USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 84
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
The Association did not prosper during the first years of its existence; mem- bers did not increase in numbers as was expected, the shelves were but moder- ately filled, and those having the matter in charge realized how difficult it always has been to firmly establish a new undertaking. Undismayed by the prospects, elections were held in 1861, 1862 and 1863, with slight changes in the official Board-O. P. Shiras, J. S. Blatchley and R. E. Graves, being suc- cessively elected to the presidency ; W. J. Gilbert continuing Librarian. No election was held in 1861, and, at that held the year after, the following ticket prevailed : O. P. Shiras, President ; S. H. Gilbert and G. D. Wood, Vice- Presidents ; E. Tisdale, Recording, and G. L. Torbert, Corresponding, Secre- tary ; William Westphal, Treasurer; W. J. Gilbert, Librarian ; F. M. Robinson and W. C. Chamberlain, Board of Directors.
The present Board of Directors and officers are: S. S. Wemott, President ; N. C. Ryder and G. B. Burch, Vice President ; George Stephens, Correspond- ing Secretary, and L. G. Hurd, Recording Secretary ; C. W. Horr, Treasurer ; Peter Kiene, Jr., D. N. Cooley and C. N. Clark, with the officers, Directors ; H. Fickie, Librarian.
There are now 9,865 volumes reported in the catalogue.
The Episcopal Building Association was organized about July, 1874, by the congregation of St. John's Parish, for the purpose of securing monthly contri- butions, to be applied to the erection of the Episcopal church edifice now building at the corner of Main and Fourteenth streets.
The collections thus far aggregate $8,251.70.
The present officers are: Horace Poole, President ; Louis Fockler, Vice President ; J. W. Taylor, Jr., Secretary, and C. H. Booth, Treasurer.
Meetings are held monthly, on the first Sunday thereof.
The Citizens' Railroad Committee, organized in October, 1879, by prominent members of commercial and financial Dubuque, is designed by its founders to promote the building of railroads that might increase the trade and prosperity of the city, particularly the line projected from Milwaukee to Dubuque; also to watch the interests of the city in connection with roads in the West and Northwest.
The officers are W. G. Stewart, President, and Geo. Stephens, Secretary.
The Board of Underwriters was organized by the insurance agents of Dubuque at a meeting thereof holden on the 6th day of August, 1866. On the 11th of the same month, William Smith was elected President ; F. R. Bissell, Vice President, and M. Allison, Secretary. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the association continued an active existence until October 16, 1877, when its sands of life ran out. After remaining quiescent until October 6, 1879, the Board was re-organized under the name of the Underwriters' Union, and "still lives." At that time, J. H. Lull was elected President; M. Kingman, Vice President, and E. W. Duncan, Secretary, who are still serving. Regular elections for officers are held on the first Tuesday of March, annually.
The Dubuque Socialer Turnverein was first organized on the 16th of June, 1863, with a limited membership and the following officers : Charles Schaad, President ; J. Zonack, Vice President; F. Michelsen, Secretary ; Charles Schaad, Treasurer, and Christian Vath, Turnwart.
The society owns the property located at the northeast corner of Ninth and Iowa streets, including a commodious hall, 51x100 feet, which was erected in 1872, and is valued, with the lot, at $8,000.
The present officers are: Peter Karberg, President ; F. Stange, Vice President ; William Tueting, Treasurer ; Joseph T. Deggendorf, Secretary ;
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
G. Mannstedt, Turnwart; Robert Wirzbach, Zengwart; Robert Reuter, Teacher, and C. E. Kleis, August Jungk and William M. Faust, Trustees.
The society numbers 100 members, and meetings are held on the first Tuesdays of the month.
The Dubuque Sangerbund was formed by a consolidation of the Dubuque and Helvetia Mænnechors, on May 1, 1879. The former was first organized August 8, 1868, the latter in the spring of 1870, rival interests real- izing that combining would accomplish more desirable results; the same was effected at the date above indicated. The society is musical, paying attention to vocal excellence only, and now has forty-nine active, or singing, members, and fifteen honorary members. The initiation fee is $1, and the annual dues $3. Meetings are held weekly, on Wednesday evening, at the City Hall, under the leadership of F. A. Hoppe, Musical Director.
The present officers are : Henry Meyer, President ; John F. Hamman, Sec- retary, and J. M. Werner, Treasurer. The value of the society property is stated at $1,000.
Great Western Union Band .- One of the most prominent and celebrated musical organizations in Iowa, first came into public notice in December, 1858, under the name of the "Germania Band," with the following members : Henry Wunderlich, F. Hepp, F. Prosch, F. Tischer, H. Tischer, William Buck, Louis Kuehn, H. Richter, and P. Gantert. The object of the organization was excellence in harmony, and practice was had weekly at the residences of the various members. They became proficient in time, and attained an envia- ble reputation, both as composers and performers.
In October, 1861, the band accompanied the Ninth Iowa Infantry to the field, and participated in the Missouri campaign, but were mustered out at Springfield, in that State, in 1862, and returned to Dubuque.
In the fall of 1873 the society was re-organized, and the present name adopted, since when they have been recognized as one of the most prominent musical organizations in the city.
The present members are : F. A. Hoppe, leader; Henry Wunderlich, Fred- erick Hoppe, William Hoppe. Frederick Stahl, Eugene Morehouse, John Stuber, John Safronek, Henry Stuber and James Davis.
Meetings are held weekly for practice, and the value of the association property is estimated at $500.
The branch of this organization formed upon the "split " above referred to, is made up of a full complement of musicians, brass and string, with the following officers : A. T. Jennings, Director ; H. Tischer, Manager ; P. Sahm, Secretary, and John Hartig, Treasurer.
The Dubuque Butchers' Association was organized in August, 1879, by the butchers and dealers in cattle of Dubuque, for mutual benefit and protection. The office of the Society is located at the corner of Seventeenth and Sycamore and the officers are as follows : Peter Klein, President ; John Ruegamer, streets, Secretary ; Louis Reineke, Treasurer.
Meetings are monthly, or at the call of the President.
The Dubuque Telephone Exchange Company was organized on the 20th of October, 1879, under the laws of Iowa. The telephone, as a medium of com- munication, was first introduced into Dubuque by the Bell Company, March 20, 1879. In May following, the Edison corporation, managed by the Western Union Telegraph Company, disputed with Mr. Keim, President of the Bell venture, the possession of the field, and, on the 20th of October, as stated, the rivals "consolidated under the title designated at the commencement of this
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
notice, with Anson Stager, of Chicago, as President, and E. T. Keim, of Dubuque, Manager.
The company now has 200 lines in operation, extending from Eagle Point to Rockdale, and from East to West Dubuque, connecting with the depots, hotels, banks, business houses and residences, also managing the fire alarm.
The office is at No. 151 Fifth street, supplied with the latest improvements, both electrical and telephonic, to which new discoveries in either science are added when the same are completed.
The company employ a full force of operators, line men and messengers, available at all hours of the day or night, and the investment represents a val- uation of $12,000.
The North- Western Sanitarium was established in 1876 by Dr. E. A. Guil- bert, a prominent physician and scientist, well known throughout the West for thet reatment of diseases by medicated and electric baths, as adjuncts to medical treatment.
The sanitarium comprises several rooms on the first floor of the Facade building, corner of Ninth and Locust streets, fitted up as reception, electrical and bathing rooms. These latter include simple medicated and electric, sponge, shower and douse, and are said to be superior to any in this section for the purposes to which they are applied, i. e., to facilitate the operation of remedies and confirm and strengthen their effect in the treatment of chronic and nervous disorders.
The establishment is complete in every detail, and enjoys a distinguished reputation among the profession.
Dubuque Remedial and Surgical Institute, located at No. 970 Main street, has been open to the public for six years, and is said to enjoy a generous degree of confidence among invalids. The plan adopted by the management, it is claimed, develops and sustains the organs of the human system so perfectly and thoroughly that each organ acts with reference to the wants of the other, and that the agents employed in the institute are calculated to promote this work. These consist of the Turkish bath, the equalizer, medicated vapor baths, and Swedish movement cure. With their application, it is insisted the major part of chronic diseases can be cured, or at least ameliorated, and the number- less other ailments to which the human family is subject, either permanently removed, or so checked as to preclude dangerous results. Many who have submitted to the treatment are said to have experienced benefits therefrom.
THE TOWN CLOCK.
The town-clock enterprise was started by Dr. Asa Horr, in 1864; it was he that first suggested it and afterward became the prime mover in securing sub- scriptions for its purchase. The clock was bought of Messrs. Naylor & Co., of New York. The first expenditure was $304, for the purchase of the bell, in July, 1864 ; the subsequent cost of the clock, when put in place and set running in the following November, was $2,000. Mr. George D. Wood, the owner of the building, erected the tower at a cost of $1,000, making the entire cost of clock and tower $3,000.
After the clock was running, a question arose among those who had sub- scribed for its purchase, about whose property it should be considered in the future. As it stood, nobody could lay especial claim to it, and, to settle this question, it was agreed among them that those who had subscribed $25 and upward should form themselves into an association, and, from December 11,
693
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
1865, the Dubuque Town Clock Company dates its organization for a period of twenty years.
Attached to the articles of incorporation we find the names of the principal incorporators : Messrs. George D. Wood, Sheffield & Scott, Westphal & Hinds, Woodworth & Co., James Cushing, J. K. Graves, L. D. Randall & Co., Rouse & Williams, Andrew & Tredway, R. A. Babbage, H. W. Sanford, Platt Smith and John Bell & Co. Since then, several of the above-named incorporators have assigned their stock over to Dr. Horr. In parenthesis, we may add that John Bell & Co., were among these assignees, with the provision that the trans- fer of their stock to Dr. Horr should continue valid if the clock was allowed to remain in the tower where it stood for ten years.
The architect of the clock was Mr. William Longhurst, now in Chicago, who designed the framework around the clock to protect its face from frost and sleet, making a sightly and creditable job of it. It was put up by Mr. W. W. Wormood, who attended to the clock afterward, so far as mechanical repairs were needed.
Competent judges say it kept the best time of any town clock in the United States ; a fact admitted by watchmakers and adepts in time-keeping and largely due to the skillful superintendence of Dr. Horr.
Saturday's disaster tumbled the old friend from its eminence; earthly friendships are usually misty and short lived, but people seemed not to forget the old clock, and looked wistfully toward the vacant spot in air where it stood, for the well-remembered face, disappointed in spirit when they remembered its disaster.
Plans for the new building were drawn, under the supervision of Architect Heer, its reconstruction begun at once and pushed to completion. It is built of brick, three stories high, faced with heavy stone caps, lintels, corners, etc., and is an ornament to the street. The style of architecture appears to be a mixture of the Gothic and Corinthian, the roof of the main building serving as a founda- tion for the clock tower, which latter reaches to an elevation of eighty-eight feet from the pavement.
The clock was manufactured by Howard & Co., of Boston; the bell, by Naylor & Co., of Sheffield, weighs upward up 4,200 pounds; both costing, on March 23, 1873, $5,309.46, and placed in running order on the 17th of April of the same year.
Correct time is obtained by means of a superior transit instrument, mounted on a firm stone pier, sunk deeply in the ground, which, by the aid of the Nautical Almanac, giving the time of the meridian passage of the fixed stars to the one-hundredth of a second, and of a very fine chronometer, aids in pro- curing the time to less than half a second. Observations are usually taken by Dr. Asa Horr twice a week, and the clock can be depended upon for correct- ness of time to within two seconds.
No one investment in the city is of so great utility as this improvement. The business and pleasures of all classes continue and cease by its warnings. It is Time's finger, and in all its features challenges the admiration of the people.
Fall of the Town Clock Building .- At sixteen minutes past five o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday, May 25, 1872, the Town Clock Building, located on Main street, between Eighth and Ninth, fell with a crash, carrying death and destruction in its descent, and removing one more of the old landmarks, which are disappearing from Dubuque.
The building was occupied by the dry-goods establishment of John Bell & Co., which at the time of the calamity was filled with customers and employes;
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
and that more were not fatally injured occasioned considerable surprise. The cause of the accident was generally attributed to an excavation on the north side, made for the foundations of Plein's new building, though many insisted that the clock tower was not properly supported. There was an immense weight, held up only by a small iron column, and the walls of the building were thin and fragile. The striking gong of the clock weighed one ton, the bell half a ton, and the running weight was 400 pounds, which, with the frame- work of the tower, caused a tremendous pressure upon the building beneath, and aided in precipitating its fall.
At the hour above indicated, or shortly before, workmen employed in the excavation noticed the walls to weaken, and, realizing that it would fall, gave the alarm. They succeeded in securing places of safety before the crash came, but had only cleared a ditch made for the foundations of the new building when the face of the clock, dilapidated and broken, fell on the spot they had vacated.
Near the door, on the inside of Bell & Co's store, Mrs. Herman was examining goods, accompanied by a child and her sister, a Miss Street. In an instant they were prostrated and buried amid the ruins. They were recovered as soon as possible, but when rescued the child was found cruslied into a shape- less mass, and the unfortunate ladies the recipients of injuries which caused death within twenty-four hours thereafter.
By a miracle of good fortune neither partner was in the store at the time, and the clerical force, consisting of two young ladies and two gentlemen, securing places of safety, escaped with slight bruises.
The building was owned by George D. Wood, and had experienced quite a varied and eventful history. It was built by H. S. Hetherington for church purposes in 1845, and for many years thereafter the Rev. J. C. Holbrook expounded the law and the prophets according to Congregational apprehensions. When the building of the new Congregational Church was completed, and the communicants yielded their place of worship to vacancy, the Germans moved in and established a theater devoted to the exposition of the Teutonic drama, and known under the euphonious title of "The Odeon." On the destruction of the Peoples' Theater by fire, it was used as a post office, then a concert hall, and finally transformed into a fashionable dry-goods palace, where Dubuque's beauty and chivalry most did congregate.
No occurrence ever produced so great a sensation in Dubuque. The mind of the public was wrought up to the highest pitch of anxiety, and the scene at the field of ruin was indescribable.
The loss was variously estimated at from $15,000 to $20,000.
MILITARY.
At the close of the war of the rebellion, the intense military spirit which, for more than four years, had prevailed in Dubuque, in common with the entire North, for the most part died away. The soldiers who had returned from the battle-fields of the South, had seen enough of actual service, and were only too glad to find themselves once more at home with their families and friends. Having borne their part in scenes of actual warfare, they had little disposition to serve as home guards, now that smiling peace had again returned to the whole land. All military organizations were disbanded. Those which existed before the war, had been merged into the regiments which had gone to the front. When discharged with their respective armies from the Federal service, they
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
scattered to their homes, tired of war and all its pomp and pageantry. Those who had thus returned, constituted the great mass of the able-bodied youth of the country, from which the material for soldiers is drawn. The entire coun- try welcomed peace with gladness. All war feeling passed away. For the time, all taste or disposition for military exercises and parades died out among the people. They had had a surfeit of those things.
For several years this condition of quietude in everything pertaining to military affairs continued in Dubuque, but not permanently. A re-action set in. The young generation of boys coming to maturity were inspired with the mili- tary spirit natural to the American people. In many of the old soldiers the martial spirit began to revive. Independent military companies began to be organized, officered usually by veterans of the late war. In 1872, the Dubuque Rifles were enlisted. Their first Captain was Daniel J. Duane, who had been Lieutenant in the Third Iowa Infantry. He was succeeded by Capt. P. W. Crawford, who had also been an officer in the same regiment. The next year another company, called the Dubuque Guards, was raised by Capt. N. Eich- mann, who had been a veteran soldier. In 1877, the high-school boys organ- ized a company called the Cadets. Their first Captain was James H. Burch, who was succeeded by Capt. O. S. Goan.
In 1876, under the militia law of the State, the Rifles and Guards of Dubuque were incorporated into and became a part of the Fourth Regiment (infantry) of the Iowa National Guard. The Rifles were designated as Company A, and the Guards as Company B. Soon after their organization, the Cadets were added to the Fourth Regiment as Company K. In 1878, a cavalry company was formed in Dubuque, known as Company A, First Cavalry, C. S. Bentley, an old cavalry officer, being the first Captain. In the early part of 1879, Com- pany A of the Fourth Regiment (Dubuque Rifles), which had shown some signs of demoralization, mustered out, and Company A, First Cavalry, was trans- ferred to the Fourth Regiment in its place, and became Company A of the Fourth.
In 1880, Dubuque has three military companies, all infantry, and desig- nated as Company A, Company B, and Company K, of the Fourth Regiment, Iowa National Guard. The officers of Company A are: George W. Healey, Captain ; James T. Nowlin, First Lieutenant; and C. J. Petersen, Second Lieutenant. Of Company B: Edward Beckett, Captain; Frank Quade, First Lieutenant ; Henry Geiger, Second Lieutenant. Of Company K : O. S. Goan, Captain ; M. M. Gassen, First Lieutenant, and Charles R. Quade, Second Lieutenant.
The headquarters of the Fourth Regiment, Iowa National Guards, are in Dubuque. The field and staff officers are as follows : Colonel, C. S. Bentley, of Dubuque ; Lieutenant Colonel, P. W. Crawford, of Dubuque ; Major, Frank D. Jackson, of Independence ; Adjutant, Alphons Matthews, of Dubuque ; Quartermaster, Irving C. Plane, of Independence ; Surgeon, J. H. Green, of Dubuque.
The other companies of the Fourth Regiment are Company C, Manchester, Capt. Ford ; Company D, McGregor, Capt. Brown ; Company E, Lansing, Capt. Bascom ; Company F, Oelwein, Capt. Pattisen; Company G, Decoralı, Capt. Gardner ; Company H, Independence, Capt. Thrift; Company I, Wau- kon, Capt. Rogers.
The material of the Dubuque companies is of the best kind, being composed of young men of the best character and standing. The condition of Company K, both in drill, discipline and military spirit, is excellent. That of the others
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
is less to be commended. They are composed of an older class of men than Company K, and more engrossed in business. If an occasion should arise, however, when their active services would be required, they would not be found wanting in any respect.
THE STORM KING.
On the afternoon of Monday, June 9, 1879, the skies became dark with ominous-looking clouds, that told, in unmistakable language, the approach of a furious storm. The air was close and stifling, and the atmosphere over the town was heavy and dense ; so much so that the smoke from mills and factories settled down over the city like a great pall. About 6 o'clock, the clouds had banked up in the northwest and spread around to the east and south, as if some great demon of destruction had reached out his giant arms to encircle the city in his grasp. Those who were accustomed to seeing hurricanes, and knew the conditions of the sky and atmosphere that ever betoken the on-coming tempest, were certain that some besom of destruction was near by and about to sweep over the city. Those more careful, closed their doors and windows and pre- pared for the coming storm.
With but a few moments' warning, the storm-cloud burst over the north- western part of the city. The lightning played and the thunder reverberated for a few minutes, and many apprehended a severe rainstorm, but no more. But a few drops of rain had fallen-only a sprinkle-before the hurricane was upon the city. The path of the tornado seemed to be down Locust street, and diagonally across the city from Blake's Hollow, down past the court house to the levee, and over into East Dubuque. The width of the path was about two blocks, on an average. While this seems to have been the path proper, still much damage was done on either side. When the storm-cloud struck the bluff above Blake's Hallow, it burst, and one section of it swept down Locust street and over the city, while another rushed down Heeb's Hollow, over the ball grounds, over the railroad, and on its way across the river.
It was a fearful storm. No description would be perfect. The storm king was abroad in all his fury, and humanity shivered and trembled with fear at his might.
The lightning flashes were almost constant, and peal upon peal of deep- toned thunder succeeded one another. The lightning did its share in the work of destruction. The wind swept down out of the angry sky and bore every loose object before it as lightsome as feathers. Great houses were shaken to their foundations, and mighty trees were twisted like ropes, and hurled far from their bases. The great clouds that rolled over the city, like mighty chariots of darkness, seemed full of death and destruction. The whole city was for a while enveloped in the uncertainty of a great and impending calamity, and no one could tell what the result might be. The storm rolled and roared on; the heavens muttered and flashed ; the wind whistled the fearful song of the hurri- cane, which many quick and experienced ears detected in the general din ; the trees rocked, and swept the ground with their topmost limbs ; the branches flew over buildings and down the streets ; signboards were borne on the wings of the tempest, far away from their abiding places ; chimneys fell prostrate on the roofs and rattled to the earth ; roofs were raised and borne away, fences were prostrated, gardens destroyed, buildings torn, windows demolished, telegraph poles laid low, freight cars overturned, smoke-stacks swept down, steamers loosened from their moorings, and all manner of destruction accomplished. Meanwhile the rain fell in drifting and solid sheets. The streets were, for a
1
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
while, turned into rivers. Great channels of water swept along the thoroughfares and down the sidewalks like the waves of old ocean, as they sweep the beach in the fury of the storm. The roar of the elements, the dashing of the rain, the awful grandeur of the hour, the unknown result of the storm-all filled the mind with fear and awe, as, with bated breath, the people stood silently in their homes and business houses, beneath the wrath of the elements.
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