USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Iowa; centennial history. 1776. 1876 > Part 4
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The first court house was a frame building erected on lot S. block 14. and was the first frame building in Fairfield, completed in 1839; the house is still standing on lot 6, block 14. The first school teacher, Miss Clarissa Sawyer, taught the first school in the log school house that stood on the present site of Jordan, Bros. & Co's store. nl lot S, block 14, 1810. Two of Miss Sawyer's first scholars are now living in Fairfield, Cranmore W. Gage and W. B. Culbertson, Esq. The old log jail stood on lot 4 of block 23. now occupied by D. B. Wilson's residence. In 1812 the Congregation- alists built the first church on lot 7, block 14 ; building now stand- ing on lot 5, block 14. A year later the Presbyterians built a church. Dr. Wm. Wangh built the first frame dwelling in the spring of 1840. Col. Samuel Shuffleton soon after built the sec- ond. John T. Moberly was the first physician, 1839. Samuel Shuffleton first lawyer. 1839 Rev. Reuben Gaylord, Congrega- tionalist, preached the first sermon in 1839. A son was born to a Mr. Shepherd in fall of 1839; the first on the town quarter .-- Farnham Whitcomb and Nancy Fox were the first couple married 1840. Eliphalet B Fitch first death in the town, 1539; shortly after, Win. Winn died.
In 1817 the city was incorporated and the following persons have filled the office of Mayor : Barnet Ristine, Samuel J. Fin- ney, A. II. Brown. W. K. Alexander. T. D. Evans, Wm. E. Groff, Geo. Acheson, D. P. Stubbs. R. F. Rateliff, Win. Long, Charles David, David R. McCrackin, J. J. Cummings, I. D. Jones. J. J. Cummings is the present Mayor.
The Jefferson County Library Association is au institution of Fairfield -- was incorporated March, IS52, opening a library of 500 volumes. Present membership 300 ; number of volumes in Li- brary at this time. 1.600. The officers are James F. Wilson, President ; C. W. Slagle, Treasurer ; N. S. Averill, Secretary, and 1. T. Wells. Librarian. In addition to the book department the Association have accumulated a fine cabinet of geological and oth-
33
er curiosities. Literary entertainments are given every Monday night throughout each winter.
In 1839 when Mrs. Bowman died her remains were deposited in what is now known as the old Cemetery. Eliphalet B. Fitch and Wm. Winn were soon after buried in the same parcel of ground. and not until 1870 was the now pretty city of the dead, Ever- green Cemetery, located on grounds just north of Fairfield and ad- joining the old Cemetery. Clement Jordan's wife died, and, he sought a suitable lot within the old enclosure wherein to place the remains : failing to find a lot, be buried his wife on the lot of a friend, and at once set about devising ways and means to estab. lish an attractive city of the dead, and to-day the citizens of Fair- field owe much to Mr. Jordan for his efforts to establish Evergreen Cemetery.
PROGRESS.
In 1810 the town of Fairfield had a population of 110. in Orto- ber 1817 it had increased to 1[] families and 651 inhabitants .- In IS47 the business of Fairfield was done by six dry goods. three grocery, and two drug stores ; two hotels, two livery stables, eight cabinet and wheelwright shops, three blacksmith. two shoemaker. two harness, three tailor, two chairmaker, two cooper, oae gonsmith. and one tin shop, employing about fifty persons. The sales autre- gated about $100,000. There was one carding machine. four church organizations, two church edifices. throp ministers. seych lawyers, the United States and the State land offices.
In 1876 the city presents greater proportions. showing a healthy growth in twenty-nine years. There are IS grocery store . dong a business of over $200.000 ; I wholesale grocery house. 860,000; 2 restaurants. #25,000 : 2 general stores. : 100.000 ; 7 dry goods stores. $150,000 : 1 clothing stores. : 27.000: 3 boot and shop stores, $50,000: 2 hat and cap stores. $25,000 : 5 jewelers. : 25 .- 000; 5 drug stores, 570.000: 3 book stores. 280.000; I ment markets. $50.000 : 6 millionery stores. 875.000 : 10 saloons. : 100,- 000; 3 stove and tinware stores. : 60.000 : 2 foundries. $19.000 : I woolen factory and I woolen goods store. 820,000 : 2 flom- ing mills, $50,000: 2 butter and egg depots. $10,000 ; 2 land- ware stores, $50.000; 1 grain houses $150.000: 2 furniture stores, $10.000 : 3 harness. 6 tailor, 5 wagon, 10 boot and shoe- maker. 7 blacksmith. I gunsmith and I barber shops, doing a Musi- ness of $100,000 : 3 lumber yards. $125,000: 1 furniture factory. $50,000 ; B livery stables. 2 bus lines, I broom factory. 875.000 : and in addition to these there are three banks, 19 lawyers, 14 doc- tors, 4 dentists, I taxidermist, 6 insurance agencies, I pension
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34
agency, 2 justices of the peace, 3 telegraph offices, 2 R. R. depots .. 1 patent medicine manufactory, 4 private schools, I union school. 4 hotels, I opera house. 3 public halls. 2 musical instrument deal- ers, 3 newspapers, 3 coal dealers, I public library with 1.620 vol- umes, 10 church organizations, 9 church edifices, 1 Masonic ball. 1 Odd Fellows hall, 1 Zetagathian hall, 1 Knights of Pythias hall, and I Ancient Order of Workingmen hall.
The total business of Fairfield approximates $3.000.000, about 30 times as much business as was done in IS17. In IS17 the money at interest was 6,000: in 1876, $300.000.
Batavia is in Locust Grove township, a station on the B. & M. railroad twelve miles west of Fairfield; is a prosperous young town. Population, 100.
Brookville has never improved much since laid out by T. M. Brooks, in 1850. Population about 50.
Abingdon, in Polk township, is a thrifty country village. well situated in a rich, productive neighborhood. Its nearest railroad station is Batavia. Population. 250.
Libertyville was originally known as "The Colony : " is a neat. pretty station on the C. & S. W. railroad in Liberty township .-- Population 600.
Glasgow is one of the oldest towns in the county. and its histo- ry is closely connected with the earliest incidents connected with the county history. Population about 200.
Germanville is near the center of Walnut township, and is the neighborhood trading point of the Germans who settled that town- ship. Population about 60.
Pleasant Plain, twelve miles north of Fairfield, in Peun town- ship. First settled in 1839. Population, about 250. A statios on the C. & S. W. R. R.
Salina is an old town about equally divided between Lockridge and Buchanan townships. Population about 200.
Coalport, Glendale. and Whitfield, are stations on the B. &. M. railroad.
Perlee was laid out in 1870 by the Jefferson County Coal Com- pany and is a point of no little importance in the county. Is growing and improving through the influence of the coal trade .- Three large coal companies are mining at Perlce, and there is an inexhaustible supply of coal in this locality, which, by chemical analysis, has been proven the best steam and heating coal in the State. A station on C. & S. W. R. R.
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1813500
INCIDENTS.
In 1835 Huff sank his boats of honey in Skunk. and bare- footed, walked to Burlington for shoes, and hooks to raise his goods. The settlers attended the first sermon preached by Samu- . el Hutton, barefooted-the women riding in Parker's ox-wagon to the door, and then putting on their shoes, listened to the sermon. John Huff still resides in Fairfield, and quaintly says he don't think the preachers of IS35 and IS36 meant any harm by preach- ing. The raising of Troxell's mill was an incident of no little historical importance. Young chickens, and a barrel of whisky were the features. Dancing was also a feature, and the daughter of one of our now prominent citizens taking the hand of an old set- tler of prominence, thus addressed her father, who played the fid- dle ; " Dad, give us something quick and devilish. I want to trot this old hoss around a little." Mrs. M. E. Woods says the first dance was at her house, and was more pleasant than those of the present day. C. W. Slagle was the first orator of a 4th of July celebration in Fairfield. Thomas Dickey had about thirty boarders in his cabin. How they slept and ate is better known to themselves. In winter, the snow would get a little too deep on the floor and bed clothes. yet these pioneers had the future of Fairfield in view, and waited and worked. The first horse thief was imprisoned with log-chains which held him fast to a stump. A man by the name of Kephardt was hung by Judge Lynch for killing a woman and two children, July 5th, 1860. In 1810 the season was similar to the present. 1876. Storms raged and much damage was done. Old probabilities seems to have lost his reck- oning, and three tornadoes passed through the county, uprooting trees and causing other damage, while rain storms prevailed to an alarming extent, all the streams were high. and as if to mark the opening and Centennial periods of Jefferson county, these storms appear, creating commotion at the county's birth, and again at the anniversary of the nation's birth to Liberty.
.
A CARD.
The historian wishes to return thanks to Henry Webb, of Roand Prairie ; John Huff, Mrs. Elizabeth Culbertson, Mrs. M. E. Woods- Joseph M. Parker, Mrs. Charles David. William Rowland, I. D. 1 Jones, Dr. N. Steele. J. W. Culbertson, John Spielman. Wm. Als- ston and David Webster, of Fairfield ; David Coop, of Penn town- ship ; Samuel Robb, of Locust Grove township; Mr. Robt. Black, of . Des Moines township ; Dr. S. K. Tracy, of Locust Grove township ; Dr. G. P. Bartow, of Black Hawk ; and Eli Kirk of Fairfield, for assistance in gathering the information contained in this work.
EARLY RECOLLECTIONS OF
BLOOMINGTON!
AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. BY J. P. WALTON.
EARLY RECOLLECTIONS OF BLOOMINGTON and its SURROUNDINGS,
Read by J. P. Walton, President of the Old Settler's Society, of Mus- catine County, at their Winter Meeting held on February 16th, 1887, in the Rooms of the Academy of Science.
Also the Address of Rev. A. B. Robbins, D. D.
The Old Settlers of Muscatine and vicinity met in the Academy of Science rooms last evening to celebrate their thirty-first anniversary. The atten- dance was such as to require the placing of temporary benches in the rear of the hall and every sont was takon.
President Walton presided, and promptly at 7:30 called the meeting to order. He remarkel that owing to the appointment of the Reunion, no meeting had been called to take action on the death of Mrs. Seth Humphreys and be offered the follow- ing:
Resolved, That we hear with sorrow of the death of Mrs. seth Humphreys, who died on January 20th, 1887 Sne having lived in our community for nearly forty years, as a tribute to her memory, we desire to record our appreciation of those high qualities so marked in her life and character, and we tender our sympathy to her bereaved hus- band in his sore affliction.
Resolved, That these resolutions be placed on our minutes and a copy be furnished the papers for publication.
The resolutions were adopted.
The President announced that Article 1 of the amended constitution makes all who came to Muscatine prior to 1860 and their descendants. eligible to membership, and Article 11. Sec. 1, prescribes that the object of this society shall be to collect and preserve the history of the first settlement. In compliance with this section, the Presi- dent said he had prepared his address, which he read as follows:
PRESIDENT WALTON'S ADDRESS.
Bloomington was laid out in the spring of 1836 with the old trading house as a center. This building stood near the foot of the Avenue. At that time Bloomington had several log enb- bins located below the mouth of Pap- poose creek.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF PAPPOOSE CREEK.
The origin of the name of this creek is a problem that I have been trying to solve for more than twenty years. in a previous paper I gave it as I learned it from llon. S C. Hastings. From Mrs. Laura Nye Patterson, the oldest lady resident of the county. I get a different origin for the pam". She says that the Indians taught their children to swim almost as soon as they could walk. That during a course of instruction a pappoose. or Indian child, was drowned in its waters: hence the name of Pappoose creek.
Mrs. Patterson also gives the auth- orship of the name of Mad creek to Col. Davenport. At an early day a large portion of the transportation was done on keel boats. On one of his trips. the Colonel had occasion to tie his bont in the month of the creek. A heavy rain caused a sudden rise in the stream that broke his boat loose with- out any one being on board. Hlo at once attributed the accident to "That mad creek," which cognomen it bas ever since carried. The Col. hired one of his mon to swim out and secure bis boat Mad creek at that time had a crooked channel, large and deep enough to run a flat boat up to the main ford, near 10th street.
INDIAN TRAILS.
Here the Indian trail crossed it. These trails were all roads or paths traveled by the Indians. They were generally located on the best ground for a road, keeping as near the river as was convenient. As a rule, an lo- dian will travel in the timber or along a river considerably farther in prefer- ence to venturing ont in open grounds. There was one main trail that passed through our town. It entered on the west near the County Farm, running east through Butlerville or the ridge near the main street, crossed Pappoose creek north of where Henry Fuller's
brick yard is now located; thence around the foot of the Third Ward school house hill to the Mad creek erossing near 10th street bridge: thenee up over the hill south of Dr. Weed's residence Indian trails were about twelve inches wide, worn about an inch below the surface of the surround- ing ground and thickly matted with a short, fine, wirey trail grass not more than three or four inches high.
This grass was probably in-
digenous with the Indian, occurring nowhere else but in these trails It lived long after the Indians lett. I could follow this trail in places where civilization had not disturbed it for years after the last Indian had stop- ped traveling on them.
Our little village prospered fairly well. Frame buildings were ereeted along Front street; but few ventured further back.
THE WHICHER CASTLE.
In the spring of 1810 Stephen Whicher erected the building now owned by W. H. VanNostrand on the west hill. The lumber was largely brought from Cincinnati and probably from the pineries of Pennsylvania. The framing timbers were ent and hewn from trees growing within the city limits It was built with an old fashioned hip roof, the lower part be- ing steeper than the upper. having three ridges running lengthwise. The gable ends were finished with battle- ments. It was an old castle in every senso of the word. Mr. Whicher had this roof and the battlements removed in 1849, robbing it of its feudal appear- ance.
On the hill in the rear of the Con- gregational church stood a group of buildings owned by Pliny Fay, Wil- liam Brownell, Joseph Williams and others that were put up on or before 1840. Mr. Brownell's house was the first to give way to improvement. Judge Williams' soon followed. Last summer Pliny Fay's had to go, leaving two or three others of the first ofd buildings still standing. This group of buildings made the
FIRST NOTED LAND MARK;
they could bo seen for miles away. While talking about theso buildings, it may not be out of place to describe some of the owners. Mr. Brownell was a large, well-formed, well-dressed and good looking gentleman; a mor- chant and contractor by occupation.
His store was sitnated on Chestnut street, near Front street. The Court House and the military road across! the bottom, on the other side of the! river, were among his contracts.
Hon. Joseph Williams was our Dis- triet Judge: afterwards he was Chiet ! Justice of lowa He was a genial. good-hearted man, the prince of story tellers and could play a tife. beat n drum, or make a public speech with equal gusto. While he could not be called a studious man in the strict sense of the word, no Judge has ever ! prosided on the bench since his time that gave better or more universal satisfaction. Ho was always the friend of the plain pioneer of those early days, n good neighbor. and a consist- ent member of the Methodist church. When this
FIRST SETTLER'S SOCIETY
was organized, thirty-ono years ago to-day, Judge Williams
was elected its first president. We met in the basement of the Congrega- tional church. Hon. T. S. Parvin. who was elected our secretary, had prepared articles of organization and had them there; so the organizing took but a short time: most of the re- mainder of the afternoon was occupied by the president in relating his early adventures in lowa while traveling as a Judge.
We must not forget our old towns- man, Stephen Whicher. He was tall. slim and dignified. As a lawyer he had no superior. He always managed to have a comfortable living but never became what would be called wealthy. He was one of the leading men of our town. At public meetings he was usually president, or chairman on resolutions. Sunday would always find him in his seat in the little church on the hill. He was noted for his pungent wit. Whicher's witty say- ings are still remembered by many of our old settlers. One story told ot Mr. Whicher is too good to be missed. Previous to the days of Commodore Davison and his Northern Line boats all steamboats carried bars and
---
were said to have the best
of liquors. At that time
liquor drinking WAS practiced by almost every one and to get it where the best could be had was considered "all right." Whon a steamboat landed you could see n score or more thirsty fellows rushing aboard the bont. Their, business was generally, with the
.
barkeeper. Mr. Whicher rarely drank much but concluding he wanted a drink and seeing a large number going aboard a boat ahead of him he concluded to keep up with them. Placing his hand on his stomach and leaning a little for- ward ho walked leisurely up to the bar and asked, have you any good brandy, sir? The barkeeper's sympathy was excited and he promptly replied, "yes sir," sitting out his best bottle, Have you a tablespoon? asked Mr. W. No. but I will get one, answered the b-k., starting for the pantry. When the spoon was procured our friend held it over his glass and commenced to pour the brandy into the spoon, and con- tinued to do so until the glass was sufficiently full to meet his require- ments, he then majestically straighten- ed up and drank it all down. Sitting down the glass he produced his money enquiring, "How much is the charge, sir?" "Nothing," was the reply. "1 never charge anything for a spoonini of brandy." Our friend thanked him for his generosity and left the boat amid the roar of the bystanders. After that a largo measure became synonomous with Whicher's spoonful.
In the spring of 1841 several trades- men made their appearance: Henry Molis, with his little gun shop, Major A. M. Hare manufactured hats, Joseph Brentlinger started a tin shop. In 1842 P. W. Hamilton started a cigar manufactory, and W. B. Fish a broom factory. During the long cold winter of 1842 and 1843 the farmers of the county became dissatisfied with the prices and the manner they had of selling their producc. Wheat was worth 30 cents, corn no sale, pork $1.50 per hundred-all store pay.
THE FIRST GRANGE.
The farmers organized a joint stock company and built a warehouse to store and ship their produce but not having a sufficient amount of com- mercial knowledge or time to spare, all being busy on their farm, the warehouse was allowed to remain idle. Finally the organization broke up, I think without shipping a bushel of grain. The building was converted into a brewery and afterwards to a freight depot for the railroad com- pany.
THE FIRST CEMETERY.
Hardly a family lived in Blooming- ton that did not have some interest in the grave-yard. It was located on the
hill where the Third Ward school house now stands. It soon became necessary to selvet other and more dis- tant grounds The east side of the present cemetery was purchased and laid off into lots. On Saturday. the 19th of August. 1812, the lots in the new cemetery were opened for sale. The Bloomington Herald of Ang. 18th contained the following notice: "Our town authorities have surveyed our new burying ground. It is located about a halt mile from the town, on the lowa City road, bear Lowe's " The lowa City road then ran out to tho Fletcher house and turned square to the north and ran over to Walliker's (now John Barnard's.)
LOWE'S RUN.
Our early milling interest should not be forgotten. Just west of the city wo havo a creek that reminds one of the river Niger as it appeared on the old atlas when I went to school. It had a head, but no month This creek is now known as Lowe's Run. In 1813 or '44 Hon. R. P. Lowe built a grist mill on this creek about two hundred yards southwest of where the present iron bridge now stands. Ho filled in a bank of earth fully 30 feet high, for a dam to make a water power. A heavy rain washed out the till; the mill, a
large two-story building, never
did any grinding. The creek
ever after was known Lowe's Run. A road bridge was built across the gap in the dam for the old Cedar Bridge and Road Company. Where this creek comes out of the phutf it was known as Vanatta's Run. Col. John Vanatta owned the farm and built a mill some two or three hundred yards below the present road bridge. I think this mill ran and did some grinding some time about 1810 or 1841.
A little further down near Mr. Miller's, another mill and woolen factory was erected It was the inten- tion to run the mill by water from Miller's spring. This proving insuf- ficient, the waters of Kincaid's Run were turned in. Not proving satis- factory steam was introduced. The woolen department was kept running in a very limited manner until it burned down some fifteen or twenty years ago.
At the conclusion of the address, the chair introduced the Trinity choir. The choir is composed of Mrs. Chas. F. Garlock, Miss Mattie Jackson, Dr.
.
C. H. Sterneman and Mr. Frank B. Boydston, with Miss Gertie Carskaddan, organist. They gave with great beauty Keller's American Hymn.
G. W. VanHorne was theu called upon by the President to speak of the OLD SETTLERS OF MUSCATINE OF THIRTY
ONE YEARS AGO.
Mr. VanHorne addressed the meet- ing for half an hour. He believed that no place under the sun, not excepting the cities of the Cesars and Diogones ever gathered within its walls such a number and variety of interesting characters as peopled Muscatine thirty - one years ago, and with
a special eulogy upon Hon. Snei Foster as a neighbor, he proceeded to mention the salient peculiarities of many of the Old Settlers. including Judge Woodward, Judge Wiliams, Jacob Butler, James S. Hatch, Stephen Whicher, Wm. McCormick, Mary Block. John G. Stein, Andrew Fimple. Gen. Ansel Humphreys. Gen. Fletcher, Gen. Gordon, the Dunsmore brothers, Vincent and Anderson Chambers, Pliny Fay, Cornelius and Richard Ca- dle, Jacob Mahin, Adam Ogilvie,
Chester
and
Dr.
James
Weed, Dr. Reeder, Henry Funck,
Henry Molis, J. B. Dougherty, D. R. Warfield and others, not forget- ting among the living, Uncle Billy Gordon, Sam. Sinnett, Joe Hoopes, Joe Freeman Joe Bennett.
and Joe Walton, just as odd and characteristic to-day as thirty- one years ago, which proves that swan never will become geese
to the end of time. He also referred to the topographical
plat of the town that he had drawn as it appeared in 1810, with its untouched hills, trees and elder bushes, its Indian trails, few streets and many cow paths, its cabins and frame dwellings, stores and hotels, so that in that early period when, during the excitements of the day, the men sat around at the offices and stores, seriously en-
gaged in whittling, playing seven-up or bartering with the Indians, or later, when the smoke curling up from the half hidden cabins in the brush told of supper preparing, and the boys and girls went hither and yon over the paths for the cows. or later still, when the fiddle began to creak, and some cabin showed the illumination of an extra tallow-dip for
the ball and Joseph Bridgman, A. O. Warfield, Peter Jackson. George Magoon, and other fast young men of the town were seen hastening thither with their girls, with this graphie plat before him, the speaker said he was able to write his series of articles under the title of the Old Settlers' Chair. Somewhere on that plat he tried to place the figure of the young theologian just fresh from Andover. who is to celebrate the 44th annivers- ary of his Muscatine pastornte on Fri- dny evening, but the figure always ap- peared incongruous to the scene though it has become the blessed com- ponent of a Thousand hallowed inei- dents and sweet memories of the city.
R. M. Burnett was called up to speak of
THE MUSCATINE OF 1852.
He landed at Muscatine in July 1852, and attended service the following day at the Baptist church. He ro- membered seeing among the
worshippers. Dr. Hastings and
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