USA > Iowa > Boone County > The history of Boone County, Iowa, containing biographical sketches war records of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of the Northwest, history of Iowa, map of Boone county etc. > Part 63
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Boonesboro, prior to the period now spoken of, from 1865 to 1869, had enjoyed a career of uninterrupted prosperity. Its selection as the seat of justice had been approved almost unanimously. Its career was cotempo- raneous with that of the county. Its supremacy had from the first been acknowledged, and no other town, although many were laid out, had dared to present itself as a rival. It was the center of social and political influ- ence and absorbed the surplus wealth of the county. The successful agri- culturist, when he had disposed of his domain, for the purpose of retiring from rural pursuits, had no higher ambition than to become a resident of the county seat, where he and his family might enjoy the amusements, privileges and social influences of this, the metropolis of the county. The young man who was ambitious to engage in professional or commercial pursuits, looked forward to a settlement in Boonesboro as the realization of his most sanguine expectations. Boonesboro never was a Paris or a New York, but to the simple-minded rural people of Boone county Boonesboro was, and in short the county seat of the average county is to its people what Paris is to the Frenchman, and New York is to the Gothamite. Thus it was that Boonesboro absorbed the best of the talent and the surplus wealth of the county. Those who came there came to stay. Many invested all their means in the purchase of real estate and the erection of business houses and dwellings.
When the railroad was projected in accordance with the provisions of the land grant to run on or near the forty-second parallel, the railroad company considered Boonesboro one of the best points on the prospective route, and the people of Boonesboro considered it a foregone conclusion that the road would pass through their town, even though it had to be deflected from its course to get there. When the managers of the road made a de- mand on the county for the swamp lands, the leading men of Boonesboro did not hesitate to aid in securing for the road this subsidy. Had it not been for the adroit management of this question by such men as Mitchell, Hull, McFarland and a score of other men in Boonesboro, it is doubtful if the people of the county could have been induced to contribute a hundred thousand dollars worth of land to this corporation. When the corpora- tion, through its agent, John I. Blair, made the additional and unreason-
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
able demand of ten thousand dollars, the people of Boonesboro did not hesitate, but lent all their energies and made sacrifices even to the mort- gaging of their homes to secure the amount. After having done all this, the people of Boonesboro seeing the railroad company undertake to ruin their town by building up a rival town a mile distant, and deflecting the line from the original and natural route in order to accomplish this object, it was to have been expected that there would be war to the knife. To ex- peet peace, fraternity and good will under such circumstances, would be to presume that Boonesboro was peopled with pure, angelic inhabitants, a presumption as little applicable to these people as to the people of any other average Iowa town. When these people, depraved, sinful and avari- cious in common with the rest of humanity, saw their trade drawn to the new town, business declining and their houses rotting down over their heads, while just across the prairie all was life and activity, it cannot be wondered that they were enraged and that a deep-seated longing for re- venge cropped out in active persecution and retaliation. On the other hand the people of Montana were in no way responsible for the bad faith of the railroad company. They were mostly from the over-crowded business centers of the East, and seeing advertisements in which the railroad com- pany threw out extra inducements, they had purchased lots and established business houses, all in good faith, and they could neither understand nor palliate the conduct of the Boonesboro people. One of the first acts of Boonesboro which had the effect of estranging and embittering the new- comers was the post-office contest. The people of Montana thought that if they were to have a town they ought to have a post-office. Their appli- cation for the establishment of a post-office was so actively combated by Boonesboro that it failed. The ill feeling engendered in the people of Montana by this failure was increased by the conduct of the people of Boonesboro who would jest with them when they came over for their mail, and would inquire why the people of "plug town," as they called Mon- tana, didn't have a post-office of their own; that it must be very inconve- nient to live so far away from postal facilities. Finally the people of Montana succeded in making the authorities at Washington believe that there was an impassable slough between the two towns, and this delusion backed by the potent influence of sundry expert wire-pullers, secured them a post-office. Then Boonesboro succeeded in carrying an election, at which was decided in the affirmative a proposition to erect an expensive court-house; the quarreling and actual fighting which grew out of this measure had the opposite effect of pacifying the belligerent and rival fac- tions. No wonder that, as was the case with the Jews and Samaritans, the people of Boonesboro and those of Montana had no dealings with one another. At the termination of this court-house wrangle the people of Montana doubtless determined on a more decisive and open warfare, and, as the Romans at the close of the Second Punic War, their watchword was " Carthago delenda est."
Although Boonesboro has not so far suffered the fate of Carthage as to be plowed up and sown with salt, it has long since given up the hopeless struggle, and as the limits of Boone and Boonesboro gradually approxi- mate, the feelings of the citizens warm toward each other and the time is nearing when the two towns will be one in name and one in fact.
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
As before remarked Boonesboro was incorporated in 1865. The first municipal officers of the town were as follows:
Mayor- John A. Hull.
Recorder-Samuel B. McCall.
Aldermen-Charles Schleiter, D. C. Ketchum, Walter Carpenter.
The second mayor was Samuel B. McCall. The third mayor was J. M. Thrift. In a record, dated December 23, 1868, we find that the municipal officers at that time were as follows:
Mayor-D. R. Hindman.
Recorder-M. M. King.
Treasurer-George E. Jones.
City Attorney-W. R. Lawrence.
Marshal-Jacob Black.
Aldermen-J. W. Barnhart, J. E. Prett, J. E. Black, W. C. Budrow, Wm. Austin.
It will be seen that a large number of those who were municipal officers of Boonesboro in the days when the rivalry existed between the two towns have since cast their fortunes in with the people of the new town and are now its most prominent citizens.
The third mayor of Boonesboro, J. M. Thrift, delivered a characteristic message upon vacating the office, of which the following is a verbatim copy :
" Mayors message
" To the Hon Town Council of the Incorporate town of Boonesboro. " Gentlemen of the council
" I submit the following report for the fiscal year of my term of office for the year 1867 and part of 1868, this seventh day of March 1868.
" Report of finances of Current year according to receipts and minutes I kept of Matters of a two small amount to incumber the records with for which I have the Treasores receipt to show for all to compair with.
" these several amounts is $51.50, the mayors Book of record for which I submit as follows: first receipts of S. G. Moffatts late Treasurer for $156.62, amount for licenses for current year 344.50
" amount of Fines in all on record paid and unpaid $93.00 of which fifteen is unpaid and $78.00 paid $78.00, there air some other fines that was assessed by me of a small amount $630.62 that was not placed on record on account of some actions growing out of my orders not being Strictly carried out-for all such I have remitted and the parties are not held for so far as the fines are concerned, those fines that air a matter of record air to be collected and no other, my Business has been strictly ad- hered to and all orders carred out, is a matter of record and no others of a doubtful nature, as for proof my Receipts and the Record will show for proof of the assertion. I would very much to make a report of the finan- cial condition of the Incorporate Town of Boonesboro, and will some day for the satisfaction of the People and show the true State of financial con- condition of our town and stop the Eternal Gassing in relation to the affairs and the true condition and that published is all that will satisfy the people,
" Gentlemen, our addministration in the main has been social but some- times rather spirited for which often will occur in all bodies where men are a doing Business for the people, but those matter ought to end with our addministration, and mingle and Co-mingle as if the ocen of life had been as smooth with us a calm see, it ought to bee a satisfaction to us to think
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
that we have don the best we could, lett others sa what tha wil. My Mot- tow threw lif is mine conscience of itself is 'rite can never No never be deraded in its own estimation.'
"Gentlemen I Retire feeling that I haved tryed to do my duty, and if I have errored, it is not a falt of the heart, it is an error of the Hed, and as for your deliberations whilst working in your official capacity I am now well satisfied with for which you have my best wishes
" J. M. THRIFT, Mayor.
" In a retiring position.
" March, 1868."
It was during these years of strife that Boonesboro seemingly enjoyed its greatest prosperity. Prior to that time there were scarcely any brick buildings in the town. When Montana, now Boone, was laid out Boones- boro suddenly began to give evidences of new life and prosperity. Com- modious brick business houses went up as if by magic, and as before re- marked three new additions were laid out during one year. As the event proved, however, the apparent evidences of prosperity were but the external signs of an unhealthy and abnormal activity, and were meant to intimidate the sprightly rival across the way. These relics of the suddenly developed enterprise of Boonesboro now look down and out at the visitor, mute, but yet eloquent witnesses of the competitive strife which sank many an ample fortune, and buried them beneath massive piles of brick and stone. One who has heard of Boonesboro, but never before seen it, will be surprised to see so many stately brick blocks with iron fronts, and salesrooms of suffi- cient capacity for a large and prosperous business. There are now business blocks in the decrepit old town which will compare favorably with the best blocks in Boone or any other town in the State. Nothing but a supply of merchandise and the customers would be necessary to make the place a first- class town. The very men who erected these houses have deserted them, while their wealth and business tact have gone to build up the once hated rival. In passing through the almost deserted streets one would have no difficulty to imagine himself in the " Valley of Dry Bones," and will be inclined to inquire with the prophet of o.d: "Can these dry bones live?" In reply to this question many of the most sagacious men of both towns will promptly reply in the affirmative, and unless the best judgment of the best men of the county is sadly at fault these lonesome, melancholy and de- serted storerooms will in the near future be the scene of commercial indus- try and business prosperity.
Amid the general stagnation of business there is one branch of industry which has not suffered; reference is had to the famous Boonesboro potteries. It has been remarked in our chapter on the physical characteristics of the county, that for the abundance and quality of potter's clay Boone county could nowhere be excelled. These deposits of clay are located near to Boonesboro, and the place will in the future as in the past take the lead in the manufacture of earthenware, no matter how many or how prosperous its rivals.
The Methodist Episcopal church building is one of the most prominent buildings in the town. The building would in fact be an ornament to any town in the country were it in a better state of repair. Owing to the un- usual neglect evinced by everything on every hand this noble building, which is a monument of individual liberality and Christian zeal, has put on an antiquated appearance, and is sadly in need of repair. The edifice is a
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
substantial brick structure 42x60 feet; was erected in 1869, and cost $11,000. Its predecessor, the first Methodist church erected in the county, and the first church of any kind in the county, was a frame building. The organization is still in a flourishing condition, and has a membership of over one hundred. Rev. Mr. Martin is at present pastor. The Baptist church was organized April 27, 1861. S. M. Ives, A. Murry, Julia A. Ives, Jane Pelcher, Susan Murry, Louisa Moffatt, Sarah Cummings, Elizabeth Waters and Hannah Hull were the persons who originally composed this organization. Reverends O. A. Holines, A. W. Russell, A. E. Simons, S. P. Day, S. R. Shangafelt, J. Moxam, D. F. Mason, J. H. Delano and II. N. Millard have been the regu- larly ordained pastors. The membership at present consists of thirty com- municants. The society have no church edifice. Religious services were held in Union Hall for the first five years; then in various places rented for that purpose. At present the congregation meets in the old Congrega- tionalist building. Other denominations have formed organizations and erected places of worship in past years. The United Presbyterians erected a church in 1864; the building is of brick 30x50 feet. The Congregation- alists erected a church in 1866; it is a commodious brick structure. The German-Lutherans erected a frame edifice in 1865. The Catholics erected a frame building the same year, but are at present about to remove it to Boone.
The Mt. Olive Lodge, No. 79, A. F. and A. M., was organized October 24, 1865. The charter members were Milo C. Wood, Joseph F. Alexan- der, Anstin C. Warwick, Reuben S. Clark, Josiah M. Thrift, Jeremiah Williams and Lewis Kinney. In 1870 the order erected a brick hall. at a cost of $1,800. The membership at present numbers sixty-seven.
Boonesboro Lodge, No. 79, I. O. O. F., was organized October 11, 1855. John Houser, J. H. Upton, W. P. Berry, John A. Hull, Eli Keeler and O. G. Oviatt were the charter members. A lodge room was erected in 1871. It was dedicated in 1872. It is a brick structure and cost $3.000. The following named gentlemen have held the office of P. G .: G. E. Jones, S. H. Bell, J. R. Lincoln, J. R. Epperson, M. M. King, G. W. West, D. F. Hess, L. S. Kutzleib, G. Held, Thomas Paxton, W. D. Templin, O. H. P. Logan, J. W. Halliday, J. S. Johnston, L. D. Cook. The membership of the order now numbers sixty-nine.
The schools and school buildings of Boonesboro are among the most creditable in the State. The school-house in the east part of the town was erected during the fall of 1867. It is two stories high; has two rooms in the first story and three in the second story. It is large enough to accom- modate three hundred pupils. The building is finished in good style and furnished with Sherwood's patent cast-iron seats and desks. The cost of this building, exclusive of furniture, was $14,000. Boonesboro has another school building situated in the west part of the town and is used for the primary classes. It is a two-story frame building and was erected in 1858 at a cost of $2,000. This building stands on the same ground where the first school-house was erected. The first school house having been built of logs, and serving for a court-house, meeting house and public hall.
The two schools of Boonesboro are each under the particular care of effi- cient principals, while the educational interests of the town are supervised by a school board, consisting of the following named individuals: Presi- dent, A. L. Speer; treasurer, T. N. Canfield; secretary, D. F. Hess; direc-
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
tors, N. C. Galpin, Thomas Bowman, George Held, John Vernon, L. Zimbleman. J. H. Chambers and G. W. Ashton are principals.
The town of Boonesboro at present has its interests guarded over by the following corps of municipal officers:
Mayor-A. L. Speer.
Recorder-D. F. Hess.
Marshal-J. T. Mowerson.
Alderman-J. Fox, J. W. Halliday, S. Dale, Thomas Bowman, Chas. Cummings, C. T. Brewer.
BOONE.
The rapidity with which towns have sprung up throughout the West has been extraordinary, and is without parallel in the history of the world. Large regions of country, which a quarter of a century ago were a bound- less prairie-without farm-houses, without roads, without improvements, of any kind, and without inhabitants, except roving bands of sav- ages-are now dotted over with towns and cities which are the scene of the most active industry; provided with all the luxuries of civilization, and possessed of all the conveniences enjoyed by the most refined communities of the far East. Business houses of the most approved style of architecture are ranged along the principal thoroughfares, while away from the centers of traffic magnificent residences, exceeding in beauty and convenience the castles and mansions of the old world, raise their stately columns toward the clouds. Articles of luxury, consisting of the finest fabrics, and necessities of the most durable quality and approved pat- tern, are displayed in the shops and business houses of the Far West, and laid down at the very door of the consumer at a slight advance above the cost of production. These towns and cities also afford a market for the al. most inexhaustible supply of agricultural products of the fruitful soil- This is not the result of chance or accident, but each one of these towns and cities represent an aggregate of individual enterprise, restless activity, business sagacity and patient toil which, in a few short years, have developed what, in less active and enterprising communities, has required centuries to produce. The same elements necessary to produce material prosperity are also productive of evil; and those personal characteristics which avail in refining and elevating the race, are also powerful in degrading and de- basing a people. The most fertile soil produces useful herbs and noxious weeds with equal luxuriance. In passing through the western country the traveler will find a rank growth of both good and evil. The good, how- ever, always predominates, and, even though the evil flourishes, it is kept in the background. The first things which the traveler beholds on approach- ing one of our western cities, and the last things lost to view as he departs from it, are tall spires of churches and school-houses; and, though vice and ignorance also prevail, they are compelled to hide their depraved faces in cellars and back alleys. Whatever there is in the characteristic western city to distinguish it from the slow-moving inonotony of eastern communi- ties; whatever of dash, sprightliness and pluck, that Boone possesses to a superlative degree. A city of four thousand inhabitants, with its long lines of elegant business houses, with its elaborate public buildings, fire department, macadamized streets, printing establishments, cylinder presses and steam power, together with other metropolitan pretensions, is the
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
growth of fifteen years. Fifteen years ago the site of the town was an un- cultivated prairie, where waved the tall grass of the virgin soil. Fifteen years ago but a single house stood where now stand hundred's, and the soil was pressed by the foot of the sole inhabitant, where now hurry the busy feet of the multitude bent on business and traffic. The transformation has been simply marvelous; so much so, that until one has dwelt for a few weeks within its bounds and mingled with its restless inhabitants, the story of its unparalleled growth is well nigh incredible. How this transforma- tion has been brought abont, and by what means the city has been builded and the solitary place peopled, are problems which are inexplicable to the very persons who have solved them. As we proceed to give a brief account of these matters, it is with the conviction that the sketch will be imperfect, and possibly in some particulars incorrect; yet, at the same time feeling assured that, impertect though it be, the mere allusion to some of the inore salient points of the eveutful career of the town will be of interest to the reader; and, whether intended as such or not, will nevertheless necessarily prove to be a just tribute to the most enterprising, progressive and thrifty people of the State.
Boone was laid out by John I. Blair, March 4, 1865. The town site was originally located in the north part of section twenty-eight and the south part of section twenty-one, township eighty-four, range twenty-six. As soon as the town was laid out the proprietor advertised an auction sale of lots. This was before the railroad was completed to the place; the rail- road, however, was located thus far and it was understood that a depot would be located on the town site, that the town would be made the end of the railroad division, that a round-house would be erected here, that the shops of the company, together with the general offices of the road, would here be established. The first auction sale of lots occurred March 29, 1865; over fifty lots were sold the first day, prices ranging from fifty to five hun- hundred dollars each. During the same season there were over one hun- dred buildings erected in the town. The most of these buildings were of a temporary character; they consisted chiefly of two-story framne houses, the first story intended for a business room and the second for dwelling. Dur- ing the year 1866, about two hundred buildings were erected; during the year 1867 two hundred and fifty houses were erected. At the time the town was laid out there was one building on the town site; it was a two- story frame which had been erected several years previons for a tavern. It stood in the center of Story street, a short distance south of the railroad track. This building removed and improved constitutes what is now called the St. James Hotel. The first landlord was Captain Samuel Crozier, who afterward removed to Clinton. C. E. Phipps soon afterwards erected a honse on the other side of the street and opened for the accommodation of the public a hotel known as the Eagle House. This hotel, still known by the same name, is yet in charge of the same proprietor.
Among the persons to make a purchase at the first sale of lots, March 29, 1865, was Mr. A. Downing, of Illinois. The lot which he purchased was on Story street, south of Eighth, it being the same lot where is now located a building occupied by Dr. L. J. Rice. After purchas- ing the lot Mr. Downing returned to Illinois and completed his ar- rangements preparatory to removing to the new town. His intention was to engage in the grocery business which previously had been his occupation in the East. Before he could begin business he must have a business house,
J. W. Black
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HISTORY OF BOONE COUNTY.
and before he could have a house he must have lumber. The railroad was completed part way across the county, but nothing but construction trains ran out farther than Nevada, and these were loaded to their fullest capacity with material for the further extension of the road. It was necessary for Mr. Downing to transport his lumber from Nevada to Boone with teams. Part of the lumber was procured and the building was commenced on the 26th of May. The frame was completed on the 4th of July, and on the 1st of September, the house having been completed, Mr. Downing opened up a stock of groceries, which was the first business enterprise of the city. The house was 20x34 feet, two stories high. The second story was used by Mr. Downing for a dwelling. The following March the peo- ple of the new town succeeded in procuring a post-office. Mr. Downing was appointed postmaster, and the office was located in his building.
The town at this time and for several years afterward was called Mon- tana, and the post-office was called Boone Station. At this point in our narrative we will digress, in order to give a brief history of the first post- office. The first post-office established was a mile and a half south of Boonesboro and was known as Booneville. This office was established in 1850, and Samuel H. Bowers was the first postinaster. Sometime in 1851 the post-office was removed to Boonesboro and the office known by that name. As before remarked, this office was located in a log building of Wesley C. Hull. After considerable difficulty and repeated failures, an account of which has been given elsewhere, the people of Boone, then called Montana, secured a post-office, which was called Boone Station from the fact that the railroad authorities refused to change the name of the station to that of the town. Sometime after the people of Montana suc- ceeded in having the name of the post-office changed to that of the town. In the course of years the name of the town was changed and then the name of the post-office, since when they have both gone by the name of Boone. A. Downing was postmaster from March. 1866, till December, following; A. J. Roberts was postmaster from 1866 till 1870; W. H. Adams from 1870 till 1873; J. M. Brainard from 1873 till 1877. On March 19, 1877, Mr. Downing again became postmaster and still occu- pies that position.
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