Pg 9

PLAT OF MECHANICSVILLE, CEDAR COUNTY, IOWA

Pg 10

WHY “RIP VAN WINKLE?”

Rip rubbed his eyes and shook his head,

“Now why in thunder did I choose this bed?

Sleeping here ‘neath my favorite tree,

I can’t believe this is really me.

He viewed the scene and stared aghast

At the changes wrought by time as it passed.

For while he slumbered ‘neath the kindly sky,

Twenty birthdays had tip-toed by!

Today Mechanicsville is close to poor Rip’s side.

Mind you, we weren’t sleeping, we were pre-occupied

With bringing our city up to par,

Our eyes intent on that distant star.

So engrossed with our labor of love were we,

“Centennial Year” slipped past surreptitiously.

Now you know why we are twenty years late—

At least our city is “up to date!”

Lillian B. Nie

Early History

    A group of early settlers came from Ohio, Pennsylvania and other eastern states in 1836 and settled along a stretch of timber and a stream of water about a mile and a half northwest of what is now Mechanicsville. Many log cabins were built through the woods. One man built two cabins, one for his family and the other for a store and post office. The post office was established in 1847. This settlement was called “Pioneer Grove”. The land running south was on a ridge and swampy, but further south was open prairie. Joseph Strattan in 1850 claimed this ridge land but soon sold it to Geo. Weaver. This land is the present Mechanicsville. Weaver then sold his interest to John Onstott who with Daniel A. Comstock plotted the original village of Mechanicsville. This parcel of land when surveyed was about 60 acres. Mr. Comstock soon sold his rights in the land and moved away, leaving John Onstott sole owner of the village site.

     During the year 1857 David Dorwart became the owner of a tract of land situated east of the original village, but not immediately joining the eastward boundary of the same. An unplotted parcel of about 40 rods in width lay between the village and the Dorwart purchase which was at that time termed the Iroquois tract and was owned by John Onstott. Dr. Dorwart completed an arrangement with the Northwestern Railroad shortly after the Iroquois land came into his possessions, whereby 40 acres of the tract were to be plotted as a village site, the railroad receiving for its compensation every alternate lot. In order to unite the 2 plots and secure the harmonious development of both, Mr. Onstott at once surveyed the strip of land between his own village and the new site which consisted of about 20 acres, thereby extending the general plot so as to include 120 acres.

     The railroad then located its depot on the present site instead of on a point originally suggested in the original plan. Thus the village plot was made and as then made, it still remains.

     As the village was made up of hard working men, carpenters, masons, wheel wrights, John Onstott decided “Mechanics” and –ville would make a good name for the “village”, so thus it was named and still remains, Mechanicsville with a population at one time of around 1,200, but at present, 1974, it has a population of 1010 people.

     Stores began to be built as the village soon began to grow. Small homes were built and John Onstott built a one room school house. Most of these first cabins were built without any certain dimensions, without nails, screws, bars of iron of any description. Most cabins had fireplaces and were often built without lime. Yet everyone lived happily. Schools and churches continued to be built as more people joined the first settlers. There were several 2 story buildings made of brick and stone plus many one story wood buildings. They were built on a 2 block area running east and west. Many of the wooden buildings have either burned or been torn down and new cement and brick buildings replaced them.

INCORPORATION

    In 1867 a petition by local citizens was presented to the Cedar County Court for incorporation of the towns of Iroquois and Mechanicsville into a single town to be known as Mechanicsville. This name had been chosen because most of the men in the early days of settlement were mechanics. The petition was heard and granted by J. C. Betts, judge for the county of Cedar Nov. 25, 1867.

Pg 11

FIRST ELECTION

    On April 6, 1868, the first election of the Incorporated town of Mechanicsville was held and a total of 147 votes were cast. T. C. McCLelland was elected mayor, I. I. Huber was elected as town recorder. Trustees elected were Isaac Johnson, Andrew Pettie, John Osterlich, Vincent Keith and J. E. Rice.

     The council met for its first session April 20, 1868 and elected George Eagerty town treasurer. James Melton was named street commissioner at a salary of $2.00 a day.

     One of the first ordinances they passed prohibited the townspeople from letting their horses, mules and hogs roam the streets as the hogs wallowed in the mud on the streets and the animals were hard on the lawns and gardens.

     There was much difficulty getting people to abide by the law, and several of the marshals resigned when the pressure became so great because of divided feeling regarding prosecution for allowing animals to run at large.

ORDINANCE NO. 6

    An ordinance to provide against riding or driving on the sidewalks or pavement.

     Be it ordained by the mayor and council of the town of Mechanicsville, Cedar County, Iowa;

     1 st – That if any person or persons shall hitch, tie or fasten any horse, mule or other animal so as to stand upon any pavement or sidewalk or shall ride or lead any animal thereon or drive any carriage, buggy, wagon or vehicle thereon, such person shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined a sum not less than One Dollar, nor more than Five Dollars at the discretion of the Mayor and costs of suit together with any damages shown to have accrued from such trespass. Damages accruing to said pavements or sidewalks, shall be recovered by action before the Mayor or any court having jurisdiction of such cases.

     2 nd - This ordinance shall be in force and effect from and after its passage and publication as provided in ordinance No. 1 of said town. (Passed May 26, 1881, published May 27, 1881)

     This is one of the early ordinances of the Town of Mechanicsville.