| Muscatine County, Iowa | |
Muscatine Journal & News-Tribune
Centennial Edition
31 May 1940
Section 5 - Page 4, Submitted by Charlene Nichols Hixon, April 3, 2012
Active During War A record of distinguished military service was compiled by Col. A. M. Hare during his residence in Muscatine. In the dark days of the rebellion, Gov. Samuel Kirkwood offered Mr. Hare a commission as colonel of the 11th Iowa Infantry, which he accepted, and accomplished much toward organization of the regiment, which later mustered in at Davenport.
The regiment remained there for a time before being ordered to Benton Barracks, St. Louis and finally to Jefferson City, Mo. Some of its members were sent to California, Mo., and others to Callaway, Mo., remaining there during the winter looking after the guerillas. In the spring the men were ordered to St. Louis and from there went to Pittsburg Landing, taking a prominent part in a battle there.
Col. Hare was assigned to a brigade under Gen. McClernand, having command of the 11th Iowa, the 13th Iowa and the 8th and 18th Illinois regiments. He was wounded and this coupled with failing health compelled him to resign.
Col. Hare was born near Columbus, O., on Nov. 13, 1911. He came to Muscatine in 1838. His first wife was Sarah Olmsted, who died in 1837. Later, he married Emeline Phoebe Austin, daughter of Charles g. and Harriet Austin, who came here in the year 1842. The second Mrs. Hare died Aug. 22, 1882. Col. Hare died Feb. 7, 1903.
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Golden Event looms Near for H. J. Heinz Co. As the Muscatine Journal celebrates the completion of its century of progress, H. J. Heinz company is almost on the eve of the golden anniversary of the beginning of its activities in Muscatine.
It is one of the company’s policies to seek sections where soil and climate unite to produce the best raw materials, such as fruits and vegetables, and there erect factories to process and can or bottle them while they have garden freshness which means full flavor.
Ever since it was founded in 1869, communities have attempted to persuade the company to erect factories in their districts. Recently it was reported that the company planned a new factory in Ohio and many cities and towns petitioned it to build within their confines. There was a similar situation in Muscatine half a century ago. Land was rich and farmers were willing to grow crops. What they needed was a nearby cash market. They knew a Heinz factory would bring two flows of cash into the district, one in the form of factory payrolls and the other in payments to farmers for crops.
The founder of the company that bears his name recognized the advantages of Muscatine and decided to build a factory here. There was rejoicing in the district when his decision became known, and work on a plant began in 1893.
Muscatine had a boom year when work began on the Heinz plant. That was the year in which the city’s first street car made its appearance, and other progressive steps have become historical records.
The first Heinz building was a one-story structure, 85 x 126 feet. Improvements and additions have been made until the factory now has a floor space of approximately seven and one-half acres. This is the oldest of the company’s branch factories now in operation.
The erection of that first Heinz building was destined to have a widespread influence on the community. It immediately brought cash to the district and within a short time the company was operating farms here and introducing new and advanced methods, the acceptance of which by other growers proved an important factor in the agricultural development of the district.
The founder of the company took a personal interest in Muscatine, and in the development of a factory here and of agriculture in general. Old pictures show him in the fields inspecting crops soil and the operation of implements so modern that they were curiosities. There have been fat and lean years on the farms, but the average has been held up by methods introduced by Mr. Heinz.
The first product to be sold under the Heinz name was prepared horse-radish, and the company has always processed large quantities in Muscatine. One after another of the 57 Varieties has been produced in the local factory until it now has a large list of products.
Few business concerns survive as long as 50 years, in fact not over 1 per cent, but H. J. Heinz company only recently celebrated its 70th anniversary.
The company has always been a growing organization. It began business in the little town of Sharpsburg, near Pittsburgh, Pa., and even while its only factory was a converted dwelling, its founder adopted the slogan, “The World Our Field.” It has gradually, but soundly extended the scope of its activities until today it has 26 factories in five countries and its products are on the tables of more than a hundred lands.
The Muscatine factory is fortunate in having back of it an international sales organization, consisting of 118 sales branches and warehouses, and 250 foreign agencies. This great organization is continuously at work creating a market for the 57 Varieties made here and elsewhere.
Mr. Heinz died in 1919, but he had trained men to continue the business, and the policies on which it was founded. His son, Howard Heinz, has been president since the founder’s death, and all the officers and executives are employees, who give their full time to the business.
* * * * * * * Samuel Clemens did not originate the Mississippi river leadsman’s call, “Mark Twain” as a pen name. It was first used by Isaiah Sellers, who, like Clemens was a river pilot and writer. When he died the name was continued by Clemens. – From “Pageant of te Packets,” by Garnett Laidlaw Eskew.
* * * * * * * After the Mississippi had been at flood stage for almost two weeks the island levee broke in three places. Flood waters carried away the railroad bridge across the Muscatine slough and covered the greater part of Muscatine Island, including south Muscatine. – April 26, 1870.
* * * * * * * “A contract has been let for building 55 miles of railroad north from Wilton, or to Cedar Rapids.” – April 27, 1883.
* * * * * * * Ferrying prices jumped in Bloomington when A. M. Hare, owner of the ferry boat got permission from the town board to charge 75 cents for a two horse team; 50 cents for a horse and buggy and 35 cents for a man and horse. But the board reserved the right to reduce the prices to their former level of 50 cents for a two horse team; 40 cents for a horse and buggy and 20 cents for a man and horse if thought necessary. – April 27, 1848.
* * * * * * * A landslide at Wyoming hill injured several section workers. – April 22, 1883.
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