USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > The history of Black Hawk County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion > Part 44
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by C. Brubacker. In April, 1864, Robert W. Chapman and Henry D. Williams purchased the premises and changed the name to the " Central House." In May, 1865, Chapman & Williams removed the " School Section " to the rear, converted it into a kitchen, and erected a three story addition in its former place. In the Spring of 1869, Williams purchased his partner's interest and became sole proprietor, but in 1872, leased to J. J. Sanford, and in 1873, sold to his brother, John H. Williams. Should any patron of the old " Sherman," " Tremont " or "Franklin " desire to revive old memories by a glimpse of the " School Section " or the "Prairie," Mr. Williams, of the " Central " will take pleasure in gratifying their wish.
The first tavern on the east side was of logs, built by Samuel L. May, on the corner of Fourth and Sycamore street, on which, in 1878, stands Burnham's Block, and was kept by that gentleman until his death in the Winter 1855-6, when it was closed for a short time. It was afterward reopened by Job Engle, . succeeded in a short time by his son, John C. Engle, and still later by Asa Shinn.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
The second hotel was built by Myron Smith, in 1855-6. It was a small frame structure, on Water street, corner of Fifth, where the Key City House now stands.
STORES.
The first store in Waterloo was opened by Nelson Fancher, in 1853, in a log cabin on Third street, Lot 10, Block 2. He afterward sold out to Geo. W. Hanna, who removed to a log building, near where the square brick house is, on Lot 1, Block 1. Henry Kent had a store, in 1854, near the present resi- dence of John Elwell. The ferry landing was in the vicinity of these first stores. In May, 1854, B. J. Capwell & Co. opened a store in a log building fourteen feet square, on the corner of Block 8, below the Sherman House. Mr. Capwell states that he paid $250 for his corner, which probably included Lots 1 and 2. He found seventeen buildings on the site of Waterloo when he arrived in 1854.
Geo. B. Pratt and James Virden built and opened the first store on the East Side in 1853, at the corner of Fourth and Water streets. In 1854, Samuel Aldrich opened a grocery on Sycamore street, which was known as " Uncle Sam's Grocery." The public was attracted by a sign, which, although not very artistic, was certainly novel, and read as follows: "Uncle Sam's Grocery ; Rough and Reddy. Walk In. Don't be Alarmed !"
Whitney & Martin opened a store in the same year, and in 1855, S. P. Brainard opened a general stock.
MILLS.
The first mill was a saw-mill, run by horse power, which was located near where the City Mill now stands, on the West Side, and was put in operation in 1854.
The first movement made toward improving the water-power was made by James Eggers, who, having received permission from the County Court June 20, 1854, immediately. commenced constructing a log and brush dam, a little above the present one, and in three weeks after obtaining the permit he had a dam sufficiently high to raise the water two feet.
In 1855, Eggers built and operated a saw-mill. The building is still stand- ing, and is occupied as a furniture factory.
The first flouring-mill was erected in 1856 by G. W. Couch & Co., who commenced grinding early the following Spring. C. A. Farwell hauled the water-wheel for this mill from Rock Island, Ill., and the buhrs from Iowa City.
The mill was started with only one run of stones, but another was put in shortly afterward for grinding corn and feed. Previous to the erection of this mill, the settlers were obliged to go to Cedar Falls to mill ; and before the mill there was built, Cedar Rapids was the nearest point. This first mill is still standing on the West Side, and is known as the " Waterloo Mill."
The first mill on the East Side was a one-story building, erected by W. & E. Mears in 1855-6. In 1857, a second story was added, and the machinery for a grist-mill was put in. This mill is still standing, above the " Cedar Mill."
A ferry was established by Samuel L. Way in the Fall of 1853. (See " Ferries " in County History, page 326.)
PROFESSIONAL, ETC.
The first lawyer to locate in Waterloo was John Randall, who afterward, when County Judge, located the Court House; for which act he has been and will continue to be held in remembrance by the people of the town and county.
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The first physician in Waterloo was Dr. - McKinley, who located here in 1853. He was considered skillful in his profession, and is remembered as an excellent violin player. He did not remain here permanently, removing to Texas in 1854 or '55.
The first celebration of the nation's birthday was in 1853. About 200 people gathered on that occasion. An arbor was built of brush on the river bank, just above Mill Square, under which tables were spread and a picnic dinner provided. Among the speakers were John Virden and John HI. Brooks.
The next year, 1854, preparations were made for a big time. Various committees were appointed, and a free dinner promised; but before the time appointed there was a "split," and the result was two celebrations-one at the Sherman House, where Edmund Miller read the Declaration of Independence and George Ordway stirred up the American eagle ; and the other at or near the Public Square, where G. W. Miller and Rev. S. W. Ingham performed like services for their country. It is said that Mr. Sherman had a flag, the only one in town; but the others, not to be outdone, manufactured one out of unbleached sheeting and red cambric, forty feet long, which floated triumph- antly on the appointed day.
In 1855. another grand celebration was held in Virden's Grove, a barbecue in the form of an ox roasted whole being the principal attraction. There was also a " horse company," which went through with all sorts of tactics and performed many maneuvers not recognized in military works, to the great edification of the assembled multitude. The barbecue was not a success, the ox being burnt on the outside and much too " rare done " on the inside-an illustration of the old adage that "too many cooks spoil the broth." S. W. Rawson, Esq., deliv- ered the oration on this occasion, and the instrumental music was furnished by Mason Hale and Elijah Balcom.
The first dance in the town was in Dr. McKinley's log house, 12x14 feet, on the evening of July 4, 1854. It is said that the beauty and fashion of the city were out in full force on that occasion. The ball-room stood opposite the present residence of Judge Bagg.
The first bank was opened by A. P. Hosford and Edmund Miller, in 1854. Their banking house was a one-story frame building, about 16x24 feet, on the southwest side of Commercial street, above the Sherman House, about where Forry's drug store stands in 1878. April 9, 1855, there was a surplus of $1,200 in the county treasury, which, by order of the County Court, the Treasurer was authorized to deposit with Hosford & Miller " on their giving ample security by notes and bonds." J. H. Leavitt, who came to Waterloo in 1854, opened his bank on the opposite side of the street in 1856. William Hammond and R. Russell were also engaged in banking in Waterloo at an early day.
On the East Side, the first bank was opened in 1867, by C. A. Farwell, on the corner of Sycamore and Bridge streets, on the ground now occupied by the First National Bank. This bank was established in February, 1865, on the West Side, with M. H. Moore, President, and G. W. Couch, Cashier. It was removed to its present location in February, 1874.
The Iowa State Register and Waterloo Herald, was the first paper pub- lished in Waterloo. The first number bears date of December 8, 1845. A copy, the first sheet printed, was secured by F. S. Washburn, and is preserved by his widow. Some extracts from this first paper are entitled to a place in the history of Waterloo. Following the salutatory, in which the editor returns thanks for favors received, is an article headed "Bridge at Waterloo," which
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he says "is one of the greatest wants of the present time," and concerning which there was considerable discussion, it being a question whether it should be built by subscription or by the county. The subscription plan was evidently the most feasible, as the paper announced that " some $4,000 had already been subscribed," and argued in favor of the construction of a "durable and capacious bridge, with side walks on each side, and room enough between for two teams to pass with ease." Following this is a description of a steam saw-mill then being built F. S. Washburn. The editor, having attended the raising, pronounced it a jolly affair. The building was fifty feet long by thirty-six feet wide, two stories high, and was to contain a muley, rotary and lath saw and shingle machine, the whole to be operated by a thirty-horse-power engine. The building was about thirty rods above the old railroad crossing, and in 1863 was taken down and the material used in the construction of elevator "B," at the Central Depot. The machinery was used in a milleat Elk Run, and afterward taken to Minnesota.
Then comes an article on the "Stage Facilities of Waterloo," starting out with the assertion that "perhaps no place in the West is better favored with conveniences of going everywhere, than Waterloo." The stages left the Sher- man House at 6 o'clock every morning for the south ; 9 o'clock for the east ; and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon for the north and west ; and the editor con- gratulates "our citizens" in having such superior traveling accommodations. The heading of the next article is quite metropolitan ; it reads : "Waterloo- Its Population, Business Position and Prospects." It states that the popula- tion, taken the week previous, was 903 souls : of which number, 657 were on the West Side, and 246 on the East Side. The article goes on to illustrate the growth of the town, by saying that the year before the population was but 300, and that in the last of June in that year, the census showed 714 inhabitants, and saying that in one year Waterloo had trebled its population. It then pro- ceeded to state, "one year ago there were but three stores here ; now there are seventeen, among which are dry goods, hardware, stove and tinware, groceries, clothing, bakery, druggists, cabinet, etc., etc. There are 20 carpenter, 3 black- smith shops, 1 harness shop, 2 shoemaker shops, 1 wagon shop, 2 livery stables and 1 millinery shop ; there are also 6 brick makers, 6 attorneys and 4 min- isters. We have three school houses, two of which are District schools, and one, a Seminary ;" and, after discussing various other topics, the article con- cludes : " Nature has done everything for Waterloo, and her future residents will doubtless do the rest. We now want industry, shrewd management and capital, which will make it one of the largest cities in the interior of the State. As to the two first requisites, we have a large share of those, and we have some of the latter ; but there is a chance for the investment of any amount of capital to good advantage."
A sale of East Waterloo lots, belonging to the estate of the late Judge Pratt, took place on the 3d, 4th and 5th of December, which was largely attended. Bidders were present from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin and other States. One hundred and nineteen lots were sold amounting to $15,527. The largest price for a single lot was $200, and one- third of the mill property was sold for $4,067.
A literary society was in existence at that early day, a meeting of which was announced for Friday evening, at which the question for discussion was to be : "Do the signs of the times indicate the speedy dissolution of the Union ?"
A notice of the " first ball of the season " also appears. This ball was at Capwell's new brick hall. then just completed, below the Sherman House, on
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the corner of Commercial and Fifth streets. The paper remarks that "all the dancers appeared to be in fine spirits, and no doubt felt highly delighted to feel that the enterprise of Capwell & Co. had supplied a suitable place for their amusement. For balls and concerts the hall is well adapted, and we have no doubt it will be well patronized."
November 29, 1855, a Democratic County Convention was held, the pro- ceedings of which were reported in the Register. George Ordway was Presi- dent : S. P. Brainard, Vice President ; W. H. McClure, Benjamin Winset and S. D. McDowell participated in the proceedings. The resolutions were short and explicit, but read queerly. Among them were the following:
Resolved, That in the main we approve of the administration of Franklin Pierce. Resolved, That the repeal of the Missouri Compromise is just and democratic in its spirit. Resolved, That we adhere firmly to the principles of Jefferson and his illustrious compatriots. Resolved, That we maintain the doctrines of Free Trade and State Righis.
Resolved, That we ignore the organization of secret societies in party politics in general, and the party called Know-Nothings in particular.
The third term of the Waterloo Seminary was announced to commence in January, 1856. The building was located on the corner of Ninth and Bluff streets ; J. B. Hewett was proprietor; Otis Daggett, Principal ; and Chloe Severance (since Mrs. W. Miller), Assistant.
George Ordway started a nursery, a mile or two west of the town, in 1855, and his advertisement appeared in the first paper. Hosford & Miller (A. P. Hosford and Edmund Miller) advertised lands for sale, insurance business, etc .: Randall & Miller (J. Randall and G. W. Miller), land surveyors and agents. Samuel Dearer was stone and brick mason ; Williams & Worcester, house, sign and carriage painters ; T. H. & J. Elwell, hardware and groceries ; B. J. Cap- well & Co., general merchandise; S. P. Brainard advertised his store on the East Side.
The highest water ever known in the Cedar River, at Waterloo, was on the 1st of August, 1858. During the whole season the river was very high, over- flowing its banks and stopping the mills. The town was simply a group of islands, and boats sailed about in the streets. The supply of flour in town be- came exhausted, and for several days the people dieted on hulled corn. George Ordway went to La Porte City after something to eat, and after two days' hard work, by boat and wagon, he succeeded in reaching the submerged city of his home with eight hundred pounds of flour.
During that wet season, twenty years ago, most of the business men of Waterloo went bare-footed, and generally with their trousers legs rolled up above their knees. In this way they went to church on Sunday, pushing the skiffs, in which the women were, before them through the sloughs. Boots and shoes and stockings were at a discount in 1858.
During the season of high water, the current in the river was very rapid, but near the west shore was a large eddy extending for some distance down stream up to the mill. In this eddy, or circular current, the townspeople amused them- selves in boating. Paddling into the stream at the mill, boats were swept swiftly down the turbulent stream, when, drifting into the eddy, they were car- ried back again to the point of starting.
On Monday, July 19, 1858, William Fiske, Melissa L. Corson, 16 years old, daughter of Charles Corson, and Ellen Case, about the same age, daughter of W. Case, crossed the river in a skiff, from the east to the west side, to enjoy the pleasing circular boat-riding with others. After a time they started to re- turn, were drifting down stream, when Fiske's brother, who was standing on
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shore, shouted to him to use his oars or the boat would be swept on to the island -" Lover's Retreat "-over which the water was about four feet deep. Fiske heeded the caution and commenced rowing, but the boat struck an unseen snag just above the head of the island, instantly capsized, precipitating the occupants into the water. The young ladies were swept under and were drowned. Fiske managed to reach a tree on the island, to which he clung until he was rescued in an insensible condition by Dr. McFatrich. As soon as he recovered suffi. ciently to speak, he asked if the girls were saved, and when told that they were drowned, his intellect gave way and he became insane.
Several weeks afterward, funeral services were held at the Court House by Rev. A. G. Eberhart, and a few days afterward the decomposed remains of the un- fortunate girls were found in the timber skirting the river about three miles be- low the accident. Their bodies had become entangled in the thick brush into which they had been swept by the flood, and when the water subsided they rested there, the bones dropping to the ground as the bodies decomposed. They were discovered by a party of men who were traveling through the timber in that vicinity, whose dog brought to them a woman's shoe in which were the remains of a human foot. The shoe was identified as belonging to Miss Case, and after a brief search her remains were found as above described. The remains of Miss Corson were found soon afterward, and were identified by a gold chain she wore when she was drowned.
The first railroad train on the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad arrived at Waterloo March 11, 1861. On the Burlington road, trains began to run in Oc- tober, 1870.
A meeting was held at "Cap's" Hall, Waterloo, August 15, 1861, to con- sider the Swamp Land Contract entered into by the County Judge, and a com- mittee, composed of C. Mullan, S. D. McDowell and Mr. Shaw, was appointed to investigate the transaction.
A "New York Festival " was held at Waterloo, January 22, 1862, with a supper at the Cedar Valley House. The toasts were responded to by Rev. J. Bidlington, Seth Newman, H. C. Raymond, T. L. Bowman, S. C. Barber, Rev. O. W. Merrill, H. F. Peebles, George D. Perkins and J. B. Powers.
On Saturday, September 22, 1866, the first span on the west end of the bridge across Cedar River at Waterloo, fell into the river, carrying with it three two-horse teams and a single team. Mr. Hutton, Supervisor from Bennington, was standing directly over the first pier when the bridge parted, and he was pre- cipitated into the pier and was injured severely. Several horses were killed. Workmen were engaged in repairing the bridge, which had become unsafe, and they had stretched a rope across to prevent passing, but this was removed by one of the teamsters, who thought he knew better than they whether the bridge was safe. He lost one of his horses and his load of wheat.
The Waterloo Woolen Mill was built in 1866, by Messrs. Beck & Nauman, at a cost of $49,000, with Charles Blossburg as Superintendent. The mill com- menced running in the Spring of 1867, and was kept in operation, at a sacrifice, until 1875, when it was sold to the Union Mill Company for $11,000. By this company it was rented to Holmes, Emerson & Frances, by whom it was operated until March, 1878. Since that date, it has not been in operation, and can be rented for $800 per annum.
The Waterloo Mill Company was organized in the Fall of 1867. Among the principal stockholders were Hon. S. Bagg, John Elwell, A. Hungerford, R. Marson and G. W. Couch, the last-named being President. Their mill on the
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West Side was built in 1868-9. Seneca Cleaveland was the architect, and William Butterfield, millwright.
The Cedar Mill Company was organized about the same time, perhaps a little before the Waterloo Company, and its mill was built on the East Side in 1867-8. The principal stockholders were W. O. Richards, A. Spencer, Nelson Fancher, J. Engle and E. J. Messinger. Mr. Spencer was President.
In 1873, the Waterloo Mill Company and Cedar Mill Company were con- solidated under the name of the Union Mills Company, with T. H. Elwell, Pres- ident, and W. L. Illingworth, Secretary. President in 1878, A. T. Lane; Mr. Illingworth still remains Secretary. This company owns twenty-three-twenty- fourths of the Mill Square and splendid water power, the other twenty-fourth being owned by Daniel & Slade, manufacturers of furniture. The Union Mills have 12 run of flouring stones, and manufacture daily 250 barrels of flour, 200 of which are shipped. Three runs of stones for grinding feed turn out 600 car loads of feed annually.
Gem Lodge, I. O. of G. T., was organized May 1, 1868, with W. W. Engle, W. C. T.
POLITICAL RECORD.
In the Spring of 1854, the town of Waterloo was surveyed and platted, and appears of record. At the November term of the County Court that year, a petition was presented asking the court to order an election, to vote upon the question of incorporation. The election was ordered for Monday, the 13th day of November. At the December Term the same year, it is certified that a ma- jority of the votes cast were for incorporation ; and another election was ordered on the 13th of January, 1855, for the purpose of choosing three persons to draft Articles of Incorporation, and that is the last entry. It is understood, however. that subsequently it was found there had been irregularities in the proceedings, and the matter was dropped in consequence.
After this ineffectual attempt to attain to city honors, the matter was fre- quently agitated and one or two petitions circulated and presented to the County Court; but none blossomed into another vote until 1868, when, on the 26th day of May, a petition signed by R. A. Whitaker, H. J. Jenny and thirty-eight others was presented to the County Court, asking for the incorporation of Water- loo as a city of the second class, describing the territory designed to be included within the limits of the corporation, and requesting the court to take requisite steps to order a vote. Whereupon, Judge Daniel W. Foote appointed Samuel D. Shaw, P. J. Siberling, W. G. Burbee, Andrew Thompson and Robert Rob- inson Commissioners to call an election of the qualified voters to decide upon the question.
On the 29th of May, the Commissioners issued the notice for an election at Central House, on Monday, the 22d day of June, at which election 679 votes were cast, 372 being in favor of incorporation and 305 against.
On the 23d day of June, after certifying the returns, it was ordered and de- creed by the court that as a majority of the votes had been cast in favor of in- corporation, and the provisions of the law had been complied with, the city of Waterloo was incorporated as a city of the second class.
On the 29th day of June, the Commissioners issued a notice for an election of officers, to be held at the Commercial Hotel (on the East Side), on Monday, the 20th day of July, at which time the following officers were elected : Mayor, R. A. Whitaker ; Marshal, S. M. Hoff; Treasurer, C. A. Farwell; Solicitor. Lewis Lichty; Clerk, J. S. George. Trustees-First Ward, H. B. Allen, G.
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Conger ; Second Ward, W. A. Crowther, John Hilferty; Third Ward, Sullivan Day, F. E. Cutler ; Fourth Ward, R. D. Titcomb, Allen Spencer.
The first ordinance passed by the new City Council was one fixing the rates for licenses for circuses and menageries.
On the 1st day of March, 1869, the first regular election for city officers was held, R. A. Whitaker being elected Mayor ; Marshal, J. P. Evans ; Treasurer, C. A. Farwell ; Solicitor, Lewis Lichty ; Clerk, Lewis Lichty ; Assessor, A. C. Bunnell. Trustees-First Ward, H. W. Jenney, Henry Nauman ; Second Ward, L. C. Barber, C. W. Champlin ; Third Ward, F. E. Cutler, Sullivan Day ; Fourth Ward, D. E. Champlin, R. D. Titcomb.
OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF WATERLOO FROM 1870 TO 1878.
Mayors-R. A. Whitaker, 1868-72; Lewis Lichty, 1873-6; Matt Par- rott, 1876 -.
Clerks-Lewis Lichty, 1869-72; William Galloway, 1873; J. H. Kuhns, 1874.
Treasurers-J. H. Leavitt, 1870-71 ; H. Nauman, 1872-3; C. A. Farwell, 1876; John W. Krupfle, 1877; A. C. Bunnell, 1878.
Marshals-J. P. Evans, 1870-72; James Ellis, 1873; J. P. Evans, 1874-5; H. II. Saunders, 1876-7; H. W. Jenney, 1878.
Trustees for 1870-First Ward, H. W. Jenney, A. T. Lusch ; Second Ward, J. H. Preston, C. W. Champlin ; Third Ward, H. E. Cutler, H. M. Crittenden ; Fourth Ward, R. D. Titcomb, W. Russell.
For 1871-First Ward, A. T. Lusch, G. W. Barnes ; Second Ward, J. H. Preston, J. S. George ; Third Ward, H. M. Crittenden, HI. B. Gifford ; Fourth Ward, W. W. Russell. O. E. Hardy.
For 1872-First Ward, G. W. Barnes, L. A. Cobb ; Second Ward: J. S. George, William Hammond ; Third Ward, H. M. Crittenden, C. G. Ankeny ; Fourth Ward, W. W. Russell, T. W. Place (elected to fill vacancy of O. E. Hardy, who resigned March 1, 1872).
For 1873-First Ward, G. W. Barnes, L. A. Cobb; Second Ward. Wm. Hammond, J. A. Fowler ; Third Ward, H. M. Crittenden, Matt Parrott ; Fourth Ward, T. W. Place, A. C. Bratnober, resigned May 7th, and W. Rus- sell elected to fill vacancy.
For 1874-First Ward, G. W. Barnes, R. Russell; Second Ward, J. A. Fowler, J. Taylor : Third Ward, Matt Parrott, John McCabe ; Fourth Ward, T. W. Place, W. Russell.
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