USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens > Part 62
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In 1875. so many Danes had settled in Clinton that a Danish Lutheran Church society was organized, and an edifice suited to the needs built at a cost of $2,000, at the corner of Elm and Fourth streets. Rev. D. Gielesen has been the Pastor from its formation.
Baptist .- The preliminary meeting was held at the instance of Rev. Addison A. Sawin, then of Fulton, acting under the auspices of the Baptist Home Mis- sionary Association, on the 31st day of December, 1856. The Church was organized May 19, 1857. Among its original members were C. H. Toll, Will- iam and Susan Phillips, O. T. Bowen, Mrs. Charles Dixon, Robert Leslie, G. W. Patterson, John Dyer and wife. The organization was ratified by an ecclesiastical council, June 2, 1857 .For some time, the Church was without a settled Pastor. The first edifice was a temporary structure, on the present site, at the corner of Fourth street and Seventh avenue, on De Witt Park. While the present elegant structure was building, the congregation worshiped in Crandall Hall. The basement of the new church was dedicated May 13, 1870, and the upper auditorium on the 8th of March, 1874, $4,500 being raised on the latter occasion, to pay for the structure.
The first regular Pastor was John Scott, who took charge of the infant Church from October, 1860, to August, 1861. He was followed by Revs. A. H. Starkweather, September, 1861, to April, 1865; W. G. Moore, April, 1865, to April, 1866 ; A. D. Freeman, August, 1866, to March, 1867 ; Will- iam Roney, July, 1867, to November, 1869; HI. A. Guild, February, 1870, to May, 1870; C. H. Remington, April, 1870, to February, 1871; M. T.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Lamb, May, 1872, to May, 1874; J. A. Aitchison, June, 1874, to September, 1876 ; and Rev. C. C. Smith, the present Pastor, whose labors began June, 1877. The membership is about one hundred and forty ; value of church property, $20,000. The Sunday school numbers nearly two hundred; W. W. Leslie, Superintendent. The dedication sermon of the new church was preached by Rev. J. G. Johnson, of St. Louis, who refused to offer the dedicatory prayer until the debt on the building was removed. The prayer was not offered till the evening service, by which time the stumbling-block of incumbrance was removed, so that the Rev. Doctor was able to address the Throne of Grace with even more than his usual unction.
OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES.
Before 1873, the Scandinavian element had become so strong in Clinton that the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized, and, in that year, a large frame church built upon the beautiful bluff site at the corner of Ninth avenue and Fifth street. The value of the church property is $10,000, and the pulpit is supplied by Rev. G. Nelson. The membership numbers about seventy-five, and is increasing.
In 1871, a Universalist Society was organized, and a frame edifice was built at the corner of Fourth street and Fourth avenue, on Clinton Park, and christened Murray Church. After several years, the society disbanded, and the building has since been leased to other religious bodies, it being occupied at present by the " Apostolic Church of God."
.. During the present year, 1879, the " Liberals " have held large Sunday- evening meetings at Music Hall, addressed by Mrs. M. E. Lake.
In 1868, through the instrumentality of Mr. J. H. Young, and other mem- bers of the First Methodist Church, was originated the African M. E. Church. The society occupies a neat frame church, on the cast side of Clinton Park on Third street, and is presided over by Rev. E. Freeman.
The Second Adventists also have a church organization, but are at present without an edifice.
MASONIC.
Though among the first residents of Clinton, there were a goodly number of worthy brothers of the craft, no organization was effected till in 1856, when it became evident that the city was a fixed fact. On December 19 of that year, a dispensation was granted by John F. Sanford, Grand Master, for Western Star Lodge, No. 100, E. H. Ring, W. M. On June 4, 1857, the Lodge began working under a charter with officers as follows : W. M., E. H. Ring; S. W., Daniel Smith ; J. W., H. B. Ring; Treasurer, Samuel Crozer; Secretary, R. H. Nolton.
The first hall occupied was in the Bucher Block, on the corner of First street and Fifth avenue, where the Lodge occupied very commodious quarters and flourished apace for seven years, and where many of the most distinguished of the men who have made this section of Iowa what it is, either visited or worked. Thence Western Star removed, in 1868, to the Dunbar Block, where rooms were used, and afterward shared with Emulation Lodge till in 1873, when the present hall, over Stone & Smith's bank, became the home of the Lodge. The present officers are W. M., William Lake; S. W., George Laveder ; J. W., George Lea ; Treasurer, Francis Lee; Secretary, Alex. Fife. The mem- bership is at present, July, 1879, exactly 100.
The dispensation was granted for Emulation Lodge, No. 255, January 8, 1869, and a charter the 2d of June following. It was recommended by Western Star
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Lodge, and Reuben Nickel was Grand Master at the time. The first elective officers were W. M., F. P. Blakely ; S. W., W. L. Bates ; J. W., Horace Baker : Secretary, P. J. Farnsworth.
The present officers are W. M., F. S. Roberts ; S. W., F. E. Bachelder ; J. W., C. E. Fisher ; Treasurer, P. S. Towle ; Secretary, A. G. Ewing ; S. D., F. H. Oakes; J. D., George Knapp; S. S., Jesse Cole; J. S., H. Peters ; Tiler, George Cole. The members number ninety-eight. The Lodge organ- ized and met in the Dunbar Block with Western Star Lodge for a short time, till they procured and fitted up their hall over Stone & Smith's bank, on Fifth avenue.
The dispensation for Keystone Chapter, No. 32, Royal Arch Masons, was granted August 3, 1866, by H. HI. Hemenway, G. H. P., to J. Van Deventer, H. P .; R. A. Lyons, K .; Thomas Thornburg, S .; T. J. Flournoy, T .; E. S. Bailey, Secretary, and sixteen others. The Chapter was chartered October 17. 1867. and instituted November 2, with the following officers : G. W. Frost, H. P .; Thomas Thornburg, K .; William Campbell, S .: H. B. Van Deventer, Treas- urer ; L. E. Watrous, Secretary : F. L. Blakely, C. of H .; L. P. Ostrander, P. S .; F. H. Farr, R. A. C .; W. II. Raymond. M. 1st V .; W. A. Scott, M. 2dl V .: T. J. Flournoy, M. 3d V .; J. D. Roberts, Sentinel, and sixteen others. The Chapter has occupied the same hall, conjointly with the Commandery, and both grand bodies met at Clinton at the same time. The present membership is seventy. The present officers are: F. L. Blakely, H. P .; F. S. Roberts, K .; C. O. Morton, S .; A. H. Smith, Secretary ; F. Lee, Treasurer ; Charles F. Curtis, C. H .; G. W. Lambert. R. A. C .; G. W. Allen, P. S .: E. A. Wad- leigh, M. 1st V .: P. S. Towle, M. 2d V .; A. J. Santee, M. 3d V .; F. H. Oakes, Sentinel.
The dispensation for Holy Cross Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, was granted July 14, 1866, by R. E. G. C., William E. Leffingwell, to N. B. Baker, G. W. Frost, R. A. Lyons, T. W. J. Long, C. G. Trusdell, William Rogers, D. S. Potter. H. B. Van Deventer and P. C. Wright, who were pres- ent at the first meeting, Angust 28, 1866. The charter was granted October 16, 1867, by J. R. Hartsock. R. E. G. C., who organized the Commandery November 14, 1867, installing the following officers: Sir Knights P. C. Wright, E. C .; W. E. Marquis, G .; E. P. Ten Broeck, C. G .; E. S. Bailey, Prel .; T. J. Flournoy, Sr .. Treasurer : E. A. Wadleigh, Recorder ; G. W. Parker. S. W .; F. L. Blakely, J. W .; H. B. Van Deventer, Standard B .; H. W. Somers, Sword B .; L. E. Watrous, W .; Thomas Thornburg, G .; R. A. Lyons, G .: J. D. Roberts, Sentinel.
The present officers are: F. L. Blakely, E. C .; J. Scott Jenkins, Gen .; F. S. Roberts, C. G .; C. F. Curtis, Prel .; E. A. Wadleigh, Treasurer ; F. E. Bachelder, Recorder : J. J. Flournoy, S. W .; C. O. Morton, Sword B .; P. S. Towle, Warder; O. T. Cummings, Standard B .; HI. M. Oakes, S. The Com- mandery was organized in the Masonic Hall, in the present Music Hall Block, at the corner of Fifth avenue and First street, where it remained until 1876, when it removed to its present asylum, in the block at the corner of Fifth avenue and Second street, just across the hall from the suite of club-rooms and dancing and concert hall of the Wapsipinicon Boat Club, thus doubling the capacity of the apartments for guests, in case either body gives a reception. The present number of members is eighty. The Grand Commandery held an unusually brilliant annual conclave at Clinton, in October, 1870. Holy Cross Commandery was also escort to the Grand Commander, B. R. Sherman, at the Dubuque conclave, in 1874.
P.S. Toutes
CLINTON
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Among its honored members, Holy Cross cmunerates one P. G. C., and a present V. E. D. G. C .; J. Scott Jenkins, C. E.
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
During the past five years, owing to the failure and grasping policy of many life insurance corporations, there has been a notable increase and growth of fra- ternities having for one of their principal objects mutual insurance to provide aid in case of sickness or death of a member. Oldest and most prominent among these bodies in Clinton is the A. O. of U. W., which provides for $2,000 life insurance.
Clinton Lodge, No. 7, was instituted November 9, 1874, with the fol- lowing officers and charter members : E. A. Wadleigh, P. M. W .; 'A. Lamb, M. W. ; P. S. Towle, G. F .; H. R. Whitehouse, O. ; A. J. Santee, Receiver; C. B. Rosenow, Recorder ; J. W. Brentlinger, G .; B. F. Wise. I. W .; H. W. McCormick, B. W. Barnard, A. H. Smith, E. H. King, D. E. Taft, M. Hackett, C. A. Smith. The prosperity of the Lodge has been uninterrupted, and only two deathis, those of Alderman H. Howard (crushed to death by machinery), and of Commissioner Hugh E. Brainard, have hitherto broken its circle. The membership now numbers 129. The present officers are : A. J. Santec, P. M. W. ; Al. McCoy, M. W. : H. Sabin, F. ; J. S. Blickensderfer, O. ; H. R. Whitehouse, Receiver ; James Leslie, F .; R. C. Van Kuran, Recorder ; C. H. Powell, I. W .; George Knapp, O. W .; E. S. King, P. S. Towle, E. A. Wadleigh, Trustees. The Lodge first met in the Masonic Hall in the Stratton Bloek, then in the same hall with Schiller Lodge, in the Hard- ing Block, and, in July, 1879, removed to their joint quarters with the Knights of Pythias in the old hall so long used for entertainments and balls in the north side of the Toll Block. Among the members of the Lodge are P. S. Towle, Grand Master during 1876-77, and E. A. Wadleigh, at present Grand Receiver.
Schiller Lodge, No. 16, A. O. U. W. (German), was organized March 11, 1875, with officers and charter members as follows : F. Witzigmann, M. W. ; William Saltz, G. V. ; O. Emil Diebner, R .; John Breitling, Recorder ; Fried Struve, F. Henry Bock, John Wessels, I. W .; S. Jensen, G. ; A. Phil- lips, F. Richardson and S. Jensen, Trustees. The present officers are A. Jen- sen, P. M. W. ; J. Adler, M. W .; August Wallison, J. Petersen, O .; J. Haldorf, G .; E. Diebner, Recorder; Thomas Richardson, Receiver ; J. D. Young, Treasurer; J. Andresen, I. W. ; Paul Albrecht, O. W. ; John Breit- ling, J. Petersen and Ch. Pipping, Trustees. The number of members is 75, and Schiller and Clinton Lodges harmoniously occupied the same hall until the removal of the latter as above.
ODD-FELLOWSHIP.
Though it was some years before there were enough Odd-Fellows resident in Clinton to render it advisable to establish a Lodge, since its institution here the Order has made rapid and solid progress.
Lincoln Lodge, No. 139, I. O. O. F., was instituted May 12, 1865, by Dis- trict Deputy Grand Master H. S. Butler, assisted by brethren from Eagle Lodge, No. 86 and Lyon Lodge, No. 61. The charter members and first officers were: John B. Crosby, N. G .; Samuel Jaffa, V. G .; L. B. Wadleigh, Secretary ; John Breitling, Treasurer ; James Tuke, Warden; George O'Boyle, Conductor ; HIenry Gerhard, Guardian. James P. Crosby was the first member initiated, since which 213 members have been admitted by initiation or card, among them
L
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
many of the leading citizens of the town. The membership at present num- bers 89. L. B. Wadleigh was the first member on whom degrees were con- ferred. The Lodge met in the Bucher Block on First street. On May 27, 1869, the Lodge moved into the Cubbage Block on Fifth avenue, where it remained till January 1, 1874, when it occupied its present location in the Harding Block. The present officers are: William E. Smith, N. G .; E. C. Evans, V. G .; E. M. Garlock, Recording Secretary : Judson Hyde, Treasurer; J. S. Blick, Permanent Secretary ; J. Hogendobler, K. S .; R. E. Mayne, L. P .; J. H. Vail, W .; George P. Ellinwood, C .; J. H. Benjamin, O. G .; Charles Clinker, I. G .; J. H. Davidson, R. S. S .; William Snoxwell, L. S. S. Trust- ees-E. H. King, William Strutt, J. H. Benjamin.
With a view to acquainting the wives of brethren with the social and beney- olent principles of the Order, Star of Hope Lodge, No. 13, of the Rebekah Degree was instituted, March 29, 1869, with George and Emma Boyle, J. T. and Emily J. Harvey, George C. and Sarah Smith, Judson and Mary W. Hyde, J. P. and Clara Crosby, H. and May McGlenn, J. B. Chandler and Addie F. Lee as charter members. The present officers are : Mrs. J. W. Bulen, N. G .; Mrs. G. W. Collins, V. G .; Mrs. S. W. Taylor, Secretary ; Mrs. J. Hyde, Treasurer ; Mrs. R. Price, C .; Mrs. E. Conant, Chaplain ; Edna Sering, Con- ductor ; Mrs. A. N. Enderby, O. G .; J. H. Davidson, I.G. The present member- ship numbers forty-eight.
Clinton Encampment, No. 96, I. O. O. F., was instituted April 26, 1877, with officers and charter members as follows: C. C. Van Kuran, C. P .; Sam- uel Taylor, H. P .; Samuel Abernathy, S. W .; George McBride, J. W .; N. G. O. Coad, Scribe ; H. H. Hatton, Treasurer, and John Hogendobler. The present officers are : J. H. Benjamin, C. P .; J. F. Blick, II. P .; Judson IIyde, S. W .; John Vail, J. W .; John Bulen, Scribe ; E. H. King, Treasurer. The membership is fifty-four, and the place of meeting is Odd Fellows' Hall.
KNIGHTS OF MACCABEES.
Washington Tent, No. 47, Knights of the Maccabees of the World, was organized February 3, 1879, with the following officers and charter members : Larkin Upton, Ex-Sir Kt. G. C .; Joseph Agin, Sir Kt. Commander ; Charles Freeman, Sir Kt. Lieut. Com .; Jacob Haas, Prelate ; C. W. Meyers, R. K .; H. Gode, F. K .; J. Leaden, Sergeant ; E. P. Badger, Master-at-Arms; A. G. Johnson, Ist M. G .; W. H. Wright, 2d M. G .; B. McCarty, Sentinel ; T. E. Gilkeson, Picket.
The charter members included the above officers and J. H. Schmitz, Joseph Piper, William Nickel, Robert Monroe, H. Gerhard, George Pillsbury, E. C. Foster, H. Trankle, A. S. Cannon, E. Kenneke, L. Moshier, E. S. Schooley. The Lodge is in a healthy, growing condition, and furnishes an endowment of $1,000 to the widow of a member upon his death, at a minimum cost. The place of meeting is at the hall of Schiller Lodge, A. O. U. W., in the Hard- ing Block.
IOWA LEGION OF HONOR.
Lumber City Lodge, No. 6, I. L. of H., was organized May 23, 1879, with forty charter members, by Grand President D. H. Twomey. The first and present officers are : A. R. McCoy, President ; C. C. Van Kuran, Vice President; J. S. Blick, Recording Secretary ; Thomas G. Haller, Treasurer ; W. Thompson, Financial Secretary ; H. R. Jones, U .; E. H. King, Chaplain ; T. B. Rodgers, D. K. Trustees-A. H. Paddock, E. C. Foster and James Leslie. The present
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
membership is numbers seventy-seven. The Order is limited to the State, and provides for a life insurance of from $2,000 to $4,000. Lumber City Lodge assembles in the Toll Block Hall used by the K. of P. and A. O. U. W. bodies.
THE GERMAN SOCIETY.
The Germans of Clinton, from an early day, have been a numerous, substan- tial and influential body of citizens, and soon organized two societies, the Turner and the Workingmen, who consolidated, September 3, 1877, into the present German Society, numbering eighty-five members, and owning valuable property, worth over $5,000, at the corner of Third avenue and Fourth street. It com- prises a gymnasium, theater, schoolroom, etc. A German school has been instituted, and the Turnhalle enlarged and improved during the winter of 1878-79. The officers are: Emil Diebner, President; A. Gideonsen, Vice President ; A. F. Frudden, P. Lorenzen, Secretaries; Fr. Voss, Treasurer. The annual Turner exhibitions and the frequent balls at the hall, have, for years, been a source of enjoyment not limited to the German-speaking popula- tion of the city, who have materially influenced the ideas of the community in regard to amusements.
R. C. T. A. & B. S.
The Roman Catholic Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society was organ- ized with fifty charter members, December 20, 1869, largely through the exer- tions of Rev. P. V. MeLaughlin. The first President was John Coleman ; Vice President, William Kerrivan. Several years ago, the benevolent feature was dropped in order to construct the Society's building, but will doubtless be again renewed. The Society's first meetings were held in the church and afterward successively in the old Union, now Music Hall, in the Toll Block, in the Pier- son Block, on Fourth street, and in the Ketterer Block on Fifth avenue, until, in 1877, they moved into their present fine hall on Third street, west of the railroad shops. The total value of the building, property and grounds belonging to the Society is fully $5,000. The membership numbers 130, comprising about an equal proportion of heads of families and young men, to whom the organization has been of incalculable value. The officers are : John Coleman, President ; Dennis Magden, Vice President ; John Furlong, Patrick Ryan and J. M. O'Neill, Secretaries; Peter Scannon, Treasurer ; John Sheppard, Mar- shal ; Samuel Grace, Sergeant-at-Arms. The personnel and emblems of the Order always attract equal attention and admiration in civic parades.
Knights of Honor .- Hawkeye Lodge, No. 160, K. of H., was instituted September 10, 1875, with the following officers and charter members : J. E. Carpenter, P. D .; H. H. Howard, D .; Eli Lanning, V. D .; J. W. Bulen, A. D .; Joseph Agin, Rep .; M. M. Tiffany, F. R .; Joseph Magee, Guide; G. V. Harris, G .; P. Pierson, Sentinel ; John Ford, C. Charter members : C. H. Coggswell, H. C. Keeler, J. C. Vail, H. O. Hicks, John Whitsel, H. H. McCune. The present officers are: G. V. Harris, P. D .; H. S. Farnsworth, D .; F. R. Gilson, V. D .; J. H. Flanagan, A. D .; Frank Mattison, Rep .; Alex. Fife, F. R .; John Ford, Treasurer ; Eli Lanning, Guide ; W. L. Ains- worth, C .; W. F. Ferguson, Guardian ; F. Bulow, Sentinel. The Order gives members the option of full or half rate life insurance for $2,000 or $1,000. The Lodge meets at Odd Fellows' Hall and numbers forty members.
THE CLINTON BRIDGE COMPANY.
With the development and settlement of the West, there comes an ever- increasing demand for good roads and bridges. Farmers find that the cost of
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
marketing produce by hauling over poor roads, eats up the profits of their lands to an amazing degree. Accordingly, one of the greatest wants of pros- perous farming communities, is a good system of bridges and approaches, especially as the richest bottom lands are in time of overflow the worst for vehicles to traverse. Many were "the moving adventures by flood and field," that the old settlers relate in the days of fords and ferries, when the heavily loaded wains slowly wallowed through the black and fertile soil-how the wheels mired-how the traces broke. and how the teamsters "exhorted the impenitent mule." The manufacturing and supplying of ready-made bridges has, therefore, naturally become a specialty with bridge companies and iron works. The Clinton Bridge Company was first organized March 1, 1875, and since then has not only furnished a multitude of the most compact and satis- factory county bridges, but has also constructed some of the most scientific and elaborate railroad bridges in the Northwest. The Engineers' and draughting- rooms are located in the Central Block, on First street, and the shops immedi- ately adjacent, on Fourth avenue. The latter are admirably planned, both in size and arrangement for preparing spans long enough for the largest needed wooden bridges. It is fitted with the largest machines of the kind in the Northwest. A span 150 feet in length can, if necessary, be turned out every twenty-four hours. The main shop is composed of a two-story section 40x60 feet, and the fitting-room 30x156 feet. The original officers were: President, Artemus Lamb; Vice President, J. J. Swigert, of Toledo; Secretary and Treasurer, E. S. Hart; Engineer. J. S. Jenkins; Directors, W. J. Young, Artemus Lamb, E. S. Hart, R. W. Smith and J. Swigert. In the spring of 1877, the Company was re-organized, and its present staff is: President and Treasurer. Artemus Lamb; Vice President, E. S. Hart; Secretary and Assistant Engineer, J. A. Patterson ; Engineer, J. Scott Jenkins; Chief Draughtsman, P. J. Partenheimer, Jr .; Manager iron shops, Thomas R. Reeve; Directors, Messrs. Reeve, Lamb, Hart. Patterson and Jenkins. The Company have erected 267 structures of all kinds and combinations of wood and iron trusses and arches. The original working capital is $25.000 The num- ber of men employed during the busy season varies from fifty to one hundred and fifty. There is no kind of bridge, from the grandest railroad span to one over a diminutive brooklet, but that the company have put up in the most scientific and thorough manner, and their light but strong structures are every- where taking the place of the obsolete rural bridges made of heavy, mortised timbers, and the bottomless quagmires which creek fords become in wet weather.
UNION IRON WORKS.
The Union Works were erected by a stock company, organized September 3, 1868, and completed the following spring, with the following officers : Presi- dent, A. P. Hosford ; Vice President, C. E. Shattuck ; Secretary and Treasurer, S. Keith; Directors, A. P. Hosford, S. Moses, S. Keith, C. E. Shattuck, E. W. Goodale. The organization was at first an experiment in the co-operative plan of allowing the employes an interest in the profits. The main structure was the machine-shop built in the most substantial manner of brick, and with the adjacent foundry, boiler and blacksmith shops covers a large share of a block, all the outlay being on the most lavish scale. Over $70,000 were first and last expended in real estate and "plant." Owing, however, to a lack of unity or practical efficiency attendant upon a divided responsibility, the works did not pay, though Mr. Hosford contributed money with a lavish hand, until the company was largely indebted to him. It became more and more evident
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that the joint-stock management would not become a paying one, so, in 1870, A. P. Hosford, by virtue of a mortgage foreclosure for the funds he had liber- ally advanced for the purchase of machinery and material, became sole owner. Since that time, under J. W. Brentlinger's superintendence, the works have so flourished that they have many times been unable to keep up with orders, and the output has comprised pieces of collossal and elaborate machinery, especially for saw-mills, that have been utilized throughout the Northwest. But the philanthropic owner has taken more pride and pleasure in the fact that the works have furnished remunerative employment to upward of from twenty-five to fifty skilled mechanics.
PAPER COMPANY.
In 1868, the Clinton Paper Manufacturing Company was organized, with A. P. Hosford, President, and A. Siddle, Secretary and Treasurer. Early in the summer the foundation for the needed buildings was laid, and, on the first day of December, 1868, they were completed, the complicated machinery in place, and the factory in successful operation. The establishment is 132 by 128 feet ; the capacity of the engine 100 horse-power; the average amount of wrapping-paper manufactured is 100 tons per month. When running to its full capacity, twenty-four hours per day, it consumes upward of seven tons of straw per day, thus affording a valuable market for a surplus raw product. In the upper part of the building is a tank holding some 10,000 gallons of water, which is thence distributed to necessary points in the building for use in prepar- ing the pulp and safety against fire.
THE LUMBER INTEREST.
The development of the saw-mill and lumbering interests of Clinton is practically synchronous with that of the city. In that industry, Clinton may, without vain vaunting, claim, in many respects, to lead the world. Probably there has been more lumber manufactured within the past decade, within the distance between the lowest and uppermost mills along the Clinton and Lyons river front, than anywhere else in the same area. Not only, however, in the amount of capital invested and in the bulk and value of product, have the lumber kings of this vicinity attained pre-eminence ; but in the quality of their staples, ingenuity in improving facilities for rapid and economical cutting, wise foresight in securing plenty of raw material, have not only advanced their interests and those of their town, but, by diminishing the cost to the consumer, developed the lumber trade itself.
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