USA > Iowa > Washington County > The history of Washington County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. : a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 67
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The territory incorporated in the city under this organization was as fol- lows:
"Commencing on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of sec- tion seventeen, in township seventy-five, north of range seven west, in Washington county, Iowa.
"1. Thence south 1.28 chains.
"2. Thence west 13 chains to the northwest corner of the west addi- tion to Washington by Joseph Keck.
"3. Thence south 38.88 chains to the southwest corner of southwest Washington.
" 4. Thence east 9.90 chains to the northwest corner of Jackson and Stiles' addition to Washington.
"5. Thence south 10.20 chains to the southwest corner of Jackson and Stiles' addition to Washington.
"6. Thence east 3.90 chains to the west line of section 20, township and range aforesaid.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
"7. Thence south 12.55 chains to the southwest corner of south Wash- ington by Wilson.
" 8. Thence east 14.75 chains to the middle of the street west of col- lege lot.
" 9 Thence south 2.50 chains.
"10. Thence east 27.50 chains to the center line north and south of sec- tion 20.
" 11. Thence north 25.50 chains on said line to the southeast corner of southwest quarter of section 17, township and range aforesaid.
" 12. Thence east 22.20 chains to the southeast corner of east Wash- ington.
" 13. Thence north 21.50 chains.
" 14. Thence west 8.60 chains to the southeast corner of northeast Washington.
" 15. Thence north 18.3 chains to the northeast corner of east Wash- ington.
" 16. Thence west 15.68 chains to the northeast corner of southwest quarter of section 17, township and range aforesaid.
" 17. Thence west 40.30 chains to the place of beginning."
This time the incorporation of the city was accomplished in fact and so thoroughly in accordance with law that no efforts to invalidate it have been successful; ordinances have been enacted, streets and sidewalks improved, and the municipal machinery continued to be operated without any acci- dent.
The city is at present sub-divided into four wards, the officers being as follows:
Mayor-John A. Young.
Clerk-Edgar Wilson.
Aldermen: First ward-John Dodd, D. Schofield. Second ward-N. Everson, E. Anderson.
Third ward-J. F. Henderson, W. E. Frazier. Fourth ward-R. M. Wallace, A. Kendall.
: The city of Washington and the township of Washington have each a corps of civil officers. Those elected for the city in 1879 are as follows:
Trustees-J. M. Denny, W. A. Cook and L. Whitcomb.
Clerk-C. J. Wilson.
Assessor-J. L. L. Terry.
Justices of the peace-D. C. Kyle, D. W. French.
Those for the township elected in 1879 were:
Trustees-C. Lins, J. A. Saville, H. B. Anderson.
Clerk-A. J. Dawson.
Assessor-B. W. Fleming.
Justices of the peace-John Palmer, J. B. Morgan.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The public schools of Washington have long been regarded as the best in the State. Not only have the people been liberal in voting funds for the erection of school buildings and salaries of teachers, but what is even more important they have been careful to vote in members of the school
555
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
board who have brought with them to this responsible position experience and a determination to give to the work their conscientious and earnest efforts for the maintenance of the schools. They have been fortunate in their selection of a superintendent of schools in the person of Professor Lewis, who has held the office for over ten years. His tenure of office has no parallel in the history of Iowa schools, and as a result the schools of Wash- ington have no parallel in the State for efficiency.
The crowning glory of American institutions is the public school sys- tem; nothing among American institutions is so intensely American. They are colleges of democracy and if this government is to remain a re- public, governed by statesmen, it is from the public school that they must be graduated. The amount of practical knowledge which the masses here receive is important and forms the chief factor in the problem of material prosperity, but it is not so much the practical knowledge, which it is the ostensible mission of the public school to impart, that makes this sys- tem the sheet-anchor of our hope; it is rather the silent, social influence which the common schools exert. It is claimned for our country that it is a land of social equality, where all have the same chance in the race of life; and yet there are many things which give the lie to this boasted claim of an aristocracy of manhood. Our churches are open to all, but it is clear that the best pews are occupied by the wealthy. The sightless goddess ex- tends the scale of justice to all, but it will usually appear that there is money in the descending scale. It takes money to run for office, or at least it generally requires money to get office. The first experiences of the American citizen, however, are had in the public school. If he is a rich man's son, his class-mate is a son of poverty. . The seat of the one is no better than that of the other, and when the two are called to the black- board the fine clothes of the rich man's son do not keep him from going down provided he is a drone, neither do the patches on the clothes of the other keep him down if he have genius and application. The pampered child of fortune may purchase a diploma at many of the select schools of our land, but at the public schools it is genius and application which win. That state or nation which reaches out this helping hand to the children of want will never lack for defenders in time of danger, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually expended for the common education of chil- dren is but money loaned which the children will pay back with compound interest when grown to manhood.
Then, too, in an indirect way, our public schools inculcate the lesson of common honesty. The boy hears his father make promises and sees him break them. Mr. Brown is promised ten dollars on Tuesday, but Mr. Brown calls on Tuesday and again on Wednesday and finally gets the ten dollars on Saturday; the boy goes with his father to church and frequently gets there after the first prayer. In vain does the father teach that boy les- sons of common honesty when that boy knows that the father three times disappointed Brown, and never gets to church in time. The boy soon learns at the public school that punctuality and promptness are cardinal virtues; that to be tardy a day is to get a little black mark and to be absent a day is to get a big black mark. A public school in which punctuality and promptness are impartially and fearlessly enforced is a most potent conservator of public morals. In these two particulars the public schools of Washington take the lead of all cities of the State.
Owing to the inclemency of the weather and the number of trifling ills
556
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
to which children are subjected at this season of the year there is more un- avoidable absence and tardiness than any other month of the year; and yet during the month just past (January, 1880), the schools of Washington made the following proud record:
Number days taught .. 20
Enrollment. 633
Average membership 595.8
Average attendance 573.8
Days of absence. 432.5
Cases of tardiness 3
Number not absent or tardy 407
Per cent of attendance 96.3
Per cent of punctuality 99.98
Number of visitors. . 46
Per cent of regularity for the month in the high school. 98.6
Mrs. Lewis' room
98.5
Miss Bellville's room
Mr. Cocklin's room. 99.1
98.9
Miss Runyon's room. 97.4
Mrs. Ayers' room . 98.8
Miss C. L. Young's room
97.5
Miss Nannie M. Young's room
97.6
Miss J. Lytle's room
98.1
Miss Anderson's room
97
Miss Brown's room .
98.3
Miss Wolf's room.
97.4
The present officers of the independent school district of Washington are as follows:
Board of Education, A. H. Wallace, J. D. Miles, R. T. McCall, T. S. Daugherty. W. R. Jeffrey, H, A. Burrell. President, A. H. Wallace; sec- retary, D. W. Lewis; treasurer, D. W. French.
SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY.
In April, 1859, a society of natural history was organized in Washing- ton. Its object was the collection and preservation of mineralogical, zoolog- ical and ornithological specimens and fossils, and more particularly those peculiar to that locality. The first officers were as follows: President, T. H. Dinsmore; vice-presidents, N. Chipman and N. Everson; secretary, J. G. Cowden; treasurer and keeper of cabinet, N. P. Chipman.
Great and commendable interest was displayed for a time in this most worthy object, but after a time the society discontinued its meetings and what specimens had been collected became scattered. Enough interest in natural history now exists in Washington to support a flourishing society but it is of an individual rather than of a united character, and is mani- fested by a collection of private cabinets, Mr. Rowan of the savings bank, having the most interesting and valuable one. Prof. Lewis also has col- lected quite a number of valuable specimens, which are at all times access- ible to the pupils of the high school.
557
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
WASHINGTON FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The enterprise, public spirit and liberality of the citizens of Wash- ington is manifested in nothing more than in the public library. The wisdom which characterized the conception, and the generosity which ac- complished the execution of this enterprise is becoming more apparent year by year. Those who have any interest in the present and future wel- fare of Washington can but rejoice to witness the eager and anxious throng which on Wednesday and Saturday evenings fills the library rooms to al- most the point of suffocation.
The library was for some time agitated, and finally, in August, 1878, the movement assumed a tangible shape. It resulted from a union of public and private generosity; first a half mill tax, from which is annually realized . the sum of about $500, was authorized by a vote of the people, and second several of the leading citizens contributed a large number of books, and third, Mr. Burrell donated the free use of the elegant and commodious room situate in the second story of his printing office block to be used for library rooms.
Among those donating books the following were the most liberal: H. Schofield, A. R. Dewey, Mrs. William Schofield, C. T. Jones, H. A. Burrell.
The library consists of about fifteen hundred volumes of as choiice and well selected books as can be found in any house of the same pretensons in America. Here the boys and the girls, the old men and the women of Washington, and the stranger who is within their gates can secure any or all the most popular works of fiction, the most valuable books of history, biograyhy and travel, and by complying with the easiest condition have ac- cess to this mine of knowledge without money or price.
The present officers are as follows:
Trustees, D. Schofield, J. D. Miles, D. W. Lewis; secretary, G. G. Rod- man; librarian, J. A. Thompson.
The Free Public Library of Washington is an institution which the peo- ple of Washington in particular should be proud, and which the people of all towns in general should pattern after.
MASONIC.
Washington Lodge No. 26, A. F. & A. M., was founded in May, 1851. The charter members were N. Chipman, R. W. McElroy, J. F. Sales, Elea- zar Clemmons, G. H. Jimmison, William Fisher, J. K. Walker. After working under dispensation one month it received a charter on June 5, 1851. N. Chipman was the first W. M., and served in that capacity quite a number of years, till he removed from the city. R. W. McElroy was the first S. W., and J. F. Sales first J. W.
The present officers of Washington Lodge No. 26, A. F. & A. M. are:
W. M., D. Schofield; S. W., A. R. Dewey; J. W., G. G. Rodman; sec- retary, J. L. L. Terry; treasurer, A. H. Wallace; S. D., A. N. Albertson; J. D, James Murking.
The lodge first met in a room of the old Iowa House, located on the northwest corner of the square, which was then managed by the W. M.
The following named gentlemen have held the office of W. M. since the organization of the order:
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
R. W. McElroy, W. D. Tribblecock, G. W. Tays, W. H. Rausseau, S. G. Owen, J. H. Chilcote, J. A. Thompson, William Wilson, Jr., and D. Scho- field.
Among the pioneers of Masonry N. Chipman is entitled to special men- tion; also W. D. Tribblecock and G. W. Tays. Mr. Chipman was at one time J. G. W. of the the Grand Lodge of the State; Messrs. Tribblecock and Thompson have held the office of Grand Treasurer. All the charter members are now dead except Chipman and McElroy.
The order has from the first met with the open and continued opposition of the leading church of the city, owing to the fact that secret societies are regarded by that denomination as hurtful to society and unchristian in character. The order however has steadily prospered and now owns a hall in the third story of the postoffice building, has eighty members and in- vestments amounting in the aggregate to $500.
CAPITULAR MASONRY.
Cyrus Chapter No. 13, began work U. D. in April, 1856, and received charter May 31, 1856.
The following named gentlemen have held the office of H. P. since the lodge was instituted:
G. W. Tays, N. Chipman, S. G. Owen, Benjamin Crabb, A. H. Wallace, J. H. Chilcote, A. R. Dewey. Of these the first was G. H. P. of the State in 1859, and the last, A. R. Dewey, was elected to the same honorable and responsible office at the meeting of the Grand Chapter at Waterloo, at its last meeting. The chapter owns in common with the lodge the hall in postoffice building, has about seventy-five members and investments amount- ing to $800.
CRYPTIC MASONRY
Was established in Washington in 1859. Among the charter members were the following: Benjamin Crabb, S. G. Owen, Leon Mayer, M. Barret, W. D. Tribblecock.
The order existed and thrived until consolidation of council with chap- ter degrees in 1878.
The following named gentlemen held the office of T. M. during the ex- istence of the order:
G. W. Tays, S. G. Owen, Benjamin Crabb, J. S. Allen, and A. R. Dewey.
I. O. O. F.
Covenant Lodge No. 101, was chartered January 1, 1856. Among the charter members were H. R. Cowles, O. H. Graves, Fred Vogt, J. M. Shilling, J. H. Harrington. The first place of meeting was in the Miller Block on the west side of the square. The lodge room at present is in the building of Blair & Brokaw on the southeast corner of the square. The lodge now has about eighty members and investments amounting to over $1,500. The present officers are as follows: N. G., E. Hoover; V. G., T. Minnick; secretary, W. B. Mason; treasurer, D. Welch.
The following named gentlemen have held the office of Deputy Grand Master: H. R. Cowles, (). H. Graves, A. A. Rodman, A. R. Dewey.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ENCAMPMENT.
Washington Encampment No. 43, was established in 1869. E. Hoover, C. P .; A. A. Rodman, H. P. and treasurer; W. V. Mason, Secretary; D. Welch, S. W .; A. R. Dewey, J. W. The encampment numbers about 30.
A. O. U. W.
Hawkeye Lodge No. 1, was established Jan. 14, 1872. As indicated by the name it was the first lodge of this order established in the State, and probably the first one west of the Mississippi river. Among the charter members were the following: A. R. Dewey, C. H. Dixon, W. T. Smith, J. H. Taylor, J. W. Morton, J. M. Stinson, and .S. P. Montgomery. J. M. Stinson was the first M. W .; C. H. Dixon, O .; W. T. Smith, recorder; J. W. Morton, financier.
While this is a secret social order its chief object is insurance. Its rates are $4 per year and upon the death of a member his family receives $2,000. The first death was that of C. H. Dixon, whose family was promptly paid the full amount of the policy. The lodge numbers over 100; the lodge room is on the east side of the square, in Wilson's block.
I. O. M. A.
Washington Lodge No. 113, was organized in April, 1878. It was un- der the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Wm. Wilson, Jr., was the first president, and he was succeeded by A. R. Dewey. This organ- ization had for its object mutual benefit, in case of misfortune, and the cultivation of social improvement. It flourished for about one year when the organization went down and on its ruins was established the
LEGION OF HONOR.
The Grand President, from Davenport, instituted this order April 15, 1879. Its beginning was most auspicious, there being over eighty charter members. William Wilson, Jr., was the first president, Ed. Anderson vice- president, J. W. C. Coxe, chaplain, A. N. Alberson usher. This order meets in the same room where the Workmen meet. The present mem- bership numbers over 100. The officers are as follows: President, A. N Alberson; vice-president, Ed. Anderson; secretary, J. W. Templeton; finan- cial secretary, C. H. Wilson; treasurer, M. Whitcomb.
PIONEER RELIEF ASSOCIATION.
This order has for its object insurance against accident or sickness. It was organized in November, 1879. The members are divided into three classes. The first class pay $20 per annum, and in case of sickness receive $20 per week; the second class pay $10 per annum, and in case of sick- ness receive $10 per week; the third class pay $6 per annum, and in case of sickness receive $5 per week. No death losses are paid. A. R. Dewey is president of the association, Mr. Coulter vice-president, J. J. Kellog secre- tary and treasurer. The examining committee consists of D. Schofield, H. A. Burrell, C. F. Chester, O. F. Haight and Joseph Campbell. The order numbers about one score.
560
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
Travel the world around and it would be impossible to find a battle-field where the conflicts with King Alcohol have been more persistently waged than in the city of Washington. The fight began with the incorporation of the town, and through fair weather and foul, by night and by day, by voice and by vote, has the contest gone on even up to the present with all that varying result peculiar to a drawn battle.
The first battalion organized for the purpose of disputing the sway of that fell monster was known as the Sons of Temperance, enlisted and mustered in sometime during the year 1850. This battalion was relieved in 1865 by that noble band of sons and daughters of temperance called Good Temp- lars, but after a two years' contest Alcohol again triumphed; but in the midst of his conquering sway he received a terrible blow from a Blue-Rib- bon club. Beer was voted down and out in 1877, and again in 1878; but in 1879 beer again came up and in. However this long-continued and hotly-contested fight shall in the end terminate, the friends of prohibition in Washington have great reason to congratulate themselves upon the fact that for a part of the time at least the temptation has been removed from the path of their young men, and when they see one making a heroic fight with his appetite they can console themselves with the thought that they have done their best to help him.
MILITARY.
The martial spirit has ever prevailed in Washington. When the war of secession came there was found in the peaceable city of Washington a com- pany of brave and disciplined men, ready and eager to join the affray. More than a decade has passed since ghastly war stalked through the land and placid peace has enfolded Columbia in her loving arms. Nevertheless two companies of Washingtonians, one of infantry and one of artillery, sleep on their arms, ready at a moment to present a serried phalanx against the rav- ages of the horny-handed striker or the incursions of the festive tramp.
The Washington Guards were organized August 1, 1878. The officers first commissioned were: Captain, A. R. Dewey ; first lieutenant, Robert Mc- Gauthey; second lieutenant, W. H. Judson. On being mustered into the State service this company became company D, Second regiment I. N. G. The present officers are: Captain, D. J. Palmer; first lieutenant, A. A. Rod- man; second lieutenant, H. R. Cowles. Some two years ago Captain Dewey was promoted to a very honorable position on Governor Gear's staff. The company numbers about sixty, rank and file.
The Washington Independent Battery was organized in 1879, William Mccutchen, captain, and J. J. Kellogg, lieutenant. The battery consists of two six-pound pieces and numbers twenty men ready for duty.
FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church organization is the oldest in Washington. It was first known as the Associate Reformed Church, and the first building erected was 24x30 and erected in 1844, and was located on the corner of Main and Front streets. This becoming too small, a new frame church was erected in 1851, on Marion street near the public square at a cost of $2,500. In 1858 the
561
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
church organization was changed in name and became the United Presby- terian Church. In 1868 the frame church editice was moved around so as to face toward another street, where it is still located being used as a public hall, and on the ground where it formerly stood was erected the present ele- gant and commodious structure. The new building is made of brick; is 48x80 and is eighty feet high with a steeple of twenty-eight feet; the base- ment is nine feet high and the main audience-room will seat six hundred people. The architects were Meriam & Nouguet and the building cost $15,757. It was dedicated on Sunday, November 15, 1868, Rev. Mr. McAyeal conducting the services, assisted by Rev. W. H. Wilson, who was then the stated pastor. This Church has a membership of near four hundred and is in a very prosperous condition. Since the organization this church has had but four pastors; Rev. Mr. Vincent, seven years; Rev. Mr. An- drews, three years; Rev. Mr. Wilson, sixteen years; W. C. Williamson, the present pastor, who has already served for about nine years.
SECOND UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This Church was organized in the year 1853. Mrs. M. M. Young, Sam- uel McCloskey and wife, Alexander Young, I. N. Smith, Mrs. A. Adams, and Mrs. Rebecca Norwood were some of the original members. A brick church building was erected in 1857 and dedicated the same year. During the spring of 1877 the congregation becoming dissatisfied with the location of their place of worship, which was located on the west side of the town, purchased the Congregational church, on Iowa street, which had been va- cated, and moved there where it has since met for public worship. Rev's. S. F. Vanatta, A. Conner, W. E. Wade, R. B. Laygart, H. G. McVey have been pastors since the organization. Rev. Mr. Mc Vey is at present pastor. The membership now numbers one hundred and five. This organization of christians has passed through many vicissitudes, but at present is in a pros- perous condition.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This Church was first organized at the house of Wm. L. Harvey, about one mile and a half southwest of Washington, on the 20th of October, 1839. The original members were Jesse Ashby, wife and daughter, Wm. L. Har- vey and wife, William, Ann and Mary Conner, and Eli Patterson. The first church building was a frame structure, 28x38 feet, located near the corner of Green and Jefferson streets and was completed in 1846. The present church edifice, a brick building, two stories high, was erected in 1857. It is located on the corner of Second and Madison streets. The pres- ent membership numbers about two hundred and includes some of the old- est and most influential citizens of the city. It would be somewhat difficult to determine who have been pastors, as in a church whose rule is to change pastors so frequently, the list of pastors during a score of years becomes quite lengthy. Rev. Dr. McDonald is the present pastor, and Dr. Wheeler, formerly president of the Iowa Wesleyan University, is presiding elder.
ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Members of this religious denomination settled in and about Washington at an early day. They soon effected an organization and continued to in-
562
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
crease till 1858, when a large majority went into what is known as the Union of 1858, forming the U. P. Church. A respectable minority, declin- ing the union, organized themselves into what is known as the Associate Presbyterian Church. Among the persons who formed the first organiza- tion, were the following: Matthew Nelson and wife, William Nelson and wife, William Robertson and wife, Thos. Duke and wife, Andrew Duke and wife, H. D. Titus and wife, Robert Boyd and wife, James Stephenson and wife, S. B. Coulter and wife, Robert Martin and wife, Robert Meek and wife, James Currie, Mrs. Fleming and Mary and Maggie Duke. In 1862 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $1,700. Rev. Samuel Hindman was the first pastor who continued in that position till 1867. He was succeeded by Rev. G. F. Fisher, the present pastor. This denomination holds to the Westminster confession of faith as its subordinate standard, which is explained in the "Act and Testimony" of 1784. The membership of this Church numbers seventy-eight.
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