Dr. W. Reynolds, W. B. Snyder and Chauncy Swan; secretary, Rev. Geo. B. Bowman; treasurer, Dr. Jesse Bowen. Executive Committee, Thomas Snyder and Anson Hart.

On motion, the above were unanimously elected as the officers of the society for the ensuing year. The secretary was instructed to inform the clergy of this organization. The executive committee, also, was instructed to procure a person to deliver an address on the Bible cause. Another meeting was ordered to be held on the first Tuesday in the ensuing court

term.

On motion, the proceedings were directed to be published in the papers in this city.

Adjourned, to meet as above.

A. P. WOOD, Secretary.

W. REYNOLDS, President.

JOHNSON COUNTY'S "FAMILY RECORD."

The following are the returns made to the county clerk from September 30, 1881, to September 30, 1882:

Births. Deaths.

Marriages.

CHAPTER VII.-PART 1.

SOME NOTABLE EVENTS.

Steamboats at Iowa City-First Legislature at Iowa City-Hummer's Bell-A CycloneA Great Fire--Obsequies to President Lincoln--A Winter of Distress-The Spelling Mania-Paper Mill Explosion (Six Persons Killed) at Coralville--Iowa City's Historic Wind Storm-Snow-Bound-A Double Tragedy (the Stein Murder and Suicide.)

THE FIRST STEAMBOAT AT IOWA CITY.

The Iowa City Standard of June 24, 1841, contains the following: "Arrival Extraordinary.-We this week announce an event which, in our judgment, is of more importance than any that has happened since our city has had an existence.

On the 20th instant our citizens were surprised by hearing the puffing of an approaching steamer. We need not speak of the astonishment' caused by such unnatural sounds; sounds which were for the first time heard on our peaceful river, nor of the many conjectures which were started as to the source from whence they proceeded. Our doubts were soon dispelled by the glorious reality, as the steamer Ripple for the first time came dashing up the Iowa and landed at the ferry, which, henceforth, is only to be known by the more appropriate name of the steamboat landing.

The hearty cheers which hailed the arrival, and the warm welcome which the captain, crew and passengers received from our citizens, showed that they appreciated the enterprise and determination which had originated and successfully carried out such an undertaking. Among the passengers on board we noticed Messrs. Wesley Jones, Moses Cramer, Jas. W. Neally, D. W. C. Barron, Jno. B. Newhall, the talented author of "The Sketches of Iowa," and our fellow-townsman, James Herron.

The Ripple arrived at the conjunction of the Iowa and Cedar river on Friday evening. On Saturday morning she started and ran up within four miles of this city before she stopped for the night. There were no impediments found to an easy and safe navigation of the river, if we may except a few snags and projecting trees, a few miles below the city, which will be removed by our citizens during the present week. The experiment on the whole, was a most satisfactory one. The present comparatively low stage of water will effectually silence any sneers that may be thrown out concerning high water navigation, etc., and we now have the fact proved, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that the Iowa river is navigable beyond this place for seven months at least during every year.

This arrival has effectually changed the relation in which we formerly stood to other towns in this territory. We are no longer dependent on the towns on the Mississippi for our imports, nor are we subjected to the labor and expense of drawing across the country all articles brought from abroad. We have now a situation superior in many respects to any in the territory.

The advantage of being the furthest point in the interior, which has a safe and easy communication by water with all the great commercial cities in the west, is too manifest to need remark. Indeed some of our neighbor

ing towns on the Mississippi have laid claims to being places of great importance, on this ground alone. We trust we have settled all disputes on this point and that they now at once yield the palm to us, and surrender all claims that they may have on this score. But when we add to these advantages our acknowledged superiority in beauty of location and fertility of soil, and call to mind our almost total exemption from those diseases, which are and have ever been the scourges of the west, we can confidently demand the attention of emigrants and others to a situation which combines every advantage that can attract the merchant and the farmer, "the man of business or the man of pleasure."

MEETING OF THE CITIZENS.

According to previous notice a meeting of the citizens of Iowa City was held at the City Hotel, and was organized by C. Swan being called to the chair, and J. Bowen appointed secretary, and

On motion of Jesse Williams,

Resolved, that a committee of six persons be appointed by the chair, consisting of Jesse Williams, Jesse Bowen, Silas Foster, Cyrus Sanders, John Powell and Horace Smith, to invite the captain and passengers of the steamboat Ripple to partake of a public dinner to be given by the citizens of Iowa City.

On motion of Horace Smith,

Resolved, that a committee of three persons be appointed by the chair to make arrangements with some of the inn-keepers of Iowa City to provide a dinner and solicit subscriptions to defray the expense of the samewhereupon,

Horace Smith, Walter Butler, and H. G. Jones, were appointed said committee.

On motion of Horace Smith,

Resolved, that a suitable person be selected to accompany the Steamboat Ripple down the Iowa so far as may be necessary, to ascertain the principal obstructions, and the best mode and the probable expense of removing said obstructions.

And on motion of Jesse Williams, Capt. F. M. Irish was appointed that person, and,

On motion of Horace Smith, the following resolutions was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, that Maj. J. B. Newhall, be requested to circulate a subscription in the city of Burlington, and the intermediate ports, to assist in defraying the expenses necessary in removing the obstructions that now exist in the navigation of the Iowa river. On motion,

Resolved, that the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the president and secretary, and published in the Iowa City Standard.

On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet on Monday next, the 28th inst.
C. SWAN, Chairman.
J. BOWEN, Secretary.

IOWA CITY, June 21, 1841.

CAPTAIN D. JONES, Captain of the Steamer Ripple:

SIR: At a meeting of the citizens of this city, held at Iowa City Hotel, this day, the undersigned were appointed a committee to invite you to participate in the hospitalities of a public dinner to be given to yourself and crew, together with the passengers who accompanied you to our city,

in the steamer Ripple, to be given at the National Hotel in this city, at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

We take great pleasure in discharging the duties which have thus devolved upon us, and would beg leave to assure you that an acceptance of the invitation would confer a favor upon the citizens generally, as well as upon Your obedient servants,

JESSE WILLIAMS,

SILAS FOSTER,

CYRUS SANDERS,

JESSE BOWEN,

JOHN POWELL,
HORACE SMITH.

Steamboat Ripple, June 21, 1841. GENTLEMEN:-I this morning received your polite note tendering to me the hospitalities of your city, together with my passengers and crew.

In signifying my acceptance of this token of your regard, permit me to express the gratification I have experienced in the cordial reception I have met with, both individually and collectively from the moment of my arrival among you, not with the cool distrust of a stranger, but rather the cordial reception of a long tried friend.

Gentlemen, the strong assurance of my friends, that the arrival of a steamer at Iowa City, would be hailed with that liberal spirit, becoming your high destinies, have been more than realized, and I desire no surer guarantee of the future than the evidences I have witnessed.

With sentiments of the highest regard, I subscribe myself your friend and obedient servant, D. JONES.

To Messrs. J. Williams, J. Bowen, S. Foster, J. Powell, C. Sanders and H. Smith.

At half past 2 o'clock a company of about seventy-five gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner, provided by J. Lawrence, Esq., of the National Hotel. After the cloth was removed several spirited toasts were delivered, complimentary to the movers of this successful achievement of navigating the Iowa. Spirited and appropriate remarks were made by Maj. Newhall, Capt. Jones and others.

The following are some of the toasts given on the occasion:

By Jesse Williams:-Iowa, bounded on the east by the "Father of Rivers," and interspersed by interior natural channels of navigation; her future prospects are unsurpassed by any portion of the great west.

By Cyrus Sanders:-Johnson county, her prospects of future prosperity, as unfolded by the event which we celebrate, are unsurpassed by any of her sisters of our lovely territory.

By James F. Hanby:-May the steamboat Ripple be successful in obtaining a sufficient quantity of freight and passengers to justify her in paying us a visit on the 4th of July next.

By M. Creamer:-As the steamer Ripple has by her enterprise, succeeded in placing her crew on the banks of this city, may prosperity and success attend her.

By Wesley Jones:-Captain Jones of the Ripple, may his success be properly appreciated by the citizens of Iowa City.

By James W. Nealy:-May the steamboat Ripple return in safety to this city, prepared to carry living freight to the very borders of the now inhab ited ground of the Indians.

The following bill of lading from "the port of Iowa City," is preserved

by the State Historical Society, and was copied from the original by this historian:

SHIPPED, in good order and condition, by Silas Foster, for account and risk of whom it may concern, on board the good steamboat called The Ripple, whereof D. Jones is master for the present voyage, now lying in the PORT OF IOWA CITY, and bound for Burlington, merchandise, marked and numbered as below, and are to be delivered without delay, in like good order at the port of Burlington (unavoidable dangers of the river and fire only excepted), unto Messrs. Bridgman'& Partridge, assigns, they paying freight at the rate of one dollar per cwt.

In witness whereof, the owner, master or clerk of said steamboat hath affirmed two bills of lading, all of this tenor and date, one of which being accomplished, the others to stand void.

Dated at Iowa City, this 22d day of June, 1841.

This is the first bill of lading signed and first shipment made from Iowa City, June 22, 1841.

ANOTHER STEAMBOAT ARRIVAL.

Among the most memorable events in the history of Johnson county was the arrival at Iowa City of steamboats up the Iowa river. The second steamboat to make the trip arrived April 21, 1842; and the spontaneous gush and outburst of enthusiasm among the people was embalmed in words of glowing exuberance, by the editor of the Iowa Capital Reporter, at the time, and here is his jolly and bubbling-over account of the affair:

Thursday last, at ten o'clock in the morning, the cry of steamboat in the Iowa-all hands on deck-was raised by the stentorian lungs of the workmen on the top of the capitol. This, with the hoarse response of the steamer herself, with her voice of deep thunder, aroused the whole population. We, with the laudable desire to share in the public curiosity and delight, ran with unusual expedition to the top of the bluff, and, sure enough, a steamer was in full view, just emerged from the forest below the town. Nothing could have exceeded in brilliant magnificence the scene displayed before us. The steamer moving up in majestic course, with the stars and stripes from her bows floating joyously in the breeze, smiling on luxuriant landscape of surpassing beauty and richness, seemed to be greeted by nature's loveliness in a region which had witnessed for the first time the emblems of the country's glory. Emerging from time to time from the thickets of timber variegating the banks, puffing, blowing and converting the deep black waters of the Iowa into foam of milky whiteness, contrasted with the luxuriant foliage of the tree, the deep green. of a superabundant vegetation, and the azure-golden serenity of the heavens, afforded a field worthy the contemplation of the enthusiast, and could not fail to generate the inspiration of poetry in the heart of the admirer of nature and the ingenuity of man. On the farther bluff, withdrawn timidly