USA > Iowa > Dubuque County > The history of Dubuque County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. > Part 90
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The present Board is made up of F. M. Kirkpatrick, President ; F. Rey- ner, M. D., Secretary ; T. J. Briggs and Joseph Fogg, Trustees.
The school embraces primary and grammar departments, requiring the serv- ices of two teachers, at an annual expense of $500, with an average daily attendance of sixty pupils.
POST OFFICE .- The first mail alleged to have been received at Epworth was about 1848. It came from Dubuque ; the messenger bearing the same being mounted on a steed, reliable, not fiery and untamed, as may be supposed. Otis Briggs was the Postmaster, and carried the mail, it is said, in his hat, from which receptacle letters were delivered to claimants on application therefor.
This continued until the tide of emigration began to assert an influence, when a two-horse hack, driven by one Miller, was substituted, passing through Epworth tri-weekly.
In 1852, Hezekiah Young was appointed to succeed Mr. Briggs, and located the office in his private residence, on the present site of the Baptist Church. A year later, the mail became a daily occurrence, reaching the post office from Dubuque and Delhi by a four-horse coach.
Mr. Young was followed in the office by B. H. Wilmott, who served from the spring of 1855 to April, 1858, when J. V. Beery took charge, and remained about one year. C. Thompson served the same period, then Silas Moore, who held the office about eighteen months when his successor, E. G. French, qualified, who acted until April 1, 1866. At that date Edward Dodson was the recipient of Presidential dispensation, serving until the summer of 1871, when Hezekiah Young became the incumbent and is now serving.
The office has quarters in the old brick store, and considerable business is daily transacted.
EPWORTH LODGE, No. 84, A., F. & A. M., was organized on January 25, 1856, on a dispensation granted therefor, with S. B. Carpender, Jr., W. M. ; W. H. Hogan, S. W .; Z. Kidder, J. W .; J. W. Warmoth, S. D .; Allen Jackson, J. D. ; D. W. Kempton, Secretary, and William Bemis, Treasurer.
The present membership includes thirty names, officered as follows: F. Reyner, W. M. ; J. M. Kirkpatrick, S. W .; William King, J. W. ; T. H. Peavey, Secretary, and Hezekiah Young, Treasurer.
Meetings are held monthly; on the last Friday, and lodge property is valued at $500.
IOWA LODGE, No. 324, I. O. O. F., was organized on the 21st of October, 1875, W. J. Hirons, Philip Keagy, William F. Crane, Charles A. Phinicie, G. W. Kidder, J. H. Peavey, R. N. Van Allen and George Garnet being charter members ; officered by Philip Keagy, N. G .; George Garnet, V. G .; W. J. Hirons, Treasurer, and Charles A. Phinicie, Secretary.
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
The lodge-room was located in a room over Keagy's store, corner of Main and Center streets, where meetings have since been held.
The present roll of members includes forty-three names, with the following officers : G. W. Kidder, N. G .; S. A. Hoke, V. G. ; P. Keagy, Treasurer , and J. H. Peavey, Secretary.
Meetings are held weekly, on Saturday evening, and the lodge property is valued at $600.
EPWORTH LODGE, No. 135, A. O. U. W .- This Chapter of the working- men was organized on the 9th day of November, 1877, with the following offi- cers and members : James A. Edwards, P. M. W. ; William McKinley, M. W. ; Adam Holm, G. F .; Adam Lasher, Overseer ; Elias A. Parker, Recorder ; David A. Milliken, Financier ; Alonzo C. Goodrich, Receiver; William H. Kidder, Guide; William McKinley, W. E. Bagley and W. H. Kidder, Trust- ees ; William McKinley, A. C. Goodrich, E. A. Parker, D. A. Milliken, Adam Lasher, W. H. Kidder, C. S. Butler, W. E. Bagley, Charles Bradfield, O. Byerly, R. Tattersall, William Baldwin, P. M. Byerly, A. Sandercock and Adam Holm.
The present officers are Howard Johnson, P. M. W. ; E. A. Parker, M. W .; Dixon Cottingham, G. F .; Charles Bradfield, Overseer ; W. H. Kidder, Recorder ; D. A. Milliken, Financier ; W. Mckinley, Receiver ; E. Fawcett, Guide ; W. H. Kidder, E. H. Bush and F. E. Rogers, Trustees.
Meetings are held weekly, on Saturday evenings, at the hall of the Asso- ciation on Main street. There are nineteen members of the Lodge, and the- property thereof is valued at $75.
PEOSTA, located fifteen miles from Dubuque, on the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad, in Vernon Township, is a pleasant town, properly a suburb named for the wife of him who is celebrated in history as the first white man who established a home on the west bank of the Mississippi.
The town was laid out in 1855 by Simeon Clark and Elisha Brady, in anticipation that the junction of the Dubuque & Sioux City and South-Western roads would be located here. Belief in this problematical idea induced Messrs. Clark and Brady to donate thirty acres each in Section 9 of Vernon Township and survey a town site. In this conclusion these gentlemen were joined by Judge W. Y. Lovell and E. M. Bartholow, who became identified with them in the venture. When Farley was selected as the objective point of meeting by the roads in question, the scheme "fell through," and Mr. Clark, who in the mean time had purchased the interest of his partners, suffered severe loss in the depreciation of property. This, with the panic of 1857, permanently checked the town's growth, and from that day improvements have not kept pace with the ambition of the inhabitants.
At first the settlers consisted chiefly of railroad hands, who lived in shanties that disappeared when the work upon which they were engaged was concluded. D. M. Buie, one of the oldest settlers in the county (who claims Mrs. Buie to have been the first white woman to settle in Dubuque), resided a mile north of the town site; the country toward Epworth was varied with houses here and there, the magnificent farming land to the south and west being occupied by farmers and settlers.
In 1856, Simeon Clark erected a house across the railroad track, which was, upon being completed, taken possession of by S. Hildebrand, a local Methodist preacher, who divided his time between storekeeping and sermonizing. The house still stands, being used as a store, kept by James Kelley. It is. also stated that Milo Burbridge, from Dubuque, W. W. Miller, from Centralia,,
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
and A. W. Beadell, became residents of the town this year, the latter opening a store and a fond thought was indulged by the new-comers that a day was not far distant when "the creation " would be legally united to Dubuque and compete with that city for supremacy.
In 1857, a hotel was put up near the station, in expectation that its hospi- tality would be sought by travelers and tourists without number. But this expectation was far from realized, principally for the reasons mentioned, and the house was moved to Farley, where it became a prey to the flames. During this year the Methodist church was built; also the Campbellite church. The former still stands, but the latter was destroyed in a tornado which swept over the vicinity in 1875. In 1858, Mr. Bartholow put up a brick residence south of the railroad, and, while watching for the coming "boom," the flames preceded that agency and placed it beyond the influences of this transitory life. During this year occurred what is reputed to be the first birth in the town, a boy to A. W. Beadle and wife. The event was announced in October, and the subject of rejoicing grew to man's estate in the village of his birth ; becoming a printer, he began to wander, and is now a "comp " on the paper published at Lemars after the pattern of the Okolona States.
The first marriage was published the following year, when Brasher Dunn and Adelaide Miller were united in the holy bonds by the Rev. Mr. Poe, of Epworth. On May 13, 1859, Harry Oldridge, son of William Oldridge, was the first death within the town limits. He was buried at Johnson's school, about one mile and a half from the town, N. Perry, a prosperous farmer to-day, residing within sight of the depot, preparing the grave.
The year 1860 was passed without any event of importance occurring to mark a chapter in the history of Peosta. Very few were the settlers, if any at all came, and those few subsided into the retired walks of life, leaving no trace of their personnel or importance to guide the seeker after events of sig- nificance or that would paralyze the people.
The war came, and brought with it the same features noted in other places of equal prominence, wealth and activity. The lives of the inhabitants were cast in the same patriotic grooves as those of their neighbors; they were equally as pronounced in their support of the Union cause, and as ready to aid in securing the enlistment of troops. No sentiment of disloyalty was tol- erated, and those who felt constrained to reason in a way, regarding the ulti- mate effects of the war, that was called peculiar, obtained no sympathy from those who dwelt in Peosta.
The town furnished a complement of troops-stated to have been ten-a Union League Club was established, a Ladies' Aid Society organized, and all that loval impulse prompted or could accomplish was done to remind the boys at the front that those whom they left behind were waiting and watching on their comfort, support and encouragement.
A company of home guards was raised in the town, and materially con- tributed to the promotion of good order and the absence of treason in the immediate vicinity. Indeed, treason was made odious, it was not tolerated at all, and the summary measures taken to crush out its existence attained that end.
After the war, the town relapsed into its quiet, unpretentious manner of life. The days came and went with unvarying regularity, and unattended by events of grave import. Peosta is to-day a lovely village, nestled among the hills, and as attractive to the searcher after quiet and the happiness of a retired life as was the "loveliest village of the plain."
740
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
Its religious interests are represented by two churches, the Methodist and Presbyterian.
The former was established in 1856, and was identified with the Dubuque
Circuit. Previous to that date, the residents worshiped at Centralia. In 1857, the Rev. Mr. Ashbaugh visited the community and united with Brother Hildebrandt in agitating the building of a church. So effective were the argu- ments of these gentlemen in that connection that a great awakening of the spirit was produced and money raised to build the present edifice. It was begun at once and completed in the fall of that year, being dedicated in November, the Rev. Mr. Stout, of Dubuque, officiating. The church is of brick, one story high, 32x45, finished in a neat but not tinseled style, and cost $2,200.
The congregation at present numbers about thirty-five communicants, and the following ministers have officiated : Revs. W. H. Miller, J. B. Taylor, E. W. Jeffries, H. W. Reed, Mr. Sessions (of Epworth), H. S. Bargelt, J. W. Crosby (of Epworth), S. V. Sill, C. P. Mather, J. H. Platt, Mr. Ferris and R. Swearingen. The present value of the property is quoted at $2,000.
The Presbyterian church was organized in 1858, and the congregation held services in the Methodist church at Centralia, where the Rev. Mr. Wells preached for two years, when he went to California. Soon after the Methodist church in Peosta was completed the Presbyterians were permitted to assemble there, and so continued until about 1865, when money was obtained to com- plete the present edifice of that congregation. The church had been com- menced some years previous, but, owing to the limited membership, the diffi- culty in procuring means, the panic and other insurmountable embargoes, its occupation was delayed until about the time specified. At first, services were held weekly, but now they are conducted fortnightly, by the Rev. John Fisher, who also officiates at Epworth and Farley.
The following divines have occupied the pulpit, however, at stated times : The Rev. J. Carson, who died in the service; Rev. William Potter, who resigned on account of failing health ; Rev. Mr. Bailey, who was a Colonel in the army during the war, after peace becoming a pastor and preaching semi- occasionally, and the present incumbent.
The number of members is said to be thirty, and the value of church prop- erty. $1,000.
The education of the youth is now, and always has been, uppermost in the minds of residents in and about Peosta. In early days school was held in a house on Russel's farm. About 1864, the district was divided and those resid- ing in town bought the share of the country folk in this frame edifice and caused its removal into town, where it answered all requirements until 1878, when the new frame school near the Presbyterian church was completed, taken posses- sion of, and has since been occupied.
The system is the township district, and ninety-two pupils are enrolled, though the daily average attendance will not exceed half that number. The school prop- erty is valued at $1,200; one teacher is employed, and the annual expense for its maintenance, including incidentals, is not greater than $300.
With the exception of the dwelling-house of Daniel Desmond and the Methodist church, the houses are generally frame.
Peosta will always afford attractive inducements to those who may delight in any phase of rural life. With unsurpassed railroad, postal, educational and moral adjuncts, it will not be many years before the number of population (now
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
cited at 200) will be materially increased by additions in search of the privi- leges and pleasures to be found there.
CENTRALIA.
Centralia is a small post office village located in the southern portion of Center Township, adjoining the line dividing that township from the town- ship of Vernon, containing a Catholic church and school, two hotels, three stores, and divides with Platnerville and Peosta the patronage of the vicinity.
Many of the earlier settlers of this portion of the country congregated adjacent to future Centralia and opened farms. Among these were William Morrison, Mr. Rittenhouse, Antoine Loire, A. D. Anderson, Louis Blow, Felix Flaggherty, a man named Philbrick and others.
About 1837, Charles Brady, Sr., Simeon Clark, and William Snodgrass removed from Vernon Township and temporarily resided in Center ; Brady on the present Kirby farm, Clark on Section 22, and Snodgrass on Section 28. Previous to that, however, William Stratton, a man named Blackwell, and others, made their appearance, the former establishing himself near the present village of Centralia, and Blackwell on Section 29, where he remained for a number of years. finally settling in Jackson County, whither he went after disposing of his property.
Later, Thomas W. and John M. Moore came in and settled on Section 20, the former some time after building the house now occupied by William I. Anderson. About the same time a large number of what assumed to be set- tlers prospected about the township for home sites and clustered about the Maquoketa, but remaining pioneers assert they were generally worthless, and, without accomplishing much to develop the country or promote its welfare, gradually disappeared.
Along in 1838, Wesley Kile settled in the neighborhood and, marrying the Widow Rittenhouse, cultivated the soil for years with profit. In 1839, an old West India planter named Droulard visited Center with a view to purchasing land, but extended his inquiries to Iowa Township, and there remained until early in the fifties, when he removed to Wisconsin, where he died. During this year James Crawford opened a farm near Centralia, but changed his place of residence to Dubuque, where surviving members of his family still live.
In 1840, this portion of the township began to show evidences of life and activity, and many inhabitants were added to the population, including Hardin Nowlin, John Paul, Elder H. W. Reed, and others, who came in 1843. They were farmers, as a rule, and received their supplies from Dubuque, except flour, which was obtained at Sage's mill, on the Maquoketa, or at the Catfish Mills, in Rockdale, which were the only sources of supplies for that commodity until after 1850.
In this year Centralia was laid out, William Stratton donating the land, and Hardin Nowlin, it is believed, surveying its boundaries. The town was first named Dacotah, but, upon the settlers experiencing trouble in the procuration of their mail by reason of the existence of a town similarly blessed, the name was changed to Centralia. There were no houses then in the town, save the hotel of the founder and the old schoolhouse, which has long since gone the way of perishable matter.
The town failed to improve as was anticipated. Purchasers of lots were exceptions, and storehouses failed to materialize with gratifying rapidity. The
742
HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
people worshiped at points where houses of worship had been erected, and a house on Sharp's farm, also used for religious convocations, served the purpose of a school.
About 1853, a lot was donated to the Methodist sect for religious purposes, and the schoolhouse was removed from Sharp's farm. It occupied the site adjoining that upon which the Catholic Church was subsequently erected, and here Elder Reed, with other ministers of the faith, explained the way to salva- tion recommended by John Wesley. The building was also used as a school- house, in which a Mr. Avel and the Rev. N. S. Bastian taught, but in 1872 a fire swamped its availability, since when the congregation has sought that peace of mind which cometh from a perfect understanding of the law, at Peosta, Epworth and elsewhere. The lot was sold by the Trustees, and its proceeds apportioned to other circuits.
In 1855, George W. Burkhart built what is now used as Myers' Hotel and post office, and, at an early date, a brick schoolhouse was erected, Franklin Anson laying the brick, which were procured at Epworth, James Snodgrass delivering them on the ground.
In 1875, the Catholics, who had worshiped generally at Melleray, became numerous, and the parish was divided. Thereupon a church was put up, which is now largely attended. It is built of brick, one story high, and, with the Pas- tor's house adjoining, is valued at about $8,000. Postal facilities were incomplete, until 1855, up to that date the inhabitants receiving their mail at Peosta. A post office was then opened and has sinced been maintained.
At present the population will not exceed 100, though a large section of the country contiguous is tributary thereto. It has two stores, two hotels, a black- smith and wagon shop, and is generally provided with establishments indige- nous to a country town of limited enterprise and resources.
WORTHINGTON AND DODGE TOWNSHIPS.
The first settlers in Dodge Township were Jonas Gallahan and Peter Mellin- ger, in 1839. Soon after came Lucius Kibby, Henry Mounsey, Thomas Riggs, Harrison Post, Pat Flinn, Oliver Funsen, etc., etc. The first birth was Jane Gallahan, in 1839. The first marriage was Joseph Morrill to Miss Temple Gal- lahan, in 1840. First death was Cyrus Keeler, May 18, 1846. Hannah Martin taught the first school in 1845. in a house built to live in by Charles Benoist. The first schoolhouse was built on Section 19, in 1846. Simeon Clark preached the first sermon at the house of Lucius Kibby.
WORTHINGTON .- In 1857, a surveying party made necessary surveys for a railroad from Farley, on Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad, to Cedar Rapids on Chicago & North-Western Railway. It was to be called Dubuque & South- Western Railroad, and would open up to Dubuque trade a most magnificent section of country. Work was soon commenced and carried gradually on until completion. A town was laid out on the farm of David Lovelace, on Section 31. A large store building was erected in 1858, by Amos Worthington, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and stocked with a general assortment of goods. A Mr. Piersall, of Dyersville, also erected a large store building and filled it with goods. A blacksmith-shop, saloon, etc., constituted the town of Worthington, until the hard times previous to the war passed over. Rockville, two miles west on Maquoketa River, on line of the old stage route and having a good water-power, was a thriving and promising place. But the railroad killed
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
it, until its half-dozen stores and corresponding business auxiliaries were deserted or moved away, leaving only a saw and grist mill and a blacksmith- shop. In the spring of 1860, Worthington sold his store and stock to William Moore, and returned to Cincinnati. About this time, the town commenced to improve, until now it is a lively place and having a good trade. Mr. E. H. Bush came with the surveying party, in 1857, and has been its most conspic- uous business man ever since ; he is now the railroad agent. L. Tisdale deals in dry goods and farming implements; John Toussaint, dry goods and groceries ; J. P. Cousin, dry goods and drugs, and is Postmaster ; W. Lattner, dry goods and furniture, and also a creamery ; William Lehman, wagon-shop; George Welter and John Permamtier are the blacksmiths ; B. Ross, tailor ; C. Nicels and W. W. Cox, tin-shops ; C. R. Anderson, cigars ; M. Kraus, boots and shoes ; Joseph Dunkle and Peter Baum keep hotel'; Dr. G. A. Dando, physician. The Baptist church, a stone building, was built in 1867. Rev. James Hill, of Cascade, was then and is now the Pastor. The Catholic church and school were built in 1876, by Rev. John Baumann, Priest.
CASCADE TOWNSHIP.
This is the southwestern township in Dubuque County, and was settled at an early date. Probably one-third of its area is woodland, and it is traversed, in a southeasterly direction, by the North Branch of the Maquoketa. The water-power, or the cascade, was the attraction for the early settler or specu- lator. The surface is uneven, the soil a sandy loam, and, as a township, it is fairly adapted to agriculture.
EARLY SETTLEMENT .- The Delongs were the first settlers at Cascade. The father came in 1834, and broke ground and planted corn, and, in 1835, ·came again and sowed wheat on his claim near the falls. In 1836, he, with his wife and five sons, William, John, Parley, Jacob and Perry, and a daughter named Susan, located in Cascade. One of his cabins was built nearly on the site of G. G. Banghart's store. He soon sold the water-power and a narrow strip of land adjoining, to John Sherman, who, in partnership with Arthur Thomas, in 1837, built the first flouring-mill. In same year they built the first hotel and first store. In 1838, the first saw-mill was built two miles above Cascade, by the Delong brothers. This mill was afterward known as Dillon's, and, later, was a paper-mill, and, still later, was converted into a flouring-mill, and known as Myer's. The original Delong was a miner, and is still living in Dubuque. Caleb Bucknam, father-in-law to G. G. Banghart, bought out the Delongs, in 1841, and the next year platted the village of Cascade. The United States survey of land, in this vicinity, was made in 1836-37; Alvin Burt, a civil engineer, located the meridian lines for Iowa, was attracted by this place and brought his family soon afterward, and was prominent in local improvements. He died in 1846. Peter Summers has been a continuous resident since 1839. Egbert Macomber, Elan Rafferty, C. O. Freeman, J. S. Hamilton, are veteran pioneers and worthy citizens. So also were John Rafferty, Mahlon Lupton, Asa Leek and Lyman Dillon, all deceased, who settled near the falls as early as 1840. The first birth within city limits was that of Chauncey Thomas, in 1838, and the first marriage was in 1839; the parties were Jeremiah Reed and Susan Delong, the bride being a blushing maiden of thirteen summers. The first school was taught by L. A. Styles, in a dwelling-house, about 1840. In January, 1842, the first post office was established in Cascade, and L. A. Styles
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HISTORY OF DUBUQUE COUNTY.
was the first Postmaster. J. B. Heniors, in 1840, was the first dispenser of pills and potions. The first lawyer was the talented and cultured Scotchman, W. W. Hamilton, who located here in 1842. He was, for some time, editor of the Dubuque Times ; was member of the State Senate several years, and served as general adjuster for the Illinois Central Railroad. The first temperance meeting was held at the house of Arthur Thomas, on the 19th of February, 1842, at which twenty persons were present. Upon organizing, William Collins was chosen President, Asa Leek, Vice President, and William Hutton, Secretary. The first merchant was G. G. Banghart, who still retains a leading prominence. Judge Taylor, who resides just over the line, in Richland, Jones County, has been honorably identified with Cascade since 1844, and no citizen holds a larger place in the public confidence and affection. Many of the early settlers still live in the vicinity. In 1849, there was a large exodus of Americans to Cali- fornia, since which date the foreign elementhas largely controlled the destiny of Cascade.
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