Our Iowa Heritage: An Introduction. We might suggest you start here! Here’s how & why I got started collecting stamps, coins, and other Iowa memorabilia.
1855-1860 – Everything’s ‘Normal’ in Iowa City. In February 1847 the State Legislature approved the recommendation that the State of Iowa sponsor a new University. Yet, nothing much happened in Iowa City until 1855 – and even then, only the Normal School was finding any success at all. From 1855 to 1860, it was the SUI Normal Department that literally kept this fledgling university alive. Come find out what ‘normal’ was at SUI.
D.F. Wells – It Is Well With SUI. When SUI began classes in 1855, it was only the Normal School that kept the university afloat. Behind this success story was one young man – D. Franklin Wells – who literally gave his life for the advancement of state-supported public education across Iowa. Come meet Professor Wells – the teacher from Muscatine who started the Iowa State Teacher’s Association and so much more.
The Sueppel Family – Iowa City Pioneers. On January 1, 1855, 18-year-old John B. Sueppel arrived in Iowa City to start a new life. He got married, became a saloon keeper, and over the next forty years, he and his wife Catherine raised a good Catholic family of nine, while successfully running a thriving grocery business. Eventually John’s parents and brother came west as well, and over a 165+ year span, the Sueppel family has made one big impact in Iowa City.
Iowa City’s Banking Corner. Throughout most of the 1850’s, Iowa City was prospering just as the nation was prospering. In 1854, Iowa City’s first regional bank opened – Cook, Sargent & Downey – on the corner of Clinton & Washington Streets. In 1856, their new three-story Bank House opened and things were looking rosy. But the Panic of 1857 suddenly hit, and now, the bloom was off the vine.
Sylvester & Tucker’s Franklin Printing House. In 1856, Iowa City pioneer businessmen – R.A. Sylvester and A.G. Tucker – joined forces to build a three-story red-brick building on South Dubuque Street, housing their two newspapers – The Capital Reporter and The Daily Crescent, and their growing printing business – The Franklin Printing Company. Upon its opening, Sylvester called his new facility “well adapted to the carrying on of the great Philosopher’s immortal art — ‘heaven born’ like his own famed lightning — about the best establishment to be found west of Chicago.” Today, this iconic building remains as one of only a handful of downtown commercial buildings built prior to the Civil War.
Josias & Christiana Ritter – Iowa City Church Planters. In 1856, the good people of German Lutheran heritage in Iowa City decided they wanted a church community to call their own. They summoned a German man from Strümpfelbach to help them and over the next two years the church that became Zion Lutheran in Iowa City had its humble beginnings. Our 1857 Letter: Marie Strübel in Germany to Nannie (Christiana) Ritter in Iowa City.
Johann F. Doescher – Breaking Down Walls That Divide. This story is the second in the triad – Ritter, Wehrs, and Doescher: three German-born pastors who all came to Iowa City for a short time, establishing in one decade (1856-1866) the solid foundation of Zion’s German Evangelical Lutheran Church, which later became Zion Lutheran in Iowa City. Maybe the most inspiring story belongs to Johann Doescher, a young man with a true heart to care for souls, regardless of one’s ethnic or racial background.
Heinrich Wehrs – Iowa City’s Frontier Pastor. After Pastors Josias Ritter and Johann Doescher got the German Lutheran church in Iowa City established (1856-1862), others came to build on what God started. Fellow German pastor, Henirich Wehrs, came to town in 1862, becoming a circuit-rider, traveling a 200-mile ministry circle near Iowa City before settling in as pastor of Zion Lutheran from 1863-1866.
William Penn Clarke – Iowa City’s Abolitionist. In the 1840’s, a passionate abolitionist arrived in Iowa City, and immediately went to work spreading the word of freedom, writing many editorials for The Iowa Standard newspaper. A leader of the Free Soil Party in Iowa, W. P. Clarke became a personal supporter of John Brown, hosting the bold abolitionist on his many trips through Iowa (1854-1859). Active with The Underground Railroad across Iowa, this “Wide-Awake” lawyer was instrumental in transitioning the Whig Party into the Republican Party that nominated Abraham Lincoln for President in 1860.
George D. Woodin & The Lane Trail. In the 1850’s the anti-slavery movement was gaining momentum, and Iowa was strategically located to be right in the midst of the battle. When Kansas Territory opened up, John Brown and many others needed the help of compassionate Iowans to help organize The Underground Railroad. George D. Woodin, from Iowa City, working alongside W.P. Clarke, was one of those Iowans.
The Bealer Family Of Iowa City. In 1856, John E. Bealer, Sr. came westward to Johnson County to serve as the new manager of The Capitol Stone Quarry near North Liberty. Over the next twenty+ years, Bealer and his son, Elmer J.C. Bealer, built buildings, roads, streets and bridges all across Iowa City and Johnson County. In 1878, the younger Bealer – a highly-decorated Civil War veteran – took his talents to Cedar Rapids and became one of the city’s best-known builders, serving as a state representative in Des Moines for six years, while helping build Mercy Hospital (1900) and Veteran’s Memorial Building (1928).
1856 – Go West, Young Doctor, Go West. When Iowa became the 29th State in the Union, it was the place young entrepreneurs back East dreamed of. Here is the fascinating story of one of those dreamers, a doctor from Massachusetts, who ended up coming to Lyons, Iowa, in 1856 and serving as a surgeon during the Civil War.
L.S. Frederick – Tama County’s School Fund Commissioner. In the 1850’s, the State Legislature designated that a healthy portion from the sale of government-owned land would go into a perpetual fund for the support of schools throughout Iowa. Establishing a Board of School Fund Commissioners – made up of one commissioner from each county – the Board was given the oversight of the selection, care and sale of these lands for the benefit of the Iowa School Fund. Come read about one heck of a SF Commissioner – L.S. Frederick of Tama County.
A M&M Railroad Timetable. The idea of building a railway system across Iowa goes back to our earliest days when we were still only a U.S. Territory. Here is a timetable that begins with John Plumb’s visionary meeting in Dubuque in March 1838 and ends with the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and the Rock Island Railroad’s arrival in Council Bluffs in May 1869.
Fifty Locomotives Of The M&M Railroad. Here’s an overview of 50 steam locomotives, built in the 1850’s for the Mississippi & Missouri (M&M) Railroad. These were the engines that pulled M&M’s many passenger & freight cars around the State of Iowa over its eleven years of service (1855-1866).
The Survivors: Eleven Locomotives Of The M&M Railroad. In an earlier post (above), we offered you an extensive overview of 50 steam locomotives, built in the 1850’s for the M&M Railroad. Sadly, none of these beauties have survived to today, but the good news is that eleven of these classics were photographed before their demise. Come take a colorful look at these iconic steam locomotives from the past.
The Mississippi & Missouri Railroad – Volume II – 1856-1866. As the year 1855 came to a close, the M&M management team was under the gun. Originally, the plan was to have the east/west line into Iowa City completed by December 1, but construction had fallen far behind schedule. Spurred on by a $50,000 prize if M&M could bring an engine into Iowa’s capital city by January 1, 1856, we now come to the most dramatic part of the M&M Railroad story.
Railroading & The Winter Of 1855/56. The M&M Railroad – which began its trek westward from Davenport toward Iowa City in the fall of 1855 – was just one of America’s railroads to experience hardship during the Winter of 1855/56. Known to most Iowa pioneers as one of the harshest winters the Midwest experienced during the entire 19th century, here’s one scary story of travelers trying to get to Iowa City from Detroit.
Let The City-Wide Celebration Begin: 1856. Two days after the M&M Railroad completed their track into Iowa City, a party to end all parties was held in the Old Stone Capitol. Seven train coaches rolled into town on January 3rd, filled with bigwigs from back East, and while the temperatures were cold enough to keep everybody home, the whole town turned out for Iowa City’s Grand Railroad Festival.
T. C. Carson – From A Buffalo Robe To Bank President. There was one brave Easterner – Thomas C. Carson – who experienced, firsthand, that freezing cold day in January 1856 when the M&M Railroad came rolling into Iowa City for the first time. As it turned out, this Philadelphian decided to stay, putting down roots and raising a family – and over the next fifty years, made quite a name for himself and his clan.
1856 – Bridging The Father Of Waters. In January 1856, the M&M Railroad rolled into Iowa City from Davenport, but it wasn’t until April when the final link of our railroad connection to the East was complete. On April 22, 1856, the very first railroad bridge over the Mississippi River opened, and now, the people of eastern Iowa could travel non-stop – reaching New York City by rail in no more than forty-two hours!
Iowa City’s Railroad Depot – Grand Central Station. In preparation for the coming of the railroad, the good people of Iowa City built a small depot at the south end of Johnson Street. While it faithfully served the city for 40+ years (1856-1898), it was replaced by a state-of-the-art facility that still stands today. Without a doubt, over 70+ years (1898-1970), this depot became Iowa City’s Grand Central Station.
Riding The Five Rails Of Iowa City. Over a 120-year period (1850-1970) there were five different railway systems that attempted to serve the good people of Iowa City with passenger rail service. Today – there is none. Come reminisce with us as we review the amazing stories behind these five railways from our past.
– The Lyons-Iowa Central RR – The Calico (1850-1854)
– The Mississippi & Missouri (M&M) / Rock Island (CRI&P) RR (1853-1974)
– The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern (BCR&N) RR – The Plug (1873-1924)
– The Cedar Rapids & Iowa City (CRANDIC) Interurban Railway (1904-1953)
– The CRANDIC Interurban Railway Trolley Picture Page
– The Iowa City Electric Railway (1910-1930)
Johnson County’s Own – Amish, Iowa. Between 1850 and 1880, the little Amish/Mennonite community of Amish, or as it is also called – Joetown – was the center of commerce for Washington Township in Johnson County. But, when the railroad came in – 5 miles south of town – Kalona took off, leaving Amish in the dust. Come read the story of C.C. Yoder – proprietor of Amish’s Dry Goods Store during the latter part of the 19th century.
Samuel D. Guengerich – Amish’s School Master. In 1846, Daniel & Susanna (Miller) Guengerich became the first farmers to settle in Washington Township of Johnson County. Their oldest son, Samuel, committed himself to becoming a teacher and between 1865 and 1925, he became one of the best-known Amish-Mennonite educators in the U.S. A writer, editor, and publisher, Guengerich dedicated his life to God and served others faithfully – all from his humble home in Amish, Iowa.
1857 – A Capitol Moving Day. From day one of statehood in 1846, there were those who wanted to see Iowa’s capital moved westward. Finally, in 1857, a deal was cut. The capitol would go to Des Moines while the university was exclusively secured for Iowa City. As one newspaper writer quipped, “Des Moines can have the politicians, we’ll take the professors!” Come read this “moving” story.
Welcome To Iowa City – Athens Of Iowa. With the 1857 move of the state capital to Des Moines, Iowa City was left with a personality crisis. No longer Iowa’s Capitol City, Iowa Citians decided to focus on a greater purpose than politics – choosing education & knowledge instead. So, with SUI finally finding a permanent home here, and with our deep passion for progressive education, Iowa Citians took the cognomen – Athens of Iowa – a nickname that stuck for the next 65+ years!
The Great Iowa City Tornado Of 1859. Around 6 pm, on Tuesday, May 24, the sky darkened around Iowa City. Soon, a devastating tornado swept across the south edge of the city, leaving a swath of destruction – homes destroyed, crops obliterated, dozens injured, and five dead. The next day, Isaac A. Wetherby – Iowa City’s finest photographer and artist – toured the area, producing both a news story and corresponding wood engravings that took the story to a national audience – appearing in the popular publication, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.
Mrs. C.C. Berry – Surviving The 1859 Tornado. The 1859 Johnson County Tornado killed five people – including Iowa City’s first schoolmaster – Jesse Berry. His widow, Calista Clarinda Worden Berry – known around town as Mrs. C.C. Berry – survived, and with the help of her brother Edward Worden, the Berry family went on to play a major role in our community’s growth during the second half of the 19th century.
The Photograph Album Of Mrs. C.C. Berry. What a find! The great, great, great granddaughter of Mrs. C.C. Berry of Iowa City has shared with us a collection of rare family photographs from C.C.’s photo album. Some of these pics – taken at local Iowa City studios – date back to the 1860’s & 70’s, and include Berry family friends such as Ezekiel Clark and his wife – the founding father of today’s Coralville!