






                          RECOLLECTIONS OF PEOPLE

                               AND EVENTS

                              DUBUQUE IOWA

                               1846-1890





                                                        By Josiah Conzett
                                                           1841-1910








                                   Foreword

     This book was written by my paternal grandfather sometime around 1905
following his retirement.  His education was minimal --- probably less than
that of todays high school graduate.  He began work early in a menial
capacity in the dry goods business, interrupted by his enlistment at the
outbreak of the Civil War.  Apparently he had a good service record,
functioning as quartermaster of E Company, 5th Iowa Cavalry.  At the end of
the war, in 1865, he had earned a commission as 2nd Lt., but being required
to go to Washington, D. C. to accept this rank, he felt the expense would be
too great and therefore accepted a discharge.  Later he regretted this action
for it would have given a much greater pension allowance.

     The original book is written in a beautiful legible script and the
German influence of his early education is manifest in the capitalization of
nouns.  This has been maintained in this publication as well as the frequent
errors in spelling and punctuation.

     Joe was never a great success in business.  His highest position in
Dubuque was that of ribbon and lace clerk in the old Levi Department Store on
the southeast corner of 7th and Main Streets.  He moved to St. Paul,
Minnesota in the 1890's to become Manager of the linen department of Field
Schlick and Company, a position he held until retirement.

    In the preparation of this book, I am indebted to Dr. Clifford Fox, now
deceased; the late President of Findley College, Findley, Ohio but formerly
Professor of History at the University of Dubuque.  Dr. Fox used the original
copy as source material for his doctorate thesis.  To this end he deciphered
and typed the manuscript, a painstaking task.  Further thanks is given to my
friend, Allan E. Sigman, President of the Union - Hoermann Press, who has
made the publication possible.

20 October 1971                                      Donald C. Conzett, M.D.



185
(133)

               My Recolections of Dubuque Ia. From 1846 to 1890


With my Parents & Brothers I arived at Dunlieth  Ill - now Known As East
Dubuque, Late in the Afternoon of March 1846.  I still Remember although only
5 Years Old - how Cold it was, as my Feet were badly Frosted.  We rode over
from Galena Ill in Open Wagons.  There was but one Hous in Dunlieth at that
Time.  it was A Large Comfortable Log House Owned and Ocupied by a French
Canadian by the Name of Buschie, he was a Large Dark Powerfull Man, A Typical
Pioneer - Trapper and Indian Fighter.  he was the Owner of A Horse Ferry that
Plied between Dubuque and Dunlieth, Named the Tigress.  there was one More
Ferry of the same Kind, Named the Ocean Wave.  it Ran between Dubuque and
Boat Yard Hollow, to connect With the Potosi Wagon Road.  This was Owned by
Timothy Fanning who Lived in Dubuque on Iowa St - between 4th & 5th St. where
now H B Glovor & Cos. Ware House stands.  Both him and his Wife were Large
Portly People and Were among the Bon Ton of the Town.  their Daughter, Dora -
Was one of the Belles of the Place, thier Son 'B [handwritten in & circled]
developed into a Silly Coxcomb.  He became a Chirodopist - had been Gone from
the Town A Year or Towe then came back and Hung out a Sign Claiming to
Chiropodist to Queen Victoria.  He was the Laughing Stock of the Town.  Well
we Lived on Main St near 6th West Side in A Frame House Owned by Michael
Schunk (Father of Present Mayor 1908-9) on the Corner of 6th St There then was
A One Story double Log House.  the Part nearest to The Corner was Ocupied by A
Little Irishman, J J E Norman He had a Catho-




186


lic Book Store, some few Notions &c if he was Small in Size he was Great in
Polotics.  for a Number of Years He was the Head of the Public School Board
and by the Irish Was regarded as the Boss of the 1st & 2nd Ward - he was A
Hustler - The other part of the Building was Ocupied by two Jewish Boys Named
Maurice and Joe Rosenbaum.  they had a Sort of A Peanut and Pop Store with
Candy Cigars - Bread Cakes &c.  like all thier Race, they were Smart Shrewed
Chaps.  Maurice finaly went to Work For A Mr Henderson who was A Wholesale
Grocer.  He is the Man That Built that 4 Story Brick Block on the Levey -
about 1855 He Ocupied the South part.  He and his Family were regarded As
among the Wealthy Nabods until the Panic of 1857 busted The Bubble and his
Wealth was found to be largley Wind.  but Maurice Married the Oldest Daughter
befor the Crash - and After that Shared thier Fate & Fortune, but they left
Dubuque.  (134)  What became of Joe Rosenbaum I never heard or Knew - That
whole Block between 6th & 7th St above the Places here Mentioned had only 3
or 4 other Buildings - next - North Of where we Lived then, was A two Story
Brick Bldg - Now a 3 Story - the lower Story was A General Store the upper
Part a dwelling - in this sometime between 1849 to 1850 was Where John Bantly
(now Rev. Prfos) lived first - next to A Mr Willging had A Frame Building and
Yard for His Lumber - he Was a Furniture Manufacturer and Dealer.  He also
Lived there with his Family - on the Cor of 7th Was a two Story Brick Buildg
Ocupied by J P O'Halloran As A General Store.  Here I Bought my first Pair of
Boots Red Gilt Tops.  they were 3 or 4 inches



187

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.


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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


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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


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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


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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 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
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



235

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



236

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



237

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



238

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



239

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



240

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


241

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



242

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



243

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



244

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)



245


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



246

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



247

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



248

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



249

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



250

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



251

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



252

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



253

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



254

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



255

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



256

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.



257

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
-



258

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



259

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
off this Lived the Newberry Family, the Oldest Daughter off whom Married
Judge Austin Adams, My School Teacher in the Early Fifties.  the
Rothwell Family also Lived



260

in this House later on after the War, in One of these in The Late
Sixties Dr R L Hill first Opened his Office.  on the Cor of 8th St was
the Home of the Markle Family - the were in Some way Related to the
McArthurs.  the had 3 Children Charlie the Son, and Two Daughters.  the
Oldest Married John Farly, (Son of J P F) The intire Block Oposite was
also all Frame Buildings up to the Sixties.  The Cor 9th St was at one
time the Home Of the late Judge Pollock, and the Cor 8th was the Home of
Widow Lorimier After her Move from bet 10th & 11th St. The Facade
Building was Built by A Syndicate about same Time as Custom House in the
Sixties.  The Block Oposite Betwen 7th & 8th St. was all Frame up to Cor
7th in one of these  (182)  Frame Buildings there Lived up to 1860, Ex
Gov Hempstead, the Second Govenor of Iowa.  His Wife was One of the
Meenest & Miserliest Woman That Dubuque ever Knew.  When we Lived on
Main St in 1847/48 - Mother Had to go out Washing to Support the Family,
Father being away.  She Washed once A Week for Mrs H. and she treated
Mother in A Shamefully Cruell Way.  the had 3 Children.
***Jim***[handwritten] the Oldest was Quite a Sculpturer.  He went South
and Joined the Rebel Army.  That was the last seen of him in Dubuque.
Eugene Lived in Dubuque up to the late Seventies.  he started a Small
Notion Store in the St Cloud Block and Married his Only Helper Miss
Dutley, Daughter of Valentine Dutley - A Baker on Clay St.  his Buisness
was Not a Success so they left the City.  the Daughter Lavina was not A
Beauty - nor was She Noted for her Morality - she Married some Fellow
and als left the City soon after the War.  the Old Folk



261

lived And Died and are Burried in Linwood - in One of these Houses also
Lived Robert (Bob) Waples - Brother of Peter.  he Was one of the Early
Pioneers - A fine Portly and Jolly Fellow he Reminds one, off Mark
Twains Col Seller and his saying, there are Millions in it.  in the Boon
days off 1855, he Bought up all the Land And House he could - Payed but
very little Cash down, as had But little Money, so when the Crash off
1857 came, he lost all he Had Bought and it Busted himm for good.
Brother Dave Worked For his Wife - as A Baby Nurse and Dish Washer whe
was 8 or 9 Years Old.  On the Cor of 7th was The Old Methodist Church
One of the first Churches in Town and the first of that Denomination.
In the Basement of wich Old (Red Head) Man Rice taught School - the Boys
of that day will allwas remember him - for He had A Temper to match his
Red Head.  8th St between Locust and Bluff on the West side had only one
or two Buildings.  On the South Side near the Alley Joe Rhomberg Built A
Board Shanty - here he first started in the Saloon Buisness in 1856/57
He started in with Selling 2 Glasses of Beer & One Cigar for Five Cents.
His was soon the most Popular Saloon in Town.  The Block Oposite Had but
2 Buildings up to 1850, the 2 double Brick on and near the Cor of 8th
St. On Cor 7th was A Livery Stable one time befor he was Sherriff, of
Jerry Cummings on 7th St bettween Locust & Bluff there Were 3 double
Brick Houses.  in One Lived Wm Vandever our Congress Man and Maj Genl in
the Civil War - in one of the other Rev Peter Fleurey the first Pastor
of the German Presbeterian Church, the Friend of our Family and who gave
us our first Nights & few



262

days Shelter on our Arival in Dubuque in 1846, and here his Wife died in
1851 or 52.   (183) in the Other House Lived Mr Corckery and Old Irish
Politician He Moved to California in the midle Fifties - Jacob Christman
Built his Home on the Corner some time early in the Sixties - same
Street South Side had in 1850 but one Building on it and that On the Cor
of the Alley, A Private Boarding House - Kept by Mr L A Thomas and his
Wife - during the War Mrs Thomas was A Zellous Member of the Christian
Commission and Army Nurse - she it was That found my Friend Matt
Ploeckli in the Hospital at Memphis and Attend him until he died - after
the War they became very distitute And had to ask for Aid from Friends -
they deserved better Treatment From the Goverment.  The intire Block
between 6th & 7th St was from Earliest times The Washington Park, but
until after the Civil War it was Kept in such poor Condition that it was
not much better than A Cow Pasture.  during the Lincoln Douglas Campaign
in 1860 Senator Douglas (the Little Giant) mad a Speack here - they said
he was then in A half intoxicated Condition - and here in 1865 (Sept)
the Hero off the Civil War was Recieved by A tremendeous Crowd - he mad
only a Very short Speach.  My Sweeheart Nellie being over on A Visit I
took her down to see and Hear him.  On the Oposite Block there was Only
one Building, the Large Stone Curch of the Campelites.  in the Basement
A Mr Henry (Brother of Mrs Shomo) taugh School.  I Attended this for One
term about 1852/53.  On the Cor of 6th St in the Sixties there was A
Livery Stable up to 1877.  it was then Kept Mr Wm De Lorimior.  Oposite
Block between 5th & 6th in the Cor or



263

near it was the Double Brick House, Home of James R Goodrich, Methodist
Preacher and Retired Dry Goods Merchant, Noted for his Closeness in
Money matters &c and his long Prayers.  His Son Frank died on the
Battlefield of Shilo April 16/62, he Was Adjutant off the 16th.  his
Father refused to bring his Corps Home on Account Off the Cost this made
him very Unpopular.  His Daughtor Fanny was Married to A Mr Cherry in in
the Fall off 1855.  I was the Usher - they Went South and were there
during the War and lost evrything He died and she Came Home in destitute
Circumstances - and he Although in good Circumstances refused to take
her in or Aid her She then Rented A Room and took in Sewing, but she
went Back South 5 or 6 Months after.  that is the Kind of A Man he was.
The Next Building A Large double Brick - with Wide high Porch was Built
by Peter Waples in the Early Fifties and her He died and here My Boss E.
L. Barny Married his (Waples-s) Niece in 1856.  The Next Building up to
Cor 4th was the Julian Theatre The first off its Kind, Built in 1851 or
52, it was A great Pride to Dubuque And here we first saw Forres,
Matilda Herron, Kate & Sue ***Demins?***[handwritten] and most off the
Famous Actors and Stars off that day and Time.  (184) The Herald
Building Cor 8th Oposite Block was Erected in the Late Sixties by its
Propriators Ham and Carver.  below that Were one or two Small Houses.
on the Cor of 5th was the Largest Three Story Frame Hotel of A Mr Miller
up to 1855 to 57, it was A Very popular House for Transient Patronage.
the intire St (5th) was Given up for the Fire Engine Co. and for Market,
and Small Booths Off all Kinds lined both Sides of the Street.



264

On the Block Oposite Betwn 4th & 5th I can Remember but 3 Buildings - On
the Cor 5th there Lived Widow Gonder and her two Daughters.  it was A
good two Story Brick House - the Oldest Daughter Married Mr Merrideth
now Father in Law to J F Stampfer, the Youngest Grew up into an Old
Maid.  the Next House was also of Brick Here Lived A Mr Brinsmaid,  his
Wife a very Jellous Woman One Night as he Slept Committed an
Unmentionable Crime on him.  it is stated (or was) to be A fact - they
left Town Son After.  there was I think but one other House in the Block
A Frame.  on 4th St between Locust and Bluff, Lived Mr Thedinga in A
Frame Cottage.  his History is given on Main St Page.  On the Oposite
side there were up to 1856 - 3 or 4 Nice 2 Story Frame House, the Livery
Stable on the Cor was Built by the Lagans in the late Fifties or early
Sixties.  The Cor Oposite Between 3rd & 4th was the Property off L D
Randall - here He Built his Fine Mansion in the late Fifties and here He
And his Wife Lived and Died - Now the Rest of the St to the End off
Dublin now South Locust was all Built up, but in One & Two Story Frame
Buildings and below 1st St mostly Hovels and Shanties here Lived the
Irish Population and for Years Decent People hardly dared go down that
St. from 1st St for 3 or 4 Blocks down the place was all Doggeries & Low
Class Boarding Houses - Our Second Home in the Town was in A 2 Story
Frame on the 2nd Floor A Negro Family lived on the 1st Floor.  We lived
there only 3 or 4 Months it was to Tough for us - us Boys hardly dared
to go out on the Street in the Ravine the Road to Rockdale was about as
bad - it was fairly well



265

Built but same Class of People.  Mr Kempf Built a Brewery under The
Bluff in the Early Fifties.  the St from 3 down to 1st was more
Respectable mostly Private Homes, here & there A Saloon or Boarding
House on 2nd St to Locust there were A few Residences & Small Buisness
Houses.  This is the Story of Locust as I saw it and still Remember it
from 1846/48. to 1865 - whatever Improvements have been made or whatever
Things Good or Bad have happend Since those days, the Generation from
1865 To 1890 Know or Remember, and Will have to Transmit to the Future
Generations (185) I now take up Bluff St from 16th to 1st St or rather
to & below the Gass House, adopting the same Method as on Locust St.
Block for Block From West to Oposite Block East. - There were No
Buildings On it down to 15th St.  There (on 15th under the Bluff Chs
Hargis A Steam Boat Pilot of the early days Built his 2 Story Brick Home
in the Fifties. he died some time in the Sixties.  on the Cor off 14th
Mr Blossom had his Home and Orchard up to The late Sixties.  On the
Oposite Side of the Street there were then As now (1890) no Buildings
down to about Midde of the Block Between 10th & 11th St.  On the Bluff
head of 15 & 16th St. there Was in 1850 but One Building, A fine Brick
House on the Summit, the Home of A Pioneer Family by Name of Yates - All
Old Settlers, will remember thier Son Bob, A genial Fine Young Man but
quite Lame.  On Side off the Bluff Faceing 14th St. Rufus Rittenhouse
Built his fine Home in the Late Fifties, A Castle like Building, Called
For Rittinhouse Mr Gillium (Black Hawk) Bought this for A Home in the
Sixties and Lived there up to his Death.  On 14th St there



266

were Quite a few Buildings in the Early days.  The Weigel Home a Double
Brick - was there, also the Russell House and the Little Frame Cottage
off Widow Johnson and her two Daughters Then there were A few Frame
Houses above them (South Side) Oposite Side above Bluff St there were
only 2 or 3 Houses - the St Joseph College being Built some time in the
Sixties.  The House Cor 14th for Years the McCollough Home, was Built in
the late Fifties.  the fine double Brick with the Wide high Poarch was
Built by M D Bissell Wholesale Grocer in the late Fifties or they Early
Sixties for his Home.  the next 2 Story Stone House was built about same
time by A Mr Richards.  the double Brick below and The large Frame next
were early date Buildings especialy the Brick House.  below that were a
few Small Frame Buildings.  On the Corner below was the 2 Story Brick
Home of the Family Off Mr Aderson A Surveyor of the early Dubuque days
This in later Yeas has been the Home of Mr      the Coffe & Spice
Merchant.  The Cor below was in very early days the Home of the late Geo
W Burden The Street now Arlington St was up to 1860 not Open only about
up to the McDanial Home, and his was then the only Building any where
near - he was An early Pioneer, his Wife was A Large Noisey Woman -
Eccentric in Talk and Manners.  There were 6 Children - Richard, Leo,
Euphrates Mile & Frank And A Daughter, the Wife of T J Levan the Apple
Merchant - I Knew The whole Family - not one of the Boys were any good.
the other Buildings on  (186)  The Block were nearly all Frame up to Cor
10th.  here there was A one Story Brick Risidence, back of this the
Bluff up to the Top was all barren full of Trees



267

Brush and Stones, from what is now Terrace Park ave down to Bluff St and
from Arlington to 11th St. here us Kids spent our Afternoons - Vacation
Time, it was then A Secluded Spot and we could play allsorsts of Prancks
and Not be molested.  On the Block below West side from 11th to 10th
there Were but one or two Small Buildings up to 1860, and so it was On
the East Side - but here they were in a little better Style - Between
8th 9th it was about the same - There was A One Story Brick - in after
Years the Home of Mr Tice of Meyers Tice & Co. next To it was the then
Fine Colonial front Brick House and Home of Peter A Lorimior, An Old
Frenchman and A very Early Pioneer Reputed quite Wealthy.  he it was
that Built the Lorimer House in the Mid Fifties at this time Considerd
the Finest Building And best Hotel in the State and the Pride of Dubuque
for Years.  From 8th St up the Street was (and is) Known as Julian Ave.
from the Lorimer Hous up to the Cor St on North Side were a few Frame
Buildings only.  in the first One Lived the Healy Family On the 2nd
Floor.  Mrs H had just been Divorced from her Husband They were just
Moved in from A Farm and were very Poor.  her Brother Fred Weigel was
thier Main support.  here the Oldest Daughter Mary Ann died off
Consumption I got George his First Situation in the Seed Store off
Doolittle & Chamberlin in the Summer of 1856.  Oposite the Diamond House
under the Bluff Mr     A Painter Built A Home - a fine Brick House- on
The back of this, perched on the Side Hill were A Rickity Frame
Buildings, in One of these Lived Widow Finnigan she was a Good Sewer.  I
had her make my Clothes up after Tailor Gehring



268

Had cut them.  (this was from 1866 to 1870) now farther up the Avenue
(North Side) there were A few Scatterd Buildings up to the Emmerson Fine
Home and Grounds, Mr E" was Related to the Shields Family and the Senior
of the Firm of Emmerson & Shields Cor 4th & Main St They were quite
Wealthy - the had 2 Boys, neither of them any good, the Oldest one Van -
was A Drunck and soon got rid of his Portion.  The rest of the Land up
to the Cor of Alta Vista St was the Estate of Genl Or Senetor Jones, on
the Cor he Built his fine Home - the rest was all in Fruit Trees and
Mellons and this was A favorite Spot for us Boys.  the Senator was A
Settler of the Territorial and Indian days.  he was from the South, had
some Education and so was looked up to by the Rough Minors & Element of
those days.  he was A fine looking Man, full of Flattery  (187)
***Bumcom be***[handwritten] and Stories, so when the State was Admitted
in 1846, he was Elected its first Senator.  this would never have
happend in later Years.  Under Buchannas Administration he was Minister
to - Bogota.  while There he stood and Wittnisstned the Burning of
Bibles in the Public Square by Monks and Priests without protest.  for
this & his Letters to Jeff Davis ands his Treasnable Talk, he was
Recalled And for A Short time Imprisond in Fort Laffeyette by Presidt
Lincoln.  his Three Sons were very litte account.  George the Youngst
Joined the Rebel Army and was Captured at Ft Henry Tenn. in 1862.  Chas
was A sort of A Lawyer and the last of his Years he was very Simple
Minded.  Bill was A Born Loafer and Lived and died as such.  Of the two
Daughters, One Married A Chicago Doctor, the other one Married Mr Duess



269

of Pickenbrock & Duess Whole Sale Boot and Shoe Dealers.  the Old Man
Lived To be over Ninty Years Old, Outliving all but one Daughter.  On
the other side off Alta Vista St. Capt Marsh, Steam Boat Captian Built a
fine Home in the late Fifties.  he died shortly after.  his Widow
Outlived him many Years.  on the Other or Oposite side off the Ave was
The Wellk now Diamond House Built in the early Fifties - back off that
Was An Old double Brick & One or two Frame Houses.  on the Street Up the
Hill where now the Street Car Runs was A double Brick and A Frame House
or two and back off them on the Bluff were 2 or 3 Houses That is about
all there was on this Hill and the Bluff embracing what is now West 5th
to West 3rd and the now Faishonable or Aristoratic St Where near point
of the Bluff and head of 4th St Elevator J K Graves - Sol Turck & other
High toned People Built thier fine Homes in the Sixties and Seventies.
up to 1858 all this was so to say an Uninhabbited Wildernes.  The
Langworthy Brothers Built fine Houses back on and near Alta Vista St in
the late Fifties, and near them A Old Timer and fine Man - Mr Mairn, A
Hyde & Leather dealer Also had his Home.  his Son Married Sam Uptons
Daughter.  Now to go back to the Ave. above the Diamond House for 2 or 3
Block there were only 3 or 4 Frame Buildings Above them was the Fine
Home of Mr Simplot an Uncle off Alex and Chas - ***    ***[unreadable]
was A frame wich was the the Grocerie Store off an Old German Bachlor -
A Mr Weiss, and on Cor of Alta Vista St was the Frame House of Mr Martin
a Neibhor Of ours while living on Main St.  back of this for 1 or 1 1/2
Miles up to the Village of West Dubuque up to 1856 there were



270

no Houses - West Dubuque was A Mining Village of Grogeries Cheap
Boarding Houses and A few small Stores.  it was then like Dublin A
Tough place & Shuned by Strangers  (188)  I must go back down Julian Ave
to the Street below the Emmerson Home.  there Lived David Decker A Boot
and Shoe dealer He was Elected Sherriff in the Mid Fifties, but doubting
His Ability to properly fill it he resigned the Office in a few Months,
and on this Bluff at the Summit H S Hethrinngton Built A fine Home in
the late Fifties.  here he Lived up to the late Sixties when he removed
to his New Home on Ellis St. - -
Now we come to the Bluff St again, East Side Between 8th & 9th St. Here
up to 1860 were only 2 or 3 Small frame Buildings, on The side Oposite
between 7th & 8th were a few Inferior frame Buildings in one of these
Lived the Younger branch of the Christman Family and the Mother, they
were Charles - Gus Kate Sarah and one Younger up to 1860, On the Corner
oposite but Facing 8th St was A 3 Story Brick from 1856 to 1859 The
first Floor was then the U S Post Ofice. the upper Floors Wes used for A
Theatre, the Peoples, it was very handsomly Fitted up and soon surpassed
the Julian Theatre.  One Night in the Winter of 1857 after A heavy Snow
fall, the back Walls were Pressed out by the Wieght off Snow on the
Roof, And fell on the little Frame Cottage back of it, it was then the
Home off an Old Retired Sea Captain and his Wife, it crushed The
Building like an Egg Shell and Killed the Old Couple - Thier Grave may
be seen to this day in Linwood.  the Post Office Then Moved to the S W
Cor 8th & Main where it remaind until it removal to 9th & Locust



271


St.  On the Corner Jacob Christman Built his Home in the Mid Sixties, on
Block Opost between 6th & 7 Were one or two Brick and Frame House, below
that at head of 6th Sitting way back in the Yard was A two Story Brick
the Home of Mr Robbins the Jeweller.  the Block oposite was the
Washington Square.  on Cor 5th (West) was the early & fine Home Off J P
Farly for many Years, the Block oposite was all barren The Street below
this up to the Cathedral was all Built up but No prominient People lived
there.  the West Side was mostly 2 Story Brick the East Side nearly all
Cheap Frame Houses, but on the Corner of 3rd East John the Grafford in
1855 Built his Fine 5 Story Brick Hotel - it never was much of A Success
and was let out for other Purposes in A few Years.  below to 1st St were
all Frame Shacks The present Cathedrall was begun in the late Fifties by
Bishop Smyth and Completed as it now stands by Bishop
***Hem?***[em ? Handwritten]  The first Bishop of Dubuque And the State
was Bishop Loras, in my day, a little Old dried up Frenchman who is now
referd to as the Saintly Bishop, he was a pleasent  (189)  And allways
Smiling Old Man.  I often saw him on the Street.  the Only Buildings
worthy off Note below that to the Ravine or Street Leading up the Hill
wer the Public School andd Gass House.  the School Was Built in 1855
with the Four others all about Alike by Rague The Achitact, the Gass
House in the later Fifties with J K Graves President and Jerry Howard
Suprintendent off the Co. the rest Off the Street and up along the
Ravine was all Small Frame And Logg Shacks with A tough Set of Irish
People - Saloons and Small Stores, it was unsafe for Strangers even
in



272

daylight - this Was from 1846 to 1860. - On Wests Hill - so Named after
Mr West who had A sort off a Grocerie Store S W. Cor 4th and Main St (Mr
Thedingas former Shoe Store) his two Sons Orville & Orlando - Were Steam
Boat Pilots and Tough Wild Boys.  the were Ringleads off The then Rowdy
Gang and Town Terrors when Off duty or Work.  This Hill or Bluff was the
place where A Barbacue & Pinic Celebration was held on the 18th off July
1855, in Honor off the Opening Off the Dubuque & Sioux City R. R. now
the I C R R.  it was a great Event and nearly all the Town was there.
of cource, I was there to!  Senator Stephen A Douglas (the little Giant)
made the principal Speach - he was nearly Drunk - he loved Liquor. -
this about ends The tale of the Town as I Knew it, Saw it, and Still
Remember it from 1846 to 1890.  I have Skipped several Localities in the
regular Order - so Will now take them up.  What in now West Eagle Point
Ave from Conler Ave up, was then Known as Langworthy Hollow.  it was
Sparley Settled - and nearly all were Market Huckter Gardners.  in the
Early Sixties Mr Cushing Built & Operated A Vinegar Factory in these
parts, above that an Old Irishman by Name Off Welsh had A Small Farm
here - he wanted to be A Politician, and in the Sixties he actualy was
Elected as A Justice of the Peace.  his 2 Boys were the worst in the
City - So bad that the Rowdy Gang would not Recognize them.  Jim was A
Plaster when he Worked, wich was Seldom, and A drunckard and died as
such.  Con was all that Was bad, Loafer Bully and Jail Bird, above that
was all a bare Wilderness - the Pest House was then located up here



273

at the foot of the Ravine Leading up the Bluff where the Water Reservoi
now is.  this was allways up to 1857 A rich Mining district and A
Bonanza for us Boys to pick Over the dirt thrown away by the Miners.  We
often made 75 to #100oo pr day.  From one off these Deep & Rich Mines
flows the Clear Spring Water that was the Cities Supply up to 1870.
this Mine was Booth & Carters & made them Wealthy, but Farther up this
way the Lead Vein gave out, and it was left A Wilderness  (190)  The
Bluff at the Head of Main St was up to 1858/59 all barren and All Trees
and Brush - A Favorite Haunt for us Boys and A good Pic Nic Ground.
about the first Building was the Dr Porter House He was A Dentist but
off rather bad repute in later Years.  his House was at the Top off the
Ravine, and right back off the Blake House.  The House at nearly the
point off the Bluff head off Main Street was Built for his Home by Col
West in the Midle Sixties it has Been for Years the Residence of John V
Rider.  the only other Building even up to 1858, was the Frame Building
fronting on Conler Ave and the 18th St Engine House, it was Built in the
Summer of 1858 by One off my Employers, E L Barney - it has Since, for
Years been the Home of Geo Rath Sr.  all the other Buildings on this
Bluff or Bluffs out to West Dubuque Have been Built since 1860 - what is
now North Main St was Only a rough Hill Side not even A pathway.  after
the Street was Opened, Mr Blossom Built his fine Home on the East Side
off it.  he Sold it in A few Years to Mart Van Vorhees A I C R R
Conducter.  he lived there for A few Years - Ellis and Almond St up to
1860 were not Know as such and no Houses



274

Were on them, our Home 70 Ellis St was the first that in July 1857.
There were no Rail Roads nearer then Galena Ill up to 1854.  That Summer
the I C R R reached Dunleith   in the Mid Sixties Large Ferry Boats
built for the Special purpos off brinng intire Frains over the River
were in operation for a few Years, when in the Summer off 1867 the I C R
R Rail Road Bridge was Built.  The R R. Clinton Chicago and Dubuque (now
the C N & St P) Reached Dubuque in the late Sixties, but this was its
Terminal for A Year of two then it reach St Paul.  Joe Rhomberg was its
First Vice President, and to him and his Fore sight Dubuque is Indepted
for the Large Ellegant Shop Buildings - Round House it Has there, the
other Bridges Spanning the River and the other Rail Ways And Buildings
Public and Private now so Many & so fine, all over the City, I need not
enumerate, as the have all been Built in the present Generation and so
will be rememberd by them.  my Object in these Reminences has been to
show what Dubuque was in its Pioneer days From 1846 to 1860 - as in the
late Comming Home Celebration in June ***1853***[5 handwritten] - The
Oldest Pioneers seem to have intruly forgotten most off the Old Settlers
- & the Tragic & Interesting Events and Notable Buildings off Those Wild
Hustling and Now interesting Times and Days - Related in These pages.
Mistakes & Errors off Dates & People have no doubt been made Here &
there, but as it has been 10 Years & over, I hope they will be
Overlooked  (199)   At the time we Arived in Dubuque - March 17th 1846,
it was A rough Frontier Village off about 3500 Inhabitants.  it had Been
Icorparated for A few Years, had A Mayor and A



275

Board Off Aldermen, 2 Justices of the Peace, and One Town Marshall I was
most all Built up off Frame and Log Buildings with A few Blocks off 2
Story Brick Store Buildings and these were All below 5th on Main St.
with here and there A Brick Risidence - as Ed Langworthy, Cor 14th &
White, L Langworthy Cor 12th & Iowa, Jude T S Wilson, 16th & White.  The
Blake House On Mineral St. the Old Court House and The Brick House on
7th & White and the One A little below the Jefferson House - and
Exepting the last 3 the others were then in the Suburbs and nearly out
of the Town Limit.  The Sorunding Bluff were then Hony combed with
Minneral Holes and about half the Town was engaged in Mining for Lead -
the Country all over from Catfish Creek to Perue Bottom was Rich with
Mineral and up to 1850 was the Chief attraction and Source of Weath and
the Hope off the Poor Man that draw him these Mining Claims.  it was so
in my Fathers Case, but he never took to it.  us Boys in the Summer off
1846, did all the Mining off the Family by Picking over the Dirt dumped
out off the Mines.  There were Then Lots off Indians in the Vicinity,
and it was no unusual Sight to see them and thier Squaws on Main St. and
thier Boys Shooting at Pennies with thier Bows and arrows.  These were
also The great Steam Boat days - Seldom was any out of Sight on the
River And great was the Rivalry betwn them, especialy as to wich should
Be the first to Arive in the Spring, for the first Arival had Free
Dockage All Summer, and when her Whistle was heard, The whole Population
Men Woman & Children rushed down to the Landing - The Boats were all
Large Ellegant Side Wheelers.  I dont remember A



276

Seeing a Single Stern Wheel Boat, and as for the Pilots of them days -
Well They were the whole thing, when they Swaggerd up Town Hats on Side
and Nose in the Air - why is was A distinction to be Noticed by them -
and to Be Cussed by them was a never to be forgotten Honor.  the
outranked the Capt Ashore and A float.  They were Paid #200oo to #250oo
pr Month & often #300oo Oh these were great days - and those of that
time yet Living will never Forget them,  The Steam Boat Racing The Horse
Races at Peru Bottom The Circuses - Plunkets Theatre and Sally St Clair,
Julian Theatre And Kate & Sue Dennin, The 2 Hand Fire Machines & thier
Rivalry & Thier 2 Captains,Jerry Howard & Henry Schunk and last but not
least Our Jolly Little Town Marshall Joe Swab, all gone yet not
forgotten  (200)  Peru Bottoms 5 Miles North off the Court House was at
First intended for the Site of Dubuque but as the Land Laid very lowe
and was Subject to an Overflow evry Spring and Fall it was Abandoned,
but for some Years up to 1855 it was A favorite place for Horse Races,
and the McKnight Springs A great Pic Nic Resort.  Thompson Mill On the
Makoquota was the City Limit from 1855 on -




Some off The Noted Men off Early Pioneer Day were. Viz -

         Genl or Senator Geo W Jones
         Lucius, Solon and Edward Langworthy -- Miners
         Richard Bonson                           "
         T S Wilson         Teritorial Judge and Lawyer



277


         D S Wilson         Lawyer and State Senator
         H A Wiltse         Lawyer & Judge
         W H Sandbore       Real Estate and Speculater
         Stephen Hempstead- Lawyer and 2nd Govenor of the State
         Caleb Booth        Miller and one of the early Mayor -.
         Mr Burt            Lawyer and Mayor in the late Fifties
         J D Jennings       Real Estate and Speculator
         Mr McDaniel        Brick Layer and Stone Mason
         Warner Lewis       County & City Recorder
         John King          Printer off the firs Paper in Iowa,
                            the Visitor
         J B Dorr           Editor Proprito of Express and Herald
                            up to 1861 Then Col 8th Iowa Cav.
                            Died in 1864
         Andrew Keesecker   One of Iowa-s first & Oldest Printers
         F V Goodrich       Merchant
         J R Goodrich         "
         J P Farly          Merchant Steam Boat Owner & Manufacturer
         Mr Simplot         Minor, Father off Alex--Chas and Henry
         C C Childs         Printor
         D A Mahony         Propriate off Exp & Herald after 1861 &
                            Copphead during The War
         Timothy Mason      Doctor and Druggist
         Mr Thedinga        Merchant and Banker



278


         Mr Gilliam         (Called Black Hawk) Father of Oscar Lon
                            & Mrs ***Payace(?)***[handwritten]
         Mr Shields         Merchant, Brother off       Genl, & Father
                            of (Bud) the Lawyer
         Mr Emmerson        Merchant  Partnor off Mr Shields.
(191)    Rev J W Conkey - Brother off Mrs Dr Watson
         Dr Lewis, Father off Theodore and John P Lewis.
         Platt Smith Lawyer and ***Landed***[handwritten] Propriator
         Dr Asa Horr
         Leonard Horr Brother of the Doctor and Father of
                            Major Horr
         Dr Koepfli - Father off Doc Koepfli the Grocer
         Rufus Rittenhouse, Brick layer and Contractor
         Mr ***Canon(?)***[non (?) handwritten] and his Sons - William,
                     Charles and Henry - Grocers
         Mr Thaubald Soap Manufacturer, he Built the Factory in Dubin
         Now Owned by Mr Beach.  he died off Cholera in 1853 -

         De Grisselles Wine Merchant and Importer
         John Birkle - Boarding House and Saloon Cor 4th &
                            Clay - North W
         Mr Luck - Saloon Keeper Father of Geo and Doctor John
         Mr Krickbrum - Wealthy German
         Mr Mangold        "      "      Speculater
         Jacob Mitchel, Shoe Dealer on Main St
         Mr Shine, Builder off the Shine Block Main & 4th
                            South East Cor



279


         Pat Norton Drayman - Father of John Ed and Sarah***[hdwrtn]
         Judge Dyer , Builder and Owner off Home off Sisters
                             St Joseph Cor 13th & Main
         Mr Zublin So East Cor 11th & Main - Father of Ralph.
         Dr Gillespi  the Druggist
         Mr Mack the Gun Smith, Builder off Rowe Brick Bldg
                            Cor 13th & Iowa to Alley
         Capt Marsh, Steam Boat Capt up to 1860.
         Shomo the Black Smith





These are about all the Prominent Men that came to Dubuque Befor 1850 -
quite a number off them Settled there even earlier than 1840. but the
Majority arived from 1840 to 1849 - There are More that arived from 1850
to 1860 - to many to enumerate - such as, J K Graves - Wm B Allison, Wm
Bradley, John and H B Glove, Mr Palmer Mr Winnall - Mr Bergh, Dr
Staples, Robinson the late Shoe Man E H Eigh     the Banker, The
***Wundlich***[undlich handwritten] Brothers, W J Knight The Ellwanger,
John Melhop Sr.  B B Richards, his Father in Law, Mr Whittaker Mr Ryan
the Pork Packer, F W H Sheffield J P Scott, G B ***Greavenor***[reavenor
handwritten] Mr Harger, W C Chamberlin, Mr Wemot & his Partner Mr Howard
and Still A larger Number off lesser Lights, Attracked by the Boon of
1853 to 1858,  (192)  Major M Mobley - Banker Father off Ed and Four
other bad Boys John D Bush, Pork Packer - Miller and Land Owner -
Fred Weigel - Partner in Buisness off John D Bush
Peter Waples Builder and Proprietor off Julian House up to 1856



280

Robert Waples Merchant and Speculater
H. Hewitt,    Land Lord of City Hotel up to 1856.
Bishop Loras, 1st Bishop of Iowa, Builder off 1st Cathedral
Rev John Holbrook, Minister 1st Congregal Cuch up to 1856
Rev Peter Fleury, Organizer off 1st German Presbeterian Church
Wm Vandever,  Lawyer Congressman & Maj Genl in Civil War
Peter Laine Sr. Laborer, then Real Estate Agt.
F E Bissell   Lawyer and Atty Genl of the State up to 1860 -
Peter Lorimier,Builder and Owner off Lorimier House
Mr Finnemore, Pollitician, Govt Official, Brother in Law to
              J T Hancock
Jessey Harrison Landlord of the American House
Josh Ogelsby, Bricklayer, his Wife was Sister off Poet T
              Buchanan Reed -
P H Moreheiser City Marshall from 1856 to 1861 - the Chieff or
              Police ***[heiser handwritten]
Old Squire Gilliam (Father of Black Hawk G) at Nashville Tenn
              under Rosencrantz
Jacob Christman, Partner of J P Farly in Hard Ware Buisness
Dick Cox      Land Owner and Capitalist
Tom Levins    Successfull as a Miner
M D Bissell   Whole Sale Grocer
L D Randall   Merchant, Leather and Harness Store
Timothy Faming Owner of the Horse Ferry Boat, Ocean Wave -
Mr Guerin     Old retired French Soldier of Napolian Wars
Joe Swabb our First City Marshall about 5 foot High
John Bell -   Miner and Dry Goods Merchant



281


John V Rider, Farmer Boy - Clerk for J P Farly - Dept Sherriff
Partner of John Bell Dry Goods - Capitalits, &c
Mr Blake (Mineral St) Miner and Land Owner
Mathis Ham -(Eagle Point) Farmer & Brick Manufacturer.
Richard Plum, first Land Lord of Tremont House
Mr Kaltenbach, Watch Maker and Jeweler
A Heeb - One of the Towns firs Beer Brewers
M. Tsehirge also One of the Towns firs Beer Brewers
            ***[Tsehirge handwritten]***
Albert Mathews Plasterer and Contracter
Ben M Samuels Lawyer Cadidate for Govenor Democrat 1858
Geo Connell,  Carpenter Father in Law off P W Crawford
P W Crawford, Lawyer, Soldier, and Legislator
Geo L Nightingale, Lawyer and Mayor of City in the Fifties.
***(195)***[inserted left margin of page] The Prominent Lawyers off that
early day were few, I can only recall The following
              Ben M Samuels, Great Crimnal Lawyer
              Mr Burt Jude
              F E Bissell - Attorny Genl for the State in the
                            late Fifties
              O P Shiras Partnorer up t Mr Bissills Death
              A J Vanderzee  "     "    "      "     "
              Judge T S Wilson.
              S P Adams   MS Provost Marshall during Civil War
              Platt Smith



282


The Mayors off from 1846 to 1860, I can now only Recall
Caleb Booth
Geo L Nightingale
Judge Burt




The Rowdy Ellement, the Leaders or Ringleaders were
Tom and Jim McNear
Tad Mason (or Lyon real Name)]
Chas Cleveland
Bill and Jack Davis
Pete Lorimor - Orlando and Orville West and Doc Koepfle
Press Watterman - Geo and Charley Farley
Bill John Ed and Bud Mobley - there were a Host off other But they Could
not get inside the Ring, to thier great Sorrow - These are the Boys that
Kept the Town Hot up to 1855 And made our little Marshall Joe Swab go in
hiding - When the got on A Rampage.  after 1855 Phill Morehiser was Our
Marshall.  he was A large Powerfull Man and did not Fear them.  he very
soon showed them that thir Jigg was up.  the Feared him, the worst left
Town and the others wer Cowed down

(196)
The Steam Boats Captains that were Popular with us Boys were
Capt Mr Harris -                 He lived in Galena Ill
 "      Lawton                   "    "    " Plattville Wis
 "   Tom Levins (one Summer only) "   "    " Dubuque -
 "      Marsh                     "   "    "     "



283


The Steam Boat Pilots off Dubuque were
W H Morse
Chas Cleveland
Chas Hargus
Orlando West
Orville.


                        These Boys in the great flourishing Steam Boat
Days up to 1865, Earned Big Wages #200oo to #300oo pr Month, and when
the Boats laid up for the Winter, they wer The Lords & Princes off the
Town -***Nabobs***[handwritten] sure, no use for any Small Fry to
attempt any Familliarity, they would be witherd with A glance - and they
made the Money fly and Kept the Old Town Hot all Winter, it was Seldom
any one off them Could Show Five Dollars when Winter ended, Oh they were
Gay Boys - in them days There many Rowes and Drunken Pitched Battles,
and the Little Logg Jail was full about evry Night, but I Cant recall a
single Serious Rowe - beyond A Black Eye or A Bloody Nose, and exepting
The Gillick Murder off 1857, there was no other up to the Summer off
1860.  This is a remarkably good Record when it is Considerd that the
Town was (as they say) Wide Open - all Day and All Night, with Sunday
the biggest day off all Wiskey and Beer was plenty and Cheap - and any
Man Woman Or Child that had the Price could get all they wanted  any
time.  Gambling and Assignation House plied thier Trad with Open doors
and none to say them Nay, such was Dubuque As I Can Remember it from
1846 to 1855, befor that in earlier Times it was no doubt Worse still,
but I speak off only what I Know.
