USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 61
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The St. John's German Reformed Church-Is a new brick building sit- nated in the eastern part of the city on East Street. It was built in the year 1870 at a cost of $1,400. The founders of the organization were G. F. Eyrich and wife, Henry Key and wife, Paul Offenboch and wife, Conrad Zimmerman and wife and G. Schoetke and wife.
The church was dedicated in the spring of 1870 by Rev. Charles Zipf, the pastor, who has since removed to Cleveland, Ohio. The membership at present numbers 30. The church will seat about 100 and it is all paid for. The services are conducted in the German language.
The St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church-Is situated in the western extremity of the city. It is a frame structure and was built in the year 1862. The society was organized about 18 years ago with only 14 or 15 members whose names were: Mrs. MeNorton, Mrs. Parker, William Car- roll, James Conroy, Peter White, Mr. Dolphin, James Moran, James Pearle, Patrick McGill, Mr. Corcoran and James McCallister. The mem- bership has since increased until it numbers 400.
The pastors who have conducted the organization are Revs. W. Walsh, Francis Martin, Martin Rice and A. F. Moynilian. The membership has increased so fast that the old church will not hold them all, so the society is building a large brick church just south of the old one. In the front of the new church a stone is set with the inscription, " St. Patrick's Church, July, 1878; Pastor, Rev. A. F. Moynihan." This church will probably be- ready for use during the early part of the year 1881.
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MARENGO.
CEMETERIES.
The old Marengo cemetery was laid out by James A. Paine as surveyor who subsequently was called to sleep beneath the surface of the ground- he had prepared for public interment. It was used as early as 1854; but the first graves in this vicinity were made just sontheast of the railroad depot, but here there were not over a half-dozen graves. The old cemetery is now under the authority of Marengo town corporation. It contains about 8 acres-formerly 3 acres. There have been at least two hundred interments here. Its site is two and a half'iniles sontheast of Marengo, but since the Odd Fellow's Cemetery was laid out in 1875 its use has been partly discon- tinned.
The Odd Fellow's Cemetery was laid out, surveyed and platted by C. W. Irish, a civil engineer of Iowa City, in the year 1875. The trustees are: Levi Miller, A. Shenerman and A. J. Morrison.
The land situated just southeast of town was purchased by the Odd Fel- lows lodge, of Marengo, from A. Shenerman for $1,000, and the improve- ments which have since been put upon it amount to $500 more.
The ground includes ten acres and is laid out into four blocks. In blocks A and B there are 106 lots each and each lot is 20 feet square. In block C there are 152 lots, in block D 166 lots and in each of these two blocks the lots are 16 feet square. There is a wide wagon road around the whole, and around each block. There are in blocks A and B alleys between each. of the lots 8 feet wide, while the alleys in blocks Cand D are six feet wide. There is a good board fence around the cemetery and a row of soft maples around each of the four blocks. Levi Miller's child was the first to rest there, but since that time ninety-four have taken their rest there in the si- lent halls of the grave. A large and convenient book containing the plat with the number of each lot and name of each block and alley is kept.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Marengo was taught by Mary, one of the Bishop girls, of whom there were twelve in the same family, living across the river. She taught the school just east of the Catholic church, in a log school-house, in 1850, having in attendance a dozen pupils and receiving $5 or $6 for her services. Originally when Marengo was the name of an almost vacant plat of the county-seat without a court-house, considerable interest was mani- fested in the schools.
On April 1, 1861, when the population had grown to six hundred and fifty, Marengo and the territory contignous thereto, having complied with the requirements of the statute, became an independent school dis- trict.
The transition from the " district " school to the aristocratic institution with three grades and three teachers-still a common school in its main features-was slight. James Root, Jr., was principal, and upon his rec- ommendation the work was graded and reorganized. Accordingly it was agreed that the first grade properly comprised all who were finding out the mysteries of A B C, the multiplication table as far as the tens, and to those able to translate the third reader. This was the primary grade.
. The secondary or intermediate grade comprised those who could spell
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
and read from McGuffey's third and fourth reader, studied primary geog- raphy, primary grammar, arithmetic as far as compound numbers, and took exercises in penmanship.
All others belonged to the third grade, and included history, natural phi- losophy, arithmetic, algebra, etc.
This was the only gradation adopted. No time was assigned in which the course was to be completed, and within the curriculum scholars selected studies as suited their tastes or needs.
In those days the school board was modeled upon Isaiah's suggestion of "a wheel within a wheel " -- being comprised of a president. vice-president, secre- tary and treasurer, and one lonely fellow who, perforce, must remain only a " director " whether he had any oil in his lamp or not, because there is no other office in the gift of " the board."
About eight years saw this system pursued without extraordinary suc- cess, until the fall of 1869.
In September, Mr. C. P. Rogers, a gentleman of character, education, ambition, and capacity to succeed, became principal. He reduced the schools to the graded system, with eleven common school grades, which succeeded well. In 1871 a four years' high school course was introduced, which prepared students for admission to the State University of Iowa- making the total length of the course fourteen years. This has since been reduced to eleven years.
In June, 1874, Prof. Rogers was called to Marshalltown.
The next year the school was under the superintendency of Prof. John Valentine, and for the next five years Prof. R. S. Bingham was superin- tendent. He was a very able and efficient instructor and brought the school up to a high standard.
In 1874-5 there was a large addition to the school-building constructed ata cost of nearly $4,000, making the total cost value of the building nearly $25,000.
In September, 1880, Prof. L. J. Woodruff became superintendent, and at once thoroughly sifted the work, and reduced the grades of the schools to the eight grade system, now generally used in the best schools of the State, for the common school department, with three years high-school courses, one preparatory for the university, the other for the putting a satisfactory finish upon an ordinary English education. Prof. W. has been successful heretofore, and gives signs of a vigor now that, though he has been here but a short time, give ample assurance of success.
The present corps of teachers is as follows: Miss Minnie Leonard, A. B., principal high-school; Mr. S. A. Ogle, assistant principal high-school; Miss S. R. Cozier, principal grammar school; Miss Anna T. Molloy, inter- mediate; Miss Mary B. Talbott, intermediate; Miss J. D. Stewart, inter- mediate; Miss Lillian Couch, second primary: Miss Aggie Beck, second primary; Mrs. A. C. Black, first primary; Miss I. M. Shepard, first pri- mary.
Here it may be mentioned that the corps of teachers, as a whole, is first- class, and doing work scarcely excelled.
Miss Couch and Mrs. Black have added to the advantages of the school work of their own compilation for teaching arithmetic to primary pupils, after the Grube method; a work that presents the subject to young pupils in a comprehensive and clear way, and will be of valne wherever used.
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MARENGO.
The enrollment of pupils in 1871-2 was 550 for the year; this year it is about 585.
The library contains several hundred volumes of reference and text- books, history, biography, etc.
The Marengo public schools stand as well as any in eastern Iowa-in the State in truth, and the alumni who enter the State University have always ranked well from their entrance.
The school board is composed of six members, Hon. C. Hedges is presi- dent. The other members are W. A. Snavely, C. Lake, O. Dillin, T. J. Talbott and S. W. Williams.
Herewith is given a report for the three months ending November 24, 1880.
Whole number enrolled 530
Number belonging at date. 472
Average number belonging 480
Per cent of attendance
95.25
Per cent of punctuality. 97.10
Visits by the board . 18
Visits by the principal 73
Visits by individuals
173
L. J. WOODRUFF, Principal.
JOURNALISM.
At present Marengo has two good weekly newspapers, the Marengo Re- publican and the Marengo Democrat. Both of these papers are ably edited and enjoy a large circulation. Mr. F. E. Spering is editor of the Republican, and Mr. J. G. Sehorn is the editor of the Democrat.
The Marengo Republican has been established nearly a quarter of a century. Clinton Edwards established the Iowa Weekly Visitor Sept. 6, 1856, and continued its editor and proprietor until his death, which occurred the 18th day of July, 1859. His wife, Mrs. M. Edwards, then assumed the editorial chair till Jan. 1, 1861, when it was purchased by I. J. Teagarden, and conducted as the Iowa Valley Review till September, 1864, when he died and the paper was conducted by J. R. Serrin through the exciting campaign of that fall. In January, 1865, it passed into the hands of F. A. C. Foreman & Co. Aug. 18, of that year, the naine was changed to Progressive Republican. Mr. Foreman died Sept. 7, 1865, and J. C. Benedict became publisher September 22, 1865. On September 29, 1865, F. M. Connelly was editor and Connelly & Benedict publishers. Connelly & Benedict continued publishers till May, 1866, when Benedict retired and H. R. Crenshaw took his interest. Connelly & Crenshaw con- tinued its publication till the 23d of February, 1867, when F. E. Spering purchased Connelly's interest September 7, 1871. The paper was changed to nine columns to the page at the same time the name was changed to the Marengo Republican. Since 1871 the Republican has increased its circulation and influence and now has become one of the best weeklies in the State. The Republican, with Messrs. Spering and Crenshaw as editors and proprietors, has an established reputation both for its excellence as a periodical and for the neat job work done at the office. Mr. F. E. Spering has acquired much newspaper experience, having for a long time been a publisher in Pennsylvania and New York. Mr. H. R. Crenshaw is an old
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
resident of Marengo, and though a man in the prime of life was a Union soldier in the war of the rebellion, and since he has been an active busi- ness man here. He is now postmaster.
The Marengo Democrat was established July 9, 1875, with J. G. Se- horn and W. S. Cohick as editors and proprietors. The capital at first in- vested was about $1,500, but now Mr. J. G. Sehorn has about $4,000 capital invested. In January following W. S. Cohick sold out, and since Mr. Sehorn has been sole editor and proprietor. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Cohick died. Mr. Sehorn is an enterprising and faithful editor, and his- diligence has been rewarded by great success with his paper. He has twice for a considerable time issued a daily. For six months during the Tilden campaign he issued the Marengo Daily Democrat; again, on the 3d of June, 1878. he commenced the issue of his second daily, and con- tinned the same till January 1, 1880. He has a large power press for his newspaper and a Fairhaven job press for miscellaneous work. The Demo- crat enjoys a wide circulation and advertising patronage. Several Demo- cratic papers have started here before, but for some reason it has been left to the present editor to make it a success. While Marengo has two such valuable weekly papers she may well consider herself fortunate.
SOCIETIES.
Marengo has many secret, benevolent and other society organizations:
Masonic-The Jerusalem Chapter, No. 72, R. A. M., was organized April 4, 1874. The first officers were: J. R. Flaugher, M. E. H. P. ; O. Dillin, K .; J. T. Hollowell, S .; G. U. Bailey, G. M. 3d V .: C. F. Cadle, G. M. 2d V .; L. Shenerman, treasurer; E. C. Alverson, secretary; E. N. Leib, C. of H .; J. M. Ruslı, P. S .; J. T. Swaney, G. M. 1st V. Present membership forty-nine; meetings, Wednesday evening on or before the full moon, at the Masonic hall southwest corner of square; present officers: J. M. Rush, M. E. H. P .; E. E. Alverson, secretary.
Marengo Lodge, No. 114, A. F. and A. M., organized August 28, 1857, U. D., and charter issued by the Grand Lodge June 2, .1858. The first officers under the charter were: J. H. Gray, W. M .; Wm. D. Loveridge, S. W .; N. B. Vineyard, J. W .; John Dillin, J. D .; Wmn. Martin, treas- urer; John Miller, secretary; O. Dillin, S. D .; A. W. Childress, tyler. The first meetings were held in a hall near the northeast corner of the square, but the present place of meeting is in their own new hall at the southwest corner of the square. The hall is 24x60, finely furnished in all respects. Their property, which includes the fine brick in which their meetings are held, is valued at not less than $10,000. The lodge is in good condition, and numbers sixty-four. The meetings are held Monday even- ing on or before full moon. Present officers: O. Dillin, W. M .; J. C. Allen, S. W .; J. S. Hogner, J. W; E. C. Alverson, treasurer; E. D. Beard, secretary; J. M. Rush, S. D .; Wm. Blaine, J. D .; J. M. Lyon, tyler.
Odd Fellows-Hebron Lodge, No. 148, I. O. O. F .; organized March 1, 1867, with the following charter members: A. J. Morrison, Sylvester Gullet, J. C. Jackson, Jacob Franc, Fred Messner, Leopold Levi. The order first held their meetings in the second story of - the old post-office building on Washington Street. then owned by J. R. Serrin and the Ma- sons met in the same hall. The first officers were: A. J. Morrison. N.
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MARENGO.
G .; Jacob Franc, V. G .; J. C. Jackson, secretary; Fred. Messner, treas- urer. The present place of meeting is in the second story of Sheuerman. Bros.' building, on the west side of the square. The hall is not owned by the lodge. The lodge owns the new cemetery and other property, in all to the amount of $3,500. The lodge is in good condition. Present member- ship forty. The meetings are on Tuesday night.
Legion of Honor-The Iowa Legion of Honor, Marengo Lodge, No. 36, was organized and instituted August 20, 1879, by Deputy Grand Presi- dent, J. B. Bassett. The number of charter members was 52 and the pres- ent membership is 49. The meetings are held in Groff's Hall, on north side, every alternate Friday evening. Present officers: N. B. Holbrook, president; R. H. Kirk, vice-president; J. B. Haddock, secretary; Lewis. Hass, financial secretary; A. B. Eshleman, treasurer; W. R. Stewart, chap- lain; C. H. Groff, usher; J. M. Dinwiddie, door-keeper; D. M. Rowland, sentinel. The attendance of all stranger brothers visiting our city is in- vited.
Workmen-The A. O. U. W., Marengo. Lodge, No. 92, was instituted January 22, 1876, by W. B. Kerns, of Davenport. The present member- ship is 42. The place of meeting is at Groff's Hall, semi-monthly. The present officers are: E. E. Alverson, P. M. W .; J. H. Mead, M. W .; C. H. Groff, financier; D. M. Rowland, R .; P. Friederickson, O .; N. R. Lyon, F. S .; C. S. Lake, receiver; G. W. Swazey, G .; John Lindsey, I. W.
Marengo Iowa National Guards-H. C. Crenshaw, Capt .; E. N. Leib, 1st Lieut .; L. C. McBride, 2d Lieut .; E. E. Alverson, 1st Sergt. The com- pany was enlisted under the laws of Iowa, May, 1878, and at present num- bers 65 men. They are accustomed to attend 4th of July celebrations and Decoration Day exercises. They are completely armed and equipped with Springfield, breech-loading rifles and army regulation suits. Their armory is in Eddy's Hall, on the west side of the square. The hall is large and convenient, being 90x25 feet.
Fire Companies-There are two fire companies, besides a hook and lad- der company. Of the "Phoenix," E. N. Lieb, is Capt .; of the " Rescues," Henry Blaisure, is Capt .; of Hook and Ladder Co., A. M. Henderson, is Capt. These companies are provided with buckets, axes and picks.
The Milton Club-This club, composed of young ladies and gentlemen, meets every Wednesday evening, for the purpose of reading and studying the great poet, John Milton, and other standard authors. The meetings are a source of great improvement to its members. The club is com- posed of the following members, most of whom are teachers in the public school: Miss I. M. Shepard, Mrs. A. C. Black, Miss Aggie Beck, Miss L. N. Couch, Miss Stewart, Miss M. B. Talbott, Annie S. Molloy, Miss S. R. Cozier, Miss M. E. Leonard, Prof. L. J. Woodruff, J. T. Beem and F. A. North.
RAILROADS.
Propositions to obtain a railroad at Marengo were discussed as early as 1854, when the road which is now the Rock Island, had only reached' Davenport; but no very decisive steps were taken till the year 1S56. On Tuesday evening, November 18, 1856, a citizens' railroad meeting was held at the conrt-house, to take into consideration the propriety of taking stock in the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company.
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
The meeting was presided over by J. C. McConnell, E. C. Hendershott being chosen secretary. R. A. Redman and others addressed the meeting on the utility of the project. Robert McKee, J. C. McConnell, H. M. Martin, S. J. Murphy and E. C. Hendershott were appointed a committee to obtain subscriptions for stock. Several meetings of citizens were held, till February, 1857, when the civil engineers completed the survey as far Marengo. At this time a petition to the county judge to call an election to vote on the proposition of taking stock to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars in the M. & M. R. R., was being circulated with good success. In the spring of 1857, another railroad project, known as the " Iowa River Valley and Minnesota Railroad Company," assumed definite formn. The route was surveyed up the Iowa River, through Indiantown, Marshalltown and Eldora; articles of incorporation were adopted by the directors and officers were elected. The officers were as follows: presi- dent, John Clark; vice-president, W. Butler; treasurer, E. C. Hender- shott; secretary, J. C. McConnell. The stock in the Mississippi and Mis- souri Railroad was taken by the county in 1858, and work immediately commenced. In the years 1858-60 the population of the county rapidly increased and Marengo City, having the prospect of a railroad in the near future, drew many settlers. The railroad was completed to Marengo in October, 1860. A turn-table and stalls for three engines were built near where the depot now stands, and this became the terminus, for at least thirteen months. The Western Stage Company made this their eastern terminus and made connection with the daily trains on the railroad.
At this time Mr. L. Q. Reno was express agent. He was succeeded by H. Deffinbough, who had charge of the express at this point for over 14 years. Then N. B. Vineyard took the express agency in 1875. J. M. Shaw was his successor and has since kept the office. George Fletcher was one of the first station agents, then L. S. Viele became agent and has acted in that capacity for a long time. Staging was a large business for several years at or near the time of the railroad's advent.
The railroad was completed through to Victor January 1st, 1862, to Brooklyn in the fall of the same year, to Grinnell in the summer of 1863. The amount of business now done by this railroad is immense. Every freight car on the whole line is in active service and the business is so great that much of it necessarily remains undone.
POST-OFFICE.
Robert McKee was the postmaster at Marengo. He was appointed March 2, and received his commission April 11, 1846. The office was then kept at his house in the east part of town. It is said that the first mails were carried by R. M. Hutchinson, who rode a little mule, and the rider's legs were so long that his feet would drag upon the ground. This is a list of the postmasters who followed: William Dillin, R. A. Red- man, B. F. Crenshaw, Dr. E. C. Hendershott. John Gray, William Downard, Mrs. Margarette Edwards, John Serrin, William Downard, F. E. Spering, Frank M. Connelly, S. J. Murphy and H. R. Crenshaw, the present of- ficer.
BANKING.
In the spring of 1867 Mr. J. H. Branch opened in Marengo a banking office in a small room in a building then owned by A. B. Eshleman, occu-
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pying the present site of the Wilson Block. Considering the enterprise some- thing of an experiment, Mr. Branch thought it better to begin small and grow, than to inaugurate his business on a scale which might not be main- tained. Within a few months his business outgrew the small quarters he then occupied, and in the autumn of 1867 he removed into a new office erected expressly for his use by L. Q. Reno. This place becoming too small for his business he bought a lot at the southwest corner of the public square; this was late in the year 1869, and early in the following year he erected the elegant and commodious banking house which he now occupies; it is 20 by 50 feet and two stories high. For many years Mr. Branch was the only representative of the banking business in this city. In 1873 Messrs. Hutton & Maholın started a banking honse bnt after running a few years they removed to Belle Plaine, where they still remain. Janu- ary 7, 1880 several of the citizens of Marengo met and organized what is known as the Marengo Savings Bank with a capital of $15,000, which has since been increased to $30,000. Of this institution Hon. N. B. Holbrook is president. On July 1, The First National Bank of Marengo started, suc- ceeding the business of J. H. Branch, banker. The bank was organized with a capital of $50,000. The officers are J. H. Branch, president; S. Huston, vice-president and C. Bammer, cashier. This is the first organized and only national bank in Iowa county. Both the banks of Marengo are now doing a large business and paying their stockholders good dividends.
HOTELS.
G. W. Kirkpatrick kept the first hotel in Marengo. This was in 1851, and the house was called the Marengo Exchange. It stood at the southeast corner of the public square and was the old stage station. . William Dillin is said to have kept the house after Kirkpatrick. The Clifton Honse was started in 1864, H. C. Paige and A. J. Morrison remodeling what was B. F. Crenshaw's general store room on the north side, built on an addition and opened a hotel. Morrison was proprietor a few years then came A. J. Edgett, Albert Hann, David Cunderman, and in 1870 J. S. Shaw purchased and run it for ten years. In November, 1880, John Kenneket, of Iowa City, rented it and now carries on the business. . It is the best house in Marengo and receives a good patronage.
MANUFACTORIES.
The woolen mill just east of town on the south bank of the Iowa River does a good business. The building was erected in 1866 by a stock com- pany, with W. A. Snavely manager. In 1872 it was bought by Shener- inan Bros. The building is two stories high, 70 by 50, and run by a steam engine of abont thirty-horse power. Wool is received here and manufac- tured into yarn, flannels, blankets and cassimeres. Goods are sent to all the States round about Iowa. About $75,000 capital is employed. There are two sets of spindles with 240 in each set. Since so much of the farmers' wool is consumed right here it would be to their interest to raise more wool. Twenty operatives are given steady employment. There is greater demand for these goods than can be supplied. The iron foundry does a good profit- able business in re-casting and fitting. The foundry is situated in the south- east, two blocks east of the depot. The grist mill which is situated one-half
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
mile north of town does a large and profitable business. There is another grist mill called the "Star Mills." This is situated a little above the city on Iowa River. The first mill for grinding corn or wheat was on the old mill- race, which starts from Bear Creek and runs through the north part of the city. The planing mill in the north part of the town is in readiness for work whenever called upon for business.
STORES.
The first store in Marengo was kept by William Downard in 1847. It was two blocks west of the square in a log building which served at once for a store and dwelling. The most of the traffic was with the Indians and those who were looking up claims. Mr. Downard first started a store at the old trading post and after running it there for a few months came to the newly located site of Marengo. All his goods could have been hauled on a one- horse wagon and were valued at about $300. What a change 33 years has wrought! Then a few articles hungs on pegs driven into the logs and a few groceries and plugs of tobacco, now large store rooms with stocks of merchandise valued at from $10,000 to $60,000, surround the public square. There are now four large general stores, three dry goods stores, nine gro- cery stores, four drug stores, three hardware stores, and a great variety of other interests, a full list of which we give elsewhere.
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