USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 45
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Dinner over, the meeting was called to order by his honor, Mayor Nielander, who made a brief address of welcome, responded to by Mayor Turk of Dubuque, after which Hon. L. E. Fellows delivered the reception speech.
Short addresses were then delivered by Gen. Wm. Vandever, Hon. Wm. B. Allison, Judge T. S. Wilson, Hon. J. O. Crosby, Hon. J. K. Graves, and others. Several letters from distinguished guests who had been prevented from attending were read. The ceremonies at the hall concluded with the presentation by the young ladies of Lansing to Engineer Brough of two beautiful cushions for his iron horse, the "Lansing." These were presented to Mr. Brough by Miss Frankie Shaw, later Mrs. George H. Markley, with the following remarks :
"In behalf of the young ladies of Lansing I present you these cushions as a slight token of their regard for the honor conferred upon our city in naming one of the locomotives, the 'Lansing.' I trust, sir, that no accident may ever happen to you or to your locomotive, and that these cushions may ever remind vou of the happy event of today, and of the kindly feeling of our citizens, and particularly of those in whose behalf I make this presentation for yourself and the noble and powerful engine now under your control."
Thus ended a red-letter day in the history of Lansing. At this time .the town was very prosperous. Real estate sold readily at high prices, and the town seemed destined to enjoy a future of unexampled prosperity.
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But the farming community upon which the town had to depend largely for its support had, up to this time, relied almost entirely upon raising wheat. When, soon after 1872, the wheat crops began to fail and continued to be failures year after year, the effect began to be observed in Lansing as elsewhere. Year after year the farmers clung to the delusive hope that the next year would surely be a good year for wheat, until many of them were compelled to lose their farms and begin life again further west with nothing. But a few years later the farmers turned their attention more to stock-raising, dairying, and other crops than wheat, and soon became unusually prosperous, which conditions brought renewed prosperity to the towns as well.
SOME LANSING PIONEERS
Horace H. Houghton and John Haney, Sr., the original proprietors of Lan- sing, were men of marked ability, integrity and goodness of heart. During these times when schemes of doubtful propriety were aided and encouraged by men of the most pious professions, the founders of Lansing remained true to the dictates of the most unselfish and exalted morality. As copartners in various business enterprises each relied on the other's honor and neither was ever for a moment dissatisfied with the result.
Horace H. Houghton was born in Springfield, Windsor county, Vermont, October 26, 1806, and died at Galena, Illinois, April 30, 1879, aged seventy-three years. He was the fourth of six children. His father died when he was six years old. From the age of twelve to eighteen he labored on a farm. He then apprenticed himself to Rufus Colton of Woodstock, Vermont, where he learned the art of printing. He worked two years as a journeyman printer after attain- ing his majority, the most of his time for Messrs. J. and J. Harper, who were the proprietors of the house and firm of Harper Brothers, of New York. He then became proprietor of the Vermont Statesman, published at Castleton, Ver- mont. While engaged in the publication of this paper he invented the method now so much in vogue, of printing one side of several papers on the same form ; and while at Castleton he thus printed the outsides of papers published at Rut- land, Middlebury, Vergennes and Springfield, Vermont, with gratifying success. While here he invented a power press, an essential feature of which has entered into the construction of every successful power press which has since been manufactured. This press he sold to the then state printer at Albany for $6,000, on condition that its work should prove satisfactory after three months' trial. At the close of the time agreed upon he received notice that his money was ready for him. But this was prior to the age of railroads and telegraphs, and before Mr. Houghton could draw on the parties to whom he had sold his press and have the draft reach them, they had assigned all their effects, includ- ing his power press, to preferred creditors. This unexpected and undeserved misfortune had the effect of driving the young printer to seek new opportunities in the West. He crossed the Alleghanies with his effects in a pack on his back. Having spent a few months in St. Louis he one day observed a steamer adver- tised for the "Galena Lead Mines." Investing what money he had in corn he started with it for Galena, Illinois. Here he worked in the mines for some months, when the editor of the Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser
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having fought a duel, and being in consequence compelled to flee for his life, Mr. Houghton purchased the office and afterwards conducted the paper for nearly forty years. Galena was then and for many years the chief city in the Northwest in enterprise and commerce.
In politics Mr. Houghton was a whig, and so he became a republican when that party came into being. His paper had a wide circulation and probably exerted a larger influence for a period than all papers west of Chicago and north of St. Louis. At the first election of Mr. Lincoln the four congressional districts in which Mr. Houghton's paper circulated gave the largest republican majorities of any like territory in the Union. Judge Drummond, Governor Ramsey, Hon. E. B. Washburn and General Grant were each his debtors, and cheerfully confessed it, the latter once remarking that Mr. Houghton was the only editor he had ever known who would always tell the truth without being paid for it. Mr. Houghton was at one time consul to Lahaina, Hawaiian Islands, for two years, and postmaster at Galena for four years.
As a typesetter, for rapidity and accuracy Mr. Houghton never found an equal. He published a daily paper for many years, and it was his practice to compose his numerous editorials at the case, as he put them in type. He was of light weight, compactly built, with large brain and a benevolent countenance. His powers of endurance were wonderful; for many years he worked six days in the week, eighteen to twenty hours out of the twenty-four. He was benevo- lent to a fault, always endeavoring to relieve the needy, not excepting the unworthy. He valued the upbuilding of Lansing more than he valued gold, and spent money lavishly in improvements. To spend his life for the good of others seemed to be the aim and only pleasure of his own. He died a poor man, a Christian, a martyr to his fidelity to duty.
John Haney, Sr., was born in Lafayette county, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1798. When a lad of sixteen he became a pioneer in the forests of Ohio. From there in 1832 he removed to Illinois, and came to Iowa in 1848. He died at Lansing, April 15, 1875. He was a quiet, modest, kind-hearted man, self- taught in the severe school of experience. He possessed a remarkable memory, and being an industrious reader was thoroughly acquainted with history and the current events of his time. Much of his leisure was spent in the study of mathematics, in which science, although self-taught, he was probably without an equal in the state, all the higher branches of the study having been completely mastered by this modest student in his log cabin during the long nights of our northern winters. His self-control was perfect and permitted no personal weak- nesses or small vices, such as are generally considered quite pardonable. He was in his eating, drinking and speaking strictly temperate, and his private life was free from the slightest suspicion of any impurity. Having lived a large portion of his life among the Winnebago Indians, he was known by nearly all of them, and considered by them to be one of the best men who ever lived. This is not strange, for Mr. Haney never intentionally injured any human being. So sincere was his regard for others, and so strongly did he believe in the equality of all men, that every one who chanced to be at his home was compelled to sit with him at the table, whether negro, Indian or wandering trapper. He was an abolitionist of the blackest kind, and one of the strongest of Union men during the Rebel- lion. He might have attained to high, official position had he chosen to do so, VOL 1-23
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but he preferred to do his duty as he saw it in the humble, unobserved walks of life. What would gratify him most, were he living. to have been written of . him-what he desired to be when living, more than all else-and what those who knew him well knew him to be-is best expressed in the simple statement- he was an honest man.
Henry Bensch was another of Lansing's prominent and long-time citizens. Born in Bertholdsdorf, in Silesia. Germany, August 29. 1832, came to Lansing April 16, 1855. Married Miss Lena Frye the same year, who died in 1898. Mr. Bensch was a veteran carpenter ; kindly and genial by nature. a lover of home, children, flowers, and out-door sports. He was a man of cultivated tastes, and of influence among his fellows. He served for years on the school board, and also on the city council, as township trustee, and member of the county board of supervisors. His death occurred February 9, 1913.
Capt. E. B. Bascom is given the honor due to a veteran soldier as well as a veteran settler of Lansing, who is one of the few remaining pioneers. Born in Newport, New Hampshire, in 1833, he came to Lansing in the spring of 1855, where he engaged as contractor and builder until the breaking out of the Rebel- lion, when he was the first man to enlist from Lansing, in Company K, Fifth Iowa Infantry. He was promoted second lieutenant February 1, 1862; first lieutenant May 14, 1862; and captain. January 23. 1863. Saw active service throughout the war, some of the most prominent battles being Booneville. Island No. 10, New Madrid, Corinth, and siege of Corinth, Iuka, Fort Gibson, Vicksburg, and Missionary Ridge. Returning to Lansing after the war he entered into active business, and is still active in matters pertaining to the good of the city. He also served the state many years in her National Guard, retiring with the rank of colonel.
A remarkable character was Mr. Platt LaPoint, who departed this life at South Lansing on September 29, 1889, in his one hundred and eleventh year, his birth occurring at Montreal, Canada. January 25, 1779, according to his statement. He was of French Canadian descent, and during much of his early life he was engaged with the fur companies in the far Northwest, and it was while in their employ he first visited Iowa in about the year 1814. He recol- lected when the site of the city of Dubuque was but a wilderness, and was on the spot where St. Paul now stands .when there was but one log cabin in sight. Mr. LaPoint served in the Blackhawk war, and previous to that had served sixteen years under the British. He twice went to California, the last time returning with John S. Mobley. He was twice married, his first wife dying without issue, and seven children were born to him by his second marriage, but three of whom survived him, one daughter then living in Kentucky, and a son and a daughter in Denver, Colorado. For eleven years previous to his death. Mr. LaPoint had made his home with Mr. Gobell, at South Lansing, from whose residence the funeral was held, interment being at Wexford cemetery. His was a long and active life, and he certainly had participated in some of the most stirring scenes in the history of this region.
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A PERSONAL LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. C., February 22, 1913.
Mr. E. M. Hancock, Waukon, Iowa.
MY OLD FRIEND HANCOCK: I have yours of the 17th requesting me to furnish you some details connected with the history of Allamakee county for the work which you have in preparation.
Forty-three years have passed since I became a resident of Lansing, and I have reached my sixty-eighth year; these conditions are not to be lost sight of, and, while I should feel great pleasure in rendering you any service within my power, I am constrained to say that my memory fails to serve me regarding the dates and other particulars having bearing upon many events not without interest, and worthy of record.
Again, after 1882 I ceased to have active participation in affairs in the county, and in 1889 removed to the East. I may, however, write with some pre- cision regarding men and things as I knew them in the palmy days of Lansing, when I took a share in the strenuous times of that period.
The steamboat which landed at the Lansing pier at 2 in the morning of August 23, 1870, carried me from Prairie du Chien, and I lodged at the old American House, at the foot of Main street, which, as I now recollect, was kept by Mr. Albert, but perhaps by Jac. Dreher. The first thing which struck my notice was the resemblance between Lansing and Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, through which place I passed a couple of days before, as regards the great bluffs, the river, and the valley in which located; the similarity is striking.
The first citizen of the place, with whom I became acquainted, was J. W. Thomas, of the bank, upon whom I called the forenoon of that day, and it is one of the most pleasant recollections of my life that from that moment we were friends. I have received from him innumerable kindnesses and every business favor I ever asked. I hold his memory in profound respect.
Those were the "boom days" of Lansing-rather the beginning of the boom, perhaps. It was the great wheat market north of Dubuque, and it was a daily occurrence for teams to be lined on the two streets leading to the river, hun- dreds deep, some from distances of fifty or more miles. Things were pretty lively ; there were numerous saloons, and all did a thriving trade! Trade in mer- chandise was correspondingly active, and times were certainly good-a great contrast to conditions as they came to be in after years, when the territory to the west was cut off by railroads, and crops failed for some years in succession.
The river was the only outlet, during the milder season; and except for the short time when the ice was moving in the spring, its surface in winter was the highway to Prairie du Chien, to which place grain, pork, etc., was hauled by sledges, and the mail and passengers carried in like manner to and from Mc- Gregor. The advent of the first steamboat in the spring was a great event, and looked forward to with interest.
Of the grain dealers, C. W. Hufschmidt ("Charlie," as everyone knew and called him) was probably the most active, and he was a man whom nature never intended to take a back seat in the game of life, whatever he may have under- taken. As I now call to mind the men of most prominence whom I best remem- ber, I think it may be said that he had a wider, acquaintance then and during
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after years than any other citizen of the county ; but perhaps D. W. Adams, during the "Granger" period, had an equally wide knowledge of people, confined, however, to those in that organization, while Charlie Hufschmidt was known by men in all walks of life, who appreciated his genial and characteristic personality.
Gustav Kerndt knew perhaps more people in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties than any other man, and he was universally respected ; he. was a power in the financial and business affairs of the section for many years. In like man- ner. Henry Nielander was a strong man, of great activity, of habits so indus- trious that he was in that particular without an equal. Moritz and William Kerndt were then more active perhaps in the inside management of their great business, but later Moritz succeeded Gustav as its head, and became interested in the bank and other lines. He alone remains of these brothers, types of splendid business men, and retired from business some years ago, leaving to the younger men the direction of affairs in which he once was so conspicuous.
It is with feelings of sadness that I call to mind these and other men and the events of those times, because, with the exception of two or three, every man older than myself then active in the business affairs of the place has passed away. With all of them my relations were those of friendship, and I am sure that I was honored in having their like respect and confidence. It would be an incomplete history of the locality if it failed to give to them an honored place in its pages.
Of the younger men, of about my own age, there are few remaining. One is that sterling citizen, Herman Schierholz, a most successful business man. Capt. James Ruth, one of the best of men, who took a prominent part in the political and business affairs of the time, with whom my relations were most in- timate, has "gone before:" peace to his memory !
"Doc" Spaulding was a character, and an original one, too! One of the most genial of men, and the standby of the younger married people, who had such delightful dancing parties under his direction. Sam H. Kinne, as a lawyer and politician, was widely known throughout the state.
Judge Fellows, through his legal and Masonic environment, enjoyed an ac- quaintance throughout the state that was more extended than that of perhaps any other citizen, possibly with the exception of Judge Granger. What splen- did types of men! Every attribute was theirs which adorns the bench, respects the law, honors the citizen. and makes the upright judge. The one has passed away ; the other survives.
Aside from the men who may be regarded as merchants, the man most prom- inent in the affairs of Lansing for many years, a pioneer .in the county, and at the head of its manufacturing and industrial operations, Homer H. Hemenway may be reckoned. Born in Potsdam, New York, November 18, 1831, he went to Lansing in 1855, and for many years was the moving spirit in its lumber trade, a very important factor in those days. Widely known because of his extensive business interests and Masonic prominence, he was a man of great power in affairs, and of commanding influence in many directions. He long since became a citizen of Colorado, and through connection with associations of lumbermen, gained an acquaintance extending over the United States. He is a man of marked and original personalty, native wit, and keen discernment, and has been
View of lower Main street from the Wisconsin shore Catholic church Public school
View of Lansing from Mt. Hosmer Presbyterian church Bird's-eye view of Lansing and the river
SCENES IN LANSING .
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spared to reach his 82d year, honored by all who know him, and enjoying rea- sonably good health, at his home in Colorado Springs.
Capt. E. B. Bascom, who recently reached his eightieth year, has been the honored veteran of Allamakee county survivors of the Civil war, and carries well the years allotted him. His sufferings and remarkable experiences as a prisoner of war is a subject which he is modestly not inclined to recall, except at intervals, and he is entitled to all the honors and esteem which an appreciative, loyal community can show.
Elder Horatio W. Houghton was in religious circles, particularly of his denomination, very widely known and honored. He was a pioneer of the county, and had much to do with its affairs for many years.
Dr. John W. Davis, yet a resident of Lansing, went there at an early period, and is a most highly honored citizen, as was his father-in-law, the late Squire . WV. D. Morgan, also a pioneer.
Edward Boeckh, Henry Bensch ( who passed away only last week), Wm. H. Burford, George Kemble, John Kemble, Samuel H. Hazleton, John D. Cole, and others, whom I am unable now to recall by name, were of those who became citizens at early dates, and prominent in affairs.
Rev. James Frothingham held a wide acquaintance, and was one of the older citizens; later Rev. Thos. Oliver, as the inventor of the typewriting machine bearing his name, and Rev. George Elliott, who became a most prominent and influential person in his church, were among those who occupied humbler posi- tions in the earlier days of Lansing.
Dr. Theo. Nachtwey was an old resident, and served as county superintendent in the sixties; a democratic ticket which failed to bear the genial doctor's name as a candidate for something might have been questioned as to its genuineness.
'The advent of the railroad changed affairs and affected the business interests of the county to a far-reaching extent. The company's representative in the original organization was D. A. Mahoney, of Dubuque, one of the keenest, brightest men of the day, and he succeeded in obtaining generous subscriptions of money and land from the Lansing people, at a meeting held for the pur- pose, of which I was secretary. Those were the days when A. K. Graves and Jo Rhomberg, of Dubuque, handled the road's interests and later managed and controlled it. Peter Kiene, Jr., the secretary, a splendid type of manhood, died only recently ; the others long ago. I recall the strange circumstance connected with the sale of the road, which gave its ownership to the Milwaukee instead of Northwestern interests. Both were seeking control; the Northwestern people had a special car, which reached Lansing in the evening, and was sidetracked for the night. If the parties aboard had proceeded on their journey northward they undoubtedly would have been the owners of the road; as it was, the Mil- waukee folks learned of the whereabouts of their rivals, and that very night closed the sale. Next morning the Northwestern car had to pass over a part of the line of the Milwaukee when it left Lansing.
What a tremendous business was that of the steamboat lines, in those times, in carrying pleasure-seekers from the south to Minnesota points! What fine steamers, loaded to capacity, were those of the Diamond Jo and the Packet Com- panies, rivals in trade! And the river traffic in lumber was marvelous. I have sat upon my porch, at my home fronting the river, Sunday afternoon for exam-
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ple. and there was scarcely a moment when the river. fronting and above and below Lansing for a short distance, was free from rafts, passing down stream, and always interesting to observe, aside from the fact of the immense interests in business which they represented.
Socially there were no finer, more generous folk than those of the old time in Lansing. My life has not been uneventful, and I have mingled with people in every part of the country, but I have yet to know of a place where the resi- dents were more social, more hospitable, more friendly to a stranger, than those of the town nestled at the foot of Mount Hosmer. Those most dear to me who have passed away rest there, and, when my earthly pilgrimage is over, and I too am laid at rest. I wish that it may be there, among those who too are at rest.
This letter has already taken more space than was intended at the beginning. and yet the "half has not been told." I remember the Allamakee county that was, not as it is, and the strenuous times of those twenty years of my citizenship were full of events which the historian may well regard with favor, and recount for the edification and information of those who, succeeding the active partici- pants of that time, may well emulate the virtues of their ancestors, and follow with due care their precepts. It is an honor, at any time. to be a citizen of the noble state of Iowa, and it is an equal honor to have been a citizen of Allamakee county, and a friend of those who long ago shaped its affairs and guided the generation who today are taking the places of the honored pioneers who are at rest in its churchyards.
Very truly yours, JAMES T. METCALF.
RANDOM SKETCHES AND PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND AFFAIRS OF LANSING FORTY YEARS AGO
J. W. Thomas was a man universally respected, a high type of the best citizen- ship, of most pleasing personality, genial social characteristics, and fine appear- ance. P. F. Sturgess, of West Union, a man of much prominence, throughout the state, was once in Lansing, and I invited him to accompany me in calling upon Mr. Thomas. Their interview over. after we had left the bank, Sturgess said, "Is that man as good a man as he is good-looking?" "Yes," I replied, "He is one of the best men I ever knew in my life." "Well," he said, "He is the finest looking man I ever saw in the state of Iowa!"
John Schinzel was landlord of the best hotel, and was widely known under the title the drummers gave him. "Mit and Mitout." He was a fat, good-natured man, and. accustomed to himself waiting upon the guests, at rush times, would inquire, "Will you have your beefsteak mit or mitout?", meaning with onions or without them, and to this odd expression was due the title which the jolly travel- ing men gave him.
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