USA > Iowa > Washington County > The history of Washington County, Iowa, its cities, towns, and c., a biographical directory of its citizens > Part 66
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The city is somewhat irregular in its survey owing to the number of ad- ditions, but the original plat was laid out with considerable regularity, the blocks being nearly all of the same size, the streets crossing each other at right angles and being wide and straight. The center of the original plat was reserved for a public square, is so designated on the plat and yet is de- noted in the survey as a public highway. This square has always been re- garded as the property of the county and what improvements have been made were at the county's expense. The court-house which once adorned the park was removed several years ago, and now there are no traces what- ever of that illustrious edifice. It is often remarked of our fathers that they built better than they knew, but the building which the fathers erected in the Washington public square certainly did not exceed either in architectu- ral appearance or durability the estimate put upon it by the builders and those of the citizens who in years gone by were wont to look upon its mas- sive columns, but now gaze with even greater rapture upon the vacant ground which it once occupied. The principal part of the retail business of the city is done on the public square, the streets being as follows:
North side, Main street; east side, Iowa street; south side, Washington street; west side, Marion street.
The business houses are in the main of a commodious and durable char- acter, they being constructed chiefly of brick, many of them having iron fronts with windows of heavy plate glass. As a rule, however, the business houses of Washington have rather an antiquated appearance; as exception, the three bank buildings, the "Press" office and the block occupied by Chil- cote & Cook might be mentioned.
544
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The opera house block erected by Norman Everson several years ago, is a very substantial and commodious building; it is an imposing structure and readily impresses the visitor with the fact that it was built for use rather than ornament. Here is transacted the principal part of the county busi- ness and traveling troupes of artists as well as home troupes of amateurs find a commodious and comfortable audience-room, a substantial stage and chaste if not gorgeous scenery.
The Brison House block with its recent additions compares very favora- bly with the hotel blocks in the river towns. Owing to the number of rail- road connections which are made at this city, the hotel facilities required are of a more commodious and inetropolitan character than most of the in- land county-seat towns.
Away from the square, the academy building with its famous town clock, and the First United Presbyterian Church building are the most prominent buildings.
Newhall, in his "History of Iowa," published in 1841, speaking of Wash- ington, says: "It contains a population of one hundred inhabitants, is handsomely situated near one of the tributaries of Crooked creek; it is twenty-nine miles from Iowa City and promises to become a thriving and important town." Twenty years later it was by proclamation of the gov- ernor declared a city of the second class, and as such was incorporated under the general law for the incorporation of cities.
The first steps taken toward the incorporation of the town were in 1852. On the 22d of May, that year, an election was held at the court-house for and against incorporating the town which resulted in favor of incorporation. On the 29th of May, same year, D. L. Parker, William H. Jenkins and Samuel Miller were elected to prepare the charter, which they did, filing the same in the office of the county judge. On the 10th of July, same year, an elec- tion was held on the adoption of the charter, which resulted in its adoption. From some cause this charter was revoked and the town reverted to its former standing as an unincorporated village.
In 1855 steps were again taken toward the corporation of Washington. After taking the necessary preliminary measures, a meeting was called for the election of officers, which resulted in the election of the following first corps of municipal officers:
Mayor, A. J. Disney; recorder, J. M. Furgnson; marshal, John H. Ba- con; councilmen, first ward, Joseph Keck and Norman Chipman; second ward, Hiram Wallingford and W. Perry Organ.
The first ward comprised all of the town west of the public square, and the east part of the town constituted the second ward.
Owing to some defects in the steps taken for the incorporation of the town, the municipal government was declared illegal and Washington was again without a government.
The Buris City "Commercial and Reporter" published in 1856, an article concerning Washington, which gave a tolerably good idea of the town.
Among other things, it says that "Washington contains about twelve hundred inhabitants and the number is rapidly increasing. There will be erected this season about one hundred and forty buildings. Washington College is located here; it has an endowment of forty-five thousand dollars and is under the superintendence of the Associate Reformed Church. They are now erecting a new college building on a very eligible site, which is to be fifty by seventy-five feet on the ground and three stories high. The court-
547
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
house, which is nothing to be proud of, stands in the public square and is about the center of the town. The upper part of this building is occupied by the Washington 'Press' office."
From this it will be seen that Washington when it began to grow in size and importance made immense strides for three or four ycars, after which it showed a tendency to relapse into that steady-going, monotonous pace which had characterized the town from 1850 to 1855.
The great impetus to the growth of the city was the large emigration of 1855 and 1856 and the railroad prospects. Houses of all kinds went up as if by magic in every part of the town, and everybody seemed to be pushing his own and his neighbor's business. It was during this period of prosper- ity and excitement that many of the brick blocks, which are now the center of trade and traffic, were erected.
: In 1857 the State legislature passed a law incorporating the city of Wash- ington, requiring the act to be published in the Iowa City "Republican" without expense to the State. As the matter was neglected by the citizens of Washington, the publication of the act was not made until the Friday preceeding the time fixed by law for the election of officers. The law was not received at Washington until the following Sunday, when an extra was issued by the "Press" of the next week as follows:
"Are are all of our citizens aware that the mud-begirt, mud-begrimmed, mud-overwhelmed town of Washington is elevated into the dignity of a city? That all the vast expanse of black alluvium which envelops our streets is incorporated dirt, chartered mud? The act of incorporation was published in the Iowa City 'Republican' of last Friday and sent by Saturday's mail for this place, reaching here sometime during Sunday. It was not produced in our office till sometime Sunday afternoon, and as the next day, February 16th, was specified in the instrument, for its adoption or rejection by our citizens by nine or ten o'clock on Monday, it was passed into the hands of the voters in the form of an extra. Polls were opened in due form and one hundred and twenty-nine votes cast, of which one hundred and twenty-seven were for, and two against its adoption."
The officers elected under this charter were as follows:
Mayor. S. P. Young; recorder, Alonzo R. Wickersham; treasurer, S. M. Cox; assessor, Jonathan H. Wilson; marshal, James R. Easton; coun- cilmen, first ward, Andrew Kendall, Enoch Ross, M. C. Kilgore; second ward, Richard H. Maish, George C. Anderson, William Perry Organ. Af- ter the trouble and expense of incorporation and election it was decided by the district court that the charter was null and void. The decision was rendered in a liquor case and being appealed to the Supreme Court was affirmed. The difficulty seems to have been in the notice of election which was held to be insufficient and illegal.
In the "Press" of May 20, 1857, was published the following in relation to Washington:
"We have now a population of near two thousand, five churches and two more to be erected the coming season, four hotels, nine dry goods stores, two clothing stores, two hardware stores, two banks, three stove and tin- ware establishments, two drug stores, one book store, seven grocery and provision stores, one bakery and confectionary, one millinery and fancy store, four blacksmith shops, and saslı and door factory, three wagon mak- ers, two boot and shoe stores, three furniture stores, three cabinet shops,
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548
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
one boiler factory with foundry and machine shop attached, one flouring mill, one carding and fulling mill, two tailors, eight or ten ministers, six or seven lawyers, and eight physicians.
"We have invested in the dry goods business about seventy-five thousand dollars, with yearly sales amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In the grocery business some twenty thousand dollars, with yearly sales amounting to forty thousand dollars. In hardware and agricultural implements from twelve to fourteen thousand dollars, with yearly sales amounting to thirty-five thousand dollars. In drugs and medicines twenty thousand dollars, with yearly sales amounting to eighteen or twenty thous- and dollars.
"Within the past year the Methodists have erected a fine substantial brick church; the Associate Reformed Church has also erected a nice house of worship; Washington College has the walls of its fine edifice up to the second story, and during the year a fine two story brick building has been erected for school purposes. The Methodist church was dedicated on the 28th of June and two thousand dollars subscribed then and there toward paying the debt incurred in its construction."
On the 17th of September, 1858, measures were agaiu taken for the in- corporation of the town of Washington, under the State law for the incor- poration of towns and cities. The limits were to be one and a half miles square, taking as a center, the center of the original town plot. This pro- ject was strongly opposed by many of the citizens and resulted in a failure as the other efforts had from some defect in the proceedings of the incor- porators.
On the 1st day of June, 1855, Norman Everson opened an exchange and deposit bank in the building on the northwest corner of the square, where now is located the opera-house block. He continued to run this bank until after the organization of the Washington Branch of the State Bank, when the latter institution swallowed up all the minor institutions. In March, 1857, a smaller bank was established by Shaw, Rigour & Co., called the Washington Deposit Bank, which was carried on by this firm till the sum- mer of 1858, when they were succeeded by William H. Jenkins & Co., who continued the business till the opening of the State Bank. This firm was composed of William H. Jenkins, A. H. Patterson and Hiram Scho- field.
The first move for the establishment of the Washington Branch of the State Bank was made in July, 1858, and on the 29th of the same month the following notice was published:
" In accordance with the provisions of the law authorizing the establish- ment of the State Bank of Iowa, approved March 17, 1858, the undersigned have associated themselves together for the formation of a branch of said State Bank at Washington, Washington county, Iowa, and hereby give notice of their purpose to open a book for the subscription of the capital stock at the exchange and collection office of William H. Jenkins & Co., at Washington, in said county and State aforesaid, on the 19th day of August, A. D. 1858, at 10 o'clock A. M. of that day, and thereafter to hold the same open for that purpose, according to the provisions of said law.
549
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
James Dawson.
E. W. Twining.
Jonathan H. Wilson.
J. Black, Sr.
George C. Anderson.
C. H. Abbott.
John Dawson.
George Brokaw.
Joseph Keck. William H. Jenkins.
A. W. Chilcote.
A. H. Patterson.
A. N. Miller.
Isaac Van Nostrand.
John Young.
S. P. Young.
" Dated at Washington this 29th day of July, 1858."
The first application to the bank commissioners failed, but subsequent exertions proved successful, and on the 15th of March, 1859, books were again opened and $50,000 of stock subscribed, as follows:
A. H. Patterson 4 shares.
Calvin Craven
5 shares.
Joseph Keck 10 shares.
John W. Quinn
James Dawson . 6 shares.
10 shares.
Lyman Whitcomb
5 shares.
S. G. Owen
4 shares.
Thomas Walker
5 shares.
William Wilson, Jr
4 shares.
George Brokaw 5 shares.
Thomas Wilson 2 shares.
Robert Dawson 10 shares.
William H. Jenkins 30 shares.
George C. Stone 200 shares.
Joseph A. Greene 200 shares.
Total 500 shares.
The bank was organized by the election of the following officers: Presi- dent, Joseph A. Greene; cashier, George C. Stone; directors, Joseph Keck, John W. Quinn, James Dawson, Joseph A. Greene, and George C. Stone.
Business was commenced on the 19th day of April, 1859. Howard M. Holden was afterward elected cashier in the place of George C. Stone. In February, 1861, Mr. Holden resigned his office, and William H. Hubbard, afterward cashier of the First National Bank of Iowa City, was elected to that office, which he held till February, 1862, when Mr. Holden resumed the duties of cashier and retained the position until the bank was discon- tinued.
The first board of directors who attended to any business of the bank were Joseph A. Greene, George C. Stone, Howard M. Holden, Joseph Keck and James Dawson. In August, 1861, Mr. Greene was succeeded in the presidency of the bank by Joseph Keck, who retained that position to the end of its existence. We append two statements-the first and the last-of the business of the bank, by which it will be seen that the business prospered, and, as the common expression runs, was always sound.
550
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
FIRST MONTHLY STATEMENT, MAY, 1859.
Assets.
Safety fund
$ 3,000 00
Specie .
15,159 80
Notes of other banks
5,140 00
Cash items.
185 00
Due from other banks
4,543 64
Notes discounted
13,313 82
Expenses
967 45
Furniture
743 65
Total
$43,053 36
Liabilities.
Capital stock paid in
$25,000 00
Notes in circulation
7,824 00
Due other banks
1,346 60
Deposits.
8,557 35
Surplus.
325 41
Total
$43,053 36
The monthly statement for May 1, 1865, which was the last, is as follows:
Assets.
Specie, legal tender and bank notes $130,056 75
On deposit with other banks
51,339 59
Notes and bills discounted
156,309 54
Safety fund
9,500 00
United States bonds
35,600 00
Real estate and furniture
41,500 00
Revenue stamps
1,500 00
Total
$388,805 91
Liabilities.
Capital stock.
$ 50,000 00
Notes of circulation
59,856 00
Dne other banks
3,365 68
Deposits
247,042 38
Surplus
28,541 85
Total
$388,805 91
From the foregoing it will be apparent that the business of the bank, and, of course, the business of the county, increased rapidly during these six years. The item of deposits alone, which in 1859 was but little over $8,000, was in 1865 nearly a quarter of a million of dollars. The same large increase is noticeable in the item of notes and bills discounted. There were good reasons why this bank was always considered one of the best in the
551
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
State: there were but three others in the State which transacted more busi- ness than the Washington branch did. It ceased to do business on the 30th of April, 1865, when it was merged into a National bank. The following were the stockholders at the time the bank discontinued business:
Joseph Keck.
128 shares
$12,800
Howard M. Holden
145 shares
14,500
George Brokaw
28 shares 2,800
Sam G. Owen.
45 shares 4,500
Mrs. E. A. Banta
8 shares
800
A. W. Chilcote.
33 shares
3,300
Mrs. A. W. Chilcote
17 shares
1,700
Calvin Craven
18 shares
1,800
James Dawson.
3 shares
300
Shepard Farnsworth
34 shares
3,400
J. M. Craven
12 shares
1,200
Robert Dawson
share
100
John Moore
11 shares
1,100
Hugh Smith
11 shares
1,100
Jesse Rose
6 shares
600
Total
500 shares
$50,000
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
This bank was organized in April, 1864, but did not commence business until May 1, 1865. The stockholders were the same as owned the stock of the State bank at the time it discontinued, and the first officers were as fol- lows: President, Joseph Keck; cashier, Howard M. Holden; directors, Joseph Keck, Howard M. Holden, S. G. Owen, A. W. Chilcote, James Dawson.
The capital stock was at first fifty thousand dollars but was afterward in- creased to one hundred thousand dollars, the increase of capital stock being inade October 22, 1870.
The bank now has a surplus of twenty thousand dollars. The stock- holders include among their number some of the wealthiest men in the county, and the institution is regarded as among the most reliable banks in the State. The officers at present are as follows: President, N. Everson; cashier, R. R. Bowland; assistant cashier, W. G. Simmons; directors, George Brokaw, R. R. Bowland, N. Everson, Oliver Crawford, Leon Mayer, Hugh Smith, W. G. Simmons.
The corporation owns its own place of business, and the First National Bank building on the southwest corner of the square is one of the most creditable blocks in the city.
WASHINGTON SAVINGS BANK.
This bank was organized October 7, 1876, with an authorized capital of fifty thousand dollars, of which twenty-five thousand was paid up capital. In January, 1878, the paid up capital was increased to the full amount of authorized capital which since that time has been fifty thousand dollars. At the time of organization the officers of the bank were as follows: Presi- dent, William Rowan; vice-president, W. R. Jeffrey; cashier, J. H. Young;
552
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
directors, Wm. Rowan, W. R. Jeffrey, J. H. Young, L. S. Rowan, J. C. Ferguson, B. T. Brown, G. G. Charlton.
The present officers and directors are the same as the original ones, ex- cept G. G. Charlton, who resigned and was succeeded by N. Littler. The institution was organized under the provisions of the Savings bank act of 1874. It is required to pay all taxes on its capital stock instead of indi- vidual stockholders paying on their separate stock as required by the na- tional bank act. As an evidence of the bank's past prosperity and present financial standing it may be stated that since its organization up to January 1, 1880, it has paid dividends averaging nine and a-half per cent of capital stock annually beside paying all taxes and expenses.
Its place of business was temporarily located one door sonth of the post- office, but in May, 1879, it removed to its present convenient and elegant apartments in Young's new block at the northwest corner of the square. The stockholders of this bank are about thirty in number, and include among their number some of the most responsible business men and real estate owners in the county. Its business is in all respects the same as other commercial banks and a general banking business is its chief object, to which is added the savings feature for the benefit of those who wish to take advantage of it.
THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL BANK.
Washington contains still another banking house called the Washington National Bank. The following is a brief account of its origin, past history, and present condition.
In 1865 J. R. and L. C. Richards in partnership with a Mr. Green, of Freeport, Ill., started on the Corette corner a private bank, under the name of Richards Bros. & Green. They did a good business for about two years, when a number of other parties desiring to become members of the partnership, it was finally agreed to organize under the banking laws of the State. An organization was effected, and articles of incorporation were adopted June 11, 1867. The incorporators were J. A. Henderson, I. N. Laughead, J. R. Richards, William McClelland, J. L. Rader, L. C. Rich- ards, A. W. Chilcote, and S. G. Owen. The bank was called the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Washington, Iowa. J. A. Henderson was made president; J. R. Richards, vice-president, and S. G. Owen, cashier. The business was done in the yellow brick on the southwest corner of the square. In July, 1870, A. W. Chilcote was elected president, vice J. A. Henderson resigned.
At a meeting of the stockholders of the Farmers' & Merchants Bank' December 26, 1870, it was decided to organize a National bank to take the place of the Farmers' & Merchants.'
The change was made and organization effected under the name of Wash- ington National Bank, with a paid up capital of $50,000. The first stock- holders were A. W. Chilcote, Michael Wilson, Wm. Wilson, Jr., Wm. W. Wells, S. G. Owen, J. A. Henderson, I. N. Laughead, J. R. Richards, and L. C. Richards.
A. W. Chilcote was made president, a position which he has filled con- tinuously to the present time. I. N. Langhead was the first vice-president, holding that position until January, 1879, when hic resigned and Wm. W. Wells was elected to fill the vacancy. J. R. Richards was the first cashier,
553
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
retaining that position till July 1, 1878, when he resigned and John Alex. Young was elected to fill the vacancy. L. C. Richards was the first assist- ant cashier, remaining so till Jannary, 1874, when he resigned and John Alex. Young took his place, retaining it until he was elected cashier, when' M. Whitcomb was elected assistant.
In January, 1871, steps were taken to procure snitable ground and build a banking building, the result being the purchase of a lot on the northeast corner of the public square, and the erection during that year of the elegant brick building, twenty feet wide and seventy feet long, two stories high above the basement story, with a fine dressed stone front. Twenty by fifty- five feet of the first story above the basement is used and fitted up for the banking business, containing a first-class fire proof vault, and other neces- sities and conveniences for the business.
The business of the bank from the first was good, and continued to in- crease till in April, 1874, it was found necessary to increase the capital stock to $100,000 in order to fully accommodate its customers, and enable it to do its full share of the business of the town and county. The stock- holders embrace some of the wealthiest men of the city and country, and with abundant capital and obliging officers is doing and bids fair still to do a flourishing and profitable business. The present capital paid up is $100,- 000; surplus, $20,000. Officers: A. W. Chilcote, president; Wm. W. Wells, vice-president; John Alex. Young, cashier; M. Whitcomb, assistant cashier.
THE CITY INCORPORATED.
In the winter of 1833-4 the third and last effort was made to incorporate Washington. A petition signed by one hundred and ninety-three citizens was filed in the office of the county judge asking that they be incor- porated into a town by the name of the town of Washington, which pe- tition was heard on the 4th day of April, 1864. The necessary steps to complete the movement were taken and on the 29th of September, 1864, a mayor, recorder and five trustees were elected. The persons elected were as follows: Mayor, Ralph Dewey; recorder, L. F. Sherman; trustees, James Dawson, A. W. Chilcote, V. W. Andrews, Joseph R. Lewis and William Wilson, Sr.
The territory incorporated in the city nnder 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 Kock.
"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.
-
554
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.
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