The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 61

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807

USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its. > Part 61

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In South Clinton is opened, during the winter, an ungraded school for the . benefit of those who work during the summer. In 1879, the number of pupils attending school was slightly lessened by the opening Roman Catholic parochial schools, taught by Sisters of Charity. In May, 1869, the number actually in attendance, out of about 3,000 minors over five years of age, was 1,424. The maximum hitherto was in June, 1878, 1,755. The present number of teachers

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is twenty-nine, the average monthly pay-roll, $1,500. Truancy has been virtu- ally abolished, and the health of the school children is no less satisfactory.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

It would have indeed been strange if a population as exceptionably intelli- gent and enterprising as that of Clinton should long remain satisfied without the advantages of literary improvement and amusement. Probably the English travelers who, when they visited Lowell, were so surprised to find in the cotton- mills there, as operatives, young ladies of unmistakable culture conducting a newspaper and library of their own, would have been equally amazed at the efforts of the Railway Library Association of Clinton, which was organized March 23, 1864, with the following officers : President, D. Mahoney ; Vice President, Robert Hay ; Secretary, William Lake; Treasurer, George Leslie ; Librarian, Henry Harrison. The Association accumulated several hundred volumes, mostly of very solid and useful works, and, being well administered, accomplished a good work, most of the prominent citizens of the city being eventually identified therewith, until it was, on February 26, 1866, consolidated with the Y. M. L. A. The books of the Railroad Association were first kept in a building on Fifth avenue, below Second street, and then in the store of J. H. Churcher, who was very active in library matters.

But these and other previous efforts being deemed inadequate to the require- ments of the rapidly growing city, in 1866 a number of prominent citizens vig- orously took the matter in hand, and organized the Young Men's Library Associa- tion of Clinton. A. P. Hosford was elected President, W. F. Coan, Treasurer, and Isaac Baldwin, Secretary. These, aided and supported by a strong list of Vice Presidents and committees, among whom Dr. P. J. Farnsworth, afterward President, rendered invaluable services, soon placed the Association on a per- manent and highly encouraging basis. A large library of over five hundred admirably selected volumes was purchased and acquired by generous donations, and placed in rooms in the Toll "Block January 23, 1867. Among those who, on payment of $50, became life members, besides the above, the names are found of Messrs. C. H. Toll, D. Whitney, Chauncey Lamb, Artemus Lamb, Milo Smith, C. M. Young and Horace Williams, showing that the business men realized the importance of securing the intellectual, as well as the material interests of the city where they had pitched their tents. Among the early donors of valuable assortments of books to the Library were I. B. Howe, Wil- lard Cutler, Gen. N. B. Baker and Senator Kirkwood. As a result, the library was remarkably rich in statistical compilations and books of reference. The public demand for books during Mr. Churcher's librarianship may be inferred from the fact that the total number of books annually loaned was over three times the entire list, and over ten entries on the average for each one of the 150 members.

For several years, prominent citizens took a lively interest in the Library management. Dr. Farnsworth reports aroused public interest; lectures and donations realized funds, and for several years the catalogue grew at the rate of hundreds annually. C. E. Bentley, Clarence Van Kuran and Miss M. A. Rob- inson successively occupied the Librarian's chair on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In 1871, when Dr. F. was called to a chair at the State University, the Library numbered upward of one thousand two hundred books, worth over $2,500. Some months later, on returning to Clinton, in a letter through the Bee, he indignantly informed the Association and citizens that the Library had been greatly depreciated and nearly ruined-books had been stolen, mutilated, and

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confusion worse confounded reigned on the shelves. Public-spirited citizens and members were aroused, and a new era of prosperity was inaugurated through their energetic efforts, and the Association placed on a sound basis. The Library was installed, in 1872, in commodious rooms in the Post Office Block, where it now remains, and augmented by donations and purchases, notably by a gift of 719 new volumes through the munificence of John Bertram, of Salem, Mass., one of the capitalists who early invested in Clinton interests. Though the number of members has been pruned down to less than one hun- dred, and profits from lectures, etc., are no longer relied upon, a steady and healthy growth is the destiny of the Library Association, as its value as an edu- cating agency complementary to the public schools, as well as a means of refined enjoyment, is more and more appreciated. Another decade will probably see the books numbered by thousands, and stored in an appropriate special building, accessible .every day and evening. The officers for 1869 are: President, Richard Flournoy ; Secretary, Eaton L. Moses ; Treasurer, A. H. Paddock ; Directors, Charles P. Fegan and Fowler P. Stone.

THE POST OFFICE.

The post office was established at Clinton in the spring of 1856. For some time, the office was said to be in the Postmaster's hat, and the mail was dis- tributed in the Central House, then the general rendezvous and exchange, where political business and social matters were arranged. Thence, after being kept for awhile in a building, a block south of the Central, the office was removed to the northeast corner of Fifth avenue and Second street, and thence to the little wooden building still standing east of Breitling's bakery, on the south side of Fifth avenue, between First and Second streets. Subsequently, in 1866, the removal of the office to the wooden building on Second street, then occu- pying the site of the present Gage Bank Building, showed the general movement of business up town, at that time. The citizens continued to get their mail at that place until the office received better quarters in the adjacent Toll Block, where it remained till, in 1873, it occupied its present commodious apartments in the marble front Post-Office Building on Fifth avenue, adjacent to Moses & Thompson's bookstore. It is one of the very few post-office buildings in the Mississippi Valley containing sufficient lobby and office room, and other facili- ties for the transaction of the business which has to be handled here.

The first Postmaster was Charles Maclay, succeeded by C. H. Simmons. F. N. Holloway, who held the office for eight years; J. H. Tierney, from 1868 to 1875; and Maj. C. H. Toll, the present incumbent. The first money order was issued in October, 1868. The present annual receipts of this office average $10,000.

WATER-WORKS.

In January, 1874, the matter of providing Clinton with water-works was first agitated, and the more the topic was discussed, the more decided and unani- mous became the verdict, that a city where so many valuable industries were surrounded by acres of inflammable pine, should not be exposed to the fate which has befallen several northwestern towns, notably Oshkosh, of being nearly ruined by a sweeping conflagration. Physicians also recognized the fact that it would be well to substitute river water for that supplied by wells sunk through alluvial soil or porous rock. At first, it was proposed that the city should build the works, but having been ascertained that statutes limiting the contraction of municipal debt debarred the city from undertaking the enterprise, it was then

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taken up by a few leading business men with a view of forming a stock pany, building the works with private capital, the city enjoying fire protec at a fixed annual rental.

On March 6, 1874, the first practical step was taken by a meeting, w subscription papers were drawn up and the nucleus of a company forme being desired to have $80,000 pledged to render the scheme certain of fu ment. I. B. Howe, S. G. Magill and D. Joyce were chosen a Committe Incorporation. Excursions were made to view the water-works of Daven and Rock Island, where the Holly and Donahue systems were inspected tested. At that time, the plan was to unite the capital of Clinton and L in establishing one system of works for joint use by both cities ; but as Ly people did not respond to the proposition, Clinton took the initiative by an o nance passed March 26, 1874, granting twenty-year franchises to the Clin Water-Works Company, and contracting for seventy hydrants at an an rental of $100 each, and granting to the company, in consideration of erection of tasteful buildings, the free use of a public park on First street. April 9, the Company elected as Directors, I. B. Howe, Chauncey Lamb, W Young, W. F. Coan, Oliver Messer, J. T. Pierson and E. S. Bailey, and Bequently chose the following officers : President, I. B. Howe; Vice Presid Oliver Messer; Secretary, E. H. Thayer; Treasurer, J. C. Weston ; Ex tive Committee, I. B. Howe, Chauncey Lamb and W. J. Young; Superin dent, O. Messer; Chief Engineer, W. C. Weir. About June 1, the Comp awarded its first contract, and Messrs. Howe and Weir made a ten-days insp ing tour through the Central and Eastern States, examining the water-work various cities, with the result of a happy compromise of several systems, c bining their leading principles and advantages, including pumping directly the mains during a fire, which is the principal characteristic of the Holly tem, employing the stand-pipe and reservoir for domestic supply, thus senting & unique combination of the best devices for procuring, handling distributing water for both protection and use, being the only works of the thus far in the world.

June 4, ground was broken for the filter-bed ; on June 29, for the ma August 26, the city established the fire-limits, extending 800 feet bey the outer range of hydrants, and including the major part of the corpora territory. About November 1, the connections between the river and shore duits were made by submarine divers, and on December 2, the pumps were started and the reservoir tested, and, on the 8th and 9th, informal tests of works were made in the presence of the Council and spectators, and a 160- stream realized with only gravitation and the pressure of 13,600 gallons of w in the reservoir. December 12, it was announced that water would be delive to private customers, and, a few days later, the city accepted the hydrants, w were first utilized at a fire on Seventh avenue December 28.

In its journey from river to kitchen, the water is taken from the char 167 feet from shore low-water mark, passed through filter-basins and into reservoir at the top of the tower, through a two-inch stand-pipe. The towe 120 feet high and rests upon a solid stone and rock foundation. It is sevent feet in diameter, tapering to twelve feet near the top, and buttressed to prev oscillation. By 132 steps, one ascends to the observatory, just under the ervoir, that seems remarkably like a chamber in the turret of a medie castle, which the tower resembles in external appearance, whence is obtaine magnificent prospect of the broad valley, oak-crowned bluffs, three cities, lages and farm-houses, and the majestic current of the Mississippi for m

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miles. The pumping engines are marvels of compactness and power, and, aided by powerful boilers, can redouble their work in an incredibly short time. The distributing system is fed by a sixteen-inch supply main, in which the flow is regulated by an air-chamber, so as to prevent bursting the mains when the pumps are crowded. The pipe was laid under great difficulties, a portion being cut through the solid rock at a depth of from five to six feet. The cost of the works aggregates $110,000. With the manifest decrease of danger from conflagrations, the promised reductions in insurance rates to property- owners, and the distribution of pure, healthful water for domestic uses, thus dispelling the anxiety of business men, preserving property from loss, and affording the sanitary precaution of proper drinking water, these works consti- tute a blessing to Clinton that will be more fully enjoyed and appreciated as their future use demonstrates their utility, not only in daily life, but in such a great crisis as that of May, 1879. On that occasion, the water-works fur- nished scores of streams. The present officers are : President, C. Lamb ; Sec- retary and Treasurer, J. C. Weston ; Superintendent, O. Messer ; Directors, I. Munroe, C. Lamb, W. J. Young, W. F. Coan, E. S. Bailey, J. E. Carpenter and J. T. Pierson.

GAS WORKS.

It has been neatly said that the self-styled cities become such in reality when they are lighted with gas. Assuming the truth of that definition of what really constitutes a nineteenth-century city, Clinton actually arrived at urban dignity in the spring of 1869, when the Gas Light and Coke Company was organized, with a capital of $60,000, and works built and mains laid through the principal streets.

Previously, except where a private lamp shed its friendly rays, citizens groped about in utter darkness, or carried lanterns, as in the middle ages. The change to lighted streets was inexpressibly cheering.

The mains now aggregate over seven miles. The present officers compris- ing the gentlemen most prominently identified with the work are W. J. Young, President ; J. C. Weston, Secretary and Treasurer ; O. Messer, Superin- tendent ; W. J. Young, I. B. Howe, C. H. Toll, C. Lamb, E. S. Bailey, F. P. Wilcox, J. Vandeventer, Directors.

RELIGIOUS.

The first religious services were held in a little shanty, in November or December, 1855, temporarily used as the office of the Iowa Land Company. Prayer and social meetings, and occasional formal services, were held in the old log schoolhouse by various denominations. About the close of the year, meetings were held in the present dining-room of the Iowa Central House. At the first gathering there, Jephaniah K. Allen led the meeting and returned thanks that they were "gathered together where prayers were wont to be made," while on the outside were heard the noises of a profane quarrel, and the sound of the ax with which Patrick Noonan was cutting wood to keep the meeting-room warm. There were probably thirty or forty people present. In 1856, Reznor's warehouse was used as a place of worship.

From these humble beginnings, and others related hereafter, the churches of Clinton have grown to their present status. Probably there is not a town in the West where the churches, in proportion to their population, are so well sustained and ably administered as in Clinton. Their influence has been no insignificant factor in the prosperity and order of the city.

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Episcopal .- In the autumn of 1855, the lamented Rev. Henry W. Bishop of Iowa, organized St. John's Parish, and held services in a log b belonging to Noble Perrin, near the levee. A small frame building was up the ensuing year and was used for a private school, and also for cl purposes whenever services could be obtained. The school ceased after av but the Church continued its occupancy until the present edifice was comp The old building was afterward used for a public primary school, after removed to Clinton Park. Rev. James Trimble was called to the pari the spring of 1857, and remained in charge until the fall of the same Rev. H. W. Beers, Rector of Grace Church at Lyons, then added the to his charge, officiating in the afternoon of the same Sunday. In 1859, Samuel Chase was chosen Rector, but on account of ill-health, resign 1860. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles B. Stout, in the spring of In 1863, the parish became again vacant, the Church having suffer severely from members removing, and other causes, that it became impossi proporly sustain a Pastor. From this time until the completion of the pr church, Rev. G. W. Watson, of Lyons Grace Church, officiated once Sabbath.

In the winter of 1864, the members of the parish determined to m supreme effort to erect a suitable church, and earnestly organized for that pose, notwithstanding apparently almost insurmountable obstacles. labors were, however, blessed beyond their expectations, and, on April 15, had the pleasure, heartfelt and thankful, of participating in the solemn dedic of their beautiful building, by Bishop Lee, assisted by the Rector, F. Hump who had taken charge in April, and many of the diocesan clergy. The c is situated at the corner of Fourth avenue and Third street. It is built o buff-colored limestone from the Iowa Land Company's quarries, and is o style known as the early English. In size, it is 76 by 30 feet, with a ves the northwest corner. The side walls are buttressed, thus adding much quaint beauty of the structure, which is also enhanced by the neat eas porch. The wood work of the open roof is grained in oak, and wit stained glass windows casting " a dim religious light," old-fashioned pew neat chancel, makes an interior at once picturesque and associated wit poetry of religious edifices. Rector Humphrey remained in charge ti resignation in February, 1868. After an interval, during which the pulpi not filled except by supplies or candidates, the present Rector, Rev. Jam Trimble, was again secured as Rector, and began his second rectorate Ap 1869. One of the candidates during the vacancy was Rev. H. W. Woods largely aided in precipitating that ecclesiastical cause celebre, the Ch Whitehouse controversy.

The Sunday school was kept in a flourishing condition during the absence of a Rector, with a membership of from eighty to one hundred, b efforts of Messrs. I. P. Brewer and John Flournoy, and others. S. J. is the Superintendent.

The present value of the church property, including the rectory, is $12,000, and the membership is about one hundred. Since several year Prof. J. A. McKenney took charge of the choir, great attention has beer to the church music till now, on the authority of Bishop Perry, the m services at St. John's are the finest in the diocese, if not in the North outside of the great cities.

Presbyterian .- The Presbyterian Church was organized October 26, in the west room of what was then known as Price's Block, Fourth at

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next west of Central House Block. Rev. George R. Moore and A. W. Platt officiated. The members numbered but nineteen, of whom two, Mrs. Sophia Arnold and Dr. H. McCormick, are still connected. In November, Rev. Ovid Miner was engaged for six months, at a salary of $400. April 1, 1857, "the little church around the corner" of Third street and Sixth avenue, on a site donated by the Land Company, was begun, and on the 14th of the same month the first sermon was preached in it by Rev. Austin Roberts, of Lakeville, Mass. Rev. A. W. Platt oficiated during 1857, and was succeeded in April, 1858, by Rev. G. A. D. Hebard, who remained four and a third years, when he was called to Iowa City. In February. 1862, the Church secured the services of Rev. John McLeish, who remained eight months, when he entered the military service as Chaplain of the Twenty-sixth Iowa Regiment. About January 7, 1863, Rev. J. Knox became Pastor and remained about eighteen months, when he accepted a call from Cedar Rapids. In July, 1864, the Church engaged Rev. O. D. W. White, who remained two years, when he was elected Professor of Natural Sciences in the college at Fulton, Ill. After another vacancy, ending in February, 1867, Rev. J. R. Morse occupied the pulpit till November of the same year, when he assumed the Presidency of the Lyons Female College, then under the control of the Synod. He was succeeded in the same month by the present Pastor, Rev. J. G. Cowden, of Iowa City, who was the first formally installed Pastor of the Church. In the winter of 1868-69, was inaugurated one of the most useful of auxiliary church enterprises, in the organization, and estab- lishment on a permanant basis, of the South Clinton Sunday School, which, from a humble beginning in the little old wooden building. first used a public school- house in that part of the town, grew to such proportions as to overflow several rooms in the present fine brick building. Subsequently, after the old wooden church was evacuated, a portion of it was moved to South Clinton, where, close by a fine grove, it fulfills its purpose of supplying the extensive district south of the railroad with a needed house of worship. In 1871, it became manifest that the congregation was outgrowing its quarters, but the inevitable discussions as to ways and means of rebuilding and the panic of '73 delayed any movement till in the spring of 1875. "Murray Church" (built in 1871 by a Universalist Society) was temporarily occupied, and the work of building an edifice, worthy of the society and city, prosecuted with vigor and efficiency. The corner-stone was laid July 29, 1876, with appropiate ceremonies. The following articles were deposited in the corner-stone : Copies of the Clinton and Chicago papers, report of the Clinton Centennial celebration of the Fourth of July and copy of oration by Waldo M. Potter, manual of Clinton Presbyterian Church, list of Church members, list of Clinton Church societies and officers, lists of trustees, building committee, contractors and subscribers to the building fund, historical . sermon by Pastor, giving sketch of Church from its origin, copies of plans of visitation, benevolent schemes and praise meetings of the Church, Centennial medals, coins of the year, programme of ceremonies of laying corner-stone. The lecture-room of the new church was occupied in the spring of 1877, and on December 19, 1877, the upper auditorium was occupied and the edifice was dedicated, the sermon being preached by the Pastor. The church is built of brick, and contains not only the upper room, with a seating capacity of 700, but a basement story with lecture-rooms, parlors and classrooms, admirably arranged for Sunday-school purposes and to be thrown together on special occasions. The cost of the structure was upward of $25,000, of which no less than $4,000 was raised by the indefatigable efforts of the ladies of the Church, who conducted sociables, excursions, entertainments and fairs with

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equal discretion and zeal. The total value of the church property is $30,000. and the membership numbers over 200.

The Sunday school began its independent existence in May, 1857, in small frame building still standing in the rear of Pipping's market, with a ten scholars. J. G. Irwin was the first Superintendent. At present, ther 300 scholars and 20 teachers. J. S. Oliver is Superintendent. Under ] Lachmund's direction great improvement has been made in the musical serv while the labors of Mr. J. E. Carpenter and others have had the same resu developing musical taste in the Sabbath school. An orchestra has for se years directed and led the children's voices.

Methodist .- In the autumn of 1856, Rev. J. B. Taylor, Pastor of Lyon's M. E. Church, organized a few persons into a class in Clinton, during the following year, a small wooden building was built and used Church purposes until 1864, and afterward converted into a skirt factory dwelling, having been removed from the church lot to Second street. society, organized with twenty members, was soon increased to forty. A val resulted in forty accessions. In the Conference of, 1858, held at Ly Clinton's first report as a separate charge announced 77 members.

At this Conference, Rev. G. W. Brindell was assigned to the Clinton Chu and re-appointed in 1859, completing two useful years. In 1860 and 186 was succeeded by Rev. R. Norton. In 1862, Rev. R. N. Earhart was appoi but resigned in the middle of the year, and was succeeded by Rev. N. Sha who completed the Conference year. In 1863, Rev. L. Taylor was appoi to Clinton and completing a fruitful year reported a membership, includi class at the Central Schoolhouse, of 128 members and probationers. In fall of 1864, Rev. C. G. Truesdell was appointed to Clinton, and, in 1865 1866,, was re-appointed. His report in the latter year showed 200 mem 200 children in Sunday school, and 500 volumes in Sunday-school library.

the spring of 1865, the new and commodious brick church, at present occu by the Society, was begun in the autumn, completed, and December 17, 1 formally dedicated by the Rev. T. M. Eddy, D. D., of Chicago. The siz the building was 40 by 60 feet exclusive of tower. It was finished in fre and with stained-glass windows, and cost over $10,000.'

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The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 61

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 807

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807