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 62
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No change has taken place in the officers of the Company since its organiza- tion. Mr. A. W. Conant is the Superintendent of the Works.
THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
It is not the design of this work to serve as a gazetteer, but to present a picture of the material prosperity of Ottumwa at the present time. This can be done best, perhaps, by showing, briefly, the extent of its manufacturing inter- ests, since in that branch of industry alone her future fortune depends. The city must gather and retain the crude products of the country long enough to transform them into refined staples, thereby realizing a second benefit from them. Let us see what she is doing in that direction.
The large packing-house of John Morrell & Co. will be in operation before this work is issued. A brick structure, 160x96, flanked by a wing 48x96, is already completed, in which the business of slaughtering hogs and curing the meat for market will be conducted. Some four years ago, Mr. T. D. Foster, the representative of the firm (an English house) in America, made a general tour of the West, in search of a place to locate their packing-house in. No satisfactory arrangements were then made, and the business was conducted in Chicago. Last winter, Mr. Foster leased the house of Mr. Ladd, and began a preliminary experiment, to test the advantages of the city of Ottumwa as a packing point. This experiment resulted in his deciding to construct perma-
nent works and enter largely upon the trade. It is designed to prepare large quantities of meat for the English markets, a business which can be done very satisfactorily with the supply of hogs from Southern Iowa and Northern Mis- souri. Packing nowadays is not like the business of ten years ago. It is abso- lutely essential that all forms of labor-saving machinery should be employed, and that the slaughter-house be kept at an equable temperature, by artificial means, all the year round. To do this, immense stocks of ice are required. The ice-houses of this concern are made to contain 10,000 tons, or about two years' supply, to avoid calamity through failure of an ice crop. The hog-yards, in which the stock is placed prior to killing, are 300x144 feet. The capacity of the house is 1,000 per day, but it is not expected to go'much over 600 at first. Hams and bacon will be cured as soon as the necessary buildings can be erected. It is also intended to put up a cooper-shop and a box-factory, to sup- ply their own packages. From one hundred to one hundred and fifty men will find employment in the works. Side tracks from the C., B. & Q. and the K.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
& D. M. Branch of the C., R. I. & P. Railroad run to the house and yards, giving the best opportunities for shipping both ways. This business will ben- efit the town and country. The local breeders will be able to dispose of their stock to better advantage, and the town will have an added number of families to supply.
The Ottumwa Linseed Oil Mills were started in the Spring of 1875 by William Daggett, of the old firm of Daggett & Edgerly, wholesale and retail hardware (now dissolved), and W. T. Harper, of the old firm of Taylor, Blake & Co., wholesale and retail druggists (now J. L. Taylor and Co.), under the firm name of Daggett & Harper. They purchased about four acres of land on Cass street, south of and adjoining the C., B. & Q. R. R. track, and erected thereon a three-and-a half-story brick mill, 40x100 feet in size, with wooden one-story seed-warehouse, 24x80 feet, adjoining the mill. The machinery was made and put into position by William P. Callahan, of Dayton, Ohio, with a capacity of working 100,000 bushels of seed per annum.
While the building was being erected, July, 1875, the Ottumwa Water-Power Company commenced building their extensive water-power, anticipating its com- pletion within a year.
Daggett & Harper made temporary arrangements with L. C. Cook, owner of the steam flouring-mill, and situated about two hundred feet from their oil- mill, for their power by means of wire transmission. About the 1st of August, the oil-mill was fully completed, including a side-track 500 feet long, from the main line of the C., B. & Q. R. R. The first year (1875), the mill produced 82,000 gallons of linseed oil, and 800 tons of oil-cake; the second year (1876), 105,000 gallons of oil and 1,000 tons of oil-cake; the third year (1877), 126,- 000 gallons of oil and 1,200 tons of oil-cake.
The mill is now running on the crop of 1878, and working about three hundred and sixty bushels of flaxseed daily. The heavy rains of 1875-76 delayed the completion of the water-power until January, 1878. Their right- of-way for their head-race being near by, Daggett & Harper were the first to construct flumes, pen-stock and other conveniences to utilize the water-power, and by the first week in January, 1878, their entire machinery was driven by it. Their water-wheel may properly be called " the pioneer water wheel," as it was the first wheel to turn upon the opening of the Water-Power's guard lock- gates, and has ever since afforded a highly satisfactory power.
In the year 1877, Daggett & Harper replaced their wooden warehouse with a three-story brick building, 40x60 feet. Their seed-storing capacity is now 75,000 bushels. and their oil-tankage and storage capacity, 35,000 gallons. The flaxseed for the mill has been obtained on the lines of the C., B. & Q. R. R. and the Central Railroad of Iowa. The farmers in Wapello County are now largely supplying the mill, greatly to their advantage. The crop was hardly known to them until this industry was established. The oil produced has a high reputa- tion in the Northwest, especially their boiled oil, which is a specialty with this mill. The oil-cake is nearly all shipped to Great Britain, in lots of five car- loads to each shipment. Capital required in property and stocking the mill, $100,000.
One of the very commendable branches of industry at Ottumwa, is the large starch-factory. This concern is under bonds of incorporation, the members of the company comprising William Daggett, Charles F. Blake, J. W. Edgerly, W. T. Harper, W. T. Major. F. R. Sleeper, J. L. Moore, and S. L. Wiley. The capital stock of the corporation is $25,000, soon to be increased to $50,000. The company was incorporated in August, 1878; the cost of their building
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
and furnishings being $20,000. The factory has a capacity for utilizing 600 bushels of corn per day, the rendering of which affords nine tons of starch per day. The force of hands employed is from seventy-five to one hundred. The machinery is run by water-power. The building is 105x110 feet, three stories and basement ; the former of brick, the latter of stone, there being a five-foot foundation resting on twelve feet of dry piling. The roof is flat. The structure itself is imposingand adds a stroke of relief to the surroundings.
The Ottumwa oatmeal-mill, a new structure, which cost about $3,000, is the property of Kiser & Pierson. Their capacity is eighty to one hundred bar- rels per day; water-power.
Both the starch-factory and the oatmeal-mills, are institutions of peculiar advantage to this region. They are still in their infancy, the former being unfinished at the date of writing, but alluded to as it will be when in operation. The oatmeal-mills are just beginning to grind. The crude materials used in such institutions are of a kind to increase farming industry, and the factories afford a market for a wide area. They are exactly what are needed here.
H. N. McCoy owns a sash, door and blind factory, for which a capital stock $10,000 is required to run it, and a twenty-horse-power engine keeps the machinery buzzing at such a rate as to consume, yearly, in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, 100 car-loads of lumber. Twenty-five men are employed. The factory was put up in 1873.
Probably the largest manufacturing establishment at Ottumwa, is the John- ston Ruffler Company and the Ottumwa Iron Works, the former being an incorporated company, comprising as members, Allen Johnston, A. G. Harrow, J. T. Hackworth and W. T. Major; the Iron Works Company composing the same members, yet the enterprise not being an incorporation. Their works were all built in 1872, with a capital stock of $24,000 in each Company-a total of $48,000. The buildings, which occupy a total space of 165x195 feet, and the grounds included, cost $20,000; the machinery, $15,000. The Com- panies employ about sixty-five hands. This factory is the only one of the kind at Ottumwa. It is run by steam-power. The province of this Company and corporation covers every class of foundry and machine work, besides sewing- machine attachments. The enterprise of the gentlemen comprising the firm has, through incessant labor, placed this manufactory on a footing second to none and equaled by few in the State.
Durfee & Pollard are the names of formerly one of the leading wagon and carriage factories of the city. They went into the business in 1866, with scarcely no capital at all, and, by industry, worked their factory up to a $10 .- 000 capital stock concern, with the power to turn out, yearly, 300 farm-wagons and seventy-five of the various vehicles in use. They employed twenty-five men at one time. They now run a lesser force and do less work. Returning briskness in general trade will be felt in this concern.
The brewing facilities of Ottumwa are of such a wide range as to abundantly supply the home demands. The William Kraner Brewing Company is an incorporated concern, having become so in 1876, with a capital stock of $50,000. Those whose names figure in the Company are William Kraner, J. B. Miller, C. Quinton, Christopher Kaiser, Louis Schlotter and Mrs. N. E. Kaiser. The brewery cost $45,000, and the casks, etc., made an additional expense of $6,000. The works cover an area 163x160 feet; the capacity of the concern is 150 barrels of beer per day, which ten employes help to make.
Hansman & Bauer have a brewery, that was built in 1865, at a cost of $16,000, and now, with a capital of $35,000 and six men, the company are
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
enabled to brew thirty-six barrels of beer each day. The brewery has buildings enough to cover 90x190 feet of ground.
Shafer & Hofmann's brewery cost $28,000 in 1873. The size of the build- ings combined is 90x228 feet, under the roof of which five men daily tread the hop-press, and squeeze out thirty-five barrels of malt liquor from " sun to sun." The capital stock invested is $25,000.
Ottumwa has a soap-factory owned by F. Sanchez & Sons, formerly of Chicago. This factory has only two opponents in this State on the line of road from Burlington to Council Bluffs. There is a capital of $15,000 invested in the concern, which was put up in 1875; and so encouraged are the proprietors that they have concluded to combine the manufacture of fancy toilet soaps with their trade. The capacity of the factory is 15,000 pounds of soap per month, which, with the addition, will reach about 25,000 pounds.
Away back in 1862, a building was put up on the Hawley estate at a cost of $20,000 ; in this building were fixed three hundred and twenty spindles, three sets of manufacturing cards, two sets of roll cards, and a lot of fulling and finishing machinery. And when all these commodities were in full running order fifteen employes managed to pull from the rollers two hundred and fifty yards of woolen cloth per day. Mr. H. Zulauf was proprietor of the factory, and was prond of his enterprise; but a dash of "hard times rolled along, and the machinery did not revolve so fast; now and then a dozen spindles were stopped; a set of cards were made idle ; a rod was allowed to cool; the speed of a wheel was slackened ; a few hands were granted a respite from labor; a dozen window- panes dropped out ; and now the old red mill has taken on a coat of rust, few spindles revolve, yet the work goes on at a slow pace, and when the golden dol- lars shall have soared about more plentifully, the old-time din of the mill will again be heard, and the heart of idle employes leap with joy because of their old place assigned them beside the spinning wheel.
The Bauer & Kiester Plow Factory is almost an enterprise of the past, yet a few of the men who worked at plowmaking remain and serve the company in the wagon-shop connected with the factory, which has a record as far back as 1868, when a capital of $10,000 and sixteen men made it hum. The capacity was eight plows per day, bright and shining from the tip of the colter to the handles.
January 1, 1870, with plenty of grit, but no money, P. Hirschauer and six employes began to make boilers for the multitude, and they worked along until now they are prepared to make thirty-six large boilers a year, and Mr. Hirsch- auer has a capital of $1,800. His is the only boiler-factory between Burlington and Des Moines.
As long ago as 1846, Ottumwa had a flouring-mill. The first one was built in that year by a Mr. Myers, and occupied the same territory as now covered by Postlewait's new elevator. Soon after that, G. W. Bowen came to this city, and, in 1854, located the mill where it now stands ; there had been a frame saw-mill on the bank of the river since 1849, and the shell was occupied at first, and after that rejoiced in an addition. Formerly, a great deal of flour was shipped from this point to Chicago and St. Louis, but of late years attention has been given to the milling of flour for home consumptiononly. The Bowen & Company mills have four runs of buhrs, with a capacityof 100 barrels of flour daily. The capital of the concern is $6,000.
J. Schick & Co. (Jacob, Charles and Valentine) are engaged in the manu- facture of staves and barrels, boxes, hardwood timbers for wagon work, etc. The business was established in 1872, and has a capital of $25,000. The
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
annual business amounts to over $50,000. Steam-power is used. The sales extend over Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, etc. The business is a rapidly-grow- ing one, and of the sort to prosper in this region.
OTTUMWA GAS-LIGIIT COMPANY.
The work of introducing gas into the city was begun by A. E. Swift & Co., in 1870. An ordinance granting the exclusive right for a term of years was adopted September 22, of that year. November 1 following, A. E. Swift & Co. sold their franchise to the Ottumwa Gas-Light Co., which was chartered that date. The original officers were: A. E. Swift, President; N. O. Swift, Vice President, W. H. Whitla, Secretary and Treasurer. This organization continued until June 8, 1875, when E. Tillotson was chosen President ; J. R. Murdoch, Vice President, and Dwight Bannister, Secretary and Treasurer. February 12, 1878, this management was changed, and Mr. Bannister became President and Acting Secretary and Treasurer; J. R. Murdoch, Vice Presi- dent. The Company is authorized to manufacture gas and deal in coal. The gas is made from hard coal exclusively. There are some four and a half miles of pipes laid in the city. The capital stock of the Company is $100,000.
POST OFFICES IN WAPELLO COUNTY.
The following post offices are in existence in the county : Agency City, Ashland, Bladensburg, Blakesburg, Chillicothe, Competine, Dahlonega, Dud- ley, Eddyville, Eldon, Highland Center, Kirkville, Morton, Munterville, Ormanville, Ottumwa.
COUNTY POOR FARM.
The Poor Farm, 140 acres of land in Section 33, Township 72, Range 13, was purchased of Mr. Quincy A. Wood, in March, 1860. It is situated just below the mouth of Sugar Creek. The county does not boast much of this institution.
THE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
of Ottumwa are very extensive. Considerable wholesaling is carried on. The city is well supplied with retailing concerns in all branches of trade.
The learned professions are ably represented. This being the county seat, the bar naturally is strong, and many of its members are well- known through- out the State.
The banking business is carried on by firmly-established institutions.
Socially, the city is a delightful one in which to live. An intelligent class of people have made their homes here, and sustain several beneficial organiza- tions. A scientific society is in existence, and a
PUBLIC LIBRARY,
with many hundred volumes, is kept up.
Taken all in all, we adhere to the first impression formed of the city, and pronounce it one of the very pleasantest that it has been our good fortune to become acquainted with in Iowa Its future is assured, and its citizens may well feel proud of their beautiful City of Perseverance and laudable self- will.
OTTUMWA LOAN AND BUILDING ASSOCIATION
was incorporated in February, 1878, with a capital stock of $1,000,000, to be issued upon the serial plan ; $200,000 the first year, and $100,000 annually thereafter, until the whole stock shall be issued. The stock is divided into.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
shares of $200 each. The highest amount of indebtedness or liability to which the Association is liable at any one time is $2,000.
The annual meetings of the Association are held on the first Monday in March.
Although the Association has been in active existence only since April last. it has already aided in the erection of some twenty residences, and its funds are in constant demand.
The Association promises to be an important agency in the future growth of Ottumwa.
Names of the incorporators: George Haw, J. Williamson, William Daggett, J. M. Hedrick, J. B. Field, Robert Douglass, J. D. Ferree, J. T. Hackworth, Daniel Eaton, W. E. Chambers, O. M. Ladd and A. G. Harrow.
The officers of the Association are as follows: J. Williamson, President ; William Daggett, Vice President ; J. D. Ferree, Secretary ; George Haw, Treasurer.
Board of Directors : Charles Lawrence, Daniel Eaton, W. B. Armstrong, O. M. Ladd and I. N. Mast.
THE MISSING BOOK FOUND.
When the writer began his labors in Wapello County, he discovered that the original Commissioners' records were missing from the Auditor's office. Some one had borrowed the book, unbeknown to the Auditor or Clerk, and had failed to return it. The historian set to work at once to recover the volume, if possible, after first satisfying himself that it was not in the Court House. Several weeks elapsed without the desired result, and he was compelled to send his manuscript to the printer without a transcript of the proceedings of the Board. At last, after more than one hundred pages of the history were printed, the book was found. Had it not been for the indefatigable efforts of the West- ern Historical Company, Wapello would probably have never known of the whereabouts of the valuable record. We offer these words of explanation to account for the appearance of this chapter so out of proper order in the book, and to prevent the charge of inconsistency in a certain statement relative to the official roster of the county which precedes these pages. Appended is an abstract of the original book :
The first meeting of the Board was "held at Louisville, the county seat of Wapello County, on Monday, the 20th day of May, 1844." The County Com- missioners were as follows : Lewis F. Temple (not L. E Temple, as is given on page 403 of this book), James M. Montgomery and Charles F. Harrow. Charles Overman was appointed Clerk. In August, 1844, John C. Evans, John B. Gray and James B. Wright were elected. In 1845-46, the Board consisted of John C. Evans, James B. Wright and Henry Smith. In 1846, the Clerk's office was filled by James C. Tolman. In 1847, the Board consisted of Henry Smith, Charles Dudley and James B. Wright. A. J. Redenbaugh was Clerk. In 1848, James B. Wright, Charles Dudley and Nathaniel Bell were Commissioners and A. J. Redenbaugh Clerk. In 1850, Charles Dudley, Nathaniel Bell and Samuel Gilliland were Commissioners and A. J. Reden- baugh Clerk. The last meeting of the Board, before it was dissolved by the act creating the County Judge system, was held July 29, 1851, at which Nathaniel Bell, Samuel Gilliland and Gideon Myers officiated. Mr. Reden- baugh was the last Clerk.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
The first business transacted at the May, 1844, session, was to grant a license to. David Glass to keep a grocery "in Ottumwa." This shows that the name Ottumwa was insisted upon by the settlers, although the official name was then Louisville, by reason of the act of the Locating Commissioners, who named it so in honor of Louisville, Ky.
Washington Township was organized at the first meeting.
Pleasant, Competine, Columbia, Center, Dahlonega, Richland and Adams Townships were created at the June session, or second meeting.
J. P. Eddy was granted a ferry license at the July session, authorizing him to establish a ferry at Eddyville. This was the first ferry in the county, duly legalized. The prices permitted to be charged were : Footman, 6} cents ; man and horse, 182 cents ; two horses and wagon, 372 cents ; four horses and wagon, 50 cents ; cattle, 4 cents ; hogs, 2 cents.
In July, Henry Smith & Co. were authorized to construct a dam across the Des Moines, on Section 27, Township 71, Range 12, where Eldora now stands.
A tax of 5 mills on the dollar was authorized, and a poll-tax of 50 cents.
A Jail was ordered to be built on the east end of Lot 136, Block 11, in Lou- isville, but definite action was postponed.
A free ferry was ordered across the river at Louisville, provided the Appa- noose Rapids Company sustain one-half the expense of the building and mainte- nance of the same.
At the April term, 1845, Anderson Cox was granted permission to establish a ferry across the Des Moines River, one and a quarter miles above Louisville.
At the May term, 1845, the Board agreed upon the specifications for the erection of a Jail, the previous action having resulted in nothing. A two-story hewed log building was agreed upon.
W. W. Chapman was acting as Attorney for the county in 1845.
At the August session, the Board ordered that the names of Francis M. Harrow and Robert M. Ramsey be stricken from the mill and dam charter, and that the company proposing to build a mill at Louisville be allowed until March, 1847, to do so. The original charter was granted by the Board of Jefferson County. while this county was attached thereto, September, 1843, to F. M. Harrow, R. W. Ramsey, David Armstrong and Joel Myers & Co. The Board of Wapello County approved of the charter at the August meeting, as aforesaid, with the change of names shown above.
The Jail contract was finally awarded to David Armstrong, at this meeting, for $2,000. The site chosen was Lot 140, Block 11.
'The first official recognition of the name Ottumwa was made November, 1845, by the Board. Before that date, "Louisville " and " Ottumwa " were used interchangeably.
Polk and Keokuk Townships were created in April, 1846.
There is no mention of the building of the first Court House, but at the January session, record is made of repairs done thereon by Thomas Sinnamon. And again, when Snodgrass & Hill added " stair steps " to that historic pile.
In January, 1848, D. F. Gaylord and Levi Reeve were authorized to fit up a ferry across the river, at Ottumwa, to continue twelve years.
Through all the Record Book one encounters innumerable licenses " to keep a grocery," granted to enough persons to supply groceries (fluid and solid) for a multitude. The business was a good one in those days, we infer.
The petition praying for the incorporation of Ottumwa was presented to the Board in January, 1851. An election, in accordance with the prayer, was ordered to be held February 8, 1851.
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HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
Agency Township was created in April, 1851.
There is no mention made in this book of the action taken by the Board respecting the Appanoose Rapids Company, and one is forced to admit that the records are quite meager in many respects. Not one word is said concerning the financial condition of the county, nor is the population or material growth alluded to in any way. No record of elections is preserved. The absence of full details of the transfer of lots to the county by the Appanoose Rapids Company is an astonishing one. The Company is alluded to but once or twice, and then only in an incidental manner. As we have already had access to the official books of that Company, this history is not deficient, however. It is gratifying to be able to say that the official roster is completed by the list of Commissioners herein given, and our readers will acknowledge that the publishers have left no stone unturned to give as full and authentic a history as can be obtained.
EDDYVILLE.
Previous to the year 1841, the country about Eddyville was in its primeval condition. In that year, Mr. J. P. Eddy, an Indian trader, came from War- ren County, Ohio, bringing with him a dozen or more artisans, who were anxious to try their fortunes in the Far West. Mr. Eddy brought his family with him, but most of the party were single men, and, it would seem, clung to their single wretchedness for a long time thereafter. "As late as 1847," says Mr. Benedict, of whom more will soon be known, "out of the seventeen men who were building a mill in our neighborhood, only one man of the lot was married. Where did all the rest find wives ? Some died without ever having one, and the others scoured the country far and near for helpmates."
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