The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 81

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964

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rooms, and the spaces filled in with macadam. The superstructure was of gray limestone, with brick additions, the main building being 130x50 feet, the addi- tions 28x48, 25x28, 14x50, 16x50 and 20x50 feet. Everything was so con- structed to be as nearly fire-proof as it was possible to render buildings of that character, notwithstanding which the premises were destroyed by the flames on the 22d of July, 1876, with a loss of $40,000, supplementing a second fire occurring October 29, 1872, in which the lumber-yard was burned, with a loss of $80,000. The premises were again rebuilt, and are now in full operation, provided with engines, gang-saws, lath and shingle machines, edgers, etc., with a capacity of many thousand feet per hour, furnishing employment to 135 hands and manufacturing 12,000,000 feet of lumber annually.

It is impossible to conceive a more complete mill, and, notwithstanding its losses by fire, no enterprise in the city stands on a more firm financial basis.

The present officers are : M. H. Moore, President ; N. S. Moore, Secretary ; M. H. Moore, N. S. Moore and S. W. Thompson, Directors-gentlemen con- nected with the lumber trade of Dubuque since 1865, under whose manage- ment there can be no doubt as to the future of the organization. This is one of the largest interests in Dubuque, and its successful prosecution not only commends the enterprise to dealers in the West, in which direction the trade is found, but is the most forcible argument that could be submitted in favor of Dubuque as a manufacturing city.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

Dubuque Lard-Oil, Soap and Candle Factory, owned and operated by F. M. Pleins and James Beach, composing the commercial firm of Pleins & Beach, originated on the 22d of October, 1855, under the firm name and style of F. M. Pleins & Co., beginning work in three frame buildings on the site of the present factory, with but three hands. In 1858, the firm was changed to Pleins & Beach and business increased so rapidly that in 1863 alterations and improvements of the premises, begun in 1856, were completed and now com- prise a two-story stone factory proper, 136x55 feet, with an addition used for warehouse purposes, 50x40 feet ; the whole costing about $16,000. The build- ings are located in the square bounded by Locust and Dodge streets, having a frontage of 417 feet on the former street, with a depth of 300 feet on Dodge street, the title to which is vested in the firm. The force required to work the factory averages from seven to ten hands, at a weekly cost of from $100 to $150, and the articles manufactured include lard-oil, tallow candles and soaps ranging in quality from the common domestic to the choicer grades of toilet savon. 'The firm annually turn out upward of ten thousand boxes of soap of the following brands: White Castile, Legal Tender, Peerless, Royal, Blue, Key City, Imperial, German and Family ; from three thousand to thirty-five hundred summer-pressed and molded candles, and from three to five hundred barrels of extra winter-strained lard-oil, employing eight presses. The soap is claimed to be of a superior quality, is manufactured by an entirely new process, patented by Mr. Pleins, its discoverer, and, with their other commodities, is marketed to jobbers in Dubuque and the West, the annual sales of which aggregate not less than $50,000.

The investment represents a valuation of $75,000.

T. B. Cleaver's Soap Factory had its origin in 1871, at the present site of the works, foot of Twentieth street, where four hands are employed and the ordinary qualities of soap manufactured.

The sales are principally local, aggregating $10,000 per annum, on an investment of half that amount.

THE OPERA HOUSE.

This magnificent temple of the Muses was erected in 1877, on the site of the old Athenæum, one of the most famous structures of Dubuque. It was erected in 1840, by Emerson & Childs, and, for a time, the upper stories were occupied by the Miner's Express-the infant which grew in strength, and was finally merged into the Herald. In 1846, the building was enlarged and changed into the City Hotel, kept by Richard Plumbe, after him by Henry Miller, Col. McHenry, Charles Hewitt and Mr. Belfield.

In 1863, William Stewart purchased the building, reconstructed the " Athe- næum" out of the remnants of the hotel, and opened it as a place of amuse- ment with appropriate pomp and splendor. During the years when its doors were opened to lovers of the drama, its boards were graced by the tread of many who have become eminent in their profession ; of many also, upon whose final appearance the Great Prompter having run down the curtain they sleep beneath the daisies. But the " old Drury " became dilapidated in time, and so unten- able that it was the major part of the time devoted to vacancy and dreariness.

Early in 1877, Messrs. Eighmey & Waller purchased the property of Mr. Stewart, and, upon its partial ruins, determined to erect an opera house that would be a credit not only to Dubuque but the entire West. To accomplish this undertaking, an appeal was made to the public for its support, and $5,000 worth of tickets to the initiatory performance were taken by the citizens.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

These preliminaries having been disposed of, plans for the new building, pre- pared by Wallace Hume, an architect from Chicago, were accepted, and the work begun and continued until its completion about Christmas Day, 1877. The building is located at the corner of Fourth and Main streets, beautiful in proportions and an ornament to both thoroughfares. The ground floor is occu- pied by stores and the box office. From the grand entrance one ascends to the opera house proper, the auditorium of which (85x54) contains 920 chairs, upholstered in maroon velvet, with iron backs ornamented with bronze. The parquette circle is divided from the parquette by velvet-trimmed railings sup- ported by posts, and contains folding chairs capable of seating an audience of nearly five hundred.

The gallery, entered from Fourth street, is supported by six iron columns, trimmed with gold, the capitals being of the composite order with gilt decora- tions. The whole is highly frescoed and elaborately finished in a manner pleasing without being monotonous.

The proscenium boxes are two in number, one on each side of the stage. They are handsomely trimmed in white and gold, gorgeously upholstered, with crimson lambrequins and lace curtains, and capable of comfortably accommodat- ing about six each.

The stage is 32x35, supplied with three rows of top-lights with reflectors, and a row of patent foot-lights embedded in the proscenium circle. There are nine dressing-rooms under the stage, complete in details, supplied with every convenience, and improvement in case of fire ; the stage is furnished with six- teen scenes, appropriate to tragedy and comedy. The drop-curtain is a scene from the " Lady of Lyons," being an illustration of Bulwer's masterpiece, the Lake of Como by Tom Noxon, a celebrated scenic artist of St. Louis.

The interior is lighted by about fifty jets of gas, together with about an equal number under a calcium reflector in the dome, which make the audito- rium, as also the innermost recesses of the stage, so plain that " all the world" may read " its thoughts and actions." Its seating capacity is stated at 1,200, and the initial entertainment was given Friday evening, December 28, 1877, by the Hess Opera Troupe, the " Chimes of Normandy" being the arrangement presented.

This dedication was the most brilliant ovation to dramatic and musical art ever witnessed in Dubuque. The parquette and dress-circle shone with the beauty and chivalry of the city. The auditoriumn was decorated with beauti- fully tinted flowers, the perfume of which disputed for predominance with the fragrant bouquet emitted from a fountain of the choicest extracts in front of the parquette. The audience was more than select, and the opera peculiarly appropriate to the occasion. It was a grand success, and the undertaking first brought into prominence at that time has increased in popularity, not alone with the profession but with those who have since been its patrons.

The property is owned by C. H. Eighmey and John R. Waller, and is valued at about $50,000.

HOTELS.

The Julien House first appeared on its present site in the spring of 1844, at that time an imposing structure, in which great pride was taken by the res- idents of the infant city. It was built by Peter Waples, a merchant of wealth and enterprise, having a frontage of sixty-four feet on Main street, extending to an alley in the rear, four stories high and furnished in the most complete manner. The first floor was devoted to store purposes, the remainder of the

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

house being appropriated to the hotel, and meeting with the public wants in all particulars. Indeed, the reputation of the " Waples House " was such as com- mended it to the patronage of travelers.

As the demands of the public increased, and more abundant accommoda- tions became necessary to supply daily calls for rooms and board, Messrs. Bur- ton & Finlay, about the year 1854, enlarged the house, changed its name to the "Julien," and completed improvements which increased its facilities for cater- ing to the public wants, and added to its attractions. It contained at that date eighty rooms, and, in 1867, passed from the possession of Alexander Young to W. W. Woodworth, the present proprietor, who, in 1870, became, in con- junction with his son-in-law, Dr. Charles A. Reed, landlord. Thereafter, Mr. W. was constantly occupied in effecting improvements, which culminated, in 1873, in the addition, which is regarded as the beginning of a new era in the history of the old landmark.

Architecturally, the hotel is now one of the imposing edifices in the city. It has a frontage of 143 feet on Second, with 45 feet on Iowa street, is four stories high, constructed of brick, with marble facings, containing a dining- room, ladies' ordinary, suites of rooms for families, furnished with every con- venience, and affording a view of the surrounding country to be obtained at no other immediate point. These improvements were completed at a cost of $38,000, and are a decided ornament to the city. The property is valued at about $70,000.

Lorimier House, named for its founder, one of the original settlers of Dubuque, is located at the corner of Bluff and Eighth streets, an ornament to that portion of the city. The building of this edifice was first projected in the spring of 1856, and, as soon as possible after the ground was released from the icy clasp of winter, the foundations were laid. These were completed in June, and the superstructure of the Eight street front run up, it being late in the fall when work was suspended. Early in the following year, operations were resumed, and the building fronting on Eighth street pushed forward to com- pletion, this latter event occurring during the succeeding fall. Thereafter, and until 1870, the premises were occupied as a boarding-house, Mme. de Grazzel, William Barnard, George W. Stevens and one or two others standing sponsors at various times, recommending its comfort and convenience to guests. In 1870, the house was refurnished and otherwise improved, when it was form- ally opened as a hotel by William Barnard and W. K. de Lorimier, in which capacity it has since remained. In 1874, it was leased to Barnard Brothers, in whose hands it remained until May, 1879, when William Barnard became sole proprietor, as such at present conducting the establishment.

The house has 200 rooms, with a capacity of about eight hundred guests ; rents for about $4,500 per annum, and cost, as it stands, $112,000.

Key City House was erected about the year 1848, by Thomas C. Fassitt, who designed and used the building as a store and warehouse. In 1854, addi- tions were made to the original plan, and its occupation appropriated by guests, transient and permanent. About that time, Dubuque was named the "Key City," and the house, adopting this designation, has been so known and recog- nized to the present time. In the capacity of a hotel, the Key City has answered expectations, and is now a favorite-stopping place for travelers. The first landlord departed without leaving any foot-prints in the sands of time, that can be regarded as reliable, but he was succeeded by John Russ, George Finn, William Bucknam, Mr. Pine, Mr. Buckley, and others, including the

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

present Boniface, George Barnard. This valuable property is located at the corner of Third and Main streets, and owned by James N. Hill.

The property is valued at $25,000.

In addition to those already cited, Dubuque has a large number of hotels affording to the wayfarer or traveler a neat, homelike and reasonable place to sojourn at, and where "style, gait and action " are not entirely the recom- mendations submitted.

Julien Theater Building, or Masonic Hall, is located at the corner of Locust and Fifth streets, and was built in 1856 by Smith, Kinley & Poor. It is 100 feet long, 50 feet wide, and three stories high, and was constructed by Robert Mckinlay, carpenter ; Patrick Feeney, cut-stone work ; Thomas Cav- anaugh and Brown & Headly, brickwork, and Byles, Broadhurst & Frick, masons ; costing $17,000.

The upper story was fitted up and leased as a theater, and the first and second floors were devoted to lawyers' offices, etc. But the investment was not remunerative, and, in 1870, the building was remodeled, and used by the Young Men's Library Association, the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Company, the Illinois Central Company, and other corporations, for offices ; the upper floor, the whilom theater, is now appropriated to the uses of the Masonic Fra- ternity ; and the premises that once furnished meager audiences to witness Shakespearean revivals, or "burnt-cork art," now give place to the festive goat, and square and compass.

The Library Association subsequently removed to Tenth street, but the remainder of the building is utilized for the purposes above mentioned.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

Dubuque Catholic Benevolent Society was established on the first day of Jan- uary, 1872, with a limited membership, of which John O'Neill was President. The object of the Society is purely benevolent, and infinite good has resulted from the efforts of members, who to-day number 175, and have made the Society prosperous as also beneficial.

The present officers are: D. Riorden, President; Joseph Rowan, Vice- President ; P. J. Quigley, Treasurer ; M. J. Farley and F. McGinnes, Secre- taries ; M. F. Carey, Marshal, and Father Murphy, Spiritual Director.

Meetings are held weekly, on Sunday afternoon, in Mulligan's Hall, and the treasury contains a relief fund of upward of $800.

German Benevolent Society .- This is among the oldest, if not the oldest, beneficial association in Dubuque, having been organized on the 5th of August, 1847, counting on its roster of original members Anton Heeb, Charles Reis, Andrew Hoerner, Joseph Kaufman, Simon Schmidt, Joseph Scheuger, C. G. Kretchmer and others, and publishing the objects of the Society as being to care for its members in sickness, burying them when dead, and providing for their families thus left without a head. Applicants for membership are required to furnish evidences of their nationality, good character, etc., to be entitled to the confidence of the fraternity. The initiation fee varies from $8 to $15 according to the age of the candidate, who when elected is taxed a monthly contribution of 30 cents, deposited in the general fund for beneficiary purposes, which, in addition to caring for the sick, etc., also include the payment of $500 to the survivors of deceased members.

In 1850-52, hard times had the effect of reducing the number of members to seven, but the embarrassment was of brief duration, when the order again

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

obtained accession to their list of members, which now numbers 225, of whom the following are officers : Gottleib Weigele, President ; Bernard Schulte, Vice- President ; Theodore Buechele, Financial Secretary ; Andrew Gehrig, Corre- sponding Secretary, and Philip Ternes, Treasurer; C. G. Kretchmer, John Ruegamer and John F. Kruger, Trustees.

Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month, at Turner Hall, and the assets of the Society are quoted at $6,000.

German Mechanics' Benevolent Association was organized in the spring of 1866, and at once became a favorite society of the benevolent type for mechanics, without regard to sect or nationality, to identify themselves with. The incorporators were : M. Mohr, Ferdinand Zehetner, John Fix, Frederick Lilly, Peter Scharf, John Sieg, Joseph Blocklinger, A. Heintzman, V. Sauer, William Gross, Jacob Schonberger, M. Walter, George Strasser, John Schuel, A .. W. Wenicher, L. Eberhard, Henry Schepf, Edward Pegel, Louis Steines, Jacob Botzet, Nicholas Heintz, Adam Doerr, John Schumacher, John Schwab, A. Miller, Peter Kurt, John Reichman, Nicholas Ley, M. Alexander, George Hess, Otto Ellwanger, Herman Ellwanger, John Diederich; John Pier, and others.

The first officers were: Ferdinand Zehetner, President; M. Mohr, Vice President; M. Alexander, Secretary, and Joseph Blocklinger, Treasurer.

The present officers are : P. Scharf, President ; C. Jacobi, Vice President ; William Gross, Recording Secretary ; C. Voelker, Financial Secretary ; John Pier, Treasurer ; John Pilmaier, John Siege and John Wemmer, Trustees.

The objects of the society are to care for its members when sick, inter them when dead, and make provision for their surviving families.

The initiation fee is from $5 to $15, according to age, and the weekly dues 35 cents. . Four dollars per week is paid members when sick, and if death intervenes a bonus of $150 is paid families of deceased.

The Association now numbers ninety members, and meetings are held on the second Sunday of the month at Turner Hall, corner of Ninth and Iowa streets.

Pius Benevolent Association, a society, composed of Germans identified with St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, was first established on or about the 4th of February, 1855, and articles of incorporation filed on the 28th of January, 1858, by Henry Heitzelman, Christian Neubauer, G. Becker, Henry Hune, F. Freiberg, F. Moll, John Lutz, John Buechler and Henry Lembed. For some time after the above date, the Association slumbered, and is said to have been comparatively uninfluential, until the spring of 1876, when it was revived, and once more became an established fact on or about the 29th of May of that year, since when its career has been attended with unprecedented pros- perity, the membership having increased to 180, who participate in the benefits and privileges.

The objects of the Association are humanitarian, benevolent in their char- acter, caring for the sick and burying the dead, but limited to members. The initiation fee is fixed at from $5 to $12, according to the age of the applicant, and the fees are $3 per annum. When sick, each member receives $4 per week, and, if death results, decedent's family is entitled to receive $400.

The present officers are: John C. Ferring, President; L. Lochner, Vice President ; J. M. Werner, Recording Secretary ; Peter Oeth, Financial Secre- tary; James Traut, Treasurer ; Andrew Heintzmann, Marshal; M. Smith and M. J. Harburger, Collectors ; John Ruegamer, Finance Committee.

Meetings are held monthly, on the second Monday, in St. Mary's School.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

Mercy Hospital Aid Society was organized November 14, 1879, for the purpose of aiding in the completion of Mercy Hospital and supporting the Orphan Asylum thereto attached, with the following members : W. J. Knight, Maurice Brown, James Rowan, Thomas Kavanaugh, James Harragan, D. D. Myers, P. Flanigan, M. Gilleas, Thomas Connolly, John Keenan, M. Liddy, F. Mclaughlin, P. J. Quigley, J. S. Garrigan, J. J. Linehan, A. McCann, and Thomas N. Irish, with His Reverence Bishop Hennesy, as President ; W. J. Knight, Acting President ; James Rowan, Vice President ; Maurice Brown, Treasurer, and James Harragan, Secretary.

Meetings are held at the call of the President.

St. Alphonsus Society was organized on the 14th of October, 1867, by the following humanitarians : The Rev. A. Meis, Henry Wernimont, Jacob Klauer, Conrad Meis, August Dornes, Henry Willging, Mathias Weber, Her- mann Kuhlmann and Xavier Gruber. The objects of the Society are to assist the sick, bury the dead, aid in the support of the widows of members.

The present officers are : P. Klauer, President ; F. N. Schroeder, Vice President ; P. Geisheker and H. Willging, Secretaries ; C. A. Voelker, Treasurer ; J. Becker, Marshal, and J. R. Ferring, H. M. Harburger, C. F. Ruh, P. Scharff and H. J. Kiehd, Collectors.

Meetings are held monthly, on the third Monday, at St. Mary's School ; the members number 134, and the value of the society property is estimated at $2,000.

St. Vincent de Paul, a society, having for its object the relieving of the poor, burying the dead and caring for the widow and orphan, without regard to race or religious preferences, was established on December 20, 1858. The parishes of St. Raphael and St. Patrick each support a chapter of the associa- tion,governed by official Boards, the whole under a Board of officers, known as the Particular Council. The roster of members includes about eighty active and twenty-five honorary, who, by their personal contributions, sustain the society, and fulfill its objects.

The original members were Cornelius Collins, Andrew Cummings, John Deery, William Murphey, John Keenan, Charles Corkery, John Mullany and others, of whom Charles Corkery was President ; Cornelius Collins, Vice Pres- ident ; Andrew Cummings, Treasurer, and John Deery, Secretary.

The present officers of St. Raphael Parish are : Henry Rooney, President ; Michael Parker, Vice President ; Nicholas Ryan, Treasurer, and Michael Con- sidine, Secretary.

St. Patrick's Parish: Michael Gillias, President; M. McMahon, Treas- urer, and M. Smith, Secretary ; the office of Vice President vacant by reason of the death of Michael Dunn.

Particular Council : John Keenan, President; M. Gillias, Vice President ; John S. Garrigan, Vice President; F. Mclaughlin, Treasurer, and James Harragan, Secretary.

Meetings are held weekly by the Parish Societies, and monthly by the Particular Council. The expenses of the Society are stated at $600 annually.

Roman Catholic Protective Society .- Organized at Iowa City, May 21, 1879 ; has two branches in Dubuque.

No. 1 meets the first Tuesday in each month. Its officers are : N. Gonner, President ; P. Klauer, Vice President ; C. A. Voelker, Secretary and Treasurer.

No. 2 meets in the D. C. B. Hall quarterly. Its officers are : Daniel Riordan, President ; Thomas Faherty, Vice President; M. J. Farley, Secretary, and John Mulkern, Treasurer.

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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.

St. Andrew's Society is the representative in Dubuque of the Scotch peo- ple. Previous to the world-wide Burns' celebration in 1859, there was a Burns club in Dubuque. Yet there was no Scotch society to which emigrants and adopted citizens from the land o'cakes could direct their steps for pleasure or intellectual profit. In January of that year, after Burns' centennial had been duly celebrated in Mr. Cutter's ice-cream saloon, where Mr. Brayton's drug store now stands, a meeting was called to organize a society. It was held in Mr Leckie's store, corner of Fourth and Main streets, where Platt's store is now, and a committee, consisting of C. Leckie, J. M. Mckinlay and William McLaren, appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws, which, one. week afterward, were adopted by the members, thus constituting the first St. Andrew's Society of Dubuque.

Its chief object is to give assistance to the poor and unfortunate resident or stranger, who may belong to that nationality, and to throw the ægis of its pro- tection over all who may worthily require it, who have even a shadow of a claim to Scotland as their native land or the land of their forefathers. Another object of the society is to cultivate sociability and friendship among the Scotch residents here, and to celebrate, publicly or privately either, St. Andrew's Day or Burns' birthday.

The first officers elected were: C. Leckie, President ; W. H. Hervey, Vice President; J. M. Mckinlay, Secretary ; W. M. Jones, Treasurer; W. McLaren, James Rattery and George Young, Relief Committee. The first members of the Society, beside the above officers, were D. A. Mckinlay, A. Harris, John Morrison, T. Jones, John and James McLaren, and Thomas and William Brunton.

This Society continued in existence until December 24, 1859, when a divis- ion arose among the members on the question of temperance, which immedi- ately split the Society into two parties. The majority at once organized a new society on a temperance basis, which was the commencement of the present St. Andrew's Society. The majority continued to meet for a short time afterward, but finally sank into oblivion.

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The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., Part 81

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Number of Pages: 964

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical
Number of Pages: 964