USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its. > Part 71
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that they wasted their resources, by scattering their work over a long line, instead of following Engineer Slack's advice, and completing one section of line at a time.
Mr. Slack's plans for the proposed high bridge were very maturely consid- ered, and the finely drawn original profile was well calculated to inspire confi- dence in the feasibility of building the lofty structure. Its clear length would have been 2,700 feet; it would have been 80 feet above high-water, and the piers 200 feet apart, in water from 22 to 40 feet in depth. Its abutments would have been near the Fulton cemetery and on the Lone Grave Bluff, near the upper saw-mill. The approach on the Illinois side could have been made by grades of from 20 to 40 feet per mile, and the westward gradients were equally practicable. Messrs. Buel, Lake, and other Lyons citizens subscribed liberally, considering that there were probably not over two hundred people in Lyons at the time, for the preliminary survey. That did not seem like the indifference to railroad interests, of which Lyons has been so freely and unthinkingly accused. But as usual, when a public undertaking fails, there were carping and cynical persons in Lyons who were not slothful in freely criti- cising others. One of the satirical pasquinades of that time is quaint enough to preserve. It is entitled :
A CHAPTER FROM THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES, BEING AN EXTRACT FROM THE HISTORY OF LYONS, IOWA.
CHAPTER I.
1. And it came to pass that after these things, that in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, certain Gentiles from the East, even from the land of New England, emigrated to the Territory of Wisconsin, which is Iowa.
2. And when they had crossed the great river of America, which is the Mississippi, they saw that the country was very beautiful, producing fragrant flowers and the choicest fruits, while the wild elk and deer roamed over its prairies.
3. And when they had journeyed many days in search of a place whereon they might build a city, they pitched their tents over against the Narrows of the Mississippi, on an elevated plain.
4. And lo! when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw that the place upon which they then were, was one of exceeding great beauty. Then they tarried there many days.
5. And it came to pass on the evening of the tenth day, while they were sleeping. they saw a vision, as of a chariot crossing the great river on a bridge of wire, which was suspended from the bluffs on either side, elevated five and fifty cubits above the water. The same vision did each of them see.
6. And straightway they, with one accord, determined to build there their city. And they "squatted" upon that place, and claimed it and held it as their own. And they called the city Lyons.
7. Now the city of Lyons improved greatly for a time, and promised to be one of the finest among the great commercial towns in the country which lies in the Upper Valley of the Missis- sippi.
8. But when the Gentiles who had founded the city saw that they had hit upon the right place in which to invest their spare cash, and that by holding on to what property they then had, they would eventually become exceeding rich, their hearts were hardened-as many others have been under like circumstances-and they said among themselves, " Let us travel into a far country, and when our lands have become valuable we will return."
9. And the names of these Gentiles were Don, whose surname is Juan, and Felix whose surname is Grundy, and one Crandall.
10. And Crandall traveled to the eastward and came to a great city, where he fared sumptu- ously every day. And he died. And his heirs came in possession of his property, and hold it even unto this day, and refuse to sell even the smallest part.
11. And Don journeyed to the northward, where he is even unto this day. But he hath not sold his lots, neither hath he given any of them unto the poor ; so that the part of the city of Lyons which he owneth is not yet improved.
12. ,But the heart of Felix relented, and he went not away, but did what he could to improve the city ; and his possessions waxed great, and he is very rich. He hath more than either of his partners.
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13. And it came to pass that after the two Gentiles left the city, it ceased to improve for a time, because there were no lots for sale. And other towns sprang up in the neighborhood.
14. And, because the proprietors of these towns held out inducements to settlers, they prospered. And many left Lyons and went to reside in the villages round about.
15. Now in the city of Davenport there lived a certain scribe, called Alfred, whose sur- name is Sanders. He exulted over the humiliation of Lyons, and despitefully treated her in his newspaper. He hath received his reward.
16. For when certain rich men came from the East and saw how many natural advantages were possessed by Lyons, they determined to build a railroad, so that the people of that city might reach New York in two days' journey, and so carry their produce where it would sell fer a fair price. And this railroad is nearly completed.
17. Now it is expected that when Don readeth this chapter, he will cloth himself and repent in sackcloth and ashes; and that he will return unto Lyons and do what is in his power to make reparation for this great sin which is upon him.
18. And now that Lyons is beginning to be appreciated and is acknowledged to possess at least as many natural advantages as any other place on the Upper Missisippi, the scribe, Alfred, should cease to use his efforts to retard her progress, or divert capital from her borders.
19. For, know ye not, ye great men of Davenport, that ye are in danger of bringing upon yourselves great tribulation, even to the breaking-down of the mighty bridge whereof ye have boasted yourselves, with a great raft from above. BOCHIX.
LYONS, October 9, 1854.
After the failure of the L. & I. C. project, all but the most sanguine resi- dents of Lyons, for some time, felt as if their hopes of seeing the city a railroad center were indefinitely deferred. Many removed to other points, but new arrivals maintained, and, in fact, increased the population. In 1855, the city was re-surveyed by Allen Slack. On July 17, 1855. it was first publicly announced in Lyons that a town was to be inaugurated on the site of Clinton, but then, and for several years after, the prospect of Clinton appeared so vis- ionary that it was scarcely regarded as a possible future rival. It is impossible for the historian to determine whether, during Lyons' golden opportunity in 1854-56, her citizens, as a body, were or were not apathetic to their true interests. . Many certainly were not, judging from the substantial aid that they gave the Air Line, even to the extent of mortgaging their homes, to subscribe for stock. This second enterprise was a scheme of S. S. Jones, the late editor of the Religio-Philosophical Journal, of Chicago. His murder by Pike, in the winter of 1876-77, is fresh in the memories of those who knew him in early days as a shrewd and capable railroad man. He was Secretary of a line proposing to cross the river at Sabula, and thence traverse Iowa. He proposed to extend a branch from Maquoketa to Lyons, but, on the failure of the Sabula crossing scheme, planned to connect the Dixon & Iowa Central Air Lines at the Fulton- Lyons crossing. According, a company was organized, and again the prospects of Lyons brightened, and both population and business rapidly increased. Grading began on the Air Line in the fall of 1855, and was vigorously prose- cuted, till interrupted by frost. In the spring it was resumed, and the grading was done at intervals between Lyons and Maquoketa. The means for the work in 1855-56, were supplied by local subscriptions, and farm mortgages, and naturally proved rather scanty. Indeed, railroad engineering was not the exact science that it is to-day, and the ideas of many railroad projectors as to the ultimate cost of their lines were comparatively somewhat vague. The views of people along proposed lines were still more misty.
In the spring of 1856, S. S. Jones, President of the Air Line, who had wintered at Washington, concluded that his railroad could as easily have a "land grant " as the Illinois Central, which had just secured its magnificent appro- priation. Accordingly, members enough were "seen " and land grants secured for four railroads across Iowa, from east to west, the Air Line and railroads crossing at Dubuque, Burlington and Davenport. Jones returned to Lyons to
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look after interests there, and during his absence the clause conferring the land upon the Air Line was stricken from the bill, presumably through the influ- ence of the Dubuque and Davenport Congressmen. The unconquered Jones rushed back to the capital, and, by demonstrating to the members in the inter- est of the rival lines the impossibility of keeping their own appropriations without also giving his line its share, compelled them, by arguments potent at Washington, to aid him in again securing the grant.
A plan somewhat similar to that so successful on the Illinois Central was adopted to raise funds, by bonding the road and lands. Contracts were let to responsible Eastern parties for the speedy construction of the railroad across the State, and, during 1857 until the panic, work was pushed along vigorously. Had it not been for that disaster, discussed elsewhere, forty miles of iron would have been laid by January 1, 1858, the road would have retained its land grant, and the subsequent history of Clinton County would have been materially mod- ified by its being the terminus and crossing-place of two trans-Iowan railways instead of one. Indeed, Thomas Walker of New York, who so successfully negotiated the bonds of the Illinois Central, was one of the Trustees of the Air Line. But the financial revulsion of course stopped the bond negotiation, and, on September 16, 1857, orders came to stop work, when nearly all the grading and culverts between Lyons and Maquoketa were completed.
As related elsewhere, the land grant was resumed and given to the Cedar Rapids & Missouri Railway, and the roadbed utilized by the Midland fourteen years afterward. In the meantime, the progress of the C., I. & N. Railway, narrated in the history of Clinton, its projectors having safely weathered the panic, had revolutionized the local railroad situation, and, unfortunately for the interests of both cities, Lyons remained till 1870 without direct railroad facil- ities.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The rapid growth of Lyons, at that time, fully justified the obtaining of a city charter, April 23, 1855, under which the city was administered till in 1873, it was incorporated under the general law. The first election was a very excit- ing affair, partisan feeling running very high. Of the first Council, five were Whigs, and two Democrats. One of the arguments used was to accuse an opponent of being what has since been termed a "carpet-bagger," a word for which the vocabulary of the time unfortunately furnished no synonym. It seems odd, at this time, that in so new a community there should have developed an antagonism between the old residents and new-comers ; but, doubtless, some of the political methods of to-day will seem equally grotesque after twenty-five years. The following is the roster of city officers and total votes :
April 23, 1855- Mayor, C. H. Toll; Aldermen - Ben Lake, J. J. Mathews, Charles Maclay, Thomas Crew, Michael Daly ; Marshal, J. R. Robertson ; Recorder, D. W. Ellis; Wharfmaster, Joseph Boyd.
Total vote, 161.
1856-Mayor, A. R. Cotton ; Recorder, J. C. Jefferey ; Treasurer, H. E. Gates; Marshal, Henry Bassett ; Assessor, John Sloan ; Wharfmaster, Charles Grant. Aldermen-First Ward, Ben Lake, J. J. Mathews ; Second Ward, A. C. Root, Thomas Crew; Third Ward, Elijah Buell, M. Daly.
1857-Mayor, Ezra Batcheller ; Treasurer, C. S. Hurlbert ; Recorder, J. C. Jefferey ; Marshal, Henry Bassett; Wharfmaster, E. S. Hawley; Asses- sor, G. W. Stumbaugh. Aldermen-First Ward, Ben Lake, W. E. Leffing- well ; Second Ward, D. H. Scott, A. C. Root ; Third Ward, John Garton, Elijah Buell.
Total vote, 468.
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1858 - Mayor, Z. T. Wilson ; Marshal, James Cressy ; Recorder, George Burton ; Treasurer, John E. Ennis; Assessor, P. T. Roe; Wharfmaster, Peter Rowan. Aldermen-First Ward, Derrick Adams, W. E. Leffingwell; Second Ward, C. Liembach, D. H. Scott; Third Ward, John Garton, H. A. Truax. In July, Alderman Leffingwell resigned, and F. G. Heinrich was duly elected in his stead.
Total vote, 549.
1859-Mayor, John Sloan ; Recorder, J. G. Smith ; Treasurer, Alex. Ennis; Marshal, William H. Defreest; Assessor, B. W. Powers ; Wharfmaster, John Denahy. Alderman-First Ward, D. Adams, N. Boardman ; Second Ward, C. Liembach, John Tierney; Third Ward, H. A. Truax, R. C. Johnson; Fourth Ward, G. W. Stumbaugh, P. Carolan ; Fifth Ward, E. Buell, S. Penn; Sixth Ward, J. C. Jefferey, J. H. Hawes.
Total vote, 502.
1860-Mayor, S. G. Magill; Recorder, H. P. Cox ; Treasurer, Alex. Ennis ; Marshal, D. P. McDonald ; Assessor, John Aughenbaugh ; Wharf- master, Henry Hoag. Aldermen-First Ward, N. Boardman, C. D. Cunning- ham; Second Ward, James Tierney, Thomas Leedham ; Third Ward, John B. Crosby, John Gallion ; Fourth Ward, E. Buell, L. Sheppard ; Fifth Ward, G. W. Stumbaugh, H. Schaale; Sixth Ward, J. H. Hawes, Benj. Lake.
Total vote, 461.
1861-S. G. Magill, Mayor; George Parker, Recorder; J. G. Smith, Marshal; Robert Spear, Assessor; John Sloan, Treasurer; A. Bristol, Wharf- master. Aldermen-First Ward, N. Boardman, C. D. Cunningham ; Sec- ond Ward, William Marquis, Thomas Leedham; Third Ward, Charles Rich, John Gallion; Fourth Ward, D. W. Ellis, L. Sheppard; Fifth Ward, P. T. Roe, H. Schaale; Sixth Ward, P. Davidson, W. H. Gibbs.
Total vote, 442.
1862-Dead lock between S. G. Magill and E. Baldwin for Mayor, each having 275 votes, Magill, however, continuing in the office by a special election until his resignation, December 30, 1862. Robert Spear succeeded J. C. Miller as Recorder in June, and also resigned at the same time with Magill, R. M. Rockwell being his successor ; the other officers were, R. Ball, Marshal ; John Keyser, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, N. Boardman, J. E. Le Cavellier; Second Ward, A. C. Root, William Marquis; Third Ward, C. Moezinger, G. J. Wilson ; Fourth Ward, D. W. Ellis, E. Buel ; Fifth Ward, Frank Lohberg, P: T. Roe; Sixth Ward, H. J. Wright, W. H. Gibbs. On the resignation of Mayor Magill, Recorder Spear and Alderman Boardman, a special election was held January 14, 1863. Total vote, 231. F. G. Hein- rich was elected Mayor; R. M. Rockwell, Recorder, and N. Showerman, Alderman, First Ward.
Total vote, 553.
1863-F. G. Heinrich, Mayor; W. D. Clark, Marshal; I. N. Manville, Recorder; A. Ennis, Treasurer; D. W. Scott, Assessor; C. Griffin, Wharf- master. Aldermen-First Ward, J. E. Le Cavellier, N. Showerman; Second Ward, Thomas Crew, A. C. Root; Third Ward, David Joyce, C. Moezinger; Fourth Ward, Robert Spear, E. Buel ; Fifth Ward, William Buel, F. Loh- berg; Sixth Ward, W. H. Gibbs, H. J. Wright. Thomas Britt succeeded William Buell in July, on latter's resignation.
Total vote, 432.
1864-F. G. Heinrich, Mayor; W. W. Sanborn, Marshal; I. N. Man- ville, Recorder : J. M. Rice, Treasurer ; Robert Spear, Assessor; A. Bristol, Digitized by
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HISTORY OF, CLINTON COUNTY.
Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, William Lyall, N. Showerman ; Second Ward, Thomas Crew, E. Batcheller ; Third Ward-James Tierney, Sr., David Joyce; Fourth Ward, John Ott, Robert Spear; Fifth Ward, John Lee, Thomas Britt; Sixth Ward, J. H. Barnum, W. H. Gibbs.
Total vote, 490.
1865-J. M. Rice, Mayor; W. W. Sanborn, Marshal; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; R. C. Bosworth, Treasurer ; E. Lukens, Assessor; R. H. Stewart, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, Ira Stockwell, William Lyall; Sec- ond Ward, A. C. Root, E. Batcheller ; Third Ward, G. W. Stumbaugh, James Tierney, Sr .; Fourth Ward, R. Spear, John Ott; Fifth Ward, F. Bierman, John Lee; Sixth Ward, W. W. Sparks, J. H. Barnum.
Total vote, 377.
1866-D. H. Scott, Mayor; C. J. Heule, Marshal; I. N. Manville, Recorder; C. D. Wohlenberg, Treasurer; A. Bristol, Wharfmaster; John Lee, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, A. B. Gleason, Ira Stockwell; Sec- ond Ward, J. B. Franklin, A. C. Root; Third Ward, William Williams, G. W. Stumbaugh ; Fourth Ward, C. D. Scott, R. Spear; Fifth Ward, Michael Connelly, F. Bierman ; Sixth Ward, A. T. Wheeler, W. W. Sparks.
Total vote, 562.
1867-D. H. Scott, Mayor; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; C. J. Heule, Mar- shal ; C. D. Wohlenberg, Treasurer; Peter Rowan, Wharfmaster ; John Lee, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, L. T. Sloan, A. B. Gleason ; Second Ward, C. M. Baldwin, J. B. Franklin ; Third Ward, James Tierney, Jr. ; William Williams ; Fourth Ward, G. A. Allen, C. D. Scott ; Fifth Ward, J. B. Dunn, M. Connelly ; Sixth Ward, Hiram Gates, A. T. Wheeler.
Total vote, 534.
1868-C. M. Baldwin, Mayor; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; James Tierney, Sr., Treasurer ; John Lee, Assessor . John Blessington, Marshal. James Haz- lett, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, G. A. Buffum, L. T. Sloan ; Second Ward, C. Moezinger, J. G. McDonnell; Third Ward, S. A. Hubbell, James Tierney, Jr. ; Fourth Ward, E. M. Westbrook, G. A. Allen ; Fifth Ward, B. H. A. Henningsen, J. B. Dunn ; Sixth Ward, R. T. T. Spence, Hiram Gates.
Total vote, 579.
1869-C. M. Baldwin, Mayor; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; John Blessing- ton, Marshal; Bid. Gage, Treasurer ; John Lee, Assessor ; W. M. Bentley, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, Ira Stockwell, G. A. Buffum ; Second Ward, L. P. Adams, J. A. Tierney ; Third Ward, D. H. Scott, E. Lanning ; Fourth Ward, E. Buell, E. M. Westbrook ; Fifth Ward, Henry Pape, B. H. A. Henningsen ; Sixth Ward, Thomas Leedham, R. T. T. Spence.
Total vote, 443.
1870-A. C. Root, Mayor ; E. P. Savage, Marshal ; William Holmes, Treasurer ; I. N. Manville, Recorder ; Charles Weinkoop, Assessor ; W. M. Bentley, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, A. T. Pierpont, Ira Stock- well; Second Ward, G. A. Earl, L. P. Adams; Third Ward, C. Hass, D. H. Scott; Fourth Ward, R. Spear, E. Buell; Fifth Ward, D. Denehy, Henry Pape; Sixth Ward, H. Gates, Thomas Leedham.
Total vote, 528.
1871-J. N. Cross, Mayor ; J. A. Nattinger, Recorder ; A. F. Hill, Mar- shal ; John Garton, Treasurer; G. W. Hammond, Assessor ; W. M. Bentley, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, L. T. Sloan, A. T. Pierpont ; Second Ward, A. C. Root, G. A. Earl; Third Ward, Thomas Murtha, F. Winkler ; Digitized by P
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Fourth Ward, H. Wohlenberg, R. Spear ; Fifth Ward, B. H. A. Henningsen, D. Denehy ; Sixth Ward, Bid. Gage, H. Gates.
Total vote, 544.
1872-David Joyce, Mayor ; H. F. Schaale, Marshal ; D. O. C. McCarthy, Recorder ; S. W. Baldwin, Treasurer ; J. Garton, Assessor ; W. M. Bentley, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, G. W. Hammond, L. T. Sloan; Second Ward, J. J. McDonnell, A. C. Root; Third Ward, D. H. Scott, Thomas Murtha ; Fourth Ward, Reuben Ball, H. Wohlenberg; Fifth Ward, T. C. Hannaher, B. H. A. Henningsen ; Sixth Ward, H. Gates, Bid Gage.
Total vote, 477.
1873-David Joyce, Mayor ; H. F. Schaale, Marshal ; D. O. C. McCarthy, Recorder ; John Dolan, Treasurer ; C. Moezinger, Assessor; William Ken- nedy, Wharfmaster. Aldermen-First Ward, L. T. Sloan, G. W. Hammond; Second Ward, Samuel Davy, J. J. McDonnell; Third Ward, Phin. Snyder, D. H. Scott ; Fourth Ward, E. Buell, Reuben Ball ; Fifth Ward, C. Wynkoop, T. C. Hannaher ; Sixth Ward, John Gallion, H. Gates.
Total vote, 538.
1874-J. J. McDonnell, Mayor; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor ; J. M. Rice, Treasurer ; Thomas Kington, Assessor ; D. O. C. McCarthy, City Clerk. Aldermen-First Ward, C. D. Cunningham, James Hadlow ; Second Ward, A. C. Root, Samuel Davy ; Third Ward, Phin. Snyder, D. H. Scott; Fourth Ward, G. W. Brayton, S. Briggs; Fifth Ward, T. C. Hannaher, B. H. A. Henningsen ; Sixth Ward, T. P. Crew, L. P. Adams.
Total vote, 671.
J. M. Rice, Treasurer, died in September, and D. S. Balch was appointed to fill the term ; Robert Hogle, appointed Marshal.
1875-C. M. Baldwin, Mayor ; S. W. Baldwin, Treasurer ; Thomas King- ton, Assessor. Aldermen-First Ward, James Hadlow, C. D. Cunningham ; Second Ward, John Braun, Adam Schneider; Third Ward, D. H. Scott, Phin. Snyder ; Fourth Ward, S. Briggs, G. W. Brayton ; Fifth Ward, John Simmons, T. C. Hannaher; Sixth Ward, M. H. Westbrook, L. P. Adams.
Total vote, 600.
J. C. Hopkins, appointed City Clerk ; J. Borman, Marshal ; R. Hogle, Marshal, vice Borman, resigned. S. W. Baldwin did not qualify, and D. S. Balch was again appointed.
1876-T. C. Hannaher, Mayor ; B. H. A. Henningsen, Treasurer ; Thomas Kington, Assessor ; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor. Aldermen-First Ward, C. D. Cunningham, James Hadlow; Second Ward, A. Schneider, J. Braun ; Third Ward, D. J. Batchelder, D. H. Scott; Fourth Ward, John Hersam, G. W. Brayton ; Fifth Ward, S. Van Doran, H. Baker; Sixth Ward, T. R. Beers, M. H. Westbrook. J. C. Hopkins, City Clerk ; R. Hogle, Marshal. Total vote, 712.
1877-C. Moeszinger, Mayor; B. H. A. Henningsen, Treasurer ; Thomas Kington, Assessor ; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor. Aldermen-First Ward, L. T. Sloan, C. D. Cunningham ; Second Ward, M. Longini, J. Braun ; Third Ward, John Tolson, D. J. Batchelder; Fourth Ward, Reuben Ball, John Hersam ; Fifth Ward, Hobart Baker, A. Schneider ; Sixth Ward, M. W. Barry, T. R. Beers. D. O. C. McCarthy, City Clerk ; R. Hogle, Marshal. Total vote, 713.
Mayor Moeszinger resigned in February, 1878, and E. R. Sayles was appointed to fill balance of term.
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1878-W. M. Bentley, Mayor; D. B. Snyder, Treasurer ; Thomas King- ton, Assessor ; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor. Aldermen-First Ward, S. I. Smith, L. T. Sloan ; Second Ward, A. C. Root, M. Longini ; Third Ward, D. J. Batchelder, John Tolson ; Fourth Ward, A. Corning, R. Ball ; Fifth Ward, P. Carolan, H. Baker; Sixth Ward, C. B. McDowell, M. W. Barry ; D. O. C. McCarthy, City Clerk ; R. Hogle, Marshal.
Total vote, 770; vote on annexation, 115 for, 494 against.
1879-J. S. Stratton, Mayor ; S. W. Baldwin, Treasurer ; Thomas King- ton, Assessor ; A. J. Leffingwell, Solicitor. Aldermen-First Ward, J. H. Potts, S. I. Smith ; Second Ward, L. L. Stahle, A. C. Root; Third Ward, Thomas Rowan, D. H. Scott; Fourth Ward, M. D. Madden, William Hodg- kins ; Fifth Ward, H. Baker, P. Carolan ; Sixth Ward, M. W. Barry, C. B. McDowell; D. O. C. McCarthy, City Clerk ; R. Hogle, Marshal. Total vote, 638.
CHURCHES.
Congregational .- In 1839, when the present Lyons Congregational Church was organized, there were only three churches of that denomination in Iowa. The society was originally instituted at the house of Henry Ustick, at Union Grove, Ill. It was a one-story, old-fashioned pioneer dwelling, built of logs, rough outside, hewn within. One large apartment served as parlor, sitting- room and dining-room combined. The furniture consisted of a few chairs and stools and a large plain table in the center. A huge back-log blazed in the ample fireplace, and rough boards furnished temporary seats for the initial gathering of Christian people. As a majority of the members resided in Ful- ton, the meetings were soon transferred thither.
In 1845, the society assumed the name of the Congregational Church of Lyons and Fulton. Rev. J. H. Prentiss was the first Pastor, followed by Revs. Oliver and Thomas P. Emerson, J. C. Holbrook and A. Hitchcock. After its change of name, the Church held its meetings mostly in Lyons. For a time, it had no regular abiding place. The first preaching services were held in the log cabin of Daniel Hess, on Second street, just north of the foundry, and last used as a blacksmith-shop, and in the cabin of William Hogan, rented for a time as a schoolhouse, which stood nearly upon the site of the old St. Louis House, near the landing. Services were also held successively at the cabin of Elijah Buell, in the Thomas neighborhood, at Rev. Hiram G. Warner's and in what is now Clinton. Most of the region now regularly laid out in streets and covered with stores and dwellings was then a comparative waste.
In 1847, the Fourth Street brick schoolhouse became the center of public worship for a congregation coming from a large circuit, including Teed's Grove and five miles south of Clinton's site. The building was shared in turn by the Congregationalists and Methodists, while both societies held occasional services in the outlying districts.
In 1846, William K. Vincent, afterward better known as "Deacon Vin- cent," was received into membership by letter. His portrait, still hanging in the place of honor in the chapel, by its high brow, determined eyes, thin and tightly compressed lips, indicates a character of the antique Puritan type-one that Hawthorne would have loved to have studied. For a long time he carried the Church almost alone, acting as Sunday-school superintendent, preacher, chorister and sexton, in fact doing everything that needed to be done. He never returned to his home without service because there chanced to be no minister present.
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