burned down, after having been occupied as a residence, tavern and boarding house for some twenty years. The first frame house was built by Wesley Jones, on the present site of the Powell block, south of University Square, in which was stored and sold the first stock of goods brought to this city. The first brick building was erected by Mr. Bostwick, and the first regular hotel was built and conducted by Walter Butler. These buildings were all erected in 1839. But Allen & Andrews' old double cabin "tavern," at the corner of Brown and Gilbert streets, was still earlier than Butler's hotel. In 1840 Samuel H. McCrory was postmaster at Iowa City, and established the first postoffice in the city in a rough log building that stood on the first block north of Capitol Square (now the University Campus), and a mail route was opened from Muscatine to Iowa City, with a contract to furnish a weekly mail. Before this date, the meagre mail had been brought in a very irregular way from Muscatine up to wherever the "Napoleon" postoffice happened for the time to be located. [See article on successive postmasters.] The first church in Johnson county was erected by the Protestant Methodist Association at Iowa City in 1844, the corner stone being laid May 13, by the Rev. John Libby, his excellency Gov. Lucas assisting in the ceremony. In December, 1841, the first meeting of the legislature in Iowa City occurred. The capitol building was not ready for them yet, and they held their sessions in the Hutchinson house. This was a large frame building that stood on Washington street next south of the corner block where Whetstones drug store is now (1882) on the same ground now occupied by the building in which Mr. Schell has his shoe store. The old Hutchinson house now stands on Dubuque, between College and Burlington streets, being occupied in 1882 by Mr. Springer. It is one of the few remaining relics of the pioneer city. THE FIRST MILL DAM. The first flouring mill in Johnson county was erected and run by David and Joshua Switzer, in 1841, and was located on Clear creek. In this mill was ground the first flour and meal manufactured in the county. But how large a dam they built the historian did not learn. Secondly. By an act of the council and house of representatives of the territory of Iowa, approved Dec. 15, 1840, Walter Terrill was authorized to construct a dam across the Iowa river in Johnson county at a point on the southwest quarter of section No. three, in township seventy-nine north, range six west,-the dam not to exceed five feet above the ordinary low water mark, and provided that said dam be completed within the term of three years from the passage of said act. It was also stipulated that this dam should not obstruct the navigation of the Iowa river. The vision of steamboats plying up and down this stream was a vapory delusion then fondly hugged by probably a majority of the settlers. Mr. Terrill went away south, to Louisiana; he did not return until the winter or early spring of 1843—and in April of this year he commenced building the dam. While that was in progress he also built a mill, which has been known ever since as "Terrill's Mill." The property is now owned (1882) by Mrs. Mary Terrill. Terrill's was the first permit ever given to construct a dam on the Iowa river. SECOND MILL DAM ON IOWA RIVER. Silas Foster, Esq., of Iowa City, relates that in the spring of 1843 a meeting was held at the office of Judge John G. Coleman, to consider the matter of building a dam. An adjourned meeting was held at the Tremont House, and a joint stock company was formed, of $5,000, at $25 per share. The directors elected were: Chauncey Swan, Augustus C. McArthur and J. K. Haverstraw. Officers-President, Chauncey Swan; secretary and treasurer, Silas Foster; superintendent, A. B. Newcomb. Work on the dam was commenced June 18, 1843. The site was donated by Walter Butler, but reserving certain uses of the dam himself for a saw mill, etc. As the dam progressed, a mill was also commenced; and on January 1, 1844, the workmen and stockholders had a New Year feast of corn dodgers and mush, made from meal ground that day in the mill-its first grist. The dam was four hundred feet long, and had cost only twenty-five dollars in money paid out. Here is a miracle! It happened in this way. Many of the stockholders paid for their shares in work, while others paid in supplies to house and feed the workmen. Judge Coleman and Philip Clark paid their shares, four each, making a total of $200, in meat and flour, for the workmen. C. C. Buck paid his shares in groceries. This dam was on nearly the same site now known as the Coralville dam. (See "Annals of Iowa," April," 1869.) The first dam was ten feet high, and was, when built, the largest dam west of the Mississippi river. It has since been increased to thirteen feet, vertical height, at the apex or overflow. FIRST STANDARD MEASURES. By the county board, March 6, 1840: Ordered by the board, that Abner Wolcott, Esq., be authorized to furnish the following standard measures for the use of the county, to-wit: One three feet measure, one one foot measure, likewise a box containing one thousand seventy-five and one-fifth inches, or a half bush.el. And Henry Felkner, Esq., be authorized to furnish an entire set of standard weights for the county's use. Col. Ed. Lucas claims to be the first man who ever sowed tame grass seed in Johnson county, and says he is prouder of that than he ever was of going to the legislature. This may seem like a small matter now, but at that time nobody believed tame grass would grow here, hence it took a good deal of grit to send off to St. Louis, as he had to, and buy a lot of timothy and clover seed, and try the experiment. This was in the fall of 1845; he sowed the seed on new breaking; it did well; and from that historic experiment may be dated the rise of Johnson county's fame and success as a fine stock country. Col. Lucas also brought the first peafowls into the county. CHAPTER IV.-PART 3. Old Settlers Organization—Constitution--Enrolled Names--Various Meetings--Officers, etc. OLD SETTLER'S ASSOCIATION. Some claim that an old settler's association was organized in February, 1859. An editorial statement to this effect was made in some number of the "Annals of Iowa," but we failed to find any authentic record to verify it. However, there were social gatherings of old settler friends and neighbors, several times before any general and formal organization was made. The first record preserved shows that a meeting was held in the council chamber at Iowa City, Feb. 22, 1866. Officers were elected; and Hon. Samuel H. McCrory, Prof. T. S. Parvin and Col. E. W. Lucas were appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws. David Switzer was chairman, and J. R. Hartsock, secretary of this meeting; but the names of the permanent officers elected will be found attached to the constitution, hereafter given. A resolution was adopted, "that all who resided in Iowa before the first of January, 1843, be regarded as 'Old Settlers,' and eligible to membership in the association." But the constitution as adopted, recognized anybody who had lived in the State twenty years, or more, as an "old settler," no matter when he came. A committee of one from each township was appointed "to collect the names of all the old settlers, and report them to the secretary of the association to be recorded." Remember, this order was made at the same time the rule was adopted to count as "old settlers" only those who came before 1843. This committee was: 66 Graham township Jesse Strawbridge | Washington township... Titus Fry ..A. D. Packard Liberty township.. Henry Earhart 66 .. Henry Felkner Hardin W. B. Ford . John Parrott | Iowa City .. Edwin Brown Sharon 66 ... 66 ...P. Harris Henry Welsh Newport 66 Big Grove .Perry D. Turner Charles McCune .... D. A. Shafer H. Hamilton Pleasant Valley township I. J. Burge Jefferson township.. Benj. Swisher On March 10, 1866, they met again. Mr. McCrory presented the constitution prepared by the committee, it being mostly the same as one obtained from a similiar association in Scott county, which holds its meetings at Davenport. The next meeting of the association was on June 2, 1866, at which time it was ordered that two hundred copies of the constitution should be prin ed and circulated. Also, provision was made for holding a re-union and festival on the 21st of June, and on the 4th the following programme was published: The annual festival of the old settlers of Johnson county will be held on Thursday, June 21, 1866, in the grove at the east end of College street, in Iowa City. S. H. BONHAM to deliver the annual address. The following committees are appointed to carry out the arrangement. Committee to erect table and speaker's stand-Edward Lanning, Geo. Paul and M. D. Freeman. Committee to receive provisions-Col. S. C. Trowbridge, Laurence Johnson, J. W. Swofford, John McCrory and Horace Sanders. Committee to arrange the tables-Mrs. Terrell, Mrs. Geo. Paul, Miss McCrory, Mrs. E. K. Morse, Mrs. S. C. Trowbridge, Mrs. Cyrus Sanders, Misses Mary Sutliff, Ella Felkner, Ada Kimball, Helen McCune and Hattie Van Fleet, and Mrs. Titus R. Fry. Committee on dishes-J. R. Hartsock, A. B. Walker, John P. Irish, Willie Crum, M. Cavanagh. Committee on water and refreshments-John Shoup, Charles Paul, I. V. Willis, Charlie Hutchinson, W. H. L. Swafford and Thos. M. Irish. Committee on music-Robert Hutchinson, Thos. Snyder and E. Red head. Committee on toasts and responses--David Switzer, A. C. Sutliff, Titus R. Fry, S. H. McCrory, Warner Spurrier, F. M. Irish, E. Welsh, Charles Cartwright and Wm. Crum. The hour for meeting on the ground is 9 o'clock A. M. of said day. Each family is expected to furnish the necessary provisions, such as meats, bread, cakes, pies, pickles, fruits and fancy articles for the table, to make a No. 1 dinner, and to deliver when on the ground to the committee, of which Col. S. C. Trowbridge is chairman. The committee on arrangements expect, and would most earnestly solicit every family of old settlers to take hold in the true spirit of an old settler, and be present on that occasion. Any information wanted will be given by applying to the committee of arrangements. E. W. Lucas, Sylvanus Johnson, James Cavanagh, John R. Van Fleet, L. S. S. Swafford, committee on arrangements. CONSTITUTION OF THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION, ADOPTED MARCH 10, 1866. WHEREAS, The old settlers are rapidly passing away, we feel it to be our duty to gather, and preserve the memories of a settlement that has resulted in a growth and development so great, and feeling that the recollection of the past, and the hope of the future, link us together, as a brotherhood, we do now ordain and establish this constitution: ARTICLE I.-This associalion shall be called the Old Settlers, Association of Johnson County, Iowa. ARTICLE II.-The officers of this association shall be a president, three vice presidents, recording secretary, corresponding secretary and treasurer. ARTICLE III.-The president shall preside at all meetings of the association, and preserve order, and in case of an equal decision, give the casting vote. He may call special meetings of the association, at the request of eight (8) members. In case of the absence of the president, or hs inability to act, the senior vice-president shall perform his duties. ARTICLE IV.-Sec. 1. The recording secretary of the association shall keep a true record of its proceedings, and shall keep a register, called the old settler's register, in which shall be registered the name, age, place of nat vity, occupation, date of settlement in Iowa, date and place of death of each member, when such shall occur. Sec. 2. The secretary shall ascertain from the above facts, as respects. themselves, at the time of signing the constitution, and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned him. ARTICLE V. The corresponding secretary shall receive and read to the association, and answer all communications addressed to it, and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned him. ARTICLE VI. The treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to the association, and disburse the same and render an account at the expiration of his term of office, and hand over all monies, books and papers, to his successor. ARTICLE VII.—Sec. 1. All officers of the association, hereafter shall be elected annually, on the first Saturday of March, and hold their office for one year, or until their successors are elected. Sec. 2. After each annual election the president shall appoint an executive committee of five, whose duty it shall be to make all necessary arrangements for an anniversary meeting of the association at such time. and place as they shall deem most expedient, and having determined on the time and place, give notice of the same. ARTICLE VIII. All persons who are non-residents of Johnson county, who were residents of Iowa at the time of the adoption of the first State constitution for the State of Iowa, and who are of good moral character, are eligible to membership. ARTICLE IX.-Sec. 1. Every member shall sign the constitution, and pay to the treasurer fifty cents, and thereafter twenty-five cents annually. Sec. 2. All persons hereafter that have resided twenty years in Iowa and are residents of Johnson county, may become members by applying to the executive committee; provided a majority of the committee are in favor of such persons being admitted as members of the association regulating the admission of members. ARTICLE X. A majority of all the members of the association may alter or amend the constitution, at the annual meeting in March. ARTICLE XI. The executive committee shall select a suitable person to deliver an address before the association, on the day of the anniversary meeting. ARTICLE XII. The families of all members are privileged to attend the anniversary meeting of the association. ARTICLE XIII. Whenever practicable, the members of the association shall attend in a body the funeral of any deceased member; and as a token of respect, shall wear the usual badge of mourning. |