MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA HISTORY

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Looking west on 4th street from corner at Maurer street

The Temperance Movement in Wilton
by Curtis Frymorer

Transcribed by Sarah Boye, December 4, 2015

    Like most pioneer railroad towns Wilton was well supplied with saloons. There was, however, a strong temperance sentiment among the citizens of the town. Franklin Butterfield, a founder of Wilton, was a temperance advocate and the editors of the newspapers, the ministers of the churches and many of the businessmen supported his position.

    A determined effort in the 1870's was made to close the saloons. On June 5, 1877 the town council passed Ordinance 82 prohibiting the sale of ale, wine, beer or other intoxicating liquors within the corporate limits. In the winter of 1878 the Murphy (temperance) Movement was sweeping the country and a series of Blue Ribbon meetings were held in Wilton. Meetings in the Presbyterian church were held every evening and the schoolhouse hall was filled on Sunday afternoon. "Some of our best citizens, who have almost forfeited claim as such, have come forward and signed the pledge and today are earnest advocates of the Murphy Movement." Wilton Review, Feb. 14, 1878.

    The Blue Ribbon Club now numbered nearly 900 members. Apparently some of the members were not as earnest as they should have been for the proprietor of a bakery "was arrested Monday for selling whiskey. Sunday evening he signed the pledge to evade suspicion, but a man to whom he had sold whiskey that day gave evidence that he was not sincere in signing the pledge. He was brought before Justice Bentley and the prospects are that he will be sent up. The temperance folks are bound to make him keep his pledge if that have to send him to jail to do it. " Wilton Review, Feb 7, 1878.

    The saloons remained closed until August, 1878, but at that time a …

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… loophole was found in the ordinance and the saloon keepers resumed business. In the Muscatine county directory of 1879 Wilton was credited with four saloons. The temperance forces were not beaten however. Regular monthly temperance meetings were held in the churches. The yearly camp meeting devoted a special day to temperance programs and the W.C.T.U. became a militant force in the community.

    In 1890 the Muscatine Journal reported that two Wilton saloons had been fined $50 each. In this year the women of the W.C.T.U. made a determined effort to have the saloons closed. According to the diary of Miss Sarah Shuger, a Union temperance meeting was held July 20, 1890 and "a committee appointed to see what can be done to close the saloons." On July 21 the "W.T.C.U. met this afternoon. Held prayer meeting, then went in a body to the saloon. We can tell the result." One July 25, 1890, "W.C.T.U. met in Presbyterian church this afternoon, then went again to visit saloon. Had prayer and singing. Mrs. Chamberlain talked to the saloon keepers."

    Miss Shuger's dairy continues, July 28, 1890, "And open air gospel temperance (meeting) downtown tonight. Rev. Wilson of Muscatine speaker." July 30, "Rev. Wilcox spoke in vestry of M.E. church this afternoon and downtown tonight." July 31, "One o'clock, ladies met here, then went to courtroom to hear trial. Rev. Wilson preached again this evening."

    On Aug. 5, "Mrs. Parmer spoke to the W.C.T.U. in the vestry of the M.E. church this afternoon." Aug 6, "Three meetings today - prayer meeting at 9 o'clock, mothers' meeting at 3 and Mrs. Parmer spoke in the hall tonight." Aug 7, "Three meetings again, Mrs. Parmer is doing much good for the temperance cause." Aug 8, "Mrs. P spoke twice." Aug. 10 "Mrs. P spoke three times."

    Finally Miss Shuger records, Aug. 26, "Through the efforts of Mr. Bacon and other the saloons were closed today. This evening the W.C.T.U. and others, led by the band, marched to Mr. B and presented him with a number of beautiful bouquets, also gave Rev. Adams a large bouquet. the W.C.T.U. going to the saloon did some good."

    About a year later Rev. Adams moved to another charge and the temperance people had a surprise party for him. In her diary Miss Shuger wrote,"Sept. 16 (189) Bro. Adams ate dinner with us today we surprise them at Bro. Wise's this evening. Bro. McCauley presented in the half of the temperance people of Wilton a beautiful water service and Mrs. Bacon gave to Mrs. Adams the quilt the ladies made in the missionary society – the center of the quilt has a picture of the M. E. Church."

    Saloons made an attempted come back in the mid 1890s and were strongly opposed by that W.C.T.U and others. During the early years of the 20th century there were no saloons in town and during prohibition years they were not allowed. It was not until the 1930s that the saloon return to Wilson under a different name of the tavern.

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     Remember when Mrs. Smith ran a milinery store on the south side of fourth Street where Johansen's beauty shop now is? You would pick out your basic hats and Mrs. Smith would trim it to your order with plumes, ribbons, birds and/or maline.