HISTORY: Jackson County, Iowa From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************* Submitted by Jerry Bloom September 2002 ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Jackson County, Iowa Please visit the Jackson County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/jackson/ ________________________________________________________ JACKSON COUNTY Jackson County lies on the Mississippi River between Dubuque and Clinton Counties. It was organized in 1838. The surface of the county is rolling and perhaps more broken than any other county in this section of the state. Still it is generally a good quality of soil for agricultural purposes, and contains several rich farming sections. The Tete des Morts Valley in the northeastern corner of the county is one of the most picturesque and attractive in this region. Along the borders of the stream there are cliffs of the Galena limestone rising in some places fifty feet perpendicular. Above this rock we come upon a gently undulating region, having a rich soil, which extends back on each side of the creek, gradually rising till it meets the bluffs at a distance which diminishes as we ascent the stream. This undulating and fertile belt is underlaid by the soft and easily decomposed shales of the Cincinnati group, which are capped by the harder beds of the Niagara limestone, a formation which underlies nearly the whole of the county. Along the Maquoketa and its branches this limestone often forms cliffs from fifty to a hundred feet in elevation. It is the only rock exposed in the interior of the county. But along the Mississippi the Galena limestone is exposed from fifty to a hundred feet in thickness. The dip of the strata seems to be quite rapid in this region, as is shown by the position of the Cincinnati shale's, which are met in ascending the bluffs at Dubuque at an elevation of some 250 feet, while at Bellevue they have sunk to the water's edge, although the direction of the river in this part of its course is at a considerable angle with the line of the greatest dip of strata in this region. From the river, the dip is considerably less than it has been shown to be above the first-mentioned place. The Niagara limestone in this county is a dolomite of a grayish-yellow color, and is generally somewhat crystalline in texture. Its upper portion is softer and more porous than its lower, and requires to be removed in quarrying for a good quality of building stone. On Brush reek, where the rock is usually buff-colored and exposed in almost vertical bluffs from fifty to a hundred feet in height, it contains numerous flinty modules, which impair its value as a building stone. On the Maquoketa and some of its branches from the north, as Brush, Farmer's and Lytle's Creeks, there have been found traces of iron ore (brown hematite), but not in sufficient quantities to pay for working. Building-stone and clay suitable for making brick are abundant in the county. The Maquoketa and its branches furnish excellent water-power. There is considerable timber in the county, and particularly the large mass in the Maquoketa Valley north of the City of Maquoketa. Burt's Cave, about eight miles northwest of Maquoketa, is one of the most remarkable natural curiosities in the county. HISTORICAL. Jackson County was established by act of the Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin, in connection with Jones and Linn Counties, in 1837. The first county officers were the following: W. A. Warren, Sheriff; John Howe, Recorder; J. K. Moss, County Judge; William Morden, William Jonas and James Leonard, County Commissioners. The first Territorial Court was held a t Bellevue in June, 1837, by Judge Dunn, of Wisconsin; Hon. J. V. Berry, Prosecuting Attorney. Among the distinguished attorneys present on that occasion were, Hon. E. B. Washburne, of Galena; Hon. James Grant, of Davenport; Hon. James Churchman, now an eminent criminal lawyer in California; Hon. Peter Hill Engle, afterwards Judge of the Criminal Court of St. Louis; and Hon. Thomas S. Wilson, who was appointed first Judge under Iowa Territory. The first County Court of Jackson County under Wisconsin Territory was held by J. K. Moss, County Judge, at Bellevue on the 12th of March, 1838. On the fourth of July following, Iowa became a territory, and Judge Moss held the first County Court of Jackson County under Iowa proper, October 27, 1838. COUNTY SEAT. When Jackson, Jones and Linn counties were first established, in 1837, the seat of justice for all three was located at Bellevue. It remained at the latter place till 1848, when it was removed to Andrew. It was again removed from Andres to Bellevue in 1851, and from Bellevue back to Andrew in 1861. In 1873 it was removed from Andrew to Maquoketa, where it still remains. The Court House at Maquoketa was built by the city in 1873, at a cost of $125,000, and is leased to the county for a period of nine-nine years. The jail still remains at Andrew. It is a substantial stone structure, and cost $8,000. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settlers of Jackson County were William Jonas, James Armstrong, David Dyas and sons, Thomas Nicholson and Alexander Read, who settled near Bellevue. The Dyases and Reads who are still living reside on finely-cultivated farms where they first located. James McCabe, Nicholas Carroll, Arthur Mullen and Anson Newberry settled in the vicinity of Sabula. David and Fletcher Swaney, Wm. Vanderventer and John Jonas were first settlers in Van Buren Township. Thomas Cox, George Watkins, N. Butterworth, Carmel Chaney and George Wiley were among the first settlers in the neighborhood of Andrew. In Butler Township, Henry and David Burk, Thomas McLaughlin and Mr. Mahony were the first settlers; Lewis Efferding, Barney Sanders, David Zigler and Daniel Brown in Tete des Morts Township; in Richland Township, Samuel Knapp, O. Sautell, Samuel Cotton and Luther Parmerly; Prairie Spring Township, Jerry Ragan, O. Sullivan and Mr. Shobe; Farmer's Creek, William Mordan, Thomas Davis, Charles Bilto, Jonas Edwards and Daniel Shinkle; Maquoketa Township, J. E. Goodenow, Z. Livermore and A. Spaulding. The first white child born in the county was J. H. Steen, now residing in Sabula. STATISTICS. Population. – The first census of the county was taken by Capt. Warren in 1837, and the total population at that time was 244. According to the state census of 1874, the population was 22,284; number of dwellings in the county, 4,144; families, 4,183; white males, 11,513; white females, 10,763; colored, 6 males, 2 females; persons entitled to vote, 4,652; foreigners not naturalized, 591; number of militias, 2,871. Products. – The number of acres of land improved in the county in 1874 was 181,519; wheat raised, 446,489 bushels; corn, 2,087,794 bushels; oats, 808,808 bushels; barley, 41,184 bushels; wool shorn, 28,977 pounds. Schools. – The whole number of school districts in the county in 1873 was 179, township districts, 17; independent districts, 19; subdistricts, 143; number of children of school age, 8,893 – males, 4,665; females, 4,228; number of schools, 144 – graded, 4; ungraded, 140; number of pupils, 6,355; average attendance, 3,686; number of teachers, 316 – males, 131; females, 185; number of school houses, 147 – frame, 102; brick, 13; stone, 21; log, 11; total value of school houses, $109,785.00; volumes in libraries, 56; value of apparatus, $3,344.35. POOR ASYLUM. The county has a Poor Asylum and Farm located three miles north of Andrew in Perry Township. The farm contains 300 acres, and the building is a substantial stone structure. COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1875. JOHN C. BARD, Sheriff. JOHN S. RAY, Clerk of Courts. JOHN R. GRIFFIN, Recorder JOHN DONNELLY, Treasurer. ALLEN J.HOUSE, Auditor N. C. WHITE, Superintendent of Schools. A. C. SIMPSON, County Surveyor. A. S. CARNAHAN, Coroner. MAQUOKETA. Maquoketa, the county seat of Jackson County, is situated on the Maquoketa River, in the southern part of the county. The river at this point is not considered of any value… [Last line of pg 443 is unreadable] as to site and surroundings. The merchantile [sic.] houses, as a general class, are handsome and substantial, e exhibiting fall stocks of well-selected goods, and a very healthy trade. The trade is steady and never-failing, derived as it is from one of the wealthiest farming districts in the state. It is a noted fact, that in the farming districts of the Maquoketa region, there is scarcely a freeholder or farmer who has been ten or a dozen years cultivating the soil, who does not stand high as a man of accumulated means, whose word is a good as his bond, and whose labor and enterprise is yearly adding to the wealth of the country. The same may be said of the merchants of the city. Probably for a city or town of its size, supported chiefly by the agricultural products and trade of the county, it may be safe to say that merchants, dealers, and tradesmen of all classes have as good a reputation for probity in business, and do as much of it, as in any proportionate area in the states. Another important feature in the business of the place is, that it is done to a large extent on the cash basis, and hence wholesale dealers hold the merchants here in high esteem for prompt payments and liberal purchases. POPULATION AND GENERAL FEATURES. The population of Maquoketa may be safely set down at 2,400. The city as at present covers a large space of ground. As a general feature the residences are handsome frame buildings, built in the best modern style, here and there interspersed with brick and stone. The lots on which the dwelling houses are built, are as a general thing, large and roomy, affording ample space for the gardens and beautiful shade trees. One good and pleasing feature in Maquoketa is the taste exhibited by the citizens in the embellishment of their grounds, such as handsome and wide sidewalks, shade trees set out, and fine taste in the adornment of their front gardens with the shrubbery and flowers which grow in such profusion in the uniformly rich soil of the place. RAILROADS. Maquoketa has two railroads, the Davenport & St. Paul (branch road) and the Midland. Both were completed to this point in the Fall of 1870. BUSINESS HOUSES AND FIRMS. We have passed along Main Street and taken the following notes of some of the principal business houses and firms: Exchange block, corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, brick, two-stories besides basement; erected in [unreadable] by Hubbell & Dunham, bankers. C. M. Sanborn, Covell, Smith & Co. and A. S. Hodge at a cost of $17,000; side of the block, 73X110 feet; [end of column – appears to be missing some text]… Spring of 1868. In the Spring of 1869, Colonel Woods sold to W. S. Beldon, the present editor and proprietor. The Excelsior has always been a republican paper. It is ably conducted, and enjoys a good patronage. Mr. Beldon was formerly Sheriff of Jackson County. CHURCHES. There are four churches at present in Maquoketa – Congregational, Baptist, Methodist and Catholic. All have church buildings, and regular preaching by resident pastors. The first church erected in the town was the Congregational, in 1850. The Methodists are at present (1875) engaged in the erection of a fine brick church edifice, which will cost when completed $10,000. A movement has been recently made towards the establishment of an Episcopal church in Maquoketa. There are quite a number of influential people of that faith among the citizens, and services are occasionally held. BELLVUE. Bellevue is situated on the Mississippi River, twenty-two miles below the Cit of Dubuque, and twelve miles from Galena, Illinois. The town site is upon a beautiful plateau of land whose general height is about fifteen feet above high water mark, and is surrounded by an amphitheater of hills which break off the severe cold of winter. Few places on the river present more picturesque or beautiful scenery than that witnessed from the top of the big bluffs, either on the north or south of the town, including the river with its islands, the shores of Illinois beyond, the farms and farm houses up the valley, which runs to a point westward at the distance of about six miles, and the village nestling in the ample area at the foot of the bluffs, with is business streets, its levee and its tasty dwellings. A steam ferry boat makes constant trips between Bellevue and the opposite shore, whence a considerable portion of the country trade is received, and steamboats are almost constantly in sight, either at the landing, in the regular up or down river trips, or going to, or coming from Galena. The railroad trains of the Chicago, Dubuque and Minnesota road pass directly through the village to the station, which is just north of the corporate limits. HISTORICAL. Bellevue has in some respects quite a romantic history. It belongs to a section of country which, prior to 1840 or during the time of the early settlement, was infested by an organized gang of horse-thieves and out-laws. These thieves stole horses and committed depredations and sometimes murders in the frontier settlements, extending from Missouri to Rock River, Illinois. Jackson, and the adjoining counties on the west, [end of 2nd column – appears to be missing text]… -zens was shot. Brown met the charging force at the door, and when ordered to surrender dropped his gun, which was discharged in falling. This was the signal for firing from the outside. One of the citizens taking good aim through a window, shot Brown in the neck, killing him instantly. The thieves in the upper story were armed with guns and pitchforks, so that it was impossible for the besieging party to get up-stairs. Warren then called for a brand to set the house on fire, in order to burn them out, and while stooping to kindle the fire at the end of the building on the outside, two shots were fired at him from an adjoining shanty, in which several of the thieves had secreted themselves, which lodged in the clapboards a few inches above his head. The thieves seeing the house about to be consumed began to jump out of the back windows and run for the brush in the rear of the building. Some of them were followed and shot; twelve were captured, mostly in running from the house; among the number were the notorious Young and Fox, the murderers of Colonel Davenport at Rock Island. BALLOTTING WITH BEANS. The method of deciding the fate of these desperadoes was rather novel. It was no less than balloting with beans – white beans for handing, red beans for some other punishment. Carried against handing by two beans. The punishment inflicted was from ten to fifty lashes on the bare back, and after this salutary scourging the victims were "rivered," that is, put aboard of canoes and sent adrift down the river, with the solemn injunction never to show their heads again in these parts or pain of having their necks stretched. This vigorous treatment of the horse-thieves of Jackson and Linn Counties was the beginning of the effectual breaking up of their operations throughout the country. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settler in Bellevue was John D. Bell, who erected the first cabin, in the Fall of 1835. The first hotel was built by Peter Dutell, in 1836, and was called the Bellevue House. The town of Bellevue was first laid out by John D. Bell, in 1835, the surveying being done by Phillip McLean. It was again laid out by Commissioners appointed by the United States, among whom were General George Cabbage and Wm. W. Cahill. At that time lots were valued at $7.50 for front lots and $5.00 for back lots, the proceeds after paying the commissioners and the cost of surveying, being appropriated to the town. The surveyor on the part of the United States was George W. Harrison. PRESENT BUSINESS. The principal business of Bellevue is done in eleven dry goods and general mercantile houses, three hardware stores, two grocery stores, two drug stores, four millinery establishments, two harness shops, five blacksmith shops, five shoemaker shops, one large boot and shoe store and manufactory, one carpenter shop and planning mill, three furniture and cabinet shops, thee grain and produce warehouses – two on the river and one on the railroad, two private banks, two large flouring mills, one saw mill, one foundry, two agricultural warehouses, one cigar manufactory, and two hotels. Bellevue has at present a population of about 2,000, and it is a large shipping point, both by river and railroad. The business of the present year (1875) will not fall short of $500,000. There are six churches in the place, viz. – Congregational, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian and Catholic, and one graded public school. NEWSPAPERS. The Bellevue Leader was started in 1870 by Alexander Fanning, under the name of the Iowa Republican. In 1871, George C. Deming purchased it and changed its name to the Jackson Leader. The present proprietor, W. O. Evans, purchased it in 1874 and changed its name to the Bellevue Leader, which it still retains. It is republican in politics, and has been quite successful under the management of Mr. Evans. SABULA. Sabula is situated on the Mississippi River, in the southeast corner of Jackson County. It is a place of considerable trade, having the river navigation, a steam ferry running between it and Savannah, on the opposite side in Illinois, and two railroads – the Chicago, Clinton and Dubuque, and the Sabula, Ackley and Dakota road. The citizens have shown a good deal of enterprise in constructing two excellent Macadamized roads, each of about a mile in length, at either end of their city, from the plateau on which the town stands, across the intervening low land to the railroad and roads leading into the country at the foot of the bluffs in the rear of the city. The town exhibits a good deal of thrift and prosperity, there being at the present time (May 1975) twelve new buildings in process of construction, some of them at a cost of from $5,000 to $7,000. HISTORICAL. The original site of Sabula was called Carlport, afterwards Charleston, and when laid out and recorded was called Sabula, which is the Indian dialect signifies sand. It was laid out as a town in 1840. The original proprietors were E. A. Wood, James Leonard, Charles Swan and O. A. Crary. The first settlers were H. Hinkley and Mr. Dorman, who settled in this place in 1837. E. A. Wood, Ulysses Steen and Thomas Roof came in during the same year. R. C. Westbrook came in the Fall of 1839, and Dr. J. G. Sugg in 1843. I. H. Steen, now residing in the place, was the first white child born in Sabula. The first horse ferry was established in 1859, by Wade H. Eldridge. William Hubbell, deceased in 1847, was the first postmaster in this place. Morris S. Allen was the first justice of the peace. Brown & Swan were the first merchants. The house of Mr. Cameron, erected in 1842, was the first brick building, and was constructed of brick made in Sabula. INCORPORATION AND OFFICERS. Sabula was incorporated as a city under the general incorporation law of the state, in 1864. The following were the first officers elected under the charger: H. G. Crary, Mayor J. F. Fairbank, Recorder Councilmen. – M. C. Lawrence, M. Hein, D. K. Lincoln, J. Scarborough, V. Lund BUSINESS OF THE CITY. Sabula has three extensive lumber yards, two planning mills, one sash, door and blind factory, one first-class saw mill, one extensive pork packing establishment which slaughtered about 40,000 hogs in 1875, ranking fifth in the state and seventeenth in the United States; one flouring mill doing an extensive business, one cooper shop, two wagon and carriage factories, one cabinet shop, two jewelry stores, one clothing store, six dry goods and general mercantile houses, five groceries, three carpentershops, three blacksmith shops, one exclusively boot and sow store, two banks, two barber shops, two millinery stores, two tailor shops, one sewing machine agency, one photograph gallery, one harness shop, three meat markets and two restaurants. Besides the above there is a very extensive hardware, tin and agricultural establishment, that of J. C. Day, - who was organized and is conducting with great success, one of the finest houses of the kind to be found in the country, and such as would be creditable to any city. There are three lawyers' offices and three doctors' offices in the place, four hotels, two livery stables, one lodge respectively of Masons, Odd Fellows, and Sons of Temperance. Sabula has one public hall – Bienner Hall – erected in 1871, at a cost of $7,000. There are three churches – Congregationalist Methodist and Catholic. All have church buildings and regular pastors. The public school of the city is graded to three departments, and occupies one central school building and two ward school houses. There is also a private school kept, which is well patronized. NEWSPAPERS. The Sabula Gazette was started by a joint-stock company, in December, 1865. The officers of the company at that time were: J. G. Sugg, President; O. G. Risley, Vice-President; J. F. Fairbank Secretary; and Israel Day, Treasurer. The office was let to Mr. Rice, for the purpose of publishing a newspaper. In October, 1868, the press and materials were rented to Herbert Sugg, and the name of the paper changed to the Eastern Iowan. In February, 1870, Alexander B. Fanning took charge of the office. Mr. Fanning went out to 1871, and George Elliott took charge and changed the name of the paper to the Sabula Index, and published it till July, 1873, when Dr. J. F. Fairbank took charge as owner of the principal part of the stock, which gave him control of the office, and he has managed it till the present. On taking possession of the office, e changed the name of the paper to the Sabula Gazette, as it was originally called. The Gazette is a weekly quarto paper, independent in politics, and as a liberal patronage. ANDREW. Andrew is situated in a fine farming section, on the old state route from Dubuque to Davenport. It is the home of ex-Governor Ansel Briggs, and was for a time the county seat of Jackson County. {See County History.} The town was laid out for the county seat by commissioners, in 1841, in pursuance of an act of the territorial legislature, and received the surname of Andrew Jackson, in whose honor the county was named. The first cabin was erected on the site by John Hindley, in 1837. Samuel Jennings and Baker Bradley were the first merchants in the place. The first resident lawyer was Henry Hopkins, Esq. Honorable O. B. Bradley, still residing at Andrew, is one of the early settlers. Judge J. S. Wilson appointed him Clerk of the District Court in 1843. In 1845 he was elected to the Territorial Council. In 1846 he was elected to the State Senate for four years, and in 1850 was clerk of that body. Honorable Ansel Briggs was elected the first Governor of the State of Iowa, in 1846, and served four years. In 1847, a paper was printed at Andrew, called the -------------, by Andrew Keesecker, M. H. Clark, editor. In 1849, Governor Briggs took charge of it, and conducted it eighteen months, when J. B. Door, afterwards connected with the Dubuque Herald, removed it to Bellevue, where he published it about three years. The Lutheran denomination have an orphan asylum at Andrew with about forty inmates. The Congregationalists, Methodists, Lutherans, Old School and United Presbyterians, have churches in the place. Besides the public school, the Lutherans have a school at the Asylum which is well patronized, many sending their children there to learn German. Andrew has three general merchandise and dry goods stores, two drug stores, tow hardware stores, two harness shops, one boot and shoe shop, one livery stable, one hotel, three wagon shops, four blacksmith shops, and one flouring mill in the vicinity. It has a lodge of Masons, Good Templars, and a Literary Society. Andrew is a considerable live-stock market. It has a population of about 400. The remaining towns or villages in the county are: WATERFORD, in South Fork Township, containing five or six churches, several stores, and flouring and saw mills; water-power: FULTON, also on the Maquoketa, about thirty miles south of Dubuque; OTTER CREEK, in township of the same name: LAMOTTE, sixteen miles south of Dubuque; STERLING, a post village, thirty miles southeast of Andrew: MONMOUTH, in the western part of the county, on the Iowa Midland railroad; the rest are VAN BUREN, MILL ROCK, WYCKLIFFE, SPRING BROOK, MOUNT ALGOR, COTTONVILLE, GARRY OWEN, SAINT BONATUS, ZWINGLR, MILES, UNION CENTRE, and PRESTON. "PRESTON CLIPPER." The Preston Clipper was established March 13, 1873, by P. R. Bailey, at Preston, Jackson County. March 13, 1874, the controlling interest was purchased by General Dan. McCoy, of the Delmar Journal, at which time the Clipper and Journal were consolidated as the Delmar Clipper-Journal, and under this management reached a circulation of 1,300 subscribers, being removed to Delmar, Clinton County.