Sabula

BLANCHARD, HINKLEY, DOHMAN, WOOD, SWAN, BROWN, HUBBELL

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 2/2/2011 at 23:02:01

SABULA-
Written by T. E. Blanchard for the Sabula Gazette and copied from that paper by permission. Maquoketa Excelsior-Record, December 17, 1920.

The spot on which the town of Sabula stands was occupied at one time as an Indian village, Several Indian families were still living there when the whites commenced settling. Two white men, namely Hinkley and Dohman arrived in 1835 or 1836, and settled on the land on which the town is located. Dr. E. A. Wood and his father James Wood, located claims in Union township in 1836 and engaged in the mercantile business in the town. Jeremiah Wood, captain of the steamer “Alex Mitchell” became associated with his brother, Enoch E., also engaged in the milling business and filled various positions in the city and county. In 1836, E. A. Wood bought Hinkley’s share in the above claim and Chas. Swan and W. H. Brown bought the Dorman interest. The claim then being owned by Wood, Swan and Brown, they platted the town and first named it Carrollport, which was afterwards changed to Charlestown. A post office was established about 1838 with W. H. Brown as postmaster. The name Charlestown did not prove satisfactory and in 1846 it was changed to Sabula. This name was invented by William Hubbell from the Latin word “sabulum,” meaning sand, which for the sake of euphony, was changed to Sabula.