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 74
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At the same time, another mill was built at a location just above, by Cox, Johnson & Cox, which firm did a very flourishing business till, in the financial crash of 1857, they were, with other firms then engaged in the infant lumber business of the Mississippi, overwhelmed and borne down.
In the mean time, 1855-56, a lumber interest had been developed along the Ringwood Slough, a mill having been built by John Pickering just above Joyce's present location. Hc afterward took a partner named Raymond, but the firm was crippled by the crash, and it was finally dismantled, after an existence of about three years. Somewhat later, Capt. Beckwith built and operated a mill near the upper debouchment of the slough into the main river. It was operated in a small way until near the opening of the war. Beckwith was a more ardent hunter than lumberman.
Another saw-mill was operated by A. T. Cross, on the present site of the paper-mill warehouse.
For several years after the panic, very little was done in the saw-mills at Lyons. The general growth of the adjacent towns and building of railroads was checked, and no business is more a barometer of the community's prosperity, or reverse, than the manufacture of lumber; but with the opening of the war, recuperation of the West from the crisis and a healthier currency, another era of activity began.
In 1860, Ira Stockwell bought the old Cox Mill, and steadily making improve- ments and additions to the machinery ; in 1867, acquired the old Stumbaugh Mill, and for three years worked them both to their fullest capacity. Then, to con- centrate facilities, the machinery of the latter was moved into the former, increas- ing the output to 100,000 feet per day. Sparks from a passing locomotive, in 1874, caused a loss of $60,000, by a conflagration among the lumber piles, and, in 1864, a scanty log supply materially affected the general prosperousness of
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Mr. Stockwell's interests, aside from being dependent, until the opening of rail communication in 1870, upon hauling by wagon to shipping or marketing points. Nevertheless, pluck and sagacity were reaping their inevitable reward, and the extension of the Midland was opening new markets, the panic of 1873 had been triumphantly weathered, when, on May 19, 1876, just as a busy season was opening, the mills were burned, entailing a direct loss of nearly $50,000, besides the season's trade, inflicting the greatest blow ever sustained by Lyons industry, in permanently throwing out of their former employment upward of one hundred and fifty men.
In 1869, Messrs. David Joyce and S. I. Smith erected the present mill on the Ringwood Slough, the structure, machinery and grounds costing $48.000, and the average capacity being 60,000 feet per day. Since its completion, the business has enjoyed a career of uninterrupted prosperity, under Mr. Joyce's sole ownership and management, assisted by Mr. J. F. Conway, and giving employment to a maximum force of 120 men. Mr. Joyce became sole owner in February, 1864. He is also a large stockholder and prominent member of the Mississippi Logging Company.
In the spring of 1874, through the enterprise of Messrs. L. B. Wadleigh, E. P. Welles and D. J. Batchelder, activity once more began in the lumber manufacture at the Lyons upper sites. The firm purchased the old Haun property, enlarged and virtually reconstructed the old saw-mill, converted the grist-mill into an auxiliary building, closed the gap between the two with a brick engine and boiler room, built an immense storehouse holding 2,000,000 feet of lumber, wherein cars could be directly loaded.
In 1877, the firm became Welles, Gardiner & Co., Mr. Stimpson Gardiner and his sons, Silas L. and George, having purchased the interest of Mr. Wadleigh. The mill and yards occupy half a mile on river-front; the output is 15,000,000 feet of lumber per annum, and the number of men employed is over one hundred and twenty-five.
In 1856, a shingle-mill was built by Daniel Dean and William Swanson, just above Stockwell's old site. After several years, it was purchased by Charles Boynton, who organized the Lyons Manufacturing Company, and undertook several chimerical experiments, including running machinery by wind-mill. The enterprise was hardly a success.
Hosford & Miller erected their mill above the slough in 1857. Its history is found elsewhere in the section devoted to county finance and to Clinton lum- bering interests.
BANKS.
The first bank in Lyons was established by A. C. Root, in 1845, and for many years carried on a thriving business in the diminutive structure still standing on Exchange street, near the levee, and looking scarcely large enough for the vault of a modern style banking-house. Nevertheless, financial opera- tions of considerable magnitude and great importance to the growing city were carried on in those quarters till, in 1855, Mr. Root removed to the old bank building at the corner of Main and Second streets, where he remained till he sold his interest, in 1860, to Messrs. O. McMahan and W. N. Evans, who continued it till, in August, 1865, the bank was merged into the Lyons First National, instituted with a capital of $50,000, soon augmented to $100,000. The first and present officers are : J. P. Gage, President ; O. McMahan, Vice President ; William M. Holmes, Cashier. Messrs. Otto Lachmund, William Holmes, Jr., and Charles McMahan also have charge of departments. R. N. Rand was for some years identified with the bank as Cashier. The business
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of the bank has been administered with rare financial skill, its clientage exten -_ ing not only among the solid farmers of Clinton and Jackson Counties, as far as Lost Nation and Maquoketa, but also in Illinois, from Savanna to Albany, of which latter place the Vice President was one of the pioneers. In the spring of 1872, was occupied the present specially built banking-house in the Masonic Temple, at the corner of Third and Main streets.
In June, 1878, Messrs. William Lyall and Thomas Calderwood, old residents and experienced business men. the former having been identified with the Farmers' and Citizens' Bank, in Clinton, opened a new banking-house in Lyons, on the north side of Main street, between Third and Fourth streets. The extensive transactions of the bank, especially with its rural clientele, amply prove that Lyons, as a financial center, is probably excelled by no town of its population in this section, and amply justify the addition of the sixth to the list of sound banking institutions within the two adjoining cities.
OTHER INDUSTRIES.
Conspicuous from river and railroad is the sash and wood-work factory of M. A. Disbrow, established in 1856, rebuilt in 1859 and enlarged in 1878, with $30,000 invested, and employing a maximum force of seventv-five hands.
In 1855, Mr. C. Moeszinger established an iron foundry in Buel's Addition, which he subsequently removed to its present site on Main street. It has always prospered and contributed largely to the modern buildings which grace Clin- ton and Lyons, besides giving employment to a large number of skilled mechan- ics. Since 1874, the business has been ably conducted by his son, John Moes- zinger.
The new tape-line factory of L. B. Wadleigh, and Reed & MeCutchen's wind- mill factory, represent a class of infant industries due to the inventive genius of their proprietors, and which promise well for future growth.
TELEPHONIC.
The Clinton & Lyons Bell Telephone Company was organized in June, 1878, and, on July 4, opened the line between the two towns Since then there have been stretched twenty-six and a half miles of wire, including fifty-four stations, comprising city and suburban residences, and nearly all the leading business offices and manufacturing establishments of both cities. In Clinton, the tele- phone line is utilized as a fire-alarm, and a complete electric burglar alarm is also being arranged. The invention has already proven to be of inestimable value to business and professional men. Besides the Company's lines, the independent ones to Camanche and Riverside have become indispensable. The Company's officers are : J. K. P. Balch, President ; J. C. Root, Secretary ; William Ins- lee, Treasurer.
NEWSPAPERS.
Lyons Mirror .- On the 19th of May, 1854, Cornelius and William Teal, brothers, issued the first newspaper published in the county, and which they then called the Clinton Mirror. Daniel W. Ellis, in May, 1855, purchased the interest of William Teal, and was associated with Cornelius Teal for a few months. Mr. Ellis retired, and C. Teal continued alone until during 1856, when Thomas A. Stone, of Cleveland, became a part owner, under the style of Teal & Stone. In April, 1858, Teal sole his interest to J. H. Hawes, and Mr. Stone sold his interest to Theron R. Beers, February 1, 1859. In Octo- ber. 1861, William D. Eaton succeeded Mr. Hawes, and the firm name became
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Mers & Eaton, who still publish the Mirror. In the big fire of 1869, their office was totally destroyed, and they were heavy losers ; but, with characteristic energy, they replaced their material, with increased facilities. The Mirror has a large and solid subscription list, is Republican in politics, and is an influen- tial county journal.
The Lyons Advocate was established in 1855, by A. P. Durlin, who con- tinued its publication as a " straight " Democratic paper, with the exception of a brief suspension during the war, until, in April, 1873, the office was pur- chased by M. V. B. Phillips and J. C. Hopkins, who, in May of the same year, issued the paper as the Clinton County Advertiser. In the same year, Mr. Hopkins, the present proprietor, assumed sole control of the paper. It is now a seven-column quarto, Democratic in politics, with a very large circulation and influence, especially in the interior of the county.
"AN OLD-FASHIONED FOURTH OF JULY."
Old citizens refer to the celebration of the Fourth of July, 1855, as the biggest day in the county up to that date, and point with pride to that "day's doin's."
A national salute of thirty-one guns, reverberating from bluff to bluff, awoke the citizens and echoes. At 9 o'clock, the Sunday schools assembled at the brick schoolhouse, whence a procession, presenting what the cotempo- rary account calls an "imposing appearance," marched to the music of the Le Claire Brass Band to Buel's Grove, where addresses were delivered by Rev. J. C. Strong, Prof. Gibbs and A. Scott. A dinner, spread in the bountiful and hospitable style of those days followed, and that the children all showed prop- erly patriotic appetites is recorded by trustworthy tradition, of those, now men and women, who were there.
At 11 o'clock, another procession formed at the Clinton House, comprising the Common Council, Odd Fellows, officials of the day and citizens generally, and were escorted by the band, and Marshals on horseback, to the same grove. G. W. Stumbaugh presided; Rev. Starkweather acted as Chaplain; W. W. Jerome read the Declaration of Independence ; W. A. Groves, of Chicago, delivered the oration. Afterward, as in ancient Sparta, the entire body of citizens dined together, though with anything but Spartan frugality. After dinner, were read the following regular and volunteer toasts :
i. The Day we Celebrate.
2. George Washington.
3. The Signers of the Declaration.
4. Gen. Lafayette.
5. Soldiers of the Revolution.
6. The Flag of Our Union.
7. The Army and Navy-the right and left arm of our nation.
8. The President of the United States.
9. The Orator of the Day.
10. Our Literary Institutions-more potent in maintaining our liberties than standing armies or numerous navies.
11. Lyons-a new planet ; a rising star in the eastern horizon of Iowa.
12. The Great West-possessed of all the elements of prosperity, containing a population at once enterprising and intelligent, it is destined at no distant day to become the center of our glorious Republic.
13. The Union-may political factions never sever her, that united she may stand a per- fect pattern of liberty, happiness and prosperity.
The volunteer toasts were offered as follows :
1. The Ladies of Lyons-unsurpassed for industry, intelligence and beauty.
2. By D. W. Ellis-Old Bachelors-devotees to single blessedness, dark spots on the inhabitable globe, at their lone condition may their feelings revolt and they offer themselves sacrifices on Hymen's altar.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
3. By Prof. Gibbs-Our City-A young Lyon whose roaring will soon be heard from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and to the extreme north and south of the American Continent.
4. By A. R. Cotton-The President of the Day-may his shadow never grow less.
5. The Marshals of the Day-as to-day in Lyons City they marshal their hundreds, may they on the next National Anniversary marshal their thousands.
6. By T. H. Baker-Farmers-the true source of our National wealth; the pride and glory of our country.
7. By Dr. Matthews-The Sucker State-distinguished for its good farmers, able lawyers, broad prairies and beautiful women.
8. By Prof. Gibbs-The Band-it was music that inspired the bold soldiers in those "times that tried men's souls," and it is music that cheers us to-day in celebrating their achievements.
9. By Benjamin Lake-The Fair Daughters of Iowa-may they add beauty to virtue, sub- tract envy from friendship, multiply amiable accomplishments by sweetness of temper, divide time by sociability, and reduce scandal to its lowest denomination.
10. By A. Scott-The Father of Waters-as it excels the Thames, the Tiber and the Rhine, so may its hundred cities outrival London, Paris and ancient Rome.
11. By Mrs. W. W. Jerome-Long lives and pretty wives to the temperate young men of Lyons.
Some 2,500 people were present, and no disturbance marred the gayety of the celebration.
ORDER, ETC.
The order that has always prevailed in Lyons, even during the compara- tively lawless period in the history of the State, is one of the most just causes for citizens' pride in their city's record. Crimes against either person or prop- erty have been notably rare and trivial. The public peace has been seri- ously threatened on but few occasions, all but one of which were rather creditable than otherwise to the community, and for even that, there was some provocation. It was in May, 1854, when the failure of the L. & I. C. became manifestly irreparable, that a mob of several hundred "navvies " and other railroad employes, comprising the section gangs as far west as De Witt, assembled, armed with all sorts of weapons, and virtually sacked the company's store in Lyons, plundering it of some $20,000 worth of goods. Among the mob were many desperate characters, who had been implicated in the murder of a contractor on the Illinois Central, and many of course shared in the booty who were not creditors of the company. The officers of the law and honest citizens who desired to have the property equitably divided, were helpless, as many of the guard set over the goods were in sympathy with the rioters. When the Air Line suspended operations, there was happily no recurrence of any such scene, as the laborers and other employes were paid off in full, entirely at the contractors' expense, leaving those gentlemen heavy financial losers, but rich in the consciousness of integrity.
During the years previous to and during the war, several times disorderly houses became so objectionable to the community that abrupt notices to quit were served upon the inmates through the nozzle of the old Resolute fire engine, in the shape of a deluge of water, usually similar in purity to the parties receiving such heroic hydropathic treatment.
In May, 1876, one Paddy Hand, a notorious rough, was arrested for an assault outside of the city limits, and confined for trial in the engine-house, the usual cells being unavailable. Though a one-armed man, his pugnacity had made him a terror to the community. His maimed stump was armed with an iron hook, so that in prowess he was a modern edition of "Goetz of the Iron Hand." The night watchman being decoyed away, on his return, Hand was found dangling by the neck in the tower for drying hose, having been neatly and expeditiously lynched. Nothing ever transpired to indicate who rid the city of a dangerous ruffian and highwayman.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
SUMMARY.
In 1851-52, previous to the railroad excitement, there were no buildings, except a few isolated houses, west of what is now Fourth street. The river- bank was dotted with small houses, interspersed with a few stores. The old Exchange Hotel was close to the present Midland Depot. A small Catholic Church on Fourth street, now used as a liquor store, stood out on a sort of green. The plateau back to the bluffs, except where the pioneers had made improvements, was covered with clumps of dense chaparral, interspersed with timber. The north side of the slough, which at one time it was planned to utilize as a steamboat harbor, was thickly covered with large timber and under- growth. When that portion was afterward platted in 1855, and annexed to the city as Newtown or Buel's Addition, many of the first houses were surrounded with brush fences.
From 1853 to 1857 was the period of Lyons' most rampant growth The beginning of work on the L. & I. C. attracted both capital and population, especially during the latter part of 1853. Notwithstanding the retarding of the town's growth by its failure, the check was slight and brief, as with the Air- Line project, local prosperity and activity were redoubled. Many intelligent and thrifty Germans, driven from their Fatherland by the political re-action, were among the numbers who came to settle up and to add to Lyons' thrift.
In 1854 was built upon the present site of the Masonic Temple, the Clin- ton House, afterward rechristened the Adams, the first brick hotel, and marking the migration of business away from the levee-inevitable in all large river towns. In 1855-57, there was a strong business rivalry between Pearl and Main streets. At one time, the former seemed to have a decided advantage. Wash- ington Hall, well-stocked stores, hotels and a good trade made Pearl street, for some years, very lively. But business gradually and irresistibly, after several years, concentrated on Main street, partly owing to what were apparently its. misfortunes, viz., fires that have swept away most of the old ante-bellum land- marks, and transformed it from its appearance when it was first built up in 1856-57. Some of the first buildings were, for that time, very imposing.
During 1855-56, particularly on Sixth street, were built many elegant and roomy residences, such as Dr. Matthews', now W. A. Lyall's ; H. E. Gates', now Mrs. Ezra Baldwin's ; Capt. N. C. Roe's, now belonging to the estate of the late L. Manz, and the Ferris place, now belonging to J. P. Gage. During the same time, additions to the city were rapidly platted, and lots sold, both for occupancy and speculation, at prices above their present valuation. Even the open land now lying west of the depot was held at high figures. An undivided half of the old Exchange Hotel was sold during those flush times for $5,500. Money was so abundant that it is probable that every-lot within the city plat could have been easily sold if the owners had not held for still higher prices. The country tributary to the city was meanwhile also filling up and developing very rapidly. The growing rural trade assisted in building up the city's busi- ness, while the latter supplied a long-needed market for agricultural products. Lyons became a very heavy grain depot. The roads for miles inland were, at some seasons of the year, fairly choked with incoming teams, and weighing- scales counted the day's business by hundreds of loads. During the war, Lyons attained its growth, but its prosperity was unabated till the opening of the Mid- land Railroad, which cut off a great share of the city's most profitable trade, though enterprising merchants have since struggled energetically against adverse circumstances. The great want of the city has been more varied and extensive
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
manufactures to give full employment to the population. However, in real comfort, refinement and happiness, Lyons need not fear comparison with more bustling towns. Its people have had leisure and means to evolve a social life distinguished for heartiness, culture and tranquillity. The elements of society have had time to assume stability and to outgrow the crudeness so common in comparatively new cities. The literary and esthetic character of Lyons has been materially aided by the influence of the Germans among her population, who have from an early day been a factor equally respected and influential in busi- ness and social affairs.
RINGWOOD.
Ringwood was until recently the name of a proposed town and corporation lying between and adjoining Clinton and Lyons, extending half a mile from north to south, and three-fourths mile west from the river. and comprising 260 acres. It was entered by Ward Williams in 1843, platted in 1856, and, as a proposed bridge would have terminated within its borders, quite a number of lots were sold and houses built in 1856-58. The plat was largely covered with magnificent groves of Druidical oaks, free from underbrush, similar to those still standing about the residences of Messrs. Hart, Stone, Gibbs and Mills. In 1870. the building of the street railway led to the building of more houses, and soon the city of Clinton endeavored to absorb the territory, to prevent which. after several legal fights, in which the Ringwood people were successful in preventing premature annexation, in August, 1873, Ringwood was regularly incorporated under the general law as a city, just in time to save it being gobbled, the sharp practice of the lawyers, and the way in which Clinton was outgeneraled, calling out much mirth at the time. A special act of the Legisla- ture was passed, confirming the action of the new city and thereby effectually fortifying it against either neighbor. The first and only officers were: Mayor, D. P. MeDonald ; Recorder, J. Pollock ; Aldermen, A. L. Stone, E. S. Hart, Fred Rumble, W. Hannocke and George Bryant. However, in 1878, Ring- wood, having carried its point, unanimously voted for annexation to Clinton, thereby making that city and Lyons conterminous, and removing all impedi- ments to their union when mutually thought advisable. At one of the meet- ings during the consolidation excitement in 1878, E. S. Hart, Esq., convulsed the assemblage by suggesting that if Lyons and Clinton could not otherwise agree to unite, Ringwood would magnanimously agree to annex both. The opening of the new boulevard in 1878, by the continuation of Fourth street in Clinton through Ringwood, has been a great benefit to both cities.
DEEP CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Deep Creek Township is bounded on the north by Jackson County, on the west by Waterford Township, on the south by Center Township, and on the east by Elk River Township. It comprises Congressional Township 83 north, Range 5 east.
The township is obviously named from the stream that waters it so amply, running first to the east and then making an elbow toward the north and flow- ing toward the Maquoketa, through a superb alluvial valley averaging a mile and a half wide, bordered by rounded bluffs, and forming the celebrated " Deep Creek Bottom," unsurpassed in the world for farming lands. The creek derives its name not so much from the depth of water in its channel, though there are occasional holes of dangerous depth, as from the height of the banks
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HISTORY OF CLINTON . COUNTY.
as compared with the shallow eastern streams. The township, aside from the floor-like valley, is prairie, more and more rolling as one proceeds northward toward the county line. The timber also increases in the same direction, and the more broken ground in the northwestern part was and is quite well wooded. At the time of its settlement, there were also thick belts of timber along the streans, as well as several groves, so that the pioneers were supplied with building and fencing stuff without having to go very far for it.
In the southern part of the township, the valley widens into a vast savanna, in the center of which is the famous Goose Lake, now diminished to a fraction of the expanse that formerly gleamed from the grassy sea surrounding it, when its permanent area was more than a square mile, and its surrounding marshes much greater. The lake owed its existence to the peculiar conformation of the country. It occupies about the summit of the water-shed between the Maquoketa and the Wapsipinicon, so that when its waters overflowed, they flowed both north through Deep Creek into the former, and southward through Brophy Creek into the latter, though the actual crest is about half a mile south of the lake. Evidently. the magnificent valley formed by these two con- terminous creeks was once the bed of a vast bayou, when the present bluffs of the Mississippi were its shores. East of Goose Lake is also the divide between the drainage by Elk River to the Mississippi and where the Midland Railway passes from the grade formed by the course of the former to that of Deep Creek. Goose Lake has no inlet. being fed by copious springs. Though they, of course, must vary with the rainfall, the lessening of the lake's depth is not due to their diminishing, but to drainage by county ditches, in order to reclaim the swamp lands mentioned elsewhere. The drainage has added hundreds of acres of fat pasture land to the resources of the township and county, and its expanse resembles astonishingly the far-famed fen county in Lincolnshire, in old England, with its reeds, lush meadows and fat cattle. The lake took its name from the myriads of water-fowl that from ages before the time the country was settled (though lately comparatively few in number) to the present day, find in its sedgy shallows congenial haunts and breeding-grounds. The sight that the lake presented before its feathered inhabitants were decimated by the shot-gun, during the migrating and breeding seasons, especially in the months of April and October and November, would throw the amateur duck- hunter of to-day into ecstasies. One of the most reliable and soberest in state- ment of the old settlers, Mr. Thomas Watts, remembers that many times he has stood upon the bluffs overlooking the lake and seen swans alight upon the lake in such numbers that acres and acres of water appeared as white as a snowdrift. And as they flew to and fro, the glitter of long lines of snowy white pinions was a spectacle of dazzling beauty. Besides swans, the lake was frequented by pelicans, brant, wild geese and clouds of ducks. The clatter of their wings and the loud honking and quacking as they assembled at night, fairly darkening the horizon with their long columns, was absolutely deafening. For many years. there was no apparent thinning of their numbers, though the lake was a valuable source of food supply to the settlers. Not only were vast numbers of fowl shot and snared, but wagon-loads of eggs were taken during the breeding season. Many eggs of wild geese were hatched by domestic fowl, and for many years wild geese were no rarity in Deep Creek farm-yards.
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