History of Linn County Iowa Part 72

The first tax levy mentioned was ordered by action of council December 16, 1850. This amounted to "one and one-half mills on the dollar of all taxable property within the corporation," and Johnson Hill was appointed a.s.sessor. Another ordinance to prevent the sale of spiritous and intoxicating liquors was pa.s.sed December 16, 1850. Any quant.i.ty less than a gallon sold "without advice of a physician," rendered the seller liable to a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than twenty-five. A license fee of from one to five dollars was exacted from all peddlers, whether they were footmen with packs or sold goods from wagons.

THE ELECTION OF 1851

Annual town election was again held in April, 1851. At this time Nicholas B. Brown was chosen as mayor. Benjamin Weizer, Michael Bryan, and Joseph A. Love, councilmen, and S. C. Koontz, recorder. William G.

Furman was appointed marshal. The personnel of the board of health was also changed. Dr. L. Larrabee, Dr. Thomas, and Dr. John F. Ely const.i.tuting the same.

No recorded meeting of council was held from June 20, 1851, to February 24 of the next year. At this latter date N. B. Brown, mayor, by advice and consent of the councilmen, "did grant license to David W. King for free navigation of the Cedar River, opposite this place, for the term of one year from the 1st day of March, 1857, by the said D. W. King paying to the recorder the sum of ten dollars." The council fixed rates of toll as follows: Horse and rider 10 cents; footmen, 5 cents; one horse and wagon, 15 cents; a wagon and two horses, 20 cents; and every additional span of horses or yoke of cattle, 20 cents. Loose cattle not exceeding five in number, he shall be allowed 5 cents per head; if more than that number, 3 cents per head. Hogs, if not exceeding twenty-five in number, shall be 2 cents per head; if more than that number the toll shall be 1 cent per head. Sheep at the rate of 1 cent per head.

THE FIRST SIDEWALK ORDINANCE

The first sidewalk ordinance stipulated: "The sidewalks of Commercial street shall be planked or paved, commencing at the corner of Benton and Commercial streets, northeast side, and ending at the corner of Sugar and Commercial streets. Also on the southwest side of said street, commencing at the southeast side of Rock and Brather's shop and coming up as far us Linn street. In case where planked the plank to be oak and not less than one and one-half inches in thickness, also to be placed upon a good and permanent foundation. In the front of buildings the walk to be made ten feet in width, not less than five stringers to be used. In front of lots or parts of lots not occupied by buildings it is only required that walks be made five feet in width, in which case three stringers are sufficient, but not less than three. All of which must be completed by the 1st of September, 1852."

Samuel Brazelton was appointed marshal, Dr. Koontz treasurer, and Dr.

S. D. Carpenter, Wm. D. Wood, and Porter W. Earle, health board.

THE ELECTION OF 1853

In 1853 election was held on Wednesday, April 6. W. W. Smith was chosen mayor; S. C. Bever, Johnson Hill, and J. F. Ely, councilmen; and S. C.

Koontz, recorder. Hiram Deem was appointed a.s.sessor, Isaac N. Whittam, town marshal. At this same date, May 6, 1853, John F. Ely was made committee to secure a surveyor, "Major McKean, or some other suitable person to take and establish the grades of the city of Cedar Rapids."

Pratt R. Skinner was the person selected and his report and profile were presented and adopted July 6, 1853. Hiram Deem was made marshal July 23, Mr. Whittam evidently not having qualified. At this meeting a munic.i.p.al tax levy of four mills was ordered. Hiram Deem, having accomplished his work as a.s.sessor, and now being marshal, was instructed to collect the taxes. He was further directed to order out men to work the roads and streets immediately.

THE CEMETERIES

The beginning of Oak Hill cemetery dates from an ordinance of August 23, 1853. Gabriel Carpenter had purchased 300 acres of land adjoining the city and including the site of the cemetery. The place of burial at that time was upon the ground after owned by Coe College. The ordinance enacted that "the proposition made by G. Carpenter in respect to ten acres of land for purpose of graveyard be filed and accepted. Provided, however, that if the collegiate inst.i.tute will pay the aforesaid G.

Carpenter for the aforementioned ten acres of land, and, further provided, that if the mayor and council hold and possess the power and right to sell and convey the lot of land now occupied by a graveyard (within the corporate limits) and can sell and convey the same to the Collegiate Inst.i.tute for the sum of three hundred dollars, then the afore-mentioned proposition is accepted."

The legal and other difficulties in the way were surmounted and on February 22, 1854, it was resolved to quit claim the interest of the town in the present burial ground to Smith and Carpenter, at such time as they shall lay off and deed to the corporation a block of ground in the Was.h.i.+ngton cemetery for a "potter's field," which shall contain at least three acres. It was conditioned also that Smith and Carpenter should give bond for the careful removal of all occupants of the present burial ground before making any use of the land.

ELECTION OF 1854

On April 3, 1854, William W. Smith was elected mayor, William Greene, Abraham Sines, and Daniel Lothian, councilmen, and William M. Wood, recorder. The digging of sand from Iowa avenue was dignified by name of bringing to grade. This was divided into six parts, and two were let to W. W. Smith and E. Robins. These paid five dollars apiece for the privilege. The other sections remained as before and the avenue was rendered impa.s.sable. J. J. Snouffer was appointed marshal for ensuing year and R. C. Rock treasurer. The famous "hog ordinance," which was intended to keep swine from the street but failed absolutely in its purpose, was introduced June 28, 1854.

ELECTION OF 1855

George Greene was elected mayor April 4, 1855. Members of the council were first styled aldermen on the tickets for this year and R. C. Rock, Joseph A. Love, and J. F. Charles were chosen. W. D. Watrous was the choice of the voters for recorder. J. H. Atwell was appointed marshal and S. D. Carpenter, treasurer. The council was organized into proper committees, indicating that more business came before the body. The bond of the treasurer had by this time increased to one thousand dollars. A city attorney was elected June 5, 1855, James J. Child being the choice of the council. The report of the finance committee showed a deficit--the city's revenues lacking $75.00 of meeting expenses.

ELECTION OF 1856

Isaac Whittam was elected mayor at the April election in 1856, with Walker, Smith, and Hager, councilmen. The recorder having resigned, D.

M. McIntosh was elected by the council to that office. The ferry privileges had pa.s.sed at death of D. W. King in 1854 to Stephen L.

Pollock and afterwards to Bowling & Gilbreath. Both of these failed to pay for license, and the recorder was instructed to collect; Joseph Hollan was appointed road supervisor.

On June 14, 1856, City Attorney James J. Child was instructed to prepare an amended charter to be submitted to the next legislature.

This was accepted by council, June 28, 1856. The proposition was then submitted to the voters and adopted 45 to 2. An election for city officers under this new charter was ordered to be held at the office of J. J. Child August 7, 1856. The votes cast were canva.s.sed by the council. It was found that 204 votes were cast for mayor, of which Isaac N. Whittam received 120 and W. W. Smith 84. For recorder and a.s.sessor D. M. McIntosh led with 123; F. P. Huntington 73; E. N. Bates and S. C. Koontz one each. For treasurer and collector S. C. Koontz received 121 votes and John P. Conkey 79. Charles Weare was elected marshal by a vote of 131. In vote for aldermen in the first ward J. T.

Walker was elected and J. J. Snouffer and H. G. Angle were tied.

Alexander Hager and J. F. Charles were chosen to represent the second ward, and Henry S. Ward and W. D. Watrous were duly elected from the third ward.

This closes the official doings under the old town. The records consulted will satisfy and settle all disputed questions as to office-holding and the statements here made are correct beyond all question.

OFFICIALS OF CEDAR RAPIDS FROM 1857 TO 1910

1857 Isaac N. Whittam, mayor; F. P. Huntington, recorder; S. C.

Lampson, marshal; S. C. Koontz, treasurer; E. N. Bates, city attorney.

Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, John G. Graves, S. D. Carpenter, J. J. Child, William Richmond, A. Whitenack.

1858 R. C. Rock, mayor; George Seymour, recorder; C. T. Kellogg, marshal; S. C. Koontz, treasurer; A. S. Belt, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, John G. Graves, D. N. Sprague, R. R. Taylor, William Richmond, S. A. Shattuck.

1859 D. N. Sprague, mayor; George Seymour, recorder; William McMahone, marshal; S. C. Koontz, treasurer; E. N. Bates, city attorney. Aldermen, John G. Graves, T. Z. Cook, D. M. McIntosh, Charles Weare, S. A.

Shattuck, G. Livensbarger.

1860 E. H. Stedman, mayor; George Seymour, recorder; Benjamin Darnell, marshal; J. S. Wattles, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney.

Aldermen, T. Z. Cook, A. Hager, W. B. Mack, R. P. Kingman, G.

Livensbarger, J. P. Coulter.

1861 Homer Bishop, mayor; M. A. Higley, recorder; Benjamin Darnell, marshal; J. S. Wattles, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney.

Aldermen, S. C. Bever, H. E. Higley, R. P. Kingman, I. W. Carroll, J.

C. Adams, George Dewey.

1862 T. Z. Cook, mayor; S. C. Koontz, recorder; J. Hogendobler, marshal; J. S. Wattles, treasurer; A. S. Belt, city attorney. Aldermen, S. C. Bever, H. E. Higley, I. W. Carroll, H. B. Stibbs, George Dewey, S. G. McClelland.

1863 Mowry Farnum, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; no city attorney elected.

Aldermen, S. C. Bever, D. Denlinger, H. B. Stibbs, I. W. Carroll, S. G.

McClelland, Thomas Slonaker.

1864 Mowry Farnum, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney.

Aldermen, S. C. Bever, E. H. Stedman, D. Denlinger, Joseph Hollan, S.

G. McClelland, Thomas Slonaker.

1865 H. Church, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; T. M. Parsons, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; J. J. Child, city attorney.

Aldermen, S. C. Bever, E. E. Leach, D. Denlinger, Charles Weare, G.

Livensbarger, J. C. Adams.

1866 A. R. West, mayor; George C. Haman, recorder; J. O. Stewart, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; J. J. Child, city attorney.

Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, J. Wetzel, H. B. Stibbs, N. S. Mershon, J. C.

Adams, J. A. Hart.

1867 A. R. West, mayor; D. A. Bradley, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney. Aldermen, J. J. Snouffer, J. Wetzel, H. B. Stibbs, E. Robbins, J. A. Hart, L.

Wallace.

1868 J. P. Coulter, mayor; D. A. Bradley, recorder; A. Laurance, marshal; Benjamin Harrison, treasurer; I. N. Whittam, city attorney.