HISTORY: Dyersville, Dubuque County, Iowa From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 Submitted by Tom August 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Dubuque County, Iowa Please visit the Dubuque County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/dubuque/ ________________________________________________________ Dyersville, a town in the extreme west line of Dubuque, is beautifully situated on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad, twenty-nine miles from Dubuque. This road affords a highway important to its commercial prosperity, by putting it in direct communication with Dubuque, Chicago and the Eastern cities; and Dyersville, being and inland patron, contributes largely to the commerce of the road, by its extensive shipments of grain, country produce, live stock, beef and pork. The country surrounding Dyersville is rolling prairie, intermixed with considerable quantities of growing timber. The soil is light, yet of a very wholesome and productive character, east and west, while north and south it is of a black clay loam – the former giving a quick, and the latter a more substantial growth to the cereals; and the populous and well-to-do farming classes find the harvests yielding bountifully to their well directed efforts. The general surroundings are such as to guarantee for all future time a healthful and pleasant location and a prosperous business for Dyersville. The country is well watered, its principal stream being the north branch of the Big Maquoketa, which affords very good water-power for milling purposes. Early Settlement The earliest settlement of the town of New Wine by a civilized people dates back to 1837, when Theophilus Crawford and Messrs. Mouncey, Hewitt and others located claims, and to 1838, when Thomas Riggs and family settled in that neighborhood. The territory on which the town of Dyersville is situated was purchased was purchased from the government in 1848 by James Dyer, in whose honor the town was named, who commenced the settlement of what is now a thrifty and prosperous incorporated town. In 1849 his partner, James Dyer, Sen., and Rev. William Trick with their families, came on from Bonwall, Somersetshire, England, and became permanent residents. Other families collected, and in 1853 the town was surveyed by Henry Jennings. In 1854 it was re-surveyed and platted, by Samuel Bethel. In this year Dyersville made remarkable progress, and among other substantial improvements O. L. Foot built the present Dyersville hotel, purchased a one-half interest in the water-power, and in partnership with James Dyer, Jr., erected a grist mill. The Sabbath was observed by public worship, with preaching by Rev. William Trick, in James Dyer's store, and early in the year 1855, through the instrumentality of Rev. William Trick, the present Methodist Church was formed and a house of worship erected. The old church building is now the district school house. In 1855 the dark mantle of sorrow overspread the entire community by the loss of many of its enterprising, esteemed and respected citizens, by the ravages of cholera, which broke forth upon their prosperous village in the dark hours of the night, on the 20th of June, and so general, instantaneous and fatal was its work, that of the inhabitants who retired well and hearty at night , four were found dead the next morning; six more died within the next twenty-four hours; and for two long months, day and night, could be heard in all parts of the place the sound of hammer and saw, preparing coffins for the numerous victims of this terrible malady. In 1856 the first newspaper was established, The Dyersville Mercury. Dyersville had scarcely recovered from the stagnation produced by the ravages of the cholera when the crash of 1857-8 came upon it and found it, like all new towns, unprepared for such a crisis, and it fell. For a long time, very little business was done, until in 1863, it began to improve and has since continued every year to increase in prosperity. The first frame house built was by George Hyler, and is at present a part of the Pennsylvania House. In 1872 Dyersville became an incorporated town, and at the March election, in 1873, the following officers were chosen: William Trick, Mayor; A. Limback, D. S. Smith, C. C. Chesterman, Andrew Krapff, August Mauche, Trustees; John Morley, Recorder; W. E. Bagley, Marshal. Since its incorporation many improvements of a public character have been made and all from revenue derived from saloon and other licenses. No officers of the town are salaried, except the recorder and the marshal, who have $50 each. In 1874 and new iron truss bridge was built, at a cost of $4,500. Bonds have been voted and orders issued for the erection of an $8,000 school house, to be built of brick, with all modern appliances. There are five church societies – The Methodist, the Episcopal, the German Presbyterian, the Catholic, and the Congregational. All have church buildings, except the Episcopal, who worship in the Congregational Church. The Dyersville Commercial, a wide-awake, seven column weekly newspaper, both side printed at its own office, was started March 12, 1873, and has continued since, under the management of Rose & Son; Jerome Rose, editor. It is well conducted and has a circulation of 650, which is considered a fair patronage. The population of the town is about 1,200, and its business is classified as follows: One bank, four dry goods stores, two drug and stationery stores, two hardware stores, two breweries, two agricultural implement depots, six grain and produce elevators, two hotels, two livery stables, ten saloons, two jewelry stores, two photograph galleries, two butcher shops, five blacksmith shops, and one merchant and flouring mill, one vinegar factory, two wagon factory, five boot and shoe shops, and other branches of trade. There are also lodges of Masons and Good Templars.