USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 42
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Original dates, fixing certain facts not generally known to our people, are found in an article appearing on the 4th of January, 1853, when Mr. Sumner writes that "but four and one-half years have elapsed since the Winnebago In- dians left this region, and the whites began to claim and settle." (The date ap- pears to be June, 1848.) He continues, "The site of the present town of Lans- ing was claimed and settled four years ago last June (June, 1848) and a post- office established the following year" (1849).
The result of the presidential election was, in the county : Whole number of votes cast, 266; for Scott electors, 142; Pierce electors, 124; deduct from Scott electors "for irregular votes" 41, and from Pierce, 93. Lansing gave Scott 33, Pierce 9; Columbus gave Scott 23, Pierce 9.
The county seat was a bone of contention. December 4, 1852, a meeting was held at Ezra Reid's in Ludlow township, at which Edward Eells was chairman, Jolin W. Remine and C. J. White secretaries, to "take into consideration the propriety of locating a county seat at the geographical center of the county."
By act of the Legislature, approved January 24th following, commissioners were appointed to relocate the county seat. (Resulting in its being located at Waukon that spring, as narrated in another chapter.)
A literary society was organized at the house of James Peacock, and the officers were: President, John J. Shaw; vice, C. J. McGee; secretary, J. I. Tay- lor ; treasurer, Geo. W. Camp. One of the first questions discussed was,
"Resolved, That the removal of the county seat from Columbus to the center of the county will be injurious to the town of Lansing, and confer no real bene- fit on the county at large."
Rev. Samuel Storra Howe was announced to preach the first Thanksgiving sermon, "in the schoolroom over the printing office," and Rev. Mr. Bishop was "expected to preach soon."
As a matter of local importance, it was stated that the postmaster at Colum- bus, Mr. Lowe, "received a mail on the 25th ult., and on the 3d inst .. " showing the limited facilities in that respect. The editor hears of a project for a semi-
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weekly stage to Decorah, and in a subsequent issue insisted on an "increase of mail service between Lansing and Fort Atkinson, to two trips per week in two- horse carriages !"
The official post routes, in those days were: From Lansing to Fort Atkinson, 45 miles ; Lansing to Lycurgus, 10 miles ; St. Paul to Lansing, 250 miles, all once a week.
The postmaster was James Haney, and the assistant, S. D. Cowles. Richard Luckins was the justice.
Mr. Watson had "just returned from Prairie du Chien, with one hundred barrels of flour in his flat boat."
Columbus was then a place of importance, and "O. W. Streeter, agent," of- fered a quantity of goods.
The lumber interests were represented by Mobley & Gilbert, wholesale and retail dealers in merchandise and lumber. In March, 1853. they sold out to George W. Gray. F. D. Cowles offered the public "a few thousand dollars' worth of goods." J. W. Page advised those whose "harness was breaking" that he was the party to repair it. And S. II. Haines was running the sawmill.
Market quotations were: Wheat, 40c @ 55c; oats, 25c; vension, 3c @ 4c; quails, 3c : prairie chickens, roc ; butter, Ioc; sugar, 5c @ 9c ; coffee, 10c @ IIC.
Announcement was made February 22d, of the establishment of postoffices at Volney and Rossville.
As late as May. 1853. the editor complained of "nearly breaking his neck over the stumps and projecting roots" in Main street, and the same issue actually claimed for the frontier town, in a really able article, full of facts and figures, the trade of Winneshiek. Fayette, Howard, Chickasaw, Mitchell, Floyd. Worth, Cerro Gordo. Winnebago and Hancock counties !
The population of Lansing township, by the census taken in May, 1854, was: Males, 241 ; females, 199: total, 440. Of these there were 88 voters, 85 militia. The place was then designated as "a flourishing business town," and some con- trast was editorially made with the census of 1850, "when there was no Lansing beyond a log cabin," and, indeed it remained so until the summer of '51, and only then were the "substantial improvements made which now show the stranger what Lansing is."
CITY GOVERNMENT
Lansing was incorporated as a town in 1864, and organized under the general state laws as a city of the second-class by order of court July 1, 1867.
The first municipal election was held in Hays' Hall, September 17, 1867, resulting in the election of the following officials :
Mayor. S. V. Shaw; solicitor, John S. Monk ; treasurer. G. Kerndt ; marshal, Thomas Spurrier ; trustees. G. Kerndt, S. H. Kinne, George Hewit, C. C. Bates, James Coard, S. B. Johnstone, Jacob Haas, and A. H. Woodruff.
From that time to the present the following named have held the office of mayor : S. V. Shaw, 1807-9; Samuel H. Kinne, 1869-72 ; Henry Nielander, 1872- 3; Wm. H. Burford, 1873-4; Theodore Nachtwey, 1874-6; Samuel W. Hemen- way, 1876 to time of his death, May 6, '77, when Philip Bockfinger became mayor pro tem until May 9th, E. A. Blum appointed pro tem by the council until
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special election July 2d, he was elected mayor until March, 1878; John M. Han- cock, 1878-80 (Mr. Hancock resigned March 24th, and S. H. Kinne appointed pro tem, until April 26th) ; Robert Hufschmidt, 1880-83; Theo. Nachtwey, 1883- 89; W. H. Burford, 1889-92 (Burford was suspended March 28, 1892, and re- moved from office May 23d following) ; G. H. Markley elected to fill vacancy, and reelected, 1892-99; Robert Hufschmidt, 1899-03; A. M. Fellows, 1903-07; J. J. Dunlevy, 1907-09; Anton J. McCafferty, 1909 (Mayor McCafferty died Sep- tember 2, 1909, and J. J. Dunlevy elected to fill the vacancy September 4, '09) ; J. J. Dunlevy, 1909-13 : J. P. Conway, 1913, present incumbent.
Clerk : W. H. Burford, 1867-9; J. G. Orr, 1869-71; C. Otto Rose, 1871-76; G. A. Rockwell, 1876-80; Jas. T. Metcalf, 1880-81 ; John J. Dunlevy, 1882-85 ; and N. A. Nelson, 1885 to this time, 1913.
The official roster at this writing, April 1, 1913, is as follows: Mayor, J. P. Conway ; clerk, N. A. Nelson (and clerk waterworks) ; treasurer, C. M. Kerndt ; solicitor, J. W. Dempsey ; assessor, H. C. Short; marshal, W. H. Guider (and street commissioner ) ; night police, ; weighmaster, P. Gilroy ; super- intendent of waterworks, C. F. Riek; health physician, C. C. Lytle (and health officer) ; councilmen, at large, Ole L. Moe and J. C. Brophy ; first ward, Martin Kohlstad; second ward, Frank Dolphin; third ward, Henry J. Rettinger.
The city is lighted by electricity from the plant of the Upper Iowa Power Company, which also does the pumping for the city water system and supplies power for other purposes.
The telephone service is furnished by the Standard Telephone Company, through a well equipped exchange with one hundred and thirty-four 'phones.
THE WATER SUPPLY
The question of a water supply had long been one of vital interest to the citi- zens of Lansing, and the need was more deeply impressed upon them by the dis- astrous fires of 1877. The only way of obtaining water at fires had formerly been by a bucket line to the river.
In the spring of 1877 steps were taken to meet the demand. A stock com- pany was organized and duly incorporated as the Lansing Artesian Well Com- pany of Lansing. The Swan brothers, of Boscobel, Wisconsin, were employed to do the drilling, and operations were begun early in the spring by drilling a well on Main street, at the intersection of North Third.
Subsequently attempts were made to sink wells at the west end of Main street, and on Front street at the foot of Main. The west end well was a com- plete failure, owing to the alleged fact that the drillers struck granite before reaching any considerable amount of water. The well was abandoned, and soon afterward closed up by means of wooden plugs. The Front street well devel- oped a fine flow of water, but was also abandoned for years because the com- pany were unable to prevent underground leakage. This well has since been connected with the Third street well which was in all respects a perfect success. Its depth is 778 feet. At the time of its completion it was estimated to discharge 372 gallons per minute. The water is at all seasons of uniform temperature, agreeable to the taste, and considered to possess superior medicinal properties. It is supplied to citizens, and the city for fire purposes, and affords a most
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abundant supply of pure and cool water for all purposes, having sufficient head to force itself into the second story of buildings in the principal portion of town. During the summer drinking fountains are maintained by the city on Main street, where this excellent water can be obtained by all, as "free as the air we breathe."
Beyond question the artesian well has proved itself to be one of the most important enterprises ever attempted by the citizens of Lansing. Its usefulness cannot be overestimated. These gratifying results were largely due to the in- dividual efforts of Capt. Samuel W. Hemenway, who first suggested the drilling of an artesian well; who demonstrated by means of his superior skill and knowl- edge of such subjects, the certainty of success, and who, when success had been attained, and the people were rejoicing in the splendid result, lost his life while superintending the completion of the magnificent public work his ability, energy, and perseverance had produced. So intimately is his memory interwoven with the history of this public work, that it seems impossible to leave the subject without a brief review of his life and the painful circumstances attending his tragic death.
On the afternoon of Thursday, May 3, 1877, the Third street well being then an assured success, Captain Hemenway entered a deep cut on Main street to per- sonally superintend the joining of sections of the main water pipe to be em- ployed in supplying water from the new well. While thus engaged the embank- ment on the north side gave way, and the unfortunate man was literally buried alive. Assistance was instantly at hand, but some little time was required to remove the large quantity of earth and rocks that had fallen upon him. When rescued from his perilous position it was found that one limb was broken in several places, and that he had probably sustained severe internal injuries. The gravest apprehension proved too true, and, notwithstanding the best medical skill and kindest attention of friends and neighbors were bestowed upon him, with a community's united prayers for his recovery, he died on the following Sunday, May 6, 1877.
His funeral, which occurred on Tuesday, May 8th, was attended by the municipal authorities, all the civic societies in the city, delegates from neighboring Masonic organizations, and the largest concourse of people ever assembled in Lansing to perform the last sad rites for one of its citizens.
Mr. Hemenway was born on the 19th of February, 1839, at Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, New York. His earlier years were spent in that vicinity. In 1855 he became a resident of Lansing, and was foreman in the agricultural imple- ment factory of his brother, H. H. Hemenway, until the year 1862, when he entered the service of his country, as a member of Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was commissioned captain by Governor Kirkwood, October 3. 1862. For faithful service he was promoted to the office of major, and was mustered out at Clinton, August 8, 1865, having served three years without the loss of a single day by leave of absence. Mr. Hemenway was a republican in politics. As chairman of the republican county central committee in the campaign of 1876, he achieved a remarkable victory and had he lived would have received deserved recognition at the hands of his political associates. At the time of his death he was mayor of the city, superintendent of the well company, a leading member of the Masonic organizations of the city, and in all respects the most active, enterprising and useful citizen of Lansing.
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The present system of waterworks in connection with these wells was con- structed in 1903, and with the extensions to this date, 1913, cost about $25,000. The supply is obtained from two artesian wells about eight hundred feet deep, and pumped to a reservoir on the bluff 240 feet above the level of the railroad track. There are two and a half miles of water mains, of eight, six, four and two inch capacity. There are about one hundred and fifty takers, 105 of which are supplied from the reservoir (all metred), and the balance from the artesian wells direct. Pumping is now done by electric power ; but there is also one steam pump of 500 gallons capacity in reserve, in case of fires, or other emergency.
There are water bonds outstanding as follows :
Four and one-half per cent bonds due July 1, 1923 $7,500.00
Six per cent bonds due at option of city. . 4,900.00
Total bonded indebtedness (March, 31, 1913) . $12,400.00
FIRE DEPARTMENT
A meeting was held at the office of Mayor Burford February 25, 1871, for the purpose of organizing a fire company. Mayor Burford presided, and S. P. Darling acted as secretary. Proper committees were appointed and the meeting adjourned to March 2d. This meeting and several others immediately following resulted in the organization, April 1, 1871, of "Hope Fire Company No. 1," with the following officers: R. V. Shurley, foreman; P. H. Pierson, first assistant ; S. W. Hemenway, second assistant; W. H. Burford, secretary; Herman Schier- holz, treasurer ; W. J. Bort, first pipeman ; and Phil Dignan, second pipeman.
December 3, 1873, the company was reorganized under the present name of "Rescue Fire Company No. I," and the following officers elected: Foreman, Capt. E. B. Bascom; first assistant, Jacob Schaach ; second assistant, John Corell ; secretary, T. C. Medary ; treasurer, J. B. Thorp; steward, J. G. Orr.
In July, 1874, John Corell was elected foreman, retaining the position one year, when Jacob Schaach was chosen, and so continued until July, 1881, when John Dunlevy succeeded him.
In 1872 the city purchased a Rumsey & Co.'s hand fire engine, and to this was added hose carts and hook and ladder wagon. With this inadequate outfit the company fought fires until 1885 after the Concert Hall fire, when a large hand pump was added. In 1895 the hand pump or "man killer" was disposed of, and a steam fire engine purchased. Other necessary apparatus has been fur- nished by the city from time to time, and today we have a well-equipped fire department.
In 1891 the company purchased a fire bell which was placed in the City Hall tower. After the City Hall was burned down the bell was sold for old metal. The most important fires were as follows :
Bockfinger & Boeckemeier wagon shop, and most of the block, February 3, 1871.
Farmer's home, February 27, 1877.
Germania House barn, Congregational church and most of the block, March 6, 1877.
Hemenway & Barclay sawmill, September 3, 1881.
,
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Concert Hall and block, May 23, 1885.
Sawmill dry kiln, March 30, 1891.
Gaunitz & Schwab's boat store February 10, 1895.
City Hall, November 10, 1900.
Box factory in August, 1910.
Rescue Fire Company No. 1 is a volunteer company with a present mem- bership of twenty-two, limited by ordinance to thirty members. The officers now are: President, Richard A. Dunlevy : secretary and treasurer, A. C. Wid- meier : foreman, Carl Kohlstad; first assistant, Roy Roeder; second assistant, John Woodward; nozzlemen, B. Sweeney, S. Glynn, Leo Tully and Karl Beck.
The equipment consists of one wagon for hose, hooks and ladders, three hose carts, and 2,000 feet of hose. There are twenty hydrants, supplied from the reservoir at from ninety-five pounds pressure in the lower places to seventy- five or seventy at the higher levels. The alarm is a fire bell, fitted with electric bell-striker connected with the telephone central.
The steam fire engine, purchased in 1895, is still in the possession of the city, but is not needed and awaits a purchaser.
LANSING SCHOOLS
About the year 1850 Governor Slade of Massachusetts sent teachers through- out the new West, who came full of zeal for their work. One of these, Miss Barrows, came to Lansing and opened the first school. Some time later she mar- ried Doctor Houghton and for many years taught a select school here. There are a number still living here who remember the gentle ways of their first teacher. Mrs. Delia D. Purdy was the next teacher. The first public school was com- menced on the 7th day of February, 1853, under the charge of the lamented Mrs. Purdy, the board of directors being Geo. W. Camp, O. E. Hale and E. B. Houghton. Among those who followed were Mary Day, Lou Hemens, Freelove Baldwin, Martha Haney, Delia Hale, Lydia Rockwell, Lizzie Wells, Thomas Healy and E. Hover.
In 1861 there were two select schools: Professor Haven's high school in the Congregational church, and Miss Williams' select school. In the district school taught by H. O. Dayton eighty scholars were enrolled, and in the Mirror of December, 1861, a call is made upon the people to consider the pressing need of a new schoolhouse. No move was taken for two years, however, when upon petition of prominent citizens an election was called to consider the organization of an independent school district to include the town of Lansing. The election was held on March 23, 1863, and twenty-six votes cast, all in favor of such separate organization ; and on April 4th following, an election was held at G. Kerndt & Bros.' old store on Main street for the election of officers, resulting as follows : President, A. II. Houghton ; vice president, Wm. Kelleher ; secretary, L. M. Elmendorf ; treasurer, G. Krendt ; chirectors, S. B. Johnston, E. Ruth, Chas. Schierholz.
Whole number of votes cast, seventy-four.
About May ist Mrs. Hazleton and Miss Stillman were employed to teach the summer term, at a salary of $20 per month.
CAPOLI BUTTON FACTORY
1
TURNER BUTTON FACTORY, LANSING
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
May 4, 1863, the board voted to purchase the lot next east of the old school- house lot for the sum of $225, and proceed to build a stone schoolhouse thereon, the main building 40x56 feet, with projection 14x30 feet for entrance; and on June 5th the contract was let to Gottlieb Englehorn and Valentine Beissell.
May 9, 1864, Director Schierholz was instructed to purchase a bell. And on July 2, 1864, the new schoolhouse was accepted from the contractors. The old school building was moved onto Main street.
August 24, 1864, David Judson, of South Bend, Indiana, with Mrs. Helen Judson as assistant, were employed to teach the school for the ensuing year.
In 1867 a contract was let to E. B. Bascom for an addition to the schoolhouse to accommodate 100 pupils.
In 1867 the board employed Mrs. H. M. Pratt to teach a school in South Lansing.
In 1868, the first ward school changed to a primary department of the Lans- ing graded school.
In 1874, primary school in Simonson's Hali.
In 1876, another branch school was opened on North Second street, know !! as the second ward school. In 1880 it was removed to the Congregational church building-Temple Hall.
In 1892, the pupils of this school were transferred to the main building and the school discontinued. The South Lansing school was also discontinued.
In 1880, Plein school opened and continued until 1892 when it was trans- ferred to another district.
In 1892 a contract was let to Grant Ladd for an addition to the main school building.
The following have been superintendent of Lansing schools : D. Judson, H. M. Pratt, J. H. Hazleton, S. S. Henderson, H. H. Haske, Jno. Hinchon, E. K. Maryatt, WV. A. Gibbons, J. R. McKim, W. D. Guttery, F. M. Shippey, J. B. Knoepfler, S. M. Mowatt, J. F. Smith, H. H. Schroeder, Geo. W. Galloway, to 1902. Professor Knoepfler was afterwards elected state superintendent of pub- lic instruction ; and has now for many years been on the faculty of the State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls.
Since 1902 the high school has been under the charge of the following:
Superintendent-Geo. Galloway, 1903; W. H. Ray, 1904-07, resigned and John S. Hilliard elected to vacancy; John S. Hilliard 1907-10; W. A. G. Ellis, 1911-13; Frank Vorhise elected for 1913-14.
Principal-Mabel E. Gilchrist, 1903-4; Minnie L. Wilson, 1905-8; Vera Marston, 1909; Abbie F. Laughlin, 1910-II, resigned and Carrie J. Perkins to fill vacancy ; J. Alice Wilson, 1912.
Assistant Principal-(High school extended to four years.)-Georgia Whitley, 1905; Susan Kilpatrick, 1906; Clara Tolstrap, 1907-8; Gena Minkler, 1909; Agnes Carney, 1910-II ; Helene Bakewell, 1912.
Since 1902 the officers of the board of directors have been : President, W. H. Riser, 1902-4: Julius Boeckh, 1905; W. T. Piers, 1906-7; Wm. F. Saam, 1908-9; H. H. Gilbertson, 1910-11 ; W. E. Albert, 1912-13 ; secretary, N. A. Nelson, 1902- 13; treasurer, J. W. Thomas, 1902; Mr. Thomas died, and B. F. Thomas elected to vacancy, 1903-13 ; directors at present are, W. E. Albert, Julius Boeckh, H. H. Gilbertson, E. J. Roggensack and Wm. F. Saam.
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The school enumeration as of June 1, 1913, was 494. The enrollment in the city school was 259, and in the Catholic school, 164, a total of 423. The public school library contains about seven hundred volumes in good condition, and 300 to 400 in poor condition.
The estimated value of the public school property is $20,000.
No one, perhaps, ever connected with the Lansing public schools, exercised a greater or more beneficial influence upon the community than Miss Mary Monk, who taught here for more than forty years. Upon her death, which occurred April 23, 1913, in her sixty-sixth year, the local press voiced the universal respect and almost veneration in which she was held; and from their notices it is learned that she came to Allamakee county in 1865, and after teaching a few terms in the country schools she was elected a teacher in the Lansing public schools in 1866 and taught in that school, with the exception of one year, until 1908, during all of this time having charge of the grammar department. There are few families in Lansing today who have resided here during any considerable part of that period who have not had some representative in her classes, and all of these feel a sense of personal loss today. In a number of cases two genera- tions of the same family have been her pupils, and for many years it was thought, and rightly so, that anyone who completed the course in the public school without having had a year or two of her instruction had missed an important part of his common school education.
How great an influence her painstaking, conscientious and scholarly work during that formative period of a young student's life has had, can never be fully estimated. We do know that many a man and woman who has achieved success in the world does give Miss Monk the highest possible credit and does say that much of whatever success he has won is due to the high ideals of right living and right thinking which, of far more importance than the mere lessons from the books she taught so well, it was ever her aim and purpose to instill. How well she succeeded in this is amply demonstrated by the high, almost reverential, regard in which she has ever been held by all who had at any time been her scholars ; and by all of them, as well as by the entire community, her death is mourned as a distinct personal loss.
THE CHURCHES
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI
Tradition says "the first public religious service held in Lansing was con- ducted by Reverend Mann in a log cabin on Front street. then the home of John Haney, Sr., in the winter of 1848-49." Unele Elisha Warner, of Prairie du Chien, often came to Lansing to minister to the people. In 1851 Lansing was included in the Yellow river circuit, and Alfred Bishop and wife sent to this circuit. He was returned for the second year and in 1852 the name of the circuit changed to "Lansing Mission." It had nine appointments, including Monona, Pleasant Ridge. Old Mission, Hardin, Miner School House, Postville and Old Stake. He soon added Freeport, Decorah and Burr Oak and others, until when he left there were twenty-three appointments, forming a circuit of three hundred or more miles, and requiring three weeks to go around, being at home but two
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nights in the three weeks. Services were held in private houses, over stores, and in the schoolhouse where one was built.
The first class in Lansing was organized June 13, 1852, consisting of : Ben- jamin Pilcher, leader; Emogene Pilcher, Robt. Stevenson, Caroline Stevenson, Samuel McNutt, Olive E. McNutt, George Battles, Abel Prichard. In 1853 L. S. Ashbaugh was sent to the circuit, and next year John W. Webb. From 1855 to '57 Lansing was dropped from the circuit. During this time H. W. Houghton came to Lansing and served as class leader and preacher. The old church, 20x30 feet, was built in 1857, and in 1860 or '61 an addition was put on to accommodate the growing congregation. There were about two hundred in the Sunday school. This building later became a private dwelling, on Platt street.
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