USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 42
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Willis Woods, Gus Fish, W. H. Davis, Edward Ott, Frank Ross, H. B. Hewitt, Arthur Dorse, Will Kauffman, George Fleming, George Frick, John Green, Clyde Hodson, Joseph Kerker and Ed Flora.
In April, 1899, Tom A. Marshall won in the great American Shooting Tournament at Jersey City against a powerful opposition and repeated the victory the next year. The shooting took place at Elwood Park, Long Branch, and there were a total of 263 entries of the best shooters of the world. He closed the shoot on Wednesday without a miss and that night sixty-two men had clear records. During Thursday all these except seven were retired. On Friday there were but two men left at one stage of the contest. Marshall in succession killed his thirty-third bird. Grim, his only competitor, missed his thirty-third bird, thus giving Marshall the victory.
In 1900 the business men of Keithsburg were as follows: Attor- neys, Kirkpatrick & Wiley; bank, Olcott, Whitham & Company; bakery, E. D. Johnson; barber, Ed Ogle; bicycle repairs, W. H. Davis; boots and shoes, Famous Shoe Store, M. Hendrickson, Thomas Souster; contractor and builder, J. M. Kaufman; cigar manufacturers, B. G. Humbert & Company, the H. & H .; grain and coal, C. R. Eddington, E. J. Glancey, W. R. King; hardware, Mul- ford & Company, S. W. Smith; hotels, Commercial, Gem; insurance, L. L. Mertz, Porter & Cannon; justice of the pecae, Daniel Clark ; jeweler and optician, E. Siever ; laundry, Keithsburg Steam Laundry ; livery and feed barns, C. F. Beach, R. M. Willett; lumber, the Keithsburg Lumber Company; merchant tailors, A. J. Johnson, H. A. Mitze; dentist, R. E. Bloomer; dry goods and clothing, Adelsdorf Brothers; dray line, W. F. Haas; druggists, Allen & Bozarth, W. Hadley; express and baggage, M. Teberg; furniture and under- taking, W. A. Starker; groceries, Ellett Brothers, Frick Mercantile Company, Hall & Bettler, Noble, Wickett & Company; milliners, Anna Hoyt, Hattie N. Noble; meat market, J. Kerker; newspaper, The Keithsburg News; oil can manufactory, The Stoutenberg Manu- facturing Company; physicians and surgeons, J. S. Allen, T. D. Coe, Wilber Kelley, E. N. McKee, A. P. Willits ; poultry, J. W. Abrams; painter and paper hanger, George F. Parsons; real estate and loans, G. M. Wolfe; restaurants, E. E. Deterline, C. F. Johnson & Son; racket store, W. S. Cabeen; stone masons, Lett Brothers.
In 1906 the Monarch Button Factory at Keithsburg was a suc- cessful and promising business concern. It had hand machines, big automatic machines and other suitable equipment and secured large
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quantities of shells from all points along the river and elsewhere. Mr. Wallace was manager at that time.
In December, 1908, C. A. Hoyt and L. J. Temple became pro- prietors of the Keithsburg Bank, buying out the stock of Mr. Olcott in April, 1909. Wolfe, Bloomer & Company were managers of the Keithsburg Bank. Grant MI. Wolfe was president, J. F. Humbert cashier and the capital was $35,000.
In 1910 the Bay View Home Study Club was an important insti- tution at Keithsburg. In recent years the construction of the big drainage levee at Keithsburg is one of the important improvements. There were removed 182,000 yards of earth for the levee and 10,900 yards of muck for the ditch. The total cost was $52,234.50. In the spring of 1910 the new bridge over the Mississippi was com- pleted.
In August, 1912, a new public library was planned and at the head of this movement were Mrs. E. E. Deterline, Miss Kate Noble, Mrs. J. S. Allen, Mrs. Lottie Olcott, Mrs. M. J. Humphreys, Mrs. Hod Ogle, Miss Ethel Boruff and Miss Leila Venable.
The new city hall was projected in 1913 and was planned to cost $5,000. The first floor was made ready for the fire department and on the upper floor were the city offices. The building was erected 28 by 60 feet. In 1913 the Keithsburg News was under the charge of A. N. Cole, editor and publisher.
In 1914 Keithsburg had a population of 1,566 and had the fol- lowing business establishments: W. C. Bassett & Company, boots and shoes; H. C. Bettler, groceries and meats; A. L. Bloomberg, harness; R. E. Bloomer, oil can manufacturer; A. P. Canon, machinery; A. H. Clark, grocery and bakery; E. E. Deterline, res- taurant and confectionery ; Charles H. Ditto, sporting goods ; Dryden Brothers, hardware; Ellett Brothers, grocery; W. P. Finch & Son, grocery and market; R. E. Fleming, restaurant; John S. Gilrain, drugs; Globe Clothing Company; Helwig & Helwig, racket store; Henderson Brothers, boots and shoes ; Humphreys & Newell, grocery and market; A. J. Johnson, tailor; Keithsburg Pearl Button Manu- facturing Company; W. R. King, lumber and coal ; King & Venable, grocery; Marshall Telephone Company; Mississippi Sand & Gravel Company ; J. W. Morgan, fish market; J. L. Noble, dry goods and clothing; Noble & Hoyt, millinery; Orth & Taylor, dry goods and clothing; A. E. Reasor, livery; H. S. Schroeder, pool and cigars ; E. Siever, jewelry; H. I. Smith, blacksmith; William Streit, livery; L. F. Stuebinger, undertaker; Tri County Light & Power Company ; Ed Waters, blacksmith; Keithsburg Bank, capital $36,500; Citizens Bank.
CHAPTER XX NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP
The first settlers in Mercer County located in what is now New Boston Township, April 20, 1827. William Denison and his son, John W. Denison, and their families located a half mile south of the present site of New Boston. They opened a woodyard for steam- boats and soon had several men at work chopping and piling the wood. As stated elsewhere herein, the site of New Boston had been famous for many years and was known as the Upper Yellow Banks by the Indians and whites. At the time of the first settlement hundreds of Indians of the Sac and Fox tribe were encamped in the vicinity. During the next two or three years Daniel S. Witter and wife and a hired man, named Twist, and a French-Canadian trader, named Pentacosa, located near what is now New Boston. Little is known of this trading post or store, but it was no doubt established for the purpose of securing the furs obtained by the Indians in exchange for articles wanted by them, such as clothing, powder, lead, tobacco, whisky, etc. In 1833 William Drury arrived and settled at the Bluffs. The next year William Wilson came. In 1834 one Irwin had a trading post where New Boston is now located. S. V. Prentiss arrived in 1835, as did Edward Drury, M. L. Willits, John Noble, Ephraim Gilmore and others. John Roberts came in 1837. The same year J. C. Sloan, N. N. Larrance and John Davids also located in this township. In 1838 Isaac Lutz came and built a grist mill on Edwards River on section 1. This mill was in operation for many years. The same year Elias Pullen, E. A. Crapnell and Joseph Alyea arrived and settled on farms. In 1839 Jacob Beard, Charles and Chusha Rader arrived. In 1838 the Burleighs arrived. Rev. George Smith came the same year. In 1839 Rev. Thomas M. Kirkpatrick and Simeon P. Smith secured homes in the township. Other early settlers were Abraham Beard, who located near the Village of Mannon; Patrick and Woody Beard, who came the same time, and Levi W. Myers, who was an early teacher in the township. Murray and Amos Prouty came at an early date. Others who came in early were George Lowe, Adam Davis, the Crapnells, William J. Turner, Nicholas Edwards, Walter Pryne, John Histed, T. C.
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Emery, Anthony Imber, Pettis Finch, Thomas Martin, Nelson Wheeler, Cutus A. Ballard and Isaac Lutz. A Mr. Pratt at a little later date conducted a flour mill on Eliza Creek. Harrison Smith and Mr. McChesney arrived before 1844. Jacob A. Swafford ar- rived in 1837. In the '4os came David Kirlin, Gideon Ives, Lyman H. Scudder, Isom Jackson, James P. Powley, Stephen Randolph, Thomas L. Doughty, Cyrus H. Maxwell, Doctor Prentiss and Job E. Willits. Many other Willits arrived about the same time and became prominent settlers. Sidney Chidester came in 1838. Harley Ives arrived the same year and settled one mile east of New Boston. He was the first cooper in the township. At a little later date came William Lewis, Jacob Lozer, R. S. Cramer, Dempsey Jackson, John W. Fleming and many others. E. I. Drury and Courtney Drury came to the township at an early day. Dr. Thomas Willits was the first physician at New Boston. There were three Ives, Harley, Gideon and Gilbert. Thomas Alyea was a settler at a little later date. George Lowe, S. V. Prentiss, John Davis, John Roberts, J. M. Mannon and others came at an early date. By 1850 the township was well settled, nearly all the valuable land being taken up and country schools and churches were to be found in almost every neighborhood.
The township was organized in 1852 at the time the law to that effect was passed. I. N. Bassett was the first supervisor; Thomas Alyea the first town clerk; and G. W. Warner the first justice of the peace. As above stated, the Denisons selected their home on the river bank a half mile below New Boston and started a woodyard for steamboats. William Denison took a claim there, but John W. took his at what is now New Boston.
NEW BOSTON
The town, or village, of New Boston was laid out in September, 1834, and thus was the first village platted in the county. William Denison was the owner, but he sold two-thirds of his claim to Elijah Iles of Springfield, and Edward Burrall of Massachusetts. Abraham Lincoln was the first surveyor. In early years New Boston was the most promising town in the county. It was located at the famous Yellow Banks, an historic point, was not subject to overflow by the river, did not have steep hills or bluffs in the rear and was made the county seat. Everything looked promising at the start. Opposite was the mouth of the Iowa River. Sturgeon Bay was a safe and large harbor already prepared. Thus the little village had many
Glenwood Ice House
New School Building Main Street Main Street Looking South
Ice Harvest
SCENES OF NEW BOSTON
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important and valuable surroundings. The county was organized in 1835 and New Boston was made the temporary county seat. The house of Eli Reynolds was made the voting place. The lots were offered for sale in 1835 and 1836 and brought from $200 to $700 each. The lot where later stood the Drury warehouse brought $900. The first residences were those of James S. Thompson, Joseph Alyea, Dr. Mark Willits and others. In 1838 New Boston had only twelve or fifteen buildings. It did not grow very fast during the first four years. It is said the reason why it did not grow faster was because non-residents owned many of the lots and would not sell them. The village was located on sections 31 and 32. In 1856 Turner's Addition was made and in 1859 the village was incorporated as a town under a special charter and by that time had a population of 700. In 1836 Drury & Willits opened a dry goods and grocery store and began buying pork and grain and shipping the same to St. Louis. They were the first pork packers in the village.
In 1848 Drury & Willits sold their establishment to Courtney Drury and James S. Thompson, who began business as Thompson & Drury. In 1850 William Drury started a cash store, continuing until 1853, when he sold out and thereafter spent his time in handling his large real estate interests. He was later connected with the First National Bank at Keithsburg. The other firm continued there from 1848 to 1856, when they sold out and engaged in farming. Willits & Kirlin established a lumberyard in 1853. Willits a little later went into the grocery business. Burdick & Mannon were merchants. Dr. Thomas Willits, a prominent resident, represented the county in the Legislature in 1850. At this time the Sons of Temperance had a strong organization in the village. Doctor Willits was a member. Thomas Alyea was a druggist in the village for many years. He did not start until 1853 and was the second druggist in the village. Henry H. Roberts established a lumberyard in the '30s and built a carding machine, the first in the township. Several of the merchants engaged in the ice business. Mr. Roberts moved to Eliza Township and engaged in farming at a later day. In 1856 he built a large three-story brick carriage and wagon factory in partnership with Joseph Graham. The firm was known as Graham & Roberts. They continued until 1860, when Roberts bought Graham out and in 1869 started the Roberts House in the old factory, which he refitted. David Kirlin kept a furniture store as early as 1842. Thomas L. Doughty estab- lished a harness and saddle shop about 1842. A lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows was founded in 1854-5 by J. L. Hart- son, who was the first noble grand, Mark J. O'Brien, J. C. Bell,
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C. H. Bell, D. Hines and others. John Seastone began blacksmithing and wagon making late in the '50s. T. H. Doughty was police magistrate as early as 1842. Gideon Ives was engaged in mer- chandising as early as 1843. Lyman H. Scudder conducted a livery at New Boston from 1855 to 1862. George Signor was a grocer in the '50s. George Gore was a banker. He did not start in business for himself until 1873 and did not start in the banking business until 1881. He was at one time mayor of the city.
Of course, the Frenchman named above kept the first store in what is now New Boston. That was before the town was platted and it may not be considered fair to count it as the first. Wells Willits was a merchant at an early date and also had charge of a sawmill and became prominent in many ways; was a business man and a leader of thought and action. He bought large quantities of produce and slaughtered hogs and shipped to Chicago. Elias Willits taught school here in 1851. I. N. Bassett lived with him for a while in 1852. It was while he was located at New Boston that I. N. Bassett was elected supervisor from the township. New Boston Lodge of Masons was established about 1850. I. N. Bassett was a member. In 1852 Enos Scudder kept a hotel. Michael Poffenbarger was a blacksmith at a little later date. Cyrus A. Ballard was for many years a prominent merchant here. Ives' store stood where later was erected the Ives Opera House. In later years Arthur W. Mannon, Anthony Imber, Clifford Dixon, James C. Bell, Benjamin F. Thomp- son, Joseph Bell, Richard Thomas and Mr. Hartwig and Mr. Tolle were prominent business men. George Lytle conducted a drug store and Dr. Thomas Bras practiced medicine here for many years. Charles Bras, his brother, was a lawyer. Thomas Alyea conducted a dry goods store from 1847 to 1853, but after that date took up drugs and continued selling the same until his death. He was county surveyor from 1849 to 1851. It was in 1837 that the Legislature passed a law by which three commissioners were appointed to locate the permanent seat of justice for Mercer County. This they did and selected Millersburg as the county seat.
The original plat of New Boston was made to conform to the river bank. This placed the streets at an angle with the cardinal points of the compass. Sixteen blocks, 320 feet square, divided by streets eighty feet wide, and subdivided by alleys sixteen feet wide, comprised the original plat. There were four fractional blocks along the river bank, but they later disappeared by the action of the river.
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There is another old settler of New Boston who was a very promi- nent man-Capt. Charles Jack, who also had a tract of land in New Boston that he purchased about 1840. Captain Jack was an able officer in the British navy, and was wrecked and came to America, but was never naturalized. He bought a large quantity of land in Henry County, Illinois, and settled in Texas before the Civil war; and remained there until the war was over, when his son-in-law, Edward Burrall, sent a man down there, and he was brought to Rock Island, and subsequently died there or in Henry County. He had three daughters. One was the first wife of Charles Harris, an attor- ney in Oquawka, who died leaving one son, who is still living in Chicago. Benjamin D. Ellett of Mercer County also married a daughter of Captain Jack, as his first wife, and she died leaving one daughter, who is the wife of Fredrick P. Burgett of Keithsburg, Illinois. A third daughter was married to Edward Burrall, who formerly lived in Mercer County, but removed to Rock Island and engaged in merchandise there. Edward Burrall died some few years ago, and his wife, Captain Jack's daughter, died some time during the last year, some ninety-two years old. She conveyed shortly before her death a tract of land in New Boston that Captain Jack had bought, or a part of it, to Halcion Y. Drury.
The old Jack House was one of the first hotels. The Scudder House was a prominent stopping place at a little later date. The principal school in the village in the '40s was taught by Simeon P. Smith. For many years after the first settlement Bay Island was visited by the Indians. The New Boston Advertiser was started in 1845 and was the first paper in Mercer County. It was published in connection with the Toolsboro (Iowa) Times, the editor being F. A. C. Foreman. It was devoted to foreign and domestic intelli- gence, arts, light literature, politics and commercial news. It was a six column, four page paper. Later the name was changed to the Yeoman of the Prairie Land, New Boston Broad Horn, the Golden Age, the New Boston Nonpareil, New Boston Reporter, New Boston Herald, the latter being conducted by C. A. Ballard in 1872. Mercer County did not have a paper all its own until 1850, when Colonel The Advertiser
Patterson founded the Keithsburg Observer.
noted the presence of the steamboat Archer bound for Blooming- ton (Muscatine) and that S. A. Gilman conducted a ferry at New Boston. After the Advertiser the Nonpareil was published in the early 'sos by Mr. Swafford. Subsequently the New Boston Vidette was issued. In 1852 New Boston was visited by a destructive fire which swept away many of its best buildings and destroyed a large
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amount of property. In October, 1853, New Boston Lodge, No. 59, A. F. & A. M., was organized and was the first Masonic Lodge in Mercer County. The Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 188, was organized about the same time.
Ives & Denison conducted a large store in April, 1855. They bought wheat, corn, oats, etc. At this time the little town was very prosperous. In May, 1855, the citizens of New Boston raised a purse of $200 for the publishers of the newspaper Golden Age if they would remain and continue its issue. New Boston Nonpareil was a flourishing journal in 1855. The women of New Boston turned out on election day, went to the places where liquor had been sold, searched the premises but found none. The dealers had secreted the article before the ladies appeared. During the years 1855-6 New Boston grew 50 per cent more than at any other period in its history. The New Boston Steam Works were conducted by Kirlin & Jingles in 1857. They manufactured a variety of wood products and had a large trade.
In 1857 Bell & Thompson conducted a large store here. The New Boston Reporter was conducted by Stafford in 1856-7. The Nonpareil was a democratic newspaper. H. C. Bowers sold drugs here in 1857. L. W. Myers delivered a strong address on the subject of Education before the schools of New Boston at an exhibition given in January, 1858. By January 19, 1858, the merchants of New Bos- ton packed over four thousand hogs. Bell & Thompson were engaged in this business and paid four dollars per one hundred weight. By the 26th of the same month they had packed 6,500 hogs. Gayle & Company seem to have had an establishment here. In January, 1858, Graham & Roberts conducted a wagon factory. Bell & Thompson had a large general store in 1858. Mr. Johnson sold lumber about the same time. Holden & Tyler were owners of the Vulcan Iron Works in 1858. Smallpox appeared here in February of this year, but it was soon stamped out by the doctors. During the winter of 1857-8, for the first time in at least twenty-one years, the Mississippi River was not frozen over at New Boston. It was a rare occurrence. By the last of March navigation opened, packers held their pork even longer, waiting for an advance in price. There was not much grain of any kind at this time. The Keokuk & Rock Island Line of packets were running by March 25. The favorite boat, J. McKee, had been withdrawn. Ben Campbell and Tishamingo were the two other vessels of this line. The latter was sunk in the rapids. Flora was a Rock Island and Dunleith stern wheeler. It was wrecked at Rock Island Bridge. In the 'sos the New Boston Literary Union
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Society gave a public entertainment, on which occasion almost the entire town turned out. This society was composed of young men and women of the city who did not feel able to take part in debates of the public lyceum, which was organized a short time before. The young people organized for the purpose of acquiring culture in literature, independent of older organizations. They had essays, discussions and dialogues and in one of the latter fifteen young ladies took part and it was said that at 11 o'clock at night the performance had not ended and yet nobody was tired nor had gone. The house was crowded to the door.
At the town election in April, 1858, the liquor license was an important subject of controversy. The people the year before elected a liquor council who had licensed two wet groceries, with disastrous and unpleasant results. This was a convincing argument for the temperance people. During the election at least three fights occurred between the factions. It seemed that a majority of the people favored "a dram occasionally." In the spring of 1858 the Steamboat James Lyon passed down the Mississippi and up the Missouri to Leaven- worth. The Burlingim House at New Boston was changed into the New Boston Hotel, with Richard Proctor proprietor at this time. In the spring of 1858 many rafts and steamboats were to be seen on the river, more than ever before. Wells Willits was a large grocery dealer in the summer of 1858. Bell & Brother had a large general store. Maddux & Anderson, of Aledo, had a branch in this city, at this time. Excelsior Hall was used for Fourth of July celebrations, lectures and other large gatherings. J. K. Herbert was principal of the New Boston schools in the fall of this year. Willits & Burdick were merchants this year. Crystal Front Lodge, No. 185, I. O. G. T., was established at New Boston late in 1859 with S. B. Hineman, W. C. T.
In 1860 there were at New Boston, Willits & Burdick, general store; Wells Willits, produce, commission and forwarding business ; Bell & Brother, general merchants; Maddux & Anderson, stoves, etc .; Vulcan Iron Works, Holden & Tyler; Samuel Gideon, clothing, and others.
In February, 1861, E. Stafford became commercial editor of the Missouri Democrat. He had previously been editor of the Nonpareil at New Boston and was chairman of the Democratic Central Commit- tee late in the '50s.
In the spring of 1861 Z. P. Willits sold his nursery, called Bluff Nursery, near New Boston. It was an important institution in early times. It had a large variety of plants and was patronized by hun-
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dreds of farmers, not only in Illinois, but on the Iowa side as well. In April, 1861, F. P. Wood, mayor, A. Kirlin and C. Hall, aldermen, of New Boston, notified the public that the city had purchased the new steam ferryboat and were prepared to transport persons and equipments across the river. The ferry was under the exclusive control of the city government.
In July, 1863, the slaughter house and molasses factory of Wells Willits in the north part of New Boston was destroyed by fire. It was 100 feet long, had two steam engines, a sugar mill, two molasses pans, evaporators, etc. In December, 1863, it was noted that New Boston had seven pianos and six melodeons. The New Boston Lay Society was an important institution early in the '6os. Weekly meet- ings were held and lectures were limited to thirty minutes. There were also a course of short lectures of ten minutes each. They issued a weekly paper, edited by the ladies. At each meeting a few of the members were called out and required to talk five minutes on some subject given them after they had reached the floor.
In 1864 Charles M. Harris and F. B. Miller took the contract to carry the daily mail between Davenport and Fort Madison, by way of New Boston, Keithsburg, etc. The first annual picnic of the Old Settlers' Association was held at New Boston, August 8, 1864. The Steamer Maggie Reamey brought many old settlers to this reunion.
In April, 1865, the first issue of the New Boston Herald appeared, with Henry C. Ashbaugh, publisher, and James H. Scott, editor. It was a six column folio and was issued every Saturday. In early times New Boston was an extensive shipping point. Grain was usually sent off in sacks on steamboats, but occasionally was shipped in bulk on barges. Wells Willits shipped salt meats by the barge load. Among the steamers on the river about the time of the Civil war were the following : Pembina, Canada, Lake Itasca, Sucker State, Bald Eagle, Minnesota, Lake Superior, Northwestern, Alexander Mitchell, Hawkeye, Phil Sheridan, City of St. Paul, Red Wing, Belle of LaCrosse, Dubuque, Davenport, Rock Island, Muscatine, New Boston, Burlington, Keithsburg, Rob Boy and Gem City. These boats were not included in those owned by the Diamond Jo Line.
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