USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 25
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"Upon a virgin prairie, forest decked, A pole was set in seeming pride erect. Upon its point the stars and stripes unfurled Proclaimed its due importance to the world ; And, where that starry emblem kissed the breeze, A town was platted,-Newton, if you please."
-RINEHART.
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The residents in Newton in 1850 were made up of about the following persons, possibly a half dozen others whose names have escaped the notice of the earliest historian of the county: W. M. Springer and family, hotel ; John H. Franklin and family, cabinetmaker and justice of the peace ; Ezekiel Shipley and family, carpenter ; Willis Green and family, farmers; P. M. Wood and family, plasterer; Jesse Rickman and family, postmaster and clerk of the county board of commissioners ; James Edgar and family, black- smith : Caleb Lamb and family, carpenter ; L. L. D. Kennedy and Jesse R. Kennedy, carpenters; Joseph Morgan and family, blacksmith: Job Springer, clerk : James Fry and family, farmers ; Rev. Strange Brooks and family, cir- cuit preacher of the Methodist Episcopal denomination; John Meredith and family, blacksmith ; Zadock M. Allen, blacksmith ; Dr. D. R. Rodgers; Mrs. Good and Mrs. Peter Miller and daughter ; E. Hammer, teacher.
It would appear that blacksmiths were in great demand at that day, for it will be observed that out of the first colony which located on the new town site, three were knights of the forge.
The first drugs were sold in way of patent medicines kept by John H. Franklin in his furniture and undertaking establishment. It was he who had for "free distribution" a lot of Dr. Jayne's Almanacs, on the back cover of which was printed the advertisement of "John H. Franklin, corner of Farmer and South streets, Newton, lowa, cabinetmaker and undertaker and dealer in patent medicines."
The first school was taught by Elisha Hammer in the old court house. and spelling schools were frequent and interesting.
The early hotel was the Ault House and later, after additions had been made thereto, it was styled the Tammany House. Many a good story is told of this pioneer stopping place. Some are doubtless true and many another one untrue, hence none will find place in this connection. Jo Thomas was one of the funny oddities who bore the title of landlord at this hotel and he it was who had a suit in court and when the judge ( McFarland) was en- tering his decision on the record, just as Thomas entered the court room, the judge looked up and remarked, "Jo Thomas, by G-, I am beatin' you. You don't set up enough corn at your table. I enter judgment against you for $- and costs." Thomas conducted this house many years. It was a stage station and many a weary traveler was sheltered beneath its roughly made walls. It was burned in 1857 and was known at that day as the Ohio House.
Of all the various industries and enterprises of which Newton may justly be proud today none are more lacking than that of hotels, there being
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only one hotel in the city, and there is certainly room for at least two more, of reasonable rates and acceptable fare.
But to resume the story of early matters in Newton, let it be said that at the close of the Civil war period ( 1866) the business of the city was in the hands of the following persons, chiefly :
Newspapers-Jasper Free Press, Republican, by Frank T. Campbell ; Newton Banner, Democratic, by John A. Wilson.
Grocers, Wholesale and Retail-John Meyer, R. Dixon, Anderson & Pardoe, Vernon Skiff, Jolm Dixon, I. E. Webster, Bradway & Belt, Joseph Rodgers, the last named a refreshment saloon.
General Merchants-J. B. O'Neal & Brother, George Wright, Sawyer & Company, G. G. Lindley & Company, J. M. Blanchard, McCalmont & Broth- ers, S. E. Zinn, Loomis & Company, Miller & Little.
Druggists-Dr. J. Green. Hammer & Company, Evans & Company.
Jewelers-C. J. Housel, Chapman & Dawson.
Hardware-Rhodes Lee, Thrift & Clippinger. William Vaughan.
Furniture-David Vangeison, W. H. Silsby.
Dentists-C. J. Housel, W. F. Roseman.
Harness-Milton Anderson, A. J. Osborn, R. McDowell, P. Alesworth. Attorneys-O. C. Howe, G. R. Shays, Winslow & Lindley, S. G. Smith, R. A. Sankey, J. W. Wilson, J. W. Sennett, D. L. Clark.
Physicians-Drs. J. R. Gorrell, H. E. Hunter, E. H. Mershon. H. J. Walker, A. Patton, B. M. Failor, Jabez Green, A. T. Ault.
Hotels-Phelps House, Union Hotel, City Hotel.
Miscellaneous Dealers, etc .- Livery, Sampey & Company ; marble shop : photographer, S. D. Leveridge: bookseller. Charles Gillman; clothing, Gar- rett & Company ; patent medicines, A. T. Ault, manufacturer ; meat market. James Lester ; lumber sealer, William Durose, Hough & Atwater ; boots and shoes. R. McDowell, Milton Anderson, William Manning, John Lloyd.
The year of 1875 was one of the most noted for building operations in Newton, up to that date, two hundred thousand dollars worth of building being effected. Among the structures may be remembered the Masonic block, J. B. Eyerly's building, J. W. Wilson's, Caleb Lamb's, Burns & Condit, Henry Sampey. on the west side of the public square. West from northwest from the square was the W. H. L. King and Henry Sampey's buildings; at the southeast corner of the square were the buildings of Mershon and the hotel. a three-story building, sixty-three by one hundred thirty-two feet in size. At the same corner was the Joseph McCalmont iron front building. The better. larger class of residences included those of Dr. Gorrell, William Vaughn,
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EAST SIDE SQUARE, NEWTON
SCENE ON CHAQUAQUA OR SKUNK RIVER
THE NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTUK, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTUM LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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Gen. James Wilson. Mr. Ainsworth, August Wendt and W. D. Weineke. These and twenty other buildings were all completed in 1875 in Newton.
In the eighties, nineties, and again in the first years of the twentieth century, Newton had rapid growth, but never was known as a boom town, always being steady and conservative in its actions and advancement. Per- haps within the last twelve or fifteen years has there been more of a genuine spirit of enterprise than in any other years in the history of the city. In this period the city has come to be known for its many fine paying manufacturing plants, which have given the place much advertising abroad. This is the well-known home of the patented articles made by the famous One Minute Manufacturing Company, the self-feeding threshing machine and band-cut- ting machinery. named elsewhere in this chapter, etc. Today the hum of machinery in twenty-five plants can be daily heard, while the five hundred persons engaged swell a pay-roll amounting to about forty thousand dollars per month.
All the various retail businesses of a first class city of its population are here well represented, the naming of which is useless in this connection. The great activities of Newton are certainly centered in its many factories, the whole being in working harmony with the well developed farming com- munity surrounding the city. The following include the manufacturing enterprises of Newton in 1911 :
The Maytag Company make the Parsons feeder, swinging elevator feeder. Ruth feeder, corn husker and shredder, shock hoist, shock loader, hay press, grain grader, Pastime washer, hog waterer, belt guide, cylinder wrench, automobile parts.
The G. W. Parsons Company make trenching and excavating machinery and do a crucible steel and iron foundry business.
One Minute Manufacturing Company make the One Minute washer, gasoline power washer, electric power washer, gasoline engines, ironing boards. rinse tubs, combination farm tools.
Newton Balance Valve Company make balance valves.
M. & E. Manufacturing Company manufacture acetylene gas lighting plants.
Automatic Electric Washer Company manufacture an automatic electric washer and wringer and gasoline power washers.
Cherry Blossoms Manufacturing Company make flavoring extracts.
American Construction Company put in municipal gas plants.
The Bergman Manufacturing Company make grain graders.
Hummel Manufacturing Company manufacture road graders.
(18)
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Newton Ice & Cold Storage Company make artificial ice.
Newton Milling Company make flour and patent pancake flour.
Ogburn Manufacturing Company make the detachable manure spreader.
Western Stock Remedy Company make stock remedies.
Henry Held makes cigars.
John O'Leary makes cigars.
Non-Leak Balance Valve Company make balance valves.
Scheurman Brothers make ladies' garments.
Ever Ready Manufacturing Company make ironing boards. Newton Manufacturing Company make advertising novelties.
Clipless Paper Fastener Company make the clipless paper fasteners.
Skow Brothers make road graders, disc sharpeners, gray iron castings, bank and office fixtures, show cases, stair cases, exterior and interior finishes, manure spreaders.
Newton Disc Plow Company make disc garden plows, and Newdisco electric and power washers.
Engle Coffee Mill Company make power coffee grinders.
M. G Rogers makes cement blocks.
M. Brown makes brick and tile.
F. Henning makes brick and tile.
C. Schaumberg makes brick and tile.
Advertising Novelty Manufacturing Company make advertising novel- ties.
AArthur H. Joy & Company make dental soldering machines.
M. L. Lewis & Son make bottled goods.
E. C. Smith makes breakfast foods.
The George W. Newton Company, advertising novelties.
FLOURING MILLS.
One of the most important and useful industries Newton possessed as early as 1858 was its steam flour mill, which plant made upon an average of two hundred barrels per day of an excellent grade of flour.
The present milling business is conducted by the Newton Milling Com- pany. H. C. McCardell. proprietor. These mills are not extensive. but do ex- cellent work. They are located on the corner of Spring and South streets.
Other mills of Jasper county are situated at Baxter, Monroe. Prairie City. Kellogg and Lynnville.
Ten years ago (1900) the industries of Newton were summed up as follows: The Parsons Band Cutter and Self-Feeder Company was organized
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in 1892, has a capital of $75,000, covers two and one-half acres with a splen- did plant. turns out 3.500 machines per annum, worth $600,000, employs ninety artisans and twenty-five traveling men, pays out $80.000 a year in wages and sells its product in all the grain growing states of the Union.
The Hawkeye Feeder Works was incorporated in May, 1898, by Par- sons. Rich & Company, composed of George W. Parsons and F. S. Rich. The plant represents a value of $30,000, turns out 1.200 machines worth $240,000, sells in all small grain districts. The plant covers half a block, em- ploys 46 artisans, six in office, and ten traveling men, and pays out in wages $25.000 per year.
The Taylor-Newell Company, manufacturers of pants, operate with a capital stock of $20,000, employs 65 people in the factory and five traveling men, turn out $100.000 worth of goods and sell in lowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Illinois. The pay roll is $15,000 per year. The stockholders are F. M. Taylor, Will G. Newell. Charles Seeberger. C. F. Morgan, Ralph Parmenter, Ralph Robinson, A. C. Gates, E. J. Schuneman. A. J. Anderson. The former is president of the company.
A. C. Randolph & Company, manufacturers of the Randolph pneu- matic stacker, established in 1899. employs 20 men in factory, six traveling men, turns out 500 stackers worth $1 25,000 and sells wherever threshing is done. A. C. Randolph is manager.
Newton Steel Cut Milling Company, manufacturers of "Wheat-O" breakfast food, established in 1898, capital $10,000, turns out $18,000 worth per year and sells through jobbers in several states. There are five employes at the mills, two at office and two on the road. The company is composed of A. H. Bergman. E. C. Smith, J. W. Langanback.
The Hawkeye Incubator Company is composed of W. C. and F. H. Bergman, was organized in 1898, turns out incubators and the "Ratchet Slat" washing machine, puts out 2.500 incubators and brooders and 1,000 washers, value $30,000 and employs 25 men.
In addition to the above the Skow Bros. manufacture a disc sharpener and a sand shoveler at their foundry and machine shop.
POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
A postoffice was established in Newton in the summer of 1847 and T. J. Adamson was appointed postmaster. The mail was carried on horseback from Iowa City, then the state capital. A. B. Meacham was the mail carrier.
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Later he became famous in the Modoc Indian warfare. Mail was thus car- ried until 1850, when stages were put in operation. It is known, however, that in the winter of 1850-51 the town had only about fifty people within its borders and that mail was received but once a week. It was brought in by Val. Adamson and the postoffice was kept in the old court house, where all hands would congregate to hear the latest news. get a paper, possibly two or three weeks old, printed in some one of the states to the east of our own. In the winter of 1850-51 the postmaster was Jesse Rickman, who was also clerk of the county board of commissioners, and he held his combined office in the county building, near where now stands the magnificent court house. In 1861 A. W. McDonald was postmaster: he succeeded Perry Crossman, who was appointed under President James Buchanan. The records are lost from the date of Mr. McDonald to 1868, when followed these: G. B. Hunter, David Flowers, T. M. Rodgers, Samuel Sherman. L. S. Kennington, M. A. McCord, George Clark. Jr., the present postmaster.
In 1886 this office was made a second-class office. About 1900 the rural free delivery went into force at Newton office and now there are rural carriers. The office was made a free city delivery office in 1899, with three carriers, which has been increased to four. The office has been in its present place about seven years, and just previous to the present quarters the post- office was kept on the west side of the public square. The amount of business transacted, outside of the money order business. in 1910 was twenty-five thousand dollars. There are now twelve mails each way daily, and the total number of persons employed. including the rural carriers, is eighteen.
During the administration of T. M. Rodgers as postmaster, on the eve of St. Valentine's day. 1893, the office was burglarized of three hundred dol- lars of government money and about the same amount belonging to the post- master. No clue as to the thief was ever had, but, aside from positive proof, it was really known who took the money.
MUNCIPAL HISTORY.
Newton was incorporated under a special charter, being one of the few cities in Iowa thus incorporated. The legislative act incorporating the place was approved and dated January 26, 1857. Section 19 of the articles of incorporation reads as follows :
"The county judge of the county of Jasper is hereby authorized to issue an order for an election, to be held in the said town of Newton on the first Monday of April next. for the adoption or rejection of this act of incorpora-
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tion, and the election board of the township of Newton, in the said county. shall on said day open a separate poll for the purpose of such votes; said election to be held in accordance with the laws governing county elections. Those in favor of the adoption of this act shall write on their tickets 'for in- corporation :' those opposed to the adoption of this act shall write on their tickets 'against incorporation.' Only the resident voters of said town shall be eligible to vote at said election."
At the above election there were one hundred and twenty-one votes cast for incorporation and thirty-four against the proposition. The first corpora- tion election was held May 4, 1857, but the records of Newton have not been preserved and hence the list of the first few set of officials cannot now be arrived at. An old history states that the first mayor was Hugh Newell.
It should be said in connection with the legislative act by which Newton became an incorporated town, in 1857, that through a clerical blunder, the act defined the location as being "in township 81." which would bring it six miles north of where the town does in fact lie, and was intended by the peti- tioners to be located. This error cansed much annoyance for a number of years, especially in attempting to enforce any criminal law. This, however, was later remedied by the Legislature.
The records show that the following served as officers of the town of Newton in 1868: D. D. Piper, mayor; John C. Wilson, recorder; W. H. Hough. F. T. Campbell. James McGregor, C. E. Ford, J. M. Hiatt and George T. Anderson, councilmen.
During the summer of 1868 there was a large amount of wooden side- walk put down on the streets of Newton, as a result of the town being in- corporated.
In September, 1869, one hundred and fourteen citizens and four "not eligible" petitioned the council to repeal the ordinance prohibiting the sale of "ale. wine and beer," but it was tabled and not long before the remon- strance of one hundred and thirty voters and ninety-six ladies was presented to the same body. Newton has never had legalized saloons. The ladies have to be given much credit along this line, be it recorded to their honor.
In September, 1869, the council granted the right to F. H. Griggs to construct a horse car line through the alley running north and south between Race and Vine streets, from the Rock Island depot to the south line of New- ton, and thence west on the street along the south side of the incorporation. to connect with the public road leading to the fair grounds. But it appears that the franchise was never taken advantage of, for there was never any street railroad constructed in Newton.
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JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
FIRST TOWN CHARTER ABANDONED.
On February 28, 1870, through the petition of eighty-seven citizens. with no remonstrance against it. the special charter of Newton's first incor- poration was abandoned, and the place was then organized under the laws of the state as seen in chapter 51. 1860. An election was held in April of that year and the question was voted upon and resulted in a vote of eighty-seven for and none against, thus reorganizing the town incorporation. The first officers under the new town government were as follows: J. A. Hammer. mayor: L. B. Westbrook, recorder: J. A. Garrett. M. A. Blanchard, J. A. Wilson, C. Connelly. J. J. Vaughan, councilmen : A. J. Osborn, treasurer : W. H. Hough, assessor.
On May 5. 1870, the council divided the city into five wards and about the same date instituted a "pound" and purchased land on which to place the same.
On January 30, 1871, the limits of the place were extended to the extent of eighty acres, in section 27: two hundred acres in section 33: two hundred and forty acres in section 34.
On, May 30, 1870. the right of way through the city limits was refused to the Jasper County Coal & Railroad Company and to the Iowa, Minnesota & Northern Pacific Company ; but on the 2d of AAugust, that year, the appli- cation of the latter company was granted and an ordinance issued therefor. Newton became a city of the second class in May. 1870.
FIRE DEPARTMENT BEGINS.
The beginning of the present fire department in Newton was effected in 1874, when about twenty members, which soon increased to forty-five, or- ganized themselves into a hook and ladder company. S. J. Moyer was its president : J. H. Tait, foreman : Alex. Work, first assistant ; Frank Clark, sec- ond assistant : Alanson Clark, secretary: H. K. Stahl. treasurer. The present company consists of about thirty-five men. They are in charge of the hook and ladders and three hose carts, by which they have been very successful in fighting fires.
A city hall was erected in about 1886 and is still in use. The mayor has his private office and the city clerk and water superintendent have offices in the electric lighting plant.
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ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT, WATER WORKS, ETC.
This plant was originally built by the Thompson-Houston Company in 1883 and was of a private ownership type, but in 1889 the present city plant was installed and has furnished light and power to the city since then. It furnished light at cheaper rates than were had in almost any other city in lowa. Last year ( 1910) it made a profit of twelve thousand dollars, hence. after making a cheap rate to patrons, it is far more than self-sustaining.
The city is this year ( 1911 ) installing a gas plant for power and heating purposes, by bonding the city to the amount of forty thousand dollars. They expect to furnish gas as cheaply as possible, but at first it will necessarily be about one dollar and fifty cents per thousand feet.
In addition to the above concerning the establishment of the light plant in Newton, it should be said that the Thompson-Houston Company, one of the largest corporations in lighting and electric plants in America at that date, held a perpetual franchise in Newton, but by reason of the high rates charged the people, a home concern went into business for the city and its municipal benefit. A small plant was installed and little by little they man- aged to draw away the patrons of the old private company of Thompson- Houston. That corporation got into litigation with the city of Newton over the franchise rights of the city streets: thousands of dollars were expended in the courts, both higher and lower. Then came cutting of rates by both companies, until finally it proved unprofitable to both and the Thompson- Houston people sold their entire plant for a little more than four thousand dollars to the city of Newton. The next Legislature passed a law that no city should grant franchise for a longer term than twenty-five years.
Newton's first water works system was of private ownership, and was granted its franchise by the city in 1903. It was owned by Messrs. B. W. Skiff. Charles Seaberger and M. L. Maytag, who operated it until 1907, when the city purchased the plant for forty thousand dollars. Bonds were issued and floated for the payment of this needed city improvement. It has come to be almost self-sustaining. The supply of water is had by a large number of forty-five-foot wells sunk to the gravel beds of the flats lying six miles to the west of the city, near the village of Metz. The water is of the best and purest in the country. It is pumped by steam power through cast iron pipes and forced to elevated tanks in the heart of the city. The original tank holds eighty-five thousand gallons of water, but the one being con- structed at the present time is to be one hundred and twenty-eight feet high
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and constructed of steel. This will hold one hundred thousand gallons more. Both will be used, one as a reserve tank in case of emergency.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
In 1897 the citizens awoke to the fact that they were behind the times in which they were living and some advocated the paving of streets and making other needed city improvements, another class bitterly opposing these improvements on account of the necessary expenses. but when the spring election for city officers came around that was one, if not the prin- cipal, feature in nominating men for the office of mayor and members of the council. As it turned out the right man was selected and won out at the polls. This was George Early, who served one term and was friendly toward the putting down of the first brick paving Newton had ever had. So well were the property owners pleased that extensions were made from year to year until now the city has many miles of paving.
It was under the administration of Mayor Early, too, that the legal battle over the electric light franchise and original plant was carried forward and finally won by the city purchasing the old private plant. Newton now gets water and lights ( under municipal ownership plan) at the cost of pro- duction.
CITY OFFICIALS.
The following is a list of mayors for Newton, commencing with 1868, the records having been lost for the period before that: 1868, D. D. Piper; 1870, J. A. Hammer ; 1873. C. Howard; 1874, M. A. Blanchard ; 1875, D. D. Piper : 1877, John A. Wilson, whose term was completed by D. Edmundson and M. A. Blanchard: 1878, M. A. Blanchard; 1879, D. Edmundson; 1880, N. Townsend; 1887, J. B. Eyerly : 1889, Joseph Stevens; 1893, A. Lufkin ; 1898, George Early: 1899, Frank Long; 1907, Ed. Cook; 1909 to present date. O. C. Meredith.
The officers for the city at this date are: Mayor, O. C. Meredith; solicitor. J. E. Cross ; clerk, E. C. Finch ; deputy clerk, Roy Fisk; treasurer, D. L. Clark : health officer, Dr. E. F. Besser : street commissioner. Art Rey- nolds ; marshal, J. H. Robbins ; deputy marshal, W. F. Wade ; superintendent light, water and gas, Connie O'Leary ; councilmen, Frank P. Baldwin, George H. Warner (at-large), Oscar Coon, first ward; John H. Harvey, second ward : R. B. Jackson, third ward; Fred H. Bergmen, fourth ward. The chief of the fire department is Bruce E. Sattele : city assessor, E. E. Effnor; over- seer of the poor, Ed. Cook.
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