USA > Iowa > Jones County > The history of Jones County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 46
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Occupation- Baker, 1; barber, 7; blacksmith, 8; bookbinder, 1; book- keeper, 2; bricklayer, 2; brushmaker, 1; butcher, 9; cabinet-maker, 1 : carpenter, 9; carriage-trimmer, 1; chainmaker, 1; cigar-maker, 4; civil engineer, 1; clerk, 4; cook, 6 ; cooper, 1; druggist, 1 : engineer, 1 ; farmer, 61; farrier, 1; file-eutter. I ; fireman, 9; galvanizer. 1; hack-driver, 1; har- ness-maker. 3; housework, 1 ; laborer, 89; machinist, 4; mason, 2; merchant. 3; miller, 1; miner, 1; molder, 1; night-watch, 1; none, 2: peddler, 2: photographer, 1; physician, 2: plasterer, 8 : porter, 1; printer, 3 ; professor of languages, 1; railroad, 7 ; restaurant-keeper, 1; sailor, 3; saloon-keeper, 2; shoemaker, 7 ; steamboat, 2; stocking-maker, 1; stone-cutter, 2; tailor, 2; tanner, I : teacher, 1; teamster, 5; trader, 2; watchmaker, 1; weaver, 1; wood-earver, 1.
Place of Crime - Allamakee, 2; Benton, 9 : Black Hawk, 12; Boone, 2: Bremer. 1 ; Buchanan, 5 ; Buena Vista, 1 ; Butler, 9 ; Cedar. 6 ; Cerro Gordo, 7; Cherokee, 1: Chickasaw, 4: Clayton, 20; Clinton, 29; Delaware, 3; Dubuque, 15; Fayette, 9 ; Floyd, 9: Franklin, 4; Greene. 3; Grundv. 3; Hamilton, 1; Hardin, 5: Harrison, 3; Howard. 2: Iowa. 2; Ida, 1; Jack- son, 8; Johnson, 3; Jones, 13: Kossuth, 2; Linn, 19; Marshall. 12;
402
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
Mitchell, 10; Monona, 1; Osceola, 5; Palo Alto, 3: Plymouth, 1; Scott, 24; Story, 10; Tama, 9; Winneshiek, 2; Woodbury, 5; North Division U. S. District of Iowa, 5.
Crime of Conviet-Adultery, 4; arson, 7 : assault with intent to murder, 9; assault with intent to rape, 7; assault with intent to rob, 3: assisting prisoners to escape, 1 ; attempt to extort money, 2; bigamy, 3; breaking and entering, 24 : breaking and entering bank building, 2: breaking and entering dwelling-house, 7 ; burglary, 37 ; conspiracy, 3: disposing of mortgaged prop- erty, 1; embezzlement. 1 ; felony, 3 ; forgery, 24; grand larceny, 14 ; larceny, 104; incest, 2; manslaughter, 7; murder first degree, 5; murder second degree, 2; obtaining money under false pretence, 1: perjury, 2; rape, 1: receiving stolen property, 2; robbery, 13; seduction, 1 ; stealing from the per- son, 2; uttering forged notes, 1 ; for safe keeping, 5; total, 300.
STATE FISH-HATCHING ESTABLISHMENT.
The fish law of the State of Iowa was passed by the Fifteenth General Assembly, and is entitled an " Act to provide for the appointment of a Board of Fish Commissioners for the construction of Fishways for the protection and propagation of Fish."
The law has been amended, some portions repealed, and other enactments added. Under the provisions of the first enactment, the Governor appointed as Commissioners Messrs. S. B. Evans, of Ottumwa : B. F. Shaw, of Anamosa, and Charles A. Haines, of Waterloo.
The Commissioners met at Des Moines May 10, 1874, and elected S. B. Evans, President ; B. F. Shaw. Secretary and Superintendent, and C. A. Haines. Treasurer. They divided the State into three divisions, each to super- intend a division, the better to enable them to more thoroughly superintend the ereetion and construction of fishways. The Board continued the work intrusted to their hands until the law was so changed as to require the appointment of but one Commissioner, and B. F. Shaw was appointed State Fish Commis- sioner, and continues to act in said capacity. Under a resolution of the Board, Mr. Shaw was authorized to build a State Hatching House, and. as far as practicable, procure spawn of valuable fish adapted to the waters of the State of Iowa, and hatch and prepare them for distribution, and, as far as practicable, assist in putting them into the waters of the State.
In the sumner of 1874, Mr. Shaw built for the State, two and a half miles west of Anamosa, and near the bank of the Wapsipinicon River, a State Hatch- ing House. A tract of twenty acres of land was purchased for the State, of Col. W. T. Shaw, for $360. The building erected thereon is 20x40 feet, and two stories high. An excavation three and a half feet in depth, the full size of the building, was first made, and a good, substantial stone wall put in to this depth for a foundation. The building, a substantial frame, is high enough to allow an eleven-foot story below, and an eight and a half one above. The upper story is finished off, lathed and plastered, neatly and tastily furnished to accommodate the keeper's family. All the appointments of the building are first-class. The building is constructed with a direct reference to the attain- ment of as even a temperature as possible the year round. The interval between the studding is filled with sawdust, from sills to roof, securing warmth in winter and coolness in summer. The hatching-room, the lower story, is lined throughout with ship-lapped ceiling. Nine rows of zinc-lined hatching-troughs. 16 feet long, 1 foot wide and # inches deep, were firmly fixed on solid benches
403
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
about one and a half feet from the ground. There are two sections of these troughs, the second section being six inches lower than the first, thus giving a break in the water flow, and more thoroughly aerating all its parts with needed fresh air for the remainder of the spawn and baby fish in the second section of the troughs. In these troughs is laid a bed of clean gravel, on which rests the fish spawn. This gravel is obtained at the river-bank near by, and the very coarse and fine portions sifted out. The medium-sized gravel thus obtained is boiled, and every particle of sediment removed, in order that the ova of insects and reptiles may not be introduced into the hatehing-troughs.
The above-described hatching apparatus was used for a time, and worked admirably ; but Mr. Shaw, who is thoroughly posted in the propagation of fish, invented an apparatus that proves to be much superior, and the capacity of the house increased thereby ten or twelve times, and a portion only of the zinc troughs are now used for nurseries for the baby fish.
Hatching is done from the Ist of November to the middle of March, and the distribution takes place when the fish are from six to fifteen weeks old. We visited the hatching-house during the month of September, and, consequently. no hatching was being done.
The spring from which the water is supplied is ten feet in diameter, and five feet deep. The water bubbles up from the bottom. and the supply. in all seasons is more than sufficient for the capacity of the hatching-house.
In addition to the work of hatching and distributing, Mr. Shaw is culti- vating a few thousand fish of different varieties for the purpose of practically demonstrating how they should be kept and handled by those who wish to suc- ceed in fish culture. The water that passes through the hatching-house is utilized for the purpose, and two reservoirs and three small ponds are con- structed. by means of which the fish of different ages are separated. The water is kept in each of these to the depth of two to three feet. The reservoirs are about 6x8 feet. and the ponds 25x30 feet. In the reservoirs, there are about seven thousand small fish less than a year old. They are principally salmon tront, brook trout, land-locked salmon and California salmon. In the ponds, the fish are of the same varieties, only larger and older. The salmon trout two years old are from ten to fifteen inches long, and weigh, on an aver- age, about one pound. There are about three thousand of these. The largest fish is twenty-five and a half inches long, and weighs seven pounds. It is four years old. Mr. Shaw had a life-size painting of this fish, in oil, by Vanderpool, of Chicago, on exhibition at the late County Fair at Monticello. The fish is decidedly a beauty, and the painting a good one.
The fish are fed nothing but cooked food, and the cooking is all done by steam. A cookhouse, 14x16 feet. one story high, has been erected, and a steaming apparatus. invented by Mr. Shaw, construeted by Mr. Sloeum. the keeper, therein. Here the food is cooked and chopped to different degrees of fineness, according to ages of the fish to be fed. The food consists. princi- pally, of the liver and lights of the animals slaughtered at the various meat markets.
A good, substantial barn, with wagon-shed attached, for the use of the keeper, and also a good bank-cellar and woodhouse, have been constructed. at no expense to the State, except that of the materials used. At this season of the year, Mr. Slocum, the keeper, devotes his entire time to the clearing and improvement of the land belonging to the State.
Through the action of the Commissioners, there were distributed within the State, from May 10, 1874, to May 10, 1875, 100,000 shad, 300,000 California
404
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
salmon, 10,000 bass, 80,000 Penobscot salmon, 5,000 land-locked salmon, 20,000 other kinds.
The following is the summary for 1876 and 1877:
1876-Native fish distributed 1,574,200
1876- Salmon and lake trout. 533,000
1876-Shad 100,000
1876-Whitefish
125,000
1876-Eels
100,000
1876-Penobscot salmon.
80,000
1876-Land-locked salmon.
5,000
1876-Native fish distributed from car ..
319,000
1877-Lake trout distributed.
303,500
1877-Native fish distribute l. 50,000
1877-Brook trout distributed.
81,000
1877-Shad distributed.
150,000
1877-California salmon distributed
25,000
1877-Land-locked salmon distributed.
10,000
1877- Fish on hand at hatching-house
10,000
1877-California salmon at hatching-house.
100,000
1877-Lake trout eggs on hand at hatching-house
1,750,000
Total
5,315,700
The following is the summary of the distributions made during the years 1878 and 1879, up to the 1st of September, 1879:
1878-Native fish in the Mississippi River 2,648,500
1878-Native fish in inland waters 641,500
1878-Shad in inland waters 100,000
1878-Lake trout in inland waters 800,000
1878-Salmon in inland waters 281,500
1879-Salmon in inland waters.
210,000
1879-Lake trout in inland waters
620,000
1879-Land-locked salmon .....
15,000
1879-Brook trout.
85 000
It is expected to hatch this season about the same number of eggs as were hatched last season.
We are glad to state that the books and reports of Mr. Shaw are so kept that the condition of the business may be easily known at any time. Mr. Slo- cum, under the tutorage of the Superintendent, has acquired a thorough knowl- edge of the duties of keeper, and performs his duties with fidelity.
We have made careful examination of the condition of this State estab- lishment, and we are glad to state that we feel confident that the Governor has appointed the right man to the right place in the appointment of the Hon. B. F. Shaw, State Fish Commissioner. It is more usual than it ought to be that such offices are held for the emoluments alone, but Mr. Shaw is not only com- petent, but likewise an enthusiast in the matter of fish culture, and he brings to his work an energy and perseverance that is worthy and commendable. We state the above as a just testimonial to the ability and the faithful performance of incumbent duties by a public official.
In the year 1877, Mr. Shaw invented a plan for a fish-way in streams where dams are necessary to utilize water privileges, which is decidedly unique and promises to be largely adopted by Fish Commissioners, and extensively used throughout the country. Several of them are now in use in this State. At a meeting of the Fish Commissioners of the State of Michigan, in the same year in which the plan was invented. for the purpose of securing the most approved and practical fish-way, for use in the streams of that State, Mr. Shaw's plan was exhibited among the many others from different States. as
405
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
well as a number from England and the continent, and was unanimously adopted as the one most practical.
The Fish Commissioners of the State of Minnesota have also adopted the Shaw plan for fish-ways in the streams of that State. A thousand or more of lithographie representations of the plan have been printed for free distribu- tion, that the plan may be known, without cost. to those wishing to use fishways.
On this, as well as on numerous of other inventions in connection with fish- hatching and fish-culture, Mr. Shaw has asked for no letters patent. As has been said, he is an enthusiast in the matter of fish-culture, and the results of his experience lie freely gives, that others may be benefited thereby.
METEOROLOGICAL.
We extract the following review of the meteorology of Monticello, Iowa. for the years 1854-79, prepared by M. M. Moulton, of the Volunteer Signal Service of the U. S. A. Latitude, 42.13; longitude, 91.15; elevation (above the sea), 800 feet ; magnetic variations, 8.5 degrees east.
ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE.
The first air thermometer was invented by Sanctorio, of Padua, in 1590. Improvements and modifications subsequently followed. Tubes terminating in bulbs, and charged with alcohol, were constructed by an Italian in 1655. Romer afterward employed mercury in lieu of alcohol. In 1714, Fahrenheit. a native of Dantzic, introduced a graduated scale, fixing the zero point at the greatest cold known to have occurred in Ireland; and since the freezing point of water is 32 degrees and the boiling point 212 degrees (at a mean atmos- pheric pressure), he graduated the thermometric scale between these two impor- tant points into 180 equal parts. The popular companions to Fahrenheit's thermometer are the Centigrade, employed in France, and the Reaumur. employed in Germany and Russia. The annexed thermometric record com- prises a comprehensive view of the principal thermal changes, to which is affixed an annual comparative record :
OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DAILY AT 7 O'CLOCK A. M., AND 2 AND 9 O'CLOCK, P. M
1876.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Mean.
Range.
Tem. of well water
January
55
*_ 8
25.7
63
42
February
53
-5
25.9
58
45
March
53
28.4
46
46
April
73
21
48.8
52
46
May
90
37
60,9
53
50
June
90
52
69.4
38
50
July
95
62
76.4
33
51
Augus
93
55
71.3
38
52
Septeraber
79
40
61.3
39
54
October
72
28
45.9
44
49
November
64
3
31.7
61
50
December
40
-18
11.8
58
4%
Annual, 1876
95
1
-18
46.4
113
48.5
Annual, 1875.
92
-8
43.4
100
46.4
Annual, 1874
96
-21
46.8
117
45.2
For twenty years
102
-36
45.7
138
47.3
*A dash (-) signifies below zero.
406
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
While the past year has had several warm days and even months, the mean temperature. as a whole, has fallen below the normal. The temperature reached as high as 95 degrees above on July 8-three degrees warmer than last year- and fell as low as 18 degrees below zero on Deeember 9-eleven degrees below last year-making a mean temperature for the year of 46.4 degrees, and 2.4 degrees below the normal. The Maquoketa River was open opposite town on February 13. after being frozen over for the space of twenty-five days. and was elosed again December 2. after being open for 292 days. The last hoar-frost occurred June 21, and the first for the season was September 27, making 97 days without frost against 116 last year.
FIRST FROSTS AND NUMBER OF DAYS WITHOUT FROST.
TEAR.
FIRST FROST.
NO. OF DAYS WITHOUT FRUST 166 days
1870
Octuber
13,
1871
September 21,
133 do
1872
September 27,
147 do
1873
.September 8,
117 do
1874.
September 30,
134 do
1875
.September 11,
116 do
1876.
.September 27.
97 do
The following table shows the amount of rain and melted snow in inches, and the number of rainy days during the year: also the amount of snow in inches, and the number of days on which snow fell in sufficient quantity to be measured. The first snow of the year was landed November 6, against Oeto- ber 26 in 1875, or eleven days later than last year :
1876.
Precipitation.
Rainy days.
Inches snow.
Days show.
January
2.29
3
2.00
1
February
1.88
2
.32
2
March.
4.09
3
19.50
6
April
2.83
6
1.00
1
May
4.75
9
June.
7.00
13
Julv.
10.45
8
August
5.74
11
September.
8.62
11
October
1.24
4
November
2.64
·2
7.25
6
December
.77
8.08
1876.
52.30
72
38.15
. 23
1875
29.57
61
44.72
32
For twenty years.
35.16
67
1
38 64
28
The total amount of rain for the year amounts to 52.30 inches, against 29.57 inches last year, and 17.14 inches above the normal ; it being the most precipitation received for any one year sinee 1:52, when we were treated to 59.49 inelies. The snow amounts to 38.15, a trifle below the normal, and the largest share of it eame last March. It rained on 72 days, mostly in the sum- mer months, against 61 days last year, and snowed on 23 days, against 32 days last year. With that number of snowy days, we have not had enough at any one time during the year for good sleighing.
FIRST SNOW.
1870. December 11, .75 inches.
1879 .October 2, 1.40 inches.
1871
.October 31, 1.05
do
1-74. November 19, .54 do
1872. November 14. 6.62 do
1875
October 26, .16 do
407
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
The following table exhibits the mean direction of the wind. The figures denote the number of times, each month, the wind prevailed in each of the eight cardinal points, together with the annual results compared with the three pre- ceding years :
DAYS DIFFERENT WINDS PREVAILING FROM.
1876.
N. . N. E.
E.
S. E.
S.
s. W.
W.
N. W. Calm.
January
2
0
0
3
2
7
3
12
2
February
0
1
0
7
0
4
13
0
March
0
3
1
9
1
0
0
16
1
April.
0
2
0
9
0
6
0
11
May
0
·2
0
1
0
17
0
7
]
June
0
0
0
3
0
15
0
11
1
July
1
1
0
6
0
15
0
?
6
Augus
0
0
0
6
0
14
1
4
6
September
2
5
0
8
0
8
0
6
1
October
0
1
0
6
0
12
0
10
2
November
0
3
0
3
0
10
1
13
1
Annual, 1876
٠٥
21
1
66
5
114
9
122
2:
Annual, 1875.
40
15
23
82
32
38
44
1
85
6
Annual, 1874
37
12
30
43
36
43
67
1
Annual, 1873
43
16
36
GS
41
33
37
78
13
1
The prevailing winds are from the Northwest, coming from that direction for 122 days out of the 366 days of the year, just one-third of the whole year. In point of strength and character, they are notorious, surpassing the south and southwest winds in force and velocity, frequently attaining a velocity of 25 to 30 miles an hour. It thundered and lightened on 55 days, was foggy on 28 days, and hazy on 12 days during the year.
FLOODS AND STORMS.
YEAR.
DATE.
WATER.
YEAR.
DATE.
WATFR.
1851
June
3.75
1876
July 4-5
3.50
1858
August
1
4.50
1878.
October 8 (tornado)
.15
1863
June
30 (hail storm)
1.00
1879
July 9
5,60
1865.
June 28-29
3.81
1879
August 28
3.00
3
0
2
2
6
0
17
December
:
The first flood was June 7, 1851. After raining several hours, the water rose in the Magnoketa. overflowed its banks, and the low, flat lands on both sides of the river were inundated. Mr. Joseph Clark was, at that time, living in a log house on the bank of Kitty Creek. just north of Lot No. 41 of the original plat, and southeast of the house now ocenpied by Mr. August Grass- meyer, on the road to Dubuque. The water eame into Mr. Clark's house and put the fire out in the fire-place. and floated the partly consumed wood around the room, and the family had to seek other quarters for safety. At this date, the Western Stage Company were running a daily line of mail-stages from Dubuque to Iowa City, and all passengers and the mails had to be transferred across the water in a rowboat. The town lot where Mr. W. H. Proctor's brick and stone store now is was all covered with several feet of water, and the flood at one time touched Main street in front of the Monticello House. The water that fell in the rain-gauge at this storm measured 3.75 inches.
The second flood occurred August 1, 1858. The water at this time was full as high as that of the one before mentioned. The west end of the then wooden bridge over the Maquoketa River gave way and dropped on the bank, and the
408
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
planks of all three of the spans were floated down stream on their way to the Mississippi. The mail and passengers had to be transferred as heretofore, and were taken in at the foot of Main street. near Mr. Doxsee's residence, and landed at the foot of the sand-hill in East Monticello. Frequently, the through mail-bags and paper-sacks were enough to fill one boat load. There were six families living at East Monticello at this date, viz., Dewey, McDonald, Moul- ton, N. P. Starks, Houser and Eldridge, and they had to depend upon the ferry-boat for their mail and groceries for several days. A number of emigrant teams were water-bound, and had to board with the families, for a few days, on the east side. Total amount of water-fall, 4.50.
The third was June 28 and 29. 1865. At this storm, 3.80 inches of water fell in the two days, and the water in the river came into the third story of the East Monticello Flouring Mills. The wooden bridge on the Military road was only saved by anchoring it to the large cottonwood-trees above on the banks of the stream with ropes and chains. The planks of the second bridge did not escape the flood, but were swept down-stream by the water. The water was high enough to have run into the public cistern on Main street if the reservoir had been built there at that date. Monticello celebrated the 4th of July this year, and the committee had selected the bottom land on Kitty Creek, near the river, for the speaker's stand ; but it was changed on account of the water to the vacant lots on the north side of town, where Mrs. Dr. Langwerthy now lives. The orator of the day, Mr. O. P. Shires, of Dubuque, was obliged, on account of the wash-out in the railroad. to come and return with a livery team. The approaches to the railway bridge north of town were washed away and damaged so that trains could not pass the bridge for several days.
The fourth was July 4 and 5, 1876. The rain commenced to fall at 9 o'clock P. M., and continued to rain for seven hours, although a large share of three and one-half inches of water-fall was landed in about three hours. The water only came up to the junction of First and East Locust streets, near Peterson's residence, but it came with such violence as to wash away the approaches to the railroad bridge over Kitty Creek, just above the falls. and taking out the wagon and foot bridge between the two falls, root and branch, flooding all the stockvards. drowning several head of hogs for Mavor Wales and William Peterson. Both iron bridges over the Maquoketa stood their ground, although they were surrounded by an ocean of water, and were not reached for several days. The wooden bridge at the foot of First street. over the creek near Skelley's. was securely anchored to the heavy stone abutments, and stood the test admirably. although it was several feet under water for hours. The water had been as high in the creek and river during the past twenty years some six or eight times, but not as destructive to roads and bridges as at this overflow. All four of these rain-storms were accompanied by the most terrific thunder and lightning. and more or less wind, and everything trembled before the onward march of the storm.
The fifth flood was July 9, 1879. The rain began to fall a few minutes before midnight, previous to the morning of the 9th. A huge bank of clouds, accompanied with thunder and lightning, was piled up in the northwest, and the wind blowing a gentle breeze from the southwest for hours previous to the commencement of the rain ; in fact, the whole of the previous day had shown unmistakable signs of the coming storm : and when the wind fiercely veered around to the northwest, the storm had fairly commenced-one huge storm- cloud passing over, only to be closely followed by another, fully charged with
409
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
electricity and saturated with rain ; and when it ceased raining at 10 A. M., fully 5.60 inches had been caught in the rain-gauge, making 1.10 inches more than have ever been measured before at one storm during the past thirty years. The water in the Maquoketa River and Kitty Creek overflowed the banks, and reached the highest water mark about noon of the same day. The water cov- ered the lower creek bridge, both slaughter-houses and stockyards, and stood in the street opposite Mr. Peterson's stable. The water in the river came nearly up to Mr. Grassmeyer's lot at the foot of Main street, and was a little higher than the flood of 1876, but the water in the creek fell short of the mark for the same storm. But little damage was done to the roads and bridges in the township. The railroads were only slightly damaged, and were all in run- ning order on the following day. No damage was done in town, beyond the fill- ing of several cellars with water, and washing away the stockyards fenees.
A hail-storm took place in 1863. The flood of hail on the afternoon of July 30 will be long remembered by the citizens of Monticello. For a week previous, the weather had been extremely warm and sultry, and the whole day had shown unmistakable indications of rain. About 4 o'clock P. M., a shower of rain struck the town, with a heavy wind from the west, and was followed in a few moments by a battering shower of hail. After destroving all the glass on the west side of the buildings, the wind veered around to the east, destroying also all glass in the north and east sides of most of the build- ings in Monticello. The marks of the falling hail on the fencee, buildings and trees were plainly visible for several years afterward. When the storm passed over town, it was about two miles wide. and extended from East Monticello to Stony Creek, near the south line of the township, and all crops and shrubbery embraced within its limits were battered off close to the ground. Upward of five hundred lights of glass were smashed, and most of the families had to wait until Mr. Hickok sent to Dubuque for a new stock of glass. The writer lost 100 lights of glass from his dwelling-house. and there was not an inch square of dry floor in the building. The family had to seek shelter and safety for the time being in the cellar.
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