  Cedar Rapids is not a new town. True, it has not been flourishing for centuries, like the old European cities, with histories which reach back several centuries, but as cities and towns in the middle west are spoken of, it has a lengthy history and one of more or less interest. Young as it is, Cedar Rapids has no definite chronicle as to who was the first actual settler. Dyer Usher claimed that he and a companion gazed upon the beauty of its banks and admired the river at the upper falls as early as 1836. Osgood Shepherd maintained that he was the first actual settler, and that he opened a tavern here in 1837 or 1838. He, at least, sold his squatter right in the embryo town, and made the first property deal involving landed rights in what later became the city. J. Wilbert Stone, also known as Bill Stone and William Stone, was here as early as any white man. He was born in the state of Rhode Island about 1803, and emigrated to Iowa Territory in the early thirties. Stone was a well educated, quiet, and refined man, who possessed all the traits of a trader. He drifted into Davenport and Rock Island, and came to Westport some time after William Abbe. No doubt he came from Rockingham up along the river looking for a place to barter with Indians, and the few white men who might come along as hunters and trappers. He conducted a small trading post at Westport some time in 1837, but whether he was the first storekeeper in the county is not known, as this honor has also been accorded to John Henry. Whether Henry bought Stone out or not is not certain, but this is true, that Stone disposed of his interests and removed ten miles by trail up to the lower rapids, at the bend in the Red Cedar river, where the large packing plant of the T. M. Sinclair Company now stands, and here laid out a squatter town, which he called Columbus. This town site is supposed to have been staked out on the east side of the river. The time must have been in 1837. He quarreled with Shepherd, who either came about the same time, or closely followed Stone. Stone, being a quiet, peaceable person, still single, was compelled to cross the river and take up a claim on the west side. Robert Ellis asserts that he found the first small hut on May 8, 1838, on what became Cedar Rapids, and that it was located on the east side near the packing plant, and was occupied by Philip Hull. Had Shepherd sold this cabin to Hull after having driven Stone across the river? That might be probable, as Shepherd tried the same dodge on Ellis a few months later when he was building a cabin on his claim on the west side of the river. In that instance Shepherd had a prospective purchaser who was willing to go into Ellis's shack, and but for the nerve and presence of mind of Ellis, Shepherd might have succeeded. From Stone's daughter, still living, it would seem that Stone was the first actual settler who came here to trade with the Indians, and the first to lay out the squatter town which later became Cedar Rapids, and that this plat or staking out was on the east and not the west side of the river, all of which would be natural as all the other squatter towns had been staked on the east side, and thus were better defended from an attack of Indians or border ruffians, who were apt to congregate more frequently on the west side of the stream. Robert Ellis walked into the town and found Hull, and later Shepherd, located in a small cabin, which he called a tavern situated on the river bank on what is now First avenue. Mr. Ellis also found at this time John Young, a It would seem plausible that in a community where so many were law violators and enemies of law and order a man like Stone would not be tolerated and the ruffians would do all in their power to get him out of the way by intimidation or otherwise. N. B. Brown, from what we have been informed by N. E. Brown and others, must have passed through what became Cedar Rapids as early as 1839 but he did not locate here till the following year, when he first realized the full value of the falls and the feasibility of a plan to erect a suitable dam across the river which would furnish power to run saw and grist mills. Galloway, Young, Granger, O. S. Bowling, and a few others were here in the meantime, all holding down claims, but no one thought of any future city to be founded or of any valuable asset in the water power which had never been harnessed to machinery. What appealed to them was the fact that the stream could be forded at this place, that the banks had plenty of timber, and that it was a sort of way station for straggling Indian trappers and hunters. Mr. Brown was not a frontiersman but a mechanic, who was a trained miller and looked into the future and saw that the location was ideal. While he had but little money, he could see far enough ahead that here would be the logical point for mills. Mr. Brown interested George Greene, H. W. Gray, A. L. Roach, and S. H. Tryon, and they purchased from Osgood Shepherd an undivided three-fourths interest for $3,000. The other one-fourth interest was later sold by Shepherd to J. E. Sanford and Addison Daniels. Mr. Shepherd had nothing but a squatter claim to sell, but Brown and the others figured that it would be cheaper to buy him out than to make a fight on him, and so the bargain was made. From an old account book still in the possession of N. E. Brown, we cite the following: "August 4, 1841. Commenced surveying 'Rapids City.' August 7, 2-1/2 days by N. B. Brown, same, S. Durham, same, J. W. Carson, 1-1/2 days Geo. Greene, same, A. Daniels, 2-1/2 days O. Shepherd." This proves that after the squatter right was purchased from Shepherd, and the embryo town was first named by Brown the actual work of surveying was commenced Shepherd lingered around the place till the next year, when he found that there was nothing further in his line, and that he was not interested in corner lots or in any enterprises such as appealed to Brown, David King, Greene, Sanford, Daniels, and many others. He disposed of all his remaining rights and left for Wisconsin with his family. He was later killed in a railway accident. John Young also disposed of his squatter rights to Dr. J. R. Richey and J. W. Carson. These purchasers sold again to Brown the following year. J. L. Enos, a newspaper man, has the following to say of Shepherd, writing in 1866: "The crimes committed by Shepherd and his gang were for years a constant annoyance. John Young and a man by the name of Granger were his immediate companions. The islands in the river, particularly the one above the dam, were used as places to conceal their plunder. A great many horses and much other property were stolen by them, and in many cases they succeeded in hiding their booty. It is known that this gang stole at one time six horses, getting away with four of them. Granger was later caught in Chicago and tried for passing counterfeit money. He was sent to the Alton prison for four years. Young, it is stated on reliable authority, was executed in a neighboring state, having been convicted of murder." To prove that there is more or less truth in the stories as written of Shepherd by Enos, Mr. Ellis says that shortly after he had located on his claim and while he was building a cabin so as to hold his land, Shepherd and some stranger came along one day and Shepherd insisted that this was his claim and that Ellis should vacate as soon as he could, as there would be trouble in store for a newcomer who had the cheek to jump a claim of this kind. Ellis was much surprised and could not believe that Shepherd, with whom he had stayed for a short time, would come at him with such unfounded accusations. He had heard of the trouble with Stone and knew from Hull that Shepherd was not a very good man. Hull seemed to be all right. Ellis made up his mind that in a game of bluff he would not take a back seat, and that he had not come all the way from Pennsylvania on foot for nothing. He got mad and then did not stop to count noses, but raised his ax and came towards Shepherd, saying in his most emphatic way that the claim was his and that some one would get killed before he gave it up. He said he had picked out and improved the land and by right owned it till such time as the government saw fit to throw it open for settlement. He then accused Shepherd of some of the things he had heard and offered to back it up by proof if he wanted it. He said further, "You have bluffed others out of their claims, but you can't bluff me. You get off my land or I shall be compelled to use my ax." Shepherd moved away and the stranger turned pale and was uncertain whether he should run or stand there with his hands raised. He had never been in such a place before. Never again was Ellis molested, nor did Shepherd again refer to the unpleasant incident. It was later rumored that Shepherd for a consideration was to locate the stranger on a good claim. He figured that as Ellis had already a cabin partially built this would be a good chance to get a bit of money and he reasoned that a stranger in the country would soon give in. He had not figured on the fact that Ellis was "the bravest of the brave," when it came to a question of asserting In April, 1839, arrived Joe and John Listebarger, who erected a small log house at what is now 818 North First street west and owned by Ferdinand Uebel. A younger brother, Isaac, arrived later the same summer. William Knowles erected a house on what later became known as Mound Farm. John Stambaugh built a log house in what is now Bever Park, which later was disposed of to John G. Cole. The upper part of the west side was settled by Farnham Colby, who came shortly after Ellis had staked out his holdings. During the years 1838-39 came others, such as Thos. Gainor, Joel and James Leverich, P. W. Earle, and many others. It was in July of this year that the family of Isaac Carroll arrived and located a little to the east of what is now Cedar Rapids. A son of Isaac Carroll, the Rev. George R. Carroll, writes as follows in his Pioneer Life: "I cannot now recall anything of importance on the way until we reached Linn Grove, where we found a few log cabins. In conversation with one of the women who occupied one of these primitive abodes we found that her language was so different from anything we had heard, that it left a decided impression on our minds and was a source of no little amusement to us children. Some of her peculiar expressions were by-words with us for many years. She seemed very cordial and ready as everybody was in welcoming newcomers, and she was quite communicative, although her accounts were not always of the most encouraging and inspiring character to the new arrivals. "It was in the afternoon of July 4th, 1839, when we reached the county seat and the only thing to mark the spot was a bower of bushes under which our nation's birthday had been celebrated in primitive style and in which, judging from hilarious demonstrations of two or three men that we met on the way, whiskey must have played a somewhat conspicuous part. A little at one side of the town L. M. Strong had a little cabin. I do not remember of having seen either the cabin or the tenants at the time but Mr. Strong was for many years after a well known and highly honored citizen of this place. Passing on beyond Marion we crossed Indian creek about a mile north of the present crossings and where there was a beautiful crystal spring, near which was a little cabin occupied by Mr. James W. Bassett. From this point, turning in a southwesterly direction, we found our way by a dim track through the woods reaching, towards night, the little bark shanty of Ephraim T. Lewis, near where now stands the stone barn just south of the boulevard two miles west of Marion. Mr. Lewis and his son-in-law, Nathaniel G. Niece, were there and gave us a most hearty welcome and most cordial invitation to share their hospitality over night, which we gladly accepted. "The next day we passed a half mile west to the little hut of Mr. Jewell, later occupied by Barnet Lutz. Passing on sixty or eighty rods west of Mr. Jewell's through the tall grass we found Mr. A. B. Mason breaking up prairie on the higher ground just north of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway at a point forty or fifty rods west of the boulevard crossing at Kenwood. This, I think, was the first furrow plowed between Marion and Cedar Rapids. Passing Mr. Mason, we found ourselves in a few moments on the ground which was to be our future home. At a point of the ridge near the mound, which in later years has been extensively known as Judge Greene's Mound Farm, we pitched our tent, the little brook near by affording us water, and the grove close at hand furnishing wood and poles and bushes for the erection of a bower, which for a few days were to serve us as a kitchen and dining room." In this company came also B. F. and C. C. Cook, step-sons of Isaac Carroll, and Sarah Carroll, a step-daughter. There were also the following children: Isaac W., George R., and Julia Carroll. Mr. Carroll, in his interesting recollections of pioneer days, speaks of a number of people who at this time and in the next few years resided in and around Cedar Rapids, such as William Vineyard, who married Sarah Carroll, and various members of the Lewis family, who arrived that same fall. James Ferguson and his family, the Weare family, William Stewart, A. Sines, Arvin Kennedy, Isaac and William Cook, members of the Ely families, Dr. J. W. Traer, J. F. Charles, the Daniels families, and many others came a little later. Thus within a few years from the time that Brown and others purchased the claims of Shepherd, the scene along the banks of the Red Cedar had changed from an Indian wilderness and a resort of border ruffians to a landscape bearing all the evidences of a high degree of civilization. The old Indian burial grounds became the place of a Christian cemetery, and the pole tepees covered with leaves and skins were removed to make place for commodious log houses, erected by the whites. In a study of the beginnings in Cedar Rapids it has seemed to the writer that heretofore due amount of credit for his work has not been given to N. B. Brown. His was indeed a constructive genius. He early interested himself in and in many instances began businesses that gave employment to labor, the backbone of any thrifty community. His enterprises were not always successful ones, whose are? All of them, however, were busy institutions for a time, and while they were going they gave employment to many people. It seemed to be the rule to send strangers in the city seeking employment to Nick Brown if no one else had use for their services, they being told that Mr. Brown was sure to give them something to do. And he always did as it was intimated he would do. His manufacturing industries were many and varied. He built and operated saw and flour mills, woollen and knitting factories, at one time conducting two saw mills in the city, one on each side of the Cedar. He also at one time ran a saw mill on Indian Creek, south of town. He built a starch factory at McCloud's Run, and when this failed owing to the dismissal by his foreman of the only man who knew the secrets of the manufacture he converted the mill into a distillery, thus making a market for the corn raised in the county. Some of his early account books are now in the possession of his son, N. E. Brown. They show page after page of names of employes in his various manufacturing enterprises. It is scarcely possible at this date to give a proper estimate to the value of his services to the infant city. Pioneers of the energy and public spirit manifested by Mr. Brown were indeed of great benefit to the community in which they wrought, and honor and credit ought to be extended accordingly. We are glad here to testify to the great worth of Mr. Brown along industrial lines in the pioneer days of our beautiful and prosperous Cedar Rapids. For the first few years the settlers got along as best they could. They had few if any luxuries. Dubuque and Muscatine were the nearest markets. It required from six to fourteen days to make the trip and frequently longer when the roads were bad and when fierce storms overtook the party. Robert Ellis built three flat boats in the winter of 1841 and took a cargo of wheat to Burlington, trading this for a cargo of flour which he delivered safely at New Orleans, in July of that year. He got back during the summer but did not make any money out of the enterprise and never again cared to try the experiment. Many years later he received a settlement with the Burlington firm which was hard pressed for money and could not pay for the 4,000 bushels he had delivered. So while he did not get a fortune he perhaps came out even on this hazardous trip. While it is true this daring enterprise failed to make Robert Ellis a wealthy man it did stir people up to the possibility of river traffic and that of course helped. The venture was talked over and over time and again, flat boats were built now and then, and a little grain shipped. Small steamers made Cedar Rapids in the early spring of the year, bringing a few groceries and notions, and taking away wheat, oats, pork, and a little corn. Artificial dams in the river were talked of but that was as far as it went. No one was able to have any pull with the legislatures. Robert Holmes, an old Marion resident, had a grain house at Ivanhoe, and took cargoes of grain down the river in 1844, '46 and '51; Henry Thomson also ran a few flat boats on the river as far as St. Louis. In 1858 a body of enterprising young men had built the steamer "Cedar Rapids" at Beaver, Pennsylvania, at a cost of $20,000, the stockholders being Wm. and George Greene, J. F. Ely, H. G. Angle, L. Daniels & Co., and W. W. Smith. This steamer ran during much of the spring and summer and late into the fall, and did a big business. But within two years in an accident on the Mississippi river the "Cedar Rapids" ran into another steamer, litigation ensued, and the owners lost everything they had made as well as the steamer. Thus ended the first big adventure of the Cedar Rapids spirit. In the same year another steamer, the "Black Hawk," was built to run up the river to Waterloo and for a time did fair business. This was owned by W. D. Watrous, J. J. Snouffer, W. W. Smith, J. Stanley, and several others. This steamboat was sold to the government during the war and used as a supply steamer on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. At one time N. B. Brown was the owner of the boat. Just as the people were demanding that another company be formed to invest in another steamer enterprise the railways came, and now these daring business men centered their efforts in developing railroads and won out, but not until after many struggles, and after many failures. The people of Linn county surveyed, planned, and talked about several lines before they could realize the benefits of any. The Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railway was organized in what is now Clinton on January 26, 1856, the first officers being Charles Walker, of Chicago, president, James Purdy, of Mansfield, Ohio, vice president, T. T. Davis, of Syracuse, New York, treasurer, R. H. Norton, secretary, and Milo Smith, of Clinton county, engineer. Many Cedar Rapids residents put up money and notes to have the road come through the city. Most of the necessary means were put up by eastern capitalists and especially by John I. Blair, one of the most enterprising of the early railroad promoters in America. Mr. Blair was born in New Jersey in 1802 and passed away in 1892, one of the most noted men of this country. He was at least in an early day the owner of more miles of railways than any other man in the world, and had laid out more town sites and villages in Iowa and Nebraska than any other person in the west. It was John I. Blair who first saw the opportunity of making Cedar Rapids a center on account of its progressive people, the water power, and other advantages which this practical, wide-awake railway man saw here, and which were lacking in other localities. In June, 1859, the road was completed to Cedar Rapids. Its coming was the most important event in the history of the city. It was the beginning of the end in the unique struggle for railways in Linn county, and marks an epoch in the history of the city. The road was extended west, and by 1862 the trains were running as far as Marshalltown. By 1867 the road was completed to the Missouri river. Both the Iowa and Nebraska and the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River railways have for many years been under one management and are now known as the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, which owns and operates nearly 8,000 miles of road with a capital stock of $130,121,838. In 1865 D. W. C. Rowley began grading for the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railway, which was organized in Cedar Rapids. A separate company, known as the Cedar Valley Construction Company, was organized to build this line to Waterloo. This company was composed of such men as Dr. J. F. Ely, president, William Greene, superintendent, D. W. C. Rowley, secretary. In December, 1866, another road was incorporated, running to Burlington south via Iowa City. The men connected with this enterprise were J. H. Gear, Burlington, president, J. E. Putnam, Burlington, secretary, directors Dr. S. D. Carpenter, of Cedar Rapids, E. Clark and Peter A. Dey, of Iowa City, and John Bird, Louisa county. This southern branch did not progress rapidly and there was more or less of a hitch with the plans, and a question as to how the road should run. The articles were changed, leaving out Iowa City, and the board increased to fifteen members, among whom may be mentioned N. B. Brown, George Greene, and Charles Weare, who were added from Linn county. George Greene was elected president and Charles Mason, vice president. By June, 1868, the two roads were united under one name, the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, Greene becoming president, and D. W. C. Rowley secretary. By January 1, 1871, trains were running between Cedar Rapids and Burlington, and early the following year they reached to St. Paul, thus making one of the first great north and south roads in Iowa. For many years C. J. Ives was president of the road till it was absorbed by the Rock Island system, when the headquarters were transferred to Chicago, the Cedar Rapids office becoming merely a division point. The Dubuque and Southwestern Railway was operated from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids in October, 1865. This was an important factor in the upbuilding of Marion and other towns along this road and in fact helped Cedar Rapids. Like all small roads, it was not a financial success, and in May, 1878, it was sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company and new life put into it. The Milwaukee road in 1883 extended this line to Kansas City. The main line of the Milwaukee was extended to Omaha. The building of the interurban to Iowa City, a distance of twenty-eight miles, a few years ago concludes the railway building in Linn county, with the exception of the Anamosa and Northwestern, which runs along the northern part of the county; and the extension of the Illinois Central, which runs down from Manchester, connecting with the main line at that place. We are pleased to give space here to the following account of beginnings in Cedar Rapids. It is from Bailey & Hair's Gazetteer for 1865: "D. W. King and T. Gainor were the first settlers of any advantage to the county. They reached here in 1839, and soon after made a permanent settlement on the west side of the river. "The first white man, however, who pitched his tent on the ground, now occupied by the Valley City, was a notorious counterfeiter and horse thief by the name of Shepherd, who took up his abode and erected his cabin on what is now Commercial street, near the mills, in the year 1838. "Thus early was this location selected as a central point for commercial operations with the surrounding country, and although the character of the operators was worse than some who have followed them in business, it nevertheless indicates their wisdom in making a good location for their enterprise. "In 1849 D. W. King established ferries for crossing the river, and continued to run them up to the time of his death, in 1854. They were located at Iowa avenue and Linn street crossings. They were self-propellers, being forced across the river by the power of the current. A wire rope or cable extended across the stream upon which a pulley was placed, and connected by ropes to the boat. The "In March, 1843, the lands came into market. The first flouring mill was erected by N. B. Brown, in 1844-5, at a cost of $3,000. Extensive additions have been made to this mill since. It is still owned and run by Mr. Brown. In 1845, A. Ely erected the second saw mill and the following year the second flouring mill at a cost of $9,000. In 1848-9, the first woolen factory was erected by N. B. Brown. Cost, $10,000. The first steam engine was set in operation in 1855, in the machine shop of A. Hager. "The first store was owned by J. Greene in the building now standing on the northeast corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. The second store was opened by Mr. Cleveland, and the third by Mr. Mulford. The proprietor of these stores have all left the city. Mulford's store was destroyed by fire in 1850, being the first building thus destroyed in Cedar Rapids. The second fire occurred in 1855, when the buildings on the west side of Commercial street, between Iowa avenue and Linn street, were mostly consumed. The postoffice was established in 1847, and J. Greene appointed postmaster. "The first brick building was erected in 1844, on the northwest corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street, by P. W. Earle, and is now occupied by him. The Union House, on the northwest corner of Adams and Market streets, was the first hotel. It was destroyed by fire early in 1865. The first school house was erected in 1847, and the first school taught by Nelson Felch. This structure is now occupied as a dwelling on the north side of Eagle street between Jefferson and Madison. The first white child born was the daughter of John Vardy, now removed to Texas. The first church erected is that commonly known as the 'Muddy,' and is still used as a house of worship. It is a small 'grout' building at the southeast corner of Eagle and Adams streets. The first death was that of a young man by the name of William Brookey, some time in 1843. The first frame building was built by John Vardy. "The lodge of Free Masons was established in 1850, and James Keeler, an Episcopal minister, was the first W. M. The lodge took the name of Cedar Rapids Lodge No. 25. Its name was changed in 1864 to the more euphonious and Masonic name of Crescent. "The first newspaper was established by D. O. Finch, in 1854. Three volumes only were issued. D. O. Finch, James J. Child, and James L. Enos, were successively its editors. The Era was purchased in 1854 by James L. Enos, and the name changed to the Cedar Valley Times, by which name it still flourishes. C. M. Hollis, Esq., is the present editor. The second paper was the Cedar Valley Farmer, J. L. Enos, editor. The Cedar Rapids Democrat was the third paper established, by W. W. Perkins & Co., in 1856. The Voice of Iowa was commenced in January, 1857, by the Iowa State Teachers' Association, and J. L. Enos elected editor. This journal reached a large circulation, and did much to give form to the school system of the state. The present public school edifice was erected in 1856-7-8, at a cost of some $15,000. It has six departments, and employs seven or eight teachers. "Cedar Rapids was incorporated as a city in 1856, and Isaac Newton Whittam, Esq., was chosen the first mayor. A free bridge was constructed across the Cedar in 1855-6, but was soon carried away by the ice. As it fell, a large number were standing on the banks watching the ice as it rapidly tore the stone piers from their positions. Two sisters, daughters of Mr. Black, passed by the guard, which was stationed at the end of the bridge to keep the people from passing on, and had reached about the middle, when the frail fabric went down. Both young ladies were drowned, and the body of one was never recovered. A toll bridge was erected the following year, and though a slender structure, has thus far withstood "KINGSTON CITY"Is a place of about 350 inhabitants, situated on the west side of the Cedar river, opposite the city of Cedar Rapids. It is connected with this city by a wooden bridge, and is about one-quarter of a mile from the Cedar Rapids depot of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad. In the year 1838 Robert Ellis and O. Bowling settled on land in the vicinity, and in the year following Messrs. Isaac, John, and Joseph Lichtebarger settled where Kingston now stands. During the summer following David W. King and Thomas Gainor arrived here. The first child born was Mary Jane, daughter of T. and R. Gainor, on the 15th of May, 1840. Rosannah Gainor died on the 8th of June, 1840. This was the first death in the place. There is in the place one paper mill, one saw mill, two blacksmith shops, two groceries, and one dry goods store. There are three religious societies, Methodist Episcopal, Congregationalist, and United Presbyterian. There is also a commodious building for school purposes, and three libraries. This region of country is especially adapted to growing grain. Large quantities are annually shipped to Chicago from this place. The immense water-power will at no distant day make this a large manufacturing town." The following as to early things in Cedar Rapids is taken from a copy of the Cedar Valley Times, J. L. Enos, editor, in 1865: "On the 4th day of July, 1841, N. B. Brown began construction of a dam for utilization of the power. Carson, Gray and Roach soon sold their interests to Messrs. Brown and Greene, who became the sole proprietors of the water-power, and constructed the first saw mill in 1842-3. This mill is yet standing in the rear of Brown's flouring mill, which was also the first grist mill, and erected in 1843, and extensively enlarged by the present owner in 1854-5. "The first blacksmith in the place was Harrison Campbell, who opened a shop in Shepherd's old cabin in 1843. Isaac Cook, Esq., was the first lawyer, John L. Shearer the first justice, and James Lewis the first constable. The name of the first physician seems to be lost from the memory of the 'early day,' though many of his peculiar traits of character are remembered. Like some others in the profession he was disposed to blow his own trumpet, and the stories he told to the uninitiated ones were marvelous in the extreme. Once when he had returned from Muscatine he claimed to have lost forty pounds of quinine in one of the streams which put into the Cedar below the city—the water being unusually high. His credit was evidently then better than afterward, as was also his physical courage. Constable Lewis, at one time called upon him with an execution to secure a judgment, when the doctor becoming wrathy, threw off his coat for a fight. The constable being more intent on collecting the claim than emulous for notoriety as a pugilist, seized the coat and made away with it—finding a sufficient amount of money to pay the debt. Dr. S. M. Brice remained here for a few months and then removed to Center Point. Dr. E. L. Mansfield was the first physician who made a permanent location in this city, and still enjoys a large and lucrative practice. He came here in 1847 and has ever since been engaged in the noble endeavor—to heal the thousand natural ills that flesh is heir to. "The first brick building was erected in 1844, by P. W. Earle, Esq., on the west corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. This building is still occupied by Mr. Earle, and shows but little the marks of age. A three-story brick store was erected the same year on the south corner of Iowa avenue and Commercial street. This building has since been removed to make room for the block "The first store proper was opened in the building now standing on the north corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street, by Joseph Greene. As early as 1842 Mr. Greene had a store in one part of a log building located on the north corner of Commercial and Sugar streets, the other end of the same building being occupied as a boarding house or hotel. "The first building erected for a hotel was built by William Dwyer in 1847, James Gunning being the first landlord. The building was destroyed by fire in January, 1865. It was known as the Union House and was located on the west corner of Market and Adams streets. "The Adventists held meetings here as early as 1842-3; a Mr. Baker being the minister. The Protestant and Episcopal Methodists also had organizations at an early day. The Presbyterians organized soon after and erected the first church edifice, known as the 'Big Muddy,' taking its name from the material of which it was composed. It is a grout building, occupying the east corner of Eagle street and Adams street. The Universalists had an organization here quite early and were 'ministered unto' by Rev. Mr. Westfall. In either 1843 or '44 a somewhat noted discussion was held between Mr. Westfall, the Universalist, and Mr. Roberts, Old School Presbyterian, at which Joseph Greene acted as umpire. The discussion continued for four days and nights. The meetings were largely attended and the combatants were sharp and excited. The conflict ended as such discussions usually do—in the victory of both—and this was regarded by nearly all as a drawn game. "The first school was kept by Miss Emily Coffman. The first school building was erected in 1846-7, by a company consisting of N. B. Brown, George Greene, Alex. Ely, and others, who sold it to the district, and had the satisfaction of being taxed to pay themselves for it. This building was on the north side of Eagle street between Jefferson and Madison. It is still standing and is occupied as a dwelling house. Nelson Felch was among the first teachers, also a Mr. Freeman, who has since been receiving instruction in a state institution located at Fort Madison. "The second saw mill was erected by Alex Ely in 1844 and the second flouring mill in 1844-5. Mr. Ely died shortly after the completion of this mill. In 1848 N. B. Brown built the first woolen factory. The first steam engine was put up here in 1855 by A. Hager, in his sash, door and blind manufactory. He had an extensive amount of machinery connected with it and employed a number of workmen. "The second store was established by Mr. Cleveland, and the third by C. K. Mulford. Mulford's store was afterward occupied as a dwelling, on the east corner of Commercial and Linn streets, and was destroyed by fire in 1850. That was the first fire in Cedar Rapids, and none occurred after it until the autumn of 1855, when most of the block on the west side of Commercial street, between Iowa avenue and Linn street, was destroyed. No precautions have been taken to prevent the spread of the destroying element, and were a fire to occur tomorrow no more means would be found of subduing it than existed twenty years ago. It would seem that a wise people would not thus neglect what may at any moment be of such vast importance. But so it is, and so it is likely to remain until a fire shall occur that will lay in ruins a large portion of our city and destroy thousands of dollars worth of property. Personal insurance can best cover a part of this loss and perhaps not one-half are provided with this protection." [The old map was made in 1859 and the only copy now in existence is the property of Mr. Lew W. Anderson. It is yellow, faded and dim and in many parts was difficult to trace. It has been used many times as evidence in court in legal contests over property rights. The reproduction shows clearly the original plat of the city including Kingston, the islands, parks, squares, blocks, additions, stations, streets, names, etc. The street names have nearly all been changed since that time.] Dr. Seymour D. Carpenter, who came to Cedar Rapids in 1849, contributed the below quoted memoirs to a History of Crescent Lodge, J. E. Morcombe, author, and published by the lodge in 1906. It is of value in the consideration of the history of early times in the city and county: "I wished to read law, but there was a family prejudice against the profession, and I concluded to study medicine and accordingly entered as a student the office of Drs. Boerstler & Edwards, who were among the leading physicians. There for a year I read books that were full of what are now exploded theories and practice, at the end of which time I was sent to the University of Pennsylvania, where two years after I was graduated as a doctor of medicine. Returning home in the spring of 1849, I remained but a few months and then started west 'to grow up with the country.' I again rode to Cincinnati on horseback, took steamer to St. Louis, thence by another boat up the Illinois river to Haverville. Not liking the place, I rode west and crossed the Mississippi at Quincy and went to Kirksville in Missouri. Still not pleased, I turned north and went to Ottumwa, Iowa, where I met Judge Greene, then a member of the supreme bench of Iowa. He persuaded me that Cedar Rapids was in the near future to become a metropolis, and I decided to go there. After four days' hard riding and swimming several swollen streams, I struck the town on the afternoon of the 14th of June, 1849. I crossed the river on a rope ferry operated by David King, who lived in a cabin on the west side. On the other side of the river stood the cabin once the home of a man named Shepherd, and said to have been the resort of thieves in an earlier day. I cannot say that I was very favorably impressed by the thirty or forty mostly one-story unpainted houses that were scattered about near the river. There seemed to be a great deal of sand, and the houses were so situated that there was no sign of a street. There were three two-story houses, one on the river near the foot of what is now Third avenue, called the 'Park house,' in which the Greenes had their store; one on second street in which John Coffman kept a hotel, and one on Third avenue, back of the Dows & Ely block, also a hotel, but keeper's name forgotten. I was discouraged and would have traveled further but only had about ten dollars left, and from necessity had to stop. I put up at the Coffman hotel, which, as I have said, was a two-story structure with a wing. It had been built of unseasoned oak lumber and was not plastered. The whole of the second story of the main building was in one room, and contained eight or ten beds and was the common sleeping room of the guests. The lumber had shrunk and there could be no complaint as to ventilation, however short the accommodations might be in other respects. I had hardly got settled before I was interviewed by old Joe Leverich, a noted character of Linn county of that day. He was known as the 'Bogus Coon,' because, as was alleged, he had to do with counterfeiters. He was a power in politics and was the kind of a man from which the modern 'pop' has evoluted. Joe looked me over, asked where I was from, where I was going, what my business was, etc., etc. I was somewhat indignant and tried to be sarcastic, but Joe, in terminating his interview, squelched me by remarking: 'Young man, a fellow that wears such a hat as you do may pass in this country, but I consider it d—d doubtful.' I unfortunately wore a 'plug' hat which was not the style in Iowa a half century ago. In subsequent years Joe and I became fast friends, and I became quite convinced that the shady stories told of him were the talk of enemies who were jealous of him because he was smarter than the great majority of them. I was with him when he died, and, although a free-thinker, he passed away with all the calmness of a stoic philosopher. "Within a week I made the acquaintance of all the people of the town. Among the leading persons were William and Joseph Greene, brothers of the judge, Lowell and Lawson Daniels, Homer Bishop and John Weare, all of whom "Dr. Mansfield took me as a partner, and in company with Judge Cook, we had a room, 10×16, in a small one-story building opposite the mill, the other part being occupied by S. L. Pollock and family. His blacksmith shop was near by. Our medicines were kept on a shelf and a store box made a table. Our bunks occupied one side and a few stools and two split-bottomed chairs made up our furniture. We took our meals at the Coffman house. Our field of practice embraced the settlers, not numerous, in the valleys of the Cedar and Iowa rivers and their tributaries. We made very long rides. I was called to see a patient two miles above the present town of Vinton, not then begun. I got lost in the night and waited for daylight under a tree on the bank of the river at the very spot where Vinton now stands. Bilious fever and ague were the prevailing diseases, all the newcomers having to undergo one or both. As patients and clients were not very numerous, we had a good deal of leisure. Judge Cook was a fine reader and we took turns at Shakespeare, a copy of which we fortunately possessed. During the summer Dr. Mansfield and myself built a story and half office on Commercial street, about the middle of the block on which the Daniels store was located. We had a mail three times a week from Dubuque and Iowa City. The Higley brothers did the service in a two-horse hack. I think Joseph Greene was postmaster. John Weare, Sr., was justice of the peace. He was a very original character, fond of company and full of interesting reminiscences extending back to the war of 1812, in which he had lost a leg. His small office was in the rear of Mrs. Ely's residence, which stood on the ground where the Dows & Ely block now is. He gave 'nicknames' to many people and places which stuck to them like burrs. The first Presbyterian or Congregational church building was begun that summer, and as the walls were built of cement, old Mr. Weare named it the 'Muddy,' which it retained to the last day of its existence. Many buildings were put up that year with a corresponding increase in population. All the people were full of hope and ambition. We began to talk of railroads. The people of Dubuque and Keokuk, the leading river towns, started a scheme for a road running through the interior and connecting them. The people along the line, at Cascade, Anamosa, Marion, Cedar Rapids, Washington and Fairfield eagerly endorsed the project, meetings were held and it was resolved to hold two delegate conventions, on the same day, one at Anamosa, the other at Fairfield. We had a rousing meeting in Cedar Rapids. There were nearly a hundred people present, and they resolved to have the railroad forthwith. From our standpoint it was the government's duty to donate land, and for eastern people to furnish the money. Delegates were chosen to both conventions. Dr. John F. Ely and myself were selected to go to Fairfield. Both conventions were to be held on the 6th of December, 1849. We left Cedar Rapids on the 3d of December and after three days' hard and cold travel reached Fairfield. Marion sent Col. I. M. Preston and Dr. Ristine. The convention met in a small school house. All the counties were represented. The Hon. C. W. Slagle, of Fairfield, then a very young man, was chosen president. I was chosen secretary. The little school house was packed, and if any doubt the courage and scope of that convention, let him look up the old file of newspapers of that day and read. Dr. Ballard, of Iowa City, Stewart Goodsel, of Brighton, Joseph Casey, of Keokuk county, and General Van Plank Van Antwerp were present and took active part. We parted for our various homes, thinking the work half done, but sad to relate, Cedar Rapids had to wait ten years longer for the locomotive. These two meetings "At this time Martin L. Barber was mayor of the village. It was before the present city organization. Barber was an eccentric character, a millwright by trade. He was nearly as wise as Solomon, with courage to match. A 'bad man' came to the town. He hung about the saloon. It was said he drew a knife and threatened to kill a citizen. The majesty of the law was invoked. It was night. The offender took refuge in the saloon and barricaded the door. The mayor called out the 'posse commitatus' numbering two or three dozen young fellows like myself. He pounded on the door, demanding admittance in the name of the law. No response. We got a piece of timber and battered down the door. The mayor collared the 'bad man' who offered no resistance. He was hurried towards the Coffman house, where the mayor proposed to deal out justice. As we neared the hotel he tore loose from the mayor and made for the river. We in full cry in pursuit. He plunged in just below the mill. We paused at the brink. Gradually he disappeared, and was never seen afterwards. It was the first and last exhibition of the mayor's power. "In 1850 Miss Mary S. Legare, sister of the Hon. Hugh S. Legare of South Carolina, came to Cedar Rapids. She was a woman of the highest culture, who had moved much in the official circles of Washington, and had considerable wealth. With her came numerous relatives named Bryan, Storey, and McIntosh, the latter a well known lawyer of the early days. She made investments in the town and took up large tracts of land. In the spring of that year we had a very spirited election. The people were divided into two factions, the 'codfish' and the 'catfish.' For mayor the former nominated N. B. Brown, the latter Jacob Bressler. I cannot recall the issues, but only remember that we almost came to blows during the canvass. Less than one hundred votes were cast and Brown was elected. Brown was one of the original owners of the town site, and built the first mills. He was one of the prominent characters in the early history of the town, a modest, quiet, but genial man, with many friends. "This year, on the 6th of July, I did one of the few wise acts of my life. I married Sarah Weare, the daughter of John Weare, Sr. We went to housekeeping in a small one-story house, near where the old passenger depot stood. It was then the only house east of the present railroad. The next year, 1851, was a very active one for the town. Judge Greene, who had lived in Dubuque, moved to the town. The same year came S. C. Bever, who had driven in a two-horse buggy from Holmes county, Ohio, to Cedar Rapids. By this time I considered myself an old citizen, thoroughly identified with the county and town, and devoted all my leisure time to meeting strangers and exploiting the town and county. I met Mr. Bever soon after his arrival and spent several days with him riding about the country. He made large investments both in country and town. One was 160 acres about a mile from the ferry, at $5.00 per acre. I made the sale for Mr. Addison Daniels of Marion, who was so pleased with my effort that he presented me with a four-bladed penknife. Both Mr. Daniels and myself were satisfied and I have never heard that Mr. Bever regretted the purchase. That same year my father, Mr. Gabriel Carpenter, came out to see the country. After "In 1851 occurred the great flood. Most of the lower parts of the town were under water. The grand lodge met that year at Ft. Madison, and at the time the river was at its highest point. We were cut off from all the neighboring country by the swollen streams, but the lodge thought it must be represented and I was chosen as the delegate. N. B. Brown suggested that I should go down the river in a skiff to a point opposite Muscatine, then by land to that place, which is only ten or twelve miles distant, then by steamer to Ft. Madison. The lodge furnished the skiff. I found a companion. We embarked in the morning and so swift was the current that we reached our destination by nightfall, and I was on time for the meeting. At the meeting I renewed my acquaintance with the grand master and the grand secretary, and met many brethren who became lifelong friends. "In the spring of 1852 a steamboat came to Cedar Rapids. It was a great event, and brought in people from near and far. She brought a full cargo of freight, among which was the household effects of Mr. Bever and my father, both of whom from that time forward became citizens of the town. This year also came Mr. Daniel O. Finch with a printing press and forthwith started the Progressive Era, the first paper in the Cedar valley. Ezra Van Metre, a talented young lawyer from Cincinnati, Ohio, also came that year. Every one was rejoiced that we had an organ and the editor was overwhelmed with original matter. There were at least a dozen young fellows in the town, myself among the rest, who thought they 'knew it all,' and anxiously rushed into print. The paper changed hands in a year or two, and became the Cedar Valley Times and continued until a few years ago. "In the winter of 1852 I had a serious time in a professional way. A young man living at Quasqueton, Buchanan county, was riding across the prairie near that place and met a bear. The bear fled and he pursued. In crossing a strip of ice the horse fell. He was thrown and his foot stuck in the stirrup and he was dragged four miles over the snow, which was about six inches deep. In the mad flight the horse kicked and broke his right leg below the knee in two places. Finally the saddle turned, his foot was released and he was dropped on the lone prairie. The horse found his way home with saddle under his belly. This was on the evening of the 17th of December. A search was organized, but he was not found till the 21st, four days after the accident. Fortunately the weather was not as cold as it sometimes gets, but his hands and feet were badly frozen. Cedar Rapids, about thirty-five miles distant, was the nearest point where doctors could be found. I was sent for and went by the way of Marion, and took with me Dr. Thomas Bardwell, who was then a student in Dr. Ristine's office. There was a road to Center Point. There we struck across the prairie to Quasqueton, eighteen miles distant, without a house. We reached there the evening of the 23d, nearly frozen ourselves, for the weather was bitterly cold. They had got the young man thawed out, but in a most miserable condition. Mortification had set in, and there was no chance for the broken leg. Immediate amputation was the only hope, but I had no instrument but a small pocket case, and delay would be fatal. Necessity is the mother of invention. A butcher had just come to the place and had his tools. He sharpened his knives and filed his saw. A strong handkerchief was twisted, a knot made in the middle, which was placed "About 1853-4 we began to lose confidence in the 'Ram's Horn' railroad project. Congress had made grants of land to aid railroad projects and public opinion seemed to favor east and west rather than north and south lines. Roads from Chicago were approaching the Mississippi river, and a line from Rock Island to Council Bluffs was projected. The people in the tier of counties north of the projected line became stirred up and a railroad convention was called to meet in Maquoketa, Jackson county, to organize a company to build a line in their interest. Cedar Rapids sent a delegation as follows: George Greene, N. B. Brown, Daniel Lothian, I. N. Whittam, Donald McIntosh, Ezra Van Metre, and myself. Marion also sent a large delegation and the counties along the line were well represented. A company was organized to build a line from Savanna on the Mississippi river to a point on the Missouri river not named. A corps of surveyors was put in the field and for two or three years it was the favorite project of Cedar Rapids. The settlements both in town and country were increasing rapidly and we suffered greatly for lack of transportation. Judge Greene, with his usual energy and public spirit, organized a steamboat company in which the prominent citizens became stockholders. This was in the winter. The judge went to Pittsburg, contracted for a boat suitable for our river, which by spring was completed and at the opening of navigation made her first trip, well freighted with all kinds of goods for our own merchants, and those of the surrounding towns. She was kept in commission for two or three years and was a great "About 1852 Major J. M. May came to Cedar Rapids from Janesville, Wisconsin. The major was a stirring man with a head full of schemes. He said that Cedar Rapids was a place of immense possibilities and only wanted enterprise to make it the great town of Iowa. He bought land at the lower part of town adjoining that owned by my father, and land on the west side adjoining the river and below that owned by Dr. King. He platted out town lots on both sides of the river, and induced my father and King to do the same, which were the first additions made to the original town. He also surveyed the island, sent a plat to the general government and took possession of it, much to the chagrin and surprise of the old settlers. Then he began to agitate the question of a free bridge. Every one wanted a free bridge but were undecided as to the location. The major induced my father to subscribe $1,500, and he gave $1,000, which with sums contributed by others in the lower end of the town, secured the location below the island at the narrowest place in the river. The bridge was completed and thrown open to the public, I think, in the late fall of 1852, and proved a great convenience. The construction was defective and when the ice broke up in the spring, the heavy cakes knocked down two of the piers, and destroyed the greater part of the bridge. All the people of the town were collected on the bank of the river watching the event, and two young women who were crossing went down with the structure and were drowned. This was the first bridge built at Cedar Rapids. The next was a bridge of boats at the foot of Iowa avenue which I believe was also swept away by ice. About this time the Rev. Williston Jones, who officiated in the 'Muddy,' and was a very good as well as energetic man, went east on some missionary effort. While there he met a gentleman named Coe, who made a donation of land adjoining the town plat for educational purposes providing the people would also contribute. A meeting was called and the terms complied with and thus Coe college was founded. I was quite honored when with others I was named as a trustee. Not long after this time the Reverend Starr became rector of the Episcopal church, and under the lead of Judge Greene and Mr. Bever, they began the erection of the first Episcopal church, and about the same time the Methodists built a brick church, so you see Cedar Rapids began to get on 'praying grounds and interceding terms.' In the winter of 1856-7 we were surprised and flattered by receiving a communication from a party of railroad men connected with the North-Western railroad, then completed to Fulton, Illinois, asking us to join them and organize a railroad company "We said there was nothing behind the old project, but that ours was a live scheme, with experienced men with bags of money to put it through. Our deputies had pledged $200,000 from Cedar Rapids, which we proceeded to raise, $100,000 by private subscription and $100,000 by city bonds. Greene & Weare, then bankers, subscribed $10,000; George Greene, $5,000; John Weare, $5,000; N. B. Brown, $5,000; S. C. Bever, $5,000; Gabriel Carpenter, $5,000, and numerous others smaller sums to make up the amount. Then a city election was had and the $100,000 voted by an overwhelming majority. Surveys of the route were begun at once and from Mount Vernon and Cedar Rapids, two lines were seen; one by the way of Marion, and the other by the river. It was ascertained that the latter route would be shorter and cheaper by $100,000 than the former, but the company proposed to adopt the Marion route if she would subscribe $100,000, which she declined to do, and the river line was chosen. Work progressed slowly and the first year found the rails no further west than De Witt, Clinton county. Nothing had been done on the Savanna line. "Meantime the legislature for 1857-8 assembled, and we were astounded to learn that they had passed a bill giving a land grant to that company. I do not remember why we had not looked after our interests, but only know that we were taken by surprise. We thought our enterprise in great jeopardy, and resolved to compromise, if possible, with Marion. I think that Judge Isbell was then president of the Savanna company. Major May, who had favored the Marion line, for what reason I now forget, and myself from a warm personal friendship with Judge Isbell, were chosen ambassadors. We met the judge and the Marion directors of the rival line. They were courteous, but obdurate. They said we had deserted them and run after strange gods, and now that the tables were turned, they proposed to build the road straight west, crossing the river eight miles north of Cedar Rapids, and instead of their building a branch to Cedar Rapids, we if we chose might build the branch from Cedar Rapids, and thus we left them, sad and discouraged. 'Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad,' and thus it turned out with the Savanna route. The company was composed From 1840 to 1846 much work was going on in the thriving little town. Glass had already a small grist mill on McCloud's Run and a saw mill had been started on Indian creek which furnished lumber till the saw mill on the Cedar river was completed. The labor on the dam was a big undertaking and took much time as the enterprising adventurers were not well prepared to cope with so large an undertaking. Many settlers were coming constantly, all of them full of courage and pleased with the location, which all proclaimed could not be improved upon. There were Alexander Ely, Joseph Greene, Homer Bishop, P. W. Earle, John Vardy, D. Fiddlar, A. Eddy, George Westlake, William Dwyer, James Gunning, Charles Mulford, Isaac Cook, John Shearer, James Lewis, Dr. S. M. Brice, and many others. Churches were also organized, such as the Methodist, in 1841, by Rev. Hodges, and the Baptist the same year by Rev. G. E. Eberhart. The United Presbyterian church was organized by John Cunningham ten years later. New settlers came and other church organizations were completed and small church buildings were erected by the members. The following chatty reminiscences of pioneer times is from the Republican of recent date: "'If two of us wanted to lunch together,' he said, 'we went to a saloon and sat down over some black bread and a little beer. Now you must stand up to drink your beer, and you may eat nothing.' "In the old days the city and the county politicians met here and talked over the political situation. The professional men met on equal grounds. Now it is all changed. "There were some interesting places in Cedar Rapids in those old days. In the location where Mr. Armstrong is now about to erect a fine business block there was an old German named Moritz Hoffbeck. It was a sand hill then, but there was a good cellar where Hoffbeck sold beer, gave away good lunches and entertained the crowd. His good wife also served the guests with good things to eat, cooked after her own fashion. Here congregated the best business men of the town after the day's business was over. They went home in the best of spirits, but often it was rather late when they went. "Some of the city's poets of that day composed a little poem about Moritz which ran as follows: "Moritz Hoffbeck is my name, Bavaria is my nation. Cedar Rapids I dearly love, For here I get my ration. "Another German, Sam Leunch, kept a place at Third avenue and First street, which was for many years a meeting place for farmers as well as city men. It also had a reputation for its fine lunches. "Sych's place was on the present location of the Y. M. C. A. This also was German and German dishes were one of its great attractions. "Frank Simon had a restaurant where Stark's hotel is now located. It was an eating house; also a drinking house. It was noted in five counties for being the place to get the best oysters in any style. The German fries have never been excelled. When Simon died, Ben Springer married his widow. He retired many years ago and sold the business to the Starks. "Frank Mark was a Swede who kept a saloon where Denecke's store is located, fronting on Second avenue. It was a small place but it was always full for he served eatables and kept private rooms for his city patrons who wished a quiet place in which to talk things over. "Pollack's where Severa's store is now located, was the Bohemian restaurant much sought for its good things to eat and for the imported drinks which he kept for his best friends. "Count Boshon kept a saloon down into prohibition times and ran many saloons in various places. He was known as the King of Bohemia and acted as though he might have been a count. He imported the Philip Best beer from Milwaukee and stored a car or two at a time in ice, and for this he obtained a great reputation. Count Boshon was a chancellor and knew how to secure the good will of prominent persons of the city and of the county officials. He seemed to stand in with all. It is said in his favor that while he may have violated the law in some instance he tried to keep a decent place. "The young business men would take a Saturday off and go up fishing or hunting or hire Elias Doty and his boat, the 'Climax,' and take a sail on the murky waters on the Red Cedar, sometimes up, and now and then when the water was high, down stream. Now all has changed. "In the olden times there were dances at the neighbors or other old gatherings. All were common. No dress suits were seen and there was no delay on account of lack of any introduction. "Doctors would get together and tell stories, lawyers would joke over their trials in court and in every way people were on an equality and truly happy. "Then people did not devote all their time to making money. They did not spend all the time in business. Young and old had a better time of it, for they worked and played as well. They were really content with the surroundings and with their condition in life. "In winter time people got together and had a good time, going skating or sleighing—on Christmas there were not so many gifts as now, but what was given was with the best of feeling. Another thing we have lost, and that is, the New Year's day calls. Old and young, married and single, made calls on this day every year. "It was a fine custom and it ought not to have been dropped. Now people are too busy to call on their neighbors and they seem to fear that society would not approve of it. In the olden days no questions were asked about one's grandfather." The old founders of Cedar Rapids were strong men in many ways. They were real live wires, and frequently spent money and devoted much of their time to exploit new industries. Such men as Geo. Greene, N. B. Brown, David King, S. D. Carpenter, W. B. Mack, R. C. Rock, P. W. Earle, H. G. Angle, J. E. Sanford, the Daniels family, the Ely family, the Weare family, the Bever family, and many others were men of rare intelligence, aggressive, enterprising, and wide awake, who came here to make a city at all hazards. They were true as steel to their convictions, enthusiastic in booming their town, and the "balance wheels" in time of need which kept things going. Even when some of these men lost heavily in the unfortunate steamboat ventures, in railroad exploitations, in bridges, dams, factory properties, and in other ways, they never complained, although at times it made them "men of sorrow and acquainted with grief." The settlement in Linn county was an event of more or less importance, for it was the last stand of the "free booters," and the last rush for cheap land in the Mississippi valley. The citizens came at an opportune time and took up the cheap lands, which soon rose in value. While during the panic of 1857, many of the farmers were unable to pay taxes on their farms and the value of farm produce was very low, yet they managed to get through. The panic of 1873 was not so disastrous on the farmers of Iowa, because by that time they had acquired more property and could afford to hold their stuff longer than in the panic of 1857. The land values stood still for awhile, but soon they began to move again and the farmer who had paid for an eighty-acre strip of land generally purchased another eighty or two, as he had plenty of help and the banks were willing to loan him the money. This land has more than doubled in the past twenty years, but the value of a season's crop now, as compared to forty years ago, has also more than doubled. Elias Doty, the son of an old pioneer, contributes the following items regarding Westport: "The first squatter town in Linn county was Westport, situated on the east bank of the Cedar river, near a spring three-fourths of a mile below the mouth of Indian creek. In 1845 its buildings consisted of one double log cabin, one frame dwelling, one frame storehouse, and one frame grain elevator. My father occupied the storehouse as a pottery, where he made earthenware. The elevator was owned by Robert Holmes and occupied by H. G. Higley and Lawson Daniels, who bought wheat and built flatboats to float it to the St. Louis market. Our family were the only dwellers at the town at that time. Higley and Daniels boarded with us. They built their boats bottom up and when completed turned them over. "Jacob Leabo lived a half mile below us, and Hiram Deem a half mile above us. I. W. Carroll and C. C. Cook lived at Dairy Dale, where they had started a brick kiln, which was the first in the county so far as I know. The first lime kiln was at Westport, where John Henry burned lime to plaster the houses of the town. The saw mill of the county at that time was near Bertram. It was started by my uncle, Elias Doty, who was killed at its raising in 1841. It was finished by James Briney." EARLY HOTELS IN CEDAR RAPIDSWhile the Shepherd Tavern was the first place where strangers could be entertained in Cedar Rapids, it was not long till several hotels were started. "It has always been a hotel town," said an old settler, "for the reason that when people came here they liked it so well that they did not care to move and they stayed at the tavern as long as money and credit held out." John Young, who held a claim near Shepherd, erected a small house on Fourth avenue close to the river, which became known as the "Astor House." This was a double log house, 18×26, and one story high, according to the testimony of Robert Ellis, George R. Carroll, and others. This building had several additions built to it during the next five years. A Mr. Verbeck, a native of Vermont, was one of the early landlords. This house was occupied by J. L. Shearer, John Weare, James Hamilton, and several other well known pioneer families. The Listebargers kept a sort of hotel near the Sinclair ice houses in 1839-40, and here Robert Ellis and several other unmarried men boarded. The Listebargers did not keep strangers, only regular boarders. Wm. Dwyer erected a real up-to-date hotel in 1847, as it was said there was a demand for such a building. It received the name of the Union House, with Jas. Gunning as the first landlord. It was located on Third avenue and Third street, near the present site of the Montrose Hotel. It was well spoken of and much patronized. The building was destroyed by fire in 1865. The American House and Greene's Hotel, both on First street, were well known places, sought by the traveling public. Greene's Hotel was for years one of the leading hotels in Iowa, a four-story building on the corner of First avenue and First street where political rallies were held and banquets were served, and where balls occurred during the winter seasons. The old Southern or Brown's Hotel was for many years one of the leading hotels. It is still operated under the name of Gorman's Hotel. The old Empire House was another hotel which in the early fifties was a place much frequented by the commercial traveler. It stood on the corner of Third avenue and Second street. Johnson's Hotel, on the west side, formerly Kingston Hotel, was also a well known place of entertainment. On the site of what is now the Cedar Rapids House there was operated for many years a popular little hotel which was always full to overflowing. One of the old clerks here used to reply to the fellow who asked if they were full, "The clerk is, but the house never, come in." Many of the pioneer travelers, who wanted to cross Dave King's ferry, came to stay over night at this place. The river traffic increased hotel trade, so did the gold craze in California, but in 1859, when the railroads reached Cedar Rapids, every other home was turned into a rooming house to accommodate the traveling public. The Grand, the Clifton, Palace Hotel, the Pullman, were for years busy places, till the Delevan, the Allison, and the Montrose were built. A city is largely known by its hotels, as the word is generally passed along by the traveling men. Cedar Rapids stands well in the state as a hotel center. In the Wolfe Directory for 1868 the following hotels are given Cedar Rapids: American House, G. E. Cheny; Chicago House, Nick Pitting; Dubuque House, Anton Christle; Eagle Hotel, R. E. Baldwin; Empire House, J. L. Peak; Valley City House, Harvey & Sherund; Kingston Hotel, William Friis; Dubuque House; National Hotel, Humphrey & Bean. BUSINESS IN 1856From 1850 to 1860 Cedar Rapids had a marvelous growth, despite the panic of 1857 which wiped out some of the fortunes of those who had invested heavily Flouring mills, four; planing mills, sash, doors and blinds, two; cooper, one; wagon and carriage factories, five; iron foundry, one; cabinet and chair factories, two; plow factories, three; boot and shoe factories, three; saddle and harness factories, three; tin, copper and sheet iron workers, four; woolen factory, one; brick yards, five; farm implement factories, two; merchant tailors, two; woodworking, two; newspapers, three; brick machine factory, one; grocery and provision stores, eight; dry goods, fifteen; clothing, five; drug stores, four; jewelers, two; hardware, four; book stores, two; book bindery, one; liquor and cigars, six; public halls, five; hotels, five; churches, four; lumber yards, four; bakery, one; banks, three; barber, one; public reading room, one. The same issue of the paper cites that the town should have a pork packing plant as well as a paper mill. It took a long time before the T. M. Sinclair Company's plant became an assured reality, which has become in time such a factor in the upbuilding of Cedar Rapids and Linn county. The following list of business firms in Cedar Rapids in 1856 is of interest: Dry Goods Stores—Shattuck & Dewey, Commercial street; L. Daniels & Co., Commercial street; C. E. Livingston, Carpenter's block, Commercial street; Partridge & Cook, Commercial street; Leach & Wood, corner of Washington and Eagle streets; Elder & McClelland, corner Iowa avenue and Commercial street. Grocery Stores—C. W. Stebbins, corner Front street and Iowa avenue, Kingston; A. C. Keyes, Carpenter's block, Commercial street; Bever & Rowley, Commercial street; J. H. Atwell, Commercial street. Clothing Stores—David Kahn, Commercial street; Bangs & Bixby, Commercial street. Hardware Stores—Rock & Camp, Commercial street; C. P. Spaethe, Commercial street; A. H. Brown & Co., Commercial street. Drug Stores—J. P. Conkey, No. 3, Commercial block; James L. Enos, No. 4, Iowa avenue. Jewelry Stores—J. T. Walker, Commercial street; L. H. Keyes, Commercial street. Book Stores—James L. Enos, No. 4, Iowa avenue. Banking Houses—Greene & Weare, Commercial street; Ward, Bryan & Co., Commercial street; W. A. Dodge, Carr & Co., Commercial street. Land and General Agency Offices—Whittam & Belt, Commercial street; Bates & Tousley, Commercial street; Carpenter, Lehman & Co., Commercial street; H. Mount & Co., Washington street. Furniture Ware Rooms—John Boyce, Iowa avenue; J. Alloway, Commercial street. Builders, Joiners, Etc.—W. D. Watrous, designer and builder, Carpenter's block; Smith & Williams, S on Madison, W on Washington street; Elihu Robbins, residence Washington street; Hyatt & Moore, shop on Commercial street. Blacksmith Shop and Plow Factory—Stephen L. Pollock, Linn street. Lumber Yard—Charles & Carroll, Commercial street. Carriage Manufacturers—Roswell Tibbetts, Benton street, West side; J. M. Chambers, Linn street. Hotels—Empire House, W. M. McMahon, corner Washington and Market streets; Greene's Hotel, Coffman & Smith, Commercial street; Rapids Hotel. Insurance Agents—S. C. Bever, Franklin and Marine; E. N. Bates, Hartford Fire; J. L. Enos, Iowa Insurance Co., Oskaloosa. Bakery and Restaurant—Alexander Clinton, Commercial street; Walter D. Thompson, No. 6 South Commercial street. Millinery—Mrs. E. A. Emery, Brown's block, Kingston; Miss Mary E. Stewart, Rapids Hotel. Physicians—S. C. Koontz, office Carpenter's block; J. H. Camburn, residence Washington street; W. D. Barclay, residence Iowa avenue; J. W. Edes, residence Washington street; Smith & Larrabee, office Commercial street; R. R. Taylor, office Carpenter's block; H. Mount, oculist, Washington street; McCauley & Pulsifer, dentists, Commercial street. Attorneys and Counsellors—James J. Child, Commercial street; Bates & Tousley, Commercial street; Henry Lehman, Commercial street; D. M. McIntosh, Commercial street. Nurseries—Central Iowa Nursery, J. B. Gate, proprietor, on west side, near city. Was established 1853. Mound Nursery, George Greene, proprietor, two miles north of the city. Planing Mill—Alexander Hager, shop 45×50 feet, two engines, one of nine and the other of twenty-four horsepower. Capital invested in plant and machinery, $10,000. Lumber Mills—Greene & Graves, located at upper end of city. Mill 40×50 feet, two stories high; engine house, 24×60 feet, one story high. Had capacity of 5,000 feet of lumber per day, with lath, shingles, etc., in proportion. This establishment also included a machine shop 35×70 feet, three stories high; foundry of brick, 30×60 feet, and a brick blacksmith and plow shop 25×35 feet. Capital invested, $25,000. J. J. Snouffer, one saw, cutting 200,000 feet of lumber during three months, ending June 30, 1856. A circular saw for plow beams, wagon felloes, etc. Saw Mill and Chair Factory—Dobbs & Dewey, capacity 10,000 feet of lumber a week. During year had turned out 8,000 chairs, 1,000 bedsteads and other articles. Fifteen hands employed. Capital, $12,000. Churches—Presbyterian (Old School), Rev. R. H. Morrow, pastor. Worships in Daniels' Hall. Subscription of $2,700 secured for a building, which with site is expected to cost $3,500. Membership, 46. Episcopal, Rev. S. Starr, rector. Church a fine structure and furnished in the neatest manner. Methodist Episcopal, destitute of pastor temporarily. More than one hundred members; largest congregation in city, more than 150 in attendance at Sabbath school. Baptist, West Side, Rev. J. Woodward, pastor. Temporary edifice to be erected present season. Membership between thirty and forty. Presbyterian (New School), Rev. L. F. Dudley, pastor. Church building small; was first to be erected in the city. Affairs in a flourishing condition. Presbyterians (Seceders), Rev. J. H. Sturgeon, pastor. Church edifice just erected and pews sold. Secret Societies—Cedar Rapids Lodge No. 25, A. F. & A. M. (organized 1850), Hiram Deem, W. M.; Isaac N. Whittam, secretary. Meets first Monday after new moon. Hope Lodge No. 201, I. O. O. F., organized 1851. Hiram Deem, N. G.; Joseph G. Davenport, secretary. Meets every Tuesday evening. Select Schools—Misses Farnham, in rooms under the Episcopal church; Miss H. Latshaw, on Washington street. Buildings Erected in Year—William Stewart, brick store, one story; R. C. Rock, brick store, three stories; J. F. Ely, two brick stores, three stories; A. Hager, machine shop, brick, three stories; Gabriel Carpenter, three stores, brick, four stories; S. C. Bever, store, brick, three stories; H. G. Angle, store, brick front, two stories; Bates & Tousley, banking house, brick, three stories; Shattuck & Dewey, two stores, three stories; P. W. Earle, store, three stories above basement; S. L. Pollock, addition to plow factory; Greene & Graves, stone machine shop, three stories; Greene & Graves, blacksmith shop and foundry; public school building, brick, three stories. Brick Dwellings—F. A. Lee, William Greene, James Bates, B. E. Baker, W. & S. Johnson, Elihu Robbins (two), M. Ohler, Ezra Havens, H. G. Angle, Watrous & Gillett, A. Whitensack. Frame Dwellings—H. Riefensthall, W. W. Smith, John Graves, Lowell Daniels, G. W. Westlake, H. L. Bryan, A. J. Reed, P. W. Reeder, W. Harvey, Henry Ward, S. A. Shattuck, D. S. Bryan, G. Dewey, Rev. Samuel Starr, Freeman Smith, —— Jordan, J. Crabil, Mary Lucore, Mr. McDougal, Mary Clark, Mr. Coon, Mr. Seabury. As yet, however, the improvements were confined to but a small portion of the present city. Iowa (First) avenue had been used as a sand bank, at the convenience of builders, and being left in ridges and hollows was impassable to teams. Lot owners on Eagle street (Second avenue) were urged to cut out the underbrush in the street so that wagons might pass, and thus that section of the city become attractive for residences. From Wolfe's Business Directory for 1869 we may note a few of the business houses and professional men. Agricultural Implements—Averill & Hamilton, A. C. Churchill, Fleck & Dorwart, Higley Bros., Patterson & Co., F. J. Upton. Ammunition—J. A. Nye. Architect—S. S. Spaulding. Attorneys—Boyd & Smith, J. J. Child, Craft & Sosel, A. V. Eastman, R. H. Gilmore, H. H. Gray, Hubbard & Belt, J. W. Leslie, M. P. Mills, A. St. C. Smith, O. O. Stanchfield, I. N. Whittam. Baker—P. Seitz. Banks—City National, First National. Bankers—Carpenter, Stibbs & Co. Barbers—Brown & Bolin, W. K. Harris, Lightenberg & Reiss. Billiard Halls—F. Witousek, D. T. Williams. Blank Book Makers—J. C. Stoddard, C. Barthel, S. B. Carl, Cook & Funk, J. E. Davis, R. H. Dutton, C. Everlien, C. A. Files, J. Hough, A. S. Mershon, J. M. Nell, Delia Rudolph, L. Turner. Book and Job Printers—Ayers Bros., W. A. Ballard. Book Stores—E. R. Derby, J. G. Graves, F. G. Bennett. Boot and Shoe Dealers—E. R. Bradford, J. Gates, McClelland Bros., J. E. Morrison, P. Necomb, A. G. Plumb, O. Robinson, C. Tomasek, T. S. Wilson, J. Wolfe. Brewers—C. Magnus, owner of the Eagle Brewery, Will Williams, Cedar Rapids Brewery, owned by Joe Schneider. Carpenters—Boss & Gray, M. J. Bourne, M. Moore, Null & DeCamp, W. Richmond, S. S. Spalding, J. M. Waldt. Carpets—I. N. Isham, J. Bell & Co., P. Newcomb. Clothing—Arnold & Loucheim, Arnold & Levi, Jackson & Lincoln, Otto Co., R. B. Tomlinson, J. Wiener. Commission Merchants—H. L. Bryan, Charles & Carroll, C. H. Hall, R. L. Porter, J. J. Snouffer & Co. Dentists—E. Ebi, A. K. Miner. Drugs—G. C. Haman, J. C. May, L. Roth, A. H. Taylor, W. L. Weller, Wetherby & Bowen. Flour Mills—Aetna Mills, by J. J. Snouffer & Co., Cedar Rapids Flouring Mills, W. B. Leach & Co., Union Mills, by W. S. Cooper. Grocers—O. B. Coe, Anderson & Pettinger, Al Jacobs, P. G. Garret, Hildebrand & Lansing, A. C. Keyes, P. Keech, W. Lench, C. L. Lutz, Sam Neidig, G. Parr, F. Plucshel, P. Seitz, J. B. Spry, J. H. Stibbs, T. S. Wilson, J. J. Witwer, Wood & Wolcott. Six hotels on the east side, and several on the west side, known as Kingston. The doctors were—C. F. Bullen, J. H. Camburn, G. P. Carpenter, J. P. Coulter, J. W. Edes, Mansfield & Smith, F. McClelland, J. North, Israel Snyder, C. H. Thompson, W. Bolinger. The live real estate agents were—Carpenter, Stibbs & Co., R. H. Gilmore, St. Clair Smith, O. O. Stanchfield, West & Eastman. There were about twenty saloons operated. The wagon makers were—R. C. Hall, John Hesse, Jos. Hrbek, John Mehan, Star Wagon Co., run by Upton, Chambers & Co. Kingston also boasted of two blacksmith shops, one boarding house, three hotels, several grocers, wagon makers, lumber dealers, etc. The population of Kingston as given by this directory was 300. LINN COUNTY STATISTICS FOR 1856General Figures—Number of dwelling houses, 2,518; number of families, 2,612; number of males, 7,911; number of females, 6,791; colored, 6; married, 5,110; widowed, 307; native voters, 2,946; naturalized voters, 236; aliens, 215; militia, 2,795; deaf and dumb, none; blind, 1; insane, 1; idiotic, 14; owners of land, 1,824; paupers, 3; total population of county, 14,792. Agricultural Statistics—Acres of land improved, 66,132; acres of land unimproved, 155,991; acres of meadow, 3,871; tons of hay, 8,551; bushels of grass seed, 306; acres spring wheat, 14,739; bushels harvested, 212,573; acres winter wheat, 249; bushels harvested, 1,532; acres oats, 5,854; bushels harvested, 180,674; acres corn, 24,251; bushels harvested, 1,025,375. Live Stock Figures—Number hogs sold, 16,905; value of hogs sold, $127,942; number of cattle sold, 3,284; value of cattle sold, $79,273. Farm Products—Pounds butter made, 153,646; pounds of wool sold, 14,143; pounds of cheese sold, 25,506; value of domestic manufactures, $7,269; value of general manufactures, $212,795. Nativity of population—Ohio, 3,758; Indiana, 1,320; Pennsylvania, 1,914; Iowa, 2,770; New York, 1,209; Maine, 111; New Hampshire, 83; Vermont, 189; Massachusetts, 188; Connecticut, 124; Rhode Island, 7; Virginia, 436; Kentucky, 242; Illinois, 453; Michigan, 87; Alabama, 1; Louisiana, 2; Mississippi, 4; North Carolina, 59; South Carolina, 23; Tennessee, 55; Missouri, 40; Georgia, 2; Maryland, 208; New Jersey, 178; Wisconsin, 51; Delaware, 10; England, 166; Ireland, 204; Wales, 4; Scotland, 72; Germany, 278; France, 11; Austria, 36; Russia, 0; Prussia, 5; Norway, 16; Sweden, 2; Holland, 2; on the ocean, 1; Canada, 161; New Brunswick, 11; Switzerland, 6; Denmark, 1; West Indies, 2; Bohemia, 139; Nova Scotia, 52; Prince Edward Island, 8; District of Columbia, 4; Poland, 1; Moravia, 6; Hungary, 5; Unknown, 1. From "Historical Sketch of the City," in the Cedar Rapids Directory for 1870-71, we cull the following: "During the year 1838 the first land claim was made by a certain Wm. Stone on what constituted the present site of Cedar Rapids. This was not the first claim made, however, as John Mann, Esq., had the honor of being the first settler in the county, having located at Pine Grove in the early part of the same year. "The attention of the early pioneers being drawn to the manufacturing resources of the county, the present site was early chosen as most suitable for a city, as the swift current of the river at this place would afford, in all probability, a valuable and extensive water-power. In 1841 the town was laid out, and within a short time thereafter the improvement of the water-power was commenced. The land lying along the margin of the river and commanding the "N. B. Brown, Esq., has added an attractive feature to the city by erecting a costly and elegant hotel on North Commercial street, which, when finished, will be one of the finest west of Chicago. In addition to these, the building of the mammoth machine shops of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota R. R. Company is shortly contemplated. This will involve an expense of several hundred thousand dollars, for which purpose fifty thousand dollars have been appropriated to the company by this city and township. "... As to educational interests Cedar Rapids has maintained a high position among her sister cities of the state. It is generally conceded that Iowa is the banner state of the Union, regarding her system of free schools and the advantages derived therefrom. This city has no less than thirty-five thousand dollars in school buildings, including the one recently built in West Cedar Rapids. The schools are classified and graded under the latest improved system, and are presided over by an able corps of teachers, chosen with special reference to their attainments and adaptation to impart instruction. James E. Harlan has at present the entire superintendence of the schools, and by his efficiency he is maintaining the high reputation which the schools have before sustained. Over thirteen hundred pupils are in constant attendance, and the number is yearly increasing. "... The Young Men's Christian Association deserves even more than a passing notice. The rooms of the Association are in Mansfield's Block, over the postoffice, and are opened each morning and evening through the week. "... The Young Men's Library Association is also a pleasant feature of the city. The enterprise has established a choice and well selected library, consisting of historic, scientific, poetic and biographic works, chosen from the best authors in the land. The library rooms are in charge of Miss Mary Thompson, a lady of rare grace and culture, who takes delight in entertaining her guests and exhibiting the many works of interest that adorn the shelves of her library. "... The social, moral and religious elements blend here in sweet harmony, and much of the refinement and culture witnessed in eastern cities and in eastern society is equally exhibited here; hence to those wishing to settle in a place combining the advantages of church, schools and refined society, as well as a place of good business facilities will find Cedar Rapids a desirable city in which to locate. We venture the assertion that Cedar Rapids, in the future as in the past, is destined to excel, in wealth and numbers, her neighboring rivals, and evermore sit as queen in the rich valley she so beautifully adorns." The following obituary appeared in the Cedar Rapids Gazette in March, 1909, and gives a sketch of a person who had passed through much of what is now the history of a thriving city, and is for that reason made part of the history of the county. Mrs. Brown was at her death the widow of one of the foremost men who ever lived in Cedar Rapids. "Susan Emery, daughter of Nathan Emery and Cornelia Broadhead, his wife, was born August 19, 1824, at Dingman's Ferry, Pike county, Pennsylvania, and died March 4, 1909, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, thus having lived 84 years, 6 months and 15 days, a period of time much longer than the average allotted to mankind. A woman in her younger days of a noble, perhaps an imperious presence, strong in mental and physical make-up; self-reliant and unswerving in "Captain Broadhead was made military governor of a portion of New Netherlands, with his headquarters at the old Indian town of Wiltwyck, called by the Hollanders Esophus and after the English occupation named and is still known as Kingston, in the state of New York. Captain Broadhead died in 1670. A grandson, Daniel by name, in 1733 migrated through the wilderness, down through the Jerseys to the water gap and located there. He with his sons refused to be driven out of the country and off his possessions by the savages during the Indian wars and fought for what they considered their own and won out. From this Daniel were descended three revolutionary soldiers—General Daniel Broadhead, a noted Indian fighter and close friend of George Washington; Luke Broadhead, a captain and friend of LaFayette, and Garret Broadhead, a captain. John Romeyn Broadhead, the historian, was of this family of Broadheads. From this it will be seen that Susan Brown came from no mean stock. In her younger days she was known to be generous and charitable to any worthy poor. Her giving was of the quiet and unostentatious kind, and to a considerable extent. This trait of character remained with her through her old age. She was a woman of strict integrity, spotless purity, and the world and community in which she lived was undoubtedly the gainer for her having lived in it. In 1852 she was married to her kinsman, Nicholas Broadhead Brown (a pioneer of 1840), coming immediately with her husband and sister, Mrs. Hannah E. Higley, to Cedar Rapids and has remained here continuously from that time, thus making her, with possibly one or two exceptions, at the time of her death, the oldest continuous resident of this city. In laying the foundation and the early upbuilding of this city were a number of potent and conspicuous men and women, such as George Greene, Alexander Ely, Addison Daniels, and others, but none more so than Nicholas B. Brown and his wife Susan." It is entirely proper to make some mention in these pages of Captain Joshua John Snouffer, who came to Cedar Rapids in 1852 when the city contained less than 400 people. He too had an intimate knowledge of what it meant to be a pioneer. Captain Snouffer was born in Maryland February 24, 1825, and though he was a loyal citizen of Iowa he never ceased to love his native state, nor did he ever forget its history, its traditions, and its people. He entered the Mexican war where he was wounded in the head on the field of battle on November 9, 1847. This wound troubled him all the remaining days of his life. At the time he was wounded he was first sergeant of a company of dragoons, and on several occasions had commanded a company. As a member of the firm of W. D. Watrous & Company he was closely identified with the milling industry of Cedar Rapids. He superintended the erection of "the brick mill" in 1875. With J. J. Child he was the joint author of the city's charter. He took an active part in the building of the Iowa & Nebraska Railroad, now the Northwestern. He was a prime mover in establishing the water works, and was one of those who gave the city its first street railway. At various times he was a member of the city government both as alderman and mayor. He was a skilled parliamentarian, and an honest man in every sense of the word. CEDAR RAPIDS TODAYW. I. Endicott, in The Saturday Record, July 10, 1909: Cedar Rapids has had a civic existence since January 15, 1849, on which date a town charter was adopted and town officers elected. In 1856, a new city charter was granted by the legislature and under that charter the affairs of the city were conducted until April 6, 1908, when the charter was abandoned and the city went under what is known as the "Commission Plan." Under the provisions of this law all ward lines and divisions were abolished and five men—a mayor and four councilmen or commissioners are elected at large. In the hands of these five men is placed all responsibility for the appointment of the entire city official staff and the management of city affairs. The new plan is working in a most satisfactory manner in Cedar Rapids and many things are being accomplished under it that were impossible of accomplishment under the old ward system. The improvements under way are all planned with a view to actual necessity and the harmonious building up of the city in all its sections. Modern business methods are in use in the conduct of the city's affairs and unwise or extravagant expenditure of the public money is not permitted. The council meets nearly every day and the citizen who has business to transact with the council is given instant hearing and attention. Under the law, the mayor is paid a salary of $2,500 and each of the councilmen $1,800 annually, and they devote full time and attention to the work of the city. The city's business is divided into departments and each man is in charge of and responsible for a certain department. The mayor is head of the department of Public Affairs and as such, exercises a general supervision over all phases of the city business. Then there are the departments of Accounts and Finances, the department of Public Safety, the department of Streets and Public Improvements, and the department of Parks and Public Property. The men elected have first to be successful in a wide open primary and then in the regular city election secure a majority of all the votes cast. In the election of 1908 there were 48 candidates for councilman and nine candidates for mayor on the primary ballot. From these names the two who received the highest number of votes for mayor and the eight who received the highest number of votes for councilman were declared the nominees and their names appeared on the ballot at the regular election, the names appearing in alphabetical order on both the primary and regular election ballots, and without any party or other designation. In 1908 the council accomplished the sale of the old city hall site and the purchase of May's Island for park and public buildings purposes. This island has an area of about six acres, and lying in the Cedar river in the very center of the city, forms an ideal place for a civic center. The city offices are now occupying temporary quarters on the island and as rapidly as possible the low places are being filled with dirt from the various excavations for business buildings, and from other sources, so that what was once a municipal disgrace, is being rapidly transformed into a place of beauty, to say nothing of forever setting at rest any possibility of divisive strife between the two sides of the river. THE CITY'S ASSETSThe public improvements of the city of Cedar Rapids represent expenditures running into the millions of dollars. Few cities of like size are so thoroughly or excellently paved. On the first of January, 1909, the city had three miles of asphalt, twenty miles of brick, and five miles of macadam paving, or a total of twenty-eight miles. There are now under construction, or already completed on contracts carried over from 1908, two miles of brick and one mile of tar treated macadam, giving Cedar Rapids at the present time thirty-one miles of paving. Sidewalks are practically all of cement construction and laid under city supervision. On January 1, 1909, there were more than 102 miles of walk in the city, and of this more than ninety-six miles were of cement, nearly four miles of brick or stone and only about two miles of wooden construction. The contracts let for this season will represent the construction of about eight miles of walks, giving the city a total of 110 miles of sidewalks. Cedar Rapids has two systems of sewers, sanitary and storm water. Some of the storm water sewers are of large size, being seven feet in diameter, and one—the Vinton ditch sewer, is even larger. Cedar Rapids has an excellent fire department, equipped with the best of apparatus. There are five stations—one central station and four outlying hose houses. In the matter of parks the city has made a most promising start. There are now in the city twenty-eight parks, counting large and small and not including any street parkways. Of this number Bever Park, Ellis Park, Daniels Park, May's Island Park, Riverside Park, and Whittam Park are considerable tracts, while George Greene Square, opposite the union station, with its beautiful display of flowers and rich green lawn, is one of the show spots of the city. Bever Park, the largest of the parks, in the woods to the east of the city, was the gift of James L. Bever, George W. Bever, and John B. Bever, as a memorial to their father, Sampson C. Bever, who was one of the pioneers of the city. Bever Park is flanked one side by picturesque Vernon Heights and on the other by beautiful Ridgewood, forming an almost continuous park of great extent and beauty. Daniels Park is the newest of the city parks. It is located on the Old Marion Road and has been transformed into a beautiful floral park, with well-arranged walks and driveways. Riverside Park is the close-in park, being located on the bank of the river south of Eleventh avenue, and this has been made a play park, with plenty of out-door gymnasium apparatus for the children and young people. Ellis Park, located on the river bank above the city, is one of the most beautiful and attractive of all the parks, and when adequate means of reaching it are installed, it will without question be one of the most popular parks in the city. The river with its excellent boating facilities, gives a charm to Ellis Park that is denied the other breathing places of the city. The city of Cedar Rapids is spending more than twenty thousand dollars each year on its park system, and it is money well spent. There are about two hundred acres in the park system, and a conservative value of the park grounds and improvements is well over $300,000. The Free Public Library is a most valuable asset to the city and aside from the unmeasurable good done in the dissemination of knowledge, represents a money investment of well toward $150,000. The building proper was the gift of Mr. Carnegie and cost $75,000, the grounds and other items and the contents of the library will add another $75,000 to the valuation. It is supported by a city tax and costs about $12,000 per year to operate. Its affairs are in charge of a board of trustees, appointed by the council. The city owns and maintains five bridges across the Cedar river. Of these bridges four are of steel construction and one—the Second avenue bridge—is a magnificent reinforced concrete bridge of Melan arch design. This bridge is one of the best and most attractive in the middle west. Its cost was more than $100,000. [The city contracted in 1909-10 a new concrete bridge to replace the old steel bridge on Sixteenth avenue at a cost of $80,000. It is 40 feet wide and 2,600 feet long, and was opened for traffic January, 1910. A new concrete bridge will be contracted in 1911 at Third avenue to replace one of the oldest in the city.] The city water works are owned by the city of Cedar Rapids, and are managed by three trustees appointed by the council. The plant was purchased from the water company July 1, 1903, at an agreed price of $473,000. Of this amount, $23,000 was paid in cash and the remainder was put in the form of bonds. In the past six years $158,000 of these bonds have been retired, leaving a net indebtedness against the water plant of $315,000. The net earnings of the plant from July 1, 1903, to July 1, 1908, were $79,952.30, and for the year ending July 1, 1909, were almost $25,000. In addition the city gets free hydrant rental and fire protection. A conservative inventory of the water plant will show a valuation of well over $600,000 at the present time. The water is taken from large wells on an island in the Cedar river belonging to the city and located some distance above the C. & N. W. bridge. It is filtered by the Jewell system and is forced through the mains by large pumps. There are three of these pumps in use, one of two million gallons daily capacity, one of three million gallons capacity and one of five million gallons capacity. The necessary power is supplied by two water tube boilers of 350 horsepower each, and three tubular boilers of 70 horsepower each. The filter system has a capacity of three million gallons per day, and an additional reservoir for the filter is now under construction. There are at the present time 390 fire hydrants and an excellent and satisfactory fire pressure is maintained for all fire alarms. A loop of twelve-inch mains encircles the business district and this loop is supplied by a twenty-inch main direct from the pumps, giving the business section a fire protection unexcelled by that of any city in the west. THE RAILWAYSUp to 1849 the village of Cedar Rapids had no formal organization. It was simply a township. But the legislature of 1849 granted a town charter and for the next decade the community throve apace. It was during this period of years that Cedar Rapids strove for, and secured, its first line of railway. In the fifties the railway lines to the west left the bank of the Mississippi and pushed their way out into the fertile prairies of Iowa. Among these lines was one known as the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska, and its purpose was to construct a line of railway from Clinton, across Iowa, to some point on the Missouri river. Among Cedar Rapids men who were prominently identified with the enterprise and were on the board of directors were John Weare, Jr., William Greene, H. G. Angle and S. C. Bever. The company was organized in 1856, but it was not until June, 1859, that the line was completed from Clinton to Cedar Rapids, a distance of a little over eighty miles, and train service established between the two towns. Previous to the coming of the railroad, communication with the outside world was maintained by means of stage lines; Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport, Muscatine, Iowa City, and Waterloo being reached by that method. Freight and supplies were brought in by wagon, though in the early days there was some steamboat traffic on the Cedar river as far as Cedar Rapids. It required hard work, and plenty of it, to get that first new line of railway into Cedar Rapids. Marion, the old, substantial town and the county seat, wanted the road—and came pretty near getting it, too. The next move in railway construction work for the community was the extension of the new line west, on its way to the Missouri river, a line which is today the main artery of the Chicago & Northwestern system, forming an important part of the great highway of steel connecting the Atlantic and Pacific. The original promoters of the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railway, living in Cedar Rapids, were anxious that that company should build a branch line up the Cedar valley from this point, and thus tap the rich and rapidly growing territory lying to the northwest of Cedar Rapids. But the company had no time or money with which to build side lines or branches. Its objective point was the Cedar Rapids' third railway enterprise was the securing of the Dubuque & Southwestern, locally known as the "Slough Shore," from the manner of its entrance into the town. This railway was built and operated by the Farleys, father and sons, of Dubuque, and for many years, with its connection with the Illinois Central at Farley, maintained the only line of direct communication between Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. In the early days some very peculiar railroading was done on the Farley line, and the incidents and happenings, if gathered together, would make an extended volume. The Dubuque and Southwestern is now a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul system, and over its tracks trains now run to Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, as well as to the original sleepy little terminus of Farley. The last steam road to enter Cedar Rapids was the Illinois Central, a line being constructed from Manchester by the late S. L. Dows. This line opens up to the shippers and business men of Cedar Rapids direct connections with the Illinois Central, and is of peculiar value in the traffic in southern and tropical fruits and commodities which come by water to New Orleans. More recently the interurban between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City has been constructed, and with its hourly service it has won a business which makes certain the building of other and equally as promising lines in the near future. Cedar Rapids of 1909, from a railroad point of view, is the traffic pivot of the middle west. Centering here are four of the largest railway systems of the country—the Chicago & Northwestern, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Rock Island, and the Illinois Central. From Cedar Rapids direct lines radiate to Chicago, Peoria, St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Watertown, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Milwaukee, the total mileage of the lines entering Cedar Rapids being about 35,000 miles. Direct service is maintained between Cedar Rapids and nearly 1,750 stations in Iowa, to say nothing of the thousands of stations in other and surrounding states reached by direct train service from this city. More than 225 railway and interurban trains arrive in or depart from Cedar Rapids daily. Approximately 80,000 carloads of freight are handled annually. The freight earnings are about $3,500,000 and the passenger receipts are about $1,200,000 each year. Three express companies, the American, the United States, and the Wells-Fargo, maintain offices in Cedar Rapids. Recognizing the future of Cedar Rapids as a railroad, manufacturing and distributing center, the railroads have all been expending vast sums of money in The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific is now engaged in the construction of its new terminals and freight depot on the blocks lying between Second and Third streets and Fifth and Ninth avenues, and when completed these terminals and depot will be ample for the accommodation of a freight business of a city of hundreds of thousands of population. In the matter of passenger travel the city is well accommodated in the two depots, both on Fourth street, one occupied by the Chicago & Northwestern and the Rock Island, and known as the Union station, and the other occupied jointly by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Illinois Central lines. Mention must also be made of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City interurban line, which maintains an excellent hourly service between the two cities. This line of road is the pioneer in the interurban field for the city, if the line to Marion be excepted, but is proving daily more and more popular and its business is increasing in such a measure that the building of additional lines of like character is only a question of the near future. MANUFACTURINGFrom the days of its very earliest beginnings the people of Cedar Rapids have paid especial attention to the manufacturing industry. A large part of those who settled in Cedar Rapids came from the east where manufacturing leads all other industries and it is but natural that they should embark in their new home in those lines with which they were familiar. The papers and records of the early days tell of a long line of enterprises that have come and gone. There were flour mills, woolen mills, implement works, engine factories, wagon factories, oil mills—the list is a long and interesting one to the delver into local history. With the coming of the railways, opening up markets for the manufactured products and affording means of collecting and bringing in the raw material, the manufacturing side of Cedar Rapids' activities has grown apace, until today Cedar Rapids, although not the largest of Iowa cities, leads them all in the amount of manufactured goods produced. In 1908 the total ran to nearly if not quite $22,000,000, and the output for 1909 will far exceed that great figure. There are now nearly 100 manufacturing institutions in Cedar Rapids, employing nearly 4,500 hands and paying more than $3,000,000 annually in wages. Many of our manufacturing institutions are of many years' standing. The great mill of the Quaker Oats Company, the largest milling plant in the world, was originally established years ago as an oat meal mill by George Douglas and Robert Stuart, two thrifty and persevering Scotchmen to whose industry and far-sightedness is due the fact that at least the first course of the world's breakfast (after fruit) comes from Cedar Rapids. The great packing plant of T. M. Sinclair & Co., Ltd., giving employment to 1,200 employees and sending its products to all parts of the world, has done more to advertise Cedar Rapids than any other one agency. It was established by T. M. Sinclair, a young man from Belfast, and from its modest beginning many years ago it has become a plant representing an investment of millions and an ability to supply at least a large portion of the second course of the world's breakfast. Then there is the big starch works of In other lines Cedar Rapids leads as well as in those involving the conversion of the native products of agricultural Iowa. This city with its three great pump companies, the Cedar Rapids Pump Co., the Chandler Pump Co., and the Iowa Windmill and Pump Co., control the pump, windmill, iron pipe and plumbing supply business of the middle west. While the collateral lines covered by the Dearborn Brass Co., the Iowa Radiator Co., the Tokheim Manufacturing Co., the Vernier Manufacturing Co., the Smith-Talbott Co., and others add materially to the leadership of Cedar Rapids in these departments. The Denning Fence works places Cedar Rapids in a leading position in the fence manufacturing business. The Perfection Manufacturing Co., the Hawkeye Skirt and Garment Co., the Welch-Cook Co., and the Clark-MacDanel Co., give Cedar Rapids a high position in the business of manufacturing clothing for both men and women that is not suspected, even by some of the best posted people in the city. Then there are other lines of manufacture. The J. G. Cherry Co., with their line of dairy and creamery supplies; the Cedar Rapids Sash and Door Co., the Williams & Hunting Co., and the Disbrow Sash and Door Co., with their big wood working plants; the various furniture factories, the cement and sand-lime brick plants; the big printing plants, for printing is a most important industry in Cedar Rapids; in short, the list is endless and as this is not a directory of the manufacturing industries of Cedar Rapids, further individual mention will have to be abandoned. What is manufactured in Cedar Rapids? The list is a long and mixed one. It comprehends all kinds of breakfast foods, flour, starch, gluten feed, all kinds of packing house products, woven wire fence, candy, ice cream, pumps, iron pipe, windmills, plumbers' supplies, steam heating plants, machinery of all kinds, stone and ore crushers, hot air furnaces, cornices, bank, store and office fixtures, camp and lawn furniture, corsets, parlor furniture, mattresses, woven wire springs, undertakers' supplies, egg cases, dairy supplies, butter, concrete fence posts, sand-lime brick, prepared plaster, ice, gasoline engines, store step-ladders, hard wood specialties, electrical supplies, gasoline storage tanks and measuring pumps, manure spreaders, overalls, women's skirts, suits and jackets, shirts, photo paper, brass goods, coffee, spices, extracts, baking powder, sash, doors and blinds, steel baskets, tanks, stoves, school books, umbrellas, vinegar, pickles, wagons, carriages, omnibuses, automobiles, patent medicines, physicians' and hospital supplies, crushed stone, cigars, etc., etc. It is noteworthy that of the many industries started in Cedar Rapids within the past twenty years, a very large per cent have been financial successes, some of them notably so. Nearly all of them have been launched in modest fashion and while nowhere is it possible for all enterprises to succeed, the few failures in Cedar Rapids have all been brought about by causes purely individual in the management or because of circumstances which seemingly no one could control. Cedar Rapids has passed beyond the experimental stage as a manufacturing city. It has been demonstrated that industries can be established and operated successfully here and that goods made in Cedar Rapids will find a ready and stable sale in all parts of the world. In fact, Cedar Rapids is but just beginning her epoch of industrial prosperity and growth and she extends to all the invitation to come, see how those here are prospering, and join in the march of events which In this connection it is not amiss to speak of the excellent conditions which have always surrounded the labor situation in this city. The manufacturing industry must, of necessity, depend very largely on the element of labor and in many localities strikes and strife and misunderstanding and trouble generally have added to the difficulty of the local situation. There has been but little of this sort of thing in Cedar Rapids. Labor has always been well paid, well treated and well satisfied in this city, and the little differences which have come up between employer and employee have all been settled promptly and satisfactorily. There has been an absence of the grafting labor agitator and all have worked harmoniously together to build up the city and its best interests. THE STREET RAILWAYSBY E. A. SHERMAN, EDITOR SATURDAY RECORD The Marion and Cedar Rapids Improvement Company was incorporated March 8, 1879, to construct street railways on the streets of Cedar Rapids and Marion, and the highway between, known as the "Boulevard." The incorporators were Addison Daniels, J. L. Crawford, C. C. Cook, and John Meredith Davis. The officers were John Meredith Davis, president; James L. Crawford, secretary; C. C. Cook, treasurer. On March 13, 1879, the city council of Marion passed an ordinance authorizing construction of the line in the city of Marion. On May 16th, the city council of Cedar Rapids passed an ordinance granting the Marion and Cedar Rapids Improvement Company the right to construct and operate street railways on Iowa avenue, and also on alternate streets. October 13, 1879, the name of the company was changed to the Cedar Rapids and Marion Street Railway Company. John Meredith Davis resigned as president and was succeeded by W. M. Hewitt. November 8, 1879, the city of Cedar Rapids passed another ordinance granting a franchise to the Cedar Rapids and Marion Street Railway Company for lines on Iowa avenue and on alternate streets. Up to this last date the enterprise had been fathered by Milwaukee and Davenport parties, who then dropped out. Construction had already been begun and the work was continued by Marion parties, prominent among whom were Mr. E. Latham, J. L. Crawford, and J. C. Davis. Mr. Latham advanced the money necessary for construction. On January 8, 1880, Mr. Latham was made president of the company. In March of that year Judge George Greene (always foremost in any enterprise which would help Cedar Rapids) took a controlling interest in the company, and from that time forward, with the financial assistance rendered by Judge Greene, the work went rapidly on so that the line began carrying passengers between Cedar Rapids and Marion on the 3d of May, 1880, by steam motor between Twelfth street in Cedar Rapids and the terminal station in Marion, and from Twelfth street to Fourth street in Cedar Rapids in horse cars. Both Judge Greene and Mr. Latham died early in the summer of 1880, and although Mr. S. C. Bever, Mr. A. J. McKean and other prominent citizens of Cedar Rapids and Marion afterwards became interested in the enterprise, the Greene family always held a controlling interest and were foremost in management of the company up to the sale in 1890. Mr. Latham was succeeded as president by William Greene on July 15, 1880. The board of supervisors forbade the company laying its track on the boulevard, and brought suit to enjoin such construction. The Eighteenth General The track between Marion and the city limits of Cedar Rapids were laid with "T" rails weighing sixteen pounds to the yard; afterwards changed to thirty-five pounds per yard. The horse car tracks were laid with flat rails weighing twenty-two to twenty-four pounds per yard, spiked on the top of wooden stringers. The first equipment consisted of two small second hand steam motors and four cars. The extensions and additions made were: In 1882, track to fair ground from First to B avenue, only operated during fairs and amusements. Line on Adams (now Third) street, First avenue to Fourteenth avenue. Opened September 7, 1882. Line from First avenue and Commercial (now First) street to Third avenue, across Third avenue bridge on Third avenue to Sixth street west; also line on Third street north from Third avenue to A avenue, and south to Seventh avenue west. These west side lines began doing business in the fall of 1882, and early in 1883 car and horse barns were built at Third avenue and Third street west. In 1884, line extended from Third street and Seventh avenue west to J. C. Young's addition at Sixth street and Fifteenth avenue west and afterwards taken up for want of business. In 1886, line from First avenue east along Fifth street to Fifth avenue, up First avenue to Tenth street, thence on Tenth street and Mount Vernon road to Oak Hill cemetery; opened for business July 4, 1886. Fair ground line taken up. New line on Sixteenth street from First to E avenue, built and put in operation November 15, 1886. As the branch lines of horse railroad within the city of Cedar Rapids paid no profit, the Marion stockholders stoutly objected to the earnings of the Marion line being used for the sole benefit of the people of Cedar Rapids. So the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway Co., on the 13th of July, 1889, conveyed to John W. Henderson—for the sum of one dollar—all of these branch lines excepting the Sixteenth street line. Mr. Henderson on November 14, 1889, deeded the same to the Cedar Rapids Street Railway, a company organized for the purpose of operating these city lines, and for the further construction of other city lines in Cedar Rapids, of which company C. G. Greene was president, U. C. Blake, vice-president, W. J. Greene, secretary, and George Greene, treasurer. These city lines failed to earn enough to pay operating expenses and were all conveyed back to the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway Co. on February 9, 1891. For the year ending June 30, 1884, the number of employes of the company was twenty, the annual wages $11,667.44. In 1889 the number of employes averaged twenty-eight and the annual wages $15,878.00. During the years 1886 to 1890, the west side lines had been gradually abandoned, so that on December 1, 1890, there was only remaining the one on First street and across the Third avenue bridge to Third street, and thence on Third street southwesterly to Seventh avenue. The entire equipment at that date consisted of two steam motors, two 28-foot coaches, one open trail car, 20 feet long, one baggage car, one 18-foot, six 12-foot, and eleven 10-foot horse cars, two snow plows, two flat cars and nineteen horses and mules, with the necessary harness and fixtures. In the autumn of 1890 it came to the knowledge of Mr. J. S. Ely that non-resident parties were investigating the situation with a view of acquiring the property of the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway, together with the city lines then owned by the Cedar Rapids Street Railway. Mr. Ely believing that it would "To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa: "The undersigned stockholders in the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway, and in the Cedar Rapids Street Railway Company, respectfully represent to your honorable body that they are the absolute owners of all the stock of the corporations, and all are resident tax payers in said city, largely interested in its general progress and prosperity; that it is their purpose and intention to reconstruct, improve and extend the properties now operated by the said companies and to run the cars on said lines by electric power as soon as the necessary authority and the additional rights and franchises required are granted, and on the granting of the same, we pledge ourselves to take immediate steps toward putting on electric service, and to rebuild, maintain and operate, and from time to time extend the lines in said city to the full extent that ordinary business prudence will warrant. "We, therefore, petition your honorable body to grant said corporations the necessary authority, rights and franchises to enable them to enter upon and make the changes and improvements above mentioned. "P. E. Hall, A. T. Averill, Henry V. Ferguson, C. G. Greene, Walter D. Douglas, Jno. S. Ely, Chas. H. Clark, C. J. Ives, Jas. L. Bever, G. B. Douglas, C. Magnus, F. R. Greene, Geo. W. Bever, S. C. Bever, U. C. Blake. "Dated December 31, 1890." The franchise asked for by these stockholders was for twenty-five years. Although the above application was warmly supported by the leading newspapers of Cedar Rapids, the city council refused the franchise so asked for, but instead on May 1, 1891, granted to the Thomson-Houston Electric Co. a franchise for fifty years, for lines covering substantially the same territory on the east side of the river as that served by the horse cars, and also for three miles of new lines on the west side of the river, to be afterwards located. So these gentlemen who had put up their money to save the city of Cedar Rapids from non-resident ownership of transportation lines, found their purpose frustrated and with a fair prospect of losing their entire investment. Rather than suffer this, a majority decided to acquire this new franchise at the best price obtainable, and then go ahead with construction according to its terms. After this decision Mr. Ives and Mr. Magnus retired from the enterprise and took back their money. Previously, during the negotiation for the franchise, Mr. S. C. Bever and Mr. U. C. Blake had sold out. On the organization of the new company to take over the Thomson-Houston franchise, Mrs. Frances R. Greene, C. G. Greene and Geo. W. Bever sold their interests to the remaining stockholders. Neither the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway nor the Cedar Rapids Street Railway ever paid a dividend, so that all of the stockholders who had invested J. P. Messer was superintendent from January 1, 1881, to February 22, 1883, when he resigned and was succeeded by Wm. Elsom, who remained superintendent until after the system had been changed into an electric railway. CEDAR RAPIDS AND MARION CITY RAILWAY COMPANYThe Cedar Rapids and Marion City Railway Company was organized May 14, 1891, and immediately thereafter purchased the franchise for electric railways in Cedar Rapids recently granted to the Thomson-Houston Electric Co., and also took over all the rights, property and franchises of the Cedar Rapids and Marion Railway. A franchise for twenty-five years for an electric line from the terminal point in the city of Marion to the southwesterly city limits of Marion was granted to this company at about that time. The first officers were: Jas. L. Bever, president; Walter D. Douglas, vice-president; Chas. H. Clark, treasurer; Glenn M. Averill, secretary. Within a few months Jas. L. Bever and A. T. Averill sold out and retired from the enterprise. After the reorganization resulting from this change in ownership, the officers were: P. E. Hall, president; W. D. Douglas, vice-president; Chas. H. Clark, treasurer; John S. Ely, secretary. The stockholders were: Chas. H. Clark, Geo. B. Douglas, John S. Ely, J. S. Cook, Walter D. Douglas, Henry V. Ferguson, and P. E. Hall, of Cedar Rapids, Horace Williams, of Clinton, Iowa, J. E. Ainsworth, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, now of Williamstown, Vt., David P. Kimball and L. C. Kimball, of Boston, Mass., and J. Van Deventer, of Knoxville, Tenn. No change of ownership except through division of estates of deceased stockholders has taken place up to the present time. The work of construction and reconstruction was begun at once and vigorously pushed during the season of 1891. All tracks were entirely new excepting from Sixteenth street to Marion. Those across the First avenue bridge were laid with strap rails, nailed to the bridge plank. The balance of the double track with 58 pound girder rails. All other new lines with 45 pound "T" rail. The strap rail was taken off the bridge and girder rail substituted a few years thereafter. The city lines on the east side of the river were open for business in November, 1891, the west side lines in December, 1891, and electric service begun to Marion in February, 1892. The main line mileage of the road at this date, not counting spur and sidetracks is, within the city of Cedar Rapids 12.85 miles, of which 2.28 miles is double track. From the city limits at Kenwood to Marion, 2.80 miles; total 15.65 miles. The Marion line above Twentieth street through to Marion has been entirely rebuilt with new rails, the grades cut down, the alignment changed, the track ballasted, a new steel and concrete bridge built over Indian creek; so as to make that portion of the road fully adequate for the business. Within the last three years all of the girder rail tracks east of the river have been relaid with 60 and 80 pound "T" rails and the number of ties increased fifty per cent. The service has been increased to once in fifteen minutes each way and extended to twelve o'clock at night on all the lines excepting the Marion line, where the service is once in twenty minutes during the day and up to 12:30 a. m. The power plant first installed consisted of two 125 horsepower engines connected by belts to two 75 k. w. generators. It now consists of one 400 horsepower engine belted to a 300 k. w. generator, and one 750 horsepower engine directly connected to a 450 k. w. generator. The output of power is equalized by a storage battery of 272 cells. The boilers, smoke stack, switch board, condensers and all minor machinery have been correspondingly increased and improved. The car barn (originally a wooden iron-clad building 80×140 feet) has been enlarged and new brick buildings erected with shop room for building car bodies and trucks, and making all necessary repairs to cars and electric equipment; so that the present storage shop and office buildings, with storage for lumber and ties, covers six full sized city lots. The company now builds its own car trucks and car bodies. For the year 1892 (first year of operation of electric lines) the average number of employes was 81, and the total wages paid $37,610.12. For the year 1908 the average number of employes was 143 and the annual wages $84,328.73. William Elsom was superintendent from the organization of the company until June, 1892, when he resigned and was succeeded by F. L. Diserens, who still holds that position. The present officers and directors are: P. E. Hall, president; Henry V. Ferguson, vice-president and secretary; John S. Ely, treasurer. The directors are P. E. Hall, John S. Ely, Henry V. Ferguson, George B. Douglas, and Edward C. Clark, all of Cedar Rapids; Walter D. Douglas, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and David P. Kimball, of Boston, Massachusetts. THE COMMERCIAL CLUBFROM THE SATURDAY RECORD, JULY 10, 1909 The city of Cedar Rapids has had a number of commercial organizations, formed to advance the business interests of the community, in the sixty years of its existence, but all the earlier associations were of a more or less informal character, and while they did good work as long as the enthusiasm lasted, the time came when each and every one passed into history. It was not until 1897 that a permanent commercial club came into being and that organization, which is now known as the Cedar Rapids Commercial Club, has for the past twelve years played a most important part in the upbuilding of the city and the promotion of its best commercial and industrial interests. The events leading up to the organization of the Commercial Club form an interesting story, and as the editor of The Record was personally identified with them, he here takes the liberty of making the facts a matter of record. In April, 1897, a meeting of the Fifth District Editorial Association was held at Excelsior Springs, Mo., and as part of the entertainment, a delegation from the Commercial Club of Kansas City, escorted the members of the Editorial Association from Excelsior Springs to Kansas City and devoted a day to showing them Kansas City from every point of view. The stock yards, the packing houses, the fire department, the newspaper offices, the parks were visited, a reception and luncheon were tendered at the Commercial Club rooms and a dinner was served at one of the leading hotels. Following the return of the party to Excelsior Springs, A. N. Palmer, president of the Cedar Rapids Business College and editor of the American Penman, and the editor of The Record were discussing the splendid entertainment of the Kansas City boosters and what it meant to a city to have such a live organization; and it was then and there decided that Cedar Rapids ought to have such a club. The matter was talked over at length and the result was that as soon as possible after returning home, Mr. Palmer issued a letter to some 400 of the business men of the city reciting the need of such an organization in Cedar Rapids and calling a meeting for the purpose of considering its formation. That meeting was held in the assembly room of the Cedar Rapids Business College on the evening of June 8, 1897. It was decided to form the club and at a subsequent meeting, held July 2d, the club was formally organized. A. N. Palmer was chosen the first president and the editor of The Record was elected temporary secretary, serving until the election of the first With the consolidation came the addition of the social feature, including reading room, billiards, and later, the inauguration of the noon-day lunch, which latter has proved to be most popular, and which has done much to bring the members in closer touch each with the other. Ever since organization the Commercial Club has been fortunate in securing as officers men who have been willing and able to give the organization their time, best thought and energy, with the result that it has been and is now a live and potent force in the community. Such men as Palmer, Anderson, Forbes, Newman, Safely, Rall, and others, have filled the presidency with credit to themselves and profit to the club and the city, and in Shaw, Lincoln, Charles, Simmons, Sessions, Shaver, Bell, and Wunderlich the Commercial Club has had secretaries who have labored faithfully to further the best interests of the organization and city. The present officers, J. F. Rall, president, and John Wunderlich, secretary, are making records in their administration and achieving results that speak for themselves. The work of the Commercial Club is so wide-spreading and presents so many aspects that it is impossible to refer to it in any detail. The idea of the club is to arrange systematic work to be done by the members, as well as by the officers, and with that in view, there are a number of committees in charge of various departments of the work, as follows: Assembly, Civic, Entertainments, Executive, House, Interurban, Legislative, Manufactures, Mercantile, Membership, Navigation on Cedar River, Public Institutions, Trade Extension, Tariff and Transportation, Special Convention, Railway Service, Statistics. These are all regular standing committees. In addition, many special committees are appointed to take up special or emergency matters. As the result of the labors and aid of the Commercial Club, many prosperous and valuable manufacturing industries have been brought to Cedar Rapids the past twelve years. Many local businesses have been encouraged to start and aided on their way to success. Many established businesses that have needed encouragement have been given it and other businesses that have found difficulties in their pathway have had those difficulties removed through the offices of the Commercial Club and its members. Conventions and public gatherings of many kinds have been induced to hold their meetings in this city through work performed by the Commercial Club. Vexatious local disputes have been adjusted, and when cities like Indianapolis have attempted to entice such organizations as the Order of Railway Conductors away from Cedar Rapids, the Commercial Club has been found stanchly and successfully contesting the removal. When it was found necessary to secure legislation amending some phases of the commission plan law to make it fully applicable to Cedar Rapids, it was the Commercial Club that went before the legislature and secured the needed amendments. It was the Commercial Club that first began the work of running trade excursions, an idea that has grown with each year. The trip of this spring, to Le Mars, via the Illinois Central and return via Sheldon, Mason City, and Calmar on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, occupying four days with ninety in the party, was by all odds the best and most profitable of all the series. Within the past year a new and valuable department has been created in the freight traffic bureau. The work of this department is to bring about an equitable condition in freight rates for Cedar Rapids, as compared with other cities of like location and surroundings and eliminate discriminatory freight rates as compared with other jobbing centers. In the prosecution of the work of this bureau, the The Commercial Club has a present membership of 280, made up of the leading business and professional men of the city. It is a live, active organization, reflecting the best and most progressive citizenship of the community. The club apartments occupy a large portion of the fourth floor of the Masonic Temple, are commodious and comfortable, and form a gathering place for the discussion of matters which affect the business prosperity of the city. Regular meetings of the board of directors are held every Monday noon, following a lunch served in the directors' room, and at these meetings the docket for the week is cleared up. It is a significant fact that these meetings are attended by practically the entire membership of the directory and that no matter is allowed to drag for want of immediate attention. The officers and directors of the Commercial Club at the present time are: President, J. F. Rall; first vice-president, F. Junkermann; second vice-president, S. G. Armstrong; secretary, John Wunderlich; treasurer, L. W. Anderson; directors, J. W. Barry, J. S. Broeksmit, W. L. Cherry, J. M. Denning, Kent C. Ferman, J. M. Grimm, W. G. Haskell, Geo. T. Hedges, E. E. Pinney, R. I. Safely, John H. Taft. WHO PAID THE TAXES IN CEDAR RAPIDS FIFTY YEARS AGOBY THOMAS DEVENDORF Cedar Rapids has made many changes and improvements during the past half century. But perhaps no change has been so great as the change in the valuation of property. In 1858 there was a population of only about thirty-five hundred within the city limits, and in the entire county only eighteen thousand. Twenty per cent of the population then resided in Cedar Rapids. Today we claim nearly thirty-five thousand and over fifty per cent of the entire population of the county. At that time the area of the city was very much less than at present. Franklin street, now Eleventh street east, was as far as was platted. Beyond was heavily wooded and used in summers for picnic parties; to the south Carpenter's first addition had already been laid and but very few of the lots had been improved, the lower end, where the packing plant of T. M. Sinclair & Co. is located, was used as a race track, where the local horsemen competed. Kingston, on the west side of the river, was an independent municipality, having its own city government and city officers, and remained so until the year 1870, when it was annexed and became a part of the present Cedar Rapids. The assessed valuation of the city for the year 1858 was for both real estate and personal the sum of $535,912—what proportion that amount will bear to the real cash value of the property the writer is unable to state. But it is the rule generally adopted by assessors to make the value much less than the price parties would buy and sell the same property for, and on this assessment of $535,912 a levy was made of two mills on the dollar, which, if the collector was diligent and had good luck, would have produced the sum of $1,071.00, which the city officers could use to carry on the affairs of the city—pay salaries, make improvements, grade streets, build crossings, and to meet all other expenses of the city. That this sum was inadequate for the purpose is shown by the fact that the larger share of the taxes of this year were paid in what they denominated "city script," which we call city warrants, so that the city fathers had very little The city officials of that time are all dead. R. C. Rock was mayor; George Seymour, recorder; A. S. Koontz, treasurer; A. S. Belt, city attorney. J. J. Snouffer and John G. Graves were the aldermen from the first ward; D. W. Sprague and R. R. Taylor, aldermen from the second ward; Wm. Richmond and S. A. Shattuck, aldermen from the third ward. There are only eight residents of this city at the present time whose names appear on the tax list of fifty years ago; the only ones we can remember are the following: James Bird, Isaac Carroll, E. Coulter, C. Fordyce, Jos. Perigo, David Lighty, P. F. Randall, and Wesley Stephens. Some of the above paid a poll tax only. David Lighty paid tax on lot 3, block 28, original town, and has paid taxes on this same lot all the years since and owns the property today. Isaac Whittam paid the taxes on lot 5, block 13, original town. This is the corner lot on which the Montrose Hotel is located. The lot was then valued at $550, and the tax was $1.10. Isaac Carroll paid the taxes on three city lots, the total value of which was $585; also on two horses, value $150; one carriage, value $75; his tax was $1.92, paid in script. E. Coulter paid on a stock of merchandise (drugs) valued at $800. A few others who are listed on the tax books of half a century ago are known to be living, but have removed to other places. W. W. Smith, of Minneapolis, who was an active business man at that time, owned five lots on Second street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues east, on which he built a large brick building, intending to use it as a hotel. It was, however, used as a residence property, and was known as the Wadsworth Block. This property was located where the Illinois Central railroad lately erected their fine new freight depot, corner of Fifth avenue and Second street. S. D. Carpenter, now a resident of Chicago, paid the taxes on the south 280 feet of out lot 4, valued at $850, tax $1.90. This property is located on Third avenue, between Eighth and Tenth streets, and includes the homes of A. Sinclair, Rev. Burkhalter, Ed. Clark, and the late home of Robert Williams. Geo. Greene was the largest individual taxpayer of that day. He was assessed with some 70 city lots. Many of them were in the business part of town, the total assessed value of these was $28,575, and the tax was $56.40. In his list were lots 3, 4, 5, 6, block 24 original plat, property on which is now located the Allison hotel, the College Inn and the three business rooms to the west, all on First avenue. Also a lot at corner of Second avenue and Fourth street, now owned by Mr. C. Magnus; these four lots were valued at $2,200 and the tax was $4.40. He owned lots 4 and 5 block 42 assessed at $300 each. These are now the homes of Dr. Geo. Carpenter and Mike Ford. He also paid the taxes on 125 feet on First street lots now occupied by the Rudolph block, the Gazette office, Geo. C. Haman drug store and Geo. Yuill farm implements. The total value of this 125 feet was $3,600, the taxes $7.20. At that time this property was occupied by a large three story hotel called Greene's hotel, and it is said by those who were guests of the house that it was one of the best west of Chicago. The next largest taxpayer was John F. Ely, who was assessed on 38 building lots at an assessed value of $24,800 and on which he paid a tax of $51.16. Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, block 14, original plat, was valued at $3,500.00, tax on same $7.00. This was his home. A comfortable, unpretentious cottage occupied the center of block, surrounded by shrubbery, flowers and many apple trees. These lots are now occupied by the large business houses of Jones & Luberger, Martin Dry Goods Co., the Dows block Mr. Ely was also the owner of lots 4, 5, 8, 9, block 15, which is now the John H. Taft corner, and the store of Ludy & Taylor, all on First avenue, together with the property on which is located the "Oriel" block and part of the next lot to the west, both on Second avenue. These four lots now just in the most valuable part of the business district, were valued at $2,850.00, on which he paid the city tax of $5.70. The lot on the corner of Second avenue and Fifth street on which the Public Library is located, was one of his lots and is one that he continued to own up to the time it was condemned by the library board for the purpose of erecting the library building. This lot was assessed at $425.00, tax paid 85 cents. He was also the owner of lots 8, 9, 10, block 23, original plat. These are on First avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets. These three lots were assessed at $1,350.00, tax paid on same, $2.70. The lots 1 and 2, block 4, was also included in his district. These are on the corner of First street and Second avenue. It was regarded as valuable property by the assessor of fifty years ago, as he has these two lots assessed at $3,700.00. No other two lots in the city were rated at so high a value as these. This must have been regarded as the best business location of that day. The next Cedar Rapids tax payer who had to gather up the next largest amount of city scrip with which to pay his city tax was Mr. N. B. Brown, who was assessed with 47 city lots the total value of which was $20,750. This with some personal property, as merchandise, horses, cows and bridge stock made his total property valuation $23,290.00 and on this amount he paid a city tax of $46.58. Mr. Brown was one of the owners of the original plat of the city and many pieces of property which are now very valuable was at that time set off to him as his share of the original town plat. Lots 3 and 4, block 25, are two valuable pieces of property. These are on Second avenue between Third and Fourth streets and on which is located the Damour Grocery House, and some of the property on which the new government postoffice is erected. These two lots were assessed at $900.00 on which he paid a tax of $1.80. Mr. Brown also was the owner of lots 6, 7, 8, block 23. These were on the north side of First avenue and extended from Fourth street west to where the Grand hotel now is and included the Chicago & Northwestern freight depot, the Pullman House, the Delavan hotel and the property now owned by Mr. Lansing and used as a saloon. These three valuable lots were then assessed at $1,700.00 on which he paid the tax of $3.40. Another fine piece of property was his home, which was the entire block 38. His fine brick residence was located in the center of the block and was at that day one of the finest dwellings in this part of the state. These ten lots which were all included was valued at $3,250.00. This property has been sold and sub-divided until the only part left is the southeast corner of the block which N. E. Brown his son, now occupies with a fine modern brick dwelling, directly opposite Grace Episcopal church. He was also the owner of the property on which Gorman's hotel is located. This hotel was built by Mr. Brown and a few years after it was considered the best hotel to be found in this part of the state. The upper story was finished for an amusement place and before the building of Greene's opera house this was the only place that could be used for that purpose. Mr. Brown was largely engaged in milling at that time and owned and operated a woolen mill and also a flouring mill, the buildings of both are still standing but have not been in operation for some time. Greene, Merritt & Co. were the bankers of that period and were assessed with one city lot, corner of First street and B avenue, value $700.00, together with their bank capital $20,000. Their city tax was $41.50. The senior member of this firm was Geo. Greene, who was the largest real estate owner of that date and who has been mentioned before in this article. Mr. Merritt, the other member of the banking firm, was a brother-in-law of Mr. Greene. Messrs. Geo. Greene, Wm. Greene and Joseph Greene were brothers and together were largely instrumental in shaping the development and growth of Cedar Rapids. They had faith in its future and did not hesitate to give their money and their time to every effort made to advance, build up and beautify their home city. Wm. Greene was assessed with some twenty city lots, the value of which was $5,625.00, which with some personal property assessed to him made his total valuation $6,360 and his tax paid in city scrip $12.72. He was the owner of the east 1/2 of out lot 6 and Mr. Merritt was the owner of the west 1/2 of the same out lot. This property was assessed at $19.00, for both Mr. Greene's and Mr. Merritt's part. This out lot is situated between Fourth and Fifth avenues and Eighth and Tenth streets and is now built up with some of the finest homes in the city. A. C. Taylor, Luther A. Brewer, Mrs. N. Bourne, Henry S. Josselyn, Dr. Ruml, Wm. H. Dutton, Geo. A. Mullin, John H. Taft, and many others have homes in this out lot. Greene Brothers were assessed with eight lots, all well inside the business district, which were valued at $5,085.00; tax on same $10.17; lots 6 and 7, block 16, value $1,300.00; tax $2.60. These lots are on the corner of First avenue and Third street and are now occupied by Tony Naso on the corner for a fruit store and the balance of the lots by the "Fair Company." Mr. Daniels was another large owner of Cedar Rapids real estate, fifty years ago. The assessor for that year had him listed with 38 city lots besides four entire out lots, together they were assessed at $17,025.00, and the tax on the entire property was $34.05, all paid in the usual city script. Some of this property lying in and near the business part has become quite valuable. Lot 2, block 5, being a lot on Second street between Third and Fourth avenue, was listed by the assessor at $500.00. This piece of property was sold to John Murray some two years ago for some $12,000.00, or thereabouts. This is now occupied by the interurban railway as their depot. Another piece assessed to the same party, lot 6, block 12, corner of Third street and Fourth avenue, the rear part of this lot is being improved this present season by the Bohemian Turners. This lot was assessed at $425. Tax on same, 85 cents. Mr. Daniels was also owner of lots 8 and 9, block 14. These lots are on Third avenue between Second and Third street and are owned by Sam Armstrong and John S. Ely, the assessed value of the two lots was $1,250.00 and tax on lots $2.50. Lot 10, block 42, value $375.00. This is the corner lot on which the Methodist church is located. Lot 1, block 43, value $350.00. This is the corner on which the Christian church was built. Lawson and Lowell Daniels, under the firm name of L. Daniels & Co., were assessed with 19 city lots, value of which was $8,775.00. Merchandise, $1,000; five horses, $375.00; three carriages $150.00. The total tax was $21.40. Lot 5, block 2, is the lot on which the Masonic Temple is now located, and was valued at that time at $2,400.00. They used it then and for many years after as a store room and did a very large business. They sold about everything to be found in a well regulated country store, and were known for many miles around as reliable and enterprising merchants. They were also owners of lot 3, block 15. This is the lot on which the Reps Dry Goods Co. is located and was valued at $700.00. They were also owners of out lot 16, valued at $350.00. This is located between Third and Fourth avenue and Twelfth and Fourteenth streets, is now Harvey Higley and his brother, Henry Higley, under the firm name of Higley & Co., were large owners of city real estate, the larger part of which was in the district now given up to business. They were owners of the lot on which the Granby Block now stands, which at that time was only valued at $700.00. They were also assessed with the property on which the Denecke Dry Goods store is now located. This was assessed at a value of $80.00. On this lot was a large livery stable of which the Higleys were the owners, and which they conducted for many years after. They were also the owners of the lot, corner of First avenue and Second street, now occupied by Oscar Solomon, and ten years after erected the store building now standing thereon. This piece of property was valued at that time at $725.00. They were also assessed with lot 3, block 2, at a valuation of $1,700.00. This is on First street and is now occupied by Kubias & Son, as a harness store. Sampson C. Bever was assessed with real estate to the value of $9,480.00, and personal property $515.00. On this assessment he paid a tax of $19.99. The most valuable piece of property held by himself that time was the homestead which was located on First avenue and between Fourth and Fifth streets. These five lots were assessed at $2,325.00; the house, which was a large brick structure, stood about where the old B., C. R. & N. Railway erected their general offices a few years since. The Milwaukee railway depot is also located on one of the lots of the Bever home property. Mr. Bever was also assessed with lot 1, block 3, original town, at a valuation of $1,875.00. This is the lot on which the banking house of the Commercial Savings Bank is located and is a property which the Bever family have paid taxes on for over a half century. A large part of Mr. Bever's property was in lands lying outside of the city limits and which the writer of this article is not able to correctly describe. Mr. Bever located in Cedar Rapids in April, 1852, and for a number of years was engaged as a merchant, after which he became interested in banking and was the head of the private banking house of S. C. Bever & Sons. This bank afterwards became the City National Bank and was the first national bank to be established in Cedar Rapids. H. G. Angle & Co. paid on a valuation of $4,700.00 real, $3,000.00 personal. They were largely interested in milling and also conducted a large store. The building in which they operated is still standing on the corner of A avenue and First street and is now occupied as a saloon. The company was assessed with twelve city lots. A. M. Mekeel was assessed with personal property only, value $6,000 and paid into the city treasury the sum of $12.00. He paid the largest tax on money of any one in Cedar Rapids except the bankers on their bank capital. Geo. Ohler, lot 8, block 11, value $375.00. He paid a tax of 29 cents. This was his home and was located on Sixth avenue and here he and Mrs. Ohler resided for over fifty years. Mr. Ohler died about four years ago and Mrs. Ohler more recently. The only member of the family remaining is Mr. Frank Ohler. S. Nyere paid on merchandise value of $100.00. Mr. Nyere was a tailor and continued in that business for many years after. He was the father of Geo. Nyere, late candidate for mayor, also of John and Louis Nyere, plumbers, all successful and pushing business men. Philip Otterbein, one city lot valued at $250.00, tax paid, 50 cents. Henry Otterbein of the west side is a son of Mr. Otterbein. S. L. Pollock was the owner of a number of city lots, the value of which was $2,340, and on which he paid a tax of $4.58. He owned lot 8. block 2, on which is located Greene's opera house, and valued at that time at $700.00. He also Wm. Passmore was assessed with one business lot on First street about the middle of the block on the east side between First and Second avenues, and which was valued at $600.00. This with $535.00 of personal property, made his city tax $2.27. G. A. Reichenecker was assessed with lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, block 48, which were valued at $1,575 on which he paid a tax of $3.15. These five city lots are located on Second avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets, and on which are located the homes of the late Isaac Shaver and U. B. Sanders and Mrs. Lawson Daniels. Mr. Sanford, a non-resident, was assessed with out lot 5 at a value of $1,700.00. This out lot is situated between Eighth and Tenth streets, Third and Fourth avenues, and contains the homes of J. S. Frick, David Blakely, Mrs. G. Carpenter, E. E. Pinney, all on Third avenue, and L. Benedict, E. J. Carey, Mrs. L. Wallace, J. C. Pickering, R. M. Garrison, David Lighty and Jas. W. Wiley, all on Fourth avenue. This property at that time contained nothing but native timber and a luxurious crop of sand burrs. John Weare was the owner of out lot 2 and which was valued at $1,700. This property is on First avenue and between Eighth and Tenth streets, and on which is now located the homes of Col. Clark, John M. Redmond, E. E. Rothrock, Jno, B. Henderson, Henry Soutter, Chas. J. Fox, Wm. J. Greene, and a number of others. Mr. Weare paid taxes on several other lots and also some personal property. Geo. Parr paid the tax on lot 2, block 21, value $300.00. This was his home lot and on which he had a good brick house. This was on C avenue and has now been entirely taken up by the Quaker Oats mill plant. C. B. Rowley was the owner of several pieces of city property. Lots 1 and 2, block 31, which was valued at $875.00, was owned by him. The Perfection Manufacturing Company is located on lot 1. He was also the owner of lots 1 and 2, block 47, corner of Third avenue and Sixth street. The Sisters of Mercy now own lot 1 and Jos. F. Kouba resides on and owns lot 2, these two last lots were valued at $575.00. Mr. Rowley was engaged in buying grain and other farm produce. The warehouse was located on ground now occupied by the Quaker Oats plant. He was for a number of years a member of the school board of this city. S. A. Shattuck was assessed with lots 4 and 5, block 29, which were valued at $650.00. On these two lots he paid a tax of $1.30. Mr. Shattuck built his home on lot 5 over fifty years ago and here he and his wife lived until his death. Mr. Shattuck was one of the pioneer business men of Cedar Rapids. He came here in 1852, and was active in a business way until a very recent date. He was a partner of Geo. Dewey under the firm name of Shattuck & Dewey, and together they had a store on First street. Mr. Shattuck built the three store brick building now standing on First avenue between the alley and Second street and then known as the Franklin block. Frank Kilborn owns one of the store rooms today. Wm. Stewart became a taxpayer in Cedar Rapids at a very early day. He came here in 1847. Fifty years ago he was the owner of lot 9, block 16, valued at $700.00. This is on First avenue between Second and Third streets, and is now occupied by Russell Confection store. He was also owner of part of the property on which the Y. M. C. A. building is now located. Mr. Stewart was a blacksmith, plowmaker, and had a shop on A avenue. Ex-Alderman Jas. Hughes is now engaged in nearly the same business and in the same building that Mr. Stewart built and occupied fifty years ago. M. S. Starr was assessed with lot 10, block 5, valued at $750.00. This is the property on which T. J. Lowell has his hardware store. J. J. Snouffer was the owner of lot 6, block 3. This property was valued at that period at $1,000.00 and is the corner on which the Commercial National Bank is located, and a part of the Denecke Dry Goods store. Mr. Snouffer also owned a lot on North First street opposite the mills, which was assessed at $700.00, also personal property valued at $130.00. Mr. Snouffer came to Cedar Rapids in 1852, and was engaged in milling under the firm name of W. D. Watrous & Co. He was an alderman from the first ward for many terms and at one time mayor of the city. D. F. Sprague was assessed with lot 5, block 25, which was listed at $500.00. This is the lot on which the Muskwaki block is located, corner of Second avenue and Fourth street. Peter Snyder was the owner of lot 6, block 11, valued at $425.00. This property is on the corner of Sixth avenue and Third street. C. C. Taylor was listed with lot 6, block 32 and valued at $425.00. This is the corner of Second avenue and Fifth street and was the home of B. F. Howland for many years. It is now occupied by the new and beautiful home of the Cedar Rapids Business college. T. Wood was the owner of several pieces of Cedar Rapids property, in all amounting to $1,650.00, on which he paid a tax of $3.30. His home was on the corner of Fifth street and B avenue. He also was the owner of the lot on which the Y. M. C. A. building is located, which was valued at $900.00; also a lot, corner of Fifth avenue and Sixth street. Mr. Edwin Wood, for many years connected with the J. S. Cook Dry Goods Co., was a son of Mr. Wood. The Iowa & Nebraska Land Company were assessed with 29 city lots and all valued at $6,875.00, the tax of which was $13.75. The Iowa & Nebraska railroad, from Clinton to this place, was then being built. It was nearly completed to this point and these lots were doubtless purchased for right of way and terminal purposes, as they were all situated on or near where the road was built. The next spring, after the road was open for traffic to this point, lot 1, block 25 was assessed to unknown owner and was valued at $700. This is the lot upon which the First Presbyterian church was built many years ago and remembered by the older residents as the "Little Muddy." The new federal building is now erected on this lot. Lot 1, block 26 was also assessed to unknown owners and was valued at $575.00. This lot is on the corner of Third street and Third avenue and was used up to a very recent date by the Second Presbyterian church. Lots 3, 4 and 5, block 30 was also in the unknown list and was valued at $1,075.00 for the entire three lots. Two of these lots were bought about this time and the third one a little later for school purposes and on this ground was erected the first real substantial school building ever built in this city. In this building was grouped the high school and all the other grades from the primary up. This building was used for school purposes until demolished a few years ago to make room for the present Washington high school building. Lots 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, block 13 were assessed to unknown owners at a value of $1,100.00. These lots are on Fourth avenue and between Second and Third streets. The new telephone exchange is located on the rear of lot 10. TEXT OF THE ACT TO INCORPORATE CEDAR RAPIDSFollowing is the text of the act incorporating Cedar Rapids, as passed by the legislature of the State of Iowa and approved by Ansel Briggs, Iowa's first governor, January 15, 1849: An Act to Incorporate the Town of Cedar Rapids, in Linn County. Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, that all that part of the State of Iowa included within the boundaries of the town of Sec. 2. It shall be lawful for the free male inhabitants of said town having the qualifications of electors to meet at the usual place of holding the elections in said town on the first Wednesday in April next and on the first Wednesday of April annually thereafter at such place in said town as the town council shall direct and then and there proceed to elect by ballot a mayor, recorder and three councilmen, who shall have the qualifications of electors, and reside within the corporate limits of said town, and said mayor, recorder and councilmen shall hold their offices one year, and until their successors are elected and qualified and any three of them shall be a board for the transaction of business, but a less number may adjourn from time to time until a quorum shall assemble. Sec. 3. That at the first election under this act judges and clerks shall be chosen by the electors present who shall each take an oath faithfully to discharge the duties required by this act and at all subsequent elections the mayor and any two of the councilmen shall sit as judges and the recorder, or in his absence some one of the council pro tempore shall act as clerk and at all such elections the polls shall be opened at 1:00 o'clock, p. m. and close at 5:00 o'clock p. m., of the same day, and at the close of the polls the votes shall be counted and a statement of the result proclaimed at the door by the clerk; the clerk of said elections shall thereupon make out a certificate to each of the persons so elected and the persons receiving such certificate shall, within ten days thereafter take an oath to support the constitution and the laws of the United States and of this state and faithfully discharge his duties according to the best of his abilities, which oath shall be endorsed on the back of said certificate and filed with the recorder of said town. Sec. 4. The mayor, recorder and councilmen of said town shall be a body corporate and politic with perpetual succession to be known by the name of the mayor and council of the town of Cedar Rapids, and shall be capable in law to acquire property, real, personal and mixed for the use of said town and sell and convey the same. May have a common seal and may alter the same at pleasure. May sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer or be answered unto in any court of law and equity in this state; and when any suit shall be commenced against said corporation a certified copy of any writ issued against said corporation shall be left with the recorder of said town at least ten days before the return day thereof. Sec. 5. That the mayor, recorder and council, or a majority of them, of whom the mayor or the recorder shall always be one, shall have authority to make, ordain, and publish all by-laws and ordinances not inconsistent with the constitution and laws of the land as they may deem proper for the promotion of morality, interest, safety, health and cleanliness of said town and the citizens thereof; they shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen by death or otherwise of any of the officers of their board herein named. They shall have power to appoint a treasurer, marshal and such other subordinate officers as a majority of said council may deem necessary, to prescribe their duties and require surety of their performance, to remove them at pleasure, and to establish the fees of all offices not otherwise provided for by this act. They shall have power to impose fines for the breach of their ordinances, which fines may be recovered with costs before any justice of the peace in said town by an action of debt in the name of said corporation. All fines collected in pursuance of this act shall be paid over by the officer collecting the same to the treasurer of the corporation. Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the mayor to preside at the meetings of the town council, and it shall be the duty of the recorder to keep a true record of the by-laws and ordinances, to attend all meetings of the council and keep a fair and accurate record of their proceedings and perform such other duties as the council Sec. 7. That the town council shall have power to assess for corporation purposes an annual tax on all property in said town made subject to taxation by the laws of this state for state and county purposes not exceeding in any one year one per centum on the valuation thereof which value shall be ascertained by an assessor appointed by the town council for that purpose, duplicate of which shall be made out and signed by the recorder and delivered to the collector. They shall have power to equalize any injudicious assessment then made on complaint of the person aggrieved. Sec. 8. That the town marshal shall be the collector of any tax assessed by said council, and he is hereby authorized and required, by distress and sale of property, as constables on execution, to collect and pay over said tax to the treasurer within three months after the time of receiving the duplicate thereof and the treasurer's receipt shall be his voucher. The town marshal shall make personal demand of every resident charged with tax if to be found, and before sale of property for delinquent tax shall give ten days' notice in advertisement in three of the most public places in said corporation, and if the property or any lot or piece of land for which no personal property can be found shall remain unpaid for three months after the expiration of the time by this act allowed the collector for the collection of the tax shall give notice in the nearest newspaper stating the amount of such tax and the number and description of the lots on which it is due and that the same will be sold to discharge such tax unless the payment thereof be made within three months from the date of such advertisement, and if such tax be not paid within that time the town marshal, after giving twenty days' notice of the time and place of sale at the three most public places in said town shall proceed to sell at public auction so much of said lot or piece of land as will discharge said tax. Sec. 9. That if the owner of any lot sold for taxes as aforesaid shall appear at any time within two years after such sale and pay the purchase money with interest at thirty per centum per annum thereon he shall be entitled to the right of redemption. If, however, the owner or his agent shall neglect to redeem any real estate sold for taxes under the provisions of this act within the time herein specified, it shall be the duty of the mayor to make and execute a deed to the purchaser countersigned by the recorder under the seal of the corporation. Said deeds shall also be acknowledged before a justice of the peace, and when so executed and recorded in the office of recorder of deeds of Linn County, shall be deemed and taken as valid by law. Sec. 10. Twenty days before each annual election the town council shall put up in some conspicuous place within said town, an accurate account of the money received and expended by said corporation since the last annual election, with the sources from which they were derived and the objects on which they were expended, which shall be certified by the recorder. Sec. 11. The said corporation shall have power to regulate all streets, alleys, sidewalks, drains or sewers, to sink and keep in repair public wells, remove nuisances, and make other such needful regulations not incompatible with the laws of the state as shall conduce to the general interest and welfare of the inhabitants of said town. To provide for licensing, taxing and regulating auctions, retailers and taverns, theatrical and other shows of amusement, to prohibit tippling houses, gaming houses and other disorderly houses. Sec. 12. The by-laws and ordinances of said corporation shall be published in a newspaper in the county or posted up in some public place in said town fifteen days before taking effect thereof, and the certificate of the recorder upon the town records shall be sufficient evidence of the same having been done and Sec. 13. That the streets and alleys of said town shall constitute one road district including the several roads leading from said town for the distance of one mile from the corporation limits. Sec. 14. That the mayor or a majority of the councilmen may call a meeting of the town council whenever in his or their opinion the same may be necessary. The mayor and councilmen shall receive such compensation as shall be voted them by the inhabitants of said town in legal meeting assembled. Sec. 15. This act shall take effect from and after its publication. Approved January 15th, 1849. I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original act now on file in the said office. FIRST CITY OFFICIALS OF CEDAR RAPIDSAt 1 o'clock of April 4, 1849, the citizens of Cedar Rapids met at the school house, in accordance with the requirements of the law, and proceeded to elect town officers under a charter issued by the legislature and approved January 15, 1849 (for text of this document see Laws of Iowa, 1849, p. 116). The first election was in the nature of a mass meeting. William P. Harman was made chairman and Arven Kennedy, John H. Brooks, and John G. Cole selected as judges of election. Eber L. Mansfield was clerk of election. These judges certified to choice of votes as follows: Mayor, Martin L. Barber. The mayor immediately took the oath of office before John L. Shearer, justice of the peace. The first meeting of the council was held May 11, 1849. Action was taken appointing Lowell Daniels treasurer of the town, to give bonds of $20. It was resolved that the municipal seal "shall consist of a raised circle nine-tenths of an inch in diameter, enclosing an equilateral triangle." The first ordinance in preamble declared, that "there exists in the town divers unwholesome cellars, dung heaps, horse stables, cow stables, barns, yards, hogpens, and other nuisances." The object of the enactment was to abate these conditions. In July, 1849, Homer Kennedy resigned as recorder and Porter W. Earle was chosen in his place. A sort of omnibus ordinance was passed October 23, 1849. This prohibited the sale of spirituous liquors, required that shows or other exhibitions should pay license of not less than one dollar nor more than ten dollars. A further section fixed penalties for disturbance of any public meeting. This ordinance was given effective publication by being "posted at G. Greene & Bro.'s store." Other ordinances, we find, were "posted on John Coffman's door." John H. Brooks, marshal of the town, was on November 8, 1849, allowed the sum of $16.73. Getting possession of so much money he immediately resigned, presumably to enjoy it without official cares. THE SECOND ELECTIONThe second election was held at the school house April 3, 1850. For mayor Martin L. Barber received 39 votes and Johnson Hill 27. For recorder John This new council on April 11, 1850, resolved to form a board of health, but at the next meeting this action was rescinded. In its stead an ordinance was passed for preservation of public health. Enforcement of these provisions rested with the marshal. In May an ordinance was passed permitting Harvey C. Higley to retail ardent spirits, upon giving a good and sufficient bond "to keep a good and orderly house, not permitting any gambling, drunkenness or rioting about his house or premises." Such bond Mr. Higley refused to execute, and the employment of counsel was authorized to commence suit against him for violation of ordinance. July 24 a health board was appointed consisting of Drs. J. F. Ely, S. D. Carpenter, and J. C. Traer. The marshal, under direction of the board, was to abate all nuisances. The first recorders of the city were evidently not of fixed mind or habitation. John Palmer resigned as such December 8, and S. C. Koontz was chosen to fill the vacancy. Isaac Cook was made attorney for the city in pending litigation. THE FIRST TAX LEVYThe first tax levy mentioned was ordered by action of council December 16, 1850. This amounted to "one and one-half mills on the dollar of all taxable property within the corporation," and Johnson Hill was appointed assessor. Another ordinance to prevent the sale of spiritous and intoxicating liquors was passed December 16, 1850. Any quantity less than a gallon sold "without advice of a physician," rendered the seller liable to a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than twenty-five. A license fee of from one to five dollars was exacted from all peddlers, whether they were footmen with packs or sold goods from wagons. THE ELECTION OF 1851Annual town election was again held in April, 1851. At this time Nicholas B. Brown was chosen as mayor. Benjamin Weizer, Michael Bryan, and Joseph A. Love, councilmen, and S. C. Koontz, recorder. William G. Furman was appointed marshal. The personnel of the board of health was also changed. Dr. L. Larrabee, Dr. Thomas, and Dr. John F. Ely constituting the same. No recorded meeting of council was held from June 20, 1851, to February 24 of the next year. At this latter date N. B. Brown, mayor, by advice and consent of the councilmen, "did grant license to David W. King for free navigation of the Cedar River, opposite this place, for the term of one year from the 1st day of March, 1857, by the said D. W. King paying to the recorder the sum of ten dollars." The council fixed rates of toll as follows: Horse and rider 10 cents; footmen, 5 cents; one horse and wagon, 15 cents; a wagon and two horses, 20 cents; and every additional span of horses or yoke of cattle, 20 cents. Loose cattle not exceeding five in number, he shall be allowed 5 cents per head; if more than that number, 3 cents per head. Hogs, if not exceeding twenty-five in number, shall be 2 cents per head; if more than that number the toll shall be 1 cent per head. Sheep at the rate of 1 cent per head. THE FIRST SIDEWALK ORDINANCEThe first sidewalk ordinance stipulated: "The sidewalks of Commercial street shall be planked or paved, commencing at the corner of Benton and Commercial streets, northeast side, and ending at the corner of Sugar and Commercial streets. Also on the southwest side of said street, commencing at the southeast side of Rock and Brather's shop and coming up as far us Linn street. In case Samuel Brazelton was appointed marshal, Dr. Koontz treasurer, and Dr. S. D. Carpenter, Wm. D. Wood, and Porter W. Earle, health board. THE ELECTION OF 1853In 1853 election was held on Wednesday, April 6. W. W. Smith was chosen mayor; S. C. Bever, Johnson Hill, and J. F. Ely, councilmen; and S. C. Koontz, recorder. Hiram Deem was appointed assessor, Isaac N. Whittam, town marshal. At this same date, May 6, 1853, John F. Ely was made committee to secure a surveyor, "Major McKean, or some other suitable person to take and establish the grades of the city of Cedar Rapids." Pratt R. Skinner was the person selected and his report and profile were presented and adopted July 6, 1853. Hiram Deem was made marshal July 23, Mr. Whittam evidently not having qualified. At this meeting a municipal tax levy of four mills was ordered. Hiram Deem, having accomplished his work as assessor, and now being marshal, was instructed to collect the taxes. He was further directed to order out men to work the roads and streets immediately. THE CEMETERIESThe beginning of Oak Hill cemetery dates from an ordinance of August 23, 1853. Gabriel Carpenter had purchased 300 acres of land adjoining the city and including the site of the cemetery. The place of burial at that time was upon the ground after owned by Coe College. The ordinance enacted that "the proposition made by G. Carpenter in respect to ten acres of land for purpose of graveyard be filed and accepted. Provided, however, that if the collegiate institute will pay the aforesaid G. Carpenter for the aforementioned ten acres of land, and, further provided, that if the mayor and council hold and possess the power and right to sell and convey the lot of land now occupied by a graveyard (within the corporate limits) and can sell and convey the same to the Collegiate Institute for the sum of three hundred dollars, then the afore-mentioned proposition is accepted." The legal and other difficulties in the way were surmounted and on February 22, 1854, it was resolved to quit claim the interest of the town in the present burial ground to Smith and Carpenter, at such time as they shall lay off and deed to the corporation a block of ground in the Washington cemetery for a "potter's field," which shall contain at least three acres. It was conditioned also that Smith and Carpenter should give bond for the careful removal of all occupants of the present burial ground before making any use of the land. ELECTION OF 1854On April 3, 1854, William W. Smith was elected mayor, William Greene, Abraham Sines, and Daniel Lothian, councilmen, and William M. Wood, recorder. The digging of sand from Iowa avenue was dignified by name of bringing to grade. This was divided into six parts, and two were let to W. W. Smith and E. Robins. These paid five dollars apiece for the privilege. The other sections remained as before and the avenue was rendered impassable. J. J. Snouffer was ELECTION OF 1855George Greene was elected mayor April 4, 1855. Members of the council were first styled aldermen on the tickets for this year and R. C. Rock, Joseph A. Love, and J. F. Charles were chosen. W. D. Watrous was the choice of the voters for recorder. J. H. Atwell was appointed marshal and S. D. Carpenter, treasurer. The council was organized into proper committees, indicating that more business came before the body. The bond of the treasurer had by this time increased to one thousand dollars. A city attorney was elected June 5, 1855, James J. Child being the choice of the council. The report of the finance committee showed a deficit—the city's revenues lacking $75.00 of meeting expenses. ELECTION OF 1856Isaac Whittam was elected mayor at the April election in 1856, with Walker, Smith, and Hager, councilmen. The recorder having resigned, D. M. McIntosh was elected by the council to that office. The ferry privileges had passed at death of D. W. King in 1854 to Stephen L. Pollock and afterwards to Bowling & Gilbreath. Both of these failed to pay for license, and the recorder was instructed to collect; Joseph Hollan was appointed road supervisor. On June 14, 1856, City Attorney James J. Child was instructed to prepare an amended charter to be submitted to the next legislature. This was accepted by council, June 28, 1856. The proposition was then submitted to the voters and adopted 45 to 2. An election for city officers under this new charter was ordered to be held at the office of J. J. Child August 7, 1856. The votes cast were canvassed by the council. It was found that 204 votes were cast for mayor, of which Isaac N. Whittam received 120 and W. W. Smith 84. For recorder and assessor D. M. McIntosh led with 123; F. P. Huntington 73; E. N. Bates and S. C. Koontz one each. For treasurer and collector S. C. Koontz received 121 votes and John P. Conkey 79. Charles Weare was elected marshal by a vote of 131. In vote for aldermen in the first ward J. T. Walker was elected and J. J. Snouffer and H. G. Angle were tied. Alexander Hager and J. F. Charles were chosen to represent the second ward, and Henry S. Ward and W. D. Watrous were duly elected from the third ward. This closes the official doings under the old town. The records consulted will satisfy and settle all disputed questions as to office-holding and the statements here made are correct beyond all question. OFFICIALS OF CEDAR RAPIDS FROM 1857 TO 19101857 Isaac N. Whittam, mayor; F. P. Huntington, recorder; S. C. Lampson, marshal; S. C. Koontz, treasurer; E. N. Bates, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, John G. Graves, S. D. Carpenter, J. J. Child, William Richmond, A. Whitenack. 1858 R. C. Rock, mayor; George Seymour, recorder; C. T. Kellogg, marshal; S. C. Koontz, treasurer; A. S. Belt, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, John G. Graves, D. N. Sprague, R. R. Taylor, William Richmond, S. A. Shattuck. 1859 D. N. Sprague, mayor; George Seymour, recorder; William McMahone, marshal; S. C. Koontz, treasurer; E. N. Bates, city attorney. Aldermen, John G. 1860 E. H. Stedman, mayor; George Seymour, recorder; Benjamin Darnell, marshal; J. S. Wattles, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, T. Z. Cook, A. Hager, W. B. Mack, R. P. Kingman, G. Livensbarger, J. P. Coulter. 1861 Homer Bishop, mayor; M. A. Higley, recorder; Benjamin Darnell, marshal; J. S. Wattles, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, S. C. Bever, H. E. Higley, R. P. Kingman, I. W. Carroll, J. C. Adams, George Dewey. 1862 T. Z. Cook, mayor; S. C. Koontz, recorder; J. Hogendobler, marshal; J. S. Wattles, treasurer; A. S. Belt, city attorney. Aldermen, S. C. Bever, H. E. Higley, I. W. Carroll, H. B. Stibbs, George Dewey, S. G. McClelland. 1863 Mowry Farnum, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; no city attorney elected. Aldermen, S. C. Bever, D. Denlinger, H. B. Stibbs, I. W. Carroll, S. G. McClelland, Thomas Slonaker. 1864 Mowry Farnum, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, S. C. Bever, E. H. Stedman, D. Denlinger, Joseph Hollan, S. G. McClelland, Thomas Slonaker. 1865 H. Church, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; T. M. Parsons, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; J. J. Child, city attorney. Aldermen, S. C. Bever, E. E. Leach, D. Denlinger, Charles Weare, G. Livensbarger, J. C. Adams. 1866 A. R. West, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; J. O. Stewart, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; J. J. Child, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, J. Wetzel, H. B. Stibbs, N. S. Mershon, J. C. Adams, J. A. Hart. 1867 A. R. West, mayor; D. A. Bradley, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, J. Wetzel, H. B. Stibbs, E. Robbins, J. A. Hart, L. Wallace. 1868 J. P. Coulter, mayor; D. A. Bradley, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, J. Wetzel, A. C. Churchill, E. Robbins, E. E. Leach, William Stewart, James Albright. 1869 A. R. West, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney; P. C. Lusk, chief engineer. Aldermen, A. C. Churchill, E. S. Hill, E. E. Leach, D. Denlinger, William Stewart, J. F. Charles. 1870 William B. Leach, mayor; W. B. Stewart, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; M. P. Mills, city attorney; George A. Lincoln, chief engineer. Aldermen, E. S. Hill, J. J. Snouffer, E. E. Leach, E. Robbins, William Stewart, Elihu Baker. 1871 T. Z. Cook, mayor; H. J. Harvey, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; Hiel Hale, chief engineer: J. C. Stoddard, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; R. H. Gilmore, city attorney. Aldermen. J. J. Snouffer, I. H. Shaver, E. E. Leach, C. C. Cook, William Stewart, J. L. Bever, James Bell. 1872 E. S. Hill, mayor; A. St. Clair Smith, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; George L. Stearns, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Hiel Hale, marshal; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen. J. L. Bever, C. H. Clark, I. H. Shaver, C. C. Cook. W. Stewart, George Dale, G. M. Howlett, E. E. Leach. 1873 J. F. Charles, mayor; A. St. Clair Smith, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; George L. Stearns, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Hiel Hale, marshal; West & Eastman, city attorneys. Aldermen, J. L. Bever, C. C. Cook, C. H. Clark, George Dale, Henry Forsythe, S. T. Wier, G. M. Howlett, W. S. Bradley. 1874 A. B. Hull, mayor; H. J. Harvey, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; E. S. Hill, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Hiel Hale, marshal; A. D. Collier, city attorney. Aldermen, F. J. Upton, C. C. Cook, C. H. Clark, W. S. Bradley, M. P. Mills, J. H. Smith, E. L. Mansfield, C. H. Clark, George A. Lincoln, S. T. Wier. 1875 J. H. Smith, mayor; I. N. Whittam, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; Hiel Hale, chief engineer; A. G. Plum, recorder; Hiel Hale, marshal; F. C. Hormel, city attorney. Aldermen, R. Cornish, A. T. Averill, U. C. Blake, G. A. Lincoln, M. P. Mills, W. S. Bradley, S. T. Wier, C. H. Clark, F. J. Upton, E. L. Mansfield. 1876 J. H. Smith, mayor; I. N. Whittam, police judge; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; George A. Lincoln, chief engineer; A. G. Plum, recorder; Hiel Hale, marshal; F. C. Hormel, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, U. C. Blake, E. K. Larimer. W. S. Bradley, A. Mann, O. C. L. Jones, S. T. Wier, M. P. Mills, R. Cornish, D. H. Richards. 1877 W. S. Bradley, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; A. G. Plumb, recorder; Hiel Hale, marshal; F. C. Hormel, city attorney. Aldermen, C. Magnus, E. K. Larimer, A. R. Foote, U. C. Blake, O. C. L. Jones, D. H. Richards, J. J. Snouffer, D. T. Brown, A. Mann, Frank Witousek, D. B. Ramsdell, Samuel Miller. 1878 J. T. Hamilton, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, treasurer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; George A. Lincoln, recorder; H. C. Morehead, marshal; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, C. Magnus, D. T. Brown, W. W. Smith, U. C. Blake, A. R. Foote, O. C. L. Jones, H. G. Bowman, E. R. Earl, Frank Witousek, James Morton, E. L. Mansfield. 1879 O. N. Hull, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, treasurer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Spencer Jackson, marshal; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, John Meehan, W. W. Smith, E. R. Earl, John Gates, John Dale, James Morton, A. Van Vleck, L. E. Jenkins, H. G. Bowman, J. J. Snouffer, O. C. L. Jones, E. L. Mansfield. 1880 J. H. Smith, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, treasurer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Spencer Jackson, marshal; C. J. Deacon, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, John Gates, John Dale, P. Mullaly, A. Van Vleck, L. E. Jenkins, William Stewart, James Morton, E. R. Earl, John Meehan, E. L. Mansfield, W. A. Fulkerson. 1881 J. H. Smith, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, treasurer; C. W. Eaton, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Spencer Jackson, marshal; C. J. Deacon, city attorney. Aldermen, John Meehan, William Stewart, E. R. Earl, John Gates, J. M. Searles, E. L. Mansfield, J. R. Morin, M. P. Mills, James Morton, J. J. Snouffer, A. St. Clair Smith, W. A. Fulkerson. 1882 Charles A. Clark, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, treasurer; G. H. Murphy, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; Spencer Jackson, marshal; J. J. Powell, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, John Gates, J. M. Searles, P. Martel, J. R. Morin, M. P. Mills, A. Van Vleck, T. M. Giberson, E. R. Earl, John Meehan, C. D. Van Vechten, W. A. Fulkerson. 1883 John W. Henderson, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; A. G. Plumb, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; J. C. Stoddard, recorder; P. H. Francis, marshal; J. J. Powell, city attorney. Aldermen, John Meehan, P. Martel, M. P. Mills, John Gates, A. Van Vleck, James Fair, Frank Kouba, J. M. Searles, T. M. Giberson, J. J. Snouffer, C. D. Van Vechten, W. A. Fulkerson. 1884 C. W. Eaton, mayor; W. B. Leach, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. H. Francis, marshal; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, John Gates, W. A. Fulkerson, G. M. Olmsted, Frank Kouba, J. M. Searles, A. Van Vleck, T. M. Giberson, M. P. Mills, John Meehan, C. D. Van Vechten, C. B. Kennedy. 1885 F. C. Hormel, mayor; J. T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; Michael Healy, marshal; A. R. West, city attorney. Aldermen, H. T. Brown, G. M. Olmsted, C. F. Earl, Joseph Moore, John Gates, A. Van Vleck, T. M. Giberson, A. H. Connor, J. W. Shapely, J. R. Morin, A. J. Mallahan, W. A. Fulkerson, A. D. Stevens, E. I. Foster, J. J. Snouffer, M. P. Mills, C. D. Van Vechten, J. F. Vondracek. 1886 C. W. Eaton, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. H. Francis, marshal; M. P. Smith, city attorney. Aldermen, H. T. Brown, J. R. Morin, C. F. Earl, Joseph Moore, George W. Bever, J. M. Miles, R. J. Thompson, J. F. Vondracek, A. D. Stevens, John Gates, A. J. Mallahan, M. P. Mills, J. W. Shapely, H. C. Waite, G. M. Olmsted, H. F. Sutliff, C. D. Van Vechten, A. H. Connor. 1887 C. W. Eaton, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. H. Francis, marshal; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, George W. Bever, J. M. Miles, R. J. Thompson, J. F. Vondracek, Frank Horak, George A. Lincoln, W. A. Fulkerson, A. Matyk, H. C. Waite, G. M. Olmsted, H. F. Sutliff, M. P. Mills, A. H. Connor, E. I. Foster, John Gates, William King, C. D. Van Vechten, W. C. Byers. 1888 P. Mullaly, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. H. Francis, marshal; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, Frank Horak, George A. Lincoln, M. P. Mills, A. Matyk, C. Magnus, J. F. Allison, F. W. Harwood, Edward Roddy, E. I. Foster, John Gates, William King, W. A. Fulkerson, W. C. Byers, H. C. Waite, G. M. Olmsted, H. V. Ferguson, R. J. Thompson, J. E. Lapham. 1889 P. Mullaly, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; P. H. Francis, marshal; I. N. Whittam, city attorney; G. A. Mitchell, city engineer. Aldermen, C. Magnus, J. F. Allison, F. W. Harwood, Edward Roddy, J. J. Snouffer, George A. Lincoln, George W. Noble, F. W. Slapnicka, H. C. Waite, G. M. Olmsted, H. V. Ferguson, R. J. Thompson, J. E. Lapham, F. A. Simmons, Warren Harman, F. J. Shefler, M. Ottmar, W. C. Byers. 1890 J. J. Snouffer, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; J. W. Hayes, marshal; N. W. McIvor, city attorney; J. D. Wardle, city engineer. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, M. O'Brien, W. Harman, A. St. Clair Smith, G. A. Lincoln, George W. Noble, F. W. Slapnicka, J. F. Allison, J. B. Henderson, Joseph Zbanek, F. A. Simmons, F. J. Shefler, M. Ottmar, W. C. Byers, J. A. Roach, T. C. Munger, A. B. Van Albada, Frank Dietz. 1891 John B. Henderson, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; John D. Blain, recorder; J. W. Hayes, marshal; N. W. McIvor, city attorney; J. D. Wardle, city engineer. Aldermen, M. O'Brien, J. F. Allison, P. H. Francis, J. Zbanek, J. J. Snouffer, George W. Noble, F. A. Simmons, F. W. Slapnicka, J. R. Amidon, T. C. Munger, M. Ottmar, Frank Dietz, A. St. Clair Smith, F. J. Shefler, A. B. Van Albada, G. H. Spalding. 1892 John B. Henderson, mayor; John T. Stoneman, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; J. D. Blain, recorder; A. W. West, marshal; N. W. McIvor, city attorney; J. D. Wardle, city engineer. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, George W. Noble, F. A. Simmons, F. W. Slapnicka, M. O'Brien, Warren Harman, M. S. Jackson, J. Zbanek, J. R. Amidon, F. J. Shefler, M. Ottmar, A. F. Schindler, A. St. Clair Smith, Ed R. Shaw, L. W. Richards, J. B. Leverich. 1893 William P. Daniels, mayor; Thomas M. Giberson, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; J. D. Blain, recorder; A. R. West, marshal; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; Lewis Heins, city attorney; J. D. Wardle, city engineer; board of public works, J. L. Hardwick, chairman, C. H. Swab, W. P. Clark. Aldermen, M. O'Brien, Charles Bednar, F. H. Juckett, S. J. Maloney, J. Kozlovsky, D. F. Anderson, J. W. Gerber, F. S. Salda, F. W. Harwood, Ed. R. Shaw, L. W. Richards, J. B. Leverich, A. St. Clair Smith, J. F. Shefler, L. J. Zika, A. F. Schindler. 1894 William P. Daniels, mayor; Thomas M. Giberson, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; L. M. Ayers, chief engineer; J. D. Blain, recorder; Thomas Farmer, marshal; Lewis Heins, city attorney; J. D. Wardle, city engineer. Board of public works, Hosmer Tuttle, chairman. Aldermen, Joseph Kozlovsky, D. F. Anderson, J. W. Gerber, F. S. Salda, G. M. Schumm, George Eakle, F. H. Juckett, S. J. Maloney, F. W. Harwood, F. J. Shefler, L. J. Zika, A. F. Schindler, Charles Weare, S. L. Rudolph, W. A. Smith, J. B. Leverich. 1895 George A. Lincoln, mayor; T. M. Giberson, superior judge; J. C. Stoddard, treasurer; Thomas Farmer, marshal; J. D. Blain, recorder and assessor; William McGowan, chief engineer; Warren Harman, city attorney; E. P. Boynton, city engineer. Board of public works, Charles Weare, chairman. Aldermen, G. M. Schumm, George Yuill, John B. Turner, S. J. Maloney, Ed H. Smith, George Eakle, J. W. Gerber, Joseph Kubicek, F. W. Harwood, V. W. Johnson, James Monilaw, C. F. Hutchens, Charles Weare, S. L. Rudolph, W. A. Smith, J. B. Leverich. 1896 George A. Lincoln, mayor; Thomas M. Giberson, superior judge; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; William McGowan, Jr., chief engineer; J. D. Blain, recorder; Thomas Farmer, marshal; Warren Harman, city attorney; E. P. Boynton, city engineer. Board of public works, Charles Weare, chairman. Aldermen, Ed H. Smith, George Yuill, W. G. Haskell, S. J. Maloney, W. G. Dows, George W. Eakle, John B. Turner, Joseph Kubicek, F. W. Harwood, V. W. Johnson, James Monilaw, Henry J. Rapps, C. W. Burton, David W. King, Joseph Pitlik, C. F. Hutchens. 1897 George A. Lincoln, mayor; Thomas M. Giberson, superior judge; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; Thomas Farmer, marshal; J. D. Blain, recorder; J. L. Starman, chief engineer; W. Harman, city attorney; E. P. Boynton, city engineer. Board of public works, Charles Weare, chairman. Aldermen, W. G. Dows, George W. Eakle, W. G. Haskell, John Juza, R. N. Buck, R. D. Mills, Joseph Pitlik, S. J. Maloney, F. W. Harwood, David W. King, J. Y. Kennedy, J. B. Leverich, C. W. Burton, V. W. Johnson, J. H. Rothrock, Jr., Henry J. Rapps. 1898 John M. Redmond, mayor; T. M. Giberson, judge superior court; J. D. Blain, recorder; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph Kozlovsky, marshal; John L. Starman, chief of fire department; John N. Hughes, city attorney; G. H. Merridith, city engineer. Aldermen, J. F. Allison, M. Ottmar, R. N. Buck, George T. Hedges, R. A. Wallace, Charles D. Huston, W. G. Haskell, Joseph Pitlik, F. W. Slapnicka, L. M. Rich. 1899 John M. Redmond, mayor; T. M. Giberson, judge superior court; J. D. Blain, recorder; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph Kozlovsky, marshal; Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; Henry J. Achter, auditor; John N. Hughes, city attorney; G. H. Merridith, city engineer. Aldermen, J. F. Allison, M. Ottmar, R. N. Buck, George T. Hedges, R. A. Wallace, Charles D. Huston, W. G. Haskell, J. P. Grissel, F. W. Slapnicka, L. M. Rich. 1900 John M. Redmond, mayor; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court; J. D. Blain, recorder; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph Kozlovsky, marshal; Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; Henry J. Achter, auditor; John N. Hughes, city attorney; G. H. Merridith, city engineer. Aldermen, J. F. Allison, M. Ottmar, R. N. Buck, George T. Hedges, R. A. Wallace, 1901 Charles D. Huston, mayor; Henry J. Achter, auditor; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; George L. Mentzer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph P. Cook, chief of fire department; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court; John N. Hughes, city attorney; T. F. McCauley, city engineer. Aldermen, J. F. Allison, H. Cushman, James H. Hughes, W. L. Cherry, F. E. Cerny, C. H. Chandler, Porter Hamilton, John Easker, F. W. Slapnicka, John F. Powers. 1902 Charles D. Huston, mayor; Henry J. Achter, auditor; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; George L. Mentzer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph Kozlovsky, marshal; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court; John N. Hughes, city attorney; T. F. McCauley, city engineer. Aldermen, J. F. Allison, H. Cushman, James H. Hughes, W. L. Cherry, F. E. Cerny, C. H. Chandler, Porter Hamilton, John Easker, F. W. Slapnicka. 1903 Charles D. Huston, mayor; Henry J. Achter, auditor; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; George L. Mentzer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph Kozlovsky, marshal; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court; Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; John N. Hughes, city attorney; T. F. McCauley, city engineer. Aldermen, H. Cushman, C. O. Johnson, James H. Hughes, W. L. Cherry, George Lightner, D. A. Ross, W. C. Byers, F. W. Barta, D. Feiereisen, John F. Powers. 1904 Charles D. Huston, mayor; Henry J. Achter, auditor; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; George L. Mentzer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph Kozlovsky, marshal; John N. Hughes, city attorney; T. F. McCauley, city engineer; Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court. Aldermen, H. Cushman, C. O. Johnson, J. H. Hughes, W. L. Cherry, George Lightner, D. A. Ross, W. C. Byers, F. W. Barta, D. Feiereisen, J. F. Powers. 1905 Charles D. Huston, mayor; Henry J. Achter, auditor; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; H. S. Keffer, recorder; J. A. Hildebrand, assessor; Joseph Kozlovsky, marshal; John N. Hughes, city attorney; T. F. McCauley, city engineer; Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; James H. Rothrock, judge superior court. Aldermen, H. Cushman, C. O. Johnson, J. H. Hughes, W. L. Cherry, George Lightner, D. A. Ross, W. C. Byers, F. W. Barta, D. Feiereisen, J. F. Powers. 1906-7 Amos H. Connor, mayor; James B. Gourley, auditor; Thomas Devendorf, treasurer; H. S. Keffer, recorder; J. G. Crozer, marshal; Joseph P. Cook, chief fire department; James W. Good, city attorney; T. R. Warriner, city engineer. Aldermen, James H. Hughes, W. G. Rowley, George Lightner, D. A. Ross, W. C. Byers, F. W. Barta, J. K. Starman, D. Feiereisen, L. W. Anderson, Charles H. Campbell. Mayor Connor died while in office and George S. Lightner was chosen for the unexpired term. The city went under the commission plan of government in 1908, the officers being as follows: J. T. Carmody, mayor; Leslie J. Storey, clerk; C. D. Huston, H. S. Keffer, Matt J. Miles, and E. A. Sherman, councilmen; John M. Redmond, attorney; Percy P. Smith, engineer. Mayor Carmody having died, Matt J. Miles was chosen mayor and J. F. Allison councilman to succeed him. 1910 Matt J. Miles, mayor; Leslie J. Storey, clerk; W. H. Chamberlain, attorney; T. F. McCauley, engineer; H. S. Keffer, W. H. Stepanek, Henry Bennett, and Percy P. Smith, councilmen. H. S. Keffer later resigned, and A. S. Reed was chosen to fill the vacancy. CITY OF CEDAR RAPIDS AS IT WAS FIFTY YEARS AGOThe following interesting account of early Cedar Rapids is taken from Voice of Iowa for April, 1857, edited by James L. Enos. The article was written by Mr. Enos himself: "What constitutes the present city of Cedar Rapids, is embraced mainly by sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, in T. 83 N., R. 7 W., in the township of Rapids in Linn county. The location is one of the most delightful to be found in any of the rich valleys of the west, being on the northeast side of the Cedar river, on a plain rising above the river's bed, and reaching back nearly half a mile, with but very slight depressions or uprisings, serving to render the plat one of great convenience for building, and giving a peculiar grace to its appearance. "In the rear of this table-land a somewhat abrupt elevation, varying from 20 to 40 feet, occurs, which is covered with a luxuriant growth of native oak. Upon this are the most beautiful and romantic sites for residences, being sufficiently elevated to overlook the entire valley for miles in either direction. Back of this the depressions and elevations alternate, making this portion of the city a series of circular, undulating swells. "The city proper also extends on the west side of the river and embraces numerous other positions which are being occupied with rapidity and improved with taste, and though not embraced within the present city limits, forms of necessity a part of the Valley City. "Cedar Rapids is situated due west of Chicago, the present emporium of the west, and is the present terminus of the principal trunk railroad from that city penetrating the heart of the northwest. It is 75 miles southwest from Dubuque, 80 miles nearly west from Clinton, about the same distance from Davenport, 55 miles from Muscatine, and about 110 from Des Moines—the capital of Iowa. NATURAL ADVANTAGES"Few interior cities are blessed with more natural advantages than Cedar Rapids. The rapids in the Cedar river are the first met with after leaving the Mississippi, and no more occur of any considerable amount for many miles above. These afford one of the best water powers in the west, and with proper dams would afford power sufficient to run all machinery that will ever be required on either side of the river, even though our population should reach fifty thousand. Surrounding the town for miles is one of the richest agricultural districts in the Union, forming a part of the Cedar valley country which Professor Owen has taken as his type of perfection in fertility. There is a plentiful supply of timber for all ordinary uses—numerous groves are scattered upon the surrounding hills—giving the appearance of an enchanted garden—probably unsurpassed in richness by any region of equal extent on the American continent. "Its position in reference to other towns and cities is such as must of necessity make it a great railroad center, and several are already projected, and one under contract to this city. We shall speak more fully of this class of advantages in another portion of this article. "In point of healthfulness, it will compare favorably with any of the river towns, the diseases being chiefly of a bilious nature, and yielding readily to very simple treatment. This fact applies with very general truth to all the valleys of Iowa—while the more elevated districts are more free from malaria, they are subject to a disease of a more complex and serious character. This may seem fabulous to the casual observer, but we feel assured that the combined experience of western practitioners will bear testimony to the correctness of our statements. SETTLEMENT"There is always more or less of interest connected with the early days of any city, and it is not until years after that the record becomes of value. The pioneer suffers privations and trials of which future occupants can realize but little. In fact, the honor paid them is seldom equal to their merits and oftentimes they are as illy prepared to receive as others are to bestow sympathy and praise. Among the first settlers of this city were some men of the first character, and are yet with us, while others have moved farther on, to enjoy what habit has taught them to love, a frontier life, and a few have gone down to the gate of common entry, their years being full and their memories yet linger, and make us glad that we lived with, knew and loved them. Of this number we name that generous and true man, D. W. King. Esq., who departed from our midst in the autumn of 1854. "The first man, however, who pitched his tent on the ground now occupied by the Valley City, was a counterfeiter and horse thief, of no little notoriety, by the name of Shepard, who took up his abode and erected a log house on what is now Linn street, near the mills, some time in the year 1838. "D. W. King and Thomas Gainer, the first settlers of any advantage to the country, reached here in 1839 and soon after made a permanent settlement on the west side of the river. "The house of Shepard was soon found to be the home of a lawless band of outlaws, who secreted much of their plunder on the islands in the river above the city. John Young and a man named Granger were connected with Shepard in their work. They stole at one time six horses and made good their escape with four of them. Granger was afterwards convicted of passing counterfeit money in Chicago and sentenced to the Alton prison for four years. The fate of Young is not known with certainty, yet there is evidence to induce the belief that he was executed for murder, in a neighboring state, though he assumed a different name. "The privations of the first settlers were at times very great, and though such as are not uncommon in the history of pioneer life, would cause many of our amateurs at the present time to sigh for the home of their childhood and a place at the luxurious tables of their fathers. PROGRESS"In 1849 D. W. King established ferries for crossing the Cedar, and continued to run them up to the time of his death. The one doing most of the business was at the Iowa avenue crossing. As it is probable that these boats will soon, if indeed they have not already made their last voyage, a brief note of them may not be out of place in this connection. They were self-propellers, being forced across the river by the power of the current. A wire rope extended across the stream upon which a pulley was placed, and connected by means of two ropes to the boat. "The first dam across the Cedar was commenced in 1842, and the first saw mill erected in 1843, and is still running. "In March, 1843, the lands came into the market. The first flouring mill was erected in 1844-5 at a cost of $3,000, by the present owner. In 1845 A. Ely erected the second saw mill, and the second flouring mill the following year, the latter costing about $9,000. In 1848-9 the woolen factory was erected at a cost of about $8,000. The first saw mill was erected in 1850 by Greene, Legare & Co. This has a chair and bedstead factory connected and cost about $4,000. These are all propelled by water power. In 1855-6, Greene & Graves erected a steam saw mill, and containing also a variety of other machinery. The first and "The first store was opened by J. Greene, in the building now occupied by the postoffice, on the northwest corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. "The second store was opened by Mr. Cleveland, and C. R. Mulford the third. This was located on Commercial street, and was destroyed by fire in 1850, being the first building thus destroyed in Cedar Rapids. No fire occurred thereafter until late in the autumn of 1855, when most of the block embraced on the west side of Commercial street, between Iowa avenue and Linn street, was consumed. No fire has occurred since. "The postoffice was established in 1847, and J. Greene appointed postmaster. "The first brick buildings were erected in 1844, the building on the southwest corner of Iowa avenue and Commercial street, and the dwelling house on the northwest corner of Iowa avenue and Washington street. The present Union House was the first hotel. "The village of Cedar Rapids was laid out and the plat recorded in 1842. At this time, two log buildings constituted the village, and the total population was six persons. "A public school house was erected in 1846 or '47, and the first school taught by Nelson Felch. This structure is now occupied as a dwelling, on the northwest corner of Eagle and Madison streets. The first church, Presbyterian, was erected in 1850. "The first newspaper was published in 1851 by D. O. Finch, entitled the Progressive Era. It was continued under this name by various owners and editors until September, 1854, when it was purchased by J. L. Enos and F. A. Wilmans, and its name changed to the Cedar Valley Times by which name it yet flourishes. In politics republican, it is at present published by J. G. Davenport. The second paper was established in January, 1856, under the editorial management of J. L. Enos, entitled the Cedar Valley Farmer, but was discontinued at the close of the first volume. The Cedar Rapids Democrat was the third paper—commenced in June, 1856, by W. W. Perkins & Co. This is still published. Democratic in politics, the Times and the Democrat are both good papers, and appear to be well sustained. "The Voice of Iowa was commenced in January, 1857, under the auspices of the Iowa Teachers' Association, Phonetic Association, etc., J. L. Enos, editor and publishing agent, assisted by a number of corresponding editors. This journal has met with more than ordinary success, the circulation passing 1,000 during the first three months and commanding nearly $1,000 in advertising patronage, thus showing that the people of Iowa are aroused to the importance of paying due attention to the education of their youth. "The foundation for a very large graded school was laid in the summer of 1856, but owing to the large amount of work contracted and the scarcity of workmen, the completion was of necessity deferred. It is designed to complete it early the coming summer, and when finished will form one of the finest educational structures in the state. "During the past two years the growth of Valley City has been equaled by few towns even in the west. It now contains many blocks that would do credit to any eastern city. "The present city charter was adopted in the summer of 1856, and Isaac Whittam, Esq., was elected mayor. A free bridge across the Cedar was commenced in 1855, and is now ready for crossing by teams. The chief credit of this structure is due to a few, though many stood manfully by the free bridge and aided liberally in its erection. A charter for a toll bridge was obtained about "Nor is this imaginary, as the following statistics will show. Cedar Rapids now contains: 4 flouring mills, 2 door, sash and blind, and planing mills, 1 cooper and barrel factory, 5 wagon and carriage factories, 1 iron factory, 2 cabinet furniture and chair factories, 3 plow factories, 3 boot and shoe factories, 2 saddle and harness manufactories, 4 tin, copper and sheet iron establishments, 1 woolen factory, 5 brick yards, 2 agricultural implement manufactories, 3 merchant tailor establishments, 2 wood turning establishments, 3 newspapers and magazines, 1 brick machine factory, 8 grocery and provision stores, 5 clothing stores, 5 dry-goods stores, 1 millinery and fancy goods store, 6 liquor and cigar shops, 4 drug stores, 2 silversmith, clock and jewelry stores, 4 hardware stores, 3 book stores, 1 book bindery, 5 public and private halls, 5 hotels, 4 churches, 4 lumber yards, 3 banking houses, 1 public reading room, 1 shaving and hair dressing establishment. "A paper mill is in contemplation, and there is room and excellent openings for other branches of business. "A hat and cap manufactory—pork packing establishment—in fact nearly every branch of manufactory not included in the above would do well. There are two nurseries contiguous to town, where nearly every kind of fruit and a large variety of ornamental trees can be procured. The Mound nursery is one of the oldest and most extensive in the country, and the proprietor furnishes orders on very liberal terms." The following letter to A. T. Hall, as to a gavel, at the meeting of carpenters of America at Des Moines, 1910, gives some interesting facts as to early days in Cedar Rapids: "Dear Sir: In reply to your request for such information as I have concerning the small mallet or gavel which you had made from a piece of the red cedar shaft, I can only say that there is but little to its history. My father, the late Nicholas Brodhead Brown, came to what is now the city of Cedar Rapids in 1839, but did not remain here at that time. He went as far north as Cedar Falls looking for a mill site, and returned to this location in 1840. After building the first manufacturing plant in Linn county for the Doty brothers, a saw mill in Bertram township, located near the mouth of Indian creek, he began in 1841 to improve the waterfall in the Cedar river at this place. He first built a temporary dam then built a saw mill, the second to be built in the county, for himself. He then began the building of the first flour mill in the county. This mill was completed and in operation either in 1843 or 1844, and from this mill came the cedar shaft from which the little mallet or gavel was made. There is no doubt in my mind about the cedar tree from which the mallet was made was cut very close to, and perhaps within the present limits of Cedar Rapids. Nicholas Brodhead Brown was in all probability the first mechanic who used edged tools, to locate in Cedar Rapids. Nor is there any doubt in my mind about his making the shaft above spoken of. It was the real shaft in the old bolting chest in the mill known as Brown's Mill. Mr. Brown by occupation was a millwright and through force of circumstances worked at that trade for some twelve or fifteen years after his arrival here. He especially did all of the millwrighting that he could do himself on this mill, working twelve and fourteen hours a day for the purpose of getting it into operation as soon as possible, as not only he himself needed its income but the country all about this locality needed a mill. "Another of the early mechanics to come to Cedar Rapids was Samuel Sherwood, also a millwright. He worked for a time on Brown's flour mill, and on the Alexander Ely flour mill, now known as the Anchor mill. This was the second mill to begin operation in Cedar Rapids. The Ely mill began operating the same year as the Brown's, but later on in the year. Another of the old-time mechanics, a user of edged tools, was Joseph Love. He was the first cabinet-maker to locate in Cedar Rapids. Another was John Vardy; he was the second cabinet-maker to locate in Cedar Rapids, and was the builder of the first house in Cedar Rapids to be constructed of sawed lumber. The house still stands—is in use and owned by the Stary family. John F. Boyce, the father of William and Frank Boyce of this city, was another early mechanic. He also was a cabinet-maker. John Patterson, an uncle of Chas. A. Calder of this city, was another. He also was a cabinet-maker. All of these men worked to a greater or less extent at the carpenter's trade. In those days there were no trade unions and consequently no limitations on the kind of work a mechanic should do. To my mind these men could be classed as carpenters as well as millwrights and cabinet-makers. I should have said that Samuel Sherwood went to Independence from this city and became the founder of the milling industry at that thriving little place. I have diverged largely from the gavel, but believe it will be interesting to yourself and your fraternity to know who the first users of edged tools were in this part of Iowa. Respectfully yours, HOW THE FIRST RAILROAD CAME TO CEDAR RAPIDST. DEVENDORF IN THE SUNDAY REPUBLICAN OF JUNE 10, 1906 The population of the city in 1856 was not to exceed 1,200 to 1,500 people. There was little wealth in the community. No manufacturing enterprises had as The one great desire and ambition of the people was for a railroad to the east on which they could transport their surplus product to an eastern market. Railroad building had not been very extensive in the west, the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska had its track built as far west as the Mississippi river and was formulating plans to bridge the river and extend the road across the fertile prairies of Iowa. Some of our pioneer citizens with shrewd business instincts and confidence in the rapid settlement and development of the state, on the completion of the railroad, became interested in this new project and advocated the granting of a loan to them provided the road should be built to or through our growing city. The subject of giving aid to this new proposed railroad was discussed largely among the people, and on the 1st day of September, 1856, the city council passed a resolution instructing the mayor to call an election of the qualified voters of Cedar Rapids to vote on the question, shall the city in its corporate capacity subscribe sixty thousand dollars to the capital stock of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska railroad and pay for same in bonds issued by the city. Said bonds were to bear interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum, and were to mature 20 years after date at the option of the city. The election was called by Mayor Isaac Whittam and held September 22, 1856, and resulted in the very decisive vote of 111 for the proposition and only 2 against it. These bonds were to be issued in series as the work on the new road progressed, fifteen thousand dollars worth when the contract was let for building the road from De Witt to Cedar Rapids; the second series of fifteen thousand dollars worth when the first five miles of grading were completed in Linn county; and the balance of thirty thousand dollars worth when the grading was finished into the city of Cedar Rapids and the road in operation and cars running as far west as Mt. Vernon. On the 20th of February, 1857, Mayor Whittam in a report to the city council made a statement that he, as representative of the city, had attended the meeting of the stockholders of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska, held on the 25th day of January, 1857, at Clinton and at that time had passed over to the railroad company the fifteen bonds of one thousand dollars each, to which they were entitled, they giving the required stock certificates for same as per agreement. The railroad company also entered into a contract with the city in which they agreed to pay interest on said bonds and all others to be issued to the railroad until such time as the road should be finished and the cars running into the city of Cedar Rapids. The mayor also complimented the men in charge of the affairs of the road as men of means, honor, and energy, and finished his report by predicting that when the road was completed it would be of great benefit and advantage to our young but growing city. But notwithstanding the financial aid and the general encouragement given by the people the road advanced westward slowly and while the grading had been nearly completed there were many other things necessary to build a railroad and which could only be had by having the ready money with which to buy such supplies. In June, 1857, another petition was presented to the city council asking that the mayor call an election of the legal voters of the city to vote on the question, shall the city issue its bonds to the amount of forty thousand dollars to aid in purchasing the iron rails to complete the road to Cedar Rapids, the city to be a subscriber to the capital stock of the road to that amount. On July 10, 1857, the mayor called the election to vote on the proposition, shall the city in its corporate capacity issue its bonds for forty thousand dollars, the money to be used to procure iron rails and for no other purpose. The election was held on July 20, 1857, and resulted as follows: For the proposition, 104 votes; against 25 votes. These bonds were to be issued in series and were to be paid one-quarter in 13 years, one-quarter in 14 years, one-quarter in 15 years, and the balance in 16 years from date. Some time after these bonds were issued and turned over to the railroad company some legal point was raised touching their validity, and this together with the fact that the financial standing of the railroad company in the east among the iron manufacturers was not first class, made it necessary that some other plan should be adopted to procure the iron rails to build the road to Cedar Rapids. Heretofore they had found it practicable to survey and locate and grade a road and pay for the same in farm products, dry goods and groceries, etc. But when it came to buying iron from the manufacturers it required the cash or a suitable collateral. But our people were ready to meet this unforeseen emergency. Six of our early and more wealthy citizens made notes of $8,000.00 each, each note being signed by each of the other gentlemen, making a joint note of each one and together amounting to the $48,000.00. These notes were to be used as collateral and to strengthen up their credit, so that the iron rails could be bought and the road completed to this city. This was purely accommodation paper and the road contracted that the interest and principal of these notes should be paid by the railroad company from the first net earnings of the company, but in the early years of the road there were no net earnings. It was only by the most economical management that the operating expenses could be met, and several After the railroad was completed and in operation to this place little was said in regard to these city bonds. In the proceedings of the city council June 13, 1860, a resolution was passed authorizing E. H. Steadman, the mayor of the city, to represent the city at the annual meeting of the stockholders of the C., I. & N. Ry., which was to be held in Clinton at a later date. On January 25, 1861, a committee was appointed consisting of the mayor, I. N. Whittam, and Alderman G. Livensbarger who were to examine into the legal condition of the city in relation to the $100,000.00 worth of city bonds already issued for railroad purposes. What this investigating committee did, and what their conclusions were, are not matters of record. Nothing more is said in any of the proceedings of the city council in regard to this matter until May 8, 1863, when it appears from the preamble of a resolution introduced that the railroad company was calling upon the city authorities to comply with the terms of the contract entered into when the bonds were issued, which was that the city should pay the interest on such bonds after the completion of the road to this place. The road had been finished and in operation some two years and still no interest had been paid and the city made no efforts to collect any sum for such purpose. At the meeting of the council May 8, 1863, a resolution was introduced asking that a committee be appointed to investigate and report on the recorded facts bearing upon this matter of railroad bonds from its inception to this date. Aldermen McClelland, Denlinger and Slonaker were desirous of having light on the subject and voted for an investigation, but Aldermen Bever, Carroll and Stibbs voted in the negative, and this being a tie vote it was decided by the mayor, who also voted in the negative. At the council meeting held June 11, 1864, another committee to investigate was appointed who was authorized to procure legal advice in regard to the liability of the city and also meet and confer with the officers of the railroad company, and this committee consisting of Aldermen McClelland and E. H. Steadman reported back to the council that they had procured legal advice in the matter and from all data and facts collected their attorney was of the opinion that the railroad company had no legal claims against the city and that the bonds were illegal and void. In October of 1864 the same subject came up in the city council and a committee of three consisting of S. C. Bever, H. C. Angle and John Weare were appointed to confer with the railroad company and get the best terms of settlement they could, either by taking reissued stock in payment or a certain amount of money yearly in full settlement. This committee were prompt in their investigations and reported back to the council November 4, 1864. Their report was that they had a conference with the railroad company and the best compromise they could obtain was this: First. That the city surrender to the company all its claims to stock in said road. Second. The railroad company would then return to the city $90,000.00 worth of the city bonds already issued together with all coupons on the balance, leaving in the hands of the company $10,000.00 worth with all coupons cut off to date. This surrendering of bonds to in no way affect the legality of the bonds retained, the legal points to be settled later. At the meeting of the council Alderman Bever introduced a resolution covering all the points made in the report of the committee that the city surrender the stock and that the railroad company return the $90,000.00 worth of bonds, leaving On the yeas and nays being called the following aldermen voted yea: Bever, Denlinger, Holland and Slonaker, and in the negative, Alderman McClelland, and the resolution was declared adopted. Alderman McClelland then at once offered his resignation as alderman from the Third ward and his resignation was as promptly accepted and Wm. Richmond elected as his successor. Nothing more appears in the records of the city council bearing on this question of railroad bonds until June 29, 1866, when Alderman Adams of the Third ward introduced a resolution that a committee of one consisting of Alderman Snouffer be appointed to confer and negotiate with Horace Williams, agent of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska railroad, for the surrender of the outstanding bonds, and he was authorized to release and exonerate the railroad company from performing certain acts they had previously agreed to do. One was the grading of Jefferson street and another was the grading of the North city park and the building a fence of oak posts around said park, both of which they had failed to do. These agreements of the railroad company the city would relinquish, provided the railroad company would return the balance of the city bonds in their hands, amounting to $10,000.00. It is presumed that Alderman Snouffer failed to make these negotiations with Horace Williams as instructed by the city council, at least there is nothing in the records to show that this committee of one ever made any report on this subject to the city council. At the meeting of the city council held May 15, 1868, another committee was appointed to investigate and try to induce the railroad company to relinquish and return these outstanding city bonds and it is fair to presume that the committee accomplished something in that direction as at a subsequent meeting held June 26, 1868, Alderman Leach moved that the city treasurer be authorized to receive the city bonds now in the possession of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad and receipt for same. This is the last record to be found in the proceedings of the city council bearing on this subject of city bonds. Going back to the time the railroad was built into Cedar Rapids it will be remembered that little value was placed on the stock. People subscribed for the stock and paid their subscriptions as called for more to encourage the building of the road than for an investment. Nearly every citizen had some few shares of the stock. They had all done their share in getting the road here according to each one's means and financial ability, and held their stock in the road. It was then that men of means with confidence in the rapid growth and advancement of this great state of Iowa began in a private way gathering up this stock of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska R. R., buying up from the small holders their stock at prices from 25 to 35 cents on the dollar of the par value and in a few years the small holders had parted with their holdings and in 1865 there was little or no stock of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska R. R. to be had and in the latter part of that year the road was merged into the Chicago & Northwestern system. At what price per share the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska went into the Northwestern is not positively known, but it is generally supposed that one share of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska R. R. was good for about three shares of the new consolidated Chicago & Northwestern. SOME OF THE EARLY BRICK HOUSES IN CEDAR RAPIDSCharles Weare used to say that there was a brick building on the Y. M. C. A. corner which was torn down many years ago, and which was supposed to be one of the first brick buildings in Cedar Rapids; it was occupied by Ingham Wood as D. M. McIntosh erected a one-story brick building near the present library in 1850 or 1851, which building is still standing. About the same time the father of James Snyder erected a brick dwelling which stood on South Third street near where the Vardy cottage is located. Greene's Hotel on First street was a brick structure erected between 1854 and 1855; it had an eighty feet front and ran back toward the river about eighty feet. The picture of this building shows that it was a four-story structure, although many claim that it was only a three-story building. This buildup was erected by J. J. Snouffer; for many years it was the largest and best equipped hotel in this part of the west. Part of the residence of Dr. Skinner was erected by George Berg and was one of the most complete brick structures in this city. Elihu Baker also erected a brick residence on the property now occupied by Dr. H. W. Bender about the early '50s. Sampson C. Bever erected a brick building on the premises where the Rock Island offices now stand, being a two story structure similar to the Spangler residence which was erected later across the street. In this structure Mr. Bever installed the first hot air furnace used in Cedar Rapids, and a great many of the early settlers came to inspect the house, and especially to examine the hot air furnace which was a new thing in those days. J. S. Cook in the early days erected a brick structure on the corner of A avenue and Fifth street, which was one of the fine homes for many years in this city. S. A. Shattuck built in the early '50s a brick structure on Sixth avenue and Fifth street. John Newell, during the years 1855 and 1856, erected a double brick structure at the corner of Fifth street and Seventh avenue. The old Seabury house on Eighth avenue was erected prior to 1860 and for many years was a landmark in that end of town. The Barthel house which stood where the Majestic Theatre now stands was one of the early brick veneer houses in the city and was occupied by many of the prominent families from time to time. R. C. Rock, one of the early merchants, erected a brick house in the early days on the premises where George Williams has since erected a magnificent mansion. Dr. Wilman, Dr. J. L. Enos and Dr. S. D. Carpenter erected brick houses in the early days which were landmarks along Second avenue up toward Tenth street. The Lawson Daniels brick residence was on First avenue between Second and Third streets adjoining the Thomas Building, and adjoining this was the dwelling of Dr. Thomas, a friend of J. J. Snouffer and a native of Maryland; Dr. Thomas returned to his native state in the '50s. Adjoining these brick dwellings was also another brick building erected by the old pioneer H. G. Angle and occupied by him as a residence for many years. Another substantial brick dwelling was erected by John Graves on B avenue and Fourth street, being a two-story brick building with an upper and lower porch. The old Gillette house was on the east side of Fifth street where William S. Bye now resides; it was known as the Gillette house. Mr. Gillette being the brother-in-law of the late W. D. Watrous. Another large and commodious brick dwelling house was a two-story structure erected on Fifth street between B and C avenues and near what is known now as Nearly all the brick used in the early days was made by a Mr. Geeslan who operated a brick yard near what is now known as the "Lame Johnny" place. Brick was cheap, labor was low and the cost of erecting these dwellings in that day was much lower than later. It is said that Sam Stambaugh in the early days worked as a brick mason and walked home to Bertram every night, the wages paid being about $1.00 a day, which was considered high. It is also said that during the '50s Cedar Rapids had more commodious homes than any other town of its size in Iowa. It was made up largely of a brainy, wide-awake, enterprising lot of men, such as N. B. Brown, H. G. Angle, the Greenes, Earles, Elys, Daniels, Macks, Weares, Bevers, and many others who had drifted into the town and who soon built up an enterprising little town, engaging in various ventures, not always successful, but they had Cedar Rapids before the world so that they finally landed the railroad which henceforth made the town. It is said by the late Charles Weare that "when they first started a newspaper there were no settlers in the town, but they had to use a newspaper to boom the town with." SOME STRENUOUS DAYS IN THE OLDEN TIMESFROM THE CEDAR RAPIDS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 1906 An ordinance creating a fire department was introduced in the council in January, 1869, and it was passed February 12, 1869. This ordinance was lengthy. It stipulated what officers should be appointed, what their duties were, how many fire companies to each engine, how many men to each company and many other details. One of the provisions of this first and original ordinance was that the fire chief should be appointed by the council. On March 12, 1869, the fire company which had already been organized but not officially recognized by the city council, presented a petition to the council, asking that P. C. Lusk be appointed as fire chief. At a subsequent meeting a vote was taken on the election of a fire chief with the following result: P. C. Lusk, who was the choice of the fire department, received four votes and J. J. Snouffer one vote. Lusk having received a majority of the votes cast was declared elected chief of the fire department. At the meeting held April 9, 1869, the chief of the fire department presented the names of the members of the first company which was styled "The Steam Fire Engine Co., No. 1." It was organized under Ordinance No. 78. Mr. Lusk reported the names of sixty members, including officers, and asked the council to confirm them, which was done. The officers of this company were as follows:
Some of the "high privates" in this first organized fire company of Cedar Rapids were as follows: Al Jacobs, Richard Cornish, C. E. Calder, Lyman Ayers, Geo. Rhodes, Ed. Buttolph, John H. Smith, H. S. Bever, H. E. Witwer, H. Hale, Geo. Hasse, John Bryan, Walter L. Clark, L. L. Cone, Chas. L. Morehead, A. S. Mershon, Ely E. Weare, James Snyder, John Shearer, Baxter McQuinn, W. J. Wood, Richard Moorhead, Don Harris, Lowell Bressler, N. Rudolph, Ira Taft, and twenty-seven others. Early in April a hook and ladder company was organized and on April 16, 1869, was confirmed by the council as a part of the fire department of Cedar Rapids. The officers of the company were as follows:
Samuel A. Lilly. H. C. Morehead, James Fowler, P. C. Garrett, J. C. Adams, Samuel Spalding, J. A. Hart, Joseph Lilly, J. M. Chambers, T. Snook, J. J. Calder, G. M. Howlett, C. D. Pettibone and six others constituted the active membership of this organization. The official life of Chief Engineer Lusk was very brief and was marked by continued strife and dissension among the members of the department. He became persona non grata to the council and charges were preferred against him. July 13, 1869, Alderman Hill introduced a resolution reciting that while the chief engineer could not be declared guilty of intentional fraud he was indiscreet in many things and his influence for good in the department had been so impaired that his resignation was demanded. This did the business, and on July 23 he resigned. W. B. Leach was appointed chief engineer for the remainder of the term, and peace and good feeling prevailed in the department. In March, 1870, after the inauguration of the new council of which W. B. Leach was mayor, a petition of the fire department was presented in which they asked the council to appoint Geo. A. Lincoln as chief engineer of the department. Another petition was also presented, signed by many citizens, asking that W. D. Watrous be appointed chief engineer of the department. On the 25th of March, a ballot being ordered, Geo. A. Lincoln received three votes and W. D. Watrous three votes, whereupon the mayor voted for Lincoln and declared him elected to the position of chief engineer, and on the 26th day of March he was duly qualified and took the oath of office. Shortly after Mr. Lincoln assumed the authority vested in the office of chief engineer of the fire department, an element of discord arose in the council and an effort was made to secure by legislation and diplomacy what they had failed to accomplish when the vote was taken in March. It was thought the original ordinance passed in January, 1869, was faulty and should be amended and the ordinance committee was directed to make such amendments as were necessary or to prepare an entirely new ordinance. During the summer of 1870 the committee had prepared an ordinance which was practically the same as the old one. The only radical change was in the manner of electing a chief engineer. The new ordinance placed the election of the officer with the electors after the year 1870 and a new section was added which read as follows: "No person shall be eligible to the office of chief engineer unless he be a resident of said city at least one year and shall have attained the age of twenty-five years." To understand the force of this last clause in the ordinance it will be necessary to remark that at this time Mr. Lincoln was only twenty-three years old. This ordinance, the records say, was passed July 29, 1870, but it was found necessary to amend it and it was not until ordinance No. 98 was passed on September 30, 1870, that the council felt safe in electing a new chief engineer to take the place of the one so skilfully legislated out of office. On the 15th of October, 1870, A. R. West became the chief engineer of the fire department by the vote of the council. After the election of Mr. Lincoln during the spring and summer of 1870 it was uncertain whether the city of Cedar Rapids had a fire department or Some time later the chief engineer made a report to the city council as the ordinance directed he should do, giving the necessary information in regard to the efficiency of the department and its probable needs for the future, but the council refused to accept it as the report of the chief engineer, making the broad claim that there was no fire department or a legally elected chief engineer and this was backed up by the opinion of the city attorney. Mr. Lincoln, not to be thwarted by the city council in refusing to listen to his report, was obliged to have it published in the city papers and some extracts are made here, showing the friendly feeling existing between him and some members of the city council. He reported that the steam engine was in good shape excepting that the grate had burned out and the committee on the fire department had refused to get it repaired. The hose was poor and not in condition to stand the pressure necessary in case of a large fire. This was owing to the committee on fire refusing to have the tower on the city hall arranged so the hose could be hung up to dry after having been used. Many small bills for supplies used by the department, and which were necessary for the running of the steamer, were hung up and not allowed, and in speaking of the cistern which the city had built he reports that one of the aldermen had the keys of the same and refused to turn them over to him and as to the amount of water in same he could make no report. After the election of Mr. A. R. West to the position of chief engineer, the old original No. 1 Fire Engine Company, or a large proportion of its members, at one of its meetings passed the following resolution: "Whereas, The city council has seen proper to persecute and finally to declare us not an organized fire company, and "Whereas, We who compose the Fire Engine Company No. 1 have since organization labored faithfully to make the department as efficient as possible and have in all cases discharged our duties as firemen, therefore "Resolved, That we turn over to the city council all the fire apparatus in our possession. That we refuse to offer our services as firemen so long as any member of the city council who has been persistent in our persecution shall remain in said council. "Resolved, That we condemn the city council in thus deliberately and intentionally using their power to cripple and destroy the efficiency of the fire department. "Resolved, That we preserve our company organization and that each and every one refuse to touch, use or handle any of the fire apparatus belonging to the city of Cedar Rapids." This old, original company, No. 1, was then a fire company to all intents and purposes, acting under the original organization, with most of the original members belonging, but they had no apparatus, no engines, nothing to use in case of fire. But this did not long remain. A subscription was started among the members of the company, and they with the aid of their friends and citizens soon had subscribed a sum sufficient to buy a substantial hand engine of a late pattern, together with 5,000 feet of new hose, a new hose cart, and also to put up a comfortable and neat engine house in which to hold their meetings and to shelter their engine and the other necessary equipment. This engine was purchased of Josiah Gates & Son, Lowell, Mass., and cost the sum of $800, which amount was paid in cash from the proceeds of the many subscriptions. It was called the E. S. Hill Independent Fire Company, in honor of E. S. Hill who was the patron saint in all their contentions with the city council, being an alderman from the First ward, and also one of the most liberal subscribers to the fund to procure the engine, he having led the subscription list with $200.00. The hose cart was procured from Quincy, Ill., where it had been previously used by that city, and cost $300.00 all complete. The hose to the amount of 500 feet cost the sum of $500.00. The material for the building of the engine house was obtained free from the local dealers and the construction was almost all done by the members of the company. After this company had procured their apparatus and were domiciled in their new building they developed into a very aggressive company of fire fighters, and it was the boast of some of its members that they could get out to a fire, extinguish the flames and be ready to return home before the steam engine company could get to the fire and be ready to work. A. R. West, who had been duly elected chief engineer of the fire department, together with John T. Hamilton, who was appointed assistant fire engineer, succeeded after much labor in bringing order out of the chaos that had so long existed in the affairs of the fire department. The steam engine, together with the hook and ladder equipment, was put into the hands of a newly organized company, most of the members of which had not been identified with any of the previous unpleasantness between the council and the fire department. For the next five years Cedar Rapids had two fire departments, the one belonging to the city and under municipal control, and the other denominated the "Independent," owning their own equipment and subject to no official orders from the city. This continued until the advent of the Cedar Rapids Water Co., who put in their system of waterworks and established hydrants in all parts of the city. MRS. ROCK'S REMINISCENCESMrs. R. C. Rock, one of the earliest of the pioneers, is still living in a serene and vigorous old age. She is a relative of Judge Greene, and came west to Dubuque in 1849 at his request to assist him in getting out his first volume of Iowa Reports, which was printed in New York. She later came to Cedar Rapids with the judge and assisted materially in getting ready for the press and in proof reading the matter for the other volumes of his Reports. The members of the supreme court would frequently gather in Cedar Rapids in chambers to prepare their opinions and to O. K. them for publication. Mrs. Rock did much of the For a time Mrs. Rock did editorial work on the Progressive Era, which was published from the Greene Bros. building. J. O. Stewart was then "devil" in the office, and many a time brought to her the proofs of her contributions. The files of this early Linn county newspaper were burned in a fire which destroyed the publication office, so that now there are in existence but a few scattered issues. An early one was given a few years ago to the Masonic Library by Mrs. Rock who found it by accident among some of her effects. Mrs. Rock came west by boat from Buffalo to Milwaukee, and then by stage to Dubuque in 1849. The next year she removed to Cedar Rapids, coming here by stage over the Old State Road laid out from Iowa City to Dubuque by Engineer Barney of Washington, D. C. This road was a very crooked one. His son, W. J. Barney, on being twitted about its many windings replied that he believed his father was entirely sober when he staked out the route, and that its numerous windings were necessary to avoid the sloughs and swamps. Mrs. Rock well remembers some of the trips she made on the old stage from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids. It was customary to make 25 miles of the journey the first day. On one trip on arriving at the usual stopping place it was found impossible to obtain any hay for the weary horses. After a further drive of five miles a stop was made at a farm cabin, it being customary for the settlers at any place to provide entertainment for travellers. Here they found feed for the horses, but they were told there was no bread or flour in the house, the man not having returned from the distant mill with his grist. There was some milk, and at last a little flour or meal was discovered. The two were mixed and put in a pan on the stove to cook. Unfortunately it was so badly burned that it could not be eaten, and the travelers were compelled to go to bed supperless. During the night the man returned with his grist, and Mrs. Rock and party had a fairly good breakfast of saleratus biscuits and pork. One day while living in Cedar Rapids Mrs. Rock learned of the Spirit Lake massacre. She states the people here for a time had a genuine Indian scare, but nothing came of it. Mrs. Rock has distinct recollections of prairie fires here. She says they were beautiful but terrible to behold. They were especially prevalent every fall on the west side, and many a time has she seen the bright flames cover the hills that are now incorporated in the city of Cedar Rapids. Judge Greene had early planted a large orchard at Mound Farm, and once after it had borne fruit for a number of years it was threatened with destruction from a prairie fire. All Cedar Rapids went out to help fight the flames. They saved the orchard at this time, but later the trees were killed by an unusually severe winter. The ladies of Cedar Rapids were very patriotic during the war years. They made all the uniforms for the boys of Col. T. Z. Cook's company, and supplied them with generous quantities of bandages and lint. It happened that after the severe engagement at Wilson's Creek those bandages were the only ones available on the field. Mrs. Rock's brother, then 18 years old, enlisted under Colonel Cook. After the hundred days for which the company had entered the service he re-enlisted under Captain Stibbs, being wounded at Ft. Donelson. He then again entered the army under Captain Coulter, father of Ed. Coulter now living There were some lawless people among the earliest settlers, says Mrs. Rock, and they occasionally appropriated a horse or two, necessitating some corrective action by the community. On one occasion N. B. Brown borrowed a horse from a man whose discipline was decreed and went to Westport to secure tar for the purpose. At dusk the horse was returned to the barn. C. C. Cook seized the individual, assisted by Gainor and others. His legs were tied and he was taken to the side hill on B avenue where his clothes were removed and he was treated to a coat of tar and feathers. The following day he appeared among his fellows, and my relator states there was "not even a smell of tar about him," but the treatment proved effectual. One of the early settlers, Joe Leverich, had a fine library, was a great reader, a shrewd observer of human character, and his descendants are people of intelligence and high morality. Among those who came later were Dr. J. F. Ely and Dr. S. D. Carpenter in 1849, Judge Greene in 1850. They were men of education and attainment. Soon followed Miss Legare of Washington, D. C., the Bryans, and Stoneys from Charleston, S. C., A. S. Belt, a lawyer, son of Commodore Belt, of Maryland, the Taylors from Virginia, and many others whose character and culture gave moral and mental tone to the growing community. In religious intercourse a broad and kindly feeling characterized all, and now in 1910, the same feeling prevails. The Daniels brothers erected a store, three stories, where the Masonic Temple now stands. In 1849 the Green Brothers erected a three-story brick building diagonally across, the first floor being used for merchandizing, the second for Judge Greene's office and ware rooms. In one large room in this building Miss Calder, from New York, opened a school for girls in the fall of 1850. In a hall on the third floor, a Masonic lodge was organized the same year. Miss Calder [Mrs. Rock] drew designs for the emblems and attended to making the aprons. The first district school house was built several years previous on the lot on Second avenue and Fifth street. The Cedar Rapids Business College is now located on this site. This was used also for religious services on Sunday. Squire Abbe's daughter taught the first school, and Miss Louisa Roberts, daughter of the Congregational minister, the second. Squire Abbe was a member of the Territorial Legislature. Miss Calder's school prospered; and two other teachers were secured; one from New York for the piano, and another, Miss Parkhurst, to assist in the English branches. She was a recent graduate from Miss Sill's seminary at Rockford, Illinois. Miss Calder herself continued with some of the English grades, also with French and Drawing. Pupils were attracted from neighboring towns, Marion, Vinton, Dubuque, Muscatine, Burlington, Fairfield, etc., but after a few years, failing health caused her to relinquish it to two young ladies from Ohio, and within two years it ceased to exist. The following year Miss Calder married R. C. Rock, a hardware merchant. About the same date the Rev. Williston Jones, Presbyterian minister, opened a school for boys in his private residence, and after a few months turned it over to Mr. Blakeley, when it was transferred to the "Little Muddy" church. Mr. Blakeley's public examination was the occasion of a lampoon by Dr. S. D. Carpenter, but he was a fine man and a good teacher. Geo. E. W. Leonard was financial agent for this school. These efforts resulted in Rev. Mr. Jones securing from Daniel Coe, of Green county, New York, a gift of $1,000.00 with which was purchased eighty acres of land adjoining the town, a part of which is now occupied by Coe College and from which numerous lots were sold to aid in establishing this school. The first college building was erected by subscription of the citizens. The only surviving The first religious services were Methodist, held in the district school house, and their circuit riders came every two weeks. They organized a Sunday school and insisted on a union school. The Presbyterians, New School, effected the first organization in 1847 in Mr. Vardy's shop, corner Third street and Sixth avenue. They, too, worshiped in the school house. Dr. Ely read the sermons, but their first minister, Mr. Roberts, of Marion, was a Congregationalist. He was succeeded by Rev. W. Jones, before mentioned. The first Episcopal clergyman was Rev. James Keeler, who found an occasional opening for service in the school house, but soon came to using Miss Calder's school room for regular Sunday service. WHEN LAND WAS DIRT CHEAP IN CEDAR RAPIDSReal estate investments have always been successful and profitable in Cedar Rapids, and probably will always continue to be so. As shown in other articles, the land upon which Cedar Rapids is built was originally owned by five men, Judge Greene, Nicholas Brown, Addison Daniels, Wm. Sanford, and Alexander Ely. The division of the property was made in 1849 as is shown elsewhere, and it is from that time that most of the real estate transfers were made. All the gentlemen made fortunes from their speculations. How these five gentlemen came to be possessed of all the land in the city of Cedar Rapids would make an interesting story, especially if the prices they paid for each lot could be secured. They doubtless bought up the claims for almost nothing. We get some inkling of how the lots came into their possession by a curious old document which was deposited by Mr. C. G. Greene with the curator of the museum for the semi-centennial week. The property mentioned in it is the Grand Hotel corner, and this is a copy of it: "Received, Cedar Rapids, Sept. 7, 1848, of John L. Shearer, one yoke of oxen valued at thirty-five dollars, in full for Lot 9 in block No. 23 in the town of Cedar Rapids. But it appears that Judge Greene did not think he had a very great bargain, for only seven months later, in May of the following year, the county records show that this same lot upon which the Grand Hotel now stands, and forty feet additional, 120×150 feet in all, was sold by Judge Greene back to John L. Shearer for $75. Up to 1865 it passed through several hands, with slightly increased value, when it was sold by Henry McBride to Charles Weare for $1,100. Weare sold immediately to S. B. Fleek for $1,500, and Fleek sold it in 1871 to E. M. Greene for $9,000. In 1877 Greene sold 80×140 feet to John T. Waterhouse for $10,000, and this property which originally brought $75, could not now be purchased, if unimproved, for less than $100,000. It is now held by a syndicate. William Stewart originally owned the ground where the Cook & Laurance store used to be located. He traded an Indian pony for it in the early days, and held it until 1873, when he sold it for $7,500. The property upon which the Calder buildings now stand, 60×140 feet, was also originally owned by Judge Greene. He sold it to Alexander Ely, who sold it to Harvey Higley and Samuel Hook, and they in turn sold it, in 1850, to Frederick Miles for $82. Miles held it until 1875, when he sold it for $1,500. Mr. Calder's friends told him at the time that he was throwing his money away, but now it doesn't look that way, as the land unimproved would sell for many times that sum. Where the Golden Eagle store is now located, 60×140 feet was sold in 1848 by James M. Berry to Homer Bishop for $150. After passing through several hands the ground was purchased by P. Mullally and W. W. and M. A. Higley, who, in 1874, sold 60×140 feet of it to John T. Waterhouse for $12,300. The ground where George A. Mullin's store is located, 120×140 feet, was sold by Mary A. Ely in 1853, to D. M. McIntosh, for $350. H. G. Angle bought it in 1854 for $600. It was afterwards taken by creditors, and was held by them until 1875, when it was sold to J. T. Waterhouse for $13,000. These are cases illustrative of the wonderful growth in the value of Cedar Rapids real estate. It will of course some day find its level, and will very probably go above it, but it is quite safe to say that just now it is worth all that is paid for it. Every time a real estate transfer is made it is amusing to get an "old citizen" started, and have him bemoan his failure to invest a few dollars in a block or so twenty years ago, and hold on to it until the present time. If he had done so he would have been rich—but the trouble is he didn't do it. Thomas McGregor, who was working for a Mr. Robinson in the fifties, was offered lots where the Quaker Oats plant is now located at $10 a lot, but needed the money to keep his family on as he got only 75 cents per day. On arrival of the first steamer in Cedar Rapids lots were offered free to passengers and crew in case they wanted to locate. Many lots were given away by real estate boomers in those days to increase the population of the city. Many of these lots were later lost because the owners thought so little of their value that they let them go to tax sales. Property on Second avenue between Second and Fourth streets was then only residence property, sand hills, and the like. Now all of this has become valuable business property and is held at not less than $1,000 a front foot, and still going higher. These lots were sold less than fifty years ago at $25 a lot. Property on Third avenue was even less valuable than property on Second avenue. With the location of the station here with the hotels, bank buildings, etc., lots are now selling at fabulous prices. With the advance of prices rents have also advanced. I. C. Emery some twenty years ago had the same location which he has recently gone into, and paid at that time about one-third of the rent he pays today. Rents on the ground floor in the Kimball building, the Ely block, the Dows block, and in others of the old buildings have gradually advanced in accordance with the advance in prices of the real estate holdings, and pretty much in the same ratio. Large office buildings have been erected from time to time, and it has been said that the city would never demand such quarters. It has only been a little time till there has been a demand for more office and store buildings on a larger scale and these have been filled without any trouble. The property where is located the Denecke building was once used for a livery stable, and the property on which is located the Magnus block was occupied as a dwelling house. These properties were traded back and forth for a song. The O'Haras finally snapped them up and began improvement and were thought at the time to be crazy. Mr. Denecke then began purchasing and the same was said of him. When Mr. Magnus made his purchase of the block in 1894, during the depression, they said he would never get his money out of it. Today he has been offered more than twice what he paid and refuses to consider the offer. The corner where the Security bank is now located had been sold and re-sold, and no one thought it worth anything, and when G. F. Van Vechten purchased a few feet for a bank location many years ago the people of the town still thought it impossible that this corner would be worth so much. The bank later had to pay a handsome price in order to get ground enough to make the improvements desired, and would have made money by having bought much earlier. The Taft However old settlers say that for years real estate in Cedar Rapids did not move and it was a drug on the market, and the rents were not in ratio with the values. For years town lots were peddled about the town and traded for stocks of goods, for old horses, and other personal property, and it was always thought that the person who obtained the real estate got the poor end of the bargain. William Stone, Osgood Shepherd, Thomas Gainer, David King, H. G. Angle, and others of the early settlers did not know what a mine they possessed had they only hung on long enough. Stone settled on the Iowa river and later left for Wisconsin, and Shepherd soon followed, all thinking he had made a good thing by selling his squatter rights to Brown and his friends. Dr. E. L. Mansfield arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1847, going overland to California in 1850. He traded the west one-half of the block between Third and Second avenues west, and between First and Second streets for a rifle, which was considered a high price in those days. On this lot Dr. Mansfield erected a large dwelling house and lived there for many years. He purchased the lot on which the Whelihan drug store now stands for $600, and the lot adjoining many years later for $10,000, at what was then considered a very high price. Thus the property of 140 feet fronting on Second street and 120 feet fronting on Second avenue were purchased for less than $12,000, property which is now some of the most valuable in Cedar Rapids. Dr. Mansfield also held part of the property which was later purchased by the Cedar Rapids Savings Bank, and was held by him up to the time of his death. This had been purchased at an early day at low prices, when it was nothing but the cheapest kind of renting property. A. C. Taylor, holder of much valuable real estate in Cedar Rapids, first owned the property where the First Christian church now stands. He also purchased the property on First avenue near the Union block. Mr. Taylor is the second oldest merchant in Cedar Rapids, and has not moved more than a block from the time he came here to locate in part of the postoffice on the alley where the Masonic Temple now stands. In speaking of rents, Mr. Taylor says that he has been surprised at the way rents have gone up year by year. Osgood Shepherd, of whom it is said that he jumped Wilbert Stone's claim, held this claim till 1847, when he disposed of his squatter interest in what became Cedar Rapids to N. B. Brown, George Greene, H. W. Gray, A. L. Roach, and S. H. Tryon for the sum of $3,000. FIRST DECORATION DAY CELEBRATION IN CEDAR RAPIDSFROM THE CEDAR RAPIDS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 1906 When was the first Decoration Day celebration in Cedar Rapids? That is a question which many might find it hard to answer, and the story of the preparations for that day and of the day itself is so interesting that it is well worth a place here. There were comparatively few graves to decorate on that occasion. Not many of those who fought in the war had passed over the great divide in the year 1873, more than thirty years ago. Men whose heads are silvered and their steps trembling were then young and they marched firmly to the cemetery to take part in the exercises on that first Decoration Day. Since that time many of them have been laid beneath the sod and their comrades have done for them what they helped to do for others. The day was made memorable by an eloquent and beautiful address by the late Judge Hubbard, a man who always loved the flag and the men who fought for it. Patriotism was one of the subjects that always lay nearest his heart. An Early Settler The first meeting to arrange for the Decoration Day exercises was held May 8, 1873. The Cedar Rapids Daily Republican of the following morning has the following interesting account of the meeting: "The meeting called for the purpose of taking measures to suitably observe Decoration Day, took place at the City Hall last night. "It was called to order by A. D. Collier, Esq., upon whose motion J. H. B. Otto was elected president of the meeting. "On motion of Hiel Hale, A. N. Neidig was chosen secretary. "On motion of Mr. Collier, a committee of five was appointed to recommend names to the meeting for the various committees to be appointed to make preparations for that day. "The following persons were selected as said committee: "A. D. Collier, Geo. A. Lincoln, D. A. Dingman, P. H. Francis, Hiel Hale. "After some time spent in deliberation the committee reported the following names to be placed upon the several standing committees. They also reported names of persons as officers of the day, the whole report being adopted: "President of the day, Capt. Wm. B. Leach. "Chief marshal, Col. T. Z. Cook, with power to choose his own assistants. "Finance committee, J. F. Charles, Capt. Otto, George Wynn. "Committee on grounds, Ed. Thompson, Ed. Buttolph, J. I. Calder. "Flowers, L. M. Ayers, Geo. A. Lincoln, Geo. H. Rhodes, R. A. Austin, George Hesse. "Decorating graves, P. H. Francis, Hiel Hale, C. H. Sterneman, Dr. Bliss, Jos. Stoddard, with privilege to choose five ladies to fill the committee. "Invitation, Capt. W. W. Smith, S. Neidig, Dr. Skinner. "Speakers, A. D. Collier, D. A. Dingman, W. B. Leach. "Printing, A. H. Neidig, Dr. F. S. McClelland, Dr. Camburn. "Music, C. Ferguson, Mr. Baxter and Dr. Bliss. "On general arrangements, W. B. Leach, J. F. Charles, Ed. Thompson, L. M. Ayers, P. H. Francis, W. W. Smith, A. D. Collier, A. H. Neidig, and C. Ferguson. "On motion of Capt. Wm. B. Leach, Captain Otto, as the last commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, was instructed to call a meeting of the soldiers and sailors of this vicinity to have them meet and consult with regard to the part they shall take in the observance of the day. "On motion adjourned." The program of that first Decoration Day was as follows: "The following programme will be observed on Decoration Day: "President of the day—Col. W. B. Leach. "Chief Marshal—Col. T. Z. Cook. "Assistant Marshals—Capt. W. S. Bradley, Geo. W. Wynn, A. D. Collier. "Chaplain—Rev. A. B. Kindig. "Orators—Rev. Col. S. H. Henderson, Hon. Col. N. M. Hubbard. "At ten o'clock a. m. the procession will form on the corner of Iowa avenue and Commercial street in wagons, and headed by the band, will proceed to the cemetery on the west side, where the graves will be decorated, and after which an oration will be delivered by Col. S. H. Henderson. "At two o'clock the procession will form on Iowa avenue, the right resting on Commercial street. "The following will be the order.
"Line of march will be down Commercial street to Eagle, up Eagle to Madison, down Madison to Greene street, thence to Oak Hill Cemetery, where the graves will be decorated, after which an oration will be delivered by Hon. Col. N. M. Hubbard. "All soldiers and citizens in the vicinity are cordially requested to be present, and assist in paying respect to our honored dead. "Soldiers will leave the number of their regiment at the Times office and they will be furnished with a badge to wear on the occasion." Following is the account of the exercises of that day with the text of the address delivered by Judge Hubbard. It is taken from the Daily Republican of May 31, 1873: "Decoration Day has come and gone. It brought with it the noble thought to honor the heroic dead of our land, and left thousands of green graves strewn with choicest flowers of spring. This kindly and befitting token of love and honor was placed on every soldier's grave, to show how green and fresh in our hearts are the memories of their noble deeds. This day is one of mixed sorrow and pleasure—sad for the heavy sacrifices that had to be made, but happy to keep green the sacred memories of those who fell for their country's good. "The soldiers and sailors, who have died to save the nation's life, will never be forgotten so long as flowers are strewn upon the quiet graves beneath whose verdant mounds those gallant hearts lie stilled forever. "It is the sum of mortal glory for posterity to gather around the tombs of fallen heroes, as around holy shrines, and pour out their libations in songs, prayers and in fitting words of praise on their noble lives and gallant deeds. "The day opened yesterday morning with a rain storm, which continued more or less until about ten o'clock. It looked discouraging indeed, and many hearts felt sad at the uninviting prospect. "At eleven o'clock a few persons gathered on the west side and proceeded to the cemetery on that side of the river, and spent a short time in decorating the graves of a few soldiers that lie buried there. Rev. S. H. Henderson spoke a few moments on the importance of the occasion when the company dispersed and returned to their homes. "By noon the clouds had cleared away and the sun shone forth beautifully. At half past 2 o'clock Washington street in the vicinity of the City Hall was crowded with a large number of people who were listening to the fine strains of music that the Ferguson band were discoursing. About three o'clock the procession began to move, and in pretty much the same order as has already been published in the Republican. Between seventy-five and a hundred carriages, buggies, and wagons were in the procession, preceded by many footmen; also a number were on horseback. It was one of the most brilliant occasions of the kind that was ever witnessed in Cedar Rapids. "We are unable to go into the particulars, as we have not the space today to record them. "The number on the cemetery grounds has been estimated by many at two thousand people, and some have raised the estimate a thousand more. The following graves were decorated: "John Harrison, Henry N. Graves and Carter Berkley, 6th Iowa Cavalry, Co. K; Henry Fleck, 40th Ind. Inft.; John Hall, 31st Iowa; Amos Fergeson, Band, 15th Iowa Inft.; James Morehead, Sr., Co. I, 37th Iowa Inft.; James Morehead, Jr., Co. K, 9th Iowa Inft.; Judson L. Boughton, Co. D, 12th Iowa Inft.; Parker Ayres, Co. D, 12th Iowa Inft,; Robert Mallahan, Co. A, 37th Iowa Inft.; James Hammersley, 31st Vt. Int., J. R. C.; Henry Berger, Minn., Minn.; Geo. Wells, 141st Penn. V. Inft,; Edward W. Calder, Co. D, 12th Iowa Inft.; Lt. Joseph Hollan, 20th Inft.; Benj. Shaw, 20th Inft.; Donald Lothian, 31st Inft. West side—David Martin, 24th Inft,; Ebenezer Martin, 12th Inft,; John Dean, 20th Inft.; Donaldson,—. After these interesting decoration ceremonies were over, the people gathered around the stand that had been erected for the purpose, where the following programme was carried out:
"JUDGE HUBBARD'S ADDRESS"Judge Hubbard's address was so fine that we reproduce it entire. He spoke as follows: "My Countrymen, and Comrades of the Army of the Union: "Courage and bravery always challenge admiration, but when combined with exalted patriotism, they command the affection and gratitude of mankind. "The highest earthly care of man is to preserve as long as possible this life, and therefore the greatest human sacrifice is to give this life for one's country. "History is full of examples of this sacrifice in all time, and yet its frequency has never lessened the appreciation of it. "Patriotism—love of country, makes a great nation possible. Without it men would live isolated, or in mere tribes, and powerless. "The intellectual development of man shows him at once how weak and insignificant he is alone, and he seeks, by a combination of great numbers, to attain not only great power, but even immortality. We all know that our own lives are short, but the life of a nation may be so long, that we are apt to make delusion that it may be immortal, real. "The natural love and anxiety we have for our children, who are to live after us, extend to and embrace the country and the government in which they are to live. "Hence, we may be said to have two lives, an individual and a national one; and the latter commands the former in proportion to its increased span. We value everything somewhat in proportion to its power to last. "The study and contemplation of the national life, of which we are a part is always a matter of interest and solicitude. "On every hand men are seemingly wholly engaged in devising and planning for their individual prosperity and happiness, and silently but surely national prosperity and greatness follow these individual efforts. It is only when the nation stands in immediate peril, that we become aware how much greater our anxiety is for it, than even for ourselves. "You who can recall the thrill of horror, of anxiety, and of grim determination that came over you when the news first came that Sumter was fired upon, and the Stars and Stripes were shot away, can tell, but I can not describe what boundless sacrifices the national life is capable of calling forth. "How quick we found what a pride and what an interest we had in the magnitude, power, and prosperity of our country, and how firmly we were attached to its beneficent government. "The history of modern civilization in Europe has shown a constant struggle for many years for what they call the balance of power. "Five leading nations, speaking five different languages, and having different modes of thought and life, have watched and emulated each other, and each at times has had the reputation of being the most powerful. Fifty years ago France was foremost, today Prussia is the first power in Europe. These changes may be traced almost indefinitely. "In all the past, the national life, the national pride has grown with the growth of civilization. "It would be impossible that a nation should become great or powerful without a national self-love that wrought glowing pictures of its manifest destiny. "We find ourselves possessed of a country whose productive extent is far greater than all Europe, with its 300 million population, put together. "Beginning a little less than a hundred years ago with a population of three million, it has doubled every twenty-five years, if we shall reach forty-eight million in 1875, which scarcely admits of a doubt. The whole emigration added is less than six million. "At the same rate of increase for the next one hundred years our population will reach the enormous figures of seven hundred and sixty-eight millions. But suppose we shall touch the resistance, namely the lack of territory to supply so great a population with food; yet we may safely estimate reaching five hundred million, and the population equally distributed will then be about equal in density to the present population of Massachusetts. "I have neither time nor is it necessary to describe the variety of climate embracing the tropic and the temperate zones, nor the vastness, nor the fertility, nor the mineral and coal resources of our country. "Thus far nothing is problematical, but the people of future America are a study. "We know how sturdy and enduring the Anglo-Saxon is, how volatile yet tenacious is the Frenchman, how sober, solid and unwavering is the German, and how hardy and everlasting are the people who inhabit with the Polar bear. These are American now, but the Ethiopian and the Asiatic are to be added. The Star of Empire from the East and from the West have met upon the American continent. I believe the original Anglo-Saxon trunk will sustain all these grafts and that a nation will come of us by the cross of all civilized people that will be as superior to any of them, as the grafted fruit is superior to that of the seeding. Future America will be fitly symbolized by the Lion and the Polar Bear, surmounted by the American Eagle. "With one country, one language, one hope, one aspiration, bent sublimely upon achieving the highest intelligence, virtue, and culture that man can ideal, diffused through a population of five hundred million people, inhabiting one-quarter of the habitable earth with a republican government, is a spectacle that the world has never yet seen, but is to see through us and our children. "And but for these sacred graves, which we, and all the people throughout the land, have come today to crown with wreaths of flowers, no such hope, no such picture of the future of our country would be possible. "The future destiny of the American absolutely demanded that the fundamental idea of the Declaration of Independence should be made true, and that Liberty (in fact, as in name) should be proclaimed throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof, and also, that the United States should be one and inseparable forever. "Need I tell you how bravely and how well the army of the Union settled these questions? The men who lie silent beneath our feet and their comrades, have taught the South, and Great Britain, and the world, that the belt of country usually known as the North is the heart and power of the Republic. It is the strong arm that pushes the car of civilization in the new world. It is the second Defender of the faith of our Forefathers. It has fought the good fight, and many of its bravest sons have gone to their reward. "The Republic is emancipated, impartial suffrage and equality before the law established, and the work of regeneration is left for us and our posterity. "During all the long struggle which literally ridged the country with graves like these, there was everywhere present, through the ranks of the grand army, an abiding faith in the future greatness of their country, and in the final triumph. No soldier ever despaired of the Republic. "We come today to crown their valor by decorating their graves. What great eulogy can we pronounce upon them? "These silent graves are more eloquent than the tongues of the living. Their deeds commemorate their fame and their names do live after them. "As we meet year after year to perform this ceremony of love and gratitude to our fallen comrades, new graves will be added and new obligations will rest upon us, until the last soldier of the Army of the Union is laid to rest. "When that day comes, let us trust that the national life and prosperity that has cost so much to maintain and defend, will be inestimably dear to our children, and that they may fully realize all the hopes and aspirations of our forefathers and the second Defenders of the faith. If we shall not be disappointed in this, the 30th day of May will be as sacred as the 4th of July. "But new trials and new perils await us. Poverty is the home of virtue, and riches the abode of vice. The Republic has passed the age of poverty, and is approaching the age of wealth—always the sure accumulation of generations. Rome withstood all her enemies from without and within, but the corruption following in the train of her conquests overcame her. "If Heaven permits departed heroes still to know and watch over our beloved country, what anxious prayers are being made now, lest the blessing which the hand of their forefathers have left shall be wasted by the political dissension, frauds, corruptions, and wealth of coming generations! It is not fitting that I should name here and now what you all know so well and deplore. But may I not ask that we consecrate ourselves anew over these sacred graves, and resolve that our remaining days shall add something to the purity, patriotism, and lustre of our country that has been vouchsafed to us through the blood of these martyrs of liberty. "But whatever of adversity or misfortune may be in store for us as a nation, the fault in no way rests upon these graves. Their services and their fame are secure. "And today also the graves of the Confederate dead are decorated and strewn with flowers. It is a deserved tribute to their valor and patriotism. They had been educated to believe that the South alone was the nation. We believed and knew that the nation was from ocean to ocean and from the gulf to the lakes. But it was half slave and half free. "Today it is all free, and fifty years hence, if our hopes of the future of the Republic are realized, the South and North will rejoice in a common joy, that 'Union and Liberty' have been so signally preserved to them and their posterity forever. "And while we wreath flowers for these graves, let us not forget to return thanks and give honor to the brave seamen who guarded our coasts, and let the 'Father of Waters go unvexed to the sea.' "And the widow and orphan of the soldier and sailor, let them be remembered with blessings, with charity and with thanks. All they have left them for their great sacrifice is their country and its gratitude. Let these be generous and unsparing. "And still again let us not forget the brave men and women who fed and clothed all, who nursed and cared for the sick and wounded, who cheered and encouraged all with patriotic deeds and words. And finally, and above all, let us thank God who gave us the victory, whereby it has become possible that the Stars and Stripes float over an unbroken emancipated Republic, strong enough to maintain its existence against all foes, and yet without power to abridge the liberties of the humblest citizen." FIRST LOCAL LABOR UNION ORGANIZED IN THE CITYFROM CEDAR RAPIDS REPUBLICAN, JUNE, 1906 It was in 1882 that an agitation was instituted in the city of New York, in which all the great labor organizations of the United States took part, and out of which grew the setting apart of Labor Day as a day of recognition of the cause of labor. It was not until 1887, however, that the germ thus planted gave fruit. On February 21, 1887, the state of Oregon passed a law setting aside the first Saturday in June for the observance of the cause of labor, and six years later the first Monday in September was chosen by the same state. That day has been observed ever since. The second state to legalize the holiday was New Jersey, and in May of the following year New York passed a similar law, Colorado and Massachusetts soon followed. In 1890 many of the other states passed acts recognizing the day. West Virginia and North Carolina were far behind the rest in this regard and did not legalize the day until 1899. The first great labor demonstration was held in New York city in 1882 and the parade which took place on that day is still remembered as an event of unusual magnitude. All the labor organizations of the city were in line and with their splendid floats, banners, etc., they made an imposing spectacle. The following year it was determined to repeat, if possible, the parade of 1882, which had come to be termed "The Labor Day Parade." This time the date was changed to the first Monday in September and when in 1884 the discussion of a repetition of the occasion came up, George B. Floyd offered a resolution in the Central Labor Union convention to the effect that the first Monday in September be declared Labor Day. The resolution was unanimously adopted and at the next session of the legislature a bill was introduced declaring Labor Day a legal holiday. There was considerable objection to the measure, however, and it was not until 1887 that a majority in its favor could be rallied together. With the day recognized by the legislature of New York and two other states a concerted effort was made to secure action by the various labor organizations throughout the country, and in a few years the majority of the states had declared in its favor. Curiously enough the original Labor Day was just after the organization of the first local in this city, which the "old residents" say is Typographical Union No. 192. There may be some objection to this claim on the part of some of the present members of the typographical union. The charter of the Typographical Union local is now hanging in the K. P. hall, and it is dated December 26, 1881. Unless challenged the members of the Typographical Union will claim the honor of being the first organization of union labor in the city of Cedar Rapids. The charter bears the names of the following charter members: C. M. Hopkins, George S. Bradley, Harry Ingalls, J. D. Canan, L. C. Hay, L. B. Kramer, J. H. Enos. If the memory of Sam Snouffer is correct the local was organized among the employees of the Republican office and it was a local of newspaper printers only. Sam says that he was a job printer at the time and the boys on the cases who organized the local didn't at first allow job printers to hold membership in their organizations. He says that the local was organized for a fight and it had it at frequent intervals during the early part of its history. But it grew and flourished and today the Typographical Union Local in Cedar Rapids is recognized as a conservative, yet aggressive body of men, with the courage to ask for its rights and the level headedness to get those rights without trouble. THE STORY OF A MOUNTAIN HOWITZERDuring the war when the boys were about to return home they sought to carry back mementoes of the long struggle. Company E of the Twelfth Iowa as a trophy of the war picked up a mountain howitzer which had been captured by the rebels and re-captured by the United States troops. Some members of Company D of the Twelfth Iowa then, by some means known only to the soldier boys, unlawfully laid claim to the cannon and Homer Morehead, one of the old Cedar Rapids boys, was able to get the cannon as far as Davenport, the city council of Cedar Rapids providing means to get it to Cedar Rapids. The cannon, a two hundred pounder, was used freely by every organization for a number of years whenever any celebration took place. During the Grant campaign, in October of that year, the republicans had a blow-out and the cannon was used; in this celebration the cannon was slightly damaged and was hauled down to John Mehan's for repairs. While there some person, or persons, saw fit to take it in the night time and nothing was heard of it for many years. A note was tacked up to the wall where the cannon had been left for repairs to the effect that it would be returned and shot off when a democratic president was inaugurated. The soldier boys and many of the prominent citizens of Cedar Rapids were very much stirred up over this affair and publicly accused a number of prominent Cedar Rapids democratic citizens of stealing the cannon, but no one, at least who was publicly accused, admitted having anything to do with it. The incident was nearly forgotten when Cleveland was elected, the first democratic president since the Civil war. One morning as Harry Brown was walking down the street John Mehan called to him to come over and see what he had found. There, sure enough, was the same old mountain howitzer cleaned up and in first class repair, with a note tied to it that it was returned as agreed and would be ready for action in due time. This affair stirred up the republican camp once more and threats were made that this cannon would never be shot off to celebrate a democratic victory, and it never was. It now remains as a relic in the old postoffice building, and many are the citizens of Linn county who have inspected this little cannon and have heard the story told by the old settlers. Not until a short time ago was it definitely known who removed the cannon from the Mehan shop in 1868. A Center Point person had been accused of having something to do with it; how true this is no one knows. It is thought that two young men in the employ of N. B. Brown, a stanch democrat, took the cannon and placed it in the stable owned by O. P. Emery which stood on the ground where the Denecke building now stands. Mr. Emery no doubt knew of the whereabouts of the cannon, and when he removed up on Second avenue a heavy box was moved by workmen supposed to contain tools. When Mr. Emery removed to the home of his son-in-law, John B. Henderson, on First avenue, the same heavy box was once more moved. Mrs. John B. Henderson noticed that her father, after the election of Cleveland, spent several days in the barn working steadily polishing up some iron, but she never inquired what he was doing or A FORTUNATE TUMBLELinn county during the Civil war had its share of so-called "copperheads," as well as a goodly number of loyal sympathizers known as "fire eaters." During this period of our country's history many unfortunate affairs occurred of which all parties ever afterwards were ashamed. In a state where the majority was strong in favor of the war measure it behooved those who were against this measure not to say too much. Frequently innocent people had to suffer for the acts of some one who talked openly and above board, not only against the president but against those who were instrumental in sending troops to the front. Democrats in the north were classed by the republicans as follows: Those who went to the front as loyal democrats, and those who stayed at home as "copperheads," although they may have been otherwise law-abiding citizens. On the morning that news was received of the assassination of Lincoln Cedar Rapids became a town of turmoil and strife. Never in the history of the town had excitement run so high. The question of another war was discussed in saloons and on street corners, and during the entire day this strife was kept up. Towards evening a story got started that Bill Harper, a well-known anti-war democrat and a person who had frequently when intoxicated said some pretty mean things of the republicans in general, said "that he was glad that Lincoln got killed; that he should have been shot four years ago." The story spread like a western wild fire, and in less than an hour it was all over town. A crowd got together and it was not long till a self-appointed committee was organized for the sole purpose of hanging Bill Harper to a rafter or a sour apple tree at sight and without trial. A good sized rope was procured and the yelling crowd, headed by the late I. N. Whittam and others, made for the store room kept by Brown & Harper, on what is now North First street. That Harper was a well-known and outspoken so-called "copperhead" was universally known and no question arose in the minds of the mob as to the truth or falsity of the charge. A few in the party uttered remarks that there might be a mistake and that there ought to be some investigation to bear out the facts before the rope was applied, but the majority ruled and these faint-hearted fellows were laughed to scorn. N. B. Brown, who had heard of the trouble and who was a partner of Harper, got into the store building, mounted a barrel and talked to the crowd, claiming that Harper could not have said the words with which he was charged, for he had not been in town for several days. Squire Knowles, a republican and a believer in fair play, tried to persuade the mob to disperse, but his plea found little favor with a mob who insisted on a hanging. Then Bill Darr, a neighbor of Harper, also a republican, had to come to the front and tell what he knew about Harper. He said that Harper had been at home near Bertram and had been sick in bed for several days, and that he had been to his house and called on him the day before and he was certain that Harper knew nothing of what had taken place at the national capital. Darr was not treated any better than the others and was called "traitor" and all sorts of names because he wanted to save his neighbor's life if possible. Many of the crowd had been drinking heavily and insisted that something be done, and if they could not do any better they ought to fire the building and burn up the whole thing, while Brown insisted that most of the property was his Just at this point of the delicate proceedings, the crowd yelling like warlike Indians, and threatening to hang any "copperhead" and to burn the building provided Harper was not brought into the room, a fourteen year old boy, long, lank and lean, who had also crowded into the building wanting to see what was going on, and to get more air, climbed on top of a hogshead which stood in one corner of the room. As he was gazing out over the crowd others tried to get on to the same hogshead, pushing and pulling, when suddenly the end gave way and the boy fell into a mass of lard and dye stuff up to his neck. The stench acted like morphine upon the infuriated mob. Someone called for the rope to pull the boy out and then a general laugh broke out and when the boy ran down through the crowd, dripping with lard and lye, making for the river, the panic became general and they all followed his movements and forgot all about Bill Harper or the words he was supposed to have uttered. The boy who thus saved the day and perhaps a life or two is no other than O. C. Carpenter, for many years one of the best known constables in Rapids township. Carpenter still insists that he saved the day, although the ordeal he had to pass through was somewhat harsh. The lye burned his legs and spoiled a suit of clothes, and he got a good thrashing at home, in the bargain. The Greek boy of old fell on his sword, but the modern Linn county boy fell into a soap barrel and by that side-stepping cast honors on himself and on members of his family for all time to come. Bill Harper never uttered the words of which he was accused, and never knew that Lincoln had been assassinated until the evening of the day when the infuriated mob was hunting him with a rope, wishing to put an end to his earthly existence. This shows how dangerous it is to stir up the mob spirit at any time. It always leads to disgraceful acts, from which a community suffers for a long time afterwards. HERE'S AN INTERESTING BIT OF ANCIENT HISTORYIn running through the files of the early years of the Cedar Rapids Daily Republican, the following interesting historical contribution, from the pen of the late Sampson C. Bever, was found: "Editor Cedar Rapids Republican: "I notice in the last 'Daily Republican,' in referring to the City National Bank of this city, in connection with the death of the Hon. Oakes Ames, the following: "'The death of Mr. Ames recalls to mind the successful aid given S. C. Bever, Esq., in getting the charter of the City National Bank. The First National had already been established and as Cedar Rapids had a population of only 2,000 people at the time the comptroller of currency declined to establish another bank here, but by the assistance of Mr. Ames the charter was finally obtained.' "The facts in the case are these: The City National Bank received its certificate of authority and had commenced successful business some time before the application for charter or certificate of the First National Bank was granted. "It is true an application for a City National Bank, with a capital of $50,000, was first made, and it was provided by the law of congress, creating National banks, that no charter for less than $100,000 should be granted, unless it should receive the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Ames being in Washington at the time this application was made, and being a warm friend of mine, he kindly offered to give me his influence, and wrote a strong letter to Mr. Chase, then Secretary of the Treasury, urging him to sanction my application for $50,000, but before presenting this letter I was urged by Mr. McCullough, then comptroller of the currency, that as there was no other national bank organized in Cedar Rapids, and the population was about 4,000, I should by all means make my application for $100,000, to which I finally agreed. And as greenbacks and government bonds were at my command, I had no further need for 'successful aid' from anyone, being well known to Mr. McCullough, the comptroller of the currency. But I none the less highly appreciated the kindness tendered me by my friend Mr. Ames. "I make this explanation, not so much on my own account, as that of others, who so well understand all the circumstances. The Republican of that date, May 12, 1873, also printed the following remarks: "The statement that was made in the columns of the Republican on Saturday, concerning Oakes Ames and the City National Bank, is one of those unfortunate kind of errors that often creep into a daily newspaper. The statement, as it appeared in print, was precisely as it was handed us by one of our prominent citizens, and we took it for granted, of course, that it was correct. Since Mr. Bever's communication has been handed us, we have made a personal examination into the matter, and have discovered an important fact which, it is due the City National Bank, should be published. We find in the report of the comptroller of the currency, that the City National Bank stands upon record as number 483, and the First National Bank as 500, which goes to show that the former was organized some time before the latter. Of course neither bank has any interest in this matter further than to be placed before the public correctly, and we have it to regret that the statement appeared in our columns on Saturday in the form in which it did." |
|
