RECOLLECTIONS OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS
OF DUBUQUE IOWA
1846-1890
By Josiah Conzett
1841-1910
Part 3
Even befor the War he was A Wealthy Young Man. The Other Two Boys - Phillip and Charles were Soldiers all through the Civil War - I Clerked with Phill at Ackly Skemp and Addinsell and later up to 1873 at J and A Christmans. The Boys both Loved Liquor only to Well and Phill Died in the late Seventies from its Use and Effect - Charlie got into A Womans Scrape in 1868. Ran away - last heard of him he was A Texas
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Cow Boy. To bad there never was A Braver Soldier then Charlie. The Girls (all but Mary the Youngest) are all Married - some 2 or 3 are dead. The Oldest - Mrs Healy (Geo Healys Mother) Still Lives allthough very Aged - The House on 6th to the Alley have been Built Since 1860 on both Sides of 6th St. The Cor (East Side) 7th St. was in the Early day Built and Owned by Mr Cadanns the Watch Maker - he Moved to Potosi Wis in the Early Sixties. next Were Two Brick Risidinces - and below and Near the Corner was the Brick Risidence of Dr G W Scott - The Cold Water Doctor called so because he Was about the First Homeopathic Doctor we Knew - He some time in the Fifties Built A Frame Building on his Lot Cor 6th that he used as Office and A Labratory. There were three Children, A Son, Samuel and Two Girls - the Oldest The Wife of Will Burden. All but Sam and Youngest Daughter are Dead in the Same Block and Side - I can Remember only Two Houses - One An Old Frame - Where A Poor Old Widdow with A Dissoulute Son Tried to Eke out a Living Keeping Boarders - The Other on Cor 5th A Nice Two Story Frame, Built and Owned by A Lawyer Named Reed - he was of Indian Decent - his Wife was the Beauty of the City. they Had two Chhildren, Boy & Girl - all have passed away Years ago - Burt the Son, was Connected with the US. QM Dept. at Nashville Tenn in 1864. On the West Side of the Street (Iowa) between 5th and 6th St There were only 2 Buildings even up 1857. Near the Corner Of 6th there Was A Two Story double Brick Residence and Next Lot below A small Log and Frame House wich up to 1856 Was the Home of the ***Ploaki?***[handwritten] Family, Parents of Matt (this Family is Mentioned on
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the Clay St Page.) the Lots from there on to the Cor of 5th were Lumber Yards - and on 5th St to the Alley there was A Black Smith and A Carpentor Shop. On and between 4th & 5th West Side of (Iowa) St there were only 2 or 3 Buildings. From Cor 5th to The Alley there were then 2 or 3 Buildings (Frame) in One of wich Lived (166) The Tailor Gillick who Killed his Wife one Morning in 1856 or 57 And was Hung for the Crime out at Eagle Poin in 1858. On The Alley there was A Double Brick House - still there in 1890 But an unsightly Ruin. There were One or two Small Houses Between 4th & 5th St - On the Cor of 4th was the Two Story Brick Residence of the Simplot Family - this was Built at an Early day in the Forties. the Simplots were of the Earliest Settlers And it was then one of Dubuques fine Places. it had about One hundred foot front on Iowa St. The East Side same Street Between 4th and 5th was a little better Built up - The Cor of 5th and down nearly 1/3 of the Block was the Property and Home of the Fanning Family allready Noted on these Pages as The Owner of the Horse Ferry, Ocean Wave. Thier House was A Large Frame but a fine one. I think both the Old People Died there. it is now the Site of H B Glover & Co's Ware House Below that was A Rowe of 2 Story Brick Houses. The Corner one Was the Residence (1849 to 51 or 52) of Mr Thaubald the Soap Manufacturer. his Plant was on the South Part of Dublin Then so Called (& still is) right under the Bluff - He had a Good Buisness and was thought to be in the best Circumstances He died from Cholera in the Summer of 1854. He had made No Will - the Administrators one of whom was
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J P Farley - in some way got Hold of the Property by Paying the Widdow The pittifull Sum of Six Hundred dollars for it. it was A Shamefull Swindel - it was Worth that many Thousands - she in A shorrt time Married A Mr Von Hallen that Worked for Mr Thaubald - he was A Shiftless fellow and in A Year or so From affluence and Plenty she and her 3 Children were Reduced to allmost Poverty. she died sometime in the late Seventies. Two of her Children by Mr T. died befor she did - She had 2 Daughters by her last Husband, Anna & Sophia - Mr Thaubald was A fine looking and A good Man - he was The first Elder of the German Presbeterian Church. Our Minister Boarded with them. at that time they Lived right next to The Factory - A House Mr T had just Built - I was sent down to Mr Van Vliet for Medicine for the Beuttel Family at the time Of Mr Thaubalds Death - and I saw him as he lay dead on His Bed - and I shall never forget it. The next Block and in Fact down to the end of Iowa St on the East Side, there was only One Building, that was On the Cor of 4th A two Story Brick - here Lived A Frenchman with his Wife and one Daughtor. His Name (167) Was DeGrissells - He Carried on A Liquor Buisness - but his great Specialty was Imported Wines. I remember them from 1850. the Left the Town at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. On the West Side and Corner 4th to near the Alley the Three Story Building (now ***Peaslee***[handwritten] Ale Brewery (1890) was Built in the Boom days - about 1854 or /55 - it was Built for A Hottell and Called the Temperance. ance. it was thought then to be one of the Best Hostlery-s in the State, but it never proved A Success For any Land Lord
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and A number tried it. on the Cor of the Alley A Mr Carried on A Livery Stable and Vetrenary Surgen Office. he Moved to St Paul in the Early Seventies and died there some time in the Nineties. Below that down to 3rd St there were no Buildings at all - the Most Buildings now there were Built from 1856 to 1867. The Block below as far as first St (and below that there was only Mud Ponds up to 1856) there were as I remember then 1849 to 1853 Only 2 Buildings. on the Cor 3rd there was A Large Frame Building in wich A Mr Hoag Carried on A Boarding House - Him and his Wife were of the Early Settlers. they had 4 Children, the Oldest - Charley Was the Son of Mrs H by her first Husband Named Dudley - Charlie However allways went by the Name Of Hoag) Then there was Frank - Emma and Ida. Mr Hoag Elisted for the War in the 16th Ia Inft in 1862 As A drummer in the Band. he had long been Noted as A very fine Artist with the Drum. He was Killed at the Storming Of Fort McAllister near Savannah Ga - December 1864. - Charlie and Frank never amounted to anything - both are Dead Emma allways was A fine Nice Girl. Her and me Clerked for Skemp Addinsell & Co. from 1869 to 1871 - She Married John Kraeppfel in 1871. Ida the Youngest died at Waterloo in the Seventies Below that about Center of the Block was the 3 Story Stone Flour Mill, then and up to 1860, Operated by John D Bush allready an Old Man and even Then Wealthy - and Willing to let his Young Partner run the Buisness - and Mr W. made the most of his Opertunity. Here ends the Story of the Part of the Town from Iowa St from 1st to 17th down to the Lake Sloughs and River including Eagle
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Point & Conler Are from 18th St To the King Risidence on - Hams and the other Islands - This is as I rember them from 1847 up to 1870, but do not speak of any as including the earlier Reclolections only up to 1858, as after that it is Modern History. there may be Errors here & there, but it will be found fairly Correct. (168) Now takeing up Main St. from 1846 - and beginning on 17th St St East Side down to and including 1st St up to Locust St Then from lst St up to the South West Cor of 6th & Main St - From there up to 17th and Main St I have described in These Pages 133 to 138. Now as befor Stated, 17th St was not Opend up or Graded until 1857 to 58 - the City Cemetary Ocupied all the Ground no Coverd by Jackson Square Allthough all the Bodies had been removed to the New Cemetary (Linwood) in 1852 and no more Burrills made Here after that time - but it was not until early in the Sixties that it was graded down and used as A Public Square - Main St from 13th to 17th up to 1855 was Not graded either. - some time late in the Fifties Pat Norton Sold his Rowe of Buildings, and Built a 3 Tenement Frame Building on Main between 14 & 15th St. The Episcopalians Bought his Property on 14th St and either late in The Sixties or Early Seventies Built the present Church - From that down to Cor 13th St there was but one Building and that was on the North Cor. a two Story Frame, then Residence of the Weigel Family who had just Sold Thier Farm and Moved into Town. above that was up to 14th St all Waste Land - A Sand Hill. The Corner-Below had A Brick House on it - about the Center of The Block (now Known as the Huber Property) the Presbeterians Built thier
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First Church in 1854 or 55, and used it up to the Early Sixties as such - there were no other Building in the Block. On the Block below there were then and until after the War, only 2 Buildings - the 1st 100 feet or so was A deep Hole so to speack - next to it A Two Story Brick Flat And on the Cor to the Alley below, The Cottage & Grounds Of Mr Zulbin - they had One Child, A Son - Ralphf - after Mr Zubins death his Widdow Married W. DeLorimer. The Block betwn 11 & 10th had Several Houses on it - on the Cor of 11th Mr Henion and Family Resided - he was A Dentist By Profission - but in later Years Owned A Grocerie Store on Main St The had 3 Children, 2 Boys & One Girl - Mr H died late in the Sixties, but his Wife Lived up to 1906 - Mr Henion Built and Lived in the House now 1890 the Home of the Corrance Family - Cor of 14th and ***Henim?***[enim? handwritten] St. next below Mr H was A 2 Story Frame Building Used as A Boarding House and 2 Small Stores - it was A Rickety - Dangerous Fire Trapp as I now Remember it.- (169) Next to that (and in 1890 still there) was a 2 Story Brick Building - used Sometimes as A Store and again as A Dwelling. in 1861 there Lived there A Widdow that did Sewing for Sheffield and Scott - She made the Flannel Shirts for me when I Enlisted. I still Remember her - but have forgotten the Name. On the Cor of 10th The Unveralists Built A Church in 1854 (now Built up as a Furniture Store) The Block between 9th & 10th had in 1848 to /55 Only 2 Buildings on it. on the Cor of 10th there was A double Brick House and On the Cor 9th A fine Brick Residence of Mr. Lawrence. He owned all the Block up to the Cor & House here spoken off - there
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were Only himself and Wife - quite an Old Couple Living a quiete Retired Live. Whe the Boom And Rush times of 1854-/55 Struck the Town, he Sold all that Property for an immese Sum (but mostly Mortgages & Notes wich When the Crash of /57/58 Came all went to protest and he had To take back his Property now A Ruin) To Kinsey David and Jennings - Well Known Men of that day. The at once Erected A Six Story Brick Building useing up that entire Block up to the Building Cor 10th All the upper 5 Stories were intended for A Hotel and the First Floors for Stores, of wich there were 8 or 10 - it was An imposing Building - the Largest and finest West of Chicago and even now in 1890 Dubuque has not its Equal in all Things - it was Called the St Cloud - Dubuque was very Proud of it and justly so, But befor the Hotel part of it - the Interior - was completed the Crash of 57/60 Came on and Kinsey David and Jennings with Hundreds of others Speculators, Merchants, Bankers &c went under and Few of them Could have raised 500oo in Coin. it was The days of Wild Cat Curency & Harbor Money - not now Worth 10› on the Dollar. So this fine Building was never Completed and never Ocupied, so one Night in the Winter of 57/58, it Burnt to the Ground - by whom it was never found out, but no doubt done to get the Insurance on it. Me and my Girl saw the Beggin of it - I Had been up to A Birthday Party at Fred Weigels on 12 St that They gave to Florence Healy, and we were passing the St Cloud Between 11 & 12 Oclk PM. we Noticed quite A Larg light on the 6th Floor But paid no especial attintion to it, but up nearly at her Home She Lived on Julian Ave. we
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Heard the Fire Alarm - I saw her to The Door, then Ran down and at Cor of 8th I saw the St Cloud all in A Blaze. I had been told in Case of Fire or Russ & Riot (170) Never to Leave the Store if alone at Night. The Store was Then yet in the Globe Building Main & 5th St. and as it Happend there was no one there. I was alone - so I dared not go out to See the Fire, So I saw what I Could Of it from our Back Poarch. it was A Big Fire and it Was A Close Call for the Stout Residence - then nearly New - The Ruins remained there for A Number of Years - it was A Sad Blow to the City as well as the Insurance Companies. The Block below was only about half Built up, up to 1856 o/57 Before that Time on the Corner 9th was A double one Story Frame, in part Ocupied by A Mr Kuttor as A Bakery - next To that there Lived in A Two Story Frame House - an Old Man by the Name of (Cap) ***[word after Cap unreadable]*** he Was Swiss by Birth - had Served under Louis Napoleon in Holland and drew A Pension from that Goverment. they had Four Children, Two Boys and Two Girls - Albert and Emill - Albert was The Dandy of the Family. he Went West in the Early Sixties. Emill remained in Dubuque, Married and died there. He Worked in the Store of his Brother in Law, John T Hancock For Many Years and up to his Death in the Nineties. The Oldest Daughter Married A Mr Finnemore, A Goverment Offical of some Kind. The Lived on Locust St between 12 & 13 They had One Son - he died in his Early Yough and his Burried him in thier Front Yard where he laid for some Years - I often saw his Grave. the Youngest Daughter Married John T Hancock the Whole Sale Grocer some time in the Fifties at Plattville Wis. where
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Her Parents had Moved to - and where Mr H then had A Grocerie Store. She in 1890 still Lives in Dubuque. the Ground or Space Below that to the Cor of 8th St. was A sort of A Park and PicNic & Play Ground - it was all Fenced in & was Kept in Nice Condition. this Was Owned by Mr W H Sanford A Wealthy Old Batchleor. he it was the Built the Tremont House on Cor 8th & Iowa St where he Lived & Boarded up To the Time of his Death. This is the Place that W H Rebman Leased for A long Term of Years and where in 1854 & 1855 he Built The 3 Story Brick Block Known as the Rebman & Sanford Block in on of these Stores Wemolt and Doolittle had A Sadlerey and Hardware Store in 1855. they Failed in 1857. Mr Wemot Some Years after Associated himself with Mr Howard in the Corckery buisness on S.W. Cor of Main St. as Wemot Howard & Co. ***(171)***[inserted between Co. & The] The Block between 7th & 8th St was up to 1850 Sparsly Built up - on the Cor of 8th there was no Building - but on the Alley below there Lived A Family by the Name of Thomas. Mr Thomas Died early in the Fifties. it was Said his Wife Poisoned him - she Was A Noted Character of the Town, hard to discribe her. She was Vicious - Garalous Miserly and A Public Nuisance but Had considerable Wealth. there were Three Children One Boy - Jess - and Two Daughters. Jess grew up in his Mothers Footsteps - was A Gambler and Loafer until he left Town, for Where I never heard - The Two Daughters grew up to be Old Maids - Noted for thier Miserly & Eccentric Ways - they were Still A-live in 1890. This Woman (Mrs T) in the Early Fifties Owned and Built the 3 Story Brick Building Cor 8th & Main Where she & the Family
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Lived. this in the Early Fifties, at Wich time were Built the Two Brick Buildings next to it. in one of wich was up to 1864 the Dry Goods Store of Wood - Luke and wich in 1864 gave Place to the Firm of Sheffield Wood & Co. I worked for them from Sept 1865 to March 1866. The two Lots below where now is Torberts Drug Store and the Five and 10› Store was up to /82 or /53 A Fenced in Lot Full of Weeds - Owned by Mr Shomo and used as a Sort Of Horse and Cow Pasture by him. below next to it was A Three Tenement - Gable End Frame House then Owned By John D Bush. the North End we Lived in form 1847 To 1850 - Here in 1848 our Sister Mary Was Born, in the Middle Tenement Lived Mr M Tschirgi the Brewer. here On the Alley he First started Brewing Beer in a Small 2 Story Brick Bldg in 1848. in the other South part, Lived The Buchler Family. the had Four Children, John George and Leonard & A Girl Margrett who died there - Mr B Was Noted as an Infidell and the Laziest Man in Dubuque An she as the Filthiest and Dirtiest Woman any one ever Knew John is Dead, George & Leonard Enlisted in the Iowa 1st Infantry in 1861 and Came Home with the Regmt. they never Enlisted Again - both still Live in Dubuque. The next two Lots to the Cor Of 7th St and to the alley was Owned by Dr Finley - he had A fine Brick Residence and A Garden Noted for its Flowers & Schrubery they had No Children, he was then the Best Doctor in Dubuque. he often Called on our Mother for Help as A Nurse. he told here she was a Good one The Willed nearly All thier Proptery to found the Finley Hospital wich They Recieved after her Death some time in the Sixties. This is the (172)
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Place where now is the 3 Story Brick Builds up to the Alley Now in part Ocupied by the Telegraph Herrald. on this Property Dr Finley shortly befor his Death in the Early Sixties Built a Rowe of One Story Buildings in front of His House Faceing Main St. there were 4, 20 x 40 Store Rooms. The Basement was A Restaurant Kept by Jim McNear and Sam Upton - One of the Store Rooms My Brother Otto Had a Harness Shop in - these Buildings gave way in the Late Seventies to the Brick Block now there - - On the Block below bet 6th and 7th up to 1850, there was Only 2 or 3 or 3 Buildings. on the Cor of 7th there was a Small Frame Building in wich an Old German had a Sort of A Machine and Tool Grinding Shop - below that and about 1/2 Off the rest of the Block was the Home an Property of Mr Ogilsby - A Brick Layer by Profission and a Mighty Hunter. He was A large Man - Ruff and Coarse in his Manners. there Were 3 or 4 Children - The Son Josh - was Simple minded - one Day in the Seventies he went Amuck - that is Violently Crazy He ran up and down Main St Shooting of A Revolver and Killed a Man on the Street - he was sent to the Assylum and Died there Some Years after. Mrs Ogilsby was a fine Woman and Very Chairatable - Maj Horr Married the Oldest Daughter - On the Corner of 6th St the 2 Story Brick was Built in the early Fifties. Here Glover and Snick began anew - thier Buisness after thier Failure in the Panic of 1857 - This intire Block Was Built up in the very late Fifties and Rebuilt as it now is from 1865 to 1875 - especialy the Levi Building . The Block Lower down between 5th & 6th St was all Built up in 1850 - but Not as good or Fine as it now is in
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1890. Then on the Cor (South East) Old Jessie Harrison had A Hotel A 2 Story Brick wich was The American House it was there in 1860. The rest of the Block Was nearly all 2 Story Brick Stores and Owned by the Langworthy Bros - next to the Hotel Geo Star had a Grocery Store. here my Brother Jacob Worked one Wintor 1847-/48. Next to that the Cannon Bros Bill - Chas and Henry also had A Grocery Store And my Brother Dave Worked for them in 1850, or /51. next Mr ***Jacckli***[handwritten] A hard Drinker, had A Confectionary Store and A Fancy Bakery. Stiner and Zust Bought him out in the early Sixties and later on Bought the Building. next to them the Barr Bros had A Dry Goods Store. Phill Weigle worked here up to 1860. (173) The next 2 Buildings were Frame - Owned by A Mr Ruff - the Father in Law of C H Meyer (once a Dry Goods Clerk - later County Treasurer And now A Financier &c) in one of these Buildings Chs ***Corekery***[handwritten] Had A Harness Shop - Brother Otto Worked for him one time. in the next Building - Mr Sauer had A Boot and Shoe Makeing Shop - His Oldest Son Henry - was in Co. E" 5th Iowa Cavlry He after the War Married the Only Daughtor of Old Mr Wullweber. Mr S Committed Suiscide on his Wifes Grave some time in the Eighties. The Next Building up to the Cor of 5th St. was the Globe Building At that time the Finest Building and Store Rooms in the City. it was Erected in the early Fifties, and I think by Judge and D. S. Wilson, it had three Store Room - the Corner was a Jewelry Store - Mr Robbins Propriator, the Midle was the Whole Sale Grocerie Store of the Bissell Bros. M. D. Bissell the Senior Propriator is the Father of the Wife off the Oldest Son of the
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late Mr Treadway. the 3rd or end Store was first Ocupied by the Goodrich Bros. (F V and James R) as A General Store. they in 1853 Or 1854, Sold out to Barney Scott & Co. E L Barney, J P Scott F W H Willard and F W H Sheffield, at that time all Young and Unmarried Men. Mrfs Williard & Sheffield had A Dry Goods Store in Utica N. Y. and were there most of the time up to 1857 When they Moved all thier Stock to Dubuque - Mr Willard And Mr Barney then Sold out to Sheffield & Scott - Mr Willard Going to the Cooper Mines in Ontanogan Mich - Mr Barney went to his Old Home in Vermont and 1861 Went to the War as Col of the 6th Vt Infantry - he was Killed in the Battle of the Wilderness May 5th 1864. I enterd into This Store as Errand Boy at Three dollars pr Month. in 1855 My Fellow Clerks were John & Gotlieb (George) Moser, J W Greathead and Geo W Kimberley. I remained with the Firm Until I Elisted for the War Sept 1st 1861. The Block below had or rather was well Built up - but only Frame Building up to 1855 or /56 The Cor of 5th was Only a deep hole - here during the Campaign of 1851 Off Scott and Pierce the Wiggs (now Republicans) Errected a Large High Liberty Pole with A Soup Bowl on Top as an Emblem - but it did no Good for Pierce was Elected. the rest of the Block & small Frame Buildings were used as Stores of different Merchandize in a Small way - in one of these I think Mr Lally at one time had A Tailor Shop - there was one Tailor there I remember Well his Name He had A Wooden Stump for one Legg - he used to Wake us up Mornings with his Thump - Thump of that Legg as he passed Store to his Work. for at that Time all Hands Slept in the Store. the
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Methodists will long remember (174) For his long and Fervent Prayers - in one of these Small Buildings Mr A Gehrig had A Tailor Shop in the Middle Sixties - and Hugh Smith I remember had a Small Grocerie Store in One. the Cor of 4th St was then 1848 to 52, was A 2 Story Old Rickety Frame Building - from the Rear it looked as though Built on Stilts, this as far back as I can Remember was Allways A Boarding House off the lowe Class. in 1849 to /50 or /51 The ***[unreadable]*** ran the House. The Block between 3rd and Fourth was nearly all fairly Well Built up - the Cor off 4th I think was Vacant - the Next 3 or 4 2 Story Brick Buildings Were The Stores of Farley Ja & Co. Farley Norris and Co. and in later Years Farly Christman & Co. They were Whole Sale Dry Goods and Hard Ware &c Mr Christman came in after Mr James & Norris had retired early in the Sixties - about the Middle of the Block (and on its present Site) was the 2 Story Brick - The Bank of Maj Moblay, a fine Good Old Man With a lot of Scallawag Sons, who finaly were his Ruin. they All Clerked in the Bank and used its Money freely. he failed Badly in the Panic of 1857. he found Employment with the Govermt At Washington D. C. up to his Death in the Seventies. his Sons Were John - Bill - Ed. Dick and Budd. they all exepting Ed Died in Early Manhood - Ed lived to be an Old Man Dieing Some time in 1900. The Only Daughter Married Mr Littlelon A Prominent Insurance Agt of the late Fifties or so. he died at Memphis Tenn of Yellow Fever. the Buildings below were all Frame - stood high up from the Side Walk, had to go up Four or five Stapes to get in the Stores, on account of the Street
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Grading of the early days. in One of these Mr Spaulding Had a Book Store - the first one in Town. evry Old Resident Will remember his Son Melville, A Tall lanky - Pedantic looking Young Man, Well Educated and Smart, but a little Eeccentric. The Cor was then in 1850 Vacant - but the Old Key City Hotel was Built shortly after that time. The next Block below - between 2nd And 3rd St was all Built up - mostly in 2 Story Brick Buildings. This part of the Town up to 6th St was from the earliest days the Main Buisness part up to 1855. on The Cor of 3rd was then the Two Story Frame Building off L D Randalls Harness and Saddle Manufacturinig Plant. it extended from Main St to the Alley Here my Brothers Jacob Otto and David Learnt the Harness Makeing Trade and Worked for A number of Years, that is Otto & David, Jacob left to Study for the Ministry late in 1850. The Building (175) Was Burnt down about 1855 or /56, and was then Built up in Brick - The Buildings below were ocupied as Stores of differnt Kinds in One of them John T Hancock first Opend his Whole Sale Grocery Store in the Early Sixties. The next Building up to the Corner Was the Julian House, at that time one of the Finest & Best Hotels in the State. it was for Years as the present Hotel now is, The Pride of Dubuque. it was Owned and Ran by Peter Waples, The Father of the late Dr Waples. it was A 3 Story Brick and up to 1865 extended from Main St to the Alley. The Block from 1st To 2nd St was all Built up - but all one and 2 Story Frame Buildings and all or nearly so the Lower Class off Boarding Houses and Saloons. the Corner of 2nd St A German by Name of
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Kriess, Owned and Ocupied as A Liquor Store and Saloon. the Family Lived on the 2nd Floor, about in the Center of the Block - A W Kemler first Opend his Dry Goods Store. the rest off the Block to 1st St was as stated about all Saloons & Hash Houses - Below first on iether Side - between Main and Locust St. there Were up to 1855 to 57/ no Buildings - it was all Mud holes & Frogg Ponds, - This Completes the Story of the East Side of Main St. from 1st to 17th St and from 1846 to 1860. it will be found Substantialy Correct - there may be here and there disceppencies and Errors of Date &c, but in the Main it will give a good Idea of what the Town was in its Pioneer days. this applies to both Sides of Main St And indeed to the intire Town from Eagle Point - the Bluffs and Ravines at that date. - - I will now take up the West Side of Main St from 1st up to 6th where I left of when discribing the Street in the first parts of this Narative - So then Commencing On 1st St. On the Corner was A 2 Story Frame here and Irish Widow Woman Name of Flaherty or Flannerey conducted a Cheap Boarding House and Saloon. (I will here say that both sides Of 1st St. from Main to Locust St. where then as they are now - With very little Alleration or Improvement Built up with the Same Class of Buildings and the same Kinds of Buisness. the Street Has been Paved and 2 or 3 better Buildings put up but that is all the difference from 1846 to 1890 -) the rest of the Block 1st to 2 St - was All Built up and about the same as the Oposite side of the Street - Now the Block above bet 2nd & 3, was more Substantialy & Better Built up, but on the Corner up 2 or 3 Lots were all
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dingy Frame Buildings - The Corner one was A small Book & Notion Store to get to it and the next 2 or 3 above - we had to walk up A Stair of 4 or 5 Steps. The Next was A Bakery, and the rest of the Block was better Built (176) I cant remember the Kinds of Buisness there was in these Stores. I do however remember - A Grocery Store, an Agricutural or Implement and Seed Store and A Saloon, there I am sure Were no Large or Important Buisness in the Whole Block. The Block above from 3rd to 4th St was Built up in Two Story Brick Buildings exepting the Cor of 4th These were all fine Buildings For that time. in one of these Buildings the Langworthy Bros at An early date Carried on A Dry Goods & Clothing Store - and in another one Farley and James also had A Store. there were One or two Saloons in the Block, up nearer the Cor of Fourth Dr Timothy Mason an Old Resident had A Drug Store This Building (now 1890) is and has for Years been A Saloon. The Doctor was A fine an Popular Old Man, but he had A Scamp of A Step Son. A Jolly Rascall - one of the Tough Boys of the Town. he was A Boon Companion of the Davis Boys, Jim and Tom McNear - Pete Lorimier &c These Chaps were the Terror of the Town and off our Only Policeman - Marshall Poor little 5 foot Tall Joe Swab. This Chaps Name was Thadeus Lyon. I dont Know whatever became of him - I now come to one of the most Sensational Tradgies that ever Happend in Dubuque. on the Cor of 4th St there stood A 1 1/2 Story Frame Building in wich Mr Thedinga Carried on A Boot And Shoe Store. One day in the Summer of 1847, A Tall fine looking Man A German, Came in to the Store and after some Talk, he Asked Mr Thedinga to
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to Rent him One half of the Store. he said He wanted to Establish A Drug Store. Now as Mr T. had more Room then he needed and likeing the apearence and Talk of The Man, he Rented him part of the Store and told him he could Board at his Home, so he put in his Goods and Opend up. Mr Thedinga had A Niece living at his Home A Fine looking Young Lady (she latter on Married Doc Koepfli then a Grocer) This Man soon fell in Love with her, and so One Night in the Winter of 1847/48 he asked her to go to A Ball with him. she refered him To Mr T. for his permission to go. Mr Thedinga for some reason had by This time taken a dislike to the Man, and so refused to let her go with Him, A few days after - One Evening (I still remember how Cold it was) When Mr Thedinga came back from Supper, this Man was standing by the Stove, he asked Mr T. if he could Read the Label on the Tin Cup That was the on the Stove. As Mr T. stooped down to Read it, This fellow Took up the Cup and Threw the Content of it in Mr Thedingas Face and The dashed out of doors into the Street. The Cup was filled with ***(177)***[inserted between with & Oil] Oil Vitreroil and to make it more Deadly - he had got it Boiling Hot. Mr Thedinga with a Loud Scream fell unconcious on the Floor - it was about 8 Oclk P.M. my Brother Jacob then Working in A Fancy Goods Store in the Block above - had been sent on an Errand And was just passing the Store, when this fellow rushed out - he Ran against my Brother and Knocked him down - but he ran down Street at top Speed and disapeard befor Folks got fully aware Of what happend - as soon as the News got around evry Bell in Town Commenced Riging and evry Whistle blowing and about evry Man and Boy in Town
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gave Chace to Catch the Villian - Next Morning he Was found Dead in A Log Hut down in Dublin - he had Poisoned Himself with a Quick dealy Poison. I saw him as he laid there. Mr Thedinga Laid for Months - but finaly Recoverd - but he lost One Eye and his Face was terribly Scarred and Disfigured as long As he Lived. Mr Thedinga was allways well liked so he had the Hearty Sympathie off the whole Town in his Terrible Affliction - The Block between 4th and 5th St was up to 1855 or so the Best in Buildings in the Town. on the Cor 4th was the Fine 3 Story City Hotel (now & for Years A Theatre) then and up to 1857 Kept By Mr Hewitt a popular Hotel Man - the Father of Mrs Agard - it was A fine Well Kept & Popular House - There were Four Children Henry and Frand and Mrs Agard and A Younger Sister - all dead exepting the last two. the next To that was I think A Frame Bldg in wich Col McHenry Allready spoken of had A Shoe Store. the next - A 3 Story Brick was Erected in the Early Fifties and in this Waples And Walmsley had A Dry Goods Store up to 1858. next Bldg A Frame - was the Salloon of Mr Schaffner, Father of Mr Adam Yaeger. above were One or two One Story Bldgs and next A Three Story Brick in Early days the Dry Goods Store off the Langworthy Bros later on the Hardware Store of Mr Edwards - The Father of Mrs D C Cram & the Rev Dr Edwards of St Paul The next also a Brick Bldg was up to 1850, A Fancy Bazar and Notion Store. where My Brother Jacob got his first Job in 1847. the Cor 3 Story Brick was Built by Dick Cox in the Early Fifties as was also the Building on So Side of 5th St to Alley - 5th St from Main to Locust Was then used as A City Market in Center of
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St fronting on Locust St Was the Fire Engine House of Washington Co. No. 1. H Schunk Chief a Hand Machine. in the rear Built on to it towards Main St was A long Shed for Huckster Stands and Butcher Shops - on So Side from Ally to Locust were Small Open Sheds used as Candy & Cigar and Ice Cream Stands (178) There were Two Machines and two - Fire Companies and great was The Rivalry between them to get to the Fire first and throw the first Stream, and how us Youngsters used to envy those Fire Men in Thier Red Shirts - and how Proud we felt when they let us take hold And help pump the Machine. Will we ever forget them days - - The small stands spoken of were on the Ground of the now Doctor Staples Residence and Office Building - no to go back to Main St - On The Cor of 5th (North) Chas Stafford Conducted A Boarding House and Saloon in A two Story Frame. He was A Large Man and A Tough one, and the Place was just as Tough as he was. He was Related to the Pfotzers and was one of thier Kind. Next to him Jacob Mitchell carried on A Boot and Shoe Store in a One Story Frame - the next Two Lots were I think up to 1850 Vacant Some time in the late Fifties Mrs Miller put up a double 2 Story Brick, Called the Miller Block, in one of these Harrigan (Jim) and Quingley had A Dry Goods Store for 2 or 3 Years. I will Here say that Harrigan about this time Married A Miss Jordan Her Father in the Fifties was An Auctioneer and Ocupied the Brick Store N.E. Cor 6th & Main, While he Lived the Family flew High - Dressed fine &c&c after his Death the got into distressingly Poor Circumstances and were glad to take in Sewing for A Living. They were Episcopalians, but she turned
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Catholic to Marry Jim. Next to the Miller Block was the Large 2 Story Frame Building of Xavir Reinfried - A German. they Lived in the upper part. the Ground Floor was A Saloon & Sort of Lodging House, in the Boon Times of 1854 to /57, he Sold this Property for a Fortune and Retired. they Were related to the Mongolds, Chas Schreiber Married the Oldest Daughter and with her Money he got his Start in Buisness - next To them was A 2 Story Brick - in this Bldg Glover and Smock Began thier Notion Store and here they Failed in 1857 or 1858 - The Next was A 1 1/2 Story Brick. A Mr Rattarey here carried On A Catholic Book Store. James Kelley the Book Store Man Worked Here when he first came to Town. - I will here state that on the Lot Where stood the Schunk House in the Block between 6th & 7th St A two Story Brick Building was Built in the early Fifties and in this Was the Bank of Barney Scott & Co. (D G Scott) this Mr Barney it was that Built and Lived in the House later on the Griffith Home S.E. Cor 11th & Iowa St. - This Completes the Story of Main St intire From 1st to 17th St. Takeing in the Years from 1846 to 1870. Of course Many off these Houses stood there befor that time especialy From 6th to 1st St. but that is befor my Time. I only relate what I Remember & Personaly saw. (179) We now take up the Story beginning at 17th and Locust St. I will Start on the West Side of the Street Continue to end of the Block And the Cross over to the other side of the Street and take up The Block Oposite from same end or beginning ans so on down to end of the St at 1st St. - Cross over from One to Oposite Block. - in or befor 1850, 17th could hardly
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be called a Street. it Was not much more then A Cow path and Mud hole - On the Corner of Clark St Mr Hamel A Plasteror Lived in A Frame House - from that down to 15th St there were no Buildings at all. On the Triangular Lot - (now Grant Park) Mr Bowdish Built A Frame Residence, in the late Sixties - but as it was Goverment Property he had to Move away in A few Years - the Whole Block Oposite between 15th & 16th was Vacant up to 15th St. Sometime in the Sixties the double Brick Corr 16th was Built - The Triangular Plot betwen 17th & 16 - was up to 1868 A Cow Pasture Or open Ground - about that time W C Chamberlain Bought it and Built his Home on it. on the Cor (16th) at nearly the same Time A 2 Story Brick Bldg was Built as Store and Residence but it was never Ocupied and Burnt down in A few Years. Now on The Cor 15 there was A 2 Story Brick of 4 Tenements - Owned by An Irishman Named O'Heren. he Lived in the Corner one. it Was there as far back as I can Remember. the Fine High School Now is on that Site. the Block Oposite as stated is now Grant Park. On the Block (West side) there were no Buildings in & up to 1854 /55 Some time in the Sixties A Mr Richards Built the Brick House On Cor 15th. He Sold it some Years after to Mr Ryder (of CRW) Mr Ryder committed Suiscide some time in the Seventies. it was A A great Shock to the intire City as he was A fine Good Man - the Frame House next was Built about the same time as was also the Genl Hodgden House -. On the Block Oposite up to 1862 there Were no Buildings. W H Peabody Owned the intire Block and Built in some time between 1860 and 1865, The Buildings now there in 1890.
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on 13th St (North Side) were there in 1850. The Block Oposite was inturly Bare of Buildings - the Cooley Residence And all the other Buildings now (1890) there were Built in from 1858 to 1862 or /63. on 13th St (N) the Rowe off Frames were Built in 1858. J P Scott Lived in One of them for A Year or so from 1858 or so in (180) The Oposite Block - between 12th & 13th on Cor 13th there was a Frame Building wich in the Early Sixties gave way to the Seconed Presbeterian Church Building - Next to that, was the Frame Bldg For many Years the Home of Mr Hardey of the School Board, And next Building also Frame, was the Home of Mr Tinnemore A quite Wealthy Man and for some time A Goverment Official. his Wife was A Sister of John T Hancocks Wife, and the Oldest Daughter of Old Capt Enz. they had One Son - he died in his Boyhood days - the Burried him in thier Front Yard, the Grave Was in plain Sight from the Street for Years. The next was the Fine Property and Residence of the Late Senetor D. S. Wilson - They Were fine People. they had 2 Children, Dave the Court Stenographer And Mrs Douglas Ryan, The Block Oposite had one in 1850 One Building on it, A double Brick - it was for some Years in part The Residence of Dr Belden. it was I think also at one time the Residence of G B Grosvernor. the Cor Building - the J P Scott Home, Was Built I think in the late Fifties, by the Rev Mr Guernsey at One time Pastor of the Congregational Church. The Oposite Block Between 11th & 12th St was Built up as it was up to 1890. the Cor 13th And half the Block was the Property and fine Mansion of F V Goodrich A Retird Dry Goods Merchant. he Built it in the Early Fifties -
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On the Cor and the other half of the Block was the Ellegant Home and Property of F E Bissell, A Lawyer one of the best in The State and at one time its Attorny General. His is the Father of L C Bissell (of H B Glover & Co.) they were Related to Mr F V Goodrich. The Stout Mansions now Ocupy this Site- the Block Oposite - on the Cor 12th Mr Fred Weigel Built the Home (now there) sometime from 1855 to 57. The Treadway Residence next to it was Built in the late Sixties or early Seventies. The 3 Story Building next And up to the Corner off 11th St Known as the Allison Block was Built in the late Fifties. it was the Home of the Senator up to his Death in 1908, When in Dubuque. Oposite Block was all Farme Buildings in 1852 in One of the Houses Lived A Widow Mrs Waterman - she had A Wild Reckless Son ***Press***[handwritten] he went to Colorado in the Sixties - Mrs W. was Related to J P Farly and he allways helped them - on the Cor of 10th A Mr Bunting & Wife Lived for Years in a two Story Frame He was an Experct Book Keeper and Acoutenant and for Years was in The Employment of the Langworthy Bros. on 10th up to Bluff St there Were at that time 1850 & up to 1865, 2 or 3 Old Frame Houses - On the Block Oposite I can Remember only 2 Houses up to 1856 or 57. On the (181) Cor of 11th there was A 2 Story Brick - in after Years the Residence of Dr Nancy Hill - nxt to it, a 2 Story Brick, setting low down below the Walk Was the Home of the Widow Lorimier, Sister of Old Peter Lorimier, she Had 3 Children. Peter the Oldest was Lame, he was A Wild Boy Then some 20 Od Years Old, He was one of the Worst Rascalls in the Town and The Cause of endless trouble to his Folks & the poor
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little Town Marshall - he disapeared some way befor the Civil War, but no One ever went in Mourning for him. The Oldest Girl was also Lame. The other one was A Handsome Girl. they have all now gone away or died. The Next Brick Building - Built by M Allison Brother of Senator, in the Sixties. He was an Insurance Agt - he Married A Miss Hervey Sister of James the Druggist. The Congregational Church was Built in the late Fifties as was the Parsonage nxt to it on 10th St and Also the double Frame nxt to that. this was the last Home off good Old Deacon Rogers & his Wife and of Warren & his Wife - On the Block Oposite the Houses were all Frame up to 1857 or 58 - exepting the Cor of 9th - in One of these Lived Ed Mobly & Family in the last Years of his Life - the other Risidents I cant now Remember - on the Cor Of 9th the Episcopalians Built thier Church some time in the Early Fifties The Block Oposite was intirly bare exepting A Carpentor Shop and a Lumber Yard up to 1855 - in 10th near Ally was A double One Story Brick the Home of Mr Welging from early Fifties. the Builds on Cor And nxt were Built in the late Fifties. The Custom House and P Office Were begun in the late Fifties but not Completed until after the Civil. Senetor Jones Claimed the Credit of getting this Building for the City - At all events him and Dick Cox made lots of Money out of it - as Cox Owned the Land. The Oposite Block - between 8 & 9th was all 2 Story Frame Houses. in one
If you have
any questions or comments, please e-mail me at
larry@conzett.org. Thank you.