USA > Iowa > The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self made men, Iowa volume > Part 28
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In July, 1842, he moved from New Orleans to Davenport, Iowa, bringing with him over sixteen thousand dollars' worth of store goods, the largest stock ever transported on the upper Mississippi by one individual at one shipment up to that time, if not since. This was soon followed by others, and great joy arose among the people; goods went down fifteen to twenty per centum and produce went up twenty to thirty per centum.
In October, 1842, Mr. Fulton built, and freighted with agricultural produce for the New Orleans mar- ket, the first flatboat that ever cleared from the port of Davenport. Whilst this work was in progress he conceived the practicability of leading the waters of the Mississippi river, at the upper rapids, by canal along the Iowa shore, and creating a water-power for mills and factories. With this view he employed Mr. E. Gibbons, civil engineer of the Illinois State
Works, and with assistants after many days of labor a survey was made, and the engineer's plats and re- port exhibited a water-power in embryo equal to Lowell, to perfect which it was necessary to pur- chase adjacent lands. He purchased from Isaac Vanausdoll and others, on the 6th of October, 1842, Smith's Island on the rapids, since known on the government plats as Fulton's Island ; and also pur- chased at various periods during the following year the river fronts of several farms and strips of land one hundred feet in width for the canal, through and across other farms, all of which were paid for in full and warranty deeds given. Funds grew short, yet further purchases were necessary. All further action was abandoned and the property sold at a sacrifice. Now, in 1877, thirty-five years there- after, appears before the Scott county district court some of those farmers who sold canal grounds to Mr. Fulton, asking the court to put them in posses- sion, alleging that they did but sell for a particular purpose, to which purpose it had never been con- verted.
This year, 1842, Mr. Fulton, W. Bennett and D. Lambert dammed the Wapsipinicon river at one of its falls in Buchanan county, and erected a mill and warehouse. At this time the two-roomed log house near the mill contained just one-half the population of the county, as well as Mr. Fulton when he visited the works.
The Indian boundary line of r837 lay twelve miles north of the mill, where was then located a large camp of Sacs and Foxes, which Mr. Fulton visited, and spent a day with the chiefs. On a homeward trip from the mill and Indian camp he was caught in a severe snow-storm, on Sunday morn- ing about eight o'clock, and wandered over the naked prairie without food or shelter until the fol- lowing Tuesday morning, when he reached a log house in a grove. A portion of this time the ther- mometer at Davenport stood twenty-five degrees below zero. This was a trying ordeal for Mr. Fulton, as he had not seen snow or ice during the preceding twelve years, yet he suffered no incon- venience or injury except the loss of his toe nails, and a portion of his finger nails.
During his trips back and forth from the mills he noted the favorable situation of the country for rail- roads. In the fall of 1843 he took a trip eastward to view the country between the Mississippi and Chicago, and on his return he measured the river above Davenport, took soundings of the depth of
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water, and noted the formation of the bottom and of the banks, after which he called the citizens of Davenport to meet him at the town school-house on Harrison street, and made known to them that they possessed a favorable country for railroads, that the Mississippi could be bridged at Davenport, and that they would live to see not only an eastern connection by rail but also a western one to the Pacific.
In 1845 he published in the Philadelphia "Sun " a report of his examination of this route, and advo- cated the utility of a railroad between the Atlantic and Pacific via Rock Island. We take an extract from Mr. Fulton's report as published in the "Sun ":
The most feasible point to bridge the Mississippi is at Rock Island, where the river is narrower than at any other point between its mouth and the Falls of St. Anthony, with high rock banks and rock bottom; the channel of deep waler varying from one hundred and fifty to three hundred feet wide, the remaining distance at low water varying from eighteen inches to three feet. No low or inundated lands in the vicinity. To reach this point through Illinois in any direction by railroad will require less grading for the same distance than any other route or section of the Union.
In 1843 he removed to Philadelphia and went into the dry-goods business, and remained there nearly two years; at the same time conducting his Davenport store.
Previous to 1848, as the city of Davenport had no flouring mill, and suffered many inconveniences in consequence, a meeting was called at the post-office to devise ways and means to secure one. Mr. Ful- ton, although he was conducting two stores, - one in Galena, Illinois, and one at Davenport,-pro- posed to furnish one half the capital to build and put into operation a first-class merchant flouring mill, if the citizens would furnish the other one half. This proposition was accepted, but when it came to marking down the dollars and cents the people feared the burden. The consequence was, he re- solved that he alone would put a mill in operation, and immediately purchasing the ground, erected a large brick structure. After all was ready for the machinery Mr. Fulton sold the mill to Messrs, Bur- rows and Prettyman, who completed it and put it in successful operation. The citizens and farmers expressed great sorrow that he had sold the mill, and called upon him to make their feelings known. He replied, "Get the owner of the adjacent ground to sell to me at a fair value, and I will erect another steam mill and operate it." "When shall we say to the owner you will commence work ? " " Tell him I will commence digging the foundation and order
building material to-morrow morning." The ground was purchased and the work commenced the next morning, and a twelve thousand dollar mill erected and put into operation three days before the first mill was run. The citizens assembled on that day, January 15, 1848, and gave a complimentary dinner to him and his employes, accompanied with toasts and well wishes. The mills, as a financial opera- tion, proved a failure, as almost every shipment resulted in a loss.
He was confined to his bed by sickness for many weeks, and eastern as well as home creditors crowded suits in rapid succession upon him. Goods had de- clined, his farming operations did not pay expenses, real estate that he had purchased was unsalable, except at a great sacrifice. On his recovery from sickness he resolved to pay up and yet succeed. He personally attended to the many suits at law against him, as every attorney in Davenport, and others in Galena and Muscatine, held claims against him ; he forced them off from month to month, and some from year to year, in the meantime selling property and paying up until everything was ex- hausted, and yet a large indebtedness existing. At a meeting of his creditors he told them that though heavily in debt and no resources, yet every dollar should be paid; that he had that day at his resi- dence divided a barrel of flour between two of his former workmen that he owed and himself, as he had not one dollar in money to give them to pur- chase food, and as he had no scales it was measured by thrusting a stick into the flour and dividing the stick into three parts, allowing for the bulge of the barrel. And the indebtedness was paid, every dol- lar, with ten per centum interest.
About this time he made a contract with Alfred Churchill to build a tenant house on his farm near Davenport. He personally worked at digging the cellar and quarrying and hauling the stone, in the meantime sleeping out on the prairie wrapped in a blanket, until the building was put under roof. After the completion of this work he secured a sit- uation to survey and select lands at fifty dollars per month, and was soon enabled to make a purchase of eighty acres for himself. The day brightened slowly at first, but the eighty was increased to seven thou- sand acres.
In the fall of 1849 he called a meeting of the citi- zens of Davenport to take steps toward the con- struction of a railroad between Rock Island and La Salle, Illinois. Committees were appointed and
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subscription lists were opened, and Mr. Fulton not only subscribed to the stock to the extent of his ability, but at the onset, almost alone and unaided, held meetings to raise stock in every village and school-house throughout Scott county, and at many points in Illinois. A working fund was raised suffi- cient to commence operations, and finally the work was completed, and extended to Chicago. The people of Iowa desired to have the line extend west through the state. To accomplish this it was pro- posed to send a memorial to congress asking for a grant of land to aid in the construction. To circu- late these memorials in a new and sparsely settled country required time and money. Mr. Fulton, as ever, came to the rescue, and spent many days and weeks in the cause, holding meetings in the various western towns and villages, visiting the farmers in their fields, and at the same time had to combat with opponents to the proposed line. He paid his own expenses and in due time his exertions were crowned with success, but instead of a grant for one railroad, three obtained a like favor. "Many reaping who had not sown." Work commenced on the Mississippi and Missouri railroad, now the Chi- cago, Rock Island and Pacific, on the Ist of Sep- tember, 1853, with proper ceremony, and he acted as chief marshal of the day, and the bridge that he called the attention of his neighbors to in 1843, and the world to in 1845, was erected.
His father at his death left a valuable farm and other property in Pennsylvania to be divided equally among his children. Mr. Fulton felt he was better off than any of the rest of the family, so he deeded and gave his portion to them, though all were well situated in the world. Previous to 1854 the city of Davenport did not possess a suitable cemetery. In the fall of that year Mr. Fulton proposed to one of the ministers and a few private citizens to unite and purchase a large tract of land for cemetery purposes. The proposition was sanctioned and Mr. Fulton appointed to select a site, which he did, and entered into contract with part of the owners ; but at this point the money expectations of two of the number failed, and the others declined the risk. Mr. Fulton fulfilled his contract, paid for seventy- two acres of land, fenced and laid it out with four miles of carriage road and eleven miles of walks, and planted five hundred evergreen and other trees, and many costly tombs now mark the resting-place of the departed, and Mr. Fulton still remains the owner of Pine Hill.
During this year Mr. Fulton, in connection with two others, purchased lands and laid out the town of Fulton, in Muscatine county, on the Rock Island and Pacific railroad, where they built a hotel and a steam flouring mill. Previous to this time there was a town in the state called Fulton, and this created many mistakes in the delivery of goods and letters, and the name of the town was therefore changed to that of Stockton.
In 1853 Mr. Fulton purchased a tract of land ad- jacent to the city of Davenport, and laid out an addition, and in doing so he dedicated grounds for four churches, two of which have been erected.
In 1854 Mr. Fulton was elected to the Iowa senate, by the anti-slavery whigs, by a large ma- jority. He took the responsibility and organized that body, after one week's dead-lock, by voting for a democrat for president of the senate. He also disobeyed the almost unanimous petitions and requests of his constituents in supporting Hon. J. Harlan as United States senator in preference to their favorite candidate, and could have deprived Iowa of that efficient senator in congress had he so desired. In due time his constituents admitted that they were wrong, and that the action he took was right.
After the breaking out of the rebellion he fur- nished the Union army with a soldier in his son, a lad of seventeen years; he also drafted and fur- nished the war department with maps of New Or- leans and the adjacent country, embracing Fort Jackson and the Mississippi river, with all timber lands and overflowed and swamp lands, with the depth of the water and the nature of the bottom, also the public roads and bridges, location of city and all surroundings, a great portion of which was mapped from recollection, for which he received the personal thanks of Simon Cameron, then secre- tary of war.
In 1867 he through the press advocated the build- ing of street railways in Davenport; setting forth the benefits to be derived, he induced others to act with him, and organized a company and constructed a street railroad east and west through the city of Davenport, of which he was president until it was in successful operation. In the summer of 1867 he proposed to a neighbor of his, L. F. Parker, Esq., to join him and take a view of the country north of Davenport, to select a line for a railroad to connect Davenport with St. Paul. The view was taken and considered favorable, and a report published. In
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1868 he drew up a stock subscription, which he headed with five thousand dollars, and after many days' labor obtained subscriptions to the amount of forty-seven thousand dollars. All action then lay dormant until 1869; when a large number of citizens entered into the undertaking with energy, and funds were subscribed sufficient to put one hundred and sixty-five miles under contract, and by the aid of outside capital this portion of the road is now in operation. Mr. Fulton was elected one of the di- rectors of the road.
Mr. Fulton has erected thirty buildings in Iowa for himself, and fenced and put two thousand acres of land under cultivation. Although he has not al- ways met with success, but rather with reverses that would conquer most men, still with indomitable energy and courage he has built up a second fortune on the ruins of his first.
He possesses one of the finest farms in the country, consisting of seven hundred and forty acres, besides two valuable city blocks and many unimproved city lots, and a fine suburban residence commanding a beautiful view of the river.
He has not abandoned an active life, and we found him directing workmen who are driving a tun- nel through solid rock across and under a street twenty-four feet below the surface, to drain his quar- ries and furnish sewerage for his adjacent lots.
Mr. Fulton has perhaps done more for Davenport and the country in the vicinity than any other man, and is interested in all its enterprises for develop- ment.
He is known as a man of decided character and untiring energy, and possesses the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and we trust we may find many who, like him, declares " Resolution is omnipotent."
ISRAEL HALL,
DAVENPORT.
T HE subject of this sketch, a native of Halifax, Windham county, Vermont, was born on the 11th of September, 1813. His father was a native of Connecticut, where his grandfather and great- grandfather also resided. His parents owned a small farm, and were in very moderate circumstances ; they had a family of four sons and three daughters, whose opportunities for gaining education were very mea- ger. Israel received about five months' schooling during the year in early life, and assisted his father the remainder of the time.
When he was eleven years old his mother died, making the maintenance of the family doubly hard for the father, who afterward married again.
He remained on the farm until 1830, and at that time was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade at Guilford, Vermont. His employer, however, soon afterward failed, and young Hall went next to work for a Mr. Gregory, a fine mechanic, with whom he remained one year. He continued at his trade with different builders until 1835, when he engaged in business for himself, and continued with good suc- cess until 1837. During the financial revulsion that swept over the country during that year his business was greatly interrupted and he lost most of his previous earnings.
Mr. Hall had long had a desire to remove to the
west. Even while a boy at school, in studying the geography of our country, he had thought that somewhere near the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers would some day in the near future be the center of commerce, industry and population, and resolved that he would be one of the early set- tlers of that region.
In 1837 he was married to Miss Rachael Brown, then living in Brattleboro, Vermont. She was a na- tive of Baltimore, Maryland, but her parents dying when she was quite young, her home had been with friends in Vermont. Mr. Hall's responsibili- ties having now become greatly augmented, and his means of gaining a livelihood having been greatly reduced by the continued hard times, resulting from the panic of 1837, he decided that he would now realize his long cherished hope, and become one of the pioneers of that country of which he had dreamed in his youth. Accordingly, in 1839, he started with his family, but finding that fever and ague was very prevalent in the region which he had previously selected, he went northward, and on the 30th of April of that year reached Davenport, Iowa.
There were then a few scattered hamlets and not many residents in the place, and one can hardly realize the progress that has been working while it has developed into the metropolis of Iowa, with its
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twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Soon after his arrival, Mr. Hall found employment with Mr. Asa Green, well known among the "old settlers " of Davenport. Subsequently he located his home and place of business on the ground still owned by him and occupied by Messrs. Thompson and Risley, Eg- bert, Fidlar and Chambers, E. A. Day, and others, on Brady street, between Third and Fourth streets.
Here he steadily pursued his vocation, helping by every means in his power to build up and advance the interests of his adopted home. The trials and anxieties and privations of those days were many and grievous. These we need not enumerate, as they can be fully appreciated only by those who have experienced the hardships of pioneer life. Suffice it to say that sorest among these trials was the lay- ing away in the grave of four loved ones. Three daughters sickened and died, and a son, who fought bravely in the defense of his country, died from causes growing out of that bloody strife. A brief history of his career will be found succeeding this sketch.
Notwithstanding all his discouragements, Mr. Hall grew with the development of the city, and at the earnest solicitations of friends and citizens began the business of undertaking, keeping up with the demands of the times, so that Davenport, in this line, was not at all behind her sister cities of the east.
In 1866, having secured a competency, he discon- tinued his business and retired to more private life, content to give room for others and live in the
enjoyment of what he had accumulated. He owns a fine block on Brady street, besides farms and other lands in the west, to which he has given his attention during the last ten years.
From its organization, Mr. Hall has been a lead- ing member of the Scott County Pioneer Settlers' Association. He was its president in 1867, and since 186g has been treasurer of the same. He has also been connected with the Oakdale Cemetery Company since its organization, and is now secre- tary of the same.
He has always been an outspoken friend of tem- perance, and has heartily encouraged every move- ment tending to lead men into ways of sobriety.
In religious sentiment he is a Methodist, and united with that church in . 1832. He has been an active worker in the Sunday-school, and in times of need has given generously of his time and means to the support of this cause, which, under the blessing of God, has resulted in great good.
He has never sought, or ever desired, political honors, preferring the quiet and peace of his legiti- mate business to the turmoil and excitement of political strife; and having found in that oppor- tunity for the employment of his best powers, he has always deemed it the highest honor to be recog- nized as an honest American citizen.
Mr. Hall's personal and social qualities are of the highest type; cordial, sympathetic and generous in his nature, he has won a place in the hearts of all who know him, gaining their lasting confidence and high esteem.
LIEUT. GEORGE F. HALL,
DAVENPORT.
MONG the noble men whom Iowa furnished in A the late civil war, none fought more bravely or made for himself a more honorable record than he, a brief history of whose life we give below.
A native of Brattleboro, Vermont, he was born on the 14th of February, 1838, the son of Israel Hall and Rachael née Brown. In 1839 his parents re- moved to the west and settled at Davenport, Iowa, and there, among the pioneer settlers of Scott county, he passed his youth and grew to manhood.
From early life he disclosed a firmness of charac- ter and resolution of purpose that gained the admira- tion of all who knew him. Among his schoolmates,
his honesty of motive was well known, and, although slow of speech, his words of advice, delivered with coolness and deliberation, even in the excitement of the play-ground, never failed to command respect and esteem of his fellow-students.
The circumstances of his early life, and the dis- cipline received at the hands of his parents, accus- tomed him to habits of industry and integrity which marked his conduct and dealings.
At the opening of the war of the rebellion his patriotism became thoroughly aroused, and with that coolness and determination which character- ized all his doings, he determined to enter the
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army. Accordingly he enlisted as a private in company C, of the famous 2d Iowa Infantry.
Upon the organization of the company he became sergeant, and served with unusual vigor and credit beyond the full term of his enlistment. In the des- perate charge of his regiment at Fort Donelson, he made for himself a most honorable record for his courage and bravery. In that battle he was very seriously wounded, and afterward sent home until he should recover. He was promoted from time to time for meritorious services, and closed his military career as first lieutenant and acting ordnance offi- cer on the staff of General Sweeney, second divi- sion, left wing, sixteenth army corps.
As a soldier, he was loyal, patient and brave, and for the noble service which he rendered, well de- serves a place on Iowa's roll of honor.
Major Thomas G. Morrison, of the 2d Indiana regiment, writing to a friend, says of him :
I became acquainted with George in January of 1863, and esteemed him so highly as an officer and a gentleman, that, as the months rolled on, I was proud at last to know that we were friends. Seeing and knowing him as I did, at all hours of the day and night in garrison, and in the march-in summer heat and in the snow and frost of win- ter -- in bivouac and battle, always the same genial, happy soul. All who knew him loved him for his quiet, unosten- tatious patriotism, his untiring energy and devotion to duty, and for his patient unflinching courage in the storm of battle. He was the only son, and his death in the very prime of a splendid manhood was an irreparable loss to his family and country."
After the close of his service in the army, Lieu- tenant Hall returned to his home with health seri- ously impaired by hardships which he had under- gone. With a view to recruiting his strength he made a trip to California, where he partially recovered. Turning his steps homeward, no doubt with high hopes of a long life of usefulness, he on the way received injuries which cut short his days. In jumping from the ocean steamer, to go on shore, he fell, from the effects of which an abscess formed in his right side, proving unexpectedly fatal soon after his arrival at home. He died on Friday morning, on the 6th of April, 1866, aged twenty-eight years, two months and twenty-one days. The funeral ser- vices on the following Monday were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Powers, of the Episcopal church, and the Rev. Mr. Baylies, of the Methodist church. The pall-bearers, intimate friends of the deceased, and brother soldiers and representatives of the "old settlers," were Major Hamill, Captain Doo- little, Captain Andreas, Lieutenant McNeil, Lieu- tenant Hartwell, Dr McCosh and L. S. Davis. The funeral cortége was largely composed of old settlers, soldiers and friends, who laid the body away in Oak- dale Cemetery, where, on each returning decoration day, the huge granite block that bears the soldier's name and marks his grave is wreathed with a beau- tiful floral tribute.
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