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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