Physicians
Among the Physicians,
Drs. S. H. Tryon, F. W. Tailor and James Cummins
were first to settle at Marion. In 1841, they were followed by Drs. Leonard Bardwell,
C. W. Phelps and Manus Holmes. In
1842, came Dr. Henry Ristine, who has practiced in the county
to the present time, and is now located at Cedar Rapids. Drs. Darkin,
J. M. Fanning, Crummey Reynolds, T. S.
Bardwell and many others entered into practice afterward.
Attorneys
The first attorneys
were George Greene, afterward of the Supreme Bench of Iowa, now
of Cedar Rapids, who came to the county in 1839, and taught school at
Ivanhoe; and Julius E. Sanford, who died at Dubuque. They came
to Marion in the Spring of 1840, and were followed in the same year by
John Huber, afterward of Cedar County, and A. L. Roach,
afterward of the Supreme Bench of Indiana. Next came Reuben A.
Riley and Col. I. M. Preston, who has been a practitioner
of Marion since 1842, has filled many legal offices, and discharged
the duties of State Representative and Senator with credit and honor;
Judge Isbell, deceased, of the Supreme Bench, whose family
still reside here; Judge Smyth, who began practice in 1845 and
continued until his death, acting as Member of Congress and in other
official capacities; Maj. Wm. G. Thompson opened his office in
Marion in the Winter of 1853-4, and he also has been honored with many
of the worthy positions within the gift of the Iowa people, including
those of Representative and Senator; J. C. Davis, a resident of
Marion since 1853, and practitioner since 1863; J. B. Young,
who has practiced at the bar in Marion since 1853, having filled the
positions of County Judge, Representative Senator and United States
Pension Agent.
Among the members of
the honored bar of Marion not yet mentioned are J. D. Giffen,
Daniel Lothian, N. B. Allen, John Mitchell,
Alex. Campbell, Henry Sutherland, T. Mentzer,
Charles Woods and G. A. Gray.
Railroad
From 1845 to 1855,
public attention having been attracted by the rich and fertile soil
and other natural advantages of Iowa, and immigration consequently
directed hither, the embryotic towns of the State became rapidly
populated. Marion increased in size as fast as any of her neighbors,
save the Capital - Iowa City - and there was every prospect that it
would be favored with a railroad in 1854; but, to the disappointment
of all, this railroad scheme failed. The hard times of 1857-8 set in,
another railroad was completed to a neighboring town in the county,
and the progress of Marion was arrested. In the Spring of 1855,
the population was estimated to be from 1,400 to 1,500.
In the Spring,
another railroad project was started, under favorable auspices. An
immediate connection with Dubuque, and thence with Eastern markets,
was offered, and the energetic citizens worked successfully for the
culmination of the scheme.
Since that time, the
Sabula, Ackley & Dakota Railroad has made Marion it western terminus,
and more recently, in the present year [1878], it has consolidated
with the Dubuque Southwestern Railroad.
Businesses in the year 1861
Marion had a rapid
growth in 1860-61, and in March, 1861, had the following business
interests: Ten dry-goods, clothing, etc., firms; three hardware
stores, four groceries, seven boot and shoe shops, two book stores,
three drug stores (two of them wholesale), four hotels - the American,
Iowa, Wilson and Session Houses; three banking houses, two newspapers,
three tailor shops, two bakeries, two jewelers, three harness shops,
four carriage and wagon shops, two cabinet shops, four millinery
stores, three livery stables, one meat market, two fanning-mill
manufactories, one steam flouring mill, two steam saw-mills, one
water-power saw-mill, one foundry, one distillery, one brewery, one
barber shop, six blacksmith shops, two marble workers, seven painters,
one ambrotypist, two coopers, twenty-three carpenters and ten
brick-masons; nine religious societies, twelve ministers, sixteen
lawyers and five physicians. Such was the character of Marion in 1861,
with 2,000 inhabitants.
Marion Institute was
established in 1860 by the Misses Isbell, who conduced it
successfully for several years. The first term closed December 21,
1860.
Then came the war,
and every town in the nation was affected. Marion's progress was not,
however, fully arrested; but soon after there began the erection of
new brick business blocks, elegant residences and general
improvements. The city was incorporated in 1865.
City Government
June 19, 1865, a
petition, signed by 198 voters, was presented to Judge Johnson
Elliott, praying for the incorporation of Marion. It was accordingly
granted and organization was effected by the election of the following
officers: Mayor, Thomas J. McKean; Recorder, G. A. Gray;
Trustees, D. H. McDonald, S. W. Rathbun, G. F. Woods,
O. C. Wyman, N. W. Owen.
The first Council
meeting was held November 27, 1865. Meetings were held on the first
Monday of each month, but the time has since been changed to the
second Monday
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