USA > Iowa > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &t., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest etc > Part 58
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The Times has had two baptisms by fire and one by water. September 12. 1874, the office was destroyed completely by a conflagration in the short space of two hours. All the type, presses and machinery, both of the printing office and book bindery, were either destroyed or rendered valueless by the devouring elements. The partners were indebted to the liberality of the Republican and Standard offices for types and presses to issue their paper for a time, until they could procure new material of their own. The firm was not disheartened ; but, with the few thousand dollars obtained from the insurance company and what they saved from the debris of the fire, they were soon re-established in the base- ment of the post office building, where they have continued ever since.
On the 26th of May, 1875, a block of three new stores, which was being erected on Eagle street as an addition to the post office block, took fire in the
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roof and was burned to the ground. It was supposed at the time that the post office building would also be destroyed, the prospect of saving it being appar- ently a hopeless one. The occupants of the building, including the Times office, the post office, and numerous law, insurance and other offices in the upper rooms, commenced removing their valuables ; and it looked, at one time, as though the entire population of the city were either engaged in removing prop- erty or assisting the firemen in putting out the fire. By superhuman exertions, the post office building was saved, but not until the occupants had removed nearly all their valuables. The Times office lost nothing in this case by fire, but it was almost as bad as a conflagration. The peculiar nature of printing office property renders its removal, under such circumstances, an impossibility without great damage. A few weeks sufficed to put the office in good shape again.
In June, 1876, during a heavy rain storm, a large stream of water rushed down Eagle street toward the river. At Washington street, it was checked by the crossing, and accumulated until it swept over the sidewalk and poured down into the basement of the Times office. The room was flooded to the depth of several feet. The city steamer was put to work, and, in the course of a few hours, the water was pumped out. The damage consisted mainly in the delay of business.
In 1856, Dr. J. L. Enos commenced the publication of the Cedar Valley Farmer, a monthly, of sixteen pages, devoted, as its name implies, to the inter- est of agriculture in the Cedar Valley. Two volumes were published, and are highly prized for the valuable scientific and practical character of the contents.
The Cedar Rapids Democrat was the third paper published in Cedar Rapids. It was commenced in 1856, by W. W. Perkins & Co., and was a radical expo- nent of democracy, being conducted with a good deal of zeal and ability. It attained a fair circulation, but, in spite of the efforts of its friends, it was forced to suspend after the first year or so of its existence.
The Voice of Iowa, a monthly journal of thirty-two pages, with nearly the same amount of advertising, was commenced in January, 1857, by James L. Enos as editor and publisher.
The Voice was an able exponent of the free school system, and did much to shape the excellent school system of Iowa. Through its influence the Institute for the temporary training of teachers was established, and its editor was for many years among the most successful and popular conductors of them. Three volumes of the Voice were published, when it was merged into the Iowa School Journal.
The Cedar Rapids Atlas, established in 1864, was the next candidate for public favor. This was a large-sized semi-weekly, by Rev. A. G. Lucas. It was published about three months, when its editor started on a tour to procure subscribers and never returned. The paper suspended, and the office was ulti- mately sold to pay the employes and other creditors of the concern.
The Western World, a large-sized weekly, made a vigorous commencement July 18, 1868, but was published only for a few months. W. A. Ballard, pub- lisher ; J. L. Enos, Editor. Republican in politics.
The Linn County Signal, by Henry Williams, was the next venture on the sea of Cedar Rapids journalism. It was Democratic in politics and enjoyed a liberal patronage. The Signal was purchased by T. G. Newman, and the pub- lication continued as the weekly of the Daily Observer, the first daily of Cedar Rapids, established by Mr. Newman, in 1869. T. G. Newman and J. L. Enos, editors. The Observer was a morning paper, contained the Press dis-
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
patches, and met a hearty welcome by the citizens. Few men possessed more business tact than Mr. Newman, and the Observer was very soon brought to a paying basis under his direction as business manager. It was mildly Demo- cratic, though chiefly devoted to news, general and local.
The Cedar Rapids Republican was started as a daily, Sept. 1, 1870. It was then called the Cedar Rapids Observer, and was printed and published by Thomas G. Newman, and was independent in politics. On the 9th of March, 1872, the paper was transferred to the "Republican Printing Company," when the present name of the paper was adopted. Both a daily and a weekly edition have been published since that time. Hon. Wm. B. Leach was its first editor under Republican colors. The Republican Printing Company made large additions to the machinery and material of the office and put in a large cash capital. This Company continued the paper with various editors until May, 1877, when the establishment passed into the hands of the " Republican Com- pany." This Company put in about $8,000 new capital, erected its own build- ings, adapted water power for its machinery, put in three new presses and a large amount of new material. The paper is now on a firm basis, with ample capital, and is doing a paying business. The weekly edition has a large circulation, and no other daily is published in this or any adjoining county, except Johnson.
The Directors of the Republican Company are John Weare, W. W. Walker, N. M. Hubbard, Chas. Weare and J. W. Traer. Chas. Weare is President, and W. W. Walker, Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Walker also has charge of the editorial department of the paper.
In May, 1872, the Republican Co., of Cedar Rapids, began the publication of a sixteen page monthly called the Farmer's Journal, W. J. Abernethy (now of the Pioneer-Press, St. Paul), becoming the editor thereof, and T. G. Newman, (now editor of the American Bee Journal, of Chicago) taking busi- ness control. From that time until September, 1876, the publication was con- tinued under that name; several changes having been made in the mean time in the editorial and business control. In this interim ex-Gov. John Scott, of Nevada, occupied the leading editorial position for a lengthy period.
In September, 1876, the Farmer's Journal and the Fine Stock Gazette, of Vinton, were consolidated and the joint publication thereafter known as the Western Stock Journal and Farmer. A joint-stock company was then formed, in whose hands the publication has since continued. In August, 1877, the Producer, published under the auspices of the Faculty of the State Agricult- ural College, was merged into the Western Stock Journal and Farmer. The paper has been enlarged to twenty-eight pages.
The Journal is now edited by Prof. S. A. Knapp, of Vinton, J. T. Mitch- ell, of Cedar Rapids, and Judge Z. C. Luse, of Iowa City, and numbers among its regular contributors, Hon. James Wilson, of Traer; Hon. A. S. Welch, of the State Agricultural College; Col. John Scott, of Nevada ; Hon. J. L. Budd, of the State Agricultural College; Hon. Jos. Dysart, of Dysart ; and Prof. C. E. Bessey, of the State Agricultural College.
The Journal is the only stock journal published west of the Mississippi, and has a large circulation in all the Northwestern States, particularly in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri. It is the representative organ of the live stock interest in the West, and has been specially indorsed by the Iowa State Agricultural College, Iowa State Stock Breeders' Association, and lowa State Agricultural Society.
The first issue of The Standard appeared in July, 1874, being then pub- lished by the American Publishing Company, with Thomas G. Newman as
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
manager, and Chas. E. Heath, editor. A semi-weekly was started, but after issuing about two months, the publishers decided to discontinue it and devote their whole time to the weekly. In the Fall of the same year, Mr. Heath withdrew from the editorial management of the paper, and was succeeded by Mr. Newman. The American Publishing Company sold out to Thomas G. Newman & Son, who continued under that firm name and style until the Spring of 1876, when Mr. D. H. Ogden was admitted as a partner, and he assumed the position of city editor, when the firm changed to Thomas G. Newman & Co. In August of that year, Mr. H. A. Cook bought an interest and assumed editorial control of its columns, Mr. Ogden remaining as city editor until the Fall of that year, when he withdrew from the firm. The firm was then contin- ued as Thos. G. Newman & Co. until the close of April, 1877, Mr. A. H. Newman being business manager, when Mr. Frank L. Millar bought the inter- est of both Thomas G. and A. H. Newman, and the firm name became Millar & Cook. In August of that year, Mr. Cook sold his interest to Mr. Maury O. Millar, and the firm became Millar Bros., who have since continued its publica- tion, Mr. Cook being retained as editor, and F. L. Millar attending to the busi- ness department.
The paper has been published as a continuation of the Linn County Liberal, which was a continuation of the Linn County Signal, and it is now in its twelfth year. It has ever been Democratic in politics, and commands a large and increasing patronage and influence among members of its party, and enjoys the confidence of the public generally. The office is located in the most prominent business portion of Cedar Rapids, with every possible convenience that experi- ence and ample means could suggest. The job department is one of the largest, most complete and best arranged in the State, the machinery being propelled by a water motor which draws its supply from the street mains.
The Iowa Farmer, published by the Iowa Farmer Company, at Cedar Rapids. J. W. Brown, President and Alexander Charles, Editor and Manager. Mr. Charles has had a large experience in the publication of agricultural newspapers, and is considered authority on matters pertaining to fine stock and other questions of vital importance to the agricultural interests of the country. The Farmer was started as an eight-page monthly in December, 1877, but was enlarged in July of the present year to a sixteen-page paper. The price is 75 cents per annum, the publishers relying on advertisements for their profit. Although so recently started, the publishers claim a large circulation already, which is constantly increasing. The July edition of the paper was printed in the well-known form of the Country Gentleman, which has been adopted as the permanent form, and 20,000 extra copies were issued. The editor, Mr. Charles, has been connected with the agricultural press for twelve years, and the Farmer seems to be already on a firm basis.
The Northwestern Traveler, published by the Traveler Publishing Company. William A. Young, Editor and Manager. This is a monthly paper, devoted to commercial interests. The first number was issued in March, 1878, and it has attained quite a wide circulation through the indefatigable labors of the editor and manager. A distinctive feature of the paper has been the writing up of the towns and villages of the Cedar Valley, and in this way it has given notoriety and importance to many places, and added largely to the local history of the State. The Traveler has been always bright and newsy in this respect, and is deserving of the substantial encouragement it is receiving. It is published semi- monthly at the low price of 50 cents per year. The Traveler bids fair to become one of the permanent institutions of the city.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
The Merchants' Dispatch, published monthly by A. N. Hubbell, Editor and Proprietor. The Dispatch, as its name indicates, is devoted to the mer- cantile interests of the Northwest, and is especially valuable for its full lists of counterfeit notes. It also contains a great variety of practical information, not only for the business man, but for the farmer and the mechanic. It has an extensive circulation along the principal railroads of the State, and is a good medium for advertisers to reach a large and intelligent class of customers.
AMATEUR PAPERS.
The News is an amateur paper, edited, printed and published by Herman E. Reeder, who has attained the ripe age of 13. It is a monthly of six pages, two columns to the page. The price is 25 cents a year, and the publisher says it is " devoted to the interests of its subscribers." Herman has good natural ability and an aptitude in expression, which only needs perseverance and the cultivation that experience alone can give, to make him a forcible writer.
The Rounce, an eight page paper, flies at its mast-head the name of R. Van Vetchten as editor. The second number is before us, and it is a model of typographical excellence. The contents, both original and selected, are good. The editor is combative, and is not afraid to take a lively hand in the questions which convulse amateur newspaperdom, and in this respect is just like his older brothers of the daily and weekly press.
The Amateur World, a publication of eight pages, sixteen columns in size, is devoted chiefly to the interests of the Cedar Rapids High School. The editors and publishers are Clarence N. Jenkins and Charles Reeder, aged respectively 18 and 17 years. Subscription price 40 cents a year. This paper has been published eight months.
The Acorn, ably edited by Nathan Cole, Jr., St. Louis, and Frank L. Misner, Cedar Rapids, is devoted exclusively to the cause of amateurdom, and is strictly editorial. Size, four pages, twelve columns. The editors are 19 years of age, and this journal has been issued regularly for three years.
Boys' Monthly Guide, a small eight-page amateur paper; is published by Frank C. Plumb. Subscription 20 cents per year. Was first published in February, 1877.
OTHER PAPERS.
The American Bee Journal was published by Mr. T. G. Newman in this city for a while, and then removed to Chicago, where it still flourishes under that name and under the management of the same proprietor.
The Progressive Farmer, commenced by the Farmer Company in 1875; E. R. Bradford, Business Manager, and A. S. Welch, Editor. After the retire- ment of President Welch, Mr. Bradford continued the publication. Two volumes were published.
The Pokrok, Odd-Fellows' Banner, Dawning Light, and perhaps other papers of more or less value, have been born and died in the city. The soil has been prolific in the production of newspapers. There has been a constant struggle for existence, and the Darwinian theory of the " survival of the fittest" has had a new illustration. Whether this has been true in every instance, we do not pretend to say. Every paper started here, however, has been loyal to its birth place, and has sung the praises of the city while life remained. Per- haps no city in the West is more indebted to the press than is Cedar Rapids. Its great natural advantages have been persistently set forth in their best light, strangers by the thousand have been brought hither through these influences.
1
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
and many have become permanent inhabitants as the result of their visit. The young city has a good position, great local advantages, a few liberal citizens, and, more than all, a wide-awake newspaper press, all acting in concert; and the result has been a wonderful success. Other influences have done much. but the press heralded them abroad, and to it belongs a crown of honor.
Papers are published at Mount Vernon, Lisbon, Center Point and Western. Their history is so closely identified with that of their respective towns that it has been thought best to incorporate them into the chapter on towns, under the appropriate headings, of which detailed records will be found. The character of the papers issued from the places referred to is more local than otherwise.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first schools taught in Linn County were, as were all other social privi- leges, primitive in the extreme. The teachers were employed by private subscription at modest salaries, and a room in some settler's cabin was fitted up in crude shape for the purpose of instructing the few children who could attend. In 1839, there were several schools established, but upon the first one there is some doubt. During the month of July, of that year, Elizabeth Bennett taught in Linn Grove, and in the Winter Judge Green presided over the youth of the Ivanhoe section. The "Buckskin School," in Linn Grove, later on, was an institution worthy of more than passing notice, because of the significance of the dress of every pupil. The whole class, from teacher to infant scholar, wore complete suits of buckskin. In those days the Paris modes were not within the reach of the pioneers.
The year 1840 saw a marked improvement in the quality of the schools. That year, the first district was formed, with Marion as its center. From that time on, school houses sprang up in every direction. The population had so increased as to require greater facilities. The buildings were of logs, with home-made benches and puncheons for desks ; but there were many foundations of substantial educations laid therein. Those were happy days, too, in spite of the rigid discipline of the old-fashioned pedagogue, who believed in the rod as firmly as he did in the spelling-book.
The contrast between the schools of 1840 and those of 1878 is great enough to serve as a safe criterion of the progress of the county during the thirty-eight years now past. Among the civilized peoples of the world the condition of a country's schools is accepted as a true index to the advancement of a nation.
In Linn County the " Buckskin " school has been supplanted by three col- leges and a system of primary and higher education that are a credit to the county. The following statement is compiled from the last annual report of the County Superintendent of Schools, Eli Johnston :
Number of sub-districts. 180
" ungraded schools 177
66 " graded schools. 10
Average number of months taught. 7.53
100
Number of teachers employed :
Males 136
Females. 262
Average compensation per month : Males ..
$35 16
Females. 24 76
Number of persons between the ages of 5 and 21 years in county :
Males 6,704
Females 6,709
Total number enrolled in county.
9,984
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Average cost of tuition, per month, for each pupil $1.22
Total average attendance in county .. 6,015
Number of school houses :
Frame .. 165
Brick 26
Stone. 2
Value of school houses $199,507
Value of apparatus. 1,843
Number of volumes in libraries. 482
Total amount of money received from all sources for school purposes .... $83,148 93
CORNELL COLLEGE.
In 1851, Allison I. Willits suggested to Rev. G. B. Bowman, then Metho- dist Pastor at Mount Vernon, the idea of erecting, on the beautiful eminence which forms the site of Mount Vernon, an institution of learning. With the same energy and earnestness which he had manifested in the construction of the church and which characterized him as a man, Mr. Bowman turned the course of his labors in that direction, and secured the interest of the Iowa Conference of the Methodist Church in that cause. Liberal subscriptions were made by the members of the Church for that purpose, and, late in the Fall of 1852, active measures were taken for the erection of a building, to be known as the
IOWA CONFERENCE SEMINARY,
under the superintendence of Mr. Bowman, as the Agent of the Conference.
Ten acres of the grounds now known as the College Grounds were donated by Mr. Willits ; ten acres were purchased of Isaac Julian, and smaller amounts of Reuben Ash and others. July 4, 1852, Hon. James Harlan, afterward United States Senator, delivered the first Fourth of July oration ever rendered in Mount Vernon in the College Grove.
The lumber for the seminary building was purchased at Dubuque ; the stone for the foundation was from the town quarry ; the door and window sills were from Anamosa; the bricks were made by William Albright, at or near the present Robinson brickyard. The mason work was done by William and H. D. Albright and the carpenter work by R. J. Harbert.
This building, now the Ladies' Hall, is a substantial brick structure of three stories, 72x40 feet in size; was enlarged by an addition of thirty feet, and refitted, in 1869, making its total cost about $15,000.
Suitable instructors were not numerous at that time, in the West, and Gov. Slade, of New Hampshire, was addressed and requested to recommend a lady Principal. In reply, Miss Catherine A. Fortner was suggested as a proper person for the position, and, accordingly, secured. She arrived at Mount Ver- non in the Spring of 1853, and, as the Seminary building was not yet comple- ted, the school was begun by Miss Fortner, assisted by Mr. F. L. Knott, in the Methodist Church, and there continued until November 14, 1853, when the Seminary was formally opened under the charge of Rev. S. M. Fellows, A. M., Principal ; Rev. D. H. Wheeler, Professor ; Miss C. A. Fortner, Preceptress ; Miss Sarah L. Matson, Assistant ; Mrs. Olive P. Fellows and Mrs. Sophia E. Wheeler, Teachers.
Miss Fortner remained with the institution until, a few years later, she became the wife of Rev. Rufus Ricker.
The first Board of Trustees was organized in 1852, as follows: Rev. G. B. Bowman, President ; Hon. E. D. Waln, Secretary ; Rev. H. W. Reed, Rev. E. W. Twining, Rev. J. B. Taylor, Jesse Holman, Henry Kepler, William Hayzlett and A. I. Willits, members.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
During 1853-4, there were 161 students; during 1854-5, 250; during 1855-6, there were 255 students, while Rev. Stephen N. Fellows, A. B. and Rev. Benjamin W. Smith, A. B., were added to the Faculty.
The catalogue this year says: "By the sale of scholarships and by dona- tions, $50,000 have already been secured " (as a permanent endowment).
At the first term of the Seminary, students came from a considerable dis- tance, and the attendance was flattering. There were not then the facilities for their accommodation that there now are, and most of the foreign students kept "bachelor's hall." Very many of them, however, resided in town and the surrounding country ; many of them walking three or four miles to school, or working in town mornings, evenings and Saturdays to pay expenses.
Among those who attended school during the first term, in the church, were A. R. Knott, and sister, now Mrs. W. H. Goudy ; Miss H. L. Albright, J. T. Rice, H. S. Church, now a leading minister in the M. E. Church of Iowa; Miss Helen Reed, daughter of Rev. H. W. Reed, near Dubuque ; Miss Kate Knowland, from the same place; Miss Regina Young, daughter, and George, son, of S. K. Young ; and Miss L. C. Albright, daughter of H. D. Albright, now wife of Prof. S. H. Manley.
J. Tom Rice, the only one of these now residing in Mount Vernon, says : " I well recollect my own part in the drama. I was past 21 years when I com- menced attending school in the church, in June, 1853, and we college boys and girls had our public basket-dinner on the hill, this side of the creek, in Waln's pasture. The second exhibition, or the first commencement, of the seminary was held in the College grove, in June, 1854."
During 1856-7, there were 288 students. It was soon found that the Seminary building was inadequate to the necessities of the school, and again the enterprising progenitors set to work to secure means for building another school edifice, which was begun in the Fall of 1855. The lumber for this, the College building proper, was purchased in Davenport, and the brick were man- ufactured by Wm. Albright, and at the Port Stottler yard. The foundation stone and sills were obtained at the Cavanaugh quarry. The mason work was done by Wm. Albright, and the carpenter work by Harrison Hall. The corner- stone was laid July 4, 1856, and the building was dedicated in the Fall of 1857. It is a fine four-story brick building, 100x55 feet in size, costing about twenty-five thousand dollars, and is divided into recitation rooms, library, society halls, laboratory, etc. From this time the first building was used for music rooms and the ladies' hall.
The Seminary was prosperously conducted by Rev. S. M. Fellows until 1857, when a college organization was consummated, and the institution received the name of Cornell College, in honor of its generous benefactor, the late W. W. Cornell, of New York City.
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