USA > Iowa > Wapello County > The history of Wapello County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 58
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March 1, 1877, the block opposite the Ballingall House was burned, with a loss of nearly $20,000, and an insurance of $10,300.
There is a conflict between the records of the Fire Company and the files of the newspapers concerning some of the above dates; but we have taken the paper records in such cases, because of the general belief that the daily report of prominent events is therein more liable to be beyond dispute. In gathering the facts relative to fires, some inaccuracies may have been made ; but we have taken great care to ascertain the truth, and if this summary is not strictly right. the memory of our informants, and not the writer, is to blame.
THE COUNTY BUILDINGS.
The old Court House was made into ashes when Grimes' wagon-shop went up in smoke for the first time. The present structure, which is not what can truthfully be termed of " classic architecture," was built by Mr. J. J. Adams, in 1856, at a cost of $13,000. The site is a good one. removed from the busy streets, which will be constantly increasing in noisiness as the town grows ; but the house itself is entitled to special comment solely on the score of our rever- ence for old things. The Jail, put up in 1857, at a cost of about $9,000, is little to boast of.
The rich county of Wapello will soon feel the necessity of replacing its present time-stained county buildings with more modern and elegant edifices.
THE CITY HALL.
The old city offices were located in a shell of a building on Market stre e south of Front street, for some time. February 25, 1873, the building burned
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
in a fire which also destroyed the Star Mills, owned by Wilson & Miller. The city lost about $1,200, on which there was $700 insurance. The mill, we may state here, was valued at $6,000 ; insured for $3,000.
After the destruction of the old Hall, the Council met in Gerlack's building. July 7, 1873, a lot on the east side of Market street, between Second and Fourth, was purchasd for $3,000. Chilton & Kendall contracted to erect a city building for $12,350, excavation extra. The paper was agreed to Septem- ber 17, 1873. The present fine edifice was speedily completed. The Council occupied it in January, 1874.
THE CITY FINANCES.
The financial condition of Ottumwa is exceedingly satisfactory. The city is practically out of debt, for the small amount of bonded indebtedness is scarcely worth a thought. 3 The bonds are due as follows :
Due April 20, 1879 $ 3,000
Due June 15, 1880. 2,000
Due March 27, 1881. 2,000
Due December 15, 1885. 10,000
Total $17,000
As an offset, or rather as assets, so to speak, the city owns the following property :
City Hall property. $15,000
Steam fire engine .. 5,000
Fire apparatus. 7,000
Real estate. 2,500
Total $29,500
Besides the above, the city accounts show that the sewers have cost the sum of $8,600.
The assessed valuation of property in the corporation is $1,648,462, of which $1,028,580 is in real estate at the present depressed prices which affect the entire country. On the above showing, it may be truthfully asserted that Ottumwa is free from corporate indebtedness.
THE OTTUMWA BRIDGE COMPANY.
Those who lived on the west side of the river were compelled to ford or ferry the stream, until in 1870, when the Ottumwa Bridge Company obtained a charter to erect a bridge at Green street, with the sole right of bridging the stream for two miles up and down therefrom. Messrs. King & Co., of Cleve- land, Ohio. contracted for the iron work, and the wood work was done by local parties. The bridge is 1,200 feet in length, having seven 100-foot spans over the river, and five 100-foot spans of trestle work on the west side. The Com- pany consists of J. S. Wolfe, J. W. Carpenter, J. G. Baker, L. E. Gray and G. A. Madison. The charter lasts for ten years from original date, and has two years to run. At that time the stream is open to competition.
THE OTTUMWA PRESS.
The Des Moines Courier, the pioneer newspaper of this county, was estab- lished August 8, 1848, by J. H. D. Street and R. H. Warden. At that time it was the most western paper in the Union, and did the legal printing for all counties west of this point. Mr. Warden is still associated with the Courier, although his connection has not been uninterrupted. We make such copious
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
extracts from the Courier and refer to it so frequently in this work, that a mere mention of facts relative to changes is called for here. January 20, 1851, Mr. Warden became sole proprietor. In April, 1852, J. W. Norris acted as associate editor during the absence of Mr. Warden on business. In 1849, at the beginning of the second volume, the paper was enlarged. December 20, 1855, J. W. Norris became editor and proprietor of the Courier. In 1866, N. D. Mussleman, W. H. Caldwell and W. C. Holden succeeded Mr. Norris, and in August, 1869, Gen. John M. Hedrick and Major Augustus H. Hamilton became the owners and editors. January, 1878, A. H. Hamilton acquired sole ownership. During the agitation of the question of Americanizing the title Des Moines, in 1854, the Courier chose to adopt the spelling Demoine Courier, and so appeared until January 1, 1857, when the name was changed to that of Weekly Ottumwa Courier, a name it still retains for its weekly edition. April 5, 1865, the Daily Ottumwa Courier was introduced, and is now in its four- teenth year of prosperous life. The Courier has always been a success, because of the intelligent, brave and energetic conduct of its managers.
In June, 1850, the Des Moines Republic appeared, under the management of James Baker & Co., and continued for about two years, when it ceased to live.
The third paper in the county was the Ottumwa Democratic Statesman in 1858, of which G. D. R. Boyd was the publisher. J. H. D. Street next con- ducted it awhile, then-in 1861-H. B. Hendershott and E. L. Burton, who changed the name to that of the Ottumwa Democratic Union. In 1862, Mr. Hendershott resigned, and S. B. Evans, now of the Democrat and Times, became associated with Mr. Burton in its conduct. Thereupon a further change of name occurred, that of Democratic Mercury being substituted for that of Democratic Union. In the winter of 1863-64, Mr. Evans retired, and S. H. Burton united with his brother, E. L. Burton, in the publication of the paper. In October, 1865, the latter Mr. Burton gave place to Russell Higgins, and he to Mr. Evans again, in the following month of November. In March, 1868, Mr. Evans a second time and finally severed his connection with the Mercury, leaving Mr. S. H. Burton sole editor and proprietor. A few months later, the publication of the paper was permanently discontinued.
In March, 1868, an exceedingly ultra Democratic newspaper entitled The Copperhead, previously published at Pella, Marion County, was removed to Ottumwa. M. V. B. Bennett, H. M. McCully and S. B. Evans here con- tinued its publication until December of that year, when Mr. Bennett withdrew. In December, 1870, Mr. McCully also withdrew. Mr. Evans, on thus succeed- ing to the sole editorship and proprietorship, immediately changed the name The Copperhead to that of the Ottumwa Democrat.
The Democrat was published by S. B. Evans and J. W. Norris, who became associated some time since, and was one of the leading papers of the State. In 1875, a daily edition was published for three months.
In 1870, H. S. Bailey brought a job office to Ottumwa, and commenced a jobbing business. He secured the services of Dr. G. F. Foster, and began the publication of a paper called The Reveille, which was a lively, gossipy sheet, while it lived-a period compassed by about six months, if memory is not at fault, since no files are now extant.
The Ottumwa Journal, a German weekly, was established in 1871, by A. Danquard, and is still a paper of influence among the Germans of the county.
April 4, 1874, the Ottumwa Printing Company, composed of N. M. Ives, O. G. Graves, Dr. G. F. Foster, and others, began the publication of the Spirit
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
of the Times. Dr. Foster soon withdrew from the Company. In 1875, H. M. Ives, son of N. M. Ives, purchased Mr. Graves' interest, The paper was con- ducted by the Messrs. Ives until July, 1876, when I. T. Flint purchased a one- third interest, and the name of the paper was changed to the Ottumwa Times. During the following February, Mr. Flint retired from the firm, and from that date the paper was owned and managed by N. M. Ives & Son.
November 14, 1878, the Democrat and Times appeared, being a consolida- tion of those papers. The publishers are Ives & Evans (H. M. Ives and S. B. E vans); the editors are S. B. Evans and N. M. Ives.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
The first Masonic organization effected in Ottumwa was that of Ottumwa Lodge. No. 16. Work began, under dispensation, in the summer of 1848, as is shown by the following notice, which is a copy of the first ever published in the Courier :
The regular communication of Ottumwa Lodge, U. D., will be holden at Mason's Hall, in this place, Friday, the 18th inst., at 7 o'clock P. M. A punctual attendance of all the members is required. Brethren of good standing in all regular lodges are respectfully invited to attend.
August 18, 1848. BELA WHITE, Secretary.
The first officers chosen were: H. M. C. Lane, W. M .; V. W. Coffin, S. W .: J. C. Tolman, J. W .; Samuel Cornes, Treasurer; Bela White, Secre- tary ; T. A. Truman, S. D .; N. L. Gebhart, J. D .; Seth Fair, Tiler. The charter was issued in November, 1848. Speaking of the first installation, the Courier says, under date of December, 1848:
The Ottumwa Lodge, No. 16, A., F. & A. M., which for a few months had been acting under dispensation, received its charter in November, 1848. A public installation of officers was held on the 22d, by Gen. Humphrey, M. W. Grand Master, assisted by James Shepherd, Esq., D. G. Master. An address was delivered by Rev. Mr. Smith, of Burlington, and the Rev. A. Shinn acted as Chaplain. The Fairfield Brass Band was present, and a grand dinner was given at the "Ottumwa House," under the auspices of mine host, James Hawley. The following gentlemen were installed as officers of the Lodge : D. M. C. Lane, Worshipful Master ; V. W. Coffin, Senior Warden ; J. C. Tolman, Junior Warden; N. Baldwin, Treasurer; Bela White, Secretary ; N. C. Hill, Senior Deacon ; N. L. Gebhart, Junior Deacon ; M. W. Hopkinson, Tiler.
The present officers are : W. W. Douglass, W. M .; J. S. Young, S. W. : H. P. Colt, J. W .; W. H. H. Asbury, Treasurer ; A. N. Barnes, Secretary : R. L. Tilton, S. D .; W. F. McCue, J. D .; J. M. Kiser, S. S .: W. R. Daum. J. S .; H. B. Powell, Tiler.
Empire Lodge, No. 269 .- The organization of this Lodge dates back only to October 21, 1869, under dispensation issued to J. C. Hinsey, Master ; I. N. Mast, S. W .; George Hill, J. W .; William C. Holden, S. D .; M. McFarlin, J. D .; John F. Lewis, Treasurer ; Joseph Gray, Secretary and H. B. Crowell, Tiler; the constituent members being John Gray, L. L. McBride, C. H. Potts, Charles O. Williams, J. P. Cornes, O. E. Stewart and Charles W. Betts. The charter was granted June 15, 1870, the following being enrolled as charter members : J. C. Hinsey, W. M .; I. N. Mast, S. W .; John Gray, J. W .; John P. Lewis, Treasurer; Charles S. Graves, Secretary. The present number of mem- bers belonging to this Lodge is sixty-three. The names of its officers come below : E. B. Hill, W. M .; Robert Finley, S. W .; Charles Schick, J. W .; J. W. Nichols, S. D .; Richard Stevens, J. D .; Charles Sax, Treasurer ; George T. Bedwell, Secretary.
Clinton Chapter, No. 9, R. A. M., was organized February 16, 1855, under dispensation issued to P. C. Daum, High Priest; J. J. Adams, King; J. G. Taylor, Scribe ; and the following Companions : John Pumroy, W. W. Farley,
-
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
E. Washburn, Silas Osborn, J. W. Caldwell, T. J. Holmes and W. C. Hatten. The charter was granted June 2, 1855, and the following officers elected and installed : P. C. Daum, High Priest ; J. J. Adams, King ; J. G. Taylor, Scribe ; N. C. Hill, Treasurer ; J. Hayne, Secretary ; J. Pumroy, C. H .; W. W. Far- ley, P. S .: E. Washburn, R. A. C .; Silas Osborne, G. M. 3d V .; A. L. Graves, G. M. 2d V .; P. J. Holmes, G. M. 1st V .; R. H. Warden, G.
On October 29, 1868, Masonic Hall was burned, and during the fire the charter of this Lodge was also destroyed. A new charter was granted October 21, 1869, in place of the old one.
The present officers of the Chapter are: W. A. McGrew, H. P .; C. L. Warren, King; Daniel Traul, Scribe; W. W. Douglass, Captain of H .; R. L. Tilton, Pr. Sjr .; J. M. Kiser, R. A. Captain ; Charles Bachman, G. M. 3d V .; John F. Lewis. G. M. 2d V .; E. B. Hills, G. M. 1st V .; P. C. Daum, Treas- urer ; M. B. Walker, Secretary ; H. B. Powell, Tiler.
Malta Commandery, No. 31, K. T .- Constituted under dispensation March 7, A. D. 1877 : constituted under charter October 27, A. D. 1877. Officers first elected were W. A. McGrew, E. C .; W. G. Linn, G. ; R. A. Wilson, C. G. ; A. C. Stilson, P .; R. L. Tilton, S. W .; C. L. Walker, J. W .; W. B. Armstrong, Treasurer ; Samuel Brumsay, Recorder. Members, P. W. Capron, M. B. Walker, P. C. Daum, J. C. Hinsey, M. A. Potter, D. A. Pool, Samuel Cowan, Daniel Traul, J. S. Wood, L. D. Bosworth, E. E. Bruce, W. W. Douglass, A. Lotspeich, W. B. Goodall, F. C. Warden, T. B. McDonald, C. Bachman, L. E. Gray, H. B. Powell, N. L. Gebhart, H. S. Storrs, Levi Jones, William McCune, A. N. Barns, A. P. Peterson, A. C. Hill, W. H. H. Asbury, W. M. Cook, A. W. Bell, S. L. McGavic, Joseph Sloan, T. W. Wil- son, Harrison Hines, G. W. Parke, J. S. Young, W. F. McCue, G D. Cook, W. T. Carter, B. F. Elbert.
Present officers, W. A. McGrew, E. C .; W. W. Douglass, G. ; C. Bach- man, C. G .; A. C. Stilson, P. ; W. B. Armstrong, Treasurer ; W. B. Goodall. Recorder.
Ottumwa Lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., was first planned in the fall of 1847, when a few members of the order met in a log building near where the First National Bank now stands, and talked the matter over. There were but eight Lodges in Iowa at that time. Finally, John F. Baldwin, Duane F. Gaylord, V. W. Coffin, Thomas A. Freeman, Thomas J. Devin, B. Roysdon and George M. Wright petitioned for a charter, which was granted by the U. S. Grand Lodge at Baltimore. May 15, 1848, D. D. G. M. William Patterson, came to Ottumwa, bringing the charter, which had been dated January 27, 1848. Traveling was so difficult that weeks had elapsed since the document was written. Under this charter, the first officers were Bertrand Jones, N. G .; T. J. Devin. V. G .; G. M. Wright, Secretary. The Lodge has prospered, and is now in a sound condition. It has admitted 364 members, by all methods, during its thirty years of life, 278 of whom were by initiation. Eleven of its members have died while still associated with the Lodge. George M. Wright was the first to die.
The list of names below given are those of the Noble Grands since the organization of the Lodge. The figures following certain names indicate the number of times those members were clected to the chair. Bertrand Jones, James Hawley, Sr., J. F. Baldwin (2), T. J. Devin, V. W. Coffin, Thomas G. Given (2), J. B. Myers, D. F. Gaylord (+), Joseph Leighton, Uriah Biggs, W. L. Orr (2), George Gillaspy, Charles F. Blake, E. Washburn, Josiah Dibble, J. Harris (2), B. W. Jeffries, C. A. Bradshaw, - Elendorf, D. C. Mitchell,
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
W. P. Sharp (3), B. J. Boulton, H. C. Grube, Thomas Eyer, T. J. Douglass, E. L. Burton (2), M. McFarlin, Joseph Wagg, Charles Sax, R. S. Denncy, Frank Fiedler, A. F. Hoddy, G. A. Derby, R. B. Cochran, W. T. Starr, D. W. Tower, L. M. Godley, L. J. Allen, T. R. Bickley, C. F. W. Bachman (2), E. E. Thompson, J. M. Kissee, W. H. Lewis, C. B. Rounds (2), W. J. Mitchell, T. J. Hall, John Guthrie, M. J. Burns, Conrad Ostertag, W. J. Bayliss.
A Division of the Order of the Sons of Temperance was organized in Ottumwa on the 21st of November 1848, by G. W. P., W. G. Anderson, of Keokuk, and elected the following officers : W. P., John D. Devin ; W. A., R. H. Warden; R. S., H. P. Graves ; F. S., James Adams; T., Joseph H. D. Street ; C., William H. Baldwin; A. C., Austin W. Hammitt; I. S., A. T. Ault.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
There is nothing of an official character relative to the first public schools of District No. 1 extant. The records, in all probability, were consumed in the fire which destroyed the old City Hall. Personal recollection and newspaper files of that date are called into requisition to supply missing data ; and from such sources it becomes apparent that the education of youth was not neglected in the early years of the town's existence. The first authentic mention of the condition of the schools is made in 1848.
By the Courier of September 22, 1848, we learn that in Ottumwa there were two schools well attended. but no schoolhouse. At Agency, the citizens, by means of private contributions, had built a neat and commodious frame schoolhouse.
On the 13th of October, 1848, Mr. S. V. Blakeslee announced his inten- tion of opening a High School in Ottumwa. He had completed his college course a year before, somewhere in the East, and proposed to establish a literary institution of high order in the valley of the Des Moines. The course of study he laid out was of wide range, including surveying and navigation, Greek, Latin and French, the higher mathematics and all the philosophies. It was to be opened November 1.
In May, 1849, the citizens of School District No. 2, which joined the Ottumwa District (No. 1) on the north, voted a tax of 1 per cent for the pur- pose of building a comfortable brick schoolhouse in that District, on the site occupied by the log schoolhouse, near Mr. John Alexander's residence.
The school moneys were obtained from the general fund, however, and that fact confirms the belief that the law was fully complied with. Local taxa- tion was also resorted to, and the excellence of the schools is attested by the men who were then conversant with the affairs of the District, and still remem- ber the general impressions which prevailed at that early date.
On the 12th of September, 1849, the citizens of School District No. 1 (embracing Ottumwa and vicinity) held a meeting, at which it was determined to build a schoolhouse. The sum of $100 was appropriated for the purchase of a lot, and the house itself was to cost $1,450. They agreed upon a build- ing 26x50 feet. two stories high, and to be made of brick.
This plan was not carried out, through some misunderstanding or disagree- ment as to locality. In 1850 or 1851, two frame buildings were erected, one being the present residence of Rev. H. B. Knight, and the other the residence of H. B. Jones. These were the first houses erected in the town for the exclusive purpose of holding school sessions therein.
In November, 1853, Miss Lavina Chandler opened a private school in the Lower Schoolhouse in Ottumwa.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
Private schools were maintained at an early day. Misses Hornby and Street opened a school in Ottumwa on the 6th of August, 1855, in the second story of A. J. Spaulding's block. Mr. W. A. Sutliff also opened a select school at about the same time.
The Ottumwa Seminary, under the management of Dr. A. G. Lucas, assisted by C. R. Johnson, was opened on the 8th of October, 1855.
The first meetng of which any record is made was held May 15, 1858, being called " a meeting of the Directors of Ottumwa City School District, in the office of S. B. Thrall. There were present : J. M. McElroy, President ; W. L. Orr, Vice President, and S. B. Thrall, Secretary, who presented their certificates of election, and having been duly qualified they were received, and
ordered to be filed with the Secretary." The report then continues : " It was moved and carried that the bonds of the Treasurer be placed at $1,200. and bond of Secretary at $600." The Treasurer was Charles Lawrence, and his bond was indorsed by J. G. Baker. This seems to have been the only impor- tant business transacted by the Directors at this meeting, with the exception of appointing Jolin Devin as Director of the District, to fill a vacancy. The meeting then adjourned until May 18; and at that time John Devin declined the honor of serving as Director, and E. Washburn was appointed to fill the vacancy. At this meeting it was decided that a committee should wait "upon the Trustees of the Methodist Church. and endeavor to procure the upper rooms of the church-building, or, if failing i'n that, to procure a room in the Court House or elsewhere for a schoolroom." The church rooms were secured " with- out paying additional rent." "On motion, the Secretary was instructed to ascertain whether it would be necessary (under the action of the new school law) to call a meeting at this time of the electors of the District, to levy a tax for school purposes." By this it will be seen that a desire had already sprung up for a new schoolhouse; but the County Judge subsequently informed the Directors that " he had ascertained that it was not necessary to call a meeting of the Directors at the present time." The May 18th meeting was adjourned until June 18. When together, among other business, Dr. Orr complained " that a number of scholars were so irregular in their attendance at school as very materially to interfere with the progress of the classes. After some discussion as to the best method to adopt to obviate the evil, it was moved and carried that the President publish in the city papers a statement of the circum- stances, and appeal to parents to send their children regularly." Subsequent to this, meetings were held July 19, August 19 and August 30, until the hold- ing of the first yearly meeting. September 6, during which, however, nothing of interest was done. The work above has been monthly labor, and the pro- ceedings have been recorded quite fully, inasmuch as the work was about the first done. The space occupied in the pages to come will involve only the yearly meetings, the first of which, as before mentioned, was September 6, 1858, at which the Secretary said that "if a school was to be kept any length of time during the following year, it would be necessary to levy a tax to pay the larger part of the expenses." The outlay for this purpose would be at least " $1,800 to $2,000, and that there would be paid into the district treasury, in April, 1859, between $300 and $400 as the portion belonging to this district. The balance would have to be raised by tax." E. Washburn desired to have the school run ten months out of the year. An amendment made it nine months. Another was proposed, reducing the period of school days to six months of the twelve. The nine-months men were the strongest, and their votes weighed down the scale. After making various estimates as to
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
the per cent necessary to be levied, it was resolved that one-fourth of one per cent be levied on the taxable property of the district.
The Directors then adjourned until March 14, 1859, the meeting being for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing year, the Directors coming together "by authority of the City Council, acting in consequence of Act No. 11, being an act to confer certain powers on towns and cities for school pur- poses, passed by the Board of Education at its first session held at Des Moines, December, 1858." The names of the newly-elected officers come after. President, Thomas C. Woodward ; Vice President, S. B. Thrall; Secretary, S. D. Morse ; Treasurer, John Moore; Directors, Joseph Hayne, Joseph H. Merrill and F. J. Hunter.
March 12, 1860, the third yearly meeting was held, and the following offi- cers elected : Thomas C. Woodward, President; M. J. Williams, Vice Presi- dent ; S. B. Thrall, Secretary ; James Hawley, Sr., Treasurer; Director for three years, Charles F. Blake. It will be noticed that here the system of elect- ing the three Directors per year, was changed from one year to one Director at alternate years, each member to serve three years from date of election. After this business, it was decided to hold a meeting March 24, to take into consider- ation the propriety of levying, and the amount of tax to be levied in the dis- trict for the support of schools the ensuing year. The result of the adjourned conference was, that such a tax should be levied as required by the school law.
When the Board next assembled, it was March 11, 1861. At that meeting Charles F. Blake moved that a tax of 5 mills on the dollar be levied on the taxable property of the district to
BUILD A SCHOOLHOUSE.
The motion prevailed and the Board procceded to elect officers, "and to vote by ballot." Following was the result: Thomas C. Woodward, President ; M. J. Williams, Vice President ; S. B. Thrall, Secretary ; John Moore, Treas- urer ; Joseph Havne, Director for three years.
March 10, 1862. was the date of the next meeting. On motion of Mr. McElroy, it was decided to sell the schoolhouse lot owned by the district. Mr. Washburn was in favor of advertising for proposals to build a schoolhouse, but was not sufficiently sustained in his enterprise to warrant a successful consum- mation of the proposed scheme. Therefore, the only thing to do was to elect officers and adjourn, these being the favored ones: President, W. J. Ross ; Vice President, J. M. McElroy ; Secretary, G. D. Hackworth; Treasurer, A. M. Bonnifield; Director for three years, Thomas Neville.
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