which were formerly registered are now sent by parcels post, insured. This branch of the department has been a strong feature in connection with the postoffice. For example, in December of 1913 the receipts of the office were more than $1,700 greater than the previous December, most of which Post- master McCarty attributes to the parcels post. The larger parcels are delivered from the office by automobile and the smaller ones by regular carriers.
Photo by Shaw
PUBLIC LIBRARY, OTTUMWA
1
Photo by Shaw
GOVERNMENT BUILDING, POST OFFICE AND FEDERAL COURT, OTTUMWA
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY
The registry business for the year ending June 30, 1913, was as follows:
Originated and dispatched from Ottumwa office. 7,813
Received for delivery 9,092
Handled in transit. 17,807
There are six contract stations connected with this office, all of which sell stamps, write money orders and handle registered mail. Four of them are designated as parcels post stations. The receipts of the office for the year ending March 31, 1914, amounted to $79,213.09, or almost $6,000 more than for the previous year. During the year ending March 31, 1914, the office sent to Des Moines, the Government's depository for Iowa, $30,888.01, this being the amount of money received by the office in excess of its expenses.
The present postmaster, C. W. McCarty, took charge of the office August 18, 1913. C. G. Keyhoe, assistant postmaster, entered the service as city carrier in the year 1890 and remained in that position nineteen years, when he was appointed assistant postmaster, under Frank A. Nimocks. M. P. Con- sodine entered the service in 1896, and was appointed superintendent of mails in 1911.
CHAPTER XIII
FINANCIAL
The banking houses of Ottumwa are indices, as shown by statements published at the behest of the Federal Government, of the wealth and prog- ress of the community. These institutions are in the hands and keeping of men endowed with mental equipment for the activities of their craft and are fortified by the unstinted confidence of a large clientele in their probity, conservatism and modern methods of safeguarding funds and other treasure entrusted to their care. Ottumwa may well be satisfied with the character and strength of her banking concerns. The aggregated deposits, over $6,000,000, are something to make the observing man conclude that the banks are forceful and dependable factors of the city's forwardness and increasing importance in the state. They stand as a bulwark when threatening condi- tions harass business, and have often proved to be in the nature of a life buoy to many in temporary financial straits.
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