The First
Steamboat.
An event which excited a good deal of
interest in an early day was the coming of a steamboat to our town. It
was a stern wheel boat of moderate dimensions, and was called the
"Maid of Iowa." The time was probably in June 1844. The puffing of its
engine and the scream of its whistle were the grandest music we had
ever heard in these parts. There was something so fascinating about
this boat that the people flocked to the river for miles around to see
it. And not satisfied with that, they prevailed on the captain to give
them an excursion down the river a few miles, in which a goodly number
participated, sharing also in a splendid dinner, such as only
steamboat men know how to prepare. There were no dams then to obstruct
navigation and the river was at a fine state, and there was clear
sailing. The captain told my father that he had no more trouble in
navigating the Cedar than the Mississippi, a remark which greatly
pleased him, as it inspired the hope of better markets for our produce
and cheaper and easier transportation for our supplies. After this,
other boats came up occasionally, and finally one or two small
steamers were built and operated by our own people, and besides, in
earlier times, flatboats and barges were built so that altogether the
river navigation proved a great advantage to the pioneers in those
days before railroads were dreamed of in Iowa.
But the most of the year the river was so low that no boat could
navigate it with any ease or profit, and so at best it was a poor
substitute and an unreliable means of transportation, compared with
which even a canal boat would have been far superior.
Looking at it from the standpoint of our present modes of travel on
lightning express trains, and the transportation of freight with a
speed that rivals the winds in fleetness, it looks as though these
were indeed primitive times. But they were fine times for the
cultivation of the grace of patience. People were compelled then not
only to labor but to wait, and often the waiting was the hardest part
to perform.
But the greatest blessing of the river was not to be in its
navigation, but in the water power it afforded. But even this is no
longer appreciated as it was years ago, as the power of steam has so
largely taken its place and superseded its necessity. Nevertheless the
river constitutes one of the great charms of our city and of the
country through which it passes, and millions of money would not
induce the dwellers upon its beautiful and fertile banks to part with
it.
The river was the great attraction in the early history of our
country, the clear water flowing over a rocky and gravel bottom
presented a scene that delighted the new comers as they looked out
upon its rippling surface.
And then, besides this, it became more and more famous as time went on
as one of the finest water powers in the state. It was this that
attracted hither some of our most valued citizens. It was the
confident expectation of the earliest settlers that Cedar Rapids would
become an important manufacturing town, but probably none ever dreamed
that in so short a time it would reach the magnificent proportions
which is today realized, by our busy and prosperous population.
An Early Railroad
Project.
The following account is furnished by
a friend.
The matter of railroad construction began to interest our enterprising
people at quite an early day.
It is worthy of mention that as early as 1849 Cedar Rapids became
identified with a railroad project of great merit, namely the Dubuque
and Keokuk Railroad, familiarly known as "The Ram's Horn." This
company was organized for the construction of a line along the west
bank of the Mississippi to compete with river transportation which was
greatly impeded over the rapids in low water much of the season.
Through the efforts of Judge Greene, then residing at Dubuque, Dr. Ely
of Cedar Rapids and others of Iowa City, the Company was induced to
change the line so as to run from Dubuque to Keokuk via Cedar Rapids,
Iowa City, Washington and Fairfield.
In two successive sessions of Congress, Gen. George W. Jones, United
States Senator, succeeded in getting bills through the Senate granting
to the State the odd numbered sections of Government land within a
limit of six miles on both sides of the line to aid in building the
road. But these bills failed to pass the House, chiefly through the
influence of Representative Shepherd Leffler, whose home was at
Burlington. After these very discouraging failures the company
languished a while and finally relapsed into innocuous desuetude.
But this line was afterwards virtually constructed, by the meeting of
the Dubuque and Southwestern, and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and
Northern at Cedar Rapids.
This goes to show that although their first efforts were abortive for
the time being, our people were on the alert to open up thoroughfares
of commerce for our city at as early a day as possible, and that their
projects ere judiciously conceived.
"The Astor House."
The first house in Cedar Rapids has
been described somewhat minutely in the preceding pages. The second
house deserves also a more extended notice than it has hitherto
received.
As already stated it was located on the river below Fourth avenue, and
was erected by Mr. John Young, upon his claim.
It was also known by the somewhat ambitious cognomen of the "Astor
House," because of the fact that boarders were accommodated there for
some years, it being the largest and best house in the place.
It was a double log house probably about 18 x 26 and one story high.
It fronted on the river, the roof on that side extending over three or
four feet and forming a porch the whole length of the building.
Afterwards there was a room built on to the front extending over the
door, which answered for a kitchen. Still later there was a frame
addition put on to the rear extending the entire length of the house,
and a door made in the end and also one in the side. This practically
changed the front of the house to the opposite side, making it face on
First street instead of the river.
I am not able to tell who all of the
occupants of this house were. Mr. Young being a bachelor, boarded at
Shepherd's tavern. The first occupant was a Mr. Verbeck of Vermont,
who with his wife and daughter, lived there a short time, and then
went on further west, I believe.
Mr. J. L. Shearer moved into it in 1842 and remained there for two or
three years.
Afterwards it was occupied by Mr. John Weare, and by Mrs. Carroll, as
elsewhere stated. The last occupant of it was Mr. James Hamilton, who
had a large family.
There were many things that occurred in this house that left a lasting
impression upon the minds of its occupants, if not on the community at
large.
From this cabin Mr. and Mrs. Shearer followed two of their children to
their last resting-place in the grave, and two children, a little boy
and girl, from the family of Mr. John Weare, passed away in the early
morning of their days to the mysterious beyond, to return no more. The
Carroll family, too, had their afflictions in the way of measles and
other forms of disease, from which all recovered except the youngest
member of the family, and she was spared for some years afterwards,
though ever after feeble in health, as the result of her illness at
this time.
One year the east room was occupied as a store by Mr. Hook.
In the case of the last family, they, too, had a good deal of
sickness, and finally one of the family died with a disease so much
like the cholera that a great deal of uneasiness was felt in the
community.
After this the family moved out, an this ended the history of the old
"Astor House."
It was ordered to be torn down by the Board of Health, John F. Ely, M.
D. being its chief officer. As to whether anybody objected, I can not
say, but the order of the above named officer being, like that of the
Medes and Persians, unchangeable and irrevocable, was carried out to
the letter; and so this primitive structure passed from the realm of
visible things to be recalled only a dim outline to the memories of
those who lived here in the days long gone by. |
