USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126
532
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
fig-leaf." Hundreds were completely ruined, and the fragments of the catas- trophe were visible upon the streets, in the hotels, in the pulpit, at the bar, on the hustings, in the cloister and by the hearth for many years after. Many persons left the city, business houses closed, banking and other corporations suspended, improvements ceased, stores and dwellings were given over to vacancy and desolation, and gloom reigned supreme where, but a brief time before, the voice of revelry and triumph resounded.
But the ruin thus wrought produced beneficial results that became the more apparent with succeeding years. Speculators, adventurers, visionaries, etc., were weeded out, and disciples of Louis the Fifteenth's minister of finance vanished like a wreath of mist. The class who remained included the horny- handed sons of toil, and those who expected to gain their livelihood in the sweat of their brows, and it is to these influences, this crisis brought forth, that the march of improvement was once more begun, and a more healthful pros- perity encouraged.
This financial revulsion checked emigration to the West, and partially sus- pended business of all kinds. There was but a limited sale for farm produce, and mining was included among the interests affected by this universal depres- sion. These gloomy experiences lasted through 1858, aggravated by an unusu- ally rainy summer, which embargoed wheeling, the roads being impassable. The extension of railroads was also materially interrupted, though the Dubuque and Cedar Falls Railroad Company was organized and the route surveys com- menced. Yet on no side would appearances indicate the presence of trials that were imposed upon the people. The golden days of 1855-56 had been availed of to build spacious residences, which dotted the hillsides, and resolved the landscape into a scene of enchanting beauty, as irresistible as it was real. Terrace upon terrace supported gardens as rich with fruits and exotics as were the hanging gardens of Babylon. These remained in the paths left by mis- fortune and affliction as consoling compensations for the ruin that had been wrought. Upper Main street and Seminary Hill abounded in cheerful pictures of comfort, and, though much of the luxury that fled before the coming of evil days was wanting, there still remained evidences of exemption from the outra- geous fortune to which a vast majority had been committed.
The educational and moral agencies of the city were not materially impaired by the panic. In May, 1858, the Board opened a high school in the Third Ward, and, in the fall, the Female Seminary was purchased for $12,000, and opened as a high school, with a roster of 110 students. This was, how- ever, discontinued for want of funds to carry it on.
Along in 1854-55, the Harbor Improvement and Center Island Com- panies were organized, for (as their names indicate) the purpose of extend- ing streets, filling in the sloughs, and effecting other improvements necessitated by the growth and wealth of the city. These companies represented a large capital, and were conducted by men of financial ability and experience. The work done by them in their several fields has been of inestimable and lasting value ; but their officers decided to discontinue active operations when the panic was at its height, and it was so ordered. They still exist, but remain quiescent so far as public affairs are concerned, being to-day engaged in closing up their books preparatory to final exit from before the public gaze.
In 1859, though still exhibiting signs of depression in nearly all the departments of commercial and financial progress, prosperity opened auspi- ciously, when the great strain undergone by the people in the preceding two
533
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
years is considered. Business, to some extent, revived. Enterprises did not venture into existence with unlimited confidence in the results though, and, to borrow from the syllabus of an orator of the times, it " was hard sledging ; the people seem to have reached the end of their worsted, and are waiting to see which way. the Fates will direct us in the future." Migration began to resume a shadow of its former importance, and the railroads, with extended facilities to attract the trade of a greater extent of territory, roused business men from their coma condition of despondency, and infused new energy into corporations that had become almost lifeless through inactivity and embarrassments. The city began to assume the appearance of a metropolis in the business blocks, halls, churches, and other edifices, that were slowly completed with the begin- ning of the following decade; the custom-house foundations were laid, and work on the superstructure commenced ; and, all things considered, the fate of Dubuque, previously held in the balance, inclined in favor of a prosperity which has since been realized. The value of property in the city and county in 1861, fell below $9,000,000, against $13,100,000 in 1857, showing to what extent depreciation had taken place as one of the results already cited.
In this decade the whole country was convulsed by the war between the States. And, while this portion of the Union, being remote from the scenes of active hostilities, was not so sensibly affected as States in immediate proximity or at a short distance therefrom, the withdrawal of a generous proportion of the bone and sinew of the city and county was a sacrifice at the expense of the material prosperity. The population of the city was then upward of 13,000, and but little reflection is necessary to an appreciation of the effect on trade, manufactures, commerce and agriculture, entailed by the repeated requisitions made by the Government for quotas of troops.
During the war the lead-mining interest flourished, and abundant success attended the efforts of miners and smelters, who supplied the Government with their product. While less miners were employed than during earlier times, the annual sales netted an income of upward of $200,000, due to the excessive demand and high prices paid for the lead.
As is well known, Dubuque City was largely Democratic in its political sym- pathies and affiliations. The citizens urged the enforcement of the laws, and the maintenance of the Union, but honestly differed as to the means employed to the attainment of that end. While repudiating the practical application of the Resolutions of 1798, they argued that violations of the Constitution defeated the objects sought to be gained. One class labored for the Constitu- tion and the Union; another for the Union with or without the Constitution. This division of sentiment caused interminable disputations, which were char- acterized by intense feeling on both sides, not entirely obliterated with the lapse of time. These at last culminated in the military arrest of Hon. D. A. Mahony, editor of the Herald, for alleged treasonable utterances in the columns of his daily. His apprehension was effected before daylight on the morning of August 14, 1862, by a file of soldiers acting under orders from Marshal Hoxie, by whom he was taken to Washington, where he was confined in the Old Capitol prison until November 11 following, when he was discharged without present- ment of charges or trial. Public opinion was opposed to the proceedings and regarded them rather in the light of oppression, beneath the dignity of a free government.
For nearly a year after the war business lagged. It was the calm that suc- ceeds the storm. At the expiration of that period, the city grew more
534
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
rapidly ; trade was extended westward beyond the Missouri, and to remote settle- ments in Minnesota. Manufactures increased, public and private improve- ments began to rise in various quarters of the city, additional schools were provided for the education of youth ; new religious and secular societies were organized ; agricultural interests prospered and increased, and mercantile vent- ures were vastly benefited. During this decade, the Dubuque, Chicago, Clinton & Minnesota Railroad was incorporated; the Dubuque and Dunleith bridge, and the city water works were completed. Street railways were added to the means of transportation from the extreme limits of the city, and, before the dawn of the centennial decade, steady progress with every appear- ance of ultimate success was made in the departments essential to municipal, public and private growth, notwithstanding the temporary paralysis of busi- ness caused by Black Friday.
The year 1870 gave bright promise for the future, and the decade, to which this was the introductory annual, has not entirely failed of a complete fruition of such promise. Hard times affected Dubuque as they did other points. The failure of Jay Cooke, followed by the panic of 1873, left its mark on the rising city. One of the leading moneyed institutions was forced to succumb, and difficulty was experienced by others in efforts to survive a similar fate. But. they "pulled through," and are to day more secure in public confidence. Sep- tember 26, 1873, and the days immediately following, will be long remembered by citizens, and, for a brief period, at least, it was apprehended that the woful times of 1857 werc to be repeated ; but, happily, they did not come to pass, and the effects they gave birth to were stayed.
During the past ten years, Dubuque has had little to discourage, less to prevent a full and complete conviction as to her future. In that time, churches and schools have increased in number, and are established beyond the possi- bility of failure. Railroad transit has been facilitated, the river trade has kept pace with manufactures, street extensions have been improved, commerce has thrived, costly buildings have been erected, the fire department has been increased and perfected, and the press, the lever of public morals, public opin- ion and public prosperity, maintains its high position in promoting the welfare of a reflecting people.
The assessed valuation of property in Dubuque, real and personal, for the year just closed, was $12,262,664, and the tax levy 10 mills on the dollar, with a city debt, on January 1, 1880, of $798,966.58. All indications induce but one opinion, that the chief city in Iowa is behind none of its competitors in the race for success, and that future years will not deny to Dubuque that place among the cities of the West its enterprise and wealth will command.
The year 1879 was an epoch of extreme prosperity, caused not more by the amount of business transacted than the judicious manner in which these trans- actions were managed. The trade in hats, boots, clothing, groceries, hardware, drugs, leather, notions, etc., was double that of 1878, amounting to millions of dollars.
Improvements were similarly superior to any previous year, aggregating an expenditure of over $900,000, by public and private subscription.
The river commerce is second only to the important benefits received from the railroads, as the exhibits of receipts and shipments, on the opposite page, will indicate.
535
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
RECEIPTS.
Merchandise, pounds ..
127,000,000
Oats, pounds ..
.19,000,000
Flour, pounds. 250,000,000
Butter, pounds.
.190,000,000
Lead, pounds
.2,200,000,000
Salt, barrels .. 16,500
Cement, barrels .8,400
Cattle, head .3,470
Lumber, feet.
73,000,000
Staves, M
1,300,000
Passengers
12,400
Steamboats
1,081
SHIPMENTS.
Merchandise, pounds
.7,561,000
Oats, pounds ...
3,7391,762
Wheat, pounds. 4,917,740
Corn, pounds
2,260,400
Pork, pounds.
.3,460,000
Lead, pounds
2,987,142
Salt, barrels.
13,000
Cement, barrels.
.4,420
Lumber, feet.
1,149,000
The railroads average ninety-five car loads per diem, and the business of the city, of all descriptions, aggregates $84,000,000 per year.
Dubuque will, in time, become one of the most important railroad centers in the West. When the present city became a village there were but few rail- roads in the United States. Since that date the Illinois Central connects Dubuque with the East and West, and, by the C., D. & M., with the Northwest. Its commercial position stamps Dubuque as the chief city in the State; the schools are large and well sustained, and represent a valuation of not less than $100,000. The mines are still productive, but require additional capital and energy, well directed by scientific research, to produce a profitable business. The churches, professions, banks, press, manufactures and other material inter- ests are enjoying a degree of healthy prosperity never before approximated. The prospects of the city, if judged by the progress made for the past forty- four years, can be regarded as highly promising. The population is estimated at not less than thirty thousand, and the attractions in the city and vicinity continue to invite emigration from Europe and the East. Taxes are light, and this desideratum has, and will persuade many persons to become citizens, and establish homes in a city where so many advantages can be obtained for so limited an outlay.
As these pages are read, bright memories will blossom out of the shadowy past, glorifying and beautifying its dimness, and tinting the vanished years with colors of never-ending fascination. Many of whom are therein spoken, have long since gone, like visions of the beautiful, to be seen no more. Many yet remain who have almost reached the Biblical limits of human life, and are waiting to say, "Now let thy servant depart in peace." Still more there are, looking out and beyond to see, in long years hence, the ripe and perfect glory of their city. May their hopes and anticipations be fully realized.
OFFICIAL ROSTER .- TOWN OFFICERS.
A town government was organized in 1837, by an act of the Territorial Legislature, and the following is the roster of Trustees who served :
1837-President, T. S. Wilson. Trustces-J. Plumbe, Jr., T. C. Fassitt, William Myers, Charles Miller and Timothy Fanning. Clerk, Charles
536
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
Corkery ; Treasurer, Patrick Quigley; Marshal and Collector, Philip C. Mor- hiser ; Assessor, Ezekiel C. Dougherty.
1838-President, P. C. Morhiser. Trustees-A. Butterworth, John Plumbe, Jr., E. Langworthy, John McKenzie and Benjamin Rupert. Clerk, Joseph T. Fales; Marshal, B. F. Davis.
1839-President, Patrick Quigley. Trustees-S. D. Dixon, E. Lang- worthy, Dr. T. Mason, Loring Wheeler and Thomas C. Fassitt. Clerk, Ben- jamin Rupert; Marshal, John McKinzie; Treasurer, George A. Shannon.
1840-President, S. D. Dixon. Trustees-J. P. Farley, Charles Miller, Patrick Quigley and E. C. Dougherty. Clerk, Benjamin Rupert; Marshal, B. F. Davis.
A city charter, providing for an election of Mayor and six Aldermen, was adopted by a popular vote in 1841. The following officers have since served :
Mayors .- 1841, Caleb H. Booth ; 1842, Samuel D. Dixon; 1843, James Fanning ; 1844-46, F. K. O'Ferrall; 1847, P. A. Lorimier ; 1848, George L. Nightingale; 1849, Warner Lewis; 1850, J. H. Emerson ; 1851, P. A. Lor- imier ; 1852-54, Jesse P. Farley ; 1855, John G. Shields ; 1856-57, David S. Wilson ; 1858, H. S. Iletherington ; 1859, John Hodgdon ; 1860-61, Henry L. Stout ; 1862-63, J. H. Thedinga; 1864-66, John Thompson ; 1867, J. K. Graves : 1868, Solomon Turck ; 1869-70, W. J. Knight; 1871, James Burt ; 1872, S. Turck ; 1873-74, A. H. Peaslee; 1875, James Cushing ; 1876-77, George B. Burch ; 1878, W. J. Knight ; 1879, John D. Bush.
Aldermen .- Jesse P. Farley, E. Langworthy, H. Simplot, Charles Miller, W. W. Coriell and Timothy Fanning, 1841; John Thompson, James Fanning, Joseph T. Fales, Jesse P. Farley, Joseph Ogilby and A. Cline, 1842; Timothy Fanning, P. C. Morhiser, F. K. O'Ferrall, David Slater, John H. Thedinga and Joseph Ogilby, 1843; John Blake, John G. Shields, Timothy Fanning, Elisha Dwelle, Robert Rogers and John H. Thedinga, 1844; Elisha Dwelle, Timothy Fanning, John Blake, Robert Rogers, John H. Thedinga and John G. Shields, 1845; Hugh Treanor, William H. Robbins, Amos Mathews, Michael McNamara, M. Mobley and Lewis L. Wood, 1846; Michael McNamara, William H. Robbins, Amos Mathews, Morgan Curran, W. J. Gil- liam and Lewis L. Wood, 1847 ; Hugh Treanor, W. H. Robbins, John Gunn, Patrick Finn, H. S. Hetherington and L. L. Wood, 1848; W. D. Waples, J. J. E. Norman, Thomas Hardie, Philip Powers, F. V. Goodrich, John Gunn and John G. Shields, 1849; L. D. Randall, John D. Bush, Ed Langworthy, David Decker, Robert Rogers and H. V. Gildea, 1850; L. Molony, Joseph Ogilby, John D. Bush, Caleb H. Booth, Jesse P. Farley and Lewis L. Wood. 1851; M. McNamara, James Burt, Christopher Pelan, W. D. Waples, H. L. Stout and George McHenry, 1852; James Burt, Edward O'Hare, Anton Heeb, Thomas McCraney, M. Mobley, George Wilde, Ben M. Samuels, E. Langworthy, Henry L. Stout, M. McNamara and John D. Bush, 1853; John D. Bush, James Reed, E. Langworthy, Patrick Quigley, George Con- nell, Christopher Pelan, M. McNamara, Thomas McCraney, Anton Heeb, Mathias Ham, John King, F. Weigel. Edward O'Hare and Fred E. Bissell, 1854; Patrick Quigley, M. McNamara. Morgan Curran, George Connell, Fred Weigel, G. L. Nightingale, B. M. Samuels, Christopher Pelan, E. Spots- wood, John King and Mathias Ham, 1855; M. McNamara, B. M. Samuels, Robert Mitton, J. J. E. Norman, N. Nadeau, Mathias Ham, Morgan Curran, Warner Lewis, G. C. Kreichbaum, G. L. Nightingale and Edward Spotswood, 1856; M. McNamara, J. J. E. Norman, George L. Nightingale, James Wool- nough, Samuel Virden, Warner Lewis, N. Nadeau, Robert Mitton, G. O.
Afskedinger (DECEASED)
DUBUQUE.
539
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
Karrick, G. C. Kreichbaum, Anton Heeb and Adam Jaeger, 1857; M. McNamara, George Mc Henry, Hugh Treanor, Samuel Virden, John B. Lane, Franklin Hinds, G. O. Karrick, B. B. Richards, Robert Mitton, Adam Jaeger and Mathias Ham, 1858; Hugh Treanor, John Mehlhop, George L. Mathews, Mathias Ham, Joseph A. Chapline, Patrick Quigley, A. Kaufmann, George L. Mathews, John Bittmann and John B. Lane, 1860; Patrick Quig- ley, Hugh Treanor, George L. Torbert, John B. Lane, George Connell, George D. Wood, John Bittmann, George L. Mathews, F. Weigel and John Rugamer, 1861; Hugh Treanor, Patrick Quigley, M. B. Mulkern, George L. Torbert, George Connell, D. S. Cummings, Peter Kiene, George L. Mathews, J. Christ- man and John Rugamer, 1862; Hugh Treanor, Patrick Quigley, M. B. Mul- kern, John Russ, D. S. Cummings, H. L. Stout, Titus Schmidt, J. Christman, George L. Mathews and Peter Kiene, 1863; Patrick Quigley, J. H. Emerson, John Russ, M. B. Mulkern, H. L. Stout, D. S. Cummings, John Rugamer, George L. Mathews, H. S. Hetherington and Titus Schmidt, 1864; J. H. Emerson, Patrick Quigley, M. B. Mulkern, L. N. Gibbs, D. S. Cummings, Henry Lembeck, John King, H. S. Hetherington, John D. Bush and John Rugamer, 1865 ; Patrick Quigley, Arthur McCann, John Lucas, L. N. Gibbs, B. F. Smith, H. Lembeck, D. S. Cummings, John D. Bush, H. S. Hether- ington, John King and A. F. Jaeger, 1866; John Lucas, N. C. Ryan, B. F. Smith, Thomas C. Fassitt, D. S. Cummings, Hilarius Pleins, H. S. Hether- ington, H. P. Ward, M. Kingman, A. F. Jaeger and J. M. Wening, 1867 ; John Lucas, James Rowan,, T. C. Fassitt, G. W. Scott, Joseph Gehrig, Hilarius Pleins, E. G. Young, M. Kingman, T. P. Coates, J. M. Wening and A. F. Jaeger, 1868; James Rowan, John Lucas, Joseph Gehrig, B. D. Lenehan, E. G. Young, Hilarius Pleins, Peter Kiene, T. P. Coates, Fred Weigel and A. F. Jaeger, 1869; N. C. Ryan, Joseph Gehrig, J. M. Robison, Thomas Coates and A. F. Jaeger, 1870; John Lucas, J. C. Chapman, Hilarius Pleins, John M. Robison and A. Kaiser, 1871; J. P. Quigley, John Pier, J. B. Howard, L. W. McMaster and A. F. Jaeger, 1872; A. A. Cooper, J. J. Linehan, John Krayer, James Beach, J. W. Parker, A. Kaiser and P. Kiene, Jr., 1873; Pat- rick Lagen, Philip Pier, J. O'Hea Cantillon, John Maclay and George Fengler, 1874 ; J. P. Quigley, John J. Linehan, John Wunderlich, F. T. Walker and M. Blumenauer, 1875; Arthur McCann, Philip Pier, J. O'Hea Cantillon, M. M. Walker and John M. Lillig, 1876; John P. Quigley, John J. Linehan, Peter Fay, John D. Bush and Louis Doerfer, 1877; A. McCann, Theodore Altman, Michael Brown, Joseph Herod and J. M. Lillig, 1878; John O'Neill, John J. Linehan, B. W. Jones, C. Leckie and L. Doerfler, 1879.
Clerks-Benjamin Rupert, 1841-42; W. B. Smith, 1843-46; A. D. Anderson, 1847-49.
Treasurers .- John G. Shields, 1844 ; C. Miller, 1848 ; John W. Markle, 1849; B. J. O'Halloran, 1850-52; John G. Shields, 1853; R. C. Waples, 1854-55; Amos Mathews, 1856 ; E. Spotswood, 1857 ; Amos Mathews, 1858; C. J. Leist, 1859; R. G. Herron, 1860-61 ; P. M. Guthrie, 1862-66; John. P. Quigley, 1867-69 ; H. W. Griswold, 1870-73; Daniel Riordan, 1874-79.
Marshals .- Charles J. Leist, 1845 ; John Coffee, 1846; C. J. Leist, 1847 ; Joseph Swab, 1848; C. Hewitt, 1849; D. M. Morison, 1850-51; H. C. Pierce, 1852; P. C. Morheiser, 1853-54; Peter Kiene, 1855; J. P. Evans, 1856-57; C. C. Hewitt, 1858; Thomas Fleming, 1859; Jacob Swivel, 1860-61; C. G. Hargus, 1862-63; F. J. Cromer, 1864-65; Owen Hardy, 1866; P. C. Morhiser, 1867-68; Owen Hardy, 1869-72; John Kintzinger, 1873-74; George W. Finn, 1875-76; H. C. Deckert, 1877-79.
M
540
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
Recorders .- Alexander D. Anderson, 1848; Horace Estes, 1849-51; Charles Corkery, 1852; W. H. Robbins, 1853; P. W. Crawford, 1854-57; John W. Markle, 1858; A. De Mowbray, 1859; William McLennan, 1860; Frank Jennings, 1861-62; John Hurley, 1863; R. E. Bishop, 1864; W. McLennan, 1865; W. A. Jones, 1866-67 ; Frank Glab, 1868-69; C. G. Har- gus, 1870-77 ; J. P. Quigley, 1878-79.
Assessors .- S. G. Fennimore, 1848; A. Anderson, 1849; J. King, 1850; J. B. Van Hagen, 1851; H. S. Hetherington, 1852; J. W. Markle, 1853; R. O. Anderson, 1854; I. N. Higbee, 1855; John Parker, 1856 ; Pius Emerson, 1857; Charles J. Leist, 1858; J. A. Langton, 1859; Lambert Kniest, 1860-66; Charles Pitschner, 1867; R. O. Anderson, 1868-69; Joseph Locher, 1870; P. F. Guthrie, 1871-72; R. O. Anderson, 1873; Henry Stecher, 1874-76; R. O. Anderson, 1877 ; H. Stecher, 1878-79. -
Collectors .- J. A. Langton, 1855; Charles J. Leist, 1856; P. Byrne, 1857 ; J. M. Freund, 1858.
Auditors .- D. G. Scott, 1855; H. S. Hetherington, 1856; J. Adam Koch, 1857; J. A. Koch, 1858; E. Spotswood, 1859; D. O. C. Quigley, 1860; Thomas Faherty, 1861; C. H. Mix, 1862; S. L. Dixon, 1863; A. E. Skin- ner, 1864-65; Henry Stecher, 1866 ; A. E. Skinner, 1867 ; J. D. Jennings, 1868-75; F. G. Brandt, 1876-79.
Attorneys .- J. S. Blatchly, 1855-56; W. T. Barker, 1857; J. L. Har- vey, 1858; Samuel Duncan, 1859-60; J. H. O'Neill, 1861; Fred Gotts- chalk, 1862 ; J. H. Shields, 1863-66; Edward McCeney, 1867-72; W. Gra- ham, 1873; T. S. Wilson, 1874; D. E. Lyon, 1875; T. S. Wilson, 1876; H. T. McNulty, 1877-79.
THE CITY HALL.
This is located on the square bounded by Twelfth, Thirteenth, Iowa and Clay streets, and contains the city offices and Council Chamber. Subsequent to the incorporation of the city and for several years thereafter, the City Council was convened in the third story of a building on Main street, between Fifth and Sixth, where business was disposed of as effectually as by the fathers of more pretentious municipalities.
In 1845, the city erected a small brick house in the street on the north side of the lot, corner of Fifth and Locust streets, now occupied by the residence of Dr. Staples. The premises were two stories high, the ground floor being appropriated to the occupation of an engine-house, the second story to the uses of the Coun- cil. In time, the building became too small for these purposes, and, in 1852, a move was made to the Globe Building, on Main street. In 1856, another move was made, to apartments over G. Becker's store, and, during the same year, arrangements were concluded for the erection of the present structure. The lot on which it is situated was purchased in part from James Rowan and in part from Ebenezer Miller, for the sum of $20,000.
In February, 1857, plans for the building were submitted to a committee consisting of Aldermen G. L. Nightingale and N. Nadeau and Recorder P. W. Crawford, by John F. Rague, architect, which being accepted, the contract for the building was let to P. M. Guthrie, and, in March of the same year, ground was " broke " for the foundations. These were completed in May following, when the superstructure was at once begun and continued until its completion, early in the following year.
The building is three stories high, fronting on Thirteenth, Iowa and Clay streets, and was to have been completed at a cost of $32,500, but, in consequence
541
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
of a change in the plans, the panic and consequent depreciation of city scrip, the amount paid approximated $50,000.
The basement was then and is now used as a station house, the first floor as a market, the second was devoted to city offices and the third to a public hall. It was first opened on January 8, 1858, when a ball was given by the Dubuque City Guards, in honor of the event, and accepted and taken posses- sion of by the city authorities in March following.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.