to long for me and turned Up at the Toes like Sliegh Runners. Mother tried to have me Take a better fitting Pair, but as there were no other with Red Tops - it was no use - I was bound to have Red Top Boots - so as I had Earned the Money Picking Mineral, she let me have my Way. The Block above on same Side was Owned by the Catholic Church. Bishop Loras was then about to Build A Great Cathedral, Ocuping nearly the whole Block - all But two Lots wich for some Reason he could not Buy. I well Remember the Great time and Ceremony there was when the Corner Stone was Laid, for the Foundation was Completed, and it was Imense. it was a great day for the Catholics and they were There in great Crowds from all over the Country for Miles & Miles. Bishops - Priests, Sisters Monks & Thousands of Layman & Woman - I saw it all - for we were then Living right across the Street. No more Work was ever done on it - and it stood for a Number of Years that way - and finaly became an Eyesore & Nuisance. I think it was the Bishops Death that stopped its going up - What I have here said is from 1847 to 1849 - and I go back in speaking of Events & Conditions to 1846 - the Blocks above Between 8th & 9th, the South Cor was Ocupied by Genl Booth, in a Fine 2 Story Brick Building. The Family Cosisted of - The General his Wife one Son Edward and Daughter Anna - They were fine Old People - Rifined and Wealthy at that time The Genl was Dubuques 2nd Mayor him and his Wife Lived To a good Old Age even Several Years after the War they Died Loved & Respected by all that Knew them. Thier son Ed - never Succeed in any thing he undertook and He tried lots of ways to
188
Keep up. his Father left him (135) Considerable Money including a Flour Mill at the foot of 3rd St. He Married A Young Lady of considerable Wealth - but A few Years - and it went with the rest. Poor Ed - I Knew Him Well - he died and his Widow (with 2 Children) a few Years afterwards Married Old Dr Horr. and here I must Go back to the North Cor of 7th & Main - for there in A Two Story Frame House Lived Dr Horr and his Family. They had 2 Children Edward and Daughters Name I forgot. The Doctor was the best Phyisican of his day - A Large Portly Handsome Man. he Lived to a great Old Age and in his Old Age Married Ed Booths Widdow - his Son Edward never Amounted to much, he went to Kentucky shortly after the War - Married down there. let us hope he is Happy - the Daughter Married A Chicago Man and went there to Live. The South part of the same House was Ocupied by a Family by the Name of Mitton. they had 3 Children, One Son Frank, 2 Girls Jennie & others Name forgotton - Mr. Mitton Was A Whole Sale Grocer up to 1857 - he the last few Years Ocupied the North end of the Shine 4 Story Brick Block on Main bet 4th & 5th St. they were Nice People of the upper ten Class until Misfortune overtook them in the Crash & Panic Of 1857. when Mr Mitton failed and evidently lost all he had Mrs Mitton was A Handsome Woman and Jennie was one of The Prittiest Girls of the Town - Frank was the Only Son and was Spoilt and Bad - He enlisted in Our Co. in 1864. he was so Worthless that I gladly detailed him as A Clerk at Genl Millers Head Quarters at Nashville. The only redeeming Trait he had Was the he was A very fine Pennman.
189
his Writing soo attracted The Notice of the War Dept. where he was soon detailed to go. from There he went as Private Secratery to President Johnson - he Remained there to near the Close of the War, when he was discharged For Drunkeness &c. he came Home A Wreck - his Folk now Poor themselves, tried evry way to Reclaim & help him but he was To far gone. he finaley persuaded A poor Girl - a Huckesters Daughter to Marry him - she Supported him for a few Years, Then he Died - allas poor Frank - what might you not have been!
Next to the Genl Booth Residence was the Congregational Church A Large (Imposing for that day & Time) Brick Building. The Pastor Was Rev Mr Holbrook, A good Preacher and A fine Man. he Some time in the Fifties, Went to California and became quite Famous. (136) Above the Church and up to the Corner of 9th St. (This all refers To the West Side of Main St) The Ground was Owned by Tom Levins - An Old Timer and A Successfull Miner. he Found Three Rich Lead Mines and Spent nearly all in Whites Gambling Saloon and for Liquor. He was one of the Worst Stutterers, but could Swear a long String & Time Without a hitch in his Speach. His Wife finaly managed To get enough of his last Lead to Build the Fine Home On the Cor of 9th St. wich they Ocupied up into the Eighties, Besides enough to Live Well on. Tome at one time Bought The fine Steamer St Paul and for One Summer he Ran Her from St Paul to St Louis, but his Folks finaly got the Uper hand - Sold the Boat and laid poor Tom up at Home He was for Years after A familliar sight Reeling up &
190
down the Street - but he finaly died in on of his Sprees. Poor Tom, His Son Abe, grew to be A Large Portly Man, went into The Wholesale Liquor Buisness with One Tim Dillon He died a few Years ago in the Prime of Life (in the Nineties) His Wife and Daughter are yet (1909) Living. the Block Between 9th & 10th St. had but Three Houses on it. the South Corner Dick Cox Lived on and Owned, his Home was A two Story Frame House. The Family consisted of 3 Sons and 3 Daughters, John - Walter and Frank. the Girls Names I have forgotten. the Oldest one died befor the Civil War - the others are Maried, John the Oldest and best of the Lot, Married A Daughter of Wm Meyers - Sister of Dick Meyers. He Took to Farming - and died a few Years (1900) ago - Walter is in Buisness. One of the Firm of Myers Cox and Co. - he is anything ***underlined: but a Good Man:*** his Wife is a Sister of Mrs John Cox. Frank the Youngest was utterly Worthless, A Gambler and Drunkard and so died very Young. The Old Man Cox was very Wealthy. He was A very Early Settler And was Successfull as A Miner, but more so a A Gambler. He it is that got most of Poor Tom Levins 3 Leeds and Fortunes. People that Know say it is A fact, the Old Man (Cox) Was Shrewed enough to invest his Money in Real Estate in an Early day. he at one time Owned nearly all the Land in Blakes Hollow East of Mineral St. now West Locust St. and Two Thirds of the Hollow and on the Hill - now West 17th & Clark St. He died in the Eighties, An Old Wealthy & Wicked Man and his Wealth will be dissipated and do more Harm than good to Humanity. ***(137)***[inserted between Humanity & Next] Next to Cox - The Widdow Wells with two (2) Sons and (2) two Daughters Lived
191
in a Two Story Brick House (about Center of the Block) - The Oldest Daughter still Lives. The Younger one Know all over The Town as Becky Wells - one of Dubuques Bells - realy very Good looking - Lively - but A Good Yound Lady - she was Married to M M Ham - Printer & Propiator of the Dubuque Herald. She died in Child Birth a few Years after. The Corner of 10th St was Ocupied and Owned by Dr Lewis, also a Two Story Frame House. The Dr and his Wife were quite Old People at that time. He was An Old fashioned Doctor - but booth him and his Wife We Good Pious People - Lived to a good Old Age and Died Regretted by all. They had 2 Sons, Theodore and John. Theodore Enlisted in 1861 in Co. E 5th Iowa Cavalry and Rose to be assistent Surgeon of the Regiment. He Married Lon Moreing a Sister of my Capt - L Moreing. they now Live in Omaha Neb. John Enlisted in our Regiment (5th Ia Cavl) in 1861 He Joined Co. F and rose To be Capt of the Co. he died Early in the Nineties) Rev J and Miss Conkey (afterwards Mrs Dr Watson) were Brother and Sister To Mrs Dr Lewis. Miss Conkey was my Wifes School Teacher - There were few Houses on either side of Main St. above 10th - on The West still - near the Corner Lived A good Old Couple by the Name of Rogers - in A double frame House - they died befor The Civil War. One only Child, A Son, Survives them - Warren Rogers - he is A great Hunter and Fisherman and devotes A Large part of his Time to that Sport. He is one of my Early Play Mates and Friend, A good Fellow - Long may he Live. The place Now Ocupied by the 3 Story Bldg and Stores was then Only ocupied by A 2 Story Frame Building in wich Lived A Mr Hawthorne Who
192
was the City St Sprinkler, A very Simple and Primitive Affair it was, A Large Barrell on Two Wheels - he had To go to the River and fill up about evry Hour or so, but at that Time the River was nearer then it now is. They had one Son Charlie, A regular Yankee - Sharp as A Neede - great on The Swap or Trade. it was a saying with us the he would start out in the Morning with a Jack Knife and Plug of Tobacco and Come Home in the Evening with A Horse and Buggy - but he Met with an Accident that ever afterwards so affected his Brain that He nearly lost his Mind and was then called Simple Charlie - they Moved to Potosi Wis several Years befor the War. The Accident her spoken Off is as follows. He and a lot more of us Boys were down at the (138) Levee at the Foot of 4th St. where all the Steamboats and Ferrey Landed - that was A great Resort for us Boys in them days, Of wich I will speak later on. When the Ferry, Ocean Wave - Landed, Charlie went Aboard. in some way or Another He got to near One of the Horses Heels and the Hors Kicked him Square in the Face - breaking his Nose and lacerating his Face Fearfully - of cource he fell Senceless on the Floor Senceless on the Floor and had it Not been for Old Man Guiren who happend to be ther he would Have died. The Old Man Knelt down and Sucked the Clotted Blood from his Nostrils and thereby Saved his Life, But he was never Right after that - (the 2 Story Brick House Right South of that was Built some Years after about 1847 or 58) The Corner of 13th was Vacant until 1852 or 53, when the Bissell Built 4th Story Brick Building wich for many Years was the Bissell Moser Grocerie Co. between 11th &
193
12th St there was Nothing but Weeds and Brush until 1858 the 3 Story Building Cor 11th and St Lukes Church about the same time. from there On up to 1858, Main St had not been Cut throug the Rising Ground - all then on the Level of what is now the Ground Of St Josephs Female School Cor 13th. That Building was Built By Judge Dyer about 1852 or 53 as A Residence and Ocupied by By him and his Family - Wife and One Daughter - (now Mrs Crane) Mr Dyer was One of the F F V-s of Virginia one of Iowas early Judges and Dubuques Settlers. He Sold this Property several Years befor the Civil War to Mr Willington, who in Turn Sold it To the Sisters. it stands now just as it was Built, not Considering The few Additions and Improvements. The Judge went South and no Doubt shared in the Fate of the Confederacy. The Block between 13th and 14th St from Main to Locust St. was intearly barren of any Buildings and Coverd with Hazel Brush and Small Trees as Late as the Spring of 1857. I used to Cut across there in Order To get a Shorter route Home. We then Lived on Miral St., above That and up to what is now 17th St was deep Mud holes and Frogg Ponds - with one exeption. between 16th & 17th there was one - Two Story Brick House Owned by A Mr Dorgan who also Owned And lived in a Two Story 3 Tenement Brick Building on the Alley just bind. Mrs. Uttey's Home now is where that Bldg on Main St stood. From there on up to Mineral St Cor Clerk - not a building was To Be seen. Cor of Clark a Two Story Building was Built by Mr. From there up to Mr Blakes up to 1855 was there any to be seen Mr Blake had a Brick Yard there. He was a very Early Settler ***(139)***[inserted between Settler & A] A fine
194
Man himself and A Man of considerable Means wich after his Death late in in Fifties was spent and dissipated By his two Sons - leaving his Widow and her Daughters nothing but The Home and that allmost a Ruin. in 1855 or 56 Capt Yates For Years and Years Capt of the Steam Ferry and Brother in Law to Dick Cox, Built a Home on Mineral St. Our Uncle Wm Rudolph Built A House (2 Story Frame) next to him about 1856. We Lived on the 2nd Floor up to July 1857. - betw that And back near Simnary Hill & 17th St. Mr W H Heathring had A Brick Yard. This part of Town was a Veritable Mud hole in the Fall and Spring, and A trying place to get through the Snow drifts in the Wintor. When it Rained the whole Hollow Was overflowed - the Ditches could not carry of the Water - we often Saw Chicken Koops - Out Houses &c come floating down in them Floods. there was no Side Walks from 13th St up. that about Describes that part of the Town from 1846 to 1855, and the same Condition existed in the other parts of the Town that will be set down in this Writings! any later periods and Times herein Narated or Spoken of the dates will be given so as to prevent any Confusion or Puzzels to the Readers whoever they may be - - The Buisness part of the Town was around And below 6th and Main St. there were One or Two Stores on and Near 6th but above that there was on either Side of Main St From 7th to 17th only Dwellings and then few and Primative - As said there were no Streets Cut through from 12 to 17th until About 1851 or 52, when 13 - 14th Were Opened and the 14th Street Sewer Built but left unccoverd up to 1860. The Female Seminary
195
At the Head of Iowa St was Built in 185-53, By and through the Help of Harriett Beacher Stowe - they ocupied it as A Female Seminary for 4 or 5 Years - but it was A Failure and was Empty And going to Ruin - My Brother Jacob Succeeded Rev A Van Vliet As Pastor of the then Called Blue Church wich had been Built On its Present Site about 1857 among Brush and Trees and on The then just Opend Iowa St to 17th and A Mud St it was, and he Was also the Head of the Theological School at that time in its Infancy With a few Country Boys as Students. the Episcopal Church had Charge of the Female Seminary Building, and they Offerd it to my Brother for #10,000. he Bought it at once and in a short time He raised the Money by Public Subscription & Paid for it, and the School Ocupied it and Flourished and Bloomed into what it now is - until 1907 When they sold it and Built A Larger Finer and evry Way better one - (140) But up to 1855, neither Iowa Main or the Cross St had been Opend - The Ground from the Seminary down to 15th St was As high as where that Building now Stands and East of Iowa St down to the Foot of nearly Clay St it was all so thick With Young Trees (& Under Brush) that us Boys used to Climb up on them near 17th St (now) and by Bending them Over from one to the other so go clear down to 15th St. I Remember One day Young Gobel (now a Dentist) fell From the Tree and Broke his Wrist. The City Cemetary Ocupied the Ground from 15th to within one Lott of 17th But all the Bodies had been Removed in 1852 way Out (then) in the Country What is now Beautifull Linwood. My Father helped dig up the Bodies - I often sat and watched Them. Main St was
196
Opend in 1855 - but was not Graded Or any Side Walks laid for Several Years - it was an Allmost impassible Mud hole from 14th to 17th On Iowa St between 14th 15th from St to Alley - A Mr Richard Plum Lived. his House was Frame Cottage Style and quite Pretty The Ground was laid out as An Orchard. they had to Sons - His Brother Lived with him and Committed Suiscide there Some time Early in the Fifties. that Kept us Boys out of His Orchard - we feard his Spook. on the North Cor of his Property about Cor 15th Lived An Irish Family by the Name of Foy - it was an Old Log House. thier Son Tom was my Chum. On the Cor of 14th & Iowa (West Side) The First St Patrick Catholic Church was Built in 1852 or 53. it was A large Frame Structure. above the Church on 14th St (North Side) Pat Nortons Rowe of Frame Shacks were Built, 7 or 8 of them reaching up to Main St My Friends the Fullers Lived in one of the Best - Above 14th St to White St up to 1855 there were very few Buildings I Can Remember only a very few, One - a One Story Frame Where now the Chris Junck Store stands, the Tinkham Boys Bill Joe and John Kept Bachlors Hall in. as Joe was my Circus Tutor I spent lots of time there, the other was A Log Hous on a little Knoll Cor 18th & Clay - the Widow Guilford with her 2 Boys Lived there William & Thomas - Tom died long ago quite Young. William Still Lives (July 1909) He is Known as Bill Guilford - Squire of Center Grove - Three or Four Blocks above that on the East Side of what Was then Called the Plank Road from 18th St about 1« Mile out, A Mr John Steiner (Father of Mrs L Zust & Mrs Geo Rath Sr) (141) Had located about the same time we Arived in
197
Dubuque 1846 He Bought Several Acres of Ground (Land there was very Cheap Being then Low and Swampy) He Built two Houses (one A A Frame and next to it A Two Story Brick wich he intended To Use as A Beer Brewery, but befor he got it Equipped And ready - he Died of the Cholera - I will here speak of that Terrible Disease wich Visited Dubuque evry Summer from 1849 To 1857. it became so bad that People were afraid to go to Bed Nights. Hundreds died evry Summer from it - my Father took it One Night in 1852 or 53 - He is one of the ***Very***[underlined] few that ever Recovered from it. the Doctors did not understand and Know How to handle it - And Sanitary Conditions were very bad We had neither Sewerage or Water Work, only Wells & Citesens They were fearfull Months evry Summer, - above Steiners on that Side 3 or 4 Blocks up, A Mr Rose (Father of Henry Rose Kept a Tavern and of cource a Grogery with it. beyond that on That Side I cant Remember A Sigle Building for Miles out. And on the East Side to Lake Peosta it was Swamp Land and Corn Fields - The Steiners after the Old Man died Planted thier Ground with Small Garden Truck and evry Morning Pushed thier Truck of 2 Wheels full of Tomatoes Cabbage And such stuff to the Market - all Barefoot - evry day Early & And late in Spring and Fall - Through Mud - Snow & Slush - John was yet to Young so the 4 Girls did it until the Boom Of 1854 & 55 struck the Town. they then Surveyed the Place into 50 foot Lots and Sold them for a Fortune - that is the Basis of the Steiner-Rath Fortunes. on the West side above 18th there were few Houses - A M Hartman Buillt a Stone House as A Cabinet Shop near 19th above that was a 2 Story Frame
198
Dwelling - the fine Brick Dwelling of the Late John Linnchan - was Built some Years After by Charley Mix. above that was Hubs Brewing a Small affair up to 1860, on the North West Corner of what is now Eagle Point Ave there was A Noted Resort 2 or 3 Acres of Ground Full of Shade Trees, Beer Tables and Beer Summer Houses, with Bowling Alleys Swings and all sorts of devices to get Money. it Was Called the Tevoli Garden, Open evry day & Sunday And all Night - Thousands spent thier Sundays and Weeks Wages there it was finaly Closed about 1860. People were Building Homes around there and it became to great A Nuisance - John Krayor Some Years after tried to Run A Beer Garden near there, but it failded - as it shows (142) I have forgotten one House and Family that for Years cut Quite A Figure in Dubuque Liquor Society and so of cource Politics on the Democratic Side - I refer to Adam Yager Sr And his Family - they were Early Settlers and were located On the Plank Road Cor of (now) 19th St. they Built a Brick Building of 3 Stores, as Boarding House & Saloon and for Years made Money hand over Fist. They had 2 Sons Adam and Frank - Adam Married A Miss Schaeffeur A Saloon Keepers Daughter - he was A loud Mouthed Profane Fellow But the Demorats Elected him as Alderman of the 5th Ward And he actualy was Mayor of the City for one Term - he like His Father died of Wisky - of cource it was not called that. Frank is a decent sort of A Chap - he is and has been and Allways will be A Liquor Dealer - but only Wholesale - the Two Daughters are Married. Paul Trant the Banker Married The Daughter of Adam Jr. she died a few Years ago (1909) - What is now that fine
199
Part of the City Eagle Point from Couler Creek out to the Farthest Point was up to 1857 A Sand Desert - Only Two Houses anywhere near - One Was the Log House of M Ham right under the Bluff - he is the Father of the 2 Misses Ham, Dubuques Famous or Rather Infamus Prostitutes. he Owned at that time Nearly all of that Land, but died a very Poor Man. The Other House was near the Bank of Lake Peosta and on the Road From the Ferry to Town, was A Frame House then Ocupied by Thomas McCraney One of Dubuques Earliest Settlers. He Operated or Ran A Horse Ferry from Eagle Point across the River to Sinapec Wis. besides these Two Buildings there Were no others until A Mile nearer Town and Near where now are the Milwaukee C & St. P. R.R. Shops there on the Road to Town, was A 2 Story Old Land Mark - Sam ***Elmer***[handwritten] Our one Time City Marshall - Brother in Law to Fred Wiegel - Lived and Kept a Boarding House for some Years late in the Fifties up to the Time of his Death in the Sixties. Next & below it The Buchler Famili Lived - that was all there was anywhere nearer The Conler Ave. exepting here and there A Fishermans Hut or A Huxtors Shanty up to the Plank Road - now Conler Ave - all Below what is now Jackson St up to Conler Creek and towards Lake Peosta was barn Land and what was Named Coulee Bottoms down as far as where 15th St now Ends. Hams Island Was then Coverd with Trees and Brush and was A fine Place for Hunting and Fishing. There were Walnut Butternut and Crabb Apple Trees ***(143)*** [inserted between Trees & As] As also Red Hawse and Hickrey Nut Trees. it was at that time and Up to 1857 Connected with the Main Land at its uper end - in fact Was A Pinnsula. The Lake
200
at that time was A Beautifull Sheet of Water A little over A Mile long and « to 3/4 Mile Wide - its Outlet was at or Near 15th St into the Main Slough - it was then from 10 to 15 feet in depth - in Wintor Time it was the Cities great Skating Rink and Sundays it was litterly Swarming with People on Skates. The Cannal at its upper end was Cut through About the latter part of 1857. the Idea was to make A short Cut From the Mississipi through the Cannal and down the Lake to The Warf at the Foot of 4th St. for Steamboats, but it utterly Ruined The Lake by filling it and the Cannal with Sand and no Steam Roat ever used it. the Lake was made into a Mudhole and A Frog Pond as it is today in 1909. Of cource that Ruined the Island as Well as the Lake wich was its Chief Attraction, And then and Several Years befor even, Men went over and Cut down all the Trees for Fuel, as it was Public Land nothing was done to stop it so it Soon was denuded and Shorn of its Beuty and became as it now is A barren Unsightly Island. Oh the Pity of it - it could have Been made into one of the Finest Parks and Summer Resorts in all The Land, had the People of Dubuque had any Sense - Foresight Or Enterprise. Now it is A Shame and an Eyesore to all the People. I remember One day in the Summer of either 1848 or 49, Martin Conzett a very distant Relation of ours, too me along with him On a Hunting Tripp to the Island - it was A long Tripp for me. the Day was very Warm - I was Barefooted and my feet Full of Sand Burs and very Sore, so when we got to about the Center of the Island He told me to Rest. he went on and I fell Asleep at the Foot of A large
201
Butternut Tree and did not Wake up until late in the Afternoon. There was no Martin around in Sight or Hearing - I Called Yelled and Cried for sometime but got no Answer so I Knew he had left me. I started to make my way back through The Woods and Brush and finaly reached the Mainland and The Road to Town. Eagle Point was then A Sand Dessert and Coverd with Burs. I was Barefoot and of cource it was Painfull Walking - I finaly Came to Ferry Man McCraneys House - Mrs McCraney saw me Comming along Limping and Crying about as Hard as I could. she Called me in, asked me about my trouble &c she Then Picked the Burrs from my Feet - gave me A Large Slice of Bread And Molassas and Showed be the best way Home where the Sand Burrs Were not so Think and bid my good by. I rememberd her gratefully for Years. (144) At this Time up to 1856 & 57 There were what was then Called - First and Second Island and First and Second Slough. Second Slough Extended for about 2 Miles from what is Now the Ice Harbor up to And a little byond Hams Island. the Mississipi emptied into it here makeing A deep and Rapid River. there Steamboats Came into it and down to the Outlet of 1st Slough (Ice Harbor) And then up to the Warf at 4th St. then Steamboat Owners thinking To Shortin Tripps and Economise Time the Cut through 1st Island To the 2nd Slough A 200 foot Cannal for Boats to come through - This Cannel was Allmost directly Opposite the Warf on 4th St This Rout was then used up to the time Time of the Harbor ***Impr'mt***[mt handwritten] Companies began filling up the Sloughs and Making Roads out to The Mississipi in the Boom Times from 1856 to 1858. The First Slough was Nearly A
202
Lake quite 3/4 Mile Wide and extended (From 8th to 1st Street) to its Out let at the Harbor - Boats Coming Up River came in and up this Way. there was very little Current in this River or Slough as we called - it was fed by a Narrow - Small Cannal from Lake Peosta, and was perhaps 1/2 Mile long its Site or Bed was a little not more then one hundred feet from Where the C.G.W.R.R. Depot now is. This Slough from my earliest Recolection was our Swimming Place and we had No Bathing Suits, in them days and but One Police Man - Joe Swab about 5 foot Tall and Broad as he was long. I wonder how many People Remember Him. Well he never tried to Interfere with us and The People On the Boats did not Care - but seemed to like to Watch us. in fact One day (in a I dare you) I ran up on the Deck and up to the Wheelhouse of the Steamer Lamertine and Dove down into the Water. they tried to Stop me. the Ladies Came up to me Naked As I was and Begged me not to do it, but I eluded them and Jumped of. after that it was a Common thing for us the More Ventursome to do. in the Wintor it was also A great and Popular Skating Place. I remember one Funny Incident. My Brother Jacob was then Working in A Grocerie Store on Main St (East Side) Between 5th & 6th St (but near 6th) One Evening when he closed up, he By some Oversight left A Barrell of Tar out on the Side Walk. Bill Davis (One of the Worst Young Men of the Town) saw it on his way down to the Slough to Skate. The Ice was fine - the Weather good - but the Night Was Dark, so when he got to the Boys on the Ice, he told them of it And proposed they go up and get it and so have A fine Bon Fire to Skate by.
203
no sooner said than done. A Crowd of them went up and Took it - Rooled it down and Set it on Fire - and it made a ***(145)***[inserted between a & Glorious] Glorious Light to Skate by, Bright enough to be seen all over Town and Geo Starr (Propietor of the Store) saw it and came down to see it. by This time Jacob had Missed the Barrell, and seeing the Light Surmised at once the Cause of it, so Meeting Mr Starr on his way down, they got the City Marshall and Constable (all the Offiers There were in them days) and a few Citizens to help - they were soon Among the Boys and Succeeded in getting about a dozen of them, The rest escaping over into the 2nd Slough and up to Lake Peosta. The others were Marced up to the Jail - A Two Story Log Building That had to be proped up to Keep it from Tumbling down. the Lower Floor was Used for Criminals of the Worst Kinds - Murderors Horse Thieves &c the 2nd Floor for the lesser Kind. well they were Locked up on the 2nd Floor - Next day Tried and the Three orFour Ring Leaders Fined pretty Heavy. Amongst the Crowd were Bill and Jack Davis - Tom McNear - Sam Upton and one or Two of the Mobley Boys - Thise with 5 or 6 others were the Toughfs and the Rowdies of the Town for Years - Well I for once was not in this Scrape - Just why I cant Remember, but not to be in it - was to be Out of my Element - and I remember feeling bad over it. The Islands here Noted 1st and 2nd - First Island extend as far as what is now 15th St. there the it end by the Small Creek, the Outlet from Lake Peosta that devided it from Hams Island And flowed into the Main Slough - it was Alsow Cut of from the Main Land by the Narrow Cannel that flowed into Main
204
Slough. This Island was inturly Barren of Trees or Brush as far back As I can Remember. The 2nd Islanld was much longer it Extended from the Harbor as far as Hams Island, and there Steam Boats entered and Came dow the 2nd Slough - This Island was thin Coverd from End to End, with Timber and Brush and furnish Fuel for the Poor for many Years. - it was Also a Paradise for Hunters. Wild Geese and Turkeys - Ducks Rabbits &c abounded - Now its is hard to believe that is was so, And can hardly be recognised even by thos that saw these Streams And Islands in from 1846 to 1856 and the Pity of it! but the Boom Of 1854 to 1858 - the Wild Exitement of those Years Ruined what might Have been. Made into River Park - Warfs - Boat Store & Manfactories for Three Miles along the Banks of the Mississipi - Hams Island and Lake Peosta into A beutifull Park and Resort, and the Two Streams Converted into unrivald Cources for Boating, and Bathing Places. But the 3 Harbor Companies then Organized - The Lower, Central and The Upper filled up those Streams and Built Roads out to the (146) Mississipi to reclaim the Land - but all they did was to Utterly ruin Streams and Islands and so be a Nuisance and An Eysore as they now are. The fine Rivers Mud Ponds the Land Made of little use or Value - the Roads to the River Now there are the only thing of any Use of all that Could and Should have been A Beuty Spot for the City forever --- The Harbor Companies here Noted failed missarably when The Panic of 1857 to 1860 set in. They all issued Paper Money and Flooded the Town with it, that it drove all other Kind of Money out - but when the Crash came it was not worth they Paper it was
205
Printed on. The Central Company was the one The Merchants Sufferd mostly from. it was A Local Concerne and Speculation and nearly all the Merchants were Stockholders and had Endorsed thier Names and Firms Names On the back of all the Bills - and they had to Redeem them at Par as long as any were outstanding even after they were Not Worth 10› on the dollar. it caused the Failure of many of The Stock Holders, Merchants - Brokers and even the Poor Laboror. I was with Sheffield and Scott in all those Years - it came very Near Causing thier Failure - and would have done So had Not the Civil War broken out in April 1861 and so Doubled Thribeld - yes, even more the Value of thier Stock of Goods - The other 2 Companies were Largly Eastern Speculations and Thier Failure was not felt so much in Dubuque - - - Jackson St was then not laid out or Graded An in all that part of Town there were few Houses. from 14 St North there was nothing but Swamp and Boggs to Peosta Below that and facing East was the Residence of an Old Settler Named - Uolte. he Owned nearly all that Block from 10th to 11th St. His House was A good 2 Story Building Set in an Orchard. Oposite was A 3 Story Brick just about Completed and Oposite That North on 11 & Jacks Was A Rowe of Small Frame Buildings Owned by A Mr Wienecke. below that to 8th & Jackson it was all Bare Land. where now the Iowa Iron Works are was in from - 146 to 1850 A Tannery - here A White Man Murderd an Indian in 1837 And was Hanged for it on A (then and up to - 154) An Indian Mound Where now the Jefferson House stands, below that at foot of 7th
206
St Was A Saw Mill and Lumber Yard Owned by Genl Booth - it Fronted on the 1st Slough - upper end. Back of this was the Hay Press. This part of the Town was a favorite Play Ground for us Boys - And above that up to the Coulee we Speared Frogs for Bait & Leggs to Eat. (147) On White St foot of 4th and up to Clay there were Brick and Stone Bldgs Used as Boat Stores &c - Where Pages Hotel now is Located on 4th St There was A 2 Story Brick used as A Hotel by Mr Farnsworth I think it was his Oldest Son that was Killed at Gettysburg in A Cavalry Charge - White St to #8th had very few Buildings - on the East side up to 8th there were only Lumber Yards. on the west Side from 5th to 9th were 2 or 3. One bet 5th & 6th A Brick that is Still there and Right next to it A 2 Story Brick in wich Lived A very Old German by the Name of Mertz with Wife - One Son Ed and 2 Daughters. for Years Ed and me were Chums - we Both still Live - but some way got Estranged. The Oldest Daughter Married Ernes Young - Who some time in the Seventies became County Sherriff and died in Office. the Youngest married Peter Marugg He was Sister Mary-s God Father. same Side of the St between 6 & 7th There was A double 2 Story Brick (now Sits high up and in Ruin) Above that from 7th to 8th was all Vacant Land exepting a Small Frame House on Cor of 8th & still there. Ond East sid of White From 4th to 8 there were only 2 Houses - on Cor 7th a 2 Story 2 Tenement (or Store Rooms) still there. A Ruin and Eye Sore - right Back of it on 7th St was A 2 Story Frame also still there. on the Block now Ocupied by the Large Plant of Farlay Loetcher and Co. There was nothing but Vacant Land down even to the River
207
exepting On the Corner of 8th where stood a 2 Story double Brick House Owned by An Old Settler Mr Schields Wife and 2 Sons and One Daughter. the Oldest Son Tom - was A Scapgrace and passed from Sight and Hearing Years Ago - The Younger Know to us Boys as Bud - is A Lawyer still Living in Dubuque - Hes is a Good Lawyer And would be better still if he let Liquor alone. in the part of that House North end, Lived the Rev Peter Fleurey - A Missionary there. he Was A Swiss by Birth, but sent out by some London Society - his Wife was an Eglishwoman she spoke no German - My Folks Knew Him Well in the Old Country and he took us into his House for a the first day or two after our Arival in Dubuque. He it was that Organized the Congregation now Know as 1st German Presbeterian and Built the One & 1/2 Story Brick Curch on the South West Cor of the Alley On 9th St between Main & Iowa. Our Folk were of the first few Members - this was latter part of 1848. Among the Members then were Peter ***Kimie?*** And Wife - V ***Herrancourt***[both handwritten] & Wife and Several other prominent German Families. these all left whent Mr Fleurey left us in 149 or 150. they did no like our other Ministers, espeicaly Rev A Van Vliet who came to us late in 1850. but under him the Church flourished and Built up fast (148) On the Nor E. Cor of the St (White St) the Germans Catholics Built A Church of Stone - now and for Some Years used as A Mattrass Factory. on the same Side up to the Cor of 10th St there were Only one or two Small Buildings - on the Cor there was and Still (stood in 1890) A 2 Story Brick - Owned by Mr Nolte and For Year Ocupied as A Residence and Office, Dr ***Ristatch***[ch handwritten] An Old German Docter - Now Dead. on the West Side of White St from 8th to 10th there were then only one
208
or two Buildings - One A 2 Story Brick Risidence and one or Two Frame Schacks - from 10th 11th West Side I can only Remember 2 Buildings of this date (1848 to 55) A 2 Story Brick near Cor 11th still Standing - and A Frame House Setting farther back of the St. (the Stone Building on Cor 11th Was Built some time in the Sixties) one East side Same St The Cor of 10th was A Lumber Yard, next A Small Frame in later Years Owned and the Risidence of A Gehrig (the Tailor) The Father of D A Gehrig one Time County Treasurer and Deputy Sherriff - now A Banker in Dyersville Iowa, next A double Frame Residence, next to the A double Brick Owned by A Zelous German Methodist by Name of Grim. On West Side from 11th to 12 there were No Buildings the Ground no Occupied as A High School - (Built for A Turner Hall) Was then An Open Play Ground - beteen 12th & 13th were Two Frame Buildings, the one Occupied by A Harness Maker, whose Daughter Jennie Spelled me down in A Spelling Contest in The Little One Story 3rd Ward Public School one day in 1854. The Cor Frame Building was the Residence of the Simplot Famili in the very Early days up to 1850, later it was the Home of A French Widdow and Two Daughters one of whom became A Noted Artist (Painter of Portraits &c) she or they Still Live as also Does Alex and Charles Simplot - Oposite Side (East) there were Very few Houses from 11th to 13th Cor 11th was A Frame Building The Home for A few Years of A German Catholic Famili to Whom I carried Milk evry Morning - (we then Lived on Iowa St Between 13th & 14th and Father Kept one or two Cows) on 11th St Between White and Jackson there were a few Frame Houses and Cor 11 & Jackson
209
A 2 Story Brick used as A Boarding House by A Mr Frieburg. on the Cor (White St still) The German Lutherans Built A Frame Church A two Story Brick next to it was the Parsonage And School for the Students. this was the Beginning of the now Flourishing Wartburg Seminary now ***Located***[ocated handwritten] in or Near the City - (149) Mathias Conzett a very distant Relative (and Brother of Martin that Ran away and left me on Hams Island) and about my Age - Went to School there. He became A Student but Died very Young of Blood Poison, A disease unknow at that time and A Mysterie To the Doctors of that day. from 13th to 14th West Side there were Just 3 Buildings. Cor 13th was then (1850) the
If you have
any questions or comments, please e-mail me at
larry@conzett.org. Thank you.