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 Missouri river and the great
beyond. So Judge George Greene, S. L. Dows, and other prominent public
spirited men took up the task of constructing a road from Cedar Rapids
to Vinton and Waterloo. Burlington capitalists and promoters joined in
the work of extending the line from Cedar Rapids southeast to
Burlington, and in a few years the embryo of what later became the
Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, the "Cedar Rapids route," with its
lines radiating from Cedar Rapids to Clinton, Muscatine, Burlington,
What Cheer, Iowa City, Sioux Falls, Watertown, Worthington, Forest
City, Albert Lea, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Decorah, was in existence.
The shops, roundhouses and general offices of the road were located in
Cedar Rapids, and everybody took pride and a personal interest in
speaking of the institution as the "Home Road." The absorption of the
Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern by the great Rock Island system,
thus giving Cedar Rapids direct connections with all stations on that
road, is a matter so recent as to be hardly history as yet. This change
has been more in name than in reality. The shops are maintained, as in
years past. An even larger army of trainmen and operative employes make
Cedar Rapids their home, and the general offices for the northern
district make use of the general office building constructed by the
Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway Co.
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 past few years in the acquisition of property for
terminal purposes. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Illinois
Central, and the Rock Island now control absolutely the entire section
of the city lying between Fifth and Ninth avenues, the river and Third
street, and it is only fair to presume that the four blocks between
Third and Fourth streets and Fifth and Ninth avenues will also be
devoted exclusively to railway purposes. South of the city, along the
river bank, the Chicago & Northwestern is expending thousands of
dollars in the filling in of a large section of low land and old river
bed, and on this made ground new and enlarged terminals and switch
yards will be built.
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.
MANUFACTURING
From 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 Douglas & Co., the largest
independent starch plant in the country--a plant where corn by the
train load is daily transformed into starch and gluten feed. In smaller
institutions note must be made of the Anchor Mill Co. and the T. G.
White Cereal Co., with their specialties in flour and wheat flakes.
While on the subject of cereals, note should be taken of the big
elevators and cleaning houses of the Cedar Rapids Grain Co., the
Clinton Grain Co., Jackson Grain Co., and the Wells-Hord Grain Co.
Without doubt, the name "Cereal City" which has been applied to Cedar
Rapids is not a misnomer.
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 will in the years to come make Cedar Rapids one of the best
known manufacturing communities in the whole United States.
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 RAILWAYS
BY 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 Assembly (1880) passed an act authorizing street railway
tracks on roads 100 feet wide. So the supreme court sustained Judge
Shane in refusing the injunction. Early in the spring of 1881, the line
was extended across the steam railway tracks at Fourth street to the
foot of Iowa avenue. Soon after that date the company were not allowed
to bring the steam motors below Fifteenth street, the horse cars
carrying the Marion passengers up to that point.
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 be best for the interests of the city of
Cedar Rapids that control of the transportation facilities be in the
hands of resident property owners, who would have a greater interest in
a more extensive system and better service, than those seeking merely
financial profit, obtained options on a controlling interest in the
capital stock of both of the companies. After which Mr. Ely and Mr.
Henry V. Ferguson organized a syndicate consisting of Messrs. A. T.
Averill, James L. Bever, Chas. H. Clark, Geo. B. Douglas, Walter D.
Douglas, C. J. Ives, C. Magnus, P. E. Hall, J. S. Ely, and Henry V.
Ferguson, who on December 15, 1890, purchased two-thirds of the entire
capital stock of the two companies (the C. R. & M. Ry. and the C. R.
Street Ry.) buying out all of the old stockholders except Frances R.
Greene, C. G. Greene, S. C. Bever, Geo. W. Bever, and U. C. Blake.
Immediately after this change of control, the stockholders paid in
money enough to clear up all the floating debt of the companies, and
put them on a good financial basis. The stockholders addressed the
following communication to the mayor and city council of Cedar Rapids:
"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 their money in these enterprises went out with entire loss of
income, and most of them with considerable loss of principal.
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 COMPANY
The 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.
[Illustration: U. B. CHURCH, LISBON Built 1855
FIRST U. B. CHURCH WEST OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER Built and Presented to
Members at Lisbon in 1850 by Rev. Christian Hershey]
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 CLUB
FROM 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 permanent paid
secretary, Ed. R. Shaw, who assumed office July 15th. The first offices
of the club were in the Granby building, the rent being a donation from
Mr. E. A. Higley. Subsequently, in May, 1901, came the consolidation of
the Commercial Club with the Occidental Club and the removal to the
Masonic Temple, which has since been the home of the club.
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 Commercial
Club has been most successful, for up to the present time adjustments
brought about by the bureau represent a saving of about $24,000 per
year to the manufacturers, jobbers and business men of the city. In
addition to the work of bringing about an equalization of freight
rates, an individual service is maintained for the purpose of examining
freight claims against the railway companies. In this particular many
claims of long standing have been satisfactorily adjusted.
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 AGO
BY 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 real cash in the
city treasury. This city script was issued for work and salaries and
such other expenses as were necessary and was not interest bearing, so
that a party that had such script was ready to dispose of the same to
the best advantage he could, and parties that had taxes to pay would
gather up such script at what discount they could get and use it for
the purpose of paying their taxes. The larger tax payers all paid in
"city script."
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 on the corner of Second street
and Second avenue, and also Snowden's, corner of Third street and
Second avenue. He also was assessed with the property now belonging to
the Churchill estate, corner of First street and Second avenue, value
$1,150.00, tax on same $2.30. Lot 10, block 24, original plat, now
occupied by the Cedar Rapids National Bank and for many years known as
the old Baptist church corner, was assessed at $700.00 and the tax was
$1.40.
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 nearly all improved with fine homes, the new Westminster church is
on this block, corner of Fourteenth street and Third avenue.
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 owned a lot on First street about opposite
the auditorium valued at $375.00, and also a part of the land on which
the auditorium now stands.
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.
[Illustration: COE COLLEGE BUILDINGS]
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 RAPIDS
Following 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 Cedar Rapids
in Linn County, as surveyed and recorded in the recorder's
office in the said County of Linn, be and the same is hereby
constituted a town corporate and shall hereafter be known by
the name of the town of Cedar Rapids.
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 may from time to time
require. Said recorder may under his hand and seal appoint a
deputy to perform his duties when absent, for whose acts the
said recorder shall be responsible.
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 every annual election herein authorized shall
be preceded by five days' notice thereof put up in three
public places in said town.
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.
SMILEY H. BONHAM,
Speaker of House
JOHN J. SELMAN,
President of the Senate
Approved January 15th, 1849.
ANSEL BRIGGS, Governor
Secretary's Office, Iowa City, Iowa, March 27th, 1849.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct
copy of the original act now on file in the said office.
JOSIAH H. BONNEY, Secretary of State
FIRST CITY OFFICIALS OF CEDAR RAPIDS
At 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.
Councilmen, Joseph Greene, Stephen L. Pollock, and James Leverich.
Recorder, Homer Kennedy.
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 ELECTION
The 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 Palmer received 63 and Lawson Daniels 1. Stephen L.
Pollock, Thomas Downing and Charles C. Cook were the successful
councilmen, the defeated candidates being George H. Ely, Joseph Greene,
Isaac Cook, and W. P. Harman.
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 LEVY
The 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 1851
Annual 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 ORDINANCE
The 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 where planked the plank to be
oak and not less than one and one-half inches in thickness, also to be
placed upon a good and permanent foundation. In the front of buildings
the walk to be made ten feet in width, not less than five stringers to
be used. In front of lots or parts of lots not occupied by buildings it
is only required that walks be made five feet in width, in which case
three stringers are sufficient, but not less than three. All of which
must be completed by the 1st of September, 1852."
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 1853
In 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 CEMETERIES
The 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 1854
On 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 appointed marshal for ensuing
year and R. C. Rock treasurer. The famous "hog ordinance," which was
intended to keep swine from the street but failed absolutely in its
purpose, was introduced June 28, 1854.
ELECTION OF 1855
George 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 1856
Isaac 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 1910
1857 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. Graves, T. Z. Cook, D. M. McIntosh, Charles Weare, S. A.
Shattuck, G. Livensbarger.
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.
[Illustration: SINCLAIR PACKING PLANT, CEDAR RAPIDS]
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, Charles D. Huston, W. G.
Haskell, J. P. Grissel, F. W. Slapnicka, L. M. Rich.
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 AGO
The 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.
[Illustration: BLACK HAWK]
[Illustration: A WINNEBAGO INDIAN]
[Illustration: THE SLAVE DANCE OF THE SAC AND FOX]
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 only mill erected on the
west side of the river went into operation in the summer of
1856. The first steam engine was stationed in this city by
A. Hager, in his machine shop, sash, blind, and door factory
in 1855. The second by Greene & Graves, and the third by S.
L. Pollock.
"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.
[Illustration: CEDAR RAPIDS COUNTRY CLUB HOUSE]
[Illustration: GEORGE GREENE SQUARE, SEMI-CENTENNIAL, 1906]
[Illustration: RIVERSIDE PARK]
"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 the time that the free bridge charter
was procured, which gave rise to a warm controversy in which
much interest was manifest. The free bridge finally
triumphed, and its noble arches now span the Cedar with
every appearance of remaining for many years a proud
monument to the energy and liberality of those who aided in
placing it there. We have already intimated that Cedar
Rapids is the center of a very large and increasing trade,
and though not destined to become a city of the first
magnitude, is destined to rank as one of the principal
interior cities of Iowa. Its railroad connections--immense
water power--the fertility of the surrounding country and
the energy of its people will give it rank and importance as
a manufacturing city, worthy of note.
"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.
[Illustration: CEDAR RAPIDS IN 1856]
"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,
"N. E. BROWN."
HOW THE FIRST RAILROAD CAME TO CEDAR RAPIDS
T. 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 yet located here. The principal dependence of the
people was in the farming community and the bountiful harvests that
Iowa never fails to produce.
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.
[Illustration: THE OLD BLAIR BUILDING, NOW THE SITE OF THE KIMBALL
BUILDING]
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.