History of Pottawattamie County
by Homer H. Field and Hon. Joseph R. Reed
1907
SECTION FOUR
EARLY AFFAIRS
At the January, 1835,
meeting of the board of supervisors E. McBride was elected chairman; A.
E. Clarendon was appointed county
superintendent to till the vacancy caused by the resignation of L. S.
Axtel. At the
city election N. S. Bates was elected mayor, T. P. Treynor, recorder,
H. P.
Warren. treasurer, and A. J. Bump, marshal; H. H. Field, Richard
Rogers, C. P. Johnson, J. M. Phillips, Thomas Jeffries and John Hammer,
aldermen. At the spring school election a four-room brick school
building was
authorized on the ground now occupied by the Bloomer school. At that
time it was thought to be ample but was soon outgrown, but did duty
until 1880, when it was supplanted by the present nine-room structure.
This was
misnamed the Bloomer.
The old High School building should have been named for him, as it
became a religion with him to get it placed there, and it became a
subject of contention ever after and at tbis day it stands idle,
representing
$100,000, "with none so poor to do it reverence."
On the 15th of April came the dispatch announcing the assassination of
Lincoln, and for a time we were almost dazed. Business was suspended,
meetings were called and resolutions passed condemning it, even by
those whose teachings for years had led up to it.
A few persons who bad openly been in sympathy with the rebellion were
notified to leave by self-constituted committees, but, as before
stated, there was no actual violence.
Many persons feared that disbanding so many soldiers at the close of
the war might result in lawlessness, but the million of trained
soldiers returned to civil pursuits with the same alacrity that they
came to the front when needed.
At the June meeting of the board of supervisors Sheriff Voorhis
resigned and H. H. Field was appointed to till the vacancy.
In August the Council Bluffs branch of the State Bank of Iowa was
transformed into the First National Bank of Council Bluffs, with
Captain A. L. Deming as president and Moses H. Deming as cashier.
September 21 was set apart by the citizens as a testimonial to the men
who had gone into the military service and returned at the close of the
war to resume their peaceful avocations. The testimonial was in the
shape
of a banquet, and all the citizens vied with each other in thus
expressing
their gratitude to the men who had -o cheerfully done their duty.
At the fall election Colonel W. F. Sapp was elected to the state
legislature; Thomas Tostevin, county treasurer; and H. H. Field,
sheriff.
In the latter part of November ground was broken on the west side of
the river in commencing the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad,
and many went over from Council Bluffs to participate in the exercises,
which consisted in throwing a few shovels of earth, when all adjourned
to the
Herndon Hotel to a banquet, after which speeches by eminent men were
listened to and all concluding with a dance in which the elite of both
cities
participated.
After the burning of Concert Hall, there was no suitable room in the
city for any public assembly and in the fall of 1865 Henry Burhop made
the excavation preparatory to erecting a fine hall, but could get only
brick for the cellar walls until the following spring when it was
hurried to
completion. It was 42x80 feet, with two ante-rooms. It was well adapted
for balls,
lectures and dramatic performances. Bayard Taylor was the first person
of note to occupy the platform. It immediately became in great demand.
Terms of the district court were held in the day time and balls at
night, and
church services on Sunday, while the bar on the ground floor did duty
all the lime.
During the winter of 1866-7 it was used constantly as a theatre,
and as good plays were presented there as have been at any time since.
In January, 1866, the move to build a courthouse took active shape. A
committee of the board of supervisors reported a plan and estimates,
and the site where the courthouse now stands was purchased at a cost of
$3,500.
A committee consisting of Thos. Officer, J. M. Phillips and William
Ward
was appointed to let the contract and supervise the construction of the
courthouse. On the 15th of January, 1866, the contract was let
according to plans and specifications prepared by William Ward, the
architect, to John
Hammer and F. T. C. Johnson, contractors and builders, the cost not to
exceed
$42,000, bonds of the county having been authorized to meet the cost.
The work progressed so that it was enclosed and the jail, which was in
the
basement, fitted up and offices on the first floor completed, but the
court room
was not finished until the winter of 1868, when it was formally opened
with a
banquet given by the contractors, and at last the Goddess of Justice
had a
temple of her own.
During this time a two-room brick schoolhouse had been built on the
Washington avenue grounds, as had also been the Presbyterian Church on
the corner of Seventh street and Willow avenue.
The pastor, Rev. James H. Clark, had held revival meetings during the
winter and succeeded in getting a large addition to its membership,
among whom were a number of the most prominent men of the city, when
his
congregation was shocked and humiliated to learn that he was guilty of
gross immorality, and he was promptly dismissed.
Railroad building that had been suspended during the war was now
resumed. The old contracts for construction of the St. Joseph and
Council Bluffs Railroad were surrendered and a new one entered into
with Henry W. Phelps, of Massachusetts, for the completion of the road
by January
1, 1867, and all the stock in the company held by the city and county
was transferred to Willis Phelps, as one of the inducements to a
resumption
of the work, and under this arrangement work was vigorously resumed. A
locomotive (the Wahbonsy) was brought by steamer and landed at St.
Marys, twelve miles below the city, and put to construction work and
was the
first to enter the city, but the connection was not made so as to form
a
through line until the following spring, while the Cedar Rapids or
Northwestern entered as per agreement before the first of January,
1867, making the
first through line. Colonel H. C. Nutt now entered into the business of
transferring the freight destined for the west. This was all-important,
as the Union Pacific was dependent upon it for the material for its own
construction. A temporary bridge was constructed by piling through the
ice over which traffic was maintained until the ice bridge went out and
a car
ferry was established, which was continued until completion of the
bridge.
While matters were being pushed in this locality, people were not idle
"up town." The rivalry before mentioned still existed between the two
sections, and believing a good hotel would assist in holding trade it
was
determined to erect one, and after conferring as to location, that of
the old City Hotel was agreed upon and finally William Garner, Charles
Baughn and
John Hammer agreed with a committee to build a hotel according to plans
and specifications submitted by the architect (Cook), providing the
committee would raise $10,000, which was done by subscription, and the
Ogden House was launched.
Alter the dismissal of Rev. James H. Clark, the Rev. Thomas H. Cleland
was called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church and. after
the usual trial, was duly installed and remained as such pastor until
May,
1882, when he resigned to take the pulpit of Westminster Presbyterian
Church, of Keokuk, Iowa.
The old Ocean Wave saloon, having been on the decline since the palmy
days of the California and Pikes Peak emigration, was at last struck by
lightning and burned to the ground. Many of the good people thought
it a good opportunity to get even with the Devil by erecting a church
on
its ruins. This was accomplished by Rev. Joseph Knotts, backed and
assisted by the active members of the Methodist Church, and a pretty
fair church was erected and, although defective architecturally
speaking, it did
duty until supplanted by the present larger and more elaborate
structure.
In January, 1866, L. W. Babbitt sold the Bugle to W. T. Giles, of
Freeport, Ill., who conducted the paper until October, 1867, when he
resold it to Colonel Babbitt and returned to Illinois.
A change also took place in the management of the Nonpareil by W. S. Burke retiring December 26, L866, and W. W. Maynard and J. W.
Chapman taking control, the former being the editor and the latter
manager.
Several other changes were made from this time until 1870, when the
other
interests were absorbed by Mr. Chapman, then county treasurer, Thos.
P'. Treynor
and Spencer Smith, and was incorporated as the Nonpareil Printing
Company and under that name continued to do business for many years.
Up to this time the state had been using temporary quarters at Iowa
City in maintaining an Institute for the Deaf. Colonel Sapp, as a
member of the House from this county, backed by leading citizens,
secured a
preliminary appropriation for the erection of suitable buildings for
such an institute at Council Bluffs.
During this year Thomas C. Durant, vice-president of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, on behalf of himself and other members of the
company, purchased a large body of land in the western part of the city
to be
used for railroad purposes, and on which were later constructed their
terminal depot and transfer mounds, round houses, ear sheds, etc.
At the spring election of 1867 Judge Frank Street was elected mayor,
his opponent being L. W. Babbitt, and A. J. Bump was again elected
marshal.
On the 24th of June the Empire block was destroyed by fire. There was
no fire department at that time and nothing could be done to save the
property. The loss was fully $100,000. The type, press and material of
the Nonpareil were totally
destroyed, as well as the young men's library.
On May 3 a new democratic newspaper was launched, called the Daily Democrat, under the
management of Alf S. Kierolf & Co. Mr. Kierolf
was a sensational political writer, after the manner of Brick Pomeroy,
with
the result that a bitter rivalry sprang up between his paper and the Bugle that nearly disrupted the party.
The annual election for city officers was held on the 10th of March,
and resulted in the choice of Thomas Tostevin for mayor. The school
election was held on the same day and Mr. Bloomer was again chosen
president of
the school board.
A special election was held on the 25th day of June, appropriating
$20,000 of the $60,000 loan for the purpose of purchasing a steam fire
engine. A Silsbe steamer was purchased, and Bluff City Engine Company
organized to manage the steamer. An engine house was erected in the
rear of the City building on Glen avenue, and the steamer arrived on
the
17th of September. F. T. C. Johnson was made chief and Council Bluffs
became for the first time possessed of a fire department.
Among the new enterprises was the establishment of a German newspaper,
which first saw the light as the Frei
I'resse under the direction of Messrs. Wenbore and Worden in September. For a
time it was prosperous, being patronized by the business men of the
city and the German farmers
of Pottawattamie and Mills counties. It changed hands with varying
success until in 1880 it passed into the hands of a man by the name of
Peiffer,
who conducted it ably and placed it on a paying basis.
The summer of 1868 was a very active one. The location of the Union
Pacific bridge, after thorough soundings had been made for quite a
distance along the river, was finally fixed by General Dodge, chief
engineer, at
the point which it now occupies, and in consideration of this and
location
of proper depot and terminal facilities, the city agreed to donate its
bonds to the amount of $205,000.
During this year the building known as Bloom's hall was erected by
General Dodge and Solomon Bloom, the third story of which was a hall
50x100 feet, with a stage across the Main street end. This was a
popular place
for lectures, concerts, balls and dramatic performances for many years.
July, 1868, marked the completion of the Council Bluffs & St.
Joseph Railroad. This connecting with the Hannibal & St. Joseph
gave us
another outlet to the east. During this year efforts were made to
advance and
improve the public schools. Professor Adam Armstrong, a graduate of
Springfield (Ohio) College, was employed as city superintendent and a
graded system established. During this summer the Sixth street
schoolhouse was built, being the sixth brick schoolhouse.
The summer of 1868 was an extremely lively one. On the 30th of July
General Grant, candidate for president, accompanied by Generals Sherman
and Sheridan, who had been on a visit to military posts, came to the
city on their way east, and, having an hour or two before the St.
Joseph
train was In leave, they took a spin through the city and down to the
depot,
where they were met by a large crowd anxious to pay their respects,
regardless of party feeling.
As the season advanced political excitement increased. Farmers' clubs
were organized by the republicans and Seymour clubs by the democrats,
who held their meetings in Burhop's Hall.
A large amount of building was done during this summer, among which
were three large store rooms belonging to Mr. Keller, J. M. Phillips
and Mrs. Knepper, on the south side of Broadway, between Main and
Fourth streets; also the three-story brick on the southwest corner of
Main and Broadway now the First National Bank. Conrad Geise erected a
large brewery, hut
did not commence brewing until the spring of 1869.
As the time of the election drew near the enthusiasm increased until it
resembled, if not excelled, the lou cabin campaign of 1840.
It culminated October 22, so far as the republican party was concerned,
in a grand rally to which the people of the entire county were invited
and consisted of a big dinner served continuously from 10 a. m. to 10
p. m.
and a grand procession. The dinner was served in the three new
buildings
just erected by Mrs. Knepper and Messrs. Keller and Phillips, each
having two tables their entire length kept loaded with substantials
that had been
donated from all parts of the county until their storage room resembled
a
commissary's store for an army. At the same time C. L. D. Crockwell was
installed in an adjacent building with a sugar boiler making coffee, of
which
fifteen barrels were consumed.
An arch spanned Broadway at the angle where the Hamilton shoe store now
is, on the supporting columns of which the names of soldiers of the
county who had lost their lives in the war were inscribed, while on the
arch itself were many of those of the state, and in the center of which
was
that of Lincoln. The tables were served by a committee of a hundred men
and a like number of women, divided into reliefs, each of which served
two
hours.
Ai one o'clock a grand procession was formed, with Colonel W. F. Sapp
as marshal with a large detail of mounted aides. In the column nearly
every institution was represented - the army by returned veterans, the
navy by a gunboat, manned and discharging rockets; the several states
by girls
dressed in white, with blue and red trimmings; mothers and wives of
deceased
soldiers in carriages. Some features were beautiful, others comical.
Among the latter was that of Grant's tannery, designed and conducted by
Captain
J. P. Williams, in which were hanging dressed hides of leather
representing
Lee, Buckner and Pemberton. while opposite hung the green hides of
Seymour and Blair waiting their turn to be tanned.
As the long column uncovered in passing under the arch the effect was
impressive, and not easily forgotten. In the evening the pageant was
repeated, to which was added a monitor and a large delegation from
Omaha with a gunboat and brass band. On the whole this far excelled any
political demonstration pulled off here, before or since.
During this year the old Dohany Opera Hou.se was built, being the upper
story of a livery barn and, although the odor arising from the stable
became pretty strong at times, it was for years the most popular hall
in the
city. Among the celebrities that have appeared on its stage were Ole
Bull, Janausheck, Reinenyi, Camille Urso, Henry Ward Beecher, Victoria
Woodhull, Clara Louise and Fanny Kellogg, R. J. Ingersoll, and a host
of others. The old building is still standing, but its glory has long
since
departed.
During this year Conrad Geise erected a brewery on the north side of
Upper Broadway, but did not commence the business until the spring of
1869.
The city having purchased an engine and a fire company having been
organized, it became necessary to have water, and the plan was adopted
of constructing immense cisterns at intervals along the business
streets
and filling them from Indian creek, using the steamer for this purpose,
as well as
exhausting them in time of fire.
At the city election on the first Monday in April, D. C. Bloomer was
elected mayor, F. A. Burke recorder, Mr. Treynor having been appointed
postmaster by President Grant. J. B. Lewis, John T. Oliver, J. B.
Atkins, L. L. Spooner, John Huntington and L. W. Babbitt were elected
aldermen.
A new code of ordinances was prepared under the supervision of L. W.
Ross, but not published until 1870.
On the 2d day of February an ordinance was approved granting to Wm.
Cones and associates, acting under the style and title of the Council
Bluffs Gas Light Company, the exclusive franchise for lighting the city
with
gas for a period of twenty years.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad having obtained the
right-of-way of the M. & M., had steadily approached the Bluffs,
and as it became known that the first train would enter on the 12th of
May, it was decided to commemorate the event by laying the corner-stone
of the Ogden House, for which preparation had been made. A great
concourse of
citizens, with the fire company, civic societies, band and artillery
squad with
gun, repaired to the grounds, where a temporary depot had been erected,
and
as the train pulled in it was given a royal welcome, being the third
railroad to enter the city. From here they repaired to the site of the
Ogden
foundation, where Mayor Bloomer proceeded with the ceremony of laying
the corner stone, and the festivities concluded with a ball that
evening at the
Pacific
house attended by the elite of the city.
During this summer a two-room addition was added to the Washington
avenue schoolhouse at a cost of $6,000.
On the 13th of May, Council Bluffs Lodge No. 49 occupied their new hall
in the third story of the new building on the southwest corner of
Broadway and Main streets.
On the first of July a public installation of its officers took place
at Bloom's Hall, the exercises being conducted by Grand Master William
Sharpe, of Ottumwa.
Humboldt Lodge No. 174 was organized in October, 1869, and Hawkeye
Lodge No. 184, a lodge in English, was instituted.
Twin Brother Encampment was chartered October 20 and duly instituted.
At the fall election John Beresheim, republican, was elected to the
legislature over his democratic opponent, Robert Percival, and John W.
Chapman, republican, was elected county treasurer.
A beginning was made on the state school for the deaf during '68, but
no great amount of work was done until 1869. William R. Craig, of
Nebraska City, had the contract and pushed the work, the east wing and
center
being first completed. William Ward, of the Bluffs, was supervising
architect. The plans were altered so as to involve greater expense than
was provided
by the appropriation, and when the contractor came to obtain his pay,
he was
confronted with the objection that the changes were not authorized. He
was subjected to lawsuits by subcontractors and for material furnished,
and
financially ruined.
Finally the legislature in 1878 made an appropriation that enabled him
to extricate himself from debt. The ninety-six acres on which the
institution stands was purchased by the citizens and donated to the
state as an inducement to locate the institution at this point, and no
finer site
could have been selected. A more complete history of the institution
will be found under the head of The Iowa School for the Deaf.
The first street railway was licensed early in '69 and the track
finished from First streel west on Broadway to the river by the first
of
December, where it connected with the ferry. It remained and was
operated here until the great bridge was completed, when it was changed
to run to
the transfer grounds along Union avenue. The cars were small and drawn
by mules.
Masonry was in a flourishing condition at this time. Excelsior Lodge
was instituted in the winter of '68-9, and Star Chapter about the same
time.
In December, 1869, Ivanhoe Commandery of Knignts Templar was organized.
The great social event of the winter was the opening of the Ogden
Hotel. It was finished and on the 22d of December opened with a banquet
attended by nearly a thousand guests. It was the finest hotel at that
time between Chicago and San Francisco. After a bounteous supper,
toasts and responses, dancing, in which between four and five hundred
couples of
the elite of all nearby cities participated, was conducted in three
different halls, and the like has not been seen here since.
On the 4th of December the fourth railroad, being that of the Chicago,
Burlington & Missouri River, entered the city by forming a junction
with the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph at Pacific Junction and
running in
on its track.
The Daily Times office at
this
time was located in one of the small buildings near where McGee's real
estate office now is. and two of the
printers employed there had a quarrel. The name of one was Austin, and
the other Bell. It appeared that Austin, being drunk, was renewing a
quarrel that had been patched up, and he was approaching Bell, when the
latter shot Austin straight in the forehead. This was on the sidewalk.
Austin fell and was carried into an adjoining room, where he lay in a
comatose
state, breathing heavily. Doctors were called and they probed the
wound,
endeavoring to locate the bullet, without success. To the surprise of
all, he
rallied, went about and conversed with friends, apparently without
suffering
until the fifth day after the shooting, when he rapidly sank, and died
June
25. Bell was tried at the July term of the district court, and was
convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years, but was pardoned
after serving two.
During the trial, the defense tried to make it appear that the probing
by the doctors was as likely to have caused his death as the shooting.
Experts were examined, among them Dr. Malcom. On his coming out of the
court room he was asked what they were trying to prove by him. He
replied: "They are trying to prove he was killed in the post mortem
examination."
The first Unitarian church was organized this year, with Rev. Mr.
Chamberlain as pastor. The brick carpenter shop of G. F. Smith was
purchased and fitted up into a very neat chapel and flourished for a
year or two,
but interest lagged and it finally died out, and the place was sold,
and a
marble works installed in its place.
In August the Iowa Editorial Association visited Council Bluffs and was
entertained with a banquet at the expense of the city. The bill being
something like a thousand dollars, caused considerable kicking among
the rank and file of the people.
The railroad lines between Kansas City and Council Bluffs were
consolidated under one corporation, thereafter known as the Kansas
City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad Company. George L.
Bradbury had charge of the interests of the new corporation at this end
of the line.
The census taken under the auspices of the United States gave us 10,020
inhabitants.
The building of the bridge over the Missouri was commenced. The process
was sinking immense iron cylinders through sand and mud to the bed
rock. The-e were set in pairs, each pair, when joined, thoroughly
braced and filled with concrete, formed a pier. Upon eleven of these
rested the superstructure, which was entirely of iron, the only wood
being the
ties. The work was commenced under the immediate supervision of General
Toney Smith.
In the meantime, while congress was in session, a bill passed the house
providing for the charter of a company to build a railroad bridge to
take the place of the one begun by the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
The Council Bluffs people took the alarm, seeing in it a design to have
the
terminus on the west side. An immense mass meeting was held and
resolutions passed denouncing the scheme, and Colonel Sapp was
authorized to convey the same to Washington with a view to have its
passage arrested in the senate.
Senator Harlan caused the bill to be amended providing that the bridge
corporation might borrow money on the bridge bonds, providing that
mortgages on the bridge should not attach to the main line, but
providing that
the Union Pacific should still operate the road in conjunction with the
bridge as one continuous line. Work had been suspended for a time, but
was resumed and completed under supervision of T. E. Sickels, general
superintendent of the Union Pacific, according to plans devised by
General Dodge before his resignation as chief engineer of the road. The
approach to
the bridge required an immense fill, which was made by taking earth
from the bluff south of the city. This involved the laying a track and
running
trains of dumping cars loaded by steam shovel continuously for over a
year.
The entire structure was regarded as of sufficient strength to
withstand the action of wind, water or ice, yet on the 28th day of
August, 1877.
an electric storm wrenched two spans from the east end of the bridge
and
hurled them into the river. In the meantime traffic arrangements were
made by which the business of the Union Pacific Railroad was
transferred to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy route and the
Burlington &
Missouri of Nebraska.
The Odd Fellows Grand Lodge of Iowa was held at Council Bluffs this
year, the session commencing October 26 and lasting two days, and on
the evening of the second day the fraternity gave their visiting
brothers a grand banquet.
The high school building was completed this year so that it could be
used by the 18th of November, and on that day it was formally dedicated
by its being occupied, and by appropriate ceremonies, in which Governor
Merril and State Superintendent Kissell took part and delivered
addresses.
At the annual commencement of the high school on the 14th of June the
following young ladies graduated: Hattie Williams. Mary Warren. Lizzie
Oliver, Ida Kirkpatrick, Ingaletta Smith and Verna Reynolds.
These were the first of many that have gone out of its walls to fill
places
of honor, and to adorn homes all over our country from the Atlantic
even to the
Pacific. Of these above named all are living but one, Miss Reynolds,
she chase
the profession of teaching and continued to follow it until called to
higher work above.
Realizing the importance of manufacturing in advancing the interests of
the community, a number of our influential citizens, on the 1st of
November, formed an association for the purpose of promoting such
industries. General G. M. Dodge was made president, G. W. Lininger,
vice-president,
S. Farnsworth and E. L. Shugart, secretaries, and H. C. Nutt.
treasurer. The business of manufacturing agricultural implements was
commenced on North Main street and prospered for a time, and the
company built a
large power building near the Rock Island freight depot into which the
business was moved.
The Patrons of Husbandry also organized a grange during the same month,
the leading members of which were D. B. Clark, Wooster Fay. L. W.
Babbitt, H. C. Raymond, H. A. Terry and J. A. Sylvester. They held
their meetings in one of the buildings on Pearl street, between
Broadway and First avenue.
During this year the three-story building known as the Brown block,
running through from Main to Pearl street, was built; also the Center
street four-room schoolhouse.
Just at the close of the year '71 death claimed two of our prominent
citizens, Sylvanus Dodge, the venerable father of General and N. P.
Dodge, on December 24, and Major McPherson, U. S. attorney for this
judicial district, December 29.
At the fall election John Bereshinn, republican, was elected to the
legislature, and George Doughty, democrat, was elected sheriff over
Philip Armour, republican, while J. W. Chapman, republican, was
re-elected county treasurer over Vigo Badolett, democrat. During this
summer we were witness tn a phenomenon that at the time baffled the
wisest. There
was, and still is, a little lake called Spoon lake near the Union
Pacific
transfer, where the hoys were in the habit of catching minnows for
fishing.
Imagine their surprise, on going there to catch some for bait, to find
the lake
literally alive with fish weighing from one to twenty pounds. The news
spread and people came and took them out by wagon loads with
pitchforks. In a day
or two they disappeared as mysteriously as they came. None have
appeared since.
A False Prophet
Another phenomenon of a different kind appeared in the person of a
crank called Potter Christ, which he had tattooed on his forehead. He
would occasionally preach to crowds, and finally made preparation to
ascend
to heaven. One morning he appeared near the Methodist church on Upper
Broadway arrayed in a white robe, riding a mule and carrying a cross,
and as he
rode down the street, strange as it may seem, he was followed by quite
a
number of disciples. This pageant was preparatory to his going on a
forty-day
fast, after which he was to ascend to heaven. One thing is certain, he
disappeared. An unbeliever reported that while in the wilderness
fasting he was found sucking a cow; and another reported that he was
caught up
encircled by an immense flock of blackbirds. Although the truthfulness
of these statements is doubted, there seems to he no authentic record
of
his ending. Pathetic as his case appears, the old nursery rhyme seems
appropriate:
"Where he's gone or
how he fares
No one knows and no one cares."
Union
Pacific
Railroad Bridge
Council
Bluffs was now approaching a very critical period in its
history. The Union Pacific bridge was completed, and the company
ignored Council Bluffs, even to the extent of calling their temporary
platforms "Lake
Station," and with a switch engine transferring freight and passengers
over to
meet the trains on this side. The condition was this:
An active enterprising city was endeavoring by liberal offers to seduce
the railroad company to make their terminus on the west side of the
river in violation of the plain provision of its charter, and the
railroad
company appeared willing to be seduced, and it became evident that we
must
contend for our rights. But now the question was how to commence.
Fortunately, we had men equal to the occasion. Colonel Sapp and Judge
Larimer took the matter in hand, and with the assistance of Hon. George
W. McCrary, the member of congress from the Keokuk district; an act was
procured
conferring jurisdiction upon the circuit court of law in mandamus in
cases
concerning the Union Pacific Railroad Company. This passed and became
the law on March 3, 1873.
This was the first step, and the next was to start the legal machinery
to put the law into effect. A grocery firm (Hall & Morse) were
shipping
goods west and had been compelled to deliver their freight to the
railroad
company in Omaha. They were advised, and tendered their freight to the
company on this side, and on refusal on the part of the railroad
company to
receive it, a writ of mandamus was issued and the cause brought before
Judge John F. Dillon, then of the circuit court at Des Moines, and
after a full
hearing the court decided adversely to the railroad company. In
presenting the case, Colonel Sapp and Judge Larimer were assisted by
Hon. John N. Rogers of Davenport. The company appealed to the supreme
court, and that august body affirmed the decision of the court below,
thereby settling in our
favor the vexed question for all time.
To the honor of Colonel Sapp and Judge Larimer, neither of whom are
living, be it said that they rendered this service without a dollar of
remuneration. However, the city voted to pay Hon. John N. Rogers five
hundred dollars for his services.
Still the company continued to designate the terminus as Lake Station
until, during the meeting of the next legislature, Mr. Pusey, our state
senator, procured the passage of an act requiring conductors or
brakemen on all passenger trains within the state on entering any city
or town to
plainly and distinctly announce the name thereof, and fixing a penalty
of fifty
dollars fine for neglecting to make such announcement. This had the
effect of abating this piece of impertinence.
After this the company complied with the orders of the court and
proceeded to erect the depot that still stands on the ground purchased
several years before.
During 1872-3 Council Bluffs was made the headquarters of the sharpest
gang of bunco men that ever infested a city. It was completely
organized and each member assigned his place, which was mostly on
incoming
trains, and focusing at the transfer depot, with headquarters at a
hotel on West Broadway, kept by a German named Gerspacher. Every scheme
known to the craft was worked upon the unwary and their tricks were
made to
appear so simple that Old 'Squire Burke, the police judge, once
declared that
a man was a ____ if he wouldn't bet on them. They were men of good
address and had numbers of friends, gave liberally to any benevolent
scheme, but finally carried their games so far that the legislatures of
Iowa and
Nebraska enacted laws with penalties so severe that the business became
unprofitable,
and they scattered to more congenial climes.
At the spring election Dr. N. D. Lawrence and Sam Haas were the
candidates for mayor, and after a pretty lively campaign the former was
elected.
On the 5th of August the First National Bank was robbed of $20,000 in
broad daylight and no clue was obtained to the perpetrator.
At the spring election of 1874 W. C. James was elected mayor, H. H.
Field, R. L. Douglass, J. B. Lewis, John Hawthorn, E. L. Shugart, W. A.
Wood, George Tabor and Horace Everett constituted the council, and
Henry A. Jackson was city marshal.
During the summer of '74 John W. Ross retired from the management of
the Ogden House, and by an agreement Mr. Baughn, one of the
proprietors, took control, and was running it successfully, when, on
the night of the 13th of October, it took fire from some unknown cause
and, owing to lack of water and bursting of hose, it was burned to the
ground.
At the regular election held October 13, 1874, R. 'I'. Bryant was
elected clerk of the district court, M. Flamont, county auditor, and J.
P.
Bolden and Robert Kirkwood, supervisors.
In March, 1875, one of the pioneer physicians, Dr. P. J. McMahon, died.
He was universally loved. Although rough spoken, he was the kindest of
men. When he realized that his end had come, he left orders that all
the livery carriages in the city be hired so that his poor patients
might
ride at his funeral, while his favorite, though retired, old horse,
Jerry,
followed the hearse. He also made provision for Jerry having the best
of care
without work while he lived. His funeral was the largest that had ever
occurred here up to that time. The Masonic services at the grave were
rendered by N. F. Story, the worshipful master of Excelsior Lodge.
At the city election of 1875, C. B. Jacquemin was elected mayor, W. P.
Wightman, F. O. Gleason, Peter Bechtel and Henry Metcalf were elected
aldermen.
With the settlement of the Union Pacific terminal question, people
began to make improvements. Horace Everett erected the brick block on
the corner of Pearl and Broadway, Keller and Bennet the one on the
corner
of Broadway and Fourth, and Mr. Whitney the one occupied by the Metcalf
Brothers, and a large number of dwellings were also built. The city was
visited by two destructive fires, one of which was the Transfer Hotel,
being the frame erected before the bridge was completed, and the
furniture
factory of John Chase. This was situated about where the new bakery on
Mynster street now stands.
Non-Partisan Election
As the time for spring election approached many of the leading citizens
believing it for the best interests of the city to have a non-partisan
election, a mass meeting was called and a most excellent ticket
nominated, with E. L. Shugart at the head for mayor. Both the
democratic and republican papers supported it, and utterly refused to
announce any other
candidate.
A large element that had not participated in the mass convention were
dissatisfied. They wanted a good old-fashioned election, but how to
effect a breach was the question. With both papers and the leaders of
both
parties committed it seemed hopeless for any one to run independently.
This
situation continued until within forty-eight hours of the time for
opening the
polls, when J. H. Keatley consented to run providing requested to by
three hundred voters. Immediately petitions were put in circulation,
and the
number and more, too, of signatures obtained. Tickets were gotten
printed
somehow, although neither of our offices would print them. The thing
went like wildfire, and there has never been such an election here
since. It was
not that the ticket was objectionable, but simply a rebuke to the
promoters
for ignoring the boys. The ticket was badly beaten and Keatley elected
by a large majority. The aldermen elected at the same time were Lewis
Hammer, M. Keating, C. R. Scott and W. C. James. E. W. Jackson was
elected city marshal and G. A. Holmes was elected city attorney by the
council.
During the summer W. F. Sapp was nominated for congress by the
republicans as against L. R. Bolter, of Harrison county. Near the close
of the campaign reports of gross immorality were sprung upon Mr.
Bolter. The matter with which he was charged happened in Michigan
previous to his coming west. Whether true or false, he was defeated.
Indian Creek
On several occasions Indian creek had become troublesome, and it became
a serious question how to control it. Mention is made of it in the part
of this history relating to Hazel Dell township, hut owing to the
conspicuous pari it has played, it deserves more than passing notice.
When the first settlers arrived it was an insignificant little stream
with an
occasional log thrown across it for a foot-bridge. They huilt their
cabins along its
hanks for convenience of its water. The territory drained by it is
about three miles wide by six miles long, forming a trough in which,
during a heavy rain, it accumulates and runs off with tremendous force.
It originally meandered, crossing and recrossing Vine street. Coming
down from Frank street it approached near to Broadway and turned
northwesterly to a
point near North First street, where a dam was built and water taken
along
what is now Washington avenue, and turning around west of where the
schoolhouse now is, discharged itself on a large overshot wheel driving
a mill,
from which Mill street derives its name, while the creek, after
crossing First
street, bowed southward, crossing Vine street, and, after running a
short distance,
crossed Second, and struck Bryant street where it is to-day, then
turning
southwest passed through the hay market, then turned west, crossing
North Main and pasing in the rear of the Beno and Sapp buildings and
the Opera house, then turned abruptly north along the east side of
Sixth street until
it rejoined the water that had turned the mill and both kept on and
spread over
where the Northwestern yards now are, and finally found a sag running
southwesterly, crossed Broadway near where it does at the present time,
and continued south, along which Pete Debolt and .lack Ponder, and
later Ross, and still later Stewart, erected their slaughter houses.
When there was a downpour in Hazel Dell the water could not get through
the windings rapidly enough and flooding of low grounds was the result,
and with this problem engineers and city councils have been
grappling for half a century. What were its habits previous to the
advent of the
white man, we have only tradition, which represented it as gentle, but
it
seems to resent his intrusion. The first to incur its displeasure was
George
Parks, who started a lumber yard on the northwest corner of Sixth and
Broadway. A heavy rain up at Hazel Dell was the means of scattering
that lumber
all over the low ground west of the Illinois Central depot. The next
was Old Bill Powers. He had a beautiful lot with fruit trees in which
he took
great pleasure. The creek showed a disposition to encroach on the rear
of his
lot, and he got heavy oak posts, set them four feet deep and put on
two-inch plank, only to sec them sailing away the next freshet. But
Bill was
wealthy, and the next year he had stone hauled and had a wall built
three feet
thick across the rear of his lot at a. cost of $1,600. Then he felt a
kind of
sympathy for his less fortunate neighbors. But another shower fell near
the Hazel Dell church and that wall became a thing of the past. Then
Bill became morose and commenced suing the city every time it rained.
From Frank street to Benton it ran along the side of Green street.
Another of the showers came, and all that is left of Green street is on
Tostevin's
map of 1854.
But matters were getting serious. After due consultation with eminent
engineers, it was determined to make a straight ditch. This, it was
supposed, would allow the water to escape so as to prevent overflows.
This was
done, hut the creek rose to the occasion and commenced eating off the
rear of the abutting lots, amd a wail went up, and fluming was resorted
to for a square or two, but it made short work of that. The old wooden
bridges that spanned it on First and Bryant streets were replaced by
arches of
stone resting on piling at a cost of $6,000. Another shower in Hazel
Dell and those bridges became a memory. Although there is yet some
uncertainty as to its future, the railroad companies seem to be on the
right track.
Of the fifty bridges spanning it within the city limits, by far the
largest number are the heavy iron ones to be seen along all roads where
they cross
small streams.
During the years 1905-6 a dredge was put to enlarging the outlet, and
at the same time material for filling many low lots was removed, giving
it more waterway, and it is hoped the stream is at last under control.
The spring of '77 was an eventful one. John T. Baldwin and W. R.
Vaughan were candidates for mayor. The former had managed to secure
quite a following from among the working men, while Mr. Baldwin was the
regular nominee of the republican party. After a pretty active campaign
Mr. Baldwin was elected. F. A. Burke was elected city recorder over H.
H. Field, the republican nominee, and Henry Dawson, A. C. Graham, W. S.
Pettibone and J. W. Rodifer were elected aldermen.
During this summer the great labor troubles that prevailed in the east
begat a spirit of unrest here. For a time it looked as if it might
become serious. A large number of striking railroad employees went into
camp
near the city and became bold in making demands on the mayor and city
council with the result that preparation was made to meet any unlawful
demonstration, and the campers after a few days dispersed.
At the regular election held October 9, 1877, B. F. Clayton and George
Carson were elected as representatives, John Bennett, auditor; Thomas
Bowman, treasurer; Perry Reel, sheriff; Samuel Denton, surveyor; county
superintendent, F. C. Childs; coroner, Henry Faul; Eli Clayton and E.
L. Shugart, supervisors.
As early as 1872 steps were taken to build what is now known as the
Wabash line to St. Louis. This was the incorporation of the St. Louis,
Council Bluffs & Omaha Railroad Company. The object being to secure
a short line from St. Louis by way of Brunswick and Chillicothe.
General J. H. Hammond was the active promoter of this enterprise, but
the panic of 1873 put a quietus on it for a time, but in '78 work was
resumed and
in 1878 the road was in operation to the city, and a consolidation with
the Wabash took place, under which name it has ever since been
operated.
Also the Union Pacific Railroad Company had built and opened their
depot and transfer hotel. The business at the transfer brought many
families into that vicinity, and the number of children increased until
it became
necessary to build another schoolhouse, and during the year a four-room
house, known as the Eighth Avenue School, was built.
Al the city election in April. 1878, N. D. Lawrence was elected
mayor; F. A. Burke, recorder; O. M. Brown, treasurer; R. C. Hubbard,
assessor;
G. A. Eolmes, attorney; engineer, L. P. Judson; marshal, B. F. Baldwin.
The aldermen were Henry Dawson, A. C. Graham, John Epeneter, W. S.
Pettibone, J. W. Rodifer, G. H. Tabor and George H. Bicknell.
During this summer the greenback party held their convention at Council
Bluffs and nominated William Hicks, of Montgomery county, for congress.
Colonel Sapp was nominated by the republicans without
opposition, and Colonel John H. Keatley by the democrats. Colonel Sapp
was elected by a large majority over both candidates.
'I'bc subject of spiritualism had for some time been attracting
considerable attention. Mediums of all degrees appeared and gave
exhibitions, cabinet seances, etc., that seemed to be satisfactory to
the believers,
which included many of our best citizens. Eminent lecturers appeared
here as elsewhere, and a large society was organized, and mediums, both
male and female, flourished. As fast as one trick was exposed a new one
would be devised, until the delusion had spent its force. The turning
point here being from 1875 to 1880, after which it declined about as
rapidly as it
had advanced, until with the opening of the new century it had
practically
disappeared.
At the regular election held October 8, 1878, Fitz Henry Warren was
elected clerk of the district court, J. P. Goulden, recorder. and
Robert Kirkwood, supervisor.
The wonderful discovery of silver in Colorado, together with the
resumption of specie payment and coinage of millions of silver dollars,
gave a boom to all kinds of business. Evidently previous to this the
volume of
money had not been sufficient or in proportion to the requirements of
business. Many of our citizens caught the mining fever and rushed to
the Leadville and other camps to try their luck, but few, if any. were
among the
fortunate ones.
During January, 1878, our people were shocked by one of the most
horrible murders ever committed in any country. Mr. Frank Smith was
living on a farm just east of the city limits. He had in his employ a
halfbreed Wyandotte Indian. Mr. Smith had occasion to go to Omaha, and
the day being very pleasant, he took the two oldest children with him,
leaving two smaller ones and a babe at home. The Indian had always
conducted himself like any civilized man, and was treated as one of the
family.
The dav was one of those we occasionally have, like Indian summer, and
after dinner the children went out to play at the barn, and on
returning to the house and not finding their mother, they started to
the nearest
neighbors, only a few rods away, thinking to find her there, but
hearing the baby
cry, they stopped and followed the sound back to a cave cellar in the
rear of the house, where they found their mother dead, her throat being
cut from ear to ear, and the babe was creeping in her blood. They ran
to the
neighbors and the alarm was given. A large posse scoured the timber,
while men
were started on each road on horseback and telegrams sent to all
points, but to no purpose. The funeral was largely attended and the
services were most impressive. On the day following the funeral
something could be seen in the well, and on getting hooks and drawing
it up, it proved to be the
Indian.
The reasonable onclusion was that, when he approached her, she fled
with her babe out the back door and that he forced her into the cellar
where she was found, that he then went to the well to draw water to
wash the blood from his clothes. The well was provided with the common
buckets over a wheel, with a very low curb, and that in his haste and
excitement he pitched in head first and doubled down below the surface
of the water until decomposition caused the body to rise. To add to the
horror, many of the people attending the funeral, as well as those
keeping the
house, had been drinking the water for three days. Had the Indian been
caught
alive, he would never have seen the inside of the jail. This was one of
the
mildest winters for years, so much so that securing ice was quite a
problem.
At the City Election of '79
Addison Cochran was elected mayor; R. C. Hubbard, recorder; O. M.
Brown, treasurer, B. F. Baldwin, marshal; engineer, L. P. Judson;
attorney, G. A. Holmes.
For some time the question of establishing a system of waterworks had
been agitated, and it entered largely into the spring campaign, also
the creating of Union avenue.
During this spring Council Bluffs experienced the greatest temperance
revival in its history. A man named Dart, a reformed drunkard, came
among us and, although not a very good speaker, he had the faculty of
drawing and enlisting talent. It was called the Blue Ribbon movement,
and meetings were held nightly for several weeks. Nearly all the clergy
and a host of ladies, as well as many of our best public speakers,
assisted, and for a time it seemed as though all were to be captured.
During this summer several good buildings were erected, among which was
Weise & Clausen's block on the corner of Broadway and Pierce; also
one by William Pyper on the corner of Broadway and Second streets.
Since tbe early settlement of the city its topography has been
materially changed by cutting down the hills and tilling the low
ground. The sharp bluff at the southeast of Fifth avenue and Third
street originally
reached down to Fourth street and Willow avenue and where the houses of
Mr. Van Brunt and Mr. Bennett are now standing il was as high or higher
than the top of their houses at present. The high bluff away above the
Pierce
street school formerly extended clear down to Broadway, with Fort
Crogan located near the present site of Mrs. Clausen's residence. .Much
of this was
used in filling Broadway, which was some four feet below the present
grade,
and
was corduroyed for some distance.
The bluff on the wesl side of Oakland avenue was from ten to fifteen
feet higher than now, and the road to Fairview cemetery ran along the
crest, the ascent commencing in front of the Washington avenue
schoolhouse. What is now Oakland avenue was a gully some ten or fifteen
feet deeper than now. with a trail up through Hazel brush and was
dignified by the name of Valley street.
All the valley of Indian creek above the Masonic Temple and the
Washington avenue school was originally called Miller's hollow. The
valley
penetrated by Park and Glen avenues was called Hang hollow, that
by Benton and Harrison. Muck hollow, Broadway above Oak became Mud
hollow, and Franklin avenue above Platner street became Irish hollow,
the first
settlers having been of that nationality.
Two squares of this hollow have probably turned out a larger number of
men that have become prominenl than any locality of like extent in
the city or county.
To begin, at the entrance we encounter George Carson, who has held ai
differenl times the offices of justice of the peace, judge of the
circuit court, member of the Legislature, mayor of the city and judge
of the district
court. On the opposite corner was H. H. Field, who was for six terms
alderman of the first ward, then deputy sheriff, next provost marshal
during the
war, then sheriff, three terms member of the broad of education, two
terms
chief of police and two terms justice of the peace. Just above on Grace
street Nick O'Brien was bom. who grew to manhood, and as deputy sheriff
while
arresting a desperado was shot through and through, but recovered, and
is an
active business man at this day. Ascending the hollow, next above Judge
Carson we come to 'Squire E. B. Gardner, who has filled the role of
printer,
merchant, police sergeant and justice of the peace. A little farther up
we come to the
Wickhams. The Wickham brothers commenced at the bottom, with the hod, a
half
century ago, and by industry and strict integrity have risen to become
the
largest contractors in mason work in all its branches in the city.
James,
the senior partner, although seventy, and the father of twenty-two
children, was
never sick a day in his life, and does not appear over fifty. While the
girls are accomplished ladies, the boys are rustlers, Bernard and E.
A., the
eldest, in addition to the miles of street and sidewalk paving, are
large railroad
contractors. At this writing they have just completed a
one-hundred-mile contract
from Chamberlain to Rapid City, in which four hundred teams and six
hundred men were employed, at a cost of $1,000,000. And wherever you
see greal piles of earth, rock, brick, sand and lime, you can be pretty
sure of
finding a Wickham close by.
But keeping along a little farther up the hollow, we come to Judge
Scott, of the superior court, and a little farther up we come to the
home of C. Hafer, the lumber king.
Mud hollow was for many years the home of L. W. Babbitt, a man
prominent in all the affairs of early days, having been at different
times register in the United States land office, a leading merchant,
publisher and editor of the Bugle,
the first Democratic paper, and, although on the
wrong side during our great war, we must not judge him harshly. He
believed what he said and wrote and his integrity was never doubted.
Judge S. H. Riddle was another of the same stamp, both of whom have
passed away.
At the regular city election of 1880 W. C. James was elected mayor; F.
A. Burke, recorder; L. W. Babbitt, city marshal; attorney. E. E.
Aylesworth; treasurer, O. M. Brown; engineer, L. P. Judson; assessor,
J. W.
Crossland. The following persons were elected aldermen: John A.
Churchill, W. S. Mayne, G. H. Jackson, W. C. Unthank, Henry Dawson. A.
C. Graham, N. C. Phillips and Jacob Williams.
During this year the Bloomer schoolhouse was erected, being by far the
largest of any except the high school building.
About this time the roller skate craze struck this city as well as the
smaller ones of the county. The building now used by the Dodge Light
Guards as their armory was built and used as a rink. For a time it
seemed as though it would supersede dancing as an amusement. It was
apparently a harmless and graceful exercise and became very popular;
but for some unknown cause it stopped suddenly all over the country,
bankrupting
those that had gone into the manufacture of the skates and leaving
hundreds of vacant rinks and a year later a roller skate could not be
found
anywhere.
At the regular election held October 11, 1881, H. O. Seiffert and J. C.
Morgan were elected representatives; auditor, T. A. Kirkland;
treasurer, John Bennett; sheriff. Theodore Guittar; surveyor. Samuel
Denton; county
superintendent. J. K. Cooper; coroner, Henry Faul; supervisor, S. G.
Underwood.
At the spring election, 1881, W. R. Vaughan was elected mayor; F. A.
Burke, recorder; A. T. Elwell, treasurer; C. E. Stone, assessor; G. A.
Holmes, attorney: L. P. Judson, engineer; M. D. Hardin, street
commissioner; P. Lacy, chief engineer of fire department, and H. H.
Field, chief of
police.
John A. Churchill, S. S. Keller, F. W. Spetman, Nathan Phillips, E. R.
Fonda. W. C. Unthank. T. E. Cavin and Henry Dawson were elected
aldermen.
For two or three years the question of establishing city waterworks had
been agitated. As early as 1879 this became the "paramount issue," and
Colonel Cochran was elected mayor largely on account of his favoring
the enterprise. It took practical shape when, on January 24, 1881, the
council passed an ordinance granting to the American Construction
Company,
of New York, a pretty well guarded franchise extending for
twenty-five years, and under which our water supply has been furnished
up to the present
time, viz., 1907.
Flood of 1881
The spring of 1881 was remarkable on account of a flood, the most
remarkable ever experienced here. Unusually warm weather in Montana
during the month of March caused the Missouri to open up at the head
before the ice had gone out below. This gave us a double portion.
Fortunately, we had warning from points above so that most persons then
living on the low ground could prepare. .Some by moving to higher
ground, while the courthouse, halls, schoolhouses and even churches
were thrown open for the refugees, and everything in the shape of a
boat was put in
requisition to relieve such as were unable In move. After a few days
the water began to subside and people began to return to their homes,
when word came of still higher water above, which proved to lie true.
This time
if came to Eighth street on Broadway and from the south it came up to
Seventh avenue. It came even with the platforms at the Northwestern
depot, and boats could run from there to Omaha. A part of Street's
addition and
Central sub, also a small section where the subsiding reservoir now is,
were not covered. Fortunately the current outside the river proper was
not
swift and but few houses were moved from their foundations, and no loss
of
life was reported. By the first of June normal conditions were restored.
During the summer the state firemen's tournament was held here,
commencing June 7 and ending on the 10th. The fire department of
Council Bluffs, under the management of Thomas Bowman, B. Newman, P.
Lacy, J. N. Beckley, G. A. Holmes, and others, made ample preparation
for the event. A splendid track sixty feet wide by three hundred yards
long was prepared on which speed trials were had and were enclosed. The
entire
city blossomed with flags.
The meeting of the state association was held at Burhop's hall on the
7th, and on the 8th occurred the grand parade, in which forty-six fire
organizations participated. The column was more than a mile long, with
John H. Keatley as chief marshal. The afternoons of each day were given
up to trials of speed by hose companies, trials of engines. At night
the city
was illuminated and Governor John H. Gear addressed the firemen in the
park. A grand hall was given by the Council Bluffs firemen to their
comrades from abroad.
Among the victors were the Rescues of the Bluffs and Bluff City, both
taking first prizes.
At the election of state officers General Lyman Banks, of Muscatine,
was elected president, and that city was selected as the place for
meeting in 1882. The event closed without an accident or an unpleasant
incident to mar its pleasures.
For some time there had been a disposition on the part of many to
change the form of the city government by abandoning its special
charter and coming in under the general incorporation law. A petition
signed by the requisite number of voters was presented to the council,
and they
appointed the third clay of October on which the abandonment should be
decided, and the proposition carried by a handsome majority.
The 26th of September was an eventful day in Council Bluffs, being set
apart for suitable memorial services on the day of the funeral of
President Garfield. At noon a salute was fired, but during one of the
discharges
Joseph Spaulding, an ex-soldier, who was serving the gun, had an arm
shattered
so that amputation at the shoulder became necessary. Fortunately he
recovered, was appointed by Postmaster Armour in the mail service,
where he served several years, and later held the office of constable,
and at
this writing is an inmate of the soldiers' home at Leavenworth.
In the afternoon the Grand Army post and civic societies assembled in
Bayless' park, where appropriate services were held, among them being
an eloquent eulogy by John N. Baldwin. Scarcely had the people left the
park when the entire city was startled by a most terrific explosion
and, on looking in the direction of the sound, a dense cloud was
rising. The cause proved to be burning of a car loaded with giant
powder standing in the Rock Island yard. How it caught has ever been a
mystery, but fortunately it was seen by one who knew the contents of
the car and
gave the alarm, enabling all to flee and escape before the fire reached
the
powder. The explosion was so terrific that whole trains of cars
standing near
were reduced to kindling, windows a half mile away were broken, and
teamsters blown off from their wagons. Where the car stood was a pit as
large as a circus ring and twelve feet deep, but not a vestige of the
car, cither
wood or iron, was to be seen. A pair of trucks came crashing through a
house a square away, in which was an invalid in bed, but fright from
which she soon recovered, was the only injury received by anyone.
The spring election of '82 was a most spirited one. Mayor Vaughan was a
candidate for re-election. N. D. Lawrence was the republican
candidate for mayor, and Thomas Bowman the democratic candidate.
Politics did not appear to cut much figure in this election, the result
turning
on the personal preference of the voters. The result was the election
of
Thomas Bowman, mayor; auditor, F. A. Burke: treasurer, John Clausen;
marshal, E. W. Jackson; engineer, Thomas Tostevin; weighmaster, J. P.
Williams; aldermen-at-large, William Seidentopf, long term, J. P.
Goulden, short term; ward aldermen. F. C. Nuel, P. F. Eicher, Alex
Wood, E. L. Shugart, one year; for two years, W. C. James and M.
Keating: judge of superior
court, E. E. Aylesworth: assessor, Hiram Shoemaker; street
commissioner, A. E. Avery: city clerk, A. C. Savacool; chief engineer
of the fire
department, C. D. Walters.
During the summer of 1882 the Driving Park Association made especial
efforts for its fall meeting, to begin on the 18th of September. In
addition to the mile track made the year before, the association
constructed a
half-mile track inside of the other, and made the grounds attractive in
every
respect.
Arrangements were made for holding of a county fair at the date of the
fall meeting, and this was conducted successfully owing to the
admirable management of Dr. A. B. McCune, W. S. Pettibone, N. M. Pusey,
L.
C.Baldwin and J. W. Peregoy, directors of the association. The fair was
a success, not only in numbers but in display, and financially, the
daily attendance during four days of fair and races being over ten
thousand.
Veterans' Reunion
Following the fair and beginning on the 28th of September, was the
reunion of the Veteran Association of Southwestern Iowa and
Northwestern Missouri. The Driving Park Association gave the use of the
fair grounds to the reunion. Through the aid of Congressman Hepburn the
war
department loaned the association one hundred and fifty hospital tents.
The first morning was clear and cool, and the first trains brought
veterans by the hundred, and by night three thousand of them were
comfortably quartered in camp.
Colonel John H. Keatley was commandant, aided by Colonel D. B. Dailey,
chief of staff. General G. M. Dodge, former commander of
Sixteenth Army Corps and first colonel of the Fourth Iowa, was on a
visit home from New York to meet the old regiment and take part in the
reunion. On the afternoon of the first day the veterans were organized
into two
battalions, the one called the Wabash battalion, under command of
Colonel Ellis, of Villisca, and the other, the Northwestern battalion,
commanded by
Colonel J. C. Cook, of Carroll. Both battalions gave dress parades at
five
o'clock that evening, witnessed by thousands of spectators.
On tlie second morning at nine o'clock the column formed at the fair
grounds and marched into the city for parade and review. Old tattered
and torn battle flags were borne by the column as it marched up
Broadway by platoons to First street, and counter-marching. General
Dodge took
position at the intersection of Fourth street while the column passed
in review
and retiring when the last veteran had passed. The scene was affecting,
not
only to the participants, hut to the thousands of spectators that lined
the
street. The afternoon was occupied by speeches by Colonel Hepburn,
Major
Anderson and others to their comrades, and at evening, when on dress
parade, congratulatory dispatches were read from Generals Grant,
Sherman,
Sheridan and Howard. At night the city was illuminated in honor of the
veterans and General Dodge threw his house and grounds open, giving a
reception
to the veterans and public generally.
The reunion closed on Saturday after election of officers for the
ensuing year, with farewell greetings, and fixing the next place of
meeting at
Marysville. Mo.
At the election held November 7, 1882, S. D. Street was elected clerk;
J. F. Broadbeck, county surveyor: S. B. Frum and R. Kirkwood,
supervisors.
During the years 1881-2-3 a large amount of building was done. Among
these was the Mueller Music Hall.
For this he had labored for a quarter of a century. It was complete in
its appointments, the first story being the sale room for all
supplies belonging to the trade, with repair room and elevator in the
rear. While the second story, reached by both elevator and stairway,
was used as a
store-room for pianos, and the third was a concert hall.
In 1882 the four-story building of the Empkie Shugart Hardware Company
was built, as was also the Shugart block and the Twentieth avenue
schoolhouse.
During September, 1883, the people were startled by the report that Dr.
A. B. McCune had been killed by Dr. Cross.
The former was a very popular physician with an extensive practice.
There had been ill feeling for some time between them, each accusing
the other of unprofessional conduct.
Finally Cross was instrumental in getting McCune indicted for criminal
practice. Unfortunately both lived on the same street, Cross where the
Elks' club house now stands and McCune one square west, and meeting
just at dark, the tragedy occurred. McCune died before his statement
could be taken. The theory of the prosecution was that Cross was lying
in wait for his victim near the front of his dwelling, while Cross
declared that McCune overtook him and struck him from behind a terrible
blow,
remarking at the same time, "I've got you now." They evidently had a
struggle, as Cross had shot through his own left hand in the fray. On
hearing the report, Chief Field started for the place and overtaking
Sheriff
Guittar both went to the house, where they found Cross already in
custody of
Policemen Brooks and Cusic. He was bathing his wounded hand. A great
crowd had gathered around the house, but Cross was not in the least
excited. After bathing his hand he directed his wife where to get the
proper dressing
and assisted in applying the bandage.
Chief Field then asked him if he understood that he was under arrest.
He replied, "Yes, I will he ready in a minute." A friend who was in the
house suggested that as there was a great crowd in front, that we go
out the back way. He replied that he had done nothing of which he was
ashamed and would go the front way. Kissing his wife and telling her
not to worry, he said he was ready and walked down to the jail.
When
the grand jury met he was indicted and held without bail, took a
change of venue to Mills county, was convicted and sentenced to death,
but on appeal to the supreme court, the decision was reversed on error
in
instruction and admission of evidence, and when cause was set for
hearing, a change of venue was again taken to Montgomery county, where
he was finally acquitted. It has been reported that Dr. Cross has
recently died.
During 'this year another tragedy occurred of a darker color than the
one related above. It appeared that a colored man named McGee, an
employee of the Pacific House, and George Washington, also colored, of
the Ogden, were rivals for the affections of a very dark colored woman
of
about two hundred pounds weight. There was also rivalry between the two
hotels, and at the time it was hinted that some of the other employees
and even guests took sides in encouraging the rivalry. Be this as it
may,
Washington was of lighter color than McGee, and with the prestige of
his name
added, he seemed to be getting the best of McGee, who, becoming
desperate, made a raid upon the Ogden.
Washington, seeing him approaching, suspected
danger, retreated, but was followed into the house and shot down. McGee
was tried, convicted and sent up for ten years.
The Dohany theater was built during this year. On November 12 the city
council granted the Edison Electric Light Company the right to install
their system.
At the city election in spring of 1884 W. R. Vaughan was elected mayor;
treasurer, John Clausen; auditor, F. A. Burke; engineer, J. F.
Broadbeck; marshal, F. H. Guennella; judge of the superior court, E. E.
Aylesworth; solicitor, G. A. Holmes; assessor, Hiram Shoemaker;
weighmaster, William Galvin; clerk, E. A. Troutman; chief of the fire
department, C. D.
Walters; chief of police, Thomas Skinner; street commissioner, A. F.
Avery;
aldermen-at-large, P. J. McMahon and William Seidentopf; ward aldermen,
first ward, Conrad Geise; second, William Mynster; third, M. Keating;
fourth, W. C. James.
The city having moved into new quarters on Bryant street, the old
building which had done duty for many years, first as bank, then as
county recorder and treasurer's offices, and finally as city building,
together with the engine house and stable on the rear, fronting on
Pierce street, were ordered sold and the ground on which they stood was
used to widen Glenn avenue.
This spring the city also added a long step to its progress in paving
Broadway with granite blocks from First to Twelfth streets and Main
from Broadway to Sixteenth avenue. Many new buildings were added this
year, among which was the Creston House by Max Mohn, being the first
stone front in tlie city.
This year electric lights were introduced and the high towers adopted
for street lighting.
This being presidential election year, the campaign opened early and
proved to he the liveliest for many years. W. H. M. Pusey had been
elected to congress two years before owing to disagreement among the
republicans, and was up for a second term, and it was generally
understood that he
had a barrel to he kept on tap, while his opponent Major Lyman was
backed by the soldiers. Blaine was the idol of the republicans, even as
was
Bryan alter his cross of gold speech, and the democrats, remembering
the
jugglery by which Tilden was counted out, were determined to retrieve
that
disaster. So that our local affairs were overshadowed by the national
and
congressional campaign. As election day approached the excitement
increased and
brass bands, torches and transparencies became the order of the night
and stump
speaking by day, with the result that Cleveland was barely elected,
Pusey defeated, and in our county affairs J. J. Shea wa- elected clerk,
H. J.
Chambers recorder, and Robt. F. Jones supervisor.
The city schools were flourishing under the superintendence of Prof.
McNaughton and two new schoolhouses were added to the district, the
Pierce Street, with six rooms, afterward enlarged to twelve, and the
Third
Street of four, and later enlarged to eight.
Quite an amount of building was done this year, among which were the
Marcus block, next to the opera house, the Straub block on Main, the
Sanborn on Broadway and Bryant, two churches, and a number of first
class dwellings.
At the regular spring election of 1886 John W. Chapman was elected
mayor; treasurer, F. W. Spetman; auditor, L. Kinnehan; engineer, Thos.
Tostevin; marshal F. H. Guennella; judge superior court, E. E.
Aylesworth; solicitor, G. A. Holmes; assessor, W. L. Patton;
weighmaster, W. S.
Amy; clerk, F. A. Burke; chief of fire department, J. L. Templeton;
chief of
police, J. M. Mathews; street commissioner, E. S. Barnett; aldermen at
large,
John Bennet and Josiah Danforth; first ward. L. Hammer; second ward, S.
S.
Keller; third ward. Chris Straub; fourth ward. E. L. Shugart.
On June 10 of this year the mosl exciting race was pulled off at a
fireman's tournament at Dubuque, wherein the Council Bluffs Hose Team
No. 3, a like team from Pierre, South Dakota, and one from Waterloo,
Iowa,
were contestants. It appearing that most of the,men were professional
foot
racers, a protest was made to the hoard of control. This being the
case, they
refused to act as judges, and turned it over to the citizens' committee
of
arrangements. These chose their judges and timekeepers, and the race
was called. The Bluffs team made the run and coupling in forty-one and
one-half seconds. The Pierre gained a second in run. but lost two in
coupling. The Waterloo tied the Pierre team, leaving the Bluffs team
winners of
the greatest race of Iowa, and on which thousands of dollars changed
hands.
Mayor Chapman died before he had served his first year, and J. F. Evans
was made mayor pro tem. This was the first time that a mayor of
the city had died while in office.
Mr. Evans served until the spring election of 1887, when Wm. Groneweg
was elected mayor; treasurer, F. W. Spetman; auditor, L. Kinnehan;
engineer, Thos. Tostevin; marshal, F. H. Guennella; judge superior
court, E. E. Aylesworth; solicitor, G. A. Holmes; assessor, W. L.
Patton;
weighmaster, W. S. Amy; clerk, F. A. Burke; chief of fire department,
J. L.
Templeton; chief of police, Jerry Mullen; street commissioner, A. E.
Avery; aldermen-at-large, Josiah Danforth and Lucius Wells; first ward,
Louis
Hammer; second ward, S. S. Keller; third ward, Patrick Lacy; fourth
ward, Geo. Metcalf.
During this year an ordinance was passed granting the Manawa Street
Railway Company a franchise for twenty-five years.
On July 2, 1887, an ordinance was passed and approved granting an
electric light and power company a franchise for twenty years. Council
Bluffs has become a great market for all kinds of agricultural
machinery as well as wagons and carriages of every description. Among
the first to engage largely in this business were Beresheim and Weis
back in the early '60s. This was before the Union Pacific railroad was
built, and freighting by wagon was the only means of transportation.
The Sehuttler wagon had achieved an enviable reputation for enduring
the long, dry,
hot trips without shrinking. For shrinkage to occur and wheels shed
their
tires a hundred miles from any repair shop was a serious proposition,
and freighters were not slow to select the article that was proven to
be the best, and
for years their wagons had the preference. Beresheim and Weis secured
the
exclusive agency for that wagon for this point and extending to all
points from Nebraska to Sioux, inclusive, and reaped a rich profit. On
the
coming of railroads others saw the advantage of this as a great
distributing point with the result many of the great manufacturers
established houses here. Shugart and Lininger were among the earliest
dealers and others
followed rapidly, until the number of wholesale houses reached twelve.
These are sales establishments, and not including manufactures, which
are
treated separately.
At the election November 3, 1885, John H. Keatley and R. S. Hart were
elected representatives; auditor, John Clausen; treasurer. John H.
Plumer; sheriff, Perry Reel; school superintendent, J. W. W. Land;
surveyor, J.
F. Broadbeck; coroner, Dr. F. P. Billinger; supervisors, S. G.
Underwood
and James Boiler.
At the city election of 1887 the following officers were elected:
Mayor, Win. Groneweg; treasurer, F. W. Spetman; auditor, L. Kinnehan;
engineer, Thos. Tostevin; marshal, F. H. Guennella; judge of superior
court, E.
E. Aylesworth; solicitor, G. A. Holmes; assessor, W. L. Patton;
weighmaster, W. S. Amy; clerk, F. A. Burke; chief of fire department,
John L.
Templeton; chief of police, Jerry Mullen; street commissioner, A. E.
Avery:
aldermen-at-large, Lucius Wells and Josiah Danforth.
During this year I. M. Sigler, a prominent citizen of Boomer township
and an old pioneer, died while on business in Nebraska, and his remains
were brought home lor interment.
Among the prominent buildings erected this year was the Eisman
building, the one now occupied by the Beno store.
A sad case of suicide occurred at the Transfer Hotel this summer, being
that of a woman, apparently about forty years of age. She had a little
son with her, and was on her way from San Francisco to Boston, where
the
little hoy said they had relatives. The railroad men took up the case,
paid for her funeral and got a home tor the boy. The history of her
troubles died with her, as the hoy was too young to know. Everything
indicated that
she had been a lady of refinement.
The Courthouse and Jail
As early as 1884 hints were circulated that the old courthouse,
although only sixteen years old, was unsafe. Be that as it may, the
county
had outgrown it. and the jail in the basement was not in sanitary
condition, and at the regular meeting of the board of supervisors on
February 4, 1885, a
resolution was passed submitting the proposition to borrow $150,000 for
the purpose of building a courthouse and $30,000 for a jail, to be
voted upon at a special election to be held March 10, 1885.
At that election 5232 votes were cast in favor, and 2933 against the
proposition. The bonds were issued and advertised, and taken by Messrs.
Woodbury and Moulton, of Portland, Maine, they being the highesl
bidders.
Plans and specifications by Eckle and .Mann were approved, and bids
advertised for, and on August 12, 1885, the bids were opened, and that
of Wickham Brothers, for $136,800 being the lowest the contract was let
to them, they giving $1,000 for the old building. The board leased the
two lower stories of the Masonic Temple for county purposes during
construction, the lower for offices and the main hall for court room
with side rooms for juries and board room.
On excavating for foundation the architect decided that the ground was
such that the concrete foundation provided for in contract was not
sufficient, and piling under the entire structure was ordered. This was
done by
Stephen Robinson and involved an extra cost of $5,046.08. The
decoration was by
K. A. Norling.
The building speaks for itself, and for beauty, architecturally,
convenience and durability, it is a success, and with proper care will
serve the
people for a century. Its construction lasted nearly three year-, being
accepted
February 15, 1888. Additional ground was required and purchased,
affording room for the jail, which also is a substantial structure.
The first term of court to be held in the new building was by Judge
Loofboro.
At the election November 8, 1887, Wm. Groneweg was elected state
senator; R. S. Hart and Wm. Wyman representatives; sheriff, Jas.
O'Neil; auditor, Ira Hendricks; county superintendent, J. K. Cooper;
surveyor, J. F. Broadbeck; coroner. Dr. J. C. Waterman; treasurer. John
H. Plumer.
At the city election, spring of 1888, the following named persons were
elected: Mayor, M. F. Rohrer; treasurer, F. W. Spetman; auditor, C. A.
Hammer; engineer, F. Stimson; marshal, E. H. Guennella; judge of
superior court, E. E. Aylesworth; solicitor, G. A. Holmes; assessor, W.
L.
Patton; weighmaster, W. S. Amy; clerk. F. A. Burke; chief of fire
department,
C. D. Walters; chief of police, O. H. Lucas; street commissioner, A. E.
Avery; aldermen-at-large, W. H. Knepher and John Weaver; alderman first
ward, E. T. Waterman: second ward, E. P. Billinger; third ward, Patrick
Lacy; fourth ward, Geo. Metcalf.
During the year 1888 the new Washington Avenue schoolhouse was built,
with a seating capacity of 950 pupils.
This being the year for holding presidential election a lively campaign
followed and the republicans adopted to a limited extent the methods
resorted to by the wings during the campaign of 1840, by reviving the
log cabin idea, that proved so effective in electing the grandfather of
their candidate, while the democrats stood pat for Cleveland. It was
conducted with less mud slinging than the one that preceded it. Locally
the following
persons were elected: Clerk of the court. H. J. Chambers; recorder, W.
H. Thomas; attorney, John P. Organ; supervisors, Alex Osler and Charles
Alexander.
Electric Street Railway
An event of much importance this year was that of the completion of
the Omaha and Council Bluffs bridge and electric street railway line.
Two years before, T. J. Evans, who had been east and witnessed the
operation of the first electric line in the United States, became
enthusiastic on
the subject of connecting the two cities by a toll bridge and electric
line, and on
arriving at home proceeded to enlist capitalists in the enterprise. The
two cities granted the franchise and the work was rushed to completion,
and during the fall of 1888 the first car was run over the new track,
and
the event was celebrated by a grand trade display in which the business
men of all
trades and professions joined.
For years the getting hack and forward between the two cities was quite
a serious proposition and up to this time not much advance had been
made since Harl's 'bus line used to take you
across and to any pari of the
city for fifty cents either way. With the electric line taking them
over in half
an hour for ten cents was a great change, and still they arc not happy,
but for two years have been clamoring for a five cent fare, with
partial
success.
During this year we also had a severe attack of the cedar block
pavement mania and for five years we had some elegant drives, only to
come to an untimely end after about that length of time.
The city granted the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company the right
of way along First avenue to the river.
Also to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company, on and
along Fourteenth street from Twelfth to First avenue, and on First
avenue from there to the river.
As early as 1880 the people of Council Bluffs believed themselves
entitled to a postoffice building, but not until 1883 was there an
appropriation of $100,000 secured. The usual strife then commenced over
its location. The old strife between up town and down town was revived,
up town, with the Ogden House and Neumayer Hotel influence wanted it on
the Platner property on the corner of Glenn avenue and Broadway, while
the Nonpareil influence contended for the present site, and the latter was
successful. Work was not commenced until 1886. On testing the ground it
was
demonstrated that piling would be necessary for the foundation, and
further, that
the plan submitted by the architect could not be built within the
appropriation.
At the next session of congress an additional appropriation of $50,000
was made, the corner stone was laid and work commenced under
Supervising Architect M. E. Bell of the treasury department and
prosecuted to
completion. It was occupied during the summer of 1888, hut not
completed until a few months later. The building, though massive, is
not a thing of
beauty. In fact from an artistic standpoint it is a failure. Hon.
Thomas Bowman was the first postmaster to occupy it, and the late Judge
J. M. Love
was the first to hold a term of the United States district court in the
building.
The court room is not what it should be. Already an addition is
contemplated, hut whether it can be made in a way to redeem the
appearance of the building as well as to add to its convenience,
remains to be seen.
At the city election for 1889 the following persons were elected:
Mayor, F. M. Rohrer; treasurer, F. W. Spetman; auditor, C. A. Hammer;
engineer, F. Stimson; marshal, F. H. Guennella; judge of superior
court, E. E.
Aylesworth; solicitor, G. A. Holmes; assessor, W. L. Patton;
weighmaster, W. S. Amy; clerk, R. S. Huntington; chief of fire
department, C. D. Walters;
chief of police, O. H. Lucas; street commissioner, A. E. Avery;
aldermen-at-large, John Weaver and W. H. Knepher; alderman of first
ward. E. T. Waterman; second ward, F. P. Billinger; third ward, Patrick
Lacy; fourth ward, Leonard Everett. The result being intensely
democratic.
During this summer the state firemen's tournament was held at the
Trotting park and was largely attended and some fine work done. The
rescue steamer of Council Bluffs won on first water.
In the hose race the Alert of Marshalltown took first prize. Hook and
Ladder Co. of Atlantic won first in that contest, and in that of hand
engine Liberty No. 1 of Crestonville, Iowa, was the champion.
The attendance was the largest ever held in the state and the
proceedings were all harmonious.
During 1889 the venerable old Pacific House that previous to the
erection of the Ogden House had been the leading hotel in western Iowa
was doomed to give way to a more modern structure, and the Eisman
building was erected in its place.
Another prominent building erected this year is the Sapp block on the
corner of Broadway and Scott streets. This is a modern office building
of five stories.
Here again another venerable old land mark had to give way. It had once
been used as the dry goods store of B. B. Brown, and later as a
hotel called the Napoleon House, and for sone years was kept by the
late Peter Bechtel. But such is the fate of all. Two of the large
implement houses were built during the year.
At the election held November 5 of this year R. W. Briggs and W. H.
Ware were elected to the legislature; county treasurer, J. H. Plumer;
auditor, I. F. Hendricks; school superintendent, J. K. Cooper; coroner,
J. C.
Waterman; surveyor, H. F. Broadbeck; supervisors, A. C. Graham and
August Bostedt.
Again the spirit of rivalry between up town and down town flared up.
The Ogden House being located up town, and its proprietor, also owner
of the old street car line, it was claimed that the latter was run in
the
interest of the former, and on the opening of the electric line it was
determined to have a hotel down town to eclipse the Ogden and the
preliminary steps
were taken by calling a meeting at which arrangements were made with
Kimball and Champ, hankers, who agreed to erect the building, providing
the
citizens would donate a suitable site. That where the Grand Hotel now
stands was agreed upon, and was purchased of Dr. E. I. Woodbury and the
purchasemoney raised by subscription. A more desirable location could
not have been made, facing as it does on Bayliss park and on direct car
line
running to all the railroad depots as well as to Omaha.
Kimball and Champ commenced by putting in piling for the
entire foundation at a cost of $5,000. The main building was erected at
a cost of $183,000, and the annex, including lot, at a cost of $50,000.
Later a company was organized and incorporated by Council Bluffs
citizens as the Grand Hotel Company, which purchased the property of
Messrs. Kimball and Champ, and in whose interest it has been conducted.
Edward W. Hart is the present manager, and there is no better hotel
west of
Chicago than the Grand.
At the city election 1890 Dr. Donald Macrae was elected mayor; auditor,
J. C. Lange; treasurer, L. Kinnehan; engineer, Thos. Tostevin;
marshal, John Templeton; judge of superior court, J. E. F. McGee;
solicitor, J. J.
Stewart; assessor, W. D. Hardin; weighmaster, A. B. Paris; clerk, A. J.
Stephenson; chief of fire department, F. R. Levin; chief of police,
Wade Carey;
street commissioner. A. E. Avery; aldermen-at-large, Alex Wood and W.
H.
Knepher; alderman first ward, L. A. Casper; second ward, Peter Wind;
third ward, Patrick Lacy; fourth ward, Leonard Everett; fifth ward,
Peter
Smith; sixth ward, J. W. Mikesell.
At the regular election for county and state officers held November 4,
1891, tlie following persons were elected: Clerk of district court, T.
S. Campbell; recorder, Wm. H. Thomas; attorney, John P. Organ;
supervisor, F. G. Hetzel; representatives, W. H. Ware and R. W. Briggs;
treasurer, W. B. Reed; sheriff, Thos. Hazen; coroner, Dr. F. T.
Seybert; surveyor, L.
P. Judson; senator, Wm. Groneweg; supervisors, J. R. Black and Wm.
Groneweg.
During this season quite a number of important buildings were erected,
among which was the Baldwin six story block, corner of Broadway and
Pearl street. John N. Baldwin, from whom it derives its name, commenced
it in 1890 and completed it in 1891, at a cosl of $50,000. In 1896, it
was purchased by the stockholders of the Council Bluffs Savings Bank.
The Second Avenue school was built this year at a cosl of $20,000, also
the
Harrison street public schoolhouse was also built this year, at a cost
of $12,000. |
|
1907 History Index
Section
Three
|
|