USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 31
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It is related that carly in 1850 Scott Shattuck went to Dubuque after supplies, and not returning as expected, Pitt Shattuck went after him and the supplies and found that Scott had succumbed to the California gold fever ; and he, too, became affected by the epidemic and followed Scott to the "Golden State" before bring- ing home the supplies. After a couple of years Scott returned with certain very
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necessary supplies, and erected a large hotel, for those days, which was occupied in 1853, the first frame house in town, and which is still standing, next west of the present Boomer "Grand Hotel."
Pitt Shattuck was here later, for a time, and his addition, on the west side of the original plat, was laid out in 1857. About this time he disposed of all his remaining possessions here, mainly in the north and eastern parts of the town, and not long after returned to California, and later met his death at the hands of assassins in some part of the great wild West.
Scott Shattuck was the original proprietor of the greater part of Waukon, having made no less than four additions to the original plat, besides selling to Delafield the tract on which his large addition was platted. Scott Shattuck enlisted in Company I, Twenty-seventh Iowa Infantry. August 16, 1862, but that fall he raised a company of cavalry in Allamakee county, which became Company F, Sixth Regiment, and of which he was commissioned captain, and they took the field against the Indians in the Northwest. He resigned April 5, 1865, and was succeeded by First Lieutenant James Ruth of Lansing. Captain Shattuck continued to reside in Waukon, in the house now owned by Henry Carter in the Second ward, which he had built before the war, until he went to Kansas, about 1869, where he was elected to the Kansas legislature in 1870. He was born in Illinois, November 20, 1828, and died at his home in Kansas in October, 1909. His last visit to Waukon was in September, 1907, when he enjoyed a reunion here with several other local pioneers and some members of his old cavalry company. A picture of the group is shown on another page.
Among the pioneers at this reunion was Mr. L. T. Woodcock, who built the two-story frame store building directly opposite the Shattuck hotel, in the same year, 1853. This was Mr. Woodcock's last visit here also ( 1907), as he died shortly after, at his home in Cresco, where he had resided for many years.
The forty acres granted by the Shattucks to the county was actually surveyed in May, 1853 ; and the original plat of Waukon was admitted to record December ist of that year.
From 1854 few towns in the West had a more steady, healthy and prosperous growth, and in 1856 it increased rapidly in population and business, fifty or sixty houses being erected during that year, the excellent farming country around filling up and furnishing her tradesmen with a wholesome retail business. The town flourished finely through the panic and hard times of '58 and '59, while the great majority of western villages were at a standstill or decreasing. Her growth was necessarily slow during and following the war, when this community made its full share of the tremendous sacrifice called for to preserve our Union, but her course was ever upward and onward; and when it became necessary to take steps to preserve her prestige among the towns of the county, the entire community put aside all petty personal jealousies, and putting their united efforts in the endeavor, succeeded in establishing for themselves railroad communica- tion with the outside world, in 1877, thereby placing the town and surrounding country in the way of a more prosperous career than they had ever enjoyed. In the village, builders and mechanics had far more than they could do; and in two years the population was increased nearly 50 per cent, being 1.310 in Sep- tember, 1879.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
NAME
It has been said that the name Waukon (or Wawkon, as it was invariably spelled in the fifties ) was that of a Winnebago chief, commonly known as "John Wawkon," and was given to this village by John Haney, Jr., at the time the county seat was located here. Some have supposed, however, that it was in honor of another chief, Wachon-Decorah, after whom Decorah was named, and which we find translated in some places as "The White Crow," the prefix "Wachon," or "Wakon," apparently being a distinguishing title of greatness or power. He had lost an eye, and was usually known as "One-eyed Decori," his name being variously spelled in those days, other forms being "Decorrie," "De-Kauray." "De-Corie." "Decoria." "Decari" and "Decorra." Wawkon-or some form of that word- seems to have been of somewhat common occurrence among the Winnebagoes, with whom it would appear to have signified "thunder." as we find the signatures to a treaty of February 27, 1855, to be as follows : "Wawkon chaw-hoo-no-kaw, or Little Thunder," and "Wawkon-chaw-koo-kaw, The Coming Thunder." Among the Sioux it was also in use, and signified "spirit," as, "Minne-Waukon, Spirit Lake," etc. As the Sioux and Winne- bagoes are both branches of the great Dakota family. it is natural this term should have similar significance with each. Captain Jonathan Carver, in 1766, gave his name to a cave of amazing depth near St. Anthony, which he writes was called by the Indians, "Wakon-tubi," or "Wakan-tipi." From all of which it would seem that among Indians the term from which Waukon is derived origi- nally signified something great and powerful, or supernatural.
N. Il. Winchell, in "Aborigines of Minnesota" (p. 508), sums up his researches on the significance of this word as follows :
"The Dakota
was impressed with the existence of something
mysterious. * -X Whatever he could not explain he called 'Wakan,' a word which did not mean 'sacred' or 'spiritual.' Anything which indicated power whose source he could not discover was 'wakan.' * Whenever he was surprised by something new, or saw something wonderful, whatever its nature, whether animate or inanimate, his feeling of mystery was embodied in the word 'wakan.''
In the Lansing Intelligencer, July, 1853, a visit from the venerable chief "Wawkon" is recorded, he having encamped near town with over one hundred of his braves. He was then described as being over one hundred years old, and as having "a white head and scarred face." And in the Waukon Standard of March 12, 1868, we find that "John Waukon, a son of the distinguished Indian in honor of whom this village was named, was in town the other day. He is physically a fine specimen of the red man, standing five feet eleven inches in his moccasins, slim and straight as an arrow, with broad shoulders and deep chest." .Among other documents in his possession was a parchment given to his father, bearing the signature of John Quincy Adams, certifying that his father, "a dis- tinguished warrior and speaker." had visited the seat of government, held friendly council with the President, and assured him of the desire of the Winnebagoes to preserve perpetual friendship with the whites.
Mr. Huffman took a photograph of this "John Waukon," of which the por- trait appearing in this volume is probably a copy. What became of the old
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MAIN STREET, WAUKON
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MAIN STREET. WAUKON
CITY HALL AND JAIL, WAUKON
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
original John has not been established, as his death has been reported at different places and dates. Our former townsman G. W. Hays, now deceased, who was in business in Lansing in the fifties, said that in 1881 he was accosted by an Indian who recognized him and introduced himself as "John Waukon." He was a river hand and said he had two brothers, and all of them were "Johns." Asked what had become of his father he answered that "he died at Prairie du Chien twenty years ago."
WAUKON IN 1858-1861
A carefully preserved copy of the Allamakee Herald, issued at "Wawkon," Allamakee county, Iowa, July 1. 1858, Frank Pease, editor and proprietor, has been brought to light and gives the following interesting exhibit :
COUNTY OFFICIALS
George M. Dean, County Judge, Wawkon ; C. J. White, Clerk District Court, Wawkon: Elias Topliff, Recorder and Treasurer, Wawkon; George W. Camp, Prosecuting Attorney, Lansing; John A. Townsend, Sheriff, Wawkon; William F. Ross, School Fund Commissioner, Rossville; John B. Suttor, Assessor, Monona ; William W. Hungerford, County Surveyor, Wawkon; Dr. J. W. Flint, County Superintendent of Common Schools, Wawkon; J. W. Merrill, Drainage Commissioner, Lansing (?).
Among the advertisements the following are represented :
Prairie du Chien & Wawkon R. R. Co., John T. Clark, President ; Colonel J. Spooner, Vice President ; Francis Belfoy, Secretary ; William W. Hungerford, Treasurer ; George E. Woodward, Chief Engineer. Offices in Wawkon.
Attorneys-Camp & Webster (George W. Camp, Lansing, and M. M. Web- ster. Wawkon) ; Clark & Clark (John T. and Frederick M.) ; and L. O. Hatch, Wawkon.
Physicians-J. W. Flint, I. H. Hedge and T. H. Barnes, Waukon; J. S. Green, Hardin.
J. C. Beedy, Notary Public, Hardin.
W. W. Hungerford and Walter Delafield, Land and Insurance Agents and Notary Public, Wawkon.
Waukon House, James C. Smith, proprietor; M. O. Walker's stages leave this house daily.
J. Israel, Daguerrean Saloon.
Platt Beard, Mason and Plasterer.
L. H. Clark, Wagon and Carriage Manufacturer. [Mr. Clark gave up this trade for that of daguerreotying, at which he prospered. His place was where the Catholic church now stands, but he soon after sold out and returned to Peter- boro, New Hampshire. He was followed in the picture business by Israel F. Alger, who learned of Clark, and also returned to his former home at Winchen- don, Massachusetts, became so proficient in the art that he acquired something of a competence, which he later lost in unfortunate investments and died in poverty .- Ed.]
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
P. J. Almquist, Fashionable Tailor.
S. N. Bailey and 1. F. Clark, House, Sign and Carriage Painters.
James McFadden, Boot and Shoe Maker.
W. R. Pottle, General Merchandise.
M. Hancock, Hardware.
James Blacker, Lime.
WV. S. Cook, General Merchandise. [Succeeding L. T. Woodcock, the pio- neer merchant .- Ed. ]
R. C. Armstrong, New Drug Store. [This stood on the north side of Main street, directly opposite the Presbyterian church. After the frame was raised and partially enclosed it was blown down in a "blizzard."]
(Sold to Goodykoontz or Raymond. P. O. there.)
American Hotel, by Sylvester Nichols, at Rossville.
An item says: A company has been formed in Rossville for the purpose of running a line of stages through from Prairie du Chien to Elliota, Minnesota.
Wheat was 50 cents a bushel, oats 25, potatoes 15. corn 20; eggs, 5 cents a (lozen ; beef, 6 cents a pound ; hams, 9; butter, 10 cents.
The Herald was democratic, to judge by this excerpt from editorial remarks : "The army of republican wire-pullers, gamblers and treasury plunderers, which met at lowa City last week, have published what they call their platform,"
etc.
It was loyally "boosting" for the town, however, as for example :
"We hear the ringing of the anvil, the sound of the hammer and saw, the puffing of the steam engine, the din of the tin-shop, and the rattle of the carts and wagons over the streets. All is bustle and confusion, mechanics of every kind busily employed and all kinds of business going ahead vigorously. New buildings are springing up in every part of town, lawyers running around with clients in their wake. * * Main street is being graded up, and judging from present appearances and the spirit of improvement manifested by our enter- prising townsmen, we will soon have the finest streets and the prettiest town anywhere in the West. As soon as the sidewalks are built along Main and Alla- makee streets * * Won't it be nice?"
Two years later the Herald had disappeared and Babbitt & Merrill were pub- lishing the North lowa Journal at Waukon -- the new spelling coming into vogue instead of Wawkon. The issue for August 16, 1860, considers the election of Lincoln and Ilamlin a foregone conclusion. The postmaster at Prairie du Chien was requested to send Waukon mail by way of Decorah, as it would then get here from one to five days earlier than by the direct route. Contract for building Allamakee College was about to be let. Wheat was up to go cents in McGregor.
Additional advertisers were: Hersey Brothers and J. W. Earl, dry goods; A. G. Howard, Abbott and G. 11. Stevens, carpenters; N. Bailey, mason ; E. C. Abbot, surveyor ; W. 11. Morrison, jewelry ; Bailey & Thompson and T. L. Pay, painters; G. 11. McClaskey, C. J. Fisher, harness, etc. ; M. & W. H. Hancock, meat market : W. Delafield, banker and real estate; Low & Bean, hardware; J. F. Lane, ambrotypes; G. M. Joslyn. real estate; R. C. Armstrong, county superin- tendent and postmaster; Belden & Haslip and S. Burlingame, wagon-making ; Prothero & Shew, cabinet-making; A. \. Griffith, elocutionist ; S. Nichols, hotel; Prof. J. Loughran, Allamakee high school.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
,
A later copy of the North Iowa Journal, under the same management, the issue for April 9, 1861, comments upon the loss of the county seat in the recent election :
"The seat of justice of Allamakee county has been moved to 'the Point between the sloughs' on the Mississippi river. 'The Point,' our new seat of justice, has no name. We respectfully suggest calling it 'Joslyn's Point.'
* * But, why wiltist thou? that's the question; what has become of your knees and your backbone and your upper lip? We refer to those few Wau- konians who refuse to be comforted because the people of the county have been foolish enough to plant their county seat among the bluffs and sloughs of the Mississippi. What! because you are beaten once out of a half-dozen times?" % * etc.
The town had three new lawyers: L. G. Calkins, W. E. Rose and J. W. Pennington.
The physicians were the same.
New stores were: McFarland & Shew, R. F. Moody and E. K. Bartlett.
Drugs and Medicines-Goodykoontz Brothers, Flint & Raymond.
Other changes and additions were: A. L. Grippen, artesian wells; John Griffin, insurance and real estate; L. Anderson, livery stable; Randall, Calkins & Co., Waukon Exchange Bank; Burlingame & Haslip, blacksmithing, wagons; H. Robinson, cabinetmaker and undertaker; C. J. F. Newell, blacksmith; D. W. Adams, sewing machines; M. S. J. Newcomb, lumber, southeast of Rossville ; J. Valentine, lumber, Capoli.
E. L. Babbitt had recently been appointed postmaster at Waukon.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY
Two unsuccessful attempts to incorporate the town were made before that object was accomplished. The first election for this purpose was held February 29, 1876, resulting in 114 votes against the proposition and 98 in favor. The proposed measure was again defeated October 25, 1878, by a vote of 134 against, to 108 for. 1
At the February, 1883, term of circuit court a petition was presented asking for an order to submit the question once more to the voters, which was granted, and the court appointed as commissioners to call an election C. S. Stilwell, J. B. Minert, G. D. Greenleaf, A. C. Hagemeier and J. L. Okre. The territory sought to be incorporated was one mile square, comprising the south half of section 30 and the north half of section 31, Makee township, and the affidavit accompany- ing the petition showed that by an enumeration taken at that time there were 1,435 actual residents in said territory. The commissioners called an election for Monday, April 2, 1883, at the office of C. S. Stilwell, at which election the vote was 187 for incorporation and 126 against. Whereupon the clerk of courts officially declared the result, by publication, and designated "The Incorporated Town of Waukon" as belonging to the third class of incorporations.
On April 30, 1883, was held the first election for town officers, at which the following were selected, to serve until the first regular annual election in March, 1884: Mayor, J. F. Dayton ; Recorder, E. M. Hancock ; Trustees, D. H. Bowen, C. D. Beeman, H. Low, G. D. Greenleaf, E. K. Spencer and M. Stone.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
The first meeting of the town council was held May 2, 1883, in the office of Dayton & Dayton, at which preliminary committees were appointed; and on May 15th the council elected: Treasurer, L. W. Hersey; Marshal and Street Commissioner, J. A. Townsend.
On this date the council contracted with F. H. Robbins for the use of a room in his building on the corner of Main and Allamakee streets, being the third room from the entrance on the second floor thereof, for a council room, at $30 a year, including fuel, lights and furniture, reserving occupancy by himself when not in use by the council. On the 16th several important ordinances came up for action, and Ordinance No. 3 was adopted, fixing the license of saloons at $500 per year, and within the next few months no less than five such places were licensed, and continued until closed by the enforcement of the prohibitory law in 1886. This first council of course had many important measures before it, perhaps the most important being the establishment of street grades and the constructing of a flood sewer across Spring avenue. July 14th specifications were adopted for a five-foot sewer to follow the survey made by J. H. Hale, "from the southeast corner of Stilwell & Low's building, across Main street and Spring avenue diagonally to the west side of Spring avenue near the end of the present sewer where the same discharges into the creek." August 7th a con- tract was let for same to the lowest bidder, S. Peck & Son, for $1,250, or 384 feet at $3.25 per running foot; and later this was extended north in the alley from the point of beginning. The work was fully completed and sewer accepted December 4th following the total cost being $1,456.25. At this meeting the council elected E. M. Hancock assessor, but he declining at the next meeting, O. M. Nelson was elected.
At the annual election March 3. 1884, an entire new board of trustees was elected, consisting of Henry Carter, M. C. Ferris, J. S. Johnson, H. Simonsen, J. A. Taggart and F. H. Robbins. Mr. Robbins was elected against his wishes and resigned March 18th, and the council elected C. M. Beeman to fill the vacancy. A. W. Lee was appointed marshal and street commissioner. From this time until the town became a city of the second class, in 1901, the following officers served :
Mayor-J. F. Dayton, 1883-5; A. G. Stewart, 1885-7; J. F. Dayton, 1887-8; Mayor Dayton resigned January 7, 1888 (being a member of the State Legislature then in session ), and to fill the vacancy the council elected C. S. Stilwell, 1888-9; 1). 11. Bowen, 1889-90; L. M. Bearce, 1890-2; M. W. Eaton, 1892-7; R. M. Slitor, 1897-1900; Douglass Deremore, 1900-1. Recorder-E. M. Hancock, 1883-95; C. I .. Bearce, 1895-1901. Treasurer-L. W. Hersey, 1883-9; G. J. lfelming. 1889-90: 1. W. Hersey, 1890-6; W. E. Beddow, 1896-7; A. T. Nier- ling. 1897-1901. Marshal and Street Commissioner-J. A. Townsend, 1883-4; A. W. Lee, 1884-5; D. R. Walker, 1885-8; J. B. Minert, 1888, resigned June 5, 1888. and R. A. Nichols, 1888-0, resigned October 16, 1889, and L. B. Oleson, 1889-91; J. C. Robey, 1801-3 (died in March, 1893) ; E. W. Cummens, 1893- 1000; Dan Regan, 1900-1 ( from time to time a night marshal was appointed by the town and paid by the business houses; Dan Williams served in this capacity for many years ). Assessor-O. M. Nelson, Jackson Smith, S. R. Thompson and Robert Wampler, the latter serving from 1893 to 1901.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
Trustees (after 1884)-1885-6, M. C. Ferris, J. H. Heiser, Levi Hubbell, J. S. Johnson, J. B. Minert, J. A. Taggart. Mr. Ferris resigned April 21, 1885, and C. M. Beeman elected to vacancy.
1886-7, C. M. Beeman, J. H. Heiser, Levi Hubbell, J. S. Johnson, J. B. Minert, J. W. Hinchon, the latter resigned May 18, 1886, and H. F. Opfer elected to vacancy.
1887-8, C. M. Beeman, James Duffy, J. H. Heiser, Levi Hubbell, J. B. Minert, H. F. Opfer.
1888-9, C. M. Beeman, Jamies Duffy, M. W. Eaton, J. H. Heiser, Levi Hub- bell, H. F. Opfer.
1889-90, James Duffy, M. W. Eaton, J. H. Heiser, J. B. Minert, H. F. Opfer, Halvor Simonsen. Minert resigned November 19, 1889, and Levi Armstrong elected to vacancy.
1890-I, Levi Armstrong, James Duffy, M. W. Eaton, J. H. Heiser, H. F. Opfer, H. Simonsen.
1891-2, Levi Armstrong, James Duffy, M. W. Eaton, J. H. Heiser, H. F. Opfer, H. Simonsen.
1892-3, James Duffy, W. T. Gilchrist, J. H. Heiser; J. B. Minert, H. F. Opfer, H. Simonsen. Heiser resigned May 16, 1892, and S. R. Thompson elected to vacancy.
1893-4, C. A. Beeman, Henry Carter, W. T. Gilchrist, H. G. Johnson, J. B. Minert, H. Simonsen.
1894-5, same as preceding year.
1895-6, C. A. Beeman, Henry Carter, H. G. Fisher, H. G. Johnson, Henry Krieger, J. B. Minert. Minert resigned November 18, 1895, and H. J. Bentley elected to vacancy.
1896-7, C. A. Beeman, H. J. Bentley, H. Carter, H. G. Fisher, H. G. Johnson, H. Krieger.
1897-8, C. A. Beeman, H. J. Bentley, H. Carter, H. G. Fisher, H. Krieger, J. B. Minert. Beeman resigned March 15, 1897, and J. M. Murray elected to vacancy.
1898-9, H. J. Bentley, H. Carter, E. Dillenberg, H. Krieger, J. B. Minert, J. M. Murray.
1899-1900, same as preceding year.
1900-1, E. Dillenberg, H. Krieger, J. M. Murray, P. S. Narum, H. F. Opfer, S. M. Taylor.
Among the important works undertaken in the eighties and early nineties were the building of substantial stone arch bridges where the creek crosses the principal streets, the grading of Main and Allamakee streets and the Rossville road, and the macadamizing of streets in the business section, including Ross- ville road to the railroad station, for which a rock-crusher was purchased in the summer of 1893.
At the expiration of the lease of Mr. Robbins in the fall of 1884 the council leased of E. M. Hancock the front room in the second story of his building on the east side of Spring avenue, known as the Standard Block, for one year. After this the meetings were held in the offices of the successive mayors, Stewart, Bowen, Dayton, but chiefly in that of C. S. Stilwell, which latter office was finally occupied regularly until the spring of 1891, when a lot was leased of
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
J. B. Minert near his elevator on the east side of West street, and a small iron- clad frame building erected thereon for a council room and housing of the fire apparatus. The first council meeting here was held June 16, 1891, and the city continued to occupy this little building until the erection of the present hand- some brick building on Courthouse square in 1902.
In the summer of 1894 the so-called mulct law went into effect, whereupon the city council adopted an ordinance, No. 102, fixing the license for the sale of intoxicating liquors at $500, and several saloons were soon running again. At a later date, in May, 1895, the license was increased to $600, at which rate they continued to operate until in 1911 the board of supervisors decided that the new consent petitions were insufficient, and the city has since been "dry."
In October, 1898, the boundaries of the town were enlarged somewhat by the annexation of a three-acre piece lying on the Union Prairie side of the west line, lot I in the east half of southeast quarter of section 25-98-6, being the residence lot of Dan Williams, city marshal, thus making him a resident of the corporation.
CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS
The Federal census of 1900 having shown that the population of Waukon was over 2000 (2153). the necessary proceedings were taken to perfect the organ- ization as a city of the second class, and the city was divided into three wards; the first comprising all that portion lying east of Allamakee street, Spring avenue, and the Rossville road; the second all that part to the west of that line and south of Main street ; and the third ward all the remaining area to the north and west.
At a regular meeting of the city council in May, 1901, resolutions were adopted directing city solicitor A. G. Stewart to revise and codify the existing ordinances of the city, with a view to publishing in book form. His work was well done, the revision was adopted by the council on June 30, 1902, and pub- lished in a convenient form. making a book of 262 pages besides a full index.
The next important work taken up by the city council was the providing of an appropriate city building for the convenience of the council and city officers, as well as the public, and the proper care of the fire department and its equip- ment, and the preservation of the city records. This was accomplished during the year 1902 in the construction of the beautiful and substantial city hall on courthouse square, at a cost of about $8,000.
The first floor of this contains a large council room, also used for city and general elections, a city clerk's office, with fire-proof vault for the records, and mayor's office. The latter is at present occupied by the public library, and the large room for a reading room in connection therewith, the council meetings being usually held in the clerk's office. The basement is devoted to the fire department's equipment, the floor being on the grade of Court street ; and the second story has recently been handsomely finished off at the expense of the Pioneer Fire Company. for their meetings and club room.
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