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 73
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Mount Vernon is located on a high and gracefully-curving ridge, running northwest and southeast, near the point of a beautiful grove, and with a grand view of the landscape from all directions, especially to the south, where three
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
miles distant can be seen the valley and bluffs of Cedar River, with the green, waving fields spread out between.
September 20, 1847, Mount Vernon was laid off with a square and tape line, by Richard J. Harbert, carpenter, assisted by E. D. Waln, A. I. Willits, George Edgington, Ackley Parker and Robert Stinson, during the sickness of the County Surveyor.
They began at the southwest corner of Main and Washington streets, on the west side of the old Military road from Dubuque to Iowa City, and running along Main street, stopped at the northwest corner of the lot on which H. D. Albright resides. The extent of the survey was two lots deep on either side of Main street.
The site had been purchased from George Edgington by the proprietors at that time-Allison I. Willits, Harvey Jewett and Joseph Gourley.
This temporary survey was made permanent by the County Surveyor, Andrew D. Botdorff, in November, 1853.
As early as 1842, Joseph Chapman is believed to have built a log cabin on the village site, on the south side of Main street. ' This house is still standing, though weatherboarded, as a portion of the dwelling of Luke Fish. His brother-in-law, Ackley Parker, soon built a cabin on the corner of the farm, adjoining town, now owned by Hon. E. D. Waln, in 1839 or 1840.
The first house built after the survey was a log house, by R. J. Harbert, and occupied by him September 25, 1847.
In this occurred the first birth, that of Hulda Harbert, and also the first death, that of Galena Harbert, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Harbert. This cabin stood on the lot now owned and occupied by Dr. G. L. Carhart.
The next building was a frame one, erected by A. I. Willits, on the lot now occupied by the drug store of J. V. Myers & Co.
In the same Fall, that portion of the original town east of Washington street was laid out, and a small addition to George Edgington's log house (the house built by Joseph Chapman being the first on the village site) was built by Harvey Jewett, on the lot now occupied by H. Post's residence. In this room the first business of Mount Vernon, a saloon, was established by Mr. Jewett, who afterward transferred his trade to the more legitimate one of dry goods.
The next store was established by Mr. Willits, in the frame building mentioned. After a short time, Joseph Gourley became a partner. Later still, Harvey Jewett and Chauncey C. Blodgett purchased the remaining interest of Mr. Willits.
About this time, these parties became part owners of the town plat. After several months, in 1848, they moved their store to the lot now occupied by the harness shop of Stewart Ellison, in a house which was built by Jewett & Blodgett.
Previously, Dr. Thompson (1847) and others had built a few small dwellings.
E. D. Waln, who settled three miles west, in September, 1841, came to the village in May, 1849, and began the sale of goods in the frame building erected by Mr. Willits, now owned and occupied by H. S. Hale as a residence. Nye & Holmes, of Marion, were partners in this business for a short time. In 1851, he built a two and a half story frame building, 40x40 feet in size, on the southwest cor- ner of Main and Washington streets, where he opened his store and estab- lished a hotel-then the Mount Vernon House, but generally known as Gil- lett's Hotel. This was burned down in February, 1868, while the property of Harvey Gillett.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Dr. Thompson, already mentioned, was preceded by Dr. Evans, who was the first physician to locate in the neighborhood, though not in town, and by Dr. Reynolds, who lived near the present cemetery.
In the Summer of 1848, the first blacksmith shop was started by Joseph Ripley, who had been carrying on the business on the hill east of town where the cemetery is now located. The next shop was by Stephen Cook, in the Fall of 1848.
In the Spring of 1849, a man was left by his son at the house of H. D. Metcalf, sick, as was supposed, with cholera. The son went on, promising faithfully to return. This, of course, created considerable excitement, and that locality was generally avoided until the death of the man, whose name was Ser- vison. He was buried at night about the center of the present Jefferson street.
In 1849, Asa G. Hampton established the first shoe shop in the old Gillett Hotel. He afterward worked in the little stone shop built by James Dill.
Joshua B. Hess started the first harness shop in town, in the rear of the building now occupied by the shop of Stewart Ellison. J. J. Smith soon after opened a shop in the same building. The latter also established the first livery stable, with a stock of two " crow-bait" horses and an old rickety buggy. He thus began a horse trading career which led to more general trading, and eventually to his present wealth and surroundings. His stable was located near where Mr. Post's stable now stands.
William Oglebay first began tailoring in Mount Vernon in the stone build- ing on the lot now owned by J. M. Ruff. He still carries on that business.
In 1850, the First Methodist Church was erected, and in the same year a building was constructed by Mr. Gourley, and stood near where Mr. Post's store house now is.
In June, 1852, Lewis Turner established a dry goods store in the building of Mr. Ellison, and during the summer built the frame building which is now the blacksmith shop of George Johns, on the lot where now stands the brick building of W. G. Moore.
In the same year the first school house in Mount Vernon was erected.
In 1851, the cemetery was laid out, and Mrs. Joseph Morford was the first there to be laid at rest, on April 26.
In 1850, Mr. E. D. Waln secured the post office and thus became the first Postmaster of the village, though an office called Franklin had been kept at the residence of Robert Smythe in 1841. The office was "passed around" to many settlers of the neighborhood.
The first general election was held at Mr. Waln's store and hotel building, in 1853, having previously been held at St. Mary's.
The first Justice of the Peace in the village was N. W. McKean, afterward Postmaster.
At the foundation of the village, prohibition of the sale of intoxicating drinks became the corner-stone in its organization, and no person could purchase a lot at any price if it was known that a whisky shop was to be established thereon. The first building attempted for this purpose was that now occupied by T. J. Rice. The timbers were prepared and the time for its erection was appointed; but the sturdy founders of the town were determined that it should not be raised. Mr. R. J. Harbert said to the prospective builder : "You had better not erect that building for the purpose of dealing out intoxicating bev- erages, or it will most assuredly be torn down." Although more or less intox- icating liquors have been sold in Mount Vernon, yet it has well sustained its reputation as a temperance town.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
In the Fall of 1854, Oliver Day purchased the store house and buildings where S. Little's store now stands, of Lewis Turner, who left at that time for Kingston, now West Cedar Rapids. Mr. Day had established a general store the year before, in the Ellison harness shop building, and had also purchased the lot where Mr. Post's residence now stands, and in 1857 or 1858, he erected the brick building now Mr. Post's store room. In the Fall of 1855, he sold the Turner building to F. L. & A. R. Knott.
The first drug store was established in 1855, by a Mr. Pierce, in the frame building owned by Dr. Pease. After a short time, he sold to John Hindman, who remained in that business but a few months, and then in turn sold to L. A. Weeks and I. A. Hammer. Soon after, about 1857, Dr. Safley built the brick store room now occupied as the post office, and the drug store was moved thereto by Weeks & Hammer, Dr. Safley becoming a partner for a short time.
In 1854, Henry and Robert Tedford opened a clothing store in the same building occupied as the office of Drs. Gordon & McBride. In the same build- ing, also, was organized the Know-Nothing Lodge, in 1855.
In 1856 or 1858, the first organization of the Sons of Temperance was effected, its meetings being held in the north room, up stairs, of E. D. Waln's brick building, then the Masonic Hall. In 1857, a Lodge of Good Templars was organized and held its meetings in the second story of the brick building which was destroyed by the fire of 1867, and then occupied as a store by Hayzlett & Clark. These organizations flourished for some time, but the Inde- pendent Order of Good Templars gained the ascendency and the .Sons of Tem- perance disbanded, while two lodges of the former were required. Then strife and dissension arose, and the lodges were dissolved. Many of the prominent citizens were the leaders in these efforts against intemperance.
There were some years of village life ere it was favored with a regularly con- ducted meat market. In 1857, Wm. Hayzlett and F. Sanders, two enterprising citizens, established a meat market in the basement of E. D. Waln's store. This continued prosperously for several years. Their slaughter yard, which was situated near the little run in Mr. Waln's pasture, was afterward burned.
The railroad was completed to Mount Vernon in 1859, and in that year the first carload of hogs was shipped from that place, by F. Sanders, while he and Mr. E. D. Waln shipped the first carload of cattle.
At different times after the organization of the village additions were made ; first were two, by Rev. G. B. Bowman; then Saxby's Ist and 2d ; Hall's 1st and 2d ; Cornell College addition ; Mckean's, Bauman's, Waln's and Young's.
When the railroad was constructed north of town, North Mount Vernon was laid off, April, 1859, under the proprietorship of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad Co., by Milo Smith, of Clinton, Agent, and P. F. Randall, Engineer.
March 10, 1859, the Mechanics' Union of Mount Vernon, was organized, embracing nearly all the mechanics at that time resident of the village. The following were its officers and members : R. J. Harbert, President ; J. E. In- gram, Vice President; E. H. Forrist, Secretary. Members-H. Hall, J. C. Wil- hoit, R. Kennedy, W. J. Persinger, J. G. White, P. D. O'Conner, C. Zimmer- man, W. Camp, H. F. Williams, Wm. T. Dagley, W. S. Wilson, A. C. Tracy, A. Forrist, L. Hyatt, J. M. Tedford, E. H. Forrist, C. S. Gordon, S. S. West- lake, W. P. Losey, and W. P. Warren. The society has long since disbanded and but one-J. E. Ingram-of its members now resides in Mount Vernon. But seven are dead, and they died as soldiers of the Union army.
In 1860, the village numbered 760 inhabitants.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
In furtherance of the principles of temperance, upon which the town was founded, several seizures of liquors have been made at various drug stores.
The following document was extensively circulated and signed in May, 1860, which well illustrates the public sentiment at that time :
We, the undersigned, citizens of Mount Vernon, fully determined that Lager Beer and all intoxicating liquors shall never be introduced into this town to be sold or used as a beverage, mutually pledge ourselves that we will use our influence and means to suppress their introduc- tion and sale, peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must; and we further pledge ourselves to mut- ually bear any expense that may be incurred in suppressing the same.
There have been but two billiard halls-one by G. Espe; but as he engaged in the sale of beer and allowed betting, the location was made unpleasant for him, and he departed. The other billiard hall was by T. J. Rice; but similarly, to use his own words, " his game was also stoppod and the table moved to the farm of J. J. Smith. "
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Mount Vernon remained without a charter organization until in 1869. June 18, of that year, at a vote taken at the school house, 125 votes were cast for incorporation, and 18 against. Accordingly, the County Clerk issued an order for incorporation and the election of officers, which was held August 14, 1869, with the following result > Mayor, L. L. Pease ; Trustees, W. H. Goudy, W. B. Armstrong, D. J. Doron, D. C. Sawyer, Isaac Wilcox ; Recorder, S. H. Bauman.
The succeeding officers have been : March, 1870-Mayor, J. D. Doran ; Trustees, H. H. Rood, Wm. Garard, W. B. Armstrong, M. Gutzler, C. Bren- eman ; Recorder, S. H. Bauman.
March, 1871-Mayor, H. A. Collin ; Trustees, W. B. Armstrong, Wm. Garard, S. H. Manley, James Carson, H. H. Rood; Recorder, S. H. Bauman.
March, 1872-Mayor, H. A. Collin ; Trustees, W. B. Armstrong, W. H. Garard, James Carson, H. H. Rood, Ellison Hayzlett ; Recorder, S. H. Bau- man ; Street Commissioner, Samuel Gilliland; Treasurer, A. R. Knott ; Mar- shal, W. W. Henry ; Assessor, E. D. Waln.
March, 1873-Mayor, H. A. Collin ; Trustees, W. B. Armstrong, H. H. Rood, James Carson, J. T. Oldham, J. Doron ; Recorder, W. G. Power; Street Commissioner, Samuel Gilliland ; Treasurer, W. B. Vansant.
March, 1874-Mayor, N. W. McKean; Trustees, H. H. Freer, F. W. Hart, W. H. Garard, E. T. Gough, L. L. Pease ; Recorder, W. G. Power; Street Commissioner, John Herron ; Treasurer, W. B. Vansant.
March, 1875-Mayor, David Platner ; Trustees, J. Carson, W. H. Garard, S. K. Young, H. Boyd, W. J. Clugston ; Recorder, Myron K. Neff ; Treas- urer, W. B. Vansant; Assessor, T. S. Brokaw; Street Commissioner, John Herron.
March, 1876-Mayor, C. M. Sessions ; Trustees, W. B. Armstrong, Hugh Boyd, Isaac Wilcox, Levi Armstrong, Dewitt Mclellan ; Treasurer, H. A. Collin ; Recorder, M. K. Neff; Street Commissioner, John Herron ; Assessor, T. S. Brokaw.
March, 1877-Mayor, D. L. Boyd; Trustees, J. C. Keedick, S. J. Smyth, D. W. Camp, G. A. Rundall, Dewitt McLellan; Recorder, William E. Platner ; Assessor, T. S. Brokaw; Street Commissioner, W. F. Doron; Treasurer, J. Carson.
March, 1878-Mayor, James Smyth; Trustees, J. Doron, W. J. Clugston, C. M. Sessions, J. C. Keedick, M. K. Neff; Recorder, J. V. Myer; Assessor, C. W. Kepler; Treasurer, David Platner; Street Commissioner, H. S. Hale.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
July 13, 1872, the city assumed the charge of the cemetery, which hithertc had been the property of the Methodist Church. A calaboose was completed in December, 1875, and the usual care to sidewalks, sewers, etc., has been given.
The framing of the act of incorporation was somewhat defective, whereby it was impossible to identify and distinguish taxable persons. This caused a pro- tracted litigation, which was successfully engineered by Thomas Corbett, through several terms in the District and one in the Supreme Court.
POST OFFICE.
As stated, the first office in the vicinity was "Franklin," at the house of Robert Smyth, in 181. It had several changes up to the time when the vil- lage was established and the post office secured, in 1850, by E. D. Waln. Next fol- lowed Joshua B. Hess as Postmaster, under the administration of Franklin Pierce, with N. M. Day as Deputy, until F. L. & H. R. Knott, purchased the business of O. Day, when F. L. Knott assumed the duties of Deputy for a short time, but the remuneration being small (less than $50 per annum), he turned the office over to Mr. George Clement. Dr. Putnam next received the appoint- ment of the office. He was soon superseded by H. A. Collin, with C. R. Collin as Deputy.
N. W. McKean was appointed by Lincoln, and held the office until John- son's term, when several persons held the office successively until Grant's elec- tion, when, in May, 1869, Mr. McKean was reappointed. He was succeeded in 1873 by Mr. S. H. Bauman, who has filled the office with general satisfaction to the present time.
A Money Order Department is in connection with the office, and, probably on account of the presence of the college and absence of a bank, does a large business. There have been 15,557 orders issued to the present time (July, 1878).
The city expenses to 1874, were as follows : August, 1869, to March, 1870, $329.52; to 1871, $1,001.61; to 1872, $206.54; to 1873, $1,122.37; to 1874, $625.92; making a total of but $3,285.96, for four and a half years.
LEGAL.
Mount Vernon has never furnished much food for the legal fraternity. Since the organization of the town, there have been but four or five lawyers located there, after their admission to the bar, namely, E. Latham and J. C. Helsinger. The first was a young man of talent and energy, who soon removed to Marion ; the latter resides at Sabula, Iowa, and has become quite prominent in political and legal matters. N. L. Barner, of Lisbon, at one time transacted considerable legal business for the people of this vicinity. H. J. Smith, after- ward of Cedar Rapids, also had some business here. In October, 1861, J. T. Rice entered the bar, and has, from time to time, transacted more or less busi- ness in that department, but finds it an unsuitable locality to devote his entire attention thereto. More recently, C. W. Kepler and W. W. Henry have be- come attorneys of Mount Vernon, and are now engaged in that profession.
THE PRESS.
The life of the press of Mount Vernon has been a checkered one. Enter- prising young journalists sought this point, in view of the college location, long before the population was sufficient to support a newspaper, and after a few issues would be compelled to discontinue.
The Mt. Vernon Index first appeared, by Will S. Hallock, editor and pub- lisher, in 1856. He was a student of the college at the time, and the office
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
was furnished by the citizens. He was a young man of ability, a ready writer and pleasant speaker, but the paper proved unsuccessful, and was discontinued after the Fall election.
The material. passed to the hands of those who had advanced money for its purchase, who formed a stock company, and saying that "the town must have a paper," they furnished the office and room rent free to Mr. J. S. Jennison, who established the Weekly News. Though he acted as compositor, editor and " devil," and received all the emoluments of the office, it did not pay expenses, and Mr. Jennison became involved in debt. His goods were levied upon, and some sold at Sheriff's sale.
For some time after the suspension of the Weekly News, the material of the office remained idle, except as James Coleman, a student of the college, used it occasionally for job work.
A Mr. Hyde next attempted the publication of the Weekly News, but soon departed, leaving many unpaid debts. Thereafter, Mr. Jennison was induced to return to Mount Vernon, and resume the publication, the title of which he changed to the Mount Vernon News, and enlarged it from six to seven columns folio. At this time J. T. Rice became connected with the paper, which soon again discontinued publication.
C. A. Page, of Dixon, Ill., then took possession of the office, and published the Mount Vernon News for some time, making it a stepping-stone for a posi- tion as Postal Route Agent on a Western railroad. Mr. Page was a young man of good abilities, and a will and determination rarely equaled. He passed into a Washington clerkship, then to a consulship in Europe, and finally, with his brothers, established the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, operating in Switzerland and England, on a scale which now demands a great capital, and which attracts the attention of all English people and many Americans. He has since died. Having secured the disposition of the Mount Vernon post office, he agreed to release such influence on the condition that the stockholders of the printing office would assign their interests to him or to whom he might des- ignate. The paper passed to the charge of Rev. S. P. Crawford and Prof. D. H. Wheeler, who published but one issue of The Advocate, and the press of Mount Vernon was again buried in silence.
It was next resumed by Mr. S. D. Mather, then a student of Cornell Col- lege. After a few issues, he, like many of his predecessors, gave up the experiment, leaving notes and bills behind, and departing for that common bourn-" parts unknown.'
Next came Robert J. Ingram, a practical printer, who published the paper under the supervision of Rev. Mr. Crawford for a short time; but, being offered more profitable employment, he discontinued it, and is now engaged as salesman for a Chicago wholesale firm, at a large salary.
But the Mount Vernon News was not doomed to extinction, and was again resumed under the charge of Mr. L. M. Holt, who contracted with Mr. Craw- ford for the office, and was to make payments of $25 per month. Mr. J. T. Rice was appointed Trustee, to conduct economically the finances of the insti- tution and make proper reports to each of the parties. Mr. Holt was a good printer and produced a creditable paper, but soon began to collect the office earnings without the advice or consent of the Trustee, which caused a rupture between himself and Mr. Crawford, resulting in J. T. Rice replacing Mr. Holt. The latter, though without means, might have purchased the paper as Mr. Rice afterward did; but he had no idea of economy, and purchased a house, lots and other things on time.
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
J. T. Rice then continued the paper as the Mount Vernon News until November 1, 1862, when the title was changed to the Franklin Record, which was continued until November 24, 1864, when the office was sold to A. J. Lucas and removed to Cedar Rapids for the publication of the Cedar Rapids Atlas. This, however, was but short-lived, and the office was moved west, where it was last heard of as that of the Adel (Iowa) Gazette, by L. M. Holt, formerly of Mount Vernon.
After the sale of the Record office, the town was without a paper until October 21, 1865, when J. T. & J. S. Rice recommenced the publication of the Record until May, 1866, when the office and fixtures were sold to H. S. Brad- shaw, who again changed the name and published the Mount Vernon Citizen. Mr. Bradshaw sold to Ragsdale & Bundy, who moved the office to Mechanics- ville in 1868, where it now is used as the office of the Mechanicsville Press.
Friday, January 29, 1869, Thomas J. Rice established another paper in Mount Vernon-the Linn County Hawkeye. In June, 1869, Mr. Rice sold the office to Mr. S. H. Bauman, who has since engaged in its publication as the Mount Vernon Hawkeye. Mr. Bauman is a talented man and genial gentleman, who has established himself among the first journalists of Iowa. His paper, a nine-column folio, besides containing the news of the world and a live local department, is filled with interesting matter relative to Cornell Col- lege, and is accordingly well supported by the friends of that institution.
The Linn County Pilot was established at Mount Vernon by C. W. Kep- ler. Its first issue appeared September 1, 1871. It was an eight-column folio, with patent outside, and supported Horace Greeley for President in 1872. It was transferred to Andrew Beatty, August 29, 1872. P. J. Fisher became a partner in August, 1873, for one month. The paper was moved to Marion, March 5, 1874, where it has since been published by Beatty & Willits.
RELIGIOUS.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- Being the location of Cornell College, an institution of this denomination, Mount Vernon is composed chiefly of citizens supporting this church. Mount Vernon was first made a distinct station in 1849 or 1850, when Rev. G. B. Bowman became the preacher in charge. There were other ministers who preached in the neighborhood for several years previously, but no one of them resided in the village proper up to this time, except Rev. Mr. Bowman. The latter was a man of indomitable energy and perseverance, and he determined to have a church edifice built. There was no place of worship except the old frame school house which stood east of the Sill farm, then owned by A. J. McKean. Rev. Mr. Bowman made considerable effort, and by earnest work procured subscriptions sufficient to build, and entered into a contract with Henry Amidon of Dubuque, to erect the church, which was accordingly built of brick in the Summer of 1850, on the grounds where the Public School House now stands.
The Parsonage, now a private residence, was moved from the Mckean farm and placed on its present location, where it was struck by lightning in the Fall of 1849, and was inclosed and refinished by R. J. Harbert and Wm. Falloon. The site was donated by Messrs. Willits, Gourley and others.
The lumber used in construction of the church was brought from Dubuque. The stone for the foundation was purchased at the quarry near town, except the door-sill stones, which were obtained from the "Jasper Nick " quarry, by Rev. G. B. Bowman, Robert Holman, R. J. Harbert and Joseph Gourley.
to ok the stone with the permission of an employe there, during the
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