THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL.
We have now passed the occupation by the Pottawattamies,
and also that of the Mormons, for, although many still remained,
they were in the minority. The great California emigration
had subsided, when another great movement was looming up in
which Pottawattamie county would be largely interested, viz:
organizing the Territory of Nebraska.
In the winter of 1853 General A. C. Dodge, one of the Iowa
senators, was traveling through Fremont county on horseback
on a tour of investigation of the condition of western Iowa,
its settlement, and the character of the country west of the
Missouri. He became impressed with the importance of organizing
all the country now included in Kansas and Nebraska as Nebraska
Territory, and on his return to Washington he introduced such
a bill. When it came back from the committee on territories,
of which Senator Douglas was chairman, it was so amended as
to provide for the organizing of two territories, one to be
called Kansas and the other Nebraska. The passage of this
bill was the most momentous event in its consequences since
the purchase of Louisiana, if not since the Declaration of
Independence.
It was conceded from the first, that whatever the result
in Kansas, Nebraska would become a free state and only 'a
few slaves as house servants were, ever brought into the territory.
During the perilous times of the contest in Kansas, a person
on coming up the river through Missouri' would feel a sense
of relief when they began to breathe the glorious free air
of Iowa and Nebraska; and although Pottawattamie county was
at that time strongly democratic and believed in the doctrine
of squatter sovereignty, these democrats would have been quick
to exercise it in excluding slavery from among themselves.
In fact, there were a few men that went to the other extreme
to the extent of aiding slaves to escape. Of this class was
one Calvin Bradway, in the eastern end of the county, that
for a long time kept an underground station and constructed
a large cave cellar in his corn field, and when enough were
received for a load he would take them to the next station,
which was at or near Lewis, in Cass county; and although his
neighbors did not approve of it, he seemed to like to show
his hatred of the institution by sometimes taking them through
boldly by daylight. He was violent and fanatical in other
ways, and killed a man named Fairstein over business trouble,
fled the country and, after some three or four years, returned
and gave himself up to Sheriff Field in open court, Judge
Day presiding, and after being in
27
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
custody two or three days, and no probability of finding
any witnesses, his case was dismissed on motion of the prosecuting
attorney. He finally met his death while sitting in the house
of a neighbor in the evening by a shot through the window.
His slayer was never known.
With the organizing of the Territory of Nebraska, it became
a matter of importance to the people of Council Bluffs that
the capital should be located at Omaha and after a pretty
brisk contest it was accomplished, although a majority of
the population was south of the Platte river and made an effort
to take it there, but influence was too strong for them, and
for a short time the government of Nebraska though nominally
in Omaha was actually in Council Bluffs.
Omaha continued to hold it for years, notwithstanding the
majority of the population as well as representatives in the
legislature were south of that river, and it was currently
reported that sufficient South Platte representatives had
to be fixed at each session to hold it. Be this as it may,
Council Bluffs had men well versed in making locations, as
appeared a little later when two of her leading citizens were
largely instrumental in locating the Iowa capital at East
Des Moines, in which, even at that early day, graft was suspected
of playing a conspicuous part.
OTHER SETTLERS.
Among the men that came to Council Bluffs during 1854 and
1855 were John Hammer and J. P. Williams, both large contractors
and builders. The buildings constructed by them during a long
series of years would make a pretty respectable town of itself.
Rhey also took an active part in public affairs, were members
of the city council more terms than any, except J. B. Lewis,
since the organization of the city. The former, in connection
with F. T. C. Johnson, built the brick courthouse in 1838,
the Ogden House in 1869, of which he (Hammer) was one-third
part owner, Burhop's Hall, besides other public and private
buildings too numerous to mention; while Mr. Williams has
done an immense amount of building, has filled the office
of sheriff, which he resigned during the war and raised and
commanded Company A of the Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and,
the best of it is, that at this writing they are both with
us, well and hearty in their eighty-third year.
Another one worthy of notice who came here in 1855 was Dr.
Seth H. Craig. He, like all great men, was born in Ohio, in
1825, worked his way west, was in the Mexican war one year,
studied medicine, came to Van Buren county in an early day,
volunteered in time of boundary dispute with Missouri, was
elected sheriff of Pottawattamie county on the democratic
ticket in 1859 over H. H. Field, republican, and George Doughty,
independent, receiving more votes than both of them. He was
holding this office when the war broke out and resigned, raised
Company B in the Fourth Iowa, served in that capacity until
detailed on staff duty, when his first lieutenant, Kinsman,
became captain and afterward colonel of the Twenty-third,
and finally fell at the Battle of Black River, Mississippi.
After the war he became
28
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
warden of the penitentiary at Fort Madison, later postmaster
at Wymore, Nebraska; moved back to Council Bluffs and died
August 1, 1905.
About this time a great temperance wave that was sweeping
over the country struck Council Bluffs and resulted in organizing
a lodge known as the Sons of Temperance, with Thomas Tostevin
as its chief officer, and it had among its membership Judge
Frank Street and Thomas P. Treynor. The latter now commenced
forging to the front. He held the office of city recorder
for six years, was appointed postmaster and served during
the Grant administration, became associated with the Nonpareil,
was county committeeman and as such became a power in western
Iowa. His sons appear to be following closely in his footsteps,
one having succeeded him as postmaster through two administrations,
another was connected with the Nonpareil in different capacities
for more than a quarter of a century, while a third studied
medicine, built up a large practice and has been coroner for
two or three terms.
The first lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons was constituted
July 21, 1855, under the name of Bluff City Lodge, No. 71.
Its first master was L. L. Brown, the other officers were
Dr. P. J. McMahon, Judge Samuel H. Riddle, Samuel Ruepper,
A. W. Hollister, J. C. Fargo and Dr. S. W. Williams. Among
the earliest members were Joseph Weirich, W. W. Maynard, Judge
A. V. Larimer, John Keller, Judge W. C. James, Guy Benton
and Leonard Sears.
Among the buildings erected this year was the Phoenix Block,
a three-story brick on Upper Broadway, in which a large stock
of goods were kept by Babbitt & Robinson, the former being
the owner. The United States land office was in the second
story, with L. W. Babbitt as register and L. S. Hills his
deputy.
Another old citizen that must not be overlooked was Judge
A. S. Bryant. He came here during the Mormon occupation and,
although not a Mormon himself, was very popular with them,
as well as with everyone that knew him, as was also his wife,
Aunt Puss, as all her friends called her. This venerable couple
lived for several years after their golden wedding. They had
no children. As early as 1852 he was elected to the legislature
by the Mormon vote, though, as before stated, he was not one
himself. His investments proved profitable. He became quite
wealthy, built two hotels at different times, became interested
in stores, laid out and platted Bryant and Clark's addition
to Council Bluffs, and was also interested in a stone quarry
in Sarpy county, Nebraska. Although from Missouri, he was
strongly antislavery, and when the republican party was born
he cast his lot with it and continued to act with it to the
end of his days.
The winter of 1855-6 was much colder than the one preceding
it, and a Mr. Barret, of Crescent township, being overtaken
by a storm on the open prairie, was frozen to death.
In the spring of 1856, at the city election, D. W. Price,
democrat, was elected mayor; J. E. Johnson, J. B. Lewis, James
Orton, J. T. Baldwin, W. C. James, J. D. Test, Patrick Murphy
and G. A. Robinson were elected aldermen; city recorder, F.
E. Welch; marshal, H. D. Harl; treasurer, J. B.
29
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
Stutsman; engineer, Samuel Jacobs; assessor, David De Voss;
city attorney, R. L. Douglas.
This was a boom year. The great rush for California and Salt
Lake was over, but quite a large number were moving in for
permanent settlement. The counties adjoining us were settling
up, as well as those across the river. Boats arrived and departed
almost daily, while the Great Western Stage Company ran a
tri-weekly line of four-horse coaches to and from Des Moines,
and there was a like line to and from St. Joseph, and a two-horse
hack line to Sioux City, while H. D. Harl ran a line of four-horse
buses to and from Omaha, going west in the forenoon and back
in the afternoon. Fare, fifty cents each way. These ran in
connection with the steam ferry boat Lizz Bayliss. Buyers
came in from within a radius of sixty or seventy miles, and
trade was good. The building up of Omaha had necessitated
an upper landing, giving us two, as the lower, where Manawa
now is, was still used. What would strike a stranger on arriving
was the inferior class of buildings. Lumber was scarce and
dear, and people were compelled to make those vacated by the
Mormons do, although a few brick buildings were beginning
to be in evidence. The city was moving west. A brick three-story
block was just completed. This consisted of four storerooms,
which were being filled with large stocks of goods. This was
called the Empire Block and occupied the ground on the south
side of Broadway, between Main and Pearl streets. Two of these
firms had been in business up town for years. Officer &
Pusey had built a one-story frame on the corner of Main and
Broadway and had opened their bank. Thus a nucleus of business
was formed near the Pacific House and a great rivalry was
the result between up town and down town, which became so
fierce as to affect the people socially and resulted in up
town and down town parties, balls, etc. Horace Everett had
opened his real estate office on the southwest corner of Broadway
and Pearl and the banking house of Green, Ware & Benton
was located about a hundred feet west in a brick two-story
building, Dr. Enos Lowe, United States receiver, having his
office in the second story. Finley Gusman had opened a drug
store west of Officer & Pusey's bank and Dillin &
Doughty opened one during the summer next to the Pacific House,
and Henn, Williams & Houten had started a bank next west
of it. Also a dry goods store was started on the corner of
Scott street by B. B. Brown, Casady & Test had opened
their office at the angle where Hamilton Shoe Store now stands.
The business was divided nearly enough equally to make the
rivalry quite interesting, while between the two there were
about two squares of neutral ground without stores and but
few dwellings. The Phoenix block on Broadway, near First street,
had been built and was occupied by Babbit & Robinson with
a large stock of goods. The postoffice, courthouse and land
office were up town. Council Bluffs at this time contained
perhaps about three thousand people, but was doing the business
of towns of eight or ten thousand. There were five banks,
and a tenderfoot on seeing a little frame or log shanty with
BANK in large letters would feel like laughing, but if he
went in he would see a big safe open and displaying more gold
and silver than he could carry. Similarly in passing an old
log
30
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
house a feeling of compassion would steal over him for the
poor inhabitants of the wretched abode, but what would be
his surprise on seeing elegantly dressed ladies leaving, and
as the door opened disclosing elegant furniture and carpets,
and perhaps hearing the notes of the' piano, of which there
were now three or four in the city.
But, owing to lack of building material, it was the best
they could do, and most of them seemed to really enjoy it.
The house first occupied by General Dodge, and where his first
child was born, was one of this kind. A six-foot man could
not enter the front door without stooping, the floor was of
puncheons, the roof of shakes, and for inside finish it was
lined with cheap muslin, and it is quite probable they enjoyed
it as much as any they have since occupied.
(click image for full size)
We
will start from the postoffice, a story-and-half log house,
with the Bugle office on the upper floor and Dan Carpenter
working the old hand press. This was on North First street,
where Ex-mayor Vie Jennings now lives, and going south the
next house is the Yankee Notion, a kind of restaurant, then
two or three dwellings, the grocery store of Mr. Clough and
some warehouses and the bookstore of Sanford & Craig,
where the Zaller store now is, brings us to Broadway. Crossing,
we come to the Ocean Wave Saloon, and, although the glory
of California emigration times has departed, it is still a
pretty hard proposition, and the waves ran pretty high at
times. Next to the Wave is the jewelry store of Charles Luemler,
the drug store of N. T. Spoor, the general store of R. P.
Snow, the stove and tinware store of R. D. Amy, a ball alley
and the large log boarding house of Mrs. Amy brings us to
Pierce street, and from here south are only dwellings., Go
another square south and cross over to the west side and we
come to the old log courthouse and cottonwood jail, then the
Union Hotel, a huge log partly weatherboarded, and kept by
W. L. Biggs. A dozen or so of dwellings bring us back to corner
of Broadway, where we find the store of Thomas Henshal. Going
west on the south side we come to Sam Perrin's real estate
office, the Phoenix Saloon, store of Huntington & Pyper,
stove store of Milton Rogers, county judge's office, real
estate office of Louden Mullen, jewelry store of Mr. Harris,
and we come to the Robinson House, another huge log partly
weatherboarded and kept by G. A. Robinson, a clothing store,
drug store of Emanuel Honn, Dagtierrean gallery of Job Damon,
Broad Gauge Saloon. This brings us to the Chronotype office.
A few small dwellings brings us to the City Hotel, another
log, with long porch in which is a huge triangle for calling
guests to meals. This is where the Ogden House now stands.
Crossing, we come to the residence of A. C. Ford. We now strike
the neutral belt, in which we find the law office of Judge
A. V. Larimer, some small buildings, one of which had been
used for Rev. Rice's mission, and find Thomas Tostevin's office
on the angle formed by Broadway and Fourth, or, as it was
called, Bancroft. Crossing over, we are supposed to be down
town. Here, where the ten-cent and two or three other stores
were, was the lumber yard of Keller & Bennett, and one
or two shops bring us to Guittar's Indian store, where the
Pierce shoe store now is. Crossing Main, we come to the Elephant
store of Tootle & Jackson in the Empire block,
Pages 31 and 32 are missing.
33
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
the store of George Doughty, hardware store of C. J. Fox
and general store of McBride & Bowen brings us to Pearl.
Crossing, we find Horace Everett in a one-story frame where
the cigar store now is, the offices of Addison Cochran, R.
L. Douglas and J. M. Palmer, bank of Green, Ware & Benton,
residences of Joseph Bayliss and W. H. Robinson, Washington
Hotel and some small houses bring us to Sixth. Crossing, on
the corner is the residence of Samuel Jacobs, next the little
brick of Enos Lowe. This is one of the claimants for the distinction
of being the first brick building. Both of these were torn
down to make room for the postoffice. Keeping west, we find
the residence of R. L. Douglas, a story-and-half house, and
on southwest corner of Eighth street a little brick built
by Moses Shinn brings us to the end on that side. We will
now return to the northwest corner of Broadway and First,
and take in the north side. On the corner is the brick store
of Stutsman & Donnel, still standing and having a good
trade; next Babbitt & Robinson, with United States land
office in second story, store of C. Voorhis, a long frame
sometimes called the Rope Walk, meat market of Debolt &
Ponder, bank of Baldwin & Dodge, barber shop of Robert
Russel, bank of Pegram & Riddle, a dry goods store, drug
store of J. Hann, grocery store of Patrick Murphy, a saloon,
H. D. Harl's bus office, harness shop of J. B. Lewis, grocery
store of John Poolman; Woodbine saloon and one or two small
shops bring us to Second street. Crossing, we come t9- the
Nebraska Hall saloon, Beebee's hall and dwelling, Meridith's
novelty works, Hepner and Graves livery stable, Noak's liquor
store, S. N. Porterfield's furniture store, Stein's restaurant,
Oliver's tailor shop. We now come to the neutral belt with
the dwelling of Mrs. Brown and her daughter, Mrs. Perry, who
is one of the claimants for the distinction of bringing the
first piano. A dwelling, and carpenter shop of James Larue,
bring us to the down town boundaries. Here we strike the law
and real estate office of Casady & Test, a saloon of James
Orton, another hard proposition, on the corner where the State
Savings Bank now is, and we come to Main street. Crossing,
we take in the bank of Officer and Pusey, jewelry store of
Lafferty and Back, drug store of Dillin and Doughty, a shoe
store of Samuel Knepper, drug store of Finley Gusman, and
we reach the Pacific House, John Jones, manager, Western stage
office, bank of Henn, Williams and Hooten, dry goods store
of B. B. Brown, which ends the business.
Continuing on are several dwellings, among which are those
of Thomas Officer, S. N. Porterfield, Mr. Kellogg, and Broadway
degenerates into a crooked trail through a sea of prairie
grass and sun-flowers for three miles to the ferry, and upper
steamboat landing. The residence portion of the city was bounded
substantially by Washington avenue on the north, by Frank
street on the east, Bloomer street and Fifth avenue on the
south and Ninth street on the west. There were a few dwellings
beyond, but not enough to notice. Only a few warehouses, the
Waverly House, an unsightly hotel, and a half dozen small
dwellings were the extent of the improvements on South Main,
with about as many on each of North Main and Pearl streets.
The church was not very aggressiye at this time. The Congregationalists
had built a small brick church on Pearl street, about where
Peregoy & Moore's
Council
Bluffs in 1853 (click on image for full size)
34
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
wholesale store is situated; the Methodists a small frame
on Pierce street, back of where the Ogden now stands, while
the Presbyterians worshipped in a room in second story of
one of the rooms in the Empire block.
During this year quite an amount of improvement was made.
Broadway was only a crooked mud road with some of the houses
jutting from six to ten feet into the street. These were ordered
moved back and Broadway brought to its present shape. The
city mill at the corner of Bryant street and Washington avenue
was built by a man by the name of Jackson, but was sold by
him to Baldwin and Dodge, and by them used in manufacturing
flour, which was shipped by ox teams to the government forts
and reservations for some years, then sold by them to Officer
and Pusey, and by them to J. C. Hoffmayr during the '70s.
He caused it to be improved by taking out the antiquated
machinery, adding another story and storage room, besides
installing the roller system. It was conducted under this
management until the last few years, when Mr. Hoffmayr retired,
since which time it has remained idle. Lately the machinery
has been removed and the building condemned. And so a venerable
land mark of half a century must give way to something modern.
But: this applies to all of us as well as to inanimate things.
During this year J. M. Palmer built a three-story brick block
of four store rooms on the northwest corner of Broadway and
Scott street that for many years was the home of the Nonpareil.
L. W. Babbitt also built a three-story block adjoining the
Phoenix on the west, and the Hagg brothers a two-story one
a half square farther west. In the second story of this building
one or two terms of the district court was held, after abandoning
the old log one on First street, and later, one term was held
by Judge Lynch, of which more will be related hereafter.
During this summer a finely uniformed military company was
organized, called the Council Bluffs Guards, with G. M. Dodge
for captain, but he being absent, so much of his time being
taken up in surveying, the command devolved upon Lieutenants
Craig and Dunn. A brass band was also formed and instructed
by C. C. Kuhn. Its construction was substantially as follows:
E flat bugle, Whitaker; E flat saxhorns, N. T. Spoor
and D. W. Griffey; B flat, Conductor C. C: Kuhn and C. E.
Haggerty; E flat alto, G. F. Smith; B flat trombone, Sidney
Smith; B flat bass, James Orton; E flat tuba, John Huntington;
snare drum, Dr. Alex Shoemaker; bass drum and cymbals, Samuel
Perrin. During the summer they made such progress that they
could render plain music in a creditable manner.
Sioux City was now forging to the front and boats were frequently
passing up, and during the latter part of summer, arrangements
were made with the captain of the steamer Emmigrant, that
was bound up for that place, to take on a large excursion
party of Council Bluffs and Omaha people, and the band by
invitation went along, and played at landing place as customary.
The boat landed at the Omaha agency and laid up for the night.
The music of the band, as it played from, the boiler deck,
was a revelation to the Indians.
35
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
During the evening there was a dance in the cabin and many
Indians came down and looked on. One buck that appeared to
admire one of the beautiful ladies, on being asked how much
he would give for the white squaw. He answered quickly, "Four
Horses." But as no one seemed authorized to act, the
trade was not consummated. We were royally welcomed at Sioux
City, this being the first appearance of a band this far up,
unless there were some at the forts above.
It would be interesting to know how many of that party are
living to-day. So far as the band is concerned, it is known
Captain N. T. Spoor, of St. Louis, is the only one. He was
with us at the last reunion of the Army of the Tennessee,
and although his hair is white as snow, his face is as kindly
as ever.
It will be remembered that up to this time banks of issue
were not permitted in Iowa, but there were kindly disposed
men on this side of the river as well as on the Nebraska side
that were too generous to see us struggling along without
money, and accordingly they, proceeded to establish banks
at every steamboat landing on the west side. The reader will
bear in mind these places were cities, there being no towns
or villages at this date. These banks issued most beautifully
engraved notes, and they went like hot cakes, circulated freely,
and like all new banks were on a strictly sound basis, so
we had plenty of money and as a result good times. The summer
of 1856 was pretty dry and warm, but the crops were good,
and we were a happy people.
The winter set in [in] dead earnest December 1 with a fifty-hour
blizzard and when it subsided there was probably three feet
of snow where it was not drifted. Many of the fences were
covered, and quite a while was required to get the roads opened,
and then another would follow. On the 18th of January, 1857,
the mercury reached thirty-six below zero. The hardest job
was to get wood, that being the only fuel.
Mr. G. A. Slocum, of what is now Belknap township, in describing
the severity of the storm and extent of the drifting, stated
that he had a small, flock of sheep that were missing after
the storm had subsided, and after about a week, seeing some
steam coming up from a huge drift, that had entirely filled
a deep ravine, he began investigating, and found his sheep.
They had huddled together and tramped the snow down, but the
drifting formed a complete cover, and they were eating each
other's wool, but were otherwise all right.
But for the known resemblance of the relator to George Washington,
this might be doubted. However, a person was justifiable in
believing anything of that winter. It gave us a farewell benefit
April 18, 1857, with eight inches of snow and two degrees
below zero, and all severe winters since have been by old
settlers measured by that.
When spring came at last and boats began to arrive, business
began to look up. Immigration was coming in, though not as
rapidly as in the preceding spring. Boats were arriving almost
daily during the summer with large stocks of goods. Building
commenced in good earnest, railroads were headed this way
and all seemed lovely. In the meantime the surrounding
30
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
country was being settled, but had not got to raising produce
sufficient for home consumption, let alone to ship, consequently,
the gold and silver was gradually being drained away, and
the pretty notes of the Nebraska banks came in to fill the
vacuum and for a time all went well. Among the improvements
started during the summer were what is still known as the
James block, on the southeast corner of Main and Broadway,
by Judge W. C. James and Milton Rogers, a large public hall
by J. M. Palmer, a large hotel near the present pumping station
called the River house, and a large brick hotel where the
Congregational church now stands. These last two were started
by companies with the view of bringing city lots adjacent
to them into the market.
The River house was completed and opened with a grand ball,
but was not a success, as persons going west would cross to
Omaha, and those going east would keep on up town. It was
a frame, and after standing useless for a year or two it was
moved up town and used as a public schoolhouse, and finally
the River house was built in front, and it still forms the
rear of that hostelry. While the big hotel, the walls of which
had risen four stories, was torn down and the material used
in other buildings later on. Work on the James block and concert
hall was suspended, and all owing to a money panic in the
east, that kept on and struck us early in the fall. Our cherished
Nebraska bills dropped out of sight and we waked up one morning
and discovered we had no money, and the people on the other
side of the river were in no better condition. Thomas H. Benton,
of banking house of Green, Ware & Benton, had built a
large dwelling in Glendale. It was not quite completed, but
he moved into it on Saturday, and on the following Monday
the bank failed to open, but he had availed himself of the
benefit of the homestead law. We were all in the same boat
and had to make the best of it. Merchants struggled to accommodate
their customers, issued pasteboard chips good for ten, twenty-five
and fifty cents, took what the farmers had to sell, while
they went ragged and burnt ten-cent corn for fuel.
This condition could not last long, however. The ten-cent
corn was raising lots of cattle and hogs, and the following
spring, when Johnson's army was preparing for the Utah campaign,
buyers arrived and money began to reappear, and bridged us
over until a year later, when the Pikes Peak excitement filled
the valleys with campers, buying supplies and waiting for
the grass to grow before starting. We had no immense packing
houses, but the merchants had been buying the dressed hogs
of the farmers, and packed and cured, and having their cellars
and warehouses full, were in pretty good shape, and this was
the beginning of the large packing business that developed
later on.
At the spring election for city officers, to serve for the
year 1858-9, the following persons were elected: Mayor, J.
Smith Hooten; recorder, Frank Street; treasurer, c. W. Boyer;
city engineer, Samuel Perrin; attorney, C. E. Stone; marshal,
C. W. Bryant; aldermen, Henry Allen, Dudley S. Nye, T. P.
Treynor, J. P. Casady, Addison Cochran, J. B. Lewis, D. W.
Carpenter, Benedict Hagg, Milton Rogers and Alex Shoemaker.
37
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
This was not strictly a party victory, although the head
of the- ticket and half the aldermen were democratic. The
balance were about equally divided between democrats, whigs
and republicansfor, although the whig party had been
dead since 1852, it still struggled for recognition.
During this summer a man appeared that has, during his life,
done more for the cause of music here than anyone that preceded
or has followed him. This was Joseph Mueller. He had fled
from Germany on account of being connected with some revolutionary
movement. He was without money or friends, and with little
knowledge of our language, but an indomitable worker. He pitched
into the first work he could find to do, which was that of
sawing wood. While engaged in this at the home of William
Folsom, the father of Amelia, afterwards Mrs. Brigham Young,
he heard her and some of her young lady friends playing the
piano in the parlor, and his quick ear detected an error in
the playing. He stepped to the door and said: "Skuse
me, ladies, you make some ledle mistake. Shall I show you?"
Certainly, they said, anticipating some amusement, as he,
in his rough clothes, seated himself at the piano. After showing
them the proper rendition of the passage, he could not resist
the impulse to let himself out on some heavy work, and their
amusement was turned to astonishment, and his career as a
wood sawyer was closed.
He soon had all the pupils the few pianos in town could accommodate,
besides giving vocal instruction, organizing choruses and
giving concerts.
During the spring of this year the Templeton troupe, a dramatic
company, appeared and played a month to good houses. They
were the first to play Camille, East Lynne, The Stranger,
etc.
Previous to this we had dramatic performances by home talent,
but this seemed tame after seeing the real thing once more.
During the year 1858 Charles H. Stephan started a brewery
a few doors east of where the Ogden house now stands. This
seems to have been about the first manufacturing after the
City and Wicks mills. This was followed the next year by one
established at the angle of East Pierce street, where the
new residence of Oscar Keeline is being built, by Nicholas
Hagg, one of three brothers of that name. They were bachelors,
and two of them died, leaving Benedict, the third brother,
sole heir to the estate, which included a large amount of
property besides the brewery, and thereby hangs quite a romance.
It appears that a young German named Charles Bock and a young
woman named Louise Geise were engaged to be married, but for
some reason the engagement was broken off. Mr. Hagg wooed
and married Miss Geise, and Mr. Bock (Charlie, as they all
called him) also married. In three or four years Mr. Hagg
died, as also did Mrs. Bock, and in due time the old love
revived and Charlie and Louise were married and lived happily,
with a plentiful share of this world's goods.
During the summer and fall of 1858 marvelous stories were
circulating of the discovery of gold in Colorado, which culminated
in what was called the Pikes Peak excitement, which, in the
following spring, filled our valleys with campers, and resembled
the California emigration, ten years earlier. During the summer,
however, conflicting reports came back denying the
38
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
finding of gold, and for a time the return tide became so
strong that the column going west became discouraged, and
turning about, joined the retreating host, some declaring
the whole thing to be a scheme gotten up by the Missouri river
towns in order to sell supplies to the emigrants, and threats
were even made to burn this city and Omaha in revenge. There
was probably no great danger of their doing this, still it
was thought prudent to be prepared, and accordingly the Council
Bluffs Guards were ordered, and held themselves in readiness
to act if the emergency required. Fortunately, the reports
came more and more favorable until all doubt was removed,
and the great stream flowing west became permanent, as the
reader will observe, with the wonderful result of founding
a great state, with populous and wealthy cities, all within
the life of one generation. Among those first in the push
were many from Pottawattamie county, and among these was Henry
Allen, ex-postmaster of Council Bluffs, who took his family
along, and one of his daughters and Mr. J. B. Atkins had the
distinction of being the first couple married in what is now
the great city of Denver.
At this time it was only a mining camp, with no one authorized
to issue license, but a preacher was found and the ceremony
performed, which bound the couple until death separated them
in 1905, by removing Mr. Atkins, who had been a prominent
and honorable citizen, as well as a Mason of high standing
in that order. Mrs. Atkins is still with us, beloved by a
large circle of friends.
The opening up of this vast mining region made a demand for
provisions of all kinds, as well as for the necessary implements
for working the mines, and as a result long ox teams were
constantly moving as long as the grass on the plains lasted,
and the Platte valley was the great natural route.
A company was formed in the Bluffs, consisting of John T.
Baldwin, G. M. Dodge, B. R. Pegram and John Warner, who engaged
largely in the business. They bought the City mill and kept
it running to its full capacity in furnishing flour. Thus
the Utah, California and Pikes Peak route paved the way for
the greater enterprise to come later.
The opening up of the mines in Colorado was the cause of
the establishment of one of the first manufacturing industries
here, as Charles Hendrie, who was largely engaged in manufacturing
mining machinery at Burlington, came and built quite extensive
works on the- corner of Main and Ninth streets, where he and
his son, and son-in-law, Mr. Corey, whom he had taken into
partnership, did an extensive business for years, until finding
it to their interest to get nearer their customers, finally
moved their plant to Denver.
During all this time political feeling was becoming more
and more intense. The failure of the south to establish slavery
in Kansas created a bitter' feeling in that section, in fact,
the southern people felt that they had been betrayed, while
the great republican party was growing rapidly through the
north, and on looking back from this long distance, we can
see that the "Irrepressible Conflict" was already
on. As for our locality, the democratic party was largely
in the majority, and Douglas was the idol, even as Bryan became
forty years later.
39
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
The republican party in Pottawattamie county was small, but
in deadly earnest. It was during this time that Lincoln visited
Council Bluffs.
From this long distance we can look back and see conditions
as they actually were, and it appears now that the great tragedy
was unavoidable.
Previous to this, the policy had been to admit states so
as to keep them about equally divided on the slavery issue,
but now the preponderance of the free states, both in population
and wealth, became so marked as to cause the slaveholders
to fear for the safety of their peculiar institution. In addition
to this, about this time, two books appeared that produced
a wonderful effect on the minds of the southern people and
probably hastened the great struggle: The one being Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and the "Impending
Crisis," by Rowan Hinton Helper, and although some of
our ablest statesmen strove to effect compromise measures,
as in the days of Clay, their efforts were in vain, and freedom
or slavery became the "paramount issue," and as
the history of this greatest of modern wars has been written
by much abler hands, we shall, at the proper time, endeavor
to record only the part enacted by those of our county.
In the meantime men of note were coming among us, and among
them was one we take special pleasure in remembering, viz.,
Judge Caleb Baldwin. He was a giant, both in intellect and
body, and modest as a woman. Soon after coming here he was
made city attorney, and in 1859 was elected to the bench of
the supreme court of Iowa, and by due process of law became
chief justice of that court. In 1865 he was appointed United
States attorney for the district of Iowa. He was also mayor
of the city during 1866-67, and afterwards formed a law partnership
with George F. Wright, which lasted until his death in the
winter of 1876.
After the treaty of Washington was ratified and the Geneva
convention had determined the award to be paid by Great Britain
for spoliation by their privateers, Judge Baldwin was appointed
one of the commissioners to distribute the award. Socially,
he was one of the most companionable of men and loved fun
like a boy, and, notwithstanding his great size, he was active
as most men of medium build. Being six feet and six inches
tall and weighing four hundred pounds, he was always conspicuous.
To illustrate his physical strength we will relate a little
incident that occurred when he was in his prime. Mr. Pusey
and Dr. Honn, both men of over two hundred pounds weight,
were standing in front of Officer and Pusey's bank, and one
of them dropped a half dollar, and they were scuffling to
get it. Just then the judge came along and saying, "Boys,
you must not be quarreling on the street," picked up
one under each arm and carried them down the street, their
feet sticking out behind like a pair of five-year old kids.
His mantle seems to have fallen upon his son, John N., who
was born and reared in this city, and graduated at the old
high school on the hill, and has made for himself a national
reputation as a lawyer.
At the regular spring city election on the 14th of March,
1859, George Doughty was elected mayor, Cornelius Voorhis,
recorder, and J. C. Fargo, marshal. J. B. Lewis, G. M. Dodge,
J. W. Damon, S. N. Porterfield, T.
40
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
P. Treynor, H. H. Oberholtzer, John Hammer and D. W. Carpenter
were elected aldermen, and Frank Street was made city attorney.
At this time John H. Sherman was county judge, and complaints
became general that graft had entered that office by the corrupt
issuance of county warrants. A committee was appointed to
examine the affairs of his office, with the result that he
was indicted by the grand jury on the 18th of February, and
at the August term of the district court was convicted and
removed from office. So corrupt had affairs become that county
warrants were only worth thirty-five to forty cents on the
dollar, and about all the county had to show for its outlay
were some bridges, constructed of poles and slabs, across
the little creeks by a favorite contractor at any price he
saw fit to name J. P. Casady was appointed to fill the vacancy,
but it took a long time to get to .a cash basis.
During this summer and fall Council Bluffs was visited by
a number of eminent men, chief among whom was Abraham Lincoln.
He was accompanied by Judge Test, of Indiana, and both addressed
a large audience at Concert Hall, and later in the same hall
General A. C. Dodge and T. J. Kirkwood, candidates for governor,
held a joint debate. The democrats also had a barbecue and
mass meeting, and were addressed by the eccentric but eloquent
Henry Clay Dean and Chester C. Cole. All parties were preparing
for the great event to transpire a year later.
Owing to the tardiness with which the railroads were approaching
from the 'east, people began to look south with a view of
connecting with the Hannibal & S1. Joseph Railroad, which
had already reached the latter city. On the 9th of November
a vast concourse of our people turned out to witness the breaking
ground in the construction of the St. Joseph & Council
Bluffs Railroad, and in the evening a large meeting in Concert
Hall was 'addressed by Colonel Sam Black, territorial governor
of Nebraska, and Colonel Peabody, chief engineer of the company.
So thoroughly waked up were our people in the matter that
a special election, held on the 8th of December, the proposition
to subscribe $25,000 of the city was carried by a large majority,
and at a special county election, held on the 15th of February,
1860, the measure was supplemented by the transfer of the
proceeds of the sale of swamp lands to the same use to the
amount of $40,000. The county held this stock for several
years and finally made an absolute donation of the stock to
the men in control of the company.
At the regular fall election Judge S. H. Riddle was elected
representative, Dr. S. H. Craig, sheriff, and J. B. Rue, county
superintendent of schools. At the annual city election, held
on March 12, 1860, L. W. Babbitt was elected mayor, T. P.
Treynor was elected city recorder for the second term, Perry
Smith, marshal, and the following named persons were elected
aldermen, to-wit: T. B. Lewis, John Jones, Milton Rogers,
W. L. Biggs, Addison Cochran and D. W. Carpenter.
During the summer of 1860 the two great parties became very
active, and, as before stated, Douglas was the idol of the
great mass of the Democrats. This applied here in Pottawattamie
county as well as elsewhere, and,
41
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
although a few old time whigs remained and clung to the old
time principles of that party, they were not numerous enough
to effect results, and in like manner, there was a small party
to whom Douglas was not acceptable. This condition seemed
to be general throughout the north.
The nomination of Lincoln struck a popular chord. He was
a man of the common people, was hailed as the rail-splitter,
and his logic seemed to have the effect of splitting the democratic
party.
Although it was openly declared by the pro-slavery element
that a dissolution of the Union would follow in the event
of the republican party coming into power, the great mass
of the people were loath to believe it.
The political campaign of 1860 resembled the hard cider and
log cabin campaign of 1840. Both of the leading parties were
provided with speakers of great ability, and torch-light processions,
stump-speaking and brass bands were the order of the day.
Pottawattamie county had local talent of a high order in both
parties. The republicans had their Wide-awake and Rail-splitting
organizations, and the democrats their Little Giant clubs,
and as for speakers, there was no lack. D. C. Bloomer, C.
E. Stone, W. H. Kinsman and Frank Street were always available
for a republican rally, while Captain Price, Colonel Babbitt,
W. G. Crawford and J. C. Turk were equally qualified to entertain
the democrats, while the brass band, whose numbers were about
equally divided politically, caught them "comin' and
goin'."
During the summer the city became infested with what the
president calls "undesirable citizens." One in particular
named Phil McGuire, a powerful man, whose headquarters were
about the Ocean Wave saloon, had made himself obnoxious in
many ways, was finally located with some stolen mules belonging
to John Jones in a temporary camp in the timber on the river
bottom. He was found one morning hanging on a walnut tree
on the western slope of the hill below Fairview cemetery.
The coroner was not in the city, and he remained there all
that day and the following night, and probably a thousand
persons went up to "view the remains." A card was
pinned to his coat collar on which was written, "Hung
for all manner of rascality."
The coroner not returning, Justice Biggs, acting as coroner,
had a jury summoned and held an inquest. Not being able to
find any clue as to who were responsible, the jury returned
their verdict, as follows: We, the jury, find that the deceased
came to his death at the hands of persons unknown to the jury.
The inquest being over, the coroner proceeded to administer
on the estate. On the person of the deceased was found a pocket
knife, a pair of thimbles for playing the thimble game, a
brass medal with chain attached, and a one dollar bill.
A bystander suggested that the coroner and three jurors play
a four handed game of seven-up for the dollar, alleging that
there was a precedent for it in scripture. This was overruled
by the coroner, and the order was made giving the knife to
one juror, the chain to one, the thimbles to a third, and
the medal to the constable, providing they would accept them
in full
42
HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
for their fees, and that the body, be buried at the expense
of the county. The coroner retaining the dollar for his fee.
The jury and constable agreeing, the order was carried into
effect, the burial being by the side of Muir, on the ridge
a short distance above the soldiers' cemetery. It is doubtful
if anything remains at this time to show their graves. While
this was being done, about twenty others received warning
to leave town within ten hours, which they were quick to obey,
and thugs were scarce for quite a while.
The fall election went democratic so far as local affairs
were concerned, but on learning the result, so far as the
president was concerned, some of the old wheel horses nearly
went wild. A grand ratification meeting was held, in which
a grand torch-light procession, with bonfires, music and speaking,
was indulged in until after midnight. Notwithstanding the
dire threats that had been made, the great mass of our people
believed a way would be found to avoid civil war. J. P. Casady
was elected county judge, he being the last to serve in that
capacity, as the legislature had abolished the office and
inaugurated the system of control of county affairs by a board
of supervisors, consisting of one member from each township.
The first meeting of the board in this county was on the 7th
day of January, 1861, and consisted of the following named
persons: Judge Douglass represented Kane township; C. Voorhis,
Macedonia; William Elswick, Grove; Josiah True, Knox; J. B.
Layton, Center; L. J. Childs, York; Robert Kent, Boomer; Abram
Jackson, Rockford; David Dunkle, Crescent; William Lyman,
James; and John Bratton, Silver Creek.
During the fall of 1860 a new bank was established, of which
James A. Jackson was made president, John D. Lockwood, cashier,
S. S. Bayliss, Samuel Knepper and J. P. Casady were directors.
It did not, however, commence operation until in January,
1861. It was afterwards merged in the First National Bank
when the law creating- .such institutions went into effect.
The new board of supervisors found the affairs of the county
in unsatisfactory condition, especially that of treasurer,
W. D. Turner, and after filing his report,- it required that
his bond be raised, and instead of complying he tendered his
resignation, which was accepted, and Thomas Tostevin was appointed
to fill the vacancy, which he proceeded to do so satisfactorily
that he held the position by election for six years. He, like
G. M. Dodge, was a surveyor, a fine scholar, though not a
military man, being reared a Quaker, but probably next to
General Dodge he has had more to do with the conduct of affairs
than any man in the county, and although his field of operation
was small compared with that of the General, there were points
of resemblance between them, being about the same age, both
untiring workers and in politics intensely republican. In
addition to county treasurer he has held at different times
the office of mayor of the city, county surveyor, city engineer,
and was sent by the city as one of a committee to negotiate
with the officers of the Union Pacific Railroad Company for
the location of their terminal requirement here, wherein the
city pledged two hundred and five thousand dollars, to which
the company agreed but afterwards repudiated.
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