Mr. Arvin Kennedy.
Among the early settlers of this
place, it gives me special pleasure to mention the name of Mr. Arvin
Kennedy. He came to this place in April 1848 with his family,
consisting of his wife, and seven children, Homer, Jane, Edward,
William, Emma, Harriet and Charles.
Mr. Kennedy was born in New Braintree, Mass. He afterwards lived in
New York, and still later in Ohio, from whence he removed to Jones Co.
this state in 1844.
He was a clothier by trade, and on coming here followed his calling in
Mr. Brown's woolen factory. He was plain and unostentatious in his
manner of life, but I think he would have been recognized anywhere as
a man of solid character and honest purposes in life. Such indeed was
the estimate in which he was held, and such the character he bore
through all the years he resided in this community.
He and his wife identified themselves at once on coming here, with the
First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Kennedy being elected an elder, and his
counsels and advice were highly prized by those associated with him as
co-laborers.
In writing of this worthy citizen of ours, years after his death, Dr.
J. F. Ely, who knew him well, spoke of him in these words, "Deacon
Kennedy as a business man, was marked for his industry and
uprightness; as being honest and conscientious in all his dealings. In
the church he was justly esteemed for his faithfulness in every
Christian duty, both as a member and officer. He was a fine
representative of a typical New England deacon, a class of sturdy
Christian men, puritanic, if you please, very rarely met in the early
settlement of this region."
His death occurred Feb. 28, 1856. His good wife who always enjoyed the
highest respect of the community, being active in every good work,
followed her husband to the grave some years later, her death
occurring February 25th 1886.
Of the children, William died June 6, 1850, being a lad yet in his
teens. Homer, a young man who justly won and held the respect of all
who knew him, and whose life was one of great promise, died March 2,
1856, and Harriet who became the wife of Mr. Andrew Van Vleck, and who
was a woman of stainless Christian character, loved and honored by
everybody, passed away January 2, 1888. Edward is a farmer residing in
Woodbury County of this state, Emma the wife of the late Mr. Cornelius
Polhamus, lives in California, Jane, now Mrs. Noble, and Charles are
still residents of this city.
Charles the youngest of the family is one of our staunch reliable
citizens and in the church a worthy successor of his father, having
for a number of years past filled the office of ruling elder in the
First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Samuel S.
Johnson.
Westmoreland County, Penn., has
contributed to our ranks another honest, and sturdy citizen in the
person of Mr. Samuel S. Johnson, who came to this state and located on
the west side of the river in 1847. At that date Cedar Rapids was a
little village of only 300 inhabitants.
Mr. Johnson is a carpenter and joiner by trade, and for a short time
after coming to this place, followed that line of business. But most
of his life here has been employed in that eminently useful and highly
honorable employment of a tiller of the soil. His valuable farm is now
included within the city limits, and is laid off into city lots where
comfortable residences are to be found at this time. Mr. Johnson's
standing in the community is sufficiently attested in the fact that he
has been honored with many of the offices of his township, and for
many successive years. He and his wife are members of the United
Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Absalom Sines.
Another of the worthy citizens of our
town was Mr. Absalom Sines, who for many years was the miller in the
Ely mills. He was one of those modest, quiet bodies that said but
little and thought a great deal.
Although not a member of any church, nor making any public profession
of religion, he lived an upright life and sustained a character that
was above reproach. He was a man possessed of a kind heart and a most
amiable disposition. If he had a single enemy in the world I am quite
sure that he never made himself known in these parts. Everybody
entertained for Mr. Sines the highest respect as a man and citizen. He
was always gentlemanly in his conduct, and kind and accommodating in
his intercourse with others.
In 1854 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Wadsworth, a young lady
of great amiability of character, who lived only about a year after
her marriage.
During the war Mr. Sines enlisted in the service of his country, and
fell at the battle of Champion Hills, August 11, 1862. A truer, nobler
patriot never wore the uniform of a United States soldier.
He was a native of Wilmington, Delaware.
Mr. William
Stewart.
Among the tradesmen of early times,
there were none, whether we consider them morally or physically, that
stood higher than Mr. William Stewart. Very tall and slender in his
build, he was nevertheless of a strong an wiry constitution, and in
his earlier years he could endure a great deal of hard labor. His
trade was that of a blacksmith, and he was a very good workman, though
not quite so skilled possibly in the manufacture of heavy mill irons
as his brother-in-law, Mr. S. L. Pollock, who I believe came to the
place perhaps a year or two earlier than he.
These two men were pioneers in this branch of business, though not the
first, that honor being accorded to Mr. Harrison Campbell who erected
the first blacksmith shop in the place in 1843.
Mr. Stewart was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Cedar Rapids in
1847. He first entered the shop of Mr. Stephen L. Pollock, I believe,
and worked by the month, but later he erected shops for himself and
carried on an extensive business in which he employed a large force of
workmen. The latter part of his life he spent in carrying on a large
farm which he purchased, a little below the city on the river bottom.
Mr. Stewart's first investment in real estate was the purchase of a
lot on the west side of First Avenue a little above Second Street, and
for which he traded a horse that cost him forty-five dollars. On this
lot he erected a comfortable house which he occupied for some years
and then sold the property for ten thousand dollars.
His estate at the time of his death was estimated to be worth eighty
thousand dollars.
Mr. Stewart early became a member of the First Presbyterian church,
and ever afterwards was active in church work up to the close of his
life. He was a man of strong convictions and of fearless courage in
the advocacy of those principles which he espoused. He was a ready and
forcible speaker and he often addressed public assemblies. For many
years he was a member of the city council, and he took an active
interest in all the great moral questions of the day.
In his later years his health was quite feeble and he sought relief in
the mild climate of Southern California. It was during one of these
temporary absences that his earthly career ended. He died at Los
Angeles, Cal., Dec. 23, 1891.
He was married in 1850 to Miss Eliza M. Lucore, who proved herself to
be a worthy helpmeet of a worthy man. Of their seven children only
four are now living; Miss Belle living with her mother at the old
homestead; George carrying on the farm near the city; Edward engaged
in the fruit culture in California; and Robert practicing law in
Pierre, South Dakota. For some years past Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have
had their church connection with the Second Presbyterian church of
this city, in which, as also in the first church, Mr. Stewart held the
office of ruling elder.
Mr. John Weare, Sr.
In the spring of 1848, his children
having already located here, Mr. John Weare, Sr., came to make Cedar
Rapids his home. He came here directly from Allegan, Michigan. His
native state was New Hampshire. He moved to Michigan in 1835, where he
cleared and cultivated two farms, and later erected saw-mills and
engaged in the lumber business. He was a man that was always
wide-awake and full of energy.
From the loss of one leg and the severe fracture of the other, by the
falling of a tree, he was in a sadly crippled condition when he came
to this state.
Nevertheless, his misfortune did not deter him from active
participation in business affairs. On coming here he at once engaged
in the livery business on a small scale, as this occupation seemed
best adapted to his infirm condition.
He made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Ely. He was a man that would
strike you at once as possessing great force of character, and as
being a keen observer of all that was going on about him.
His restless, energetic nature would not allow him to sit quietly in
the house if it was at all possible to be out and engage in some
useful occupation. He really seemed to love to work, and nothing
pleased him better than to see everybody busy about him. He would say
sometimes that he had rather see a man do mischief than to do nothing.
I think the hum of machinery and the noise and clatter of active
business life would have been music to his ears. There was, however,
comparatively little of that kind of music here in his day, but to
that little he contributed his share.
He was very animated in conversation and he had a keen sense of the
ludicrous. In his business transactions he was prompt and outspoken.
No one needed to be in doubt as to his meaning. His terms were
explicit and definite and he expected those with whom he transacted
business to be alike prompt and ready to fulfill their contracts.
Whoever dealt with him after that fashion would get along smoothly and
pleasantly.
But if a man was disposed to be crooked or cranky in his business
habits, the less he had to do with Mr. Weare the better for him. For
such characters he always had the supremest contempt.
Mr. Weare was elected justice of the peace the next year after he came
to this place, and with the exception of one year, continued to hold
the office up to the time of his death.
His busy and eventful life came to an end April 6, 1856 at the age of
65 years. He was united in marriage to Miss Cynthia Ashley, August 1,
1811. Her death occurred in Allegan, Mich., January 19, 1842.
Of their ten children, two died when quite young. Those who grew up to
mature years, were Betsey, John, Henry, Mary A., Lydia, Sarah,
Charles, Harriet and George.
All of these are mentioned elsewhere except Mrs. Lydia (wife of the
late Elisha D. Ely of Rochester N.Y.), a lady of decided intelligence
and refinement, who did great service during our late war as nurse
among our sick and wounded soldiers, and after that residing for eight
years in Italy with her daughter, Mrs. Curtis, and at present living
with her eldest daughter, Mrs. Page, in Boston, her only son Elisha
being in business in Cuba.
Mr. George Weare.
Mr. George Weare, the youngest son of
Mr. John Weare, Senior, came to Cedar Rapids with his father in 1848.
He was born in Allegan, Mich., December 3, 1834. His name will be
recognized as among the students of Mr. Jones' school, and he
continued in the school a year or two longer, when under the
management of Mr. Blakely. He then went to Dubuque and spent one year
in Alexander College, after which he took a course in a commercial
college. In December, 1855, he went to Sioux City, and established the
banking house of Greene, Weare, Graves & Co. This firm being dissolved
in the spring of 1858, Mr. Weare carried on the business alone until
September 6, 1860, when he entered into partnership with Mr. J. P.
Allison, the style of the new firm being, Weare & Allison.
From that date to the present, this banking house has continued in
business, making it the oldest bank in Iowa under one continuous
management. By fair and honorable dealing, and the application of
strict business principles in the conduct of its affairs, it has
become one of the most substantial and reliable banking houses in the
state.
Mr. Weare was married August 11, 1857, to Miss Mary Carpenter, of
Cedar Rapids. The children of these parents are as follows: Henry G.
Weare, now residing in South Dakota; Miss Susanna H., residing with
her parents; Mrs. Kitty C., wife of John H. Nason; and Mrs. Mary E.,
wife of Mr. Howard G. Pierce, all of whom reside in Sioux City.
I think it is safe to say that few men have done more towards
developing Sioux City in all that goes to make up its proud record
than Mr. George Weare.
Mr. James Ferguson.
Some time during the spring of 1849,
Mr. James Ferguson and wife came into our community and located on
what was originally a part of my father's claim.
He was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and both he and his wife
were members of the Congregational church. After coming here they and
their daughter united with the First Presbyterian church, and later
Mr. Ferguson was elected to the office of ruling elder. The sons came
into the church some years after.
Of the five sons, Calvin, Cyrus E., Amos, Clement and James, only
Cyrus and Clement remain; the former living in Chicago, and the latter
occupying the old homestead.
Mr. Ferguson was a man of sound judgment and of the strictest
integrity. He was mild in his disposition and kind and gentle in his
treatment of others. He was strongly attached to his church and was
ever a strong pillar of support within its walls.
He died April 27, 1850, after a short illness, mourned not only by the
church of which he was an honored member, but by the community at
large.
His wife, a most noble, Christian woman, survived him till May 9,
1886, when she, too passed away to join her husband in the land
beyond.
The record of these two people here is brief and inadequate, but the
salutary influence of their lives lingers as a lasting benediction to
the community in which they lived.
Amos was taken prisoner and died in Andersonville prison February 28,
1865. James died at the old homestead December 24, 1890.
Mr. Charles Weare.
Mr. Charles Weare was born in Derby
Line, Orleans Co., Vermont January 29, 1828.
He removed to Allegan, Michigan in 1835, and in 1848 he came to Cedar
Rapids where he has resided ever since. For four years he was in the
lumber business here, and then for several years after, he engaged in
the construction of the different railroads then being built, upon
whose lines he had taken contracts. He has always taken an active part
in politics having been connected with the Republican Party since its
organization. He served one term in the legislature of the state, has
served his county as supervisor for several years and has held the
offices of Marshal, Alderman and Mayor of the city.
Under the administration of Gen. Grant he was appointed to postmaster
of this city, an office which he held for eight years.
During the administration of Benjamin Harrison he was appointed Consul
to Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany, a position which in many respects was
very pleasant and desirable, but which he felt impelled to relinquish
after about ten months of service, circumstances being such as to
demand his return to America. In his business relations he has been
connected with the First National Bank, the Republican Printing Co.,
the Cedar Rapids Water Co., and various other branches of enterprise,
in all of which he has held offices of trust.
Mr. Weare was united in marriage to Miss Catharine L. Carroll, March
24, 1857. Mrs. Weare has for many years been a member of the First
Presbyterian Church. Coming here with her parents in 1839 she is one
of the oldest residents of this place.
Mr. Joseph Hollan.
Mr. Joseph Hollan came to Iowa in
1843, locating first about a mile northwest of Marion. He was a native
of Delaware, but for many years he had resided in McKean County,
Pennsylvania, from which place he came direct to this state. In the
spring of 1844 he rented and moved on to Judge Greene's mound farm.
Here he remained for three years and proved himself to be a good
tenant and careful and thrifty farmer.
While living on the mound farm, a Methodist class was formed at his
house, of which he and his wife and my father and mother became
members. He afterwards moved into town, purchased a lot on Fifth
avenue near Second street and erected a comfortable house which he
occupied till the close of his life.
Mr. Hollan was always considered a man of sterling qualities,
industrious, frugal and conscientious in all his business
transactions. He was always held in high esteem in the church of which
he was a member, and for many years he held the offices of class
leader and steward.
By his faithful industry, the careful management of his business
affairs and his simple habits of life, he secured for himself and
family a comfortable home which he lived many years to enjoy. His
death occurred September 24, 1886.
His wife who still survives has always been considered a woman of
stainless Christian character. Retiring in disposition, kind of heart,
and courteous in her manners, she has always been held in high esteem
by those who have known her best.
For some years past she has been in very feeble health, and for the
past year her mind has been clouded and her eyesight has entirely
failed. Of their four children, Samuel, Ellsworth, Joseph and Orril,
only Samuel, the well known proprietor of one of our city transfers,
remains, to be a comfort and support to his mother in her old age and
sad condition.
The patient, untiring vigilance with which he has watched by the
maternal bedside during these trying years, is indeed commendable, and
proves him to be a worthy son of a most worthy parentage.
Mr. James Martin.
In 1849 Mr. James Martin, with his
wife and four children, Elmira, George, Lizzie and Nathaniel H. came
to this place from Calaise, Maine. They have always been numbered
among our best people.
For many years, Mr. Martin was employed about the flouring mills, and
the family kept a boarding house where all the comforts of a home were
enjoyed by its patrons. Mr. Martin was quiet and unobtrusive in his
manners, but he was a man of intelligence and of unimpeachable
integrity of character.
Mr. Martin was one of those motherly, kindhearted women that every
body loved to meet. In times of sickness and bereavement she was
always present with loving words of sympathy and willing hands to
help. At such times here discreet counsels and her wise and loving
ministrations were invaluable to the many anxious and suffering ones
who sought and obtained her help in those times of need.
Mrs. Martin, and I believe all of the children were members of the
Methodist church. She died April 24, 1884.
Mr. Martin departed this life at LaCross, Wisconsin, at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Gault, October 22, 1889.
Miss Elmira, one of our purest and noblest Christian characters, died
at the same place as that of her father, January 21, 1894. The
remaining two children, George and Nathaniel H. are residents of this
city, the former a well known conductor on the B., C. R. & N. Ry. And
the latter a commercial traveler for one of our business houses.
Rev. Williston
Jones.
In the religious and educational
interests of our town in its early history, there is perhaps no man
that deserves greater credit nor occupies a higher place than the Rev.
Williston Jones.
He was born in Holland, Erie County, New York, February 6, 1814. He
was a graduate of Illinois College and of Lane Theological seminary.
In 1846 he was married in the city of St. Louis to Miss Elizabeth H.
Shearer whose experiences in Cedar Rapids in 1844-5 are elsewhere
related. They came to this place in the autumn of 1848, Mr. Jones
having received a call to become pastor of the First Presbyterian
church then in its infancy, having been organized but one year before.
He was a man of great energy and untiring zeal in the high and holy
calling, to which he had devoted his life. He possessed the true
missionary spirit in every sense of the word. In his Christian
sympathy and prayers and efforts he embraced the whole world, but in
doing this he did not neglect, as is too often done, the great
spiritual harvest field that immediately surrounded him. Every home
and ever community for miles around felt the inspiring influence of
his intensely active Christian life. He soon undertook the task of
erecting a church for his congregation, although membership was so
small in numbers and so weak in financial ability. The work however
was pushed to its completion, and in January 1851, the first church
building ever erected in Cedar Rapids was dedicated to the worship of
God. The walls were composed of lime mortar and the thin cobble stones
quarried from the ground near the Milwaukee depot.
The dark colored mortar gave the walls the appearance of mud walls,
and hence some one in a playful spirit named it "The Little Muddy," an
appellation that always clung to it while it stood.
The ground on which it stood is the same as that occupied at present
by the splendid building erected by the United States Government for
the Post office.
If the latter building is the means of doing any more lasting good
than its predecessor, "The Little Muddy," I am sure that no one will
ever have cause to regret its erection. Certain it is that the former
humble structure was the means of very great good to the community,
and its influence extended to remote parts of the state, nor will that
influence end while time shall last.
Mr. Jones continued his labors here for eight years with unflagging
zeal and success. During that period he saw and felt deeply the need
of the establishment of schools of a higher order in the new and
rapidly developing west. He had persuaded one young man, the writer of
this sketch, to devote his life to the gospel ministry, but there was
no school here in which he could begin his studies. At last the
zealous pastor decided to undertake himself the task of preparing that
young man for college.
Meantime other young men heard of the
arrangement and besought Mr. Jones to admit them also to the same
privileges of the aforesaid young man.
The result was the formation of a class of sixteen or eighteen young
men who occupied the unfinished parlor in the pastor's house which was
temporarily fitted up for the purpose. One of the number was chosen to
act as monitor each week and Mr. and Mrs. Jones came in at different
hours of the day to hear the recitations in the various branches of
study pursued. The branches studied were reading, writing, geography,
arithmetic, Latin and Greek.
This school continued its regular sessions for about six months, and
was successfully wound up with a public exhibition under the shade
trees in front of the pastor's residence on the hill near the
Milwaukee depot.
The following young men were among the students of that first school:
George Weare, John Stoney, Cyrus E. Ferguson, Murray S. Davis, Amos
Ferguson, Isaac W. Carrol, Mortimer A. Higley, William E. Earl,
William J. Wood, Edwin Kennedy, George R. Carroll, James L. Bever and
George W. Bever.
The remaining four or five that composed the school cannot now be
recalled.
This school was continued two or three years after, under the name of
"Cedar Rapids Collegiate Institute," Mr. David Blakely, a recent
graduate of Knox College, having been procured by Mr. Jones to act as
principal.
In the second stage of its existence the school found shelter in the
"Little Muddy Church" where its sessions were held.
Out of this humble beginning, Coe College, an institution which at
present is the pride of our city, has grown. Mr. Jones procured from
Mr. Daniel B. Coe, in New York, money sufficient to purchase the
eighty acres of land, a part of which now constitutes the college
campus. A part of the money was invested in the lots which are now
occupied by the First Presbyterian church and chapel, and also those
occupied by St. Paul's M. E. church and parsonage.
After passing through various changes of form and name, and having a
history in which there has been some sunshine, and a great deal of
shadow, Coe College was incorporated, under the laws of the State of
Iowa, in 1881, and the Rev. Stephen Phelps, D. D., was made its first
President, in which relation he continued until 1887.
Although the foundation upon which Coe College has been built up was
not laid till 1851, which is at a period later than that of which I
have been writing, yet it will be seen that the pioneers of the
forties were the principal workers who inaugurated the great
enterprise.
Rev. Williston Jones, Judge Greene,
Dr. Ely, William Greene, Dr. Carpenter, Judge Cook and John L.
Shearer, whose names are indissolubly connected with the enterprise
from its earliest conception, were all numbered among the early
settlers of that period which this record is designed to cover.
It is with pleasure, therefore, that the accompanying illustration,
which shows Coe College as it now stands, is here presented.
Under the able administration of Rev. James Marshall, D. D., with a
faculty well qualified to fill the various professorships; with
apparatus and appliances for study unexcelled by many older
institutions of learning; with its fine list of students, and with its
admirable constituency, composed of some of our best citizens here and
in other parts of the state, Coe College has a bright outlook and a
promising future, such as to make her friends rejoice.
To Rev. Williston Jones belongs the honor of founding this noble
institution.
Mr. Jones afterwards lived for several years at Iowa Falls, continuing
his labors with a zeal and energy, such as is seldom witnessed in this
world.
His death occurred at Rolla, Missouri, November 20, 1865, where he had
resided but a short time.
His accomplished and devoted wife, who has also been untiring in
various branches of Christian work, still survives, and is a resident
of Wellesley, Massachusetts.
On the ground where once stood the Little Muddy church now stands the
magnificent United States Post office and Court House, which was
erected under the superintendency of Mr. H. S. Josselyn, at a cost,
including grounds, of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. It is a
solid structure, built of brick and stone, and in its architectural
style and proportions, it is one of the most splendid ornaments of the
city.
But with all its imposing grandeur and stateliness, it has never cost
the self-denial, the days of toil and anxiety that were endured by the
builders of that first little church, whose walls were reared in those
early days when the men were so few and money so scarce and the
materials so hard to procure.
Mr. Hugh Legare
Bryan.
Mr. H. L. Bryan came to this place in
1849 from Charleston, South Carolina. I presume that he was born in
that city and state, although I am unable to state this with
certainty. I only know that he was a genuine southerner in all his
tastes and habits of life. He was a Presbyterian of the old school,
and a thoroughly conscientious good man. He had the charge of the
extensive business of his aunt, Miss Mary S. Legare.
Mr. Bryan had two brothers Michael, and "Doc," as they called him,
although that was not his true name. Besides these came his
brother-in-law Mr. E. G. Stoney, and four sisters, Mrs. Rutledge, Mrs.
Stoney, Hartley, and Joanna, the latter two quite young girls. They
all came, I think, about the same time, and being quite wealthy they
made a decided impression upon our community.
For a time they monopolized the larger part of the business of the
town, having leased Mr. Brown's mills and the Wollen Factory, and
engaging in the dry goods trade and controlling many of the blacksmith
and carpenter shops and I know not what other branches of industry.
Miss Legare invested largely in real estate, and her large fortune
seemed to be the main capital employed to carry on all these various
branches of business.
Mr. Bryan was the chief manager of
all these great interests. For a year or two it made lively times for
our town and the country around. Mr. Bryan managed the best he knew
how. He was a kind, generous hearted man and perfectly honest in his
business transactions. Of this I can testify from actual experience in
dealing with him to a considerable extent.
But he undertook too much, and financial disaster was the unavoidable
result. It was a cause of sincere regret that they did not succeed
better, but their ways of doing business and their habits of life were
such as to render success an impossibility in a new and undeveloped
country like this. The failure, however, was an honest one, and Mr.
Bryan's fortune went down with the rest. Of his honesty in all these
trying times I have never had any doubt. He never regained his
financial standing, but seemed content to gain a livelihood by honest
toil. For many years he pursued the calling of a drayman, and finally
devoted himself mainly to gardening.
His death occurred April 19, 1877.
Where I to write his epitaph it would be in these words: "Here lies a
good man, who in the face of great adversity tried to do his duty."
His wife was a lady of rare accomplishments and of the highest
Christian character. She is living, I believe, with some of her
children in the far west.
Miss Mary S. Legare.
In connection with what has been said
of Mr. H. L. Bryan, it will only be necessary to add a few words
concerning Miss Legare.
She was a lady of the highest culture and refinement, having enjoyed
every advantage that wealth and position could afford. She was the
sister of the distinguished statesman of South Carolina, the Hon. Hugh
S. Legare, who filled the offices of attorney General, of U. S.
Senator, and was also acting Secretary of State.
She edited and published the writings of her brother in two large
octavo volumes. She became the wife of Mr. Lowell Bullen, of Marion,
where she resided several years.
After Mr. Bullen's death which occurred Nov. 2, 1869 she returned to
South Carolina where she died some year ago.
Other Brief
Biographical Notices.
There were many more good honest men
that lived here in those early days for a longer or shorter time.
Among the number were D. L. Fiddler the tailor, spare and thin-visaged
but kind of heart and honest in his dealings; and then David
Gunning the carpenter, of light sandy complexion with smiling
countenance and a ready hand to help in time of need, and who could
entertain you with stories so marvelous as to tax the credulity of the
most credulous of his hearers, but who would not harm any one for the
world, being at heart a true Christian and a member of the Methodist
church.
And then there was Martin L. Barber the millwright, with his
large head and massive brow, his awkward, swaggering walk and
benevolent countenance bespeaking the presence of an honest man and a
valued citizen whom everybody delighted to honor as the first may or
of our pioneer village. All these were good men and their memory the
old settlers will recall with pleasure, although they have long since
passed away from the earth.
Mr. Abel Eddy was another of our tradesmen who was well known
in our early history. He was a carpenter and joiner, his residence
being on the ground now occupied by the "Granby" building, corner of
Third avenue and Second street.
He erected on his lot next to his residence a long, low building in
which to frame the long timbers that were used in the construction of
buildings which he had contracted to erect. This building was
after-wards cut up into apartments and was rented to families, the row
being known under the some-what mystic title of "Long Ornery."
Mr. Eddy was naturally a kind hearted man but unfortunately liquor had
gained the mastery over him and proved his ruin.
He removed many years ago to Butler county, this state, where he died.
And then there was Harrison Bristol, who had an eye for
business and early purchased a lot and erected a house thereon, and
whose hospitable roof sheltered my mother and her family prior to the
erection of her own house near the corner of Second street and Third
avenue.
He was a genial, clever young man whom everybody liked, and in later
years became one of the most prominent businessmen of Vinton, being in
partnership with his father-in-law, Mr. Russell Jones, a former
trusted and highly esteemed clerk in Greene's store in our city.
In later years financial reverses overtook Mr. Bristol from which he
has never been able to fully recover.
After these reverses, true to his old instincts as a lover of stock,
he studied veterinary surgery and has for a number of years practiced
that profession.
Both he and his estimable wife still reside in Vinton and are members
of the Presbyterian church of that place.
Biographical
Sketches as a Whole.
In the score and a half, more or
less, of biographical sketches herein presented, it is readily
admitted that they are very meager and imperfect; but as a matter of
necessity, only the barest outline of the persons mentioned could be
given in a work of this kind.
Their main features and characteristics, however, I trust will be
recognized by those who knew them, as true to life. In the cases of a
few there were blemishes, either real or imaginary in their lives that
will be recalled by some of the readers of these pages, and it will
not be denied that, not only these, but all whose names appear here,
were more or less imperfect, otherwise they would hardly be recognized
as human beings. But of these blemishes and imperfections I have not
spoken, nor have I the heart to do so. That part I will leave to
others whose tastes would lead them in that direction. I have
preferred rather to present photographs in which the main features of
the lives sketched will be readily recognized while they appear not in
their best attire, perhaps, but in decent every day garb, with the
scars and blemishes left in the background. Imperfection prevails
everywhere among men. "There is none that doeth good, no not one."
"Let him that is without sin cast the first stone."
But of the men and women here mentioned, I challenge any one to
present a like number, chosen from any community or any city, in any
state of their development, whose characters will bear a closer
scrutiny, or who will rank higher in the scale of morality and
intelligence than they. The fact is the vast majority of them were men
and women of sterling qualities and of a decided religious character.
It was not horse-thieves and outlaws - these were but transient and
incidental - but they were men and women of worth, who were possessed
of courage, of strong religious convictions and of genuine enterprise
that left their impress upon and gave direction to those educational,
benevolent, and religious institutions which are now the pride of our
city and of the country at large.
There always has been, and there is still a deep undercurrent of moral
and religious sentiment here that has been healthful and stimulating
to every interest that goes to make up the bright record of a truly
great and good people. |
