Did you know that in 1891 there was a unique community of Iowa Citians who lived on what was called Block 98 – a piece of land – about 2.5 acres located by the Iowa River just west of Old Capitol? Today, this piece of land is Hubbard Park – located just south of the University of Iowa Student Union and home to Danforth Chapel.
This community was indeed unique to Iowa City – being made up primarily of lower to middle class common folks – rugged individuals – European immigrants, Euro-Americans and African-Americans – an eclectic group of Iowa City residents who pulled together to make up a small but widely-diverse neighborhood living on what was less-desirable, flood-prone land near the Iowa River.
From the 1840’s and over the next 50 years, these folks faced all kind of challenges – from major floods to racial prejudice – but through it all they survived right up until 1920 when the University took over the land – developing it into what it is today.
Pictured here is one such couple. Meet Paul and Rachel Ward. They lived on Block 98 from the mid 1880s to 1893. An African-American couple, Paul was born in either Virginia or Tennessee, probably began his life in slavery, and was freed sometime during the Civil War. Rachel, on the other hand, was the daughter of William P. and Margaret Haskett – a free black millwright from North Carolina. Rachel’s family moved to Georgia sometime in the late 1840’s and then came to Johnson County a decade later in the 1850’s.
Paul and Rachel met each other in Johnson County – marrying in 1865 – and records indicate that Paul adopted Rachel’s two children – Sarah Ann and Amanda – who were born prior their marriage, and together, the couple had four more children – Margaret, Anaka, Rachel J. and Paul Jr.
In 1891, Bertha Horack Shambaugh – wife of Iowa City’s famed historian Benjamin Shambaugh – took this amazing picture of Paul & Rachel Ward standing proudly in front of their home on Block 98. So poor, when their home was damaged in a windstorm, they were unable to repair the roof. But according to Shambaugh, Rachel & Paul were proud people who refused to give up their home when most folks in the city wanted to tear it down.
Here’s a tip of the old hat to Paul & Rachel Ward – two brave souls who kept the faith under very difficult circumstances.
Just some of the good people of Iowa City’s Block 98.
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