History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa, Part 75

Author: Alexander, W. E; Western Publishing Company (Sioux City, Iowa)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Sioux City, Ia. : Western Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 75
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

man Superintendent. The present Stewards are: J. Brawford, D. W. Reed, John Stillman, P. C. Huffman, H. O. Dayton, M. W. Nesmith, J. S. Nitterauer, A. T. Stillman and L. Eells; and the Trustees: G. H. Bryant, H. J. Bentley, E. D. Purdy, D. W. Reed, Henry Dayton and J. S. Nitterauer. From the conference minutes it is found that in 1856 this charge was "to be supplied." Since that year the pastors have been: John Fawcett, 1857-8; W. E. McCormac, 1858-60; F. C. Mather, 1860-62; J. F. Hestwood, 1862-64; A. Falkner, 1864-5; B. D. Alden 1865-7; Rufus Ricker, 1867-9; J. R. Cameron, 1869-72; Wm. Cobb, 1872-74; B. C. Hammond, 1874-7; J. A. Ward, 1877-80; D. Sheffer, 1880-81: T. E. Fleming, 1881- and present pastor.

Catholic .- In 1855 Rev. Father Kinsella bought forty acres of land northwest of town, and built thereon a log church, in which his people worshiped for many years. In 1864 they purchased the property of Lewis H. Clark in Waukon, being a part of block 4 in Shattuck's addition, corner of School and High streets, and converted his dwelling into a place of worship. This soon became too small for the growing congregation, and in 1868 the present large brick church was erected on the site of the old building, which was moved a short distance to one side, to the rear of the parsonage. March 9, 1869, the old building was destroyed by a fire, in which the records were lost, and this sketch is necessarily incomplete. Since Father Kinsella its priests have been Farrell, Nagle, Lowry, Brennan, McGowan, and Hawe, who still presides over this charge. The church membership is about one hundred. The church a few years since purchased a part of block 5, opposite their place of worship and parsonage-the site of the old public school house-whereon they have this season (1SS2) erected a fine brick edifice, three stories above the basement, with mansard roof, at a cost of $5,000, for the purpose of a sisters' school.

German Presbyterian .- This church was organized by Rev. A. Van Vliet, of Dubuque, August 11, 1856. Its first pastor was Rev. Jacob Kalb, who remained about a year. Rev. Buehren next supplied the field for a short time. After his resignation Rev. Renskers became the regular pastor, and labored here with great ability and success until 1864, and during his pastorate, in 1860, a frame church was built on block 13, Delafield's addition, north- east of the college grounds. It was in recent years purchased and moved off by J. Loughran, who uses it for a seminary. In 1864 a division of the church occurred, those living east of Waukon organizing themselves into the German Reformed Church, east of town, who have built a place of worship there, and the others have since become the German Presbyterian Church of Ludlow. Rens- kers was succeeded by S. Elliker, under whose administration the church building in Ludlow. which is now used as a school house, was erected in 1865. Rev. Elliker resigned his charge of the Ludlow church Nov. 12, '65. and was succeeded by C. H. Scho-

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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

epfle, and he by Wm. Shover in the summer of 1868, who served until Jan. 29, 1871. Rev. Henry Knell was then called, who preached his first sermon there Feb. 12, and was installed by a committee of the Presbytery of Dubuque, consisting of Revs. G. Moery and H. W. Behle, Oct. 22, '71. Under his pastorate the building now used for regular services was erected. He was also the instrument of reuniting those who, in the time of Rev. Shover, had left them and were supplied by a Reformed minister. He organized the Sunday school, and effected great good. His resignation took place Nov. 5, 1877, and he has since died. He was succeeded by Helmer Smidt, who remained only eleven months. After him Rev. E. Schuette was called, who preached his first sermon there Jan. 26, '79, and is the present pastor. The church was organized with very few members-of whom Simon, Conrad, and August Helming are still living-but has increased largely, its present active members numbering 233, and the Sun- day school from 200 to 225.

Cumberland Presbyterian .- The first records of this congrega- tion are unfortunately lost, so this sketch will not be as complete as we wish. The church was organized in 1857, under the labors of Rev. J. C. Armstrong, who was sent by the home board of mis- sions, and began his labors in the autumn of '56. Some twenty persons composed the society; and James Maxwell, J. B. Plank, John Raymond and R. C. Armstrong were chosen and ordained its first ruling elders. Worship was conducted in the public school house until the fall of '58, when its present church edifice, corner of Main and High streets, was completed and occupied. This was the first church built in Waukon, and the completion of so large and fine a structure was quite an event in those days. It has since been improved from time to time, as occasion demanded, and since Feb., '78, has been heated by basement furnace. Rev. Arm- strong continued to serve the church until the fall of 1859, and in after years became a missionary to foreign lands. In 1860 Rev. J. Loughran preached in this church, and in 1862 Rev. J. B. Brown, afterwards editor of a Cumberland Presbyterian paper at Nashville. Tenn. In Feb., 1864, Benj. Hall became its pastor.

and continued to serve as such during eleven years. He has of late years been in the home missionary field, but still resides in Waukon, and preaches occasionally in his old church to this day. Since Mr. Hall's resignation the pastors have been: J. Wood Miller, 1875-8, (since professor of German in a Pennsylvania col- lege); O. E. Hart, 1878-81; H. D. Onyett, 1881-2, recently re- signed. The present membership is about one hundred and ten or twenty; and the elders of the church are C. D. Beeman, J. B. Plank, John Hall, J. G. Ratcliffe and Hosea Low. There is a large Sunday school, of which John Hall is the superintendent.

Episcopal .- In March and April, 1859, Episcopal service was held by Rev. James Bentley, who preached in the C. Presby-

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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

terian church Sunday afternoons at five o'clock. April 25th of that year Walter Delafield, Orin Manson, John Griffin, John Phillips, L. B. Cowles, C. Paulk, and A. Parson, organized St. Paul's Parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church ,of the diocese of Iowa. The same year they built a small frame church on block 5, Delafield's addition, corner of Liberty and High streets, with James Bently as rector. In the summer of 1860 the build- ing was greatly enlarged and the tower erected. While these im- provements were being made, the Sunday School, which was very popular under Delafield's superintendency, was held in Hersey's Hall. A 613 pound Meneely bell, costing $250 was also pur- chased and placed in position, the first church bell in town. Mr. Bentley served as rector for several years, but afterwards engaged in home mission work, as he still is. In later years Rev. James Allen was elected rector, and after him Rev. Estabrook held ser- vices occasionally. In the fall of 1867 Rev. A. M. May came to Waukon as rector, and served the church in that capacity five or six years; but the congregation had been small since early in the sixties, and regular services were finally abandoned. In recent years the church has again been put in good repair, but is as yet unused. Walter Delafield was in 1868 rector of Grace Chapel New York City, and is now rector of a church at some point on the Hudson River.

Congregational .- This society was org in zed in 1864, and the ser- vices of Rev. A. Parker secured as pastor, who was with them two or three years, and was followed by Rev. W. J. Smith, who con- tinued till early in '68. In the spring of that year, Rev. L. D). Boynton became their pastor, and during his stay, which continued only until the following autumn, the society erected the fine brick church north of the court house. Previous to that services had been held in the court house. From the fall of '6S the church had no regular pastor until August '69, when Rev. Wm. F. Rose came here in that capacity. The society was not large, however, and being disappointed in a manner not to be foreseen when the building was projected, soon found it necessary to dis- pose of the church property, which in 1871 passed into the pos- session of the Baptists.

THE PRESS.

The first newspaper published here was the Waukon Journal, free soil in politics, which was established in the spring of 1857, by Frank Belfoy, who ran it about nine months, when it passed into the hands of Frank Pease. The last we know of Belfoy he was publishing a paper at some point in Minnesota, about 1876 or '77. Pease upon assuming control changed the title of the paper to the Allamakee Herald, the first number of which was issued Feb. 26, 1858. It was a six-column folio, issued Fridays, and Democratic in politics. M. M. Webster, a lawyer, was with Pease

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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

a portion of the time, as was also one R. K. Smith, who after- wards went South, and his fate is unknown. He was a brother of James C. Smith. The Herald was discontinued in May, 1859. In 1861 or '62 Pease went into the army, and in the spring of 1878 the writer met him at Hot Springs, Ark., of which town he was at that time City Clerk; he had previously been in the newspaper business in that State.

In August, 1859, the paper was revived under the name of Waukon Transcript, (Democratic), by T. H. McElroy, with whom was associated for a while one Doc. Parker, from McGregor, who later went to Kansas. This paper existed less than a year, Mc- Elroy selling in 1860 to C. Lohmann, who ran the press off to Boscobel, Wis., while under mortgage. In August McElroy started the Northwestern Democrat, at Lansing, but his where- abouts since we do not know. In '62 Lohmann published the Argus at Lansing.

The North Iowa Journal (Republican) was established at Wau- kon, in May, 1860, by E. L. Babbitt and W. H. Merrill, who issued the first number May 29th. In 1861 they sold the paper to Leonard G. Calkins and Albert B. Goodwin, and returned to Wyoming Co., N. Y., where Babbitt died a couple of years later. Goodwin shortly after disposed of his interest, and has also since died. In '62 the Journal suffered a temporary suspension, but was revived about August 1st, with Calkins and Cole editors, Chas. B. Cole publisher. In September the name of L. G. Calkins ap- pears as publisher, Cole still being associated with him as local editor. About November Cole assumed the entire control, made its politics Democratic, and early in 1863 sold out to John G. Armstrong, who removed the Journal to Lansing and continued its publication as a Democratic sheet.

For nearly five years thereafter Waukon was without a local paper. In the winter of 1867-8 negotiations were entered into with Chas. W. McDonald, then publishing the Gazette at' Blairstown, this state, who came here and on the 9th of January 1868 issued the first number of the Waukon Standard. After publishing it three months he sold to R. L. Hayward & Co. and went to Illinois, and later to New York where he was for some time engaged in the Swedenborgian Publishing House. More recently he publish- ed a paper at Sioux Falls; and is at present we believe, located at Wessington Hills and Superintendent of Schools of Aurora county, Dakota. Under its new management the Standard was edited by Rev. A. M. May, who has been its chief editor from that day to this, and has made it a strong, pure, and reliable local family newspaper. It has always been republican in politics. His first partner, Mr. Hayward, did not come to Waukon until the follow- ing August; and in March 1869 he disposed of his interest and went to Arkansas, and eventually to San Antonio, Texas, where he was engaged in newspaper business and where he died very re-

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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

cently-in August 1882. Mr. May then associated with him one Jas. H. Brayton, who although a good printer had some habits . that threatened to swamp the establishment, and after about four months Mr. May found it necessary to assume the entire control. Brayton was afterwards heard of in Minnesota, and the western part of this State, engaged in printing, and in less honorable though more lucrative occupations; and it is said proved quite suc- cessful at poker.

In December 1869, E. M. Hancock became associated with May in the business, but withdrew in July following. August 1st, 1872, Chas. R. Hamstreet bought an interest in the office, which he held until June 1st, 1873, when he disposed of it and engaged in farming near Clear Lake, where he still is. At that time E. M. Hancock purchased a half interest in the concern, and May & Hancock continued to conduct the Standard for nine and a half years, until January 1st, 1882, when Hancock disposed of his interest to Mrs. May, the firm becoming A. M. May & Co.

Upon the completion of the railroad in October, 1877, the Waukon Democrat was started by Daniel O'Brien. July 5th, 1879, it passed into the hands of John W. Hinchon, who published it three years, and July 26, 1882, sold out to T. C. Medray & Son.

BUSINESS INSTITUTIONS.

Among the early business institutions the old steam sawmill was one of the very first. It was built by D. W. Adams and D. E. Whitney in the fall of 1854, and finished the following spring and went into operation. It did a large business for a year or two, but was destroyed by fire in 1857. Adams then sold his interest to W. C. Earl, who with Whitney rebuilt the mill shortly after. In February 1859 Earl purchased the interest of his partner, Ed. Whitney, who died a few years since in Minnesota. The mill was run by a 50-horse power engine, and did all kinds of sawing, plan- ing and turning. In 1862 the property was rented to Granger & Gada, who also did custom grinding of flour and feed in addition to the wood-working. The mill stood on the lots in front of Earl's present residence, and was for years one of the institu- tions of the town. As it outlived its usefulness it was finally dismantled, the machinery sold out, the great stone and brick chimney toppled over, and in July 1870 the building was moved back to the rear of the block where it is still used as a barn and warehouse.

In January or February 1859 a banking and exchange office was established by Walter Delafield; who built the little brown build- ing just west of the National House for that purpose, now used as a carpenter shop. It run for not much over a year, Delafield re- turning to the east in August 1860.

The Hersey block of stores, next south of the Mason House, was erected in 1859. The second story was occupied with a hall, the

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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

first and for a long time the only one in town. Barnard Hall was finished off in the winter of '69-70. The first drug store was that of R. C. Armstrong, and stood on the corner opposite and north of the Presbyterian church. It was moved "down town" in later years, and occupies the southeast corner of Main and West streets. In 1859 this same Armstrong put up the first brick house in the village, on the north side of Main street, in his ad- dition. The first brick stores were erected by Robbins Bros. and Adams & Hale, on the corner of Main and Allamakee, in 1869. The large frame building now occupied by the marble shop was put up by Shattuck and Woodcock in 1859, on the corner where Boomer's Opera House now stands. Barnard and Hersey's store was built in 1867.

RAILROAD.

On the 9th of May, 1857, several of the prominent citizens of Lansing adopted articles of incorporation of the "Lansing, North- ern Iowa and Southern Minnesota R. R. Co.," to build a railroad to the state line, towards the south bend of the St. Peters river in Minnesota, with a capital of $4,000,000. Not to be outdone, Waukon proceeded to organize the " Prairie du Chien & Mankato R. R. Co.," with a capital of $5,000,000, the articles of incorpor- ation of which were signed at Waterville, Oct. 15, 1857, by Scott Shattuck, F. Belfoy, Wm. F. Ross, W. H. Morrison, J. Beebe, N. A. Beebe, Col. J. Spooner, W. W. Hungerford, Geo. E. Wood- ward and L. T. Woodcock. The board of directors for the first year consisted of John T. Clark, William H. Morrison, J. Spooner, Francis Belfoy, Geo. E. Woodward, N. A. Beebe, William F. Ross, William W. Hungerford, A. B. Webber, J. T. Atkins, H. L. Douseman, Albert L. Collins, and T. R. Perry; and the officers were: John T. Clark, president; Francis Belfoy, secretary; W.W. Hungerford, treasurer, and Geo. E. Woodward, chief engineer. The last mentioned has since become an architect of more than national reputation. Books were opened for the subscription of stock, and the line was surveyed that fall through Winneshiek and Mitchell counties to the state line, commencing at the mouth of Paint creek.

We find a record of Oct. 20th, 1858, when the second annual meeting of the board of directors was held in the office of the company here. That meeting was largely attended and very en- thusiastic. Every county along the line was represented. Over $14,000 stock was subscribed on that day. Letters were read from distinguished railroad men in Wisconsin and Minnesota, all speak- ing unqualifiedly of the Paint creek route as the very best west from the Mississippi in northern Iowa, and predicting its comple- tion at an early day. For the second year J. T. Atkins was presi- dent; N. A. Beebe, vice-president; Hungerford, secretary, and J. T. Clark, treasurer and attorney.

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HISTORY OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY.

April 27, '59, a delegation from Waukon attended an enthusi- astic railroad meeting at Prairie du Chien, and were met at John- sonsport by the ferry boat and brass band from that town. But it was all of no use. The Bloody Run route west from McGregor was eventually adopted, and our town drank to the dregs the cup of disappointment. All hope was not abandoned, however, and April 15, 1862, the " Prairie du Chien and Austin R. R. Co." was incorporated. This also came to naught, and Feb. 4, '63, was or- ganized the "Prairie du Chien and Cedar Valley R. R. Co.," which resulted as had the others.

In 1871 the B., C. R. & M. road was extending up towards Post- ville, with the intention, as stated in railroad meetings at Inde- pendence and elsewhere, of extending on northeast by way of Waukon to the river. This gave new hope, only to be followed by disappointment again. Then Judge Williams' narrow gauge enterprise was planned and partially executed. Propositions were made to Waukon in 1872 for a branch to this place. We ac- cepted, and did our full part, by way of voting aid, subscriptions, surveying, etc., till the eastern financial end of it collapsed, caus- ing an abandonment of the project, but not until several lines were surveyed to Waukon from the Iowa Eastern, by way of Mo- nona and Postville.

Waukon had become used to disappointments by this time, and the subject was pretty much at rest till the fall of 1874. Then Lansing began to agitate the county seat question again. This was the one thing needed to rouse our citizens to action, and they took hold of the matter in earnest. After considerable talk and canvassing of the matter, articles of incorporation of the Waukon and Mississippi R. R. Co. were adopted, with the following incor- porators: W. C. Earle, A. E. Robbins, C. Paulk, Jacob Plank, H. S. Cooper, John Goodykoontz, P. G. Wright, C. Barnard, H. G. Grattan, Jeptha Beebe, C. O. Howard, G. P. Eells, H. H. Stilwell, C. W. Jenkins, G. M. Dean, F. M. Clark, C. S. Stilwell, J. W. Pratt, L. Howes, J. A. Towasend, and James Duffy. Until the first election by the stockholders, the officers consisted of C. D. Beeman, president; H. S. Cooper, vice-president; C. S. Stilwell, secretary, and John Goodykoontz, treasurer. At the annual meeting of the stockholders, April 6th, officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: D. W. Adams, president; C. D. Bee- man, vice-president; Martin Stone, secretary; L. W. Hersey, treasurer: and G. W. Stoddard, W. C. Earle, Jas. Holahan, H. G. Grattan, H. H. Stilwell, and Fred. Hager, directors.

The directors authorized a survey as soon as possible, which was begun April 19, 1875, and completed May 21, under the direction of D. W. Adams, J. H. Hale, and J. W. Earl. Meanwhile a com- mittee had been at work since January securing the right of way. May 22, payment of accrued claims was provided for. Contracts for grading were let May 28th, and about the first of June dirt

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began to fly, high hope being entertained of the completion of the road that fall. The grading was completed late that summer, many of the bridges put in, and ties got out ready for the rail. It was at first the intention to lay a hard wood rail, but at a meeting August 25th, iron was decided upon. In December an attempt was made to negotiate a loan, which failed, as did a similar at- tempt in January '76. The difficulty was not so much in secur- ing the money wherewith to purchase the iron, as in obtaining it on such terms as would save the road to the stock-holders and not make it necessary that it should pass from their control. Efforts to this end were continually being made. At the general meeting in April, 1876, the old officers and directors were re-elected. Up to April 1st the sum of $33,533.57 had actually been collected on stock subscriptions. March 15th a law was passed by the General Assembly permitting townships and incorporations to aid in the construction of railroads, and in accordance therewith an election was held in Makee township April 26th, at which a five per cent. tax was voted by 342 to 101. Union Prairie township voted a three per cent tax May 17th, by 113 to 51; but aid was refused by Ludlow May 19, where a three per cent. tax was asked, by Jef- ferson May 22 (the same), and by Hanover May 25, where only a two per cent. tax was called for.

June 10th, 1876, the W. & M. R. R. Security Co. was organized for the purpose of devising means for completing the road, but was dissolved Sept. 19th, the securities furnished by the members being returned to them. Sept. 19th, 1876, the W. & M. R. R. Guarantee Co. was organized, for the purpose of completing, equipping, maintaining and operating said railroad. The corpora- tors were: Dudley W. Adams, L. W. Hersey, Holahan & Buggy, J. W. Pratt, A. Hersey, Henry Dayton, E. K. Spencer, W. C. Earle, A. J. Hersey, A. E. Robbins, A. Plubiska, C. W. Jenkins, C.' D. Beeman, H. G. Grattan, H. H. Stilwell, Low & Stillman, John A. Taggart, J. H. Hale, Lewis Reid, Azel Pratt. And the officers: D. W. Adams, Prest., C. D. Beeman, Vice P., J. W. Pratt, Sec'y, L. W. Hersey, Treas., H. G. Grattan Auditor. The assets of the W. & M. R. R. Co. were leased to the Guarantee Co. for a number of years for the purpose indicated. In December the iron was contracted for in Milwaukee, upon favorable terms; and an order was made to enforce the collection of delinquent stock.

At the annual meeting of the original railroad company in April, '77, the following were elected: D. W. Adams, Prest., C. D. Bee- man, Vice Prest., H. G. Grattan, Sec'y, L. W. Hersey, Treas., and Jas. Holahan, Conrad Helming, W. C. Earle, H. H. Stilwell and C. W. Jenkins, directors. June 30th J. H. Hale was elected chief civil engineer. July 27th H. G. Grattan resigned as auditor and Jas. Holahan was elected. Sept. 3d, at the annual election of of- ficers of the Guarantee Co., D. W. Adams was re-elected Prest., A. E. Robbins Vice Prest., J. W. Pratt Sec'y, L. W. Hersey

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Treas., and Jas. Holahan, Auditor. H. H. Stillwell was attorney for the company, and D. W. Adams Gen'l. Supt. of the road. E. B. Gibbbs was secured as station agent at this place.

In July, 1877, first mortgage bonds were issued to the amount of about $30,000, and taken by Messrs. Fairbank, Bradley and Parks, of Massachusetts, interest eight per cent. payable semi-an- nually. And a short loan of $15,000 was secured from J. H. Fairbank of Winchendon, Mass., ample real estate security being given. The rolling stock was purchased the latter part of that month, and the delivery of iron began early in August. Track laying began September 4th; the locomotive was received Septem- ber 11th; reached Waterville, nine miles, September 25th; and on October 27th, fifty-three days from the time the first rail was laid, the track was completed, twenty-three miles, to Waukon.

Thus, after twenty years of disappointments, hoping, waiting, and working, Waukon became a railroad town, with a road of her own building. Just twenty years to a month from the time of the first railroad survey up Paint creek valley, a road was comple- ted over that route; and this village and vicinity entered upon a new era of prosperity. It was entirely independent of any other road or corporation, the people of Waukon having struggled through with the enterprise without a dollar of assistance from outside parties. At the time of its completion the rolling stock of the road comprised one twelve-ton locomotive, sixteen box cars, five flats, and one passenger. The cost of the road and its equip- ments amounted to about $121,000, or nearly $5,300 per mile, and its total debt was about $50,000, bonded for five years. No great splurge or celebration was indulged in, but on the day of its com- pletion an impromptu affair was gotten up for the entertainment of the people who happened to be in town, and the railroad em- ployes in particular, from an account of which in the Standard we quote as follows:

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History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa, Part 75

Author: Alexander, W. E; Western Publishing Company (Sioux City, Iowa) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Sioux City, Ia. : Western Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Alexander, W. E; Western Publishing Company (Sioux City, Iowa)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Sioux City, Ia. : Western Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 772