USA > Iowa > Jackson County > The history of Jackson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Iowa miscellaneous matters, &c > Part 58
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The first meeting of the Town Council was held March 21, 1853, at which time subordinate officers were elected as follows: J. P. Edie, Assessor; Isaac Hall, Marshal ; E. F. Clark, Treasurer.
The first ordinance adopted was one providing for the assessment of the city property, and a few meetings later we find a tax levied of one-half of one per cent for corporate purposes.
At a meeting held March 29, it was ordered that the eagle side of the American half-dollar of 1850, be adopted as the temporary seal of the corpor- ation. This was used by placing it under the paper to which the seal was to be affixed, and the thumb-nail or some smooth instrument passed several times over the paper, leaving the impression in faint relief upon the same.
This town incorporation included the west half of Section 19, Township 84 north, Range 3 east, and east half of Section 24, Township 84 north, Range 2 east, Jackson County, Iowa.
AS A CITY.
Maquoketa was incorporated as a city by a special act of the State Legis- lature of Iowa on the 27th of January, 1857. The charter was adopted April 26, 1857, by a vote of 5 in favor of it and 1 against its adoption. The first officers were elected May 4, 1857, and, May 7, were sworn in, as follows :
I. K. Millard, Mayor ; J. C. Brakey, Recorder ; A. Dalrymple, Marshal ; William Y. Earle, Assessor.
Aldermen-First Ward, O. D. Cowles, R. B. Clancy ; Second Ward, T. Lyman, R. S. Hadley : Third Ward, B. Spencer, D. H. Case; Fourth Ward, Jonas Clark, Jason Pangborn.
May 11, 1866, the question of abandoning the old city charter was sub- mitted to a vote of the people. The charter was abandoned by a vote of 57 to 3, and a new charter was adopted by the Council.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
City Government .- The present city officers are : Pierce Mitchell, Mayor ; Thomas Trout, Treasurer; A. J. House, Solicitor; W. S. Belden, City Clerk ; James Halley, City Marshal ; D. S. Haight, Assessor.
Aldermen-First Ward, William Gurius, W. S. Clark ; Second Ward, Frank Trout, John Dostal : Third Ward, Thomas Hench, C. M. Sanborn ; Fourth Ward, King Steear, D. N. Collamer.
Financial .- At the time of the building of the Court House, of which an account has been given, under the head of " County Seat." the city issued bonds sufficient to pay for most of the building. These have been redeemed, for the most part, there now being outstanding bonds to the amount of from $3,000 to $4,000. The assessment of real and personal property in Maquoketa, accord- ing to last assessment, is $457,028. The tax for city purposes is 10 mills on the dollar. The assessment is probably 30 per cent of the real value of the property assessed.
MAQUOKETA IN 1879.
The name Maquoketa is derived from the river which flows just north of the city, within a few rods of the suburbs, and means, in the Indian language, " Bear River," for.such was this stream known by the Indians, and so applied on account of the great number of bears which inhabited its banks and the streams which feed the river. The name is an uncommonly difficult one to the stranger, and seems easily forgotten, besides being rather. hard to pronounce. The spelling is a problem of no less difficulty to the uninitiated, as may be guessed from an examination of the following varieties of orthography, or " mis-ography," which have been taken from letters actually received at the post office: Makokety, Macoquety, Makokueta, Macoyta, Macoeketa, Mako- keta, Macotokey, McKokady, Macoty, Makozuta. The original spelling is said to have been Maquaw-eutaw, which became half Americanized.
Maquoketa has a delightful situation, being on an eminence, which is too low to be called a bluff, but which is the dividing ridge separating the Maquo- keta River from Mill or Prairie Greek. The greater part of the town lies on the northern slope, and the descent is gradual to the river's edge, affording excellent drainage, yet without the inconvenience of heavy grades.
The finest view which can be had of the city and surrounding country is from the cupola of the High School building. The scenery from this position is grand, and, on a clear day, the country can be viewed for many miles. Almost an unbroken belt of timber lines the horizon in the northern half of its circle, while, for 180 degrees on the southern half, the line of vision is where the sky and prairie seem to meet. The valley of the Maquoketa can be traced a long distance, and clumps of trees here and there mark the course of Mill Creek.
The streets and yards of the city have been thickly planted with shade- trees, and the town nestles among the green, when the trees are in foliage, like a jewel in its casket. Quite a number of the streets are perfect vistas, under the shade of whose overhanging boughs are found a welcome promenade and refreshing drive. These various avenues of maple and elm are flanked by dwellings of homelike and, occasionally, of artistic appearance. Neatly shaven lawns and garden-plats tell of the taste and culture of the inhabitants.
Maquoketa has no park, a deficiency which she will not miss so long as almost every yard is a park in miniature.
The business of Maquoketa is its pride. It claims the credit, in these hard times, of being one of the few towns in Iowa which can, for the past few years, be called, with propriety, a live town. The finest buildings the city contains
1
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have been put up since 1875, and the improvement continues uninterrupted. The mercantile business is mostly retail. The lumber interests are well repre- sented, there being three large lumber-yards in the city.
A water-supply is needed, and a company was organized, a couple of years since, for the purpose of securing water-works for the city ; but the effort was abandoned on account of the expense. The most practical scheme appears to be to establish a reservoir on the hill above the city, pumping the water from the Maquoketa. Years will probably elapse before this can be accomplished.
The city has no organized fire department.
Two railroads connect Maquoketa with the Mississippi-the Midland to Clinton, and the Davenport & St. Paul to Davenport. A full history of these lines has already been given.
HISTORICAL INCIDENTS.
The Maquoketa River, as we have learned, was once considered a navigable stream up to the forks, and, as late as 1863, it was traversed by boats during high water. On April 21, 1863, the steamboat Echo, of which Barnes Bros. were proprietors, brought up quite a cargo of goods, among which we note the following consignments : B. C. Brookfield, groceries ; McGregor & Knittle, groceries ; C. M. Sanborn, groceries ; Perham & Gray, whiting, soda and soap ; Baldwin & Co., hardware; Roberts & Standish, marble; Thomas Wright, warp and roofing ; P. Mitchell, dry goods, etc .; Shellenberger & Co., groceries ; Haighit & Brown, 400 feet of pine lumber.
May 19, 1863, the Excelsior gives an account of quite an excursion down the Maquoketa on this same steamboat, in which considerable difficulty was experienced in " dodging " overhanging branches of trees, etc.
In one of the early Fourth of July celebrations in Maquoketa, it was deter- mined to have a flag-staff on what was then known as Academy Hill. A fine hickory pole was secured at Teeple place, being seventy feet long and scarcely a foot in diameter at the base. After the pole had been raised by the settlers (for this was about 1841), the rope slipped out of the pulley at the top. Here was an occasion to try men's souls-or patience ! A young man named Vos- burg, with pluck in his face and ambition in his soul, glanced up at the tall, slim, slippery sapling, and, taking the rope in his teeth, started for the top. He reached it without faltering, but, finding it impossible to use both hands, he could not get the rope through the pulley. After struggling for some time with the stubborn and raveling end, the plucky youth was compelled to surrender, and the pole was taken down until the rope was replaced. On this was hoisted a cotton flag, said to have been the first flag of any size which had caught the breeze in Jackson County.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME " TIMBER CITY."
In the earlier days of Maquoketa, educational matters were somewhat neg- lected, and up to 1870, the standard of our schools was rather low. A few persons who desired improvement began to agitate the subject. Mr. H. W. McCarron took a leading part and began writing a series of articles for the Excelsior. When the first was nearly completed, he was racking his brain for a name appropriate for a heading, one that would attract attention. Mrs. Mc- Carrow, with woman's ready wit, at once suggested "Timber City," and it was adopted. From the first publication of these " Timber City " articles, began
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an improvement in educational interests which has steadily grown, until we now have public schools to which we point with pride. Thus originated the name of "Timber City," which still clings to the beautiful town of Maquoketa, and to the publication of the articles under that caption much of the excellence of its schools may be attributed.
A STREET ASSAULT.
The prohibitory liquor law of Iowa has in most towns. and usually in . Maquoketa, been a dead-letter. A citizen of Magnoketa, Mr. W. F. McCar- ron, known as State Temperance Lecturer, and who was at that time Grand Worthy Patriarch of the Iowa Sons of Temperance, undertook, in March, 1871, by a series of civil prosecutions, to stop the nefarious practice in rum in ยท this city.
Mr. McCarron had the law on his side, and the saloon men resorted to threats of violence if he did not desist, not alone violence toward him, but toward other high-minded citizens, who were his abettors in the enforcement of the laws. These menaces were not heeded, it being the general opinion that those vanquished at law would not dare resort to violent means to carry their point.
Monday, March 26, Mr. McCarron entered the post office about the hour of noon, and, having called at the delivery window for his mail, he stepped aside to read a letter he had received. While thus engaged, some four or five men entered the room, one of whom stepped rapidly up to Mr. McCarron and struck him to the floor, while the door was closed by some of the others, who likewise ordered the Deputy Postmaster, who was the only person present, and who was about to interfere, to stand back. The latter, however, reached the door, and calling for help, the scoundrels who had been kicking, stamping and beating McCarron hastily fled. In a few minutes, a large crowd of excited and exas- perated citizens had gathered on the spot, which only needed the voice of a leader to have " cleaned out " every saloon in the city. Better counsels had the order of the day, and an indignation meeting was called for the evening, and. during the afternoon, over the signature of some of Maquoketa's promi- nent citizens, appeared the following circular :
RALLY ! RALLY !!
Every citizeu of Maquoketa, who is in favor of sustaining law and order as against whisky and mobbery-every citizen who has a pride in the morals and reputation of our city-is earn- esily urged to be present at Schrader's Hall, this evening, at 7 o'clock, to give expression to a becoming indignation against the brutal and unprovoked conspiracy against, and assault upon, our worthy fellow-citizen, W. F. McCarron, and to take such action as the insulted dignity of the public demands.
Let the Gentlemen come ! Let the Ladies come !
We invoke the moral sense of our city, to rally to the support of the law as against that traffic and spirit which defies law.
At this meeting, the hall was crowded to its full standing capacity by the best citizens of Maquoketa, whose purpose was to express their indignation at the insult offered to all good citizens, and the injury upon Mr. McCarron in particular. R. Perham was called upon to preside. A committee of five was appointed to draft a series of resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. The resolutions unanimously adopted were as follows :
WHEREAS, Certain men in our community are engaged in illegal traffic, and are disposed to persevere in their nefarious business, even by resorting to brute force ; and,
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
WHEREAS, Certain citizens of our city, who have endeavored to enforce the laws, have been threatened, and one of them murderously assaulted, by a brutal mob ; therefore,
Resolved, That we, the citizens of Maquoketa, do hereby emphatically condemn the traffic and the illegal acts of those engaged in it, and pledge our moral and material support to all who endeavor to enforce the laws and preserve order, and will stand by them until this business has no place in our midst.
Resolved, That we hereby extend to Mr. McCarron our sympathy, in view of the outrage this day inflicted upon him, and hereby pledge him that we will stand by him or any other man to the bitter end in prosecuting his assailants, and in defending his person from any similar assaults in the future.
Resolved, That we regard this assault as not personal to Mr. McCarron, but as a blow struck at every law-and-order citizen of our whole place-as a conflict between two principles, temper- ance and intemperance, whisky and rowdyism versus sobriety and morality.
WHEREAS, We understand that some of our citizens, otherwise considered worthy, are col- luding with the assassins, to bewilder and entrap the witnesses for the State ; therefore,
Resolved, That we regret that such countenance should be given to murderous proceedings, and implore every citizen to stand by humanity and the right.
WHEREAS, Threats have been made against the lives and property of some of our citizens, who have been active or instrumental in the enforcement of the liquor law, and attempts have been made to intimidate witnesses of the recent outrage,
Resolved, That we will avenge to the uttermost any injury to the property or person of any of our citizens who have heen instrumental in enforcing this law ; and, although we propose to use only lawful means, if Maquoketa is not big enough for us all to live in and settle our differ- ences by law, the liquor sellers must move out.
Resolved, That this meeting request the City Council to place the license so high that the saloon-keepers cannot afford to pay it.
Mr. MeCarron was confined to his room for a short time, but his injuries did not prove serious.
Information was filed against five of those engaged in the assault, before Justice Wilbur, who bound them over, in the sum of $1,500 each, to appear before the District Court.
Mr. McCarron also commenced civil proceedings against the offenders, and secured judgment in the Circuit Court, in September, for $1,600 and costs.
In the criminal action, the saloon-keepers pleaded guilty; and were fined each a small fine.
FIRES.
Maquoketa, like nearly all of our Western cities, has had its visitations by fire, but, notwithstanding these misfortunes, the enterprise and energy of its citizens soon efface all evidences of disaster. This town has, within late years, been visited by four large fires, but, excepting the last one, which occurred within a few days, no traces remain.
The first of these four fires occurred upon the night of Thursday, April 14, 1870, when, at about 10 o'clock, flames were seen issuing from the rear of Wilcox & Dean's two-story frame blacksmith and wagon shop, on East Platt street, opposite the First National Bank. The alarm was promptly given, but the buildings being of very light, combustible material, the fire spread rapidly and became uncontrollable. It soon became apparent that the adjoining build- ing must be lost, and strong efforts were made to save the contents. Mr. House saved a large quantity of his new furniture and patent rotary harrow, but lost a large quantity of valuable black walnut and other lumber, which, with the building, was not insured. The flames devoured the building of Wilcox & Dean, with the contents of tools and three new wagons, on which there was, unfortunately, no insurance. The Goodenow Hotel was in much danger, but, by the heroic labors of the citizens, was saved. The frame shoe-shop belong- ing to S. S. Germond, and a large one-story frame warehouse, stored with groceries belonging to C. M. Sanborn, although within ten feet of the fire, were saved by the strenuous efforts of P. A. Wolf and Mr. Frank Fonderlin, who
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stood in the face of the scorching flames and deluged the sides of the building with water as fast as it was handed them. They were severely burned, but their efforts were successful. The city cisterns proved wholly inadequate to the occasion. An account of the fire in the Sentinel speaks thus of the hooks and ladders: "The fate of the hooks and ladders was equally inglorious. Having been stowed away for 'safe keeping' in one of the burned buildings, it can safely be said of them that 'they were, and are not.'" It is said that Miss Mary Goodenow manfully handled one of the pumps until exhausted, in strik- ing contrast to many well-dressed persons of the opposite sex, who only looked on. Thus ended a conflagration that, at one time, threatened to destroy the whole city.
The next fire of importance occurred on Sunday morning, March 3, at about half-past 4 o'clock, and was discovered in the rear end of the hay-loft, just under the roof, in the livery stable of N. O. Rhodes, on West Platt street. Within a few moments after the alarm, the citizens, to the number of several hundred, were on the ground, and quickly formed into bucket brigades, and valiantly fought the destroyer, but the flames made such rapid headway that their efforts were not of much avail, nor could the fire be stopped until it had devoured all of the frame buildings within its vicinity. The two-story frame building occupied by Claus Voelker as a billiard-room and residence was destroyed. The three buildings on the west of the stable, owned by George Dahling, and occupied by the butcher-shop of Adam Hess, and Mr. Dahling as as a residence, by the harness-shop of Mr. Dabling and the family of an Irish- man as a residence, as well as the saloon of J. Brumm and his residence, were all destroyed, the last-named building being literally torn to pieces before the flames reached it. By this precantion the progress of the fire was stayed in this direction. On the other side, the granite walls of the stone block stopped the progress of the devouring element, and, no doubt, was the means of saving the city from destruction. The Sentinel, whose office was in the rear of this block, thought to make the best of its opportunities, and, as it elegantly expressed itself in its next issue : "'We first moved out, and then moved in agin,' with no loss, excepting some damaged type, and about a bushel of 'pi.' " Mr. Rhodes saved his horses and carriages, but, in buffalo-robes, harness, feed, etc., lost about $500.
The stable was owned by Mr. Jonas Clark, and was worth $1,200. There was no insurance. Claus Voelker saved his billiard-tables, but none of his clothing or household furniture, his wife and children escaping in their night- dresses. His loss was about $2,500, upon which there was no insurance.
George Dahling was the heaviest loser. Besides his three buildings, he lost a great many of his tools, a $150 sewing machine and a greater portion of his household furniture, amounting, in all, to about $4,000, upon which there was not a dollar of insurance. Adam Hess lost meat and butcher's tools to the amoant of $500, with no insurance. John Brumm lost stock in trade and household furniture amounting to $500. Carter Bros., hardware merchants, lost about $350 on stock. and about $500 on hames which were stored in Hess' cellar. These were insured. It is supposed that the fire was of incendiary origin.
The fire-fiend again visited Maquoketa early Sunday morning, the 13th of February, 1876. It was first discovered by a lady returning from a neighbor's, a little after 12 o'clock, and she giving the alarm, soon brought a great number of the citizens to the scene, when it was found that fire had broken out between the grocery store of A. G. Henderson and the bakery of Field & Sutherland,
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and there is no doubt but that the flames could have been extinguished at this time had water been convenient. The fire apparatus of the city did all that could be expected of it, but it was not sufficient to quench the fire, although it held it in check while hundreds of men went to work saving the contents of the buildings near by. In a little less than two hours from the time it began, the fire had done its worst, and six buildings, embracing everything from the brick block of Spencer & Knittle on the north to Exchange Block on the south, were a mass of smoldering embers. It was thought, at one time, that Spencer & Knittle Block would be burned, and the goods of the firm were removed, resulting in much damage. The stock of groceries in Henderson's store was almost entirely destroyed. The next building north was that of Dr. G. Truax, the upper portion being used by him as a residence, and the lower floor by Willard Duffin as a drug store. The Doctor suffered almost an entire loss of his household goods, and Mr. Duffin saved but little. His safe, containing his books and papers, went through the fire all right.
The next store was that of R. G. Gardner, and occupied by him as a resi- dence and photograph gallery, and a large stock of fancy goods, books, etc .; a considerable portion of these and his household furniture were saved. An immense number of negatives, the accumulation of years, were destroyed. The first building south of Henderson's was the one-story bakery of Field & Suth- erland. They saved very little. Next on the south was the unoccupied, one- story frame building owned by S. B. Gage. The last building on the south was the meat-shop of Hess & Edinger. They succeeded in saving every- thing of value in the shop, but the building was a total loss ; it was valued at $500. The night was very calm, a fact which saved greater loss.
The losses were about as follows: R. G. Gardner, $4,500; insurance, $1,200. Dr. G. Truax, $2,000; insurance, none. Willard Duffin, $3,500; insurance, $2,500. A. G. Henderson, $2,300; insurance, $1,500. S. B. Gage, $600; insurance, none. Hess & Edinger, $500; insurance, none. Spencer & Knittle, $500; insurance, $500. Field & Sutherland. $2,000; insurance, none. Total loss, $15,900; total insurance, $7,500.
The last fire which has visited Maquoketa occurred upon the morning of Saturday, the 21st of June, 1879, and was discovered about 1:30 o'clock ; found to be the row of wooden building north of the Opera House, on Main street. The sleepy citizens woke up gradually and put in some "yeomen " work in saving the contents of the buildings, and the fire department worked with a will to stay the further progress of the flames, by pulling down the resi- dence of Wilson Barnes, to which point it was thought useless to resist the flames. The Opera House was in imminent danger, and, in fact, the cornice took fire several times, and but for the efficient work of the bucket-brigade, that fine building would surely have been destroyed; but the night was still, and this, coupled with the opportune shower of rain, saved the surrounding buildings from becoming food for the fire-fiend. At about 3:30 o'clock, the flames were under control, and four buildings had been destroyed.
The following are the losses and insurance : Mrs. N. R. Allen, building, $1,500 ; insurance, $1,000. Louis Naschold, bakery stock, $500; insurance, $500. H. B. French, building and stock, $950; insurance, none. Dr. D. L. I. Flanders, stock, $300; insurance, none. Frank Hurd, $200; insurance, none. M. W. Cates, stock, $250; insurance, $1,160. Shirey & Hill, stock, $200; insurance, $450. C. E. Northrop, two building. $1,500; insurance, none. Mrs. Fuller, household goods, $100. The Opera House was damaged $250; insured for $4,000.
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The fire seems to have originated in the building owned by Mrs. Allen, and occupied by Lewis Naschold as a bakery. It is uncertain how the fire origina- ted, but probably from the bake-oven in the cellar. The occupants barely escaped in their night-clothes. There have been several rumors of incendiar- ism in connection with this fire, but it is doubtful if they are susceptible of proof.
Maquoketa has no organized fire department, and very few appliances for extinguishing a conflagration, and such as they have are crude and old-fashioned ; and the water-supply is very inadequate, there being but two cisterns, which are not always full, and when they are, they hardly meet the demand for a large fire. The citizens work nobly when called out by an alarm of fire, and, quickly forming themselves into "bucket brigades," accomplish all that men can do. It would seem that a city of this size, with its many handsome blocks, should be better provided with the means of extinguishing fires.
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