RECOLLECTIONS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS
OF DUBUQUE IOWA
1846-1890
By Josiah Conzett
1841-1910
Part 2
Residence of Geo L Nightengale - A Noted Laweyer of that Time and one of the Early Mayors of the City. they had 3 Sons and One Daughter, Henry, James And A Younger one (Name forgotten) he was One of the Best Telegraph Operaters - but A great Drunkerd. he was Alive A few Years ago in 1890 - Henry Enlisted in the Navy during the Civil War - the Last I rember of him - was where he asked me if I had any Whisky - this was One Morning in July on the Ill C R.R. between Galena and Dubuque, while one my Home way on Furlough in 1865 - he had been Discharged and on his Way Home. he became An Outcast and now fills A Drunkards Grave. James the Next one Was A fine Young Man - he was for Many Years the Private Secretary of Senator W B Allison - He Died some time in the Eighties leaving A Widow and One or Two Children. The Daughter (Married) is the only Surviving Member of the Family. The Wife and Mother died at A great Age (over 90 Years) only A few Months ago (in 1908) The House North of Nightingales was
210
An Old Log House - the Home of An Old Irish Widdow And one Grown up Son - both passed away long ago. The Cor Of 14th St was Owned by Jude Wilts, and Old Time Lawyer. He Built The (then) fine Brick Residince there in the Early Fifties and Lived There the rest of his Live duing A Year or so After the War. His Widow Survived him many Years. thier Only Child A Son James I think Still Lives. the East Side of the St was nearly all Vacant Land - near the Cor of 13th was A Small Brick House in the Basement of wich the Beuttell Famili Lived for Several Years. The East side of White Was all Owned from 14th to 16th St by Edward Langworthy He and His Two Brothers, Lucius and Solon Langworthy were of the Earliest Settler of Dubuque - some time in from 1820 to 1830 - then U S Territory Only A few Years, and only an Indian Village - the Lead Mines were Very Rich, but all Mining was Forbidded, A small Detachment of U.S. Soldiers under Leiut Jeff Davis was here to gaurd against intruders Genl Zach Taylor at Fort Prarie Duchien a Frontier Millitary Post Was in Command of the Territory. Here it was that Leiut Davis Eloped With Genl Taylors Daughter. He however Severved under his Father in Law in The Mexican War, and Was President of the Southern Confederacy from 1861 to 1865 (150) As stated Edward Langworthy Owned all the Land from 14th to 16 East side on White St. One the Cor of 14th he Built his Home, A two Story Red Brick. the rest up to 16th St was A fine Orchard in Wich Appels Cherries Watermellons and other small Fruits and Berries Were Raised - in Spite of the 8 foot Fence all around the Place us Boys used to get in and get away with our Pockets filled on Several Ocasions some of the Boys came to
211
Grieff. they were Treed or Caught in the Trees and Held there by 2 Savage Bull Dogs until The Hired Men Came up - and they were Soundly Punished. I was Allways to Spry to be Caught. Mr L and Wife were fine People and at that Time Good Members of the Congregational Church and one Of the Churches Main Support. They had only Two Children, A Son Reeder about my Age - A very fine Quiet Young Man - he Died in 1909 leaving a Widow and I think Two Children - The Daughter Fanny was A Handsome and Ladylike Woman. she Was never Married and Died soe Year in the Seventies I think. On The West Side from 14th 16th there were A few Frame Buildings, Homes of the Poorer Class of People and there up to what now is 17th Not then yet Graded was Vacant Land and the end of White St. on The East Side of the St Cor 16th and up to 17th was Owned by Judge T. S. Wilson one of Dubuques very Early Settlers and A Territorial Judge and Lawyer. He was at that time Quite Wealthy and Noted as A good Lawyer until in latter Years Liquor got The upper Hand - he Lost all his Money and degenerated into A Shyster Lawyer - He died A very Old Man late in the Eighties His only Child A Daughter died a few Years befor him of A Broken Heart - she felt her Fathers disgrace Keenly, she was A Fine Young Lady - Respected but Pittied by A that ever Knew her. St Marys German Catholic Church and School now Stands On the North E End of his one time fine Property. his Home A fine Brick Risidence stood (and I think in 1890 still stands) On the Cor of 16th St. As befor stated in these Pages. befor and to where Eagle Point Ave Now is there was only Low Swamp Land and One or Two Cornfields
212
down to Coulee Creek and Lake Peosta. This was Our Hunting Ground for Snipe - - Now Takeing in Clay St From its begining on 3rd St to its End (then as now) on 18th St Starting at the Foot where now M C & St P. Depot is, we find at its very begining on the Flat, the 2 Story Brick Home of an Old and Garalous French Man by the Name of Guerin he ***Preempted***[eempted handwritten] the ***(151)***[inserted between the & Few] Few Lots at an Early day and Lived there up to the Time of the Civil War. He had one Son and Daughter. they are probably Yet Living. He it was that Saved Chas Hawthorns Life by Sucking the Clotted Blood from Nose and Throat on the Ferry Ocean Wave where A Hors Kicked him in the Face. now Takeing the West Side of the St from there up to 6th there were On the Cor of 4th North A Two Story Brick House Ocupied as A Boarding House and Saloon by A German, Mr Birkel - The Old House is Still there 1890 and still A Saloon in part. His Son John was A Member of My Company in the 5th Iowa. Right next to it was A Two Story Frame where Lived A Negro Familie by Name of Aron. The Man was Very Large allmost A Giant with the Strength of An Ox. He was A Dray Man his Wife Was A Coal Black Negress. They had One Son Bob - he Was one of our Play Mates. we made no distinction of Color in Them days. For many Years he was A Barber and had A Good run of Buisness. I dont Know what since became of him - Up to 5th St from there where the Strobel Packing House was Built Late in the Fifties the Ground was Vacant, but right back of it on The Alley Lived an Old German Famili by Name of Schlagel. They had on Son about 40 Years Old only about half Witted - and
213
One Young Woman A Niece, about as bad - The Son wanted to Marry the Woman and the Old Folks wanted it too, but the Girl Balked and in A Year or so after much Fuss - Wrangling and Tears she Finaly Married Mr Strobel. he was the Founder of The Strobel and Rath Packing Co. it is yet in Existence as the Strobel Packing Co. Operated by his Sons - The Old Folk have now Passed away. On the Corner and up to the Alley on 5th St were Several Fame Buildings. in One of them Lived A German by Name of Dickerman. he Clerked with Barney Scott and Co. for A Year or so - Joined the Blue Church and wanted to be A Deacon, but Liquor got the best of him so he was Discharged Above 5th same Side Were only Two Buildings the Corner Was Vacant. The first was A 3 Tenement 2 Story Building Quite fine for the Time. the South part was A Private Boarding Place Kept by Two Genteel Old Maids Named Eggelsten. My Friend J C Anderson Bookeeper for Sheffield and Scott but since 1859 A Resident of Denver Col. he for some Time Boarded here, and I Took a Number of Meels with him. the Cor 16th St) was used as As A German School by A Swiss, A very Learned Old Man I attend The School for Several Months and until he died sometime in the Fifties. (152) On the East of Clay St between 5th and 6th there were 5 or 6 Houses - Near the Cor of 5th An Old German and his Famili consisting Of Wife - 2 or 3 Girls and One Boy Christian Lived in A Brick House. Chris and me were Playmates from Early Boyhood - He in his later Years had A Saloon on the Levee - he died Some time in the Eighties. The intire Famili has passed away. Right back of them on 5th St A German Famili Lived in A Brick
214
House. They Were related to the Weimrel Famile above Noted. next above the Jefferson House No. 2, was Built in the Eary Fifties, One or Two Frame Residences wer next and on The Cor 6th was A Two Story Brick House, still there in 1890. Now the Block betwen 6th & 7th St. was fairly Well Built up. On the Cor of 6th was A Two Story Brick - allways used a A Store and Saloon and up to 1890 is still the Same. the Next was A Frame - long since gone - Where now the 2 Story Brick Saloon And Boarding House now is - and for Years the Home and Saloon &c Of A Mr Stoltz - was then the Tailor Shop and Residence of Tailor Appli. One the Corner of 7th was A Large Two Story Frame Bldg Mr Pfotzer one of the Earliest Settlers Lived here - he used it as A Saloon and Boarding House and for Years up to or near 1858 it was rather A Disreputable Place. they had 2 Sons, Henry and Edward. Henry was One of my Company "E" 5th Iowa Cavalry But was disharged in 1862, fully discribed in my Memoirs) Edwd Joined the Company in 1864 and Served to the end of the War He was A Poor Soldier and A Drunkard and was the same up to 1890 and will be so to the Ed. he is the only Surviver of the Famili. On 6th St right back of the Corner there was and Still is A Two Story Brick Residence (on they Alley) here then (1851 to 55) in one part Lived the Bloecklinger Famili. They had 3 or 4 Boys - the Oldest is Now An Admiral in the U S Navy - He allway wanted to Play But we did not like him - We called him Snotty Nose Block. But he has got ahead of us all. The Next Son is now Major Blocklinger ( A Millitin Major) and Cashier of A Bank. the Youngest is A Doctor (Albert) The Old Man died some Years ago. the Rest
215
are still Living - even the Old Lady (this in 1909) - on the East side Cor 6th Lived a Swiss Family - Father Mother A Brother (Peter) And A Son, in A small Neat Frame House. The Father and Brother Were Well Known all over Town as Wood Sawyers and Latter Years As Millk Men. the Carried thier Milk in Lare Cans strapped on Thier Backs - Winter and Summer in Rain or Shine Snow and Storm they Served thier Customers evry Morning, and Allways had A Pipe in the Mouth. (153) Thier Son Matt I got into the Store (Sheffield & Scott) in 1858 to take my Place As Errand Boy, I being now Promoted to A full Clerkship. when we Were Home on Vet Furlough in 1864, He was Wild to Elist and and go back With us, but as he was an Only Child of his now Old Parents I talked Him out of it, but in the Call for 100 day Men in the Fall of 1864 - He Elisted in the 46 Iowa - they were stationed at Memphis Tenn One Evening Coming back from A Foraging Tripp - the Picket Gaurd Failing to Hear him give the Counter Sign and not Recognizing him Shot him in the Upper part of the Leg - he was taken to the Hospital And through Brutal Neglect of Doctors and Nurses - they Amputated His Legg Twice. he died under the Second Operation. his Grieff Stricken Parents went nearly Crazy - his Poor Old Mother - Bedridden For some Years died Shortly after. his Father took it so hard he about lost his Mind - got under the influence of A Saloon Keeper Nearby and in A short Time his Money and Property was gone And the Poor Old Main Died allmost A Pauper 2 or 3 Years after The Close of the War. - Next above them A Old and Lame Swiss Man by the Name of Vonashen lived and Kept A Boarding House - The Famili
216
Consisted of Himself Wife - Two Daughter and One about 30 Year Old Idiotic Son. he Poor fellow was the Sport of the bad Boys of the Town and Outlived his Parents some Years. the Daughters Both Married - the Youngest Anna though Older - allways claimed Me as her Sweet Heart - and when we attended the Same School Allways took my Part in any Trouble. Her Husband Committed Suicide - I think they have all passed away. next to them and then On quite high Ground not yet graded to Street Level (it looked Like a House on Stilts) Live the Goverment Surveyer and Land Commissioner, by Name of Corriell - they were Southern People of the F F V Kind - they Removed from Town befor the War came on. Next to that was the Brick Building Known as the Harmony Hall - Kept then by Peter Kinne Sr. they are so Well Know to People of the Present day that further talk or Comment is unnecessary. - Right back of that on the Alley & Faceing 7th St was and Still (is in now 1890) A Two Story Brick Built Owned and the Residence of Mr Mangold - and Early Settler, and Wealthy German Politician long since passed away - The next Block above on East Side was from very Days the Site of The Old Red Brick Court House so long Years A familliar Nuisience - and the Old Two Story Log Jail - then in 1855 A Ruin but Still in use up to 1856 - when the Present Jail was Built. on the Ally oposite Faceing 7th was the Two Story Brick Residence of Mr Mihl - Father of Chas And Mrs Beltz. The Old Folks passed awy sometime in the Eighties. (154) On the Oposite Side of the (Clay) St- the South Corner was A long One Story Frame Saloon of A Mr Luck - a Notorious place even up to 1853. He and his Famili of Wife
217
and Two Sons - John and George Resided in A Two Story Brick right next to it. the Old Man Died befor the Civil War. John was A Doctor in the Navy I think he still Lives - but as A Doctor he dont Amount to mud - George Enlisted as A Soldier in the 16th Iowa, Severd Honerably Throughout the War - He was A Boss Plasterer and A good Fellow. He died some time in the Ninties leaving A Widdow (Nee Miss Harris) And One Son. Thier place since 1856-57 - is now (1890) The John Pier Store Saloon and Risidence. The Brick House and Store next Was Built about same time as the Piers - by Mr Mangold and was The Saloon and Residence of Mr Berg. Here Chas Schrieber was A Bar Tender up to 1856 - when he latter went to john McClay Then on Main St. He in a few Years after Married one of the Xavier Girls who was then quite Wealthy - Her Money enabled him To Buy an intrest in the Buisness and in A few Years after in Some way - hard to think strait even if Legal - he had the whole Buisness - He and the Book Keeper A Mr Conihar. but the Old Saying, The Mills of God grind Slowley but exeedingly Fine - has in Some Measure after longs Years - come true in this Case. - - Well above that was A large Frame House Bought by A Then Poor Swiss Famili by the Name of Moser. There were Three Sons John Fred and George and Four Daughters, Cathrine Elisabeth Mary and Amelia - the last two were (Half Sisters) The Boys first Went out on the Hills picking Mineral - they did well and were very Saving John soon got A Situation With F V Goodrich and Co. A Genl Store in The then New Globe Building Main and 5th. he was A good Clerk Soon became Popular with the Ger-
218
man Trade in 1856. He left the Store and Opend A Small Grocerie Store in the Home on Clay St To make the Story short - by Thrift and Economy he acumaled quite A Fortune - he Married Caroline Moser in 1857 - He still Lives and Saves his Money (1890) Fred at an Early day got a Position with the Bissell Brrs Cor Main & 11th. by Faithfull attendence to Buissness He beame a Partner, and then Sole Propeator of the Buisness and Building - but Through Minning and Speculation he has lost the most of it. He Married A Niece of Judge Burt in 1859 or 60. They and Several Children still Live at Cor 11th & Main. George was A Mineral Picker and Wood Sawyer with his Father for several Years. he finaly go in The same Store that his Bro John was as an Errand Boy - I took his place in Sept 1855. we both Worked there until we Elisted I in 1861, He in 1862 (155 inserted between 1862 & He) He rose to be A 2nd Leiut of his Company - after the War he Married Sophia Weigel shortly after the War - she Died in Child Birth in Two or Three Years After that. He Married again and Died in 19 The Oldest Daughter Cathrine was Married to my Brother Otto in May 1861. the Next one Elisabeth Married John Rath in the Fall of 1865. Mary Married Geo W Healey in 1866 Amelia Married A Gambler - Known Rogue. - - - - The Corner 8th (SW) was the Two Story Brick Residince of Mr Krishbaum - A Well to do German and Old Settler. he Adopted Chrtina the Youngest Daughter of Old Man Zanuck after his Death in the Early Fifties. She Married A desreputable Quack andd Abortion Doctor - after his Death, she Married one of the Ferris Boys. The Block betwn 8th & 9th West Side was all Vacant up
219
to about 1857. The Baptists Church a Frame Building was Here befor that about Center of the Block (now Buittell Bros Bldg) This was in 1852 to 53. The Austin Adams Academy, I attend This School for A Term or two John W Heathirngton was one of My School Mates, Mr Adams was later Years A Lawyer and The last Years of his Life, Judge of the Supreme Court of Iowa. No other Buildings were then in this Block, Lumber Yards filled Up the empty spaces. the Block oposit - on Cor 8th was an Old Frame and one or two other small Buildings were on it. that was all up to /57 The Block abov betwn 9th & 10th West, There was on Cor 9th one Two Story Building - Center - A double Two Story Brick nothing else - O 9th St East between White & Clay - was the Two Story Frame Bldg And Home Of Mr Zollikofer - One of the Oldest Settlers - thier Son Jacob still Lives there. They had been Farmers in Peru and Zollikofer Lake in Named after them. The Block Oposite (West) Had then One Building on it. A double Two Story Brick On the Cor of 10th St. (and in 1890 still there) Here Lived A Mr Sargent - in his day Popular & Well to do - they had on Son, Epp - Latter on Dr*** Minyer(?)***(handwritten)Sr. lived there. The Block West side Bet 10th and 11th Cor 10 was A Frame Building. the Mitton Famili after Thier Misfortune Lived here for some time - next to it was also an Old Frame Building (Rev) Chas Skemp Lived here in 1869 - the Two Story 3 Tenement Brick above, was Built about 1856 or 57 - On the Cor was the 1 1/2 Frame Residence of Mr Koch - A Watch Maker by Proffession, Highly Educated, and Agnostic and Bitter Enemy of all Religion. His Wife was A Midwife - they had Two Sons
220
and Two Daughters, Adam - the Oldest became quite A Politician Frank was a Druggist, he Committed Suicide at Cedar Falls in the Seventies (156) The Oldest Daughter Married Peter Steckline in 1858 - he was then A Clerk in Sheffield and Scott's. he was Discharged for Stealing Goods - I detected him in it. They at that time Lived in the Frame Building S.E. Cor 7th & Clay St. The Block Oposite between 10th & 11th had only two or Three Houses - Some time in 1857 or 58 - on the Cor on 10th was Built the Two Story Frame (still there in 1890) all was A Boarding House - its first Ocupant and Land Lord, was I think the late Mike Schinck. (Father of Major Schinck) - above it was A Frame House - one time about 1853, the Home of Wm Rudolf - Nex back in the Yard A Frame House - in the Fron Yard Of wich was A fine Flower Garden. the Corner was Vacant - On same Side of St (East) the Block above had but one House A two Story Brick 2 Tenements, wich was the Property of and Home of Franklin Hines, Hardware Merchant (Wesphal & Hines) They had two Daughters and one Adpted Son who has disapeared The Youngest Daughter Emma then the Handsomest Girl in the Old 3rd Ward School - Was A School Mate of mine she Married A Young Man A Lawyer - but a Failure - they are Now Living in St Paul - He is A Traveling Man and now doing Well - The Buildings South in this Block were Built after the War some Time in the Sixties - one of them by Mr Luke of Wood Luke and Co. And one by A Col West. the Ground clear up to 13th St was up to 1857 all empty Space, on this East Side of the St and used As A Play Ground. The Circus Tents were here allways put up - The
221
West Side up to 12th St had but two Buildings on it at that time The first from 11th St. was A double two Story Frame (still there 1890) The next - the Old 3rd Ward Public School - in early ds and up To 1853 or 54, A one Story - double Brick Building - This was the First Public School I attended - this gave way to the Present Building in 1857. Here Proffessor *** Kretehmer***(handwritten) first became A Public School Teacher And in this Building I went to School A Term or two in 1855. this Building was Erected by Achetect Rague as well as all the Rest of these Schools. The Building Oposite now used as A High School, was Built in the late Sixties by the Turners. Now the Block on West Side from 12th to 13th St. had Only two Buildings on it. on the Cor of 12th was A two Story Brick House, One Side in wich Lived the Brown Famili, Charly the Son - my Chum. The other part Lived an Old German Couple - with one Son & Daughter Thier Name was Eidenmidler. next to it above was the One Story Brick Residence of P W Crawfor. His Wife was the Daughter of Geo ***Connell(?)*** [handwritten] Crawford is one of the Oldest of Dubuques Lawers now, and A Statesman & Soldier (157) This Block just discribed is now Built up since the late Siventies, by Raths Packing Plant And Brick Stores. The Land above and up to 13th St was up to 1857 - A Sort of Public Square and Play Ground for us Boys - from Clay to Iowa, in about the Center was A Public Well - and it was Fine Water. many A Bucketfull did I draw from it in theSix Years that we Lived Near there on Iowa St. between 13th & 14th. This is now Since 1857 the Site Of the City Hall and the Farmers and Hucksters Market Ground - - -
222
All the Buildings now on Clay St up to 13th have been Built since the Early Sixties and up to the Early Seventies. The Block above East On Clay betwen 13th & 14th was All owned by Mr Mathews and Famili of Wife One Son and two Daughtors. The Lived in a Neete Cottage about in the Center. this Property extended from Clay St to the Alley - and from 13th to 14th St. it was allmost all in An Orchard. Apples Plums Cherries & Small Fruit. Mr M. as I remember him, was A fine looking Large Portly Man - he was A Master Plasterer and Contracter. he died in the Early Fifties - his Widdow Survived him up into the Seventies. The Son Albert was one Of my intimate Friends and Comrade in Co. E" 5th Iowa Cavlry. He never did any Work. he contracted the Consumption in the War, And Died of it in 1868. The Oldest Daughter Married Mr Olliver The Marble Cutter, and the Youngst Married Chas Marble - They all now Live in Chicago. the fine Block now on that Site was Built up Since the Civil War. The Block on the West Side - from 13th to 14th was up to 1850 inturly bare of any Buildings, exepting Only the Residence a two Story Brick near Cor of 13th who then Owned the intire Block. Mr Connell was by Trade A Carpentor - But so badly afflicted with the Palsey he was unable to work and Died A Year or two befor the Civil War. His Famili consisted of Wife (a ***garruels***[handwritten] Miserly Old Woman) Four Sons, John George Drayton and Taylor, Three Daughters, the Oldest the Wife of P W Cranford - the other died in Early Womanhood. John was one of the worst Boys of the Town and the rest were little Better. Geo Worked on the Steam Boat Doctor Franklin No. 2, fell Over-
223
bord and was drowned in Early Sixties. Drayton died shortly after the War, and Taylor Committed Suicide in a Restaurant in Dubuque - The Youngest Daughter Mrs and John are the only Survivers. the intire Block above his House H Leased to A Mr Chas Lubck some time in 1851 or two. this Man was A Mysterie to all - where he Came from or what he was or did befor he came Here no one ever Knew - He would never talk about himself - he was A Wicked Old fellow. we found he had been in Africa for some time He seemed to have plenty Money, and he was not Miserly with it. (158) He Married the Oldest Daughter of Old Man Zanuck (no Mrs Thompson) And in /51 or /52 Built A Two Story Log & Frame Building - the upper Floor was his Residence - the Rest A Grocerie and Liquor Store - here For Severall Years he Kept and Supported Old Mrs Zanuck and Severall of her Children, Lutz the Son - Clerked for him in the Store Robbed him Shamefully - He Treated the Boy with Cigars And Spent Money on them Sundays without Stint. John Connel Was his Ruin - him he Kept in Mony &c and even Bought A Watch For him - Well the Old fellow died and that ended that Spree But befor he died he Built A Row of 8 or 9 Small One Story Frame Shacks of only 2 Rooms - and even these Miserable Hovel were readly Rented. the were Built on the Ground Now Ocupied by that fine 3 Story (Bell Block) on 13th St up to Iowa some Time in o/55 to o/57 the Connels Built the Frame Buildings up to the Alley. Mr Mack A Gun Smith Built the Two Story Brick Rowe of Stores, one he for Several Years ocupied himself the rest were Rented to other Parties the one near the
224
Cor Iowa St was the Grocerie Store of Saddler and Corrance up To the Seventies. Here Mae the Wife of our Son John was Born. On 14th St on either side were but one small Brick Buildg on the Ally South Side - North side of St all the Buildings now There have been Built Since 1856 to o/60 this part was up To 1852 the Home and Orchard of Richard Plum & Famili - The Block West Side ***fr.***[handwritten] 14th to 15th (Still Clay St) was not well Built up until after the War - up to 1857 there were only Three Buildgs There - all Brick - and Two Story Bldgs and fine Risidences, in one of wich Lived Lawyer Hand, whose Daughter Nellie a very Handsome Girl was the Sweet Heart of All the Boys. The Block oposite 14 to 15 - had as I now can Recolect only one or two Buildings on it from o/50 to o/57 - About the Center was A Frame Residence where Mr Kretchmer had A Private German School and while here He Married A Miss Fengler - Daughter of An Eccentric and Skepticall Old German said to haveen A Priest of Preacher in Europe - He and his Famili were very Early Settlers of Eagle Point, on the or Very Near Cor 15th was A 1 1/2 Story Brick House - on 14th or 15th St Up to 1853/54 there were No Buildings from Clay to White St. The Block East Side between 15th and 16th was only Ocupied at that Time by two Buildings - near Cor 15th by A Frame Dwelling and all the Rest up to (now 16th St then not Open or Graded) was the Frame Dwelling of Mr Carter. they had one Son and Daughter. they Sold out early in (159) The Sixties and Went West from there to Montanna. the Son Tom was U. S. Senator for one Term from there. the Block from 16 to 17th East side was inturly Bare not A Building on it
225
up to 1858. the Block West Side, from 15th to 16th was Bare - the Weeds & Brush From (the now Iowa St) Hill Side coverd the Ground nearly up to The St. West Side between 16th & 17th were only One or Two Small Frame Houses or Schacks, One of wich was once the Upper Deck of A Steam Boat and in wich Lived the Three Tinkham Boys - on Clay bet 17th & 18 - was only the German Methodist Church And behind that Facing the Seminary was A 2 Tenement Brick House - in One of wich Lived the Byran Famili as Far back as 1852 o/53. The Daughter Laura is the Wife of Mr Chamberlin the Cigar Dealer late of Dubuque - this is very Near as that part of Dubuque was and looked like from Lake Peorsta - the Missippi River to Iowa St from there down To 16th St and from that to 1st St - Embracing ***Couler***[handwritten] Ave to Eagle Point Ave - and (The (then Flats up to Iowa St and down to its Foot. But not including Iowa St. I have in these Pages discribed Iowa St - the Cemetary and The Seminary and its Sorunding Buildings so Will only say that the Three Buildings West of Seminary were Built After 17th St had been graded sometime in the Early Sixties - The one Head of Main St (now the Stampfer Home) By Mr Root the Photographer was the first One. Mr Oliver the Marble Cutter Risided in one of the Others and A Mr Woodward & Family in The other one. - The Cemetary extended down to and over 15th St. And the Main Entrance to it, was about where St Patricks Now stands. it Remaind in its Original State with its fine Grove Of Large Trees up to the Early Sixties, Only the Bodies or Corpses Had been Removed in 1852 or 53 to the New Cemetary
226
(Lienwood) it was Then Leveld and Made into A Park (Jackson) as it now in 1890 is - it Woudl have been A more Attractive and Beautifull had it been left in The Orginal Condition, A Mound full of Large Stately Trees and improve With Drives, Walks - Fountains, Flower Beds &c&c. - - - Now starting at 14th and Iowa - West sid - on the Corner was A Frame House, and all that Space where (since 1867) the two Story Thedinga a Brick Block now stands was A Nast Mud Bog - A veritable Hog Wallow of Knee Deep Mud and Filth in the House Lived A Batchler and his Maiden Sister by Name of Simeon. They were fit People for the place - about as Filthy as the place they Lived on. they had Few Friends or Visitors - On the 1/2 Lot below Andrew Hoerner and Famili Lived in A Frame House (160) Since 1849. later on he Built A Two Frame in front of it & to the Street His Son Geo A (Called Andy the Letter Carrier) Conducted A Grocerie Store on the First Floor for Several Years in the Seventies Mrs Hoerner was A Mary Conzet our distant Relative. they were Married in 1848 - at our House on Main St. the (her) Famili Had been Living with us and the Mother died there about That time. Back of his House on the Ally was A Frame House. The Rev John Bantly and Famili Lived there for A Year or so. The next 1/2 Lot was where stood the Humbl One Story Frame House of My Parents - we had only 3 Rooms for the Famili of Seven Father, Mother, Four Boys and One then Baby Girl, but as the 3 Older Boys were now Working and two of them Slept where they Were Employed we got along quite Comfortably - and it was Home Sweet Home to us from 1849 to late 1855, when in 1855 Father
227
Sold the Place to Bissell Bros. for #2800oo (He Bought it in 1849 for #160oo) and Received in Cash and Groceries #1800oo, when in 1857 - /58, the Boom Collapsed and Rather then Pay the Ballance due and the Intrest on it they Deeded the Property back to Father - this Money enabled Father To Buy the Lot and Build the House on Almond St. at that Called the Cox Adition, where the Mamile Lived from July 1857 To Mothers Death in March 1888. This House was then one of the Three that were then there from Blake House to (now) Clark St. The Lots South of us to 13th St & from Iowa to the Alley was Below the Alley to Iowa St most allways A Frog Pond. it could All have been Bought up 1850, for #600oo my Brothers wanted to Buy it - but Father Vetoed it - On East side between 14th & 13th St There were then and up to the Sixties, only Two Houses - One in near The Center A Two Story Brick in wich for A time Lived Tom Gilliam. on The Cor of 14th was A Two Story Brick. Widdow Haskell and Son Lived Here A few Years - the Son and me were Play mates and Chums - Mr Mack the Gun Smith Lived here up to his Death. it now (1890) is part of the Block fronting 13th St. The Land below same Side of St Between 13th & 12th and about Half the Block was up to /57 A sort of Public Square as discribed in the Clay St article. The other part had only one Two Story Frame House on it (in later Years ***Klauers***[handwritten] Tin & Stove Store) This Was the Home (the first one in America) of Wm Rudolph - Here Was Born in the early Fifties, our Cousin Mary. On the West side Between 12 & 13, there were then o/49 to o/55, 4 or 5 Nice Houses all Brick The two Story on the Cor - now the Property of
228
Mr Corrance. next the House of W H ***Hetherington***[H erington handwritten] now Property of Mr ***Lathing?*** [thing? handwritten] (who Died in 1908) Then next ***(161)***[inserted between next & The] The House and Home of the Merritt Famili. then on the Corner (12th) The Home of Mr Norris - This was one of Dubuques first Families. they Had only on Child - A Lovely Young Lady to whom I carried many Billett ***Coux***[handwritten] from A Mr Greathead, Bookeeper for Barney Scott and Co. She however Married Mr W E Robinson and the Youngest Son - Now Dr E G Robinson - Married our Oldest Daughter Mary A" in Dubuque Iowa June 1889. Mr Norris was A Large fine Looking Man - An Ordained Elder of the M E Church - and in The Early Fifties associated with J P Farly in the Wholesale Dry Goods Buisness on Main St between 3rd and 4th Sts. He Was Lincolns Indian and Land Commssinor during the Civil War. He died shortly after the War in 1868 leaving behind him an Unblemished Record as A Christian Gentleman. His Widow Survived Him many Years Dieing in 1891 Loved and Lamented by Grand And great Grand Children and A Hoste of Sorrowing Friends - The Block below same Side, had up to 1851 or 52 only 2 Buildings on it - then At that Time A Mr Gillespie the Druggist, Built A fine Brick House One the Cor of 12th St. His Lott extend about 100 feet on Iowa St - he with His Famili Resided there up to 1859 or 60, when Mr F W H Sheffield Bought it - He Enlarged and improved it greatly and Lived there Up to the Summer of 1875, when Ruin and Disaster overtook him - By the Rascality of Babcock the Cashier of the Merchants Nat Bank Of wich he was President - One of the Founders and its Largest Stock Holders. He lost all his Fortune and Sacraficed his Fine
229
Home for The Bennifit of the Banks Creditors. He went East the same Summer And he told me - Tear falling down his Cheeks, that he was leaving Dubuque with less then #500oo. He still Lives and has Recuperated His Fortune and Standing. The next House - was A Two Story Brick - it was Quite an Old House. The Cor was the then Fine Residence of M Huff - Brother in Law to H L Stout, A Financier and Speculater. he Died some Time in the Early Sixties and is Burried in A Vault in the Old part of Linewood faceing the City. his Widdow Survived him many Years - - The Block Oposit - between 12th and 11th St - had up to 1850 only 2 Brick Buildings on it. on the Cor of 12th was the fine Mansion and Home of One of the Langworthy Bros, either Lucius or Solon, dont remember wich His Property extended about on Hundred feet on Iowa St and Was enclosed by a Stone Wall 3 feet High on Iowa & 12th St The Alley part for its whole length was of Brick and used as Stabels and Out Houses. it was then Considerd one of the best And finest Residence in the Town. he Lived there until in they Fifties when he Sold it to the Presbeterians, who Converted (162) it into A Theological College. My Brother Jacob attended This School to Study for the Ministry. it was Known then as The Aexander College. it was afterwards in the Late Fifties The House of Dr Scott, the Father of Mrs H. O. Jones and Of the late well Known Druggist James Hervy. it was finaly Torn down in 1875 By Mr Rown Who Built the fine Brick Block That is there now. the next was A double two Story Brick allways Used as it now is for Private Dwellings. A fine Brick Risidence On the Cor 12th was Built in the very Early
230
Fifties, by Judge Lincoln Clark, A fine Old Southern Gentleman. he and his Famili returned South befor the Civil War broke out - This was Afterwards for Several Years the Home of A Mr Johnson the Uncle of my ***Durofelous***[handwritten] Friend Sam Patch, and after him Judge Shioas lived there until the Death of his first Wife in the Seventies. it is Now since 1890, A fine Buisness Block - The Block South same Side had at this time (1850 to 55) but 2 Buildings on it. the Cor was then the Residence of Mr W H. Rebouan - A two Story Brick. The Cor 11th was A Frame that Was Built in the Early Fifties by Mrs Miller, the Propriator Of the Washington Hotel N.E. Cor 5th & Locust St. it was in 1858/59 - the Home of P W Skemp - his first Wife died here in Child Birth. he was then my Fellow Clerk with Sheffield & Scott - The Block West Side in the same Years up to 56 or 57 had but Three Buildings On it. Cor 11th was the fine Residence and Garden of Lawyer Griffith A Prominent Man and Noted Lawyer The Man under whom J W Knight first Studied Law and later On became his Partner. to this Man and his Fine Handsome Wife the Episcopal Church is largly indebted for its present Fine Building and Financial prosperity. next South of it Was the double Brick, The Home of Judge Burt for Years - He was in the Early days A Prominent Lawyer and Mayor of the City in The Sixties befor the War. He was the Father of my Friend Jack and Of Mrs C S Keller - he was allway A good Man - but the Disgrace of his Son Jack and the Suiscide of Keller they Say broke his Heart - he died in o/83 or o/84. The House then on the Cor - A Brick - was the Home of A very Early Settler, Col McHenry -
231
he was A fine Old Gentleman an Enthusiatic Republican and Admirer Of Lincoln. his Son Ham Enlisted in the Gov Grays - First Iowa Infantry at the Battle of Springfield Mo - in August 1861, he was Killed The Old Gent had A Shoe Store on Main St about where the A M Express Office now is. He was the Father of Mrs Henion the Dentist. (163) The Block east Side had up to 1855 no Buildings on it - all that are Now there have been Built Since 1857 to 1860 and later on. The Block on West Side Cor. 10th was for Years up 1861 or 62, the Residence And Home of Genl Warnerer Lewis. They were fine Old People - he and his Wife - But intesly Southern in there Feelings wich was also Shared by his Two Sons Warner and Thomas - and two Daughters - Salley and Jennie. The Genl at one time was well to do - but the Panic Of 1857 was hard on him and the stand him and his took in the War Times Ruined him inturly - for Years after the War he was County Recorder wich out of Sympathie for him as A Man & his Misfortune he Was allowed retain up to his Death. His Two Sons went South and Joined the Rebel Army - Warner Lived through it and came Home For A few Weeks in o/70 or o/71 - but returned to Nashville Tenn - he Fell down the Stairway of A Hotel and Broke his Neck shortly after The Oldest Daughter Sally - in Spite of her very Red Hair was A Popular Bell of the City in her Younger days - she still Lives now in 1890 as Mrs Van Pelt - Jennie had for Years been her Fathers Assistent and Deputy and after his Death the Office was conferd on her - I forgot to Say that Tom was A Member of Genl Forrests Command. he died in 1862 or o/63 while crossing the Cumberland Mountains pursued
232
By our Forces - The Daughters are the only Members of the Family Living. On the Cor of 9th St H L Stout Built his (then) fine Mansion About 1850 - it is now Part of the Y M C A institute - a gift from Mr Stout to the Society some Year in the Ninties our Son John was its Prisedent and was for Years befor and after. The Cor of 9th West Side about 1855 up to 57 - the Parsonage of the Ministers of the German Presbeterian Church - the First Ocupant Was Rev Madelet - he in o/51 Gave Place to Rev A Van Vliet, who Lived there up to Fall 1857 When the Curch was Moved to 17th & Iowa St - on the Alley back Of this House. The first Presbeterian Curch was Built in 1848 or /49 - it Was 1 1/2 Story and of Brick and stood there for Years after the Curch People left it. The Tremont Hotel A large 3 Story Frame Building extinding from Iow St to the Alley was Built sometime in the Fifties, I think o/6 or /57 - its First Land Lord was R Plum, the next and last was Mr Dickinson Father of the Dentist and my Comrade of Co. E" Horton, it was looked upon As a first Class Famili Hotel - My Employers at one time made it Thier Home - and I Boarded here from 1857 to 1861 - that was all there Was in that Block up to 1857. On the Corner (East side) of 9th St was the Residence (A Frame Bldg) from an Early day of one of Iowas first Printers and News Paper Man - Andrew Keesuker - his Son about my Age still Lives and Works at his Fathers Trade in Dubuque. The (164) Next House was A Frame Cottage - the Property of A Mrs Seymour - She was an Elderly Woman as far back as I can Remember and She had an Evil Reputation up to her Death - The Corner near it on 8th St was
233
A 1 1/2 Story Brick - The Home of Peter Kienne Sr and his Famili from the Time they left the Hotel Harmony Hall on Clay St Up to the end or near the end of the Civil War - here the Lived when Peter Jr. Ran away and Enlisted in the 16th Iowa Infantry in 1862. The Cor of 8th East Side - Was the Fine Home of Geo L Nightingale - wich He Built and Removed to for 13th & White St some time between 1855 and 1857. Here He Died - and the Famili lost the Fine Home very Soon after his Death. I have given thier History in the Clay St Pagers - The Rest of the Block from the Nightingale Home down to 7th St and from Iowa St to the Alley - was the Home and Property of An Old German Miser by Name of Tuegel. his House was a Frame And about in the Center. The whole place was Fruit Trees and A Vegetable Garden. He died either during the War or soon after. his Property all went to the Catholic Curch (Sisters St Francis I think) The Block west Side was on Cor 8th St the Parsonage of the Congregational Church - Rev Holbrook was its first Tenant, the Building (A Brick) is still there in 1890. Next was a fine Two Story Four Tennament Brick Block - the Residence (South part) and Property of Mr Shomo - Black Smith by Trade - They had Two Sons Harry and Harvey - The are all dead I followed Harvey to His Grave late one Cold day in The fall Barefooted I shall Allways Remember that! Next was A Black Smith Shop - and on 7th St Near Corner of Alley was A Frame House where A Swiss Famili By the Name of Luther Lived - I shall allways Remember them. They were A Profane Wicked lot - there were Four Children, Three Boys and One Girl - John the Oldest is the Sole
234
Survivor. he Lives in Guttenberg Iowa and is as Profane as ever - all the Buildings now in that Block not here Mentioned have been Built from 1859 up and into the Seventies. The Block South Same Side and Cor 7th Was the House (A Frame) and Home of John King one of Dubuques Earliest Settlers and Editor and Propiator of Iowa first News Paper. He was also The first One to Build A Home on Broadway St. at its upper End - A Fine Brick House and Extensive Grounds Planted in Grapes &c here he Died at a good Old Age. This in late Years was also the Home of John Melhop Sr. the Grocer and here him and his Wife also Died. The House Next door from Kings - was A small Frame Dwilling it was at One time A Private German School. I attended it a few Month when I was 7 or 8 Years. at this School Anna Vonasheu & me Vowed Eternal Love to each other. ***(165)***[insert between other & On] On The Cor of 6th St - there was An Old Two Story Frame House - the Home of The Weigel Famili for A Year or two after 1850 to 51 - There were Three Sons and Five or Six Daughters, Fred the Oldest - was even at that Time Well to do. He was A Partner of Old John D Bush in the Flour Mill Buisness and A Pork Packing Plant. They say he was too Sharp for Old John D - and got the Largest Share of the Buisness and Profits - be that as it may - we Know that
If you have
any questions or comments, please e-mail me at
larry@conzett.org. Thank you.