USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 88
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
The next year Benjamin Bode and Olive Kellogg were married by Joseph G. Wilson, who had been elevated to the dignity of a Justice of the Peace, and this was the first marriage to take place between bona-fide residents of the town, in the town. There was no especial observance of the occasion, no wed- ding trip, bridal feast, dance or what not, now regarded as indispensable attri- butes of similar passages in life.
Industries revived with the war and increased the material resources of the town. P. F. Walker established a store at the present locality of A. C. & P. F. Walker, in 1861, and this year did a prosperous business. He was joined by his brother, A. C. Walker, in the spring of 1865. The farmers cultivated larger areas of territory and marketed abundant crops. The railroads began to drop passengers at the station ; the hotel had no cause for complaint at its list of daily arrivals, and the genial " drummer" roamed abroad in the land. So it
722
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
continued ; 1863 was a " repeater " on the previous year, and the inhabitants regarded the outlook as clear of clouds and disasters. The absence of churches was felt by the population, and measures were taken to provide a place of worship. A meeting was held in the summer, at which J. G. Wilson, John Fowlston, E. A. Irvin, W. L. Holcomb and others submitted plans, and concluded arrange- ments for a hall. A stock company was formed, and a stone building erected at the corner of Wood and Thirteenth streets the same year. It was proposed to name the building the " Union Meeting House," but this was met by objec- tions which were compromised, and the name of "Farley Hall" substituted. The building answered the objects for which it cameinto existence until a num- ber of years ago, when it was purchased by the Methodists and torn down, and the handsome church of that sect now occupies the corner.
In the fall of 1864, an eating-house was constructed at the depot, costing $2,000, which was hailed as another evidence of progress by the inhabitants and comfort by travelers. For several years the cheerful voice of the restaurateur was heard upon the arrival of trains, expatiating in stentorian tones upon the superior excellence of his cuisine over that of others in the town, but, in 1870, the eating-house was burned to the ground, entailing serious loss and creating a vacancy among the buildings subject to the devouring element.
Quite a number of those who have since become residents visited Farley this year. Some remained, and others sought elsewhere the smiles of fortune. Among the former was Simeon Clark, who came to Dubuque County in 1834, residing west of Dubuque City for thirty years and then removing to his present residence. He brought the first pigs that were transported across the Mississippi, when he reached Dubuque, and is now the Postmaster at Farley.
In 1870, the South-Western road was completed to Cedar Rapids, and new improvements were put on the ways. In 1871, the old eating-house at the depot, burned in 1864, was rebuilt by Lewis Miller at a cost of $6,000, and thereafter kept as a hotel under the name of the "Sherman House." The past ten years lias witnessed both successes and reverses. Up to 1874, business flourished as it has not since that time. It is steady, healthy and remunerative, but no large fortunes are now made by a rapid rise in the price of real estate or products. The township is dotted with productive farms, and the homes of the inhabitants are homes of comfort. In 1878, the car-shops were removed to Cedar Rapids, and the revenue derived by the inhabitants from men therein employed being diverted, has affected business remotely, but is rapidly being balanced by trade coming from other points.
The town contains not less than from seven to eight hundred inhabitants, is a shipping-point for the surrounding country, and will improve with years.
It contains four churches, a good district school, with a large attendance, and is now incorporated as a town, witli a Mayor and town officers. Commer- cially it is prosperous, morally and educationally beyond criticism, and in every respect entitled to the claim of a steady, thriving town, with an industrious population, and deserving of a greater proportion of commendation than is awarded points with less claims to consideration.
TOWN OFFICERS .- On the 23d of June, 1879, Farley was duly incorpor- ated as a town, and the following officers elected : A. C. Walker, Mayor ; Charles A. Joseph, Recorder ; A. T. Garner, J. J. Wilson, S. Goodale, L. N. Arcouit, D. Moynihan and Solomon Carpenter, members of the Common Council; R. L. Vibber, Treasurer ; John Small, Marshal, and J. F. Wilmott, Street Commissioner.
723
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
THE SCHOOLS .- The first school taught in the township was, as near as can be ascertained, commenced about 1848, in a log cabin on land now owned by S. C. Hall, within two miles of Farley. Miss Elizabeth Dickson, of Jones County, directed the studies, exercised discipline and rewarded merit to the pupils, who then did not exceed fifteen in number. It was a district school supported by the county, and continued in the log house for about five years, furnishing the means of education to the children of the surrounding country, -through the agency of Miss Dickson, Lucy Harmon, Mr. Bennett, Frank Jewett, and others interested in promoting their welfare and improvement.
In 1854, a schoolhouse was built half a mile nearer Farley, by J. G. Wilson, at which Orrin Paine, Minerva Benson, Mr. Freal and Miss Jane Miller taught. This lasted five years, but, in 1859, the location was again changed to a frame hut on Wood, opposite Tenth street, where it remained until the stone hall was built, when it was moved there. In August, 1868, the present schoolhouse, at the corner of Tenth and Langworthy streets, was partially completed, and possession taken the same year. It was subsequently finished entire, costing a total of $2,600, and is now devoted to the objects for which it was put up, the lower floor being used for the primary and intermed- iate departments, while the upper story is devoted to the high school.
Three teachers are employed, and the average daily attendance of pupils is in the vicinity of 140, who are thus afforded an opportunity to acquire a thorough knowledge of the rudiments of education, as also familiarity with the more advanced branches.
The school is supported by taxation together with the semi-annual apportion- ments of the State, and costs about $1,500 per annum to run it. The tax for school purposes is about 10 mills on the dollar, assessments amounting to $90,000 being set apart for that purpose, its uses being directed by a School Board at present composed of the following gentlemen : P. F. Walker, President; S. Goodale, J. G. Wilson, C. C. Doherty, W. W. Haller and A. K. Heald, with C. A. Joseph as Secretary. There being no town hall, the Board meetings, as also those of the Common Council, convene at the call of the President and Mayor, in the second story of the building, corner of Wood and Eleventh streets.
FARLEY LIBRARY .- In the latter part of May, 1875, a representative of the American Publishing Company, which makes a specialty of establishing libraries throughout the country, visited Farley with a view to enlisting the sympathies of citizens in an enterprise of that character. He remained a week, and secured fifteen subscribers. Thereupon, a meeting was convened, at which it was decided to build up a library in the town, and, after the disposal of some preliminary business, an association was organized, with the following officers : P. F. Walker, President; A. K. Heald, Vice President; the Rev. T. S. Bailey, Treasurer, and E. A. Brown, Secretary and Librarian.
A selection of books from the catalogue submitted was made, and a reading- room opened, which has since proved not only a success but a source of infinite pleasure and profit to the citizens and strangers.
The library now contains 322 volumes, with a generous list of members and a healthy exchequer.
The present officers are: A. C. Walker, President; M. Smith, Vice President ; R. L. Vibber, Treasurer, and Charles A. Joseph, Secretary and Librarian ; S. Goodale, J. W. McGee and S. Fox, Board of Directors.
THE METHODIST CHURCH was incorporated in 1866, by E. Culver, A. Garner, A. Schoonover, Thomas Hillman, J. Griggs, George Raw, J. H. Phil- lips, Harvey Benton and Clark Simpson.
724
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
Prior to this date, the congregation belonged to the Epworth charge, and occasional services were had in cars, private residences, etc., the Rev. R. W. Keeler and others officiating. As the society increased in numbers and influence, however, the need of regular worship was experienced, and thus the church originated.
On the 22d of May, 1867, the Farley Hall, corner of Wood and Thirteenth streets, was purchased, a parsonage erected on an adjoining lot, and the Rev. H. W. Houghton was called as Pastor, remaining about four years. The hall was occupied until the spring of 1875, when it was torn down, and the present structure-a handsome frame-built upon the ruins.
On the 11th of April, 1870, the congregation purchased four acres of ground, half a mile southwest of town, for a cemetery, paying therefor $160, and, in 1878, the society was re-incorporated, and is now the largest religious organization in town.
The congregation numbers 150 communicants, and owns property valued at about $5,000. The following ministers have served since its incorporation : the Revs. H. W. Houghton, 1866 to 1870; C. W. Burgess, to 1872; W. F. Dove, to 1875; T. Thompson, to 1876; M. T. Smedley, to 1877; J. E. Cow- gill, to 1879, and G. W. Rogers, the present incumbent.
THE ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH was established about 1856, when services were held and mass said in an old frame building, standing northeast of the town limits, which was torn down to give place to the present massive stone structure, completed in 1869, under the pastorate of Father C. J. McGauran, at a cost of $10,000.
Father J. J. Elward was the pioneer Pastor in Farley, coming hither when it was a mission, and dividing his time with Worthington, Bankston and Pleas- ant Grove. He remained from 1856 to 1860, when Father Andrew Bennett took charge, and was in turn succeeded by Father McGauran above mentioned. During his administration, St. Joseph's became a separate parish. He dis- charged the trust until December, 1878, when Father J. F. Brady accepted a call, and remains at present.
The congregation numbers forty families, and the property, which consists of a church, parsonage and cemetery, is valued at $10,000.
ST. GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, located at the corner of Tenth and Langworthy streets, was organized on the 16th of June, 1870, by B. B. Lock- wood, J. M. Williamson, J. W. Shumway, W. B. Dubois, James Dubois and J. C. Hygum, the congregation at that time, and until its church was built, worshiping at Worthington.
On September 19, of the same year, it was decided to secure a lot and pro- ceed to the erection of a church. In April, 1871, two lots were secured, one being donated by W. L. Holcomb, at the above corner, and, on the 21st of the following May, the corner-stone of the church was laid by the Rev. W. F. Lloyd, in presence of the Vestry and an immense audience. The church was completed this year at a cost of $3,000, and weekly services held during the winter, the Rev. Mr. Lloyd officiating. He remained until November 19, 1872, when he resigned, and the Rev. B. R. Phelps took charge. Services were had weekly, under his administration and that of Rev. H. L. Everest, until 1877, when the property was transferred to Rt. Rev. W. S. Perry, Bishop of Northern Iowa. In 1878, the Rev. Edward Magee accepted a call, and remained a year, preaching alternate Sundays, and, in 1879, the Rev. J. Q. Archdeacon (also of Dyersville), took charge, holding services once or twice a month, and is the present incumbent.
725
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
The congregation numbers forty members, and the property of the church is valued at $2,000.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- It was not until the year 1865 that followers of Calvin in Farley came together and organized for worship. Previous to that time the present society attended worship at Epworth, or mingled with the con- gregations of other denominations which had obtained a foothold in Farley. The society obtained possession of the stone hall, corner of Thirteenth and Wood streets, immediately upon organizing, and held services there at intervals, at which the Rev. William Carson, of Epworth, and transient ministers officiated.
This was continued until 1868, when it was concluded to erect a church, and the present edifice, corner of Wood and Fourteenth streets, was contracted for, the Rev. Mr. Jewett having been secured as Pastor. He accepted, and remained until 1871; during his continuance in office the church was completed, costing a total of $3,300.
From the winter of 1871 to the spring of 1872 the congregation remained without a Pastor, but in March of the latter year the Rev. T. S. Bailey was called, and, accepting, discharged pastoral duties until March, 1876, when he resigned, and Rev. Mr. Agnew came, remaining three months, and, at the expiration of his ministry, Rev. John Fisher accepted charge, and still remains.
The congregation numbers forty members, owning a handsome frame church, genteelly furnished and fitted up for worship, and other property valued altogether at about $3,500.
FARLEY CREAMERY, an original enterprise, for the manufacture of butter on a large scale, was established at Farley by A. C. Walker & Co., on the 24th day of June, 1878. The process is something as follows : The milk is deposited in one of Clark's reversible milk-pans, of which there are thirteen in the establish- ment, with a capacity of 1,000 pounds each, where it is left forty-eight hours in winter and thirty-six hours during the summer. The cream is then skimmed and thrown into a revolving churn and churned by machinery, the box contain- ing the cream being revolved at the rate of fifty revolutions a minute. After an hour's shaking up the butter is gathered, washed, salted and allowed to sea- son one day, when it is packed in firkins and sent to market.
Supplies are procured of dairymen in the township, and the greatest care is taken by the management to avoid imposition. The price paid is $1 per hun- dred weight (the milk being bought by weight), and, when running to its full capacity, the creamery consumes 10,000 pounds per day, diminishing as cold weather approaches, manufacturing from this quantity of raw material from 100 to 500 pounds of butter each twenty-four hours.
The product is pure and sweet, and has commanded prizes at most of the State fairs in the West, at the Dairymen's Fair in New York and London; by the organization convening in the latter city in 1879, a silver medal was awarded.
Shipments are made to all parts of the United States and to England, and the demand for butter bearing the Farley trade-mark is increasing and con- stant.
The works are under the charge of L. R. Burnham, and with the ice-house attached represent an investment of several thousand dollars.
CASSIA LODGE, No. 224, A., F. & A. M .- The dispensation under which this Lodge was chartered was granted October 8, 1867, and the organization perfected June 3, 1868, with the following officers and members: W. H. Hogan, W. M .; E. Lake, S. W .; D. Franklin, J. W .; G. R. Banton, A. Rae,
726
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
George Moore, J. G. Wilson, J. S. Rundell, A. G. Smith, S. Fox, B. Elliott, N. O. Munger and W. Swayze.
The present officers are H. Gilmore, W. M .; A. T. Garner, S. W .; T. V. Smith, J. W .; W. W. Haller, Treas .; C. A. Joseph, Sec., and Charles Mar- den, Tiler.
The present membership is stated at thirty-two, and meetings are held semi- monthly at the hall of the order, on Wood street, north of the railroad track.
COLUMBIA LODGE, No. 286, I. O. O. F., was organized August 19, 1874, and has since increased in membership, influence and importance. The charter members were J. W. Harvey, James Rollo, Philip Keagy, J. H. Rouch, H. W. Smith and Charles Harvey, who was Secretary, and officered by J. W. Harvey, V. G .; H. W. Smith, N. G .; James Rollo, Treas.
For a year the lodge meetings were held over Vibber & Heald's store, on Wood street, north of the railroad track, when it was moved to more conven- ient quarters above Joseph's bookstore, on Eleventh street.
The present officers are: Charles Harvey, N. G .; George Babcock, V. G .; W. V. Oldridge, Recording; and C. S. Baldwin, Permanent, Secretary ; A. K. Heald, Treas.
The property of the Lodge is valued at $250 ..
FARLEY QUARRIES .- One Sunday in the spring of 1854, J. G. Wilson, while strolling through fields that lie about one mile to the north of the present town, and then belonged to William Comber, discovered the existence of these quarries, which have since proved of great value. Without publishing his good fortune, Mr. Wilson purchased the field, which contained twenty-six acres, for $100, securing a deed bearing date April, 1854, and began immedi- ately to develop his purchase. He worked the bonanza successfully until 1866, when the quarries were sold to Robert Manson, John Douglas and Morris Brown for a valuable consideration, by whom a company was formed and the work of quarrying on a large scale carried on up to seven or eight years ago, when it was abandoned.
In the mean while, Joseph and Ben Arcouit, who owned in solido about forty-five acres adjoining, opened quarries, and still continue their work, requir- ing a force of twelve hands during the summer, and shipping annually not less than one hundred car loads of stone to Dubuque and elsewhere, producing a revenue of about $5,000.
The stone is of a yellowish-gray color, easily mined and molded, and add- ing beauty to the finish of buildings wherein it is used ; among these are the Blind Asylum at Independence; custom house, Episcopal church, steeple of St. Raphael's Church and the bridge across the Mississippi, at Dubuque; bank buildings at Waterloo; railroad bridge at Cedar Falls, and other prominent buildings and works. The enterprise is conducted systematically and the source of supply promises to continue for an indefinite period.
THE POST OFFICE was first established in this portion of Taylor Township in the year 1854, when the mail was carried once a week between Delhi and Dubuque. J. G. Wilson was Postmaster, and kept office at his house, remaining officially recognized until 1858, when he resigned, and, after three years' interim, during which the position was held by Daniel Hill, Edward Stephens and James McMillan, Mr. Wilson was re-appointed and served until 1864. In that year, P. F. Walker was appointed, and the office was at Walker's store, corner of Wood and Tenth streets. Luke Salmons, George Wilson and Dr. Rundell followed Mr. Walker in the order named, until Grant was inaugurated, when
727
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
Simeon Clark was selected to distribute the mail, and has since been retained. The office is on Eleventh street.
The mails, after the summer of 1854, were carried tri-weekly and so con- tinued until the railroad was completed, when daily communication was com- menced and has never been abandoned.
EPWORTH.
Although settlements were made in the immediate vicinity of this delightful town in the early days of Dubuque County, the idea of creating a village seems never to have impressed the inhabitants until late in the year 1854.
The town is pleasantly situated on swells of dry, gravelly soil, covered where the town is laid out by a young oak grove, and surrounded by fine rolling prairies. Many clusters and scattering trees of the original growth are still standing around the town, and contribute, with the early and general planting of maple, white elm and other ornamented trees, to the attractions of the place. It contains more brick and stone buildings, common in Western villages, and a general air of thrift and taste prevails as well among the smaller as the larger residences and surrounding lots, many of which are conspicuous for the profusion of shade and ornamental trees and shrubberies which deck their inclosures.
The town and vicinity has been from its start distinguished for the intelli- gence of its inhabitants, as also for their moral and religious character and sociability. The Protestants of all denominations, as well as Catholics who wish, unite freely in social gatherings and public celebrations. Its most dis- tinguished institution is Epworth Seminary, favorably known far and wide, and it has given no less attention to its public school.
It is the third station from Dubuque, on the Dubuque & Sioux City road, about 450 feet by railroad survey above Dubuque, and upon the general farm level of the State. It is sixteen miles from the city, on the main highway, known as the Delhi road, which constitutes its main street, crossed at the center of the town by Center street, extending in a southerly direction from the railroad station, and is in Sections 10 and 11, of Taylor Township, the center of the town being near the center of the northwest quarter of the southwest. quarter of Section 11.
Early in 1855, Otis Briggs, Zephaniah Kidder and Hezekiah Young con- cluded to ex-appropriate certain lands to which each held title, and lay out a town. The disposition thus made included the east portion of Young's farm, the southwest portion of Kidder's, and the northwest fraction of that of Briggs, the donations being certified to on the 19th day of January, 1855, and on the 1st of March following the plat subscribed by the donors was filed for record in the Recorder's office of Dubuque County, wherein it is duly entered in Book V of records, on pages 562 and 563. Additions were made to the original plat in 1856, partly by the original grantors, and partly by Hiram Young, but a considerable portion of these additions was re-platted in 1872. The original town contained forty acres of ground or thereabouts, as surveyed by Dr. William Johnson, to whom also is awarded the honor of its naming, that. gentleman christening the prospective resort of trade and fashion "Epworth," after the birthplace of John Wesley.
The inhabitants at that time, it is said, could have been numbered without exhausting the capacity of a novice in the knowledge of mathematics, and appearances failed to indicate with any degree of certainty, the possibilities that.
728
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
promise encouraged the founders to anticipate. Houses were few and far between, to adopt an expressive comparison; but three residences stood on the present town site, Kidder's, Briggs' and Young's-three sappers and miners, so to speak, heading the column of pioneers advancing into the wilderness. To these was added a Methodist church of frame, small and unpretentious in comparison with the commodious brick edifice which rose out of its ruins, raised into position in 1853. This was the first church raising in the vicinity. Otis Briggs, Thomas G. Briggs, Aaron Story, Z. Kidder, Alfred Garner, and Willis Hogan were present and assisted at the raising. Alfred Garner did the carpenter work and finished the "job " in the same year, when its dedication followed, the Rev. Joel B. Taylor, of the Dubuque Conference, officiating, and preaching one among the first sermons delivered in this section of the township.
In 1854, Otis and Thomas G. Briggs began the manufacture of brick, estab- lishing their yard at a point to the southeast of town. The succeeding fall Mr. Kidder began the erection of a store of brick, molded by the Briggses, which was completed before winter and is still standing, the first domicile of the kind put up in the future town. E. G. French came in about this time, and was offered the title to a lot where Moore's hotel stands. in consideration of his remaining and identifying himself with the venture. He consented, and, hav- ing erected a small wooden building, now used as the hotel kitchen, he returned East for his family.
When the brick store was completed, or immediately subsequent thereto, after an outlay of $500 for labor and materials, Benjamin H. Wil- mott took possession and stocked its interior with goods. This was early in 1855. The lessee had originally started a store at Drake's, one mile east of Epworth, a few months previous, and, removing, established the first business in the latter place. He retained charge until the spring of 1857, when he was succeeded by Robert Wilmott, a brother, who continued "store-keeping " one year and sold to E. G. French. The latter served five years, part of the time having the only store in the place, closing out in May, 1863. Mr. Wilmott, during the years he "kept store " in the " little brick," corner of Main and Center streets, resided with his family in a building to the rear of the premises.
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.