Pettee, G. M., boot and shoe house, Wash St., w. Gower's Bank. Startsman, O., jeweller, No. 4, Powel's Block, Wash. St. Shepard, E. & Co., hardware merchants, Powel's Block, Wash. St. Snyder & Zumbro, lumber merchants, cor. Wash. and Linn. Sts. Sale, E. W., plasterer, orders left at Windrem's. Sperry, J. G., carpenter, Market St., west side of Clinton. Startsman, D. H., jeweler, Wash. St., west of Cul. & Reno's Bank. Tuttle & Saunders, land agents, office Wash. bt. Dub. and Clin. Tyler, J., livery stable, on Dubuque St., north of post office. Thompson & Co., commission merchants, at the depot. The book was printed by A. G. Tucker & Co., corner Clinton and Washington streets, over Gower's Bank; contained forty-seven pages, and was sold at 50 cents per copy. There were 968 names given in the directory list. This Directory contained a sketch of the history of Iowa City up to that date, about January 1, 1857, and is probably as fair and reliable, to the extent that it goes, as anything within reach, hence we quote it here. CITY HISTORY. Iowa City is located on section 10, and parts of sections 9 and 15' township 79 north, range 6 west. That part south of Court street and extending to Benton street, and from Front street east to Gilbert street, was first entered for the purpose of establishing a county seat. The United States afterwards ceded to the Territory of Iowa all of section 10, for the purpose of establishing the seat of government for the Territory. This left the city plat in bad shape, which deficiency has however been supplied by the addition of E. C. Lyon, C. H. Berryhill and C. Page, and now brings it in the form of an oblong square. Johnson county was organized in 1838, and attached to the second judicial district. Population in 1838, 327; in 1840, 4,504; in 1857, 8,000. On the 4th day of May, 1839, Mr. Swan, the commissioner appointed by the legislature, selected the present site for Iowa City. Up to that date it lay in a state of wilderness, and was the hunting-ground of the savage. The camp-fires of Poweshiek's band of Sacs were the only lights that gleamed within its wild solitude. The foot of the white man never pressed its soil, or its forest depths echoed back the call of the herdsman. Enchanting was its position, possessing that purity and beauty with which it came from the hands of its Maker at the completion of the creation. On the fourth day of July following the location of the city, but one log cabin marked the spot that in a few years was to become the capital of a State whose progress in civilization and rapidity of growth is without a parallel in the history of States. The first sale of lots was the 19th of August following the location, and in September of the same year the first store was opened by C. S. Foster. Although the accommodations for emigrants were limited, and they were compelled to endure severe hardships, sleeping in their blankets beneath the trees or such shelter as nature provided; yet, by the following June, the population had increased to 700. For a few years from this time the city increased rapidly, and seemed as if destined to outstrip in size and business the older towns in the State. But the difficulty of procuring building material began to be felt, and seemed to place a quietus on its prosperity. The gold mines of California for a while seemed to dazzle the imaginations of emigrants, and turn from the prairies and towns of the west the flood of emigration that had hitherto poured into them. Iowa City felt its effects, and for a time her wheels of progress were almost still. At length the overland route to the golden country opened, and the tide of travel turned again to Iowa, a large portion of it passing through Iowa City. This gave an impetus to the trade, and infused new life into the lethargic spirit that hitherto hung over it. Notwithstanding the difficulties of commercial intercourse still existed, yet, by determination on the part of her citizens, they were in measure overcome. Almost every man who had two horses and a wagon put them on the road, and engaged in hauling lumber and merchandise to the city. Although this means of commerce was extensive, and the means of transportation numerous, still they were not sufficient to meet the increasing demands of the community. The State of Iowa was admitted into the Union, and assumed its place in the Federal government. Iowa City was the capital, and the position occupied by the State, threw upon the city a new feature of dignity and importance, and one that was felt at home and abroad. It became a star in the west, a point to which emigration seemed to direct its course, and from which it radiated and dispersed itself to the different portions of the State. Other towns may have been her superior in commerce and population, but in name Iowa City was the prominent point in Iowa. Her importance increased so rapidly from 1850 to 1853, that it was deemed necessary to have railroad communication. A proposition was made to connect with the Chicago and Rock Island road, which met with some opposition, as being too fast for so young a State, and stepping beyond its abilities; but this predjudice finally wore away, the company to build the road was perfected, and the work put under contract. Fifty thousand dollars was subscribed by the county, fifty thousand by private subscription; but something seemed to be wanting; the work did not progress with sufficient energy and rapidity. The road was given into the hand of Mr. Farnham, who agreed to finish the road for the use of it for a given time.* The city was informed that it would be necessary to subscribe a large amount of stock, in order to insure its completion. An election was ordered upon the question "whether the city should subscribe fifty thousand dollars stock, and upon the vote being taken it was carried by a large *The writer of this History of Johnson county accompanied, as newspaper reporter, the first railroad train that ever carried passengers in the State of Iowa. It was an excursion to attend the first sale of lots at the first railroad town in the State--Wolcott station, about twelve miles out from Davenport. This was in September, 1855, when Mr. Farnham had staked his fortune against time, in the race for Iowa City. majority, and the bonds of the city to the amount of fifty thousand dollars were issued. On the first day of January, 1856, the first locomotive (the Oskaloosa) with construction train attached, arrived at the depot, and the arrival of the iron horse was hailed with joy by the numerous citizens who had assembled to witness its advent. On the 3d day of January the first train of passenger cars arrived, seven in number, with the invited guests to attend the celebration of the opening of the road. On the Monday following the trains commenced their regular trips and have been in successful operation during the whole year, except when delayed by the inclemencies of the weather. Since the opening of the M. & M. R. R. the city has increased about two-fold in population and in commerce. The population was then about 3,500; it is now not short of 8,000, and perhaps more. (Remember, this is from the city directory published in 1857.) THE MINERAL SPRING. Newhall's "Sketches of Iowa," published in 1841, says: "At Iowa City, upon Ralston's creek, there are three springs within a diameter of about twenty feet, all possessing different properties, viz: one of chalybeate, one of sulphur, and the third very cold lime-rock." This spring site at one time belonged to Governor Lucas, but he did nothing to utilize it. Afterwards a man named Bastardes undertook to establish a water cure resort and erected a sort of boarding house or infirmary over what seems now to be the chalybeate and sulphur spring run together, if indeed there ever were two independent springs there. The house is now owned and occupied by Wm. Lewis and brother. The spring is enclosed with a deep circular brick wall in the cellar or basement of the house, with a wooden trough outlet or waste pipe into Ralston creek, out on Iowa avenue. Occasionally people go there and drink the water, or carry it away in jugs or bottles, and think "it is good for what ails them." At the waste spout there is a show of red deposit peculiar to chalybeate waters; but this spring is not strong enough in the mineral and medicinal elements to hold any rank as a health resort, and hence the efforts made to utilize it in that way have not been successful. There are probably a hundred other springs in the state that are much stronger in the various real or supposed medicinal properties than this one. A BANK LOCK EPISODE. About January 9th, 1875, the lock of the currency vault of the Iowa City National Bank got out of order while closed, and as all efforts of the bank officers and experts failed to unlock it, Mr. Clark telegraphed to Mr. Charles Zschuppe, of Chicago, a German mechanic, who was skilled in the mysteries of all the patent safe locks. Mr. Z. came and for two days and nights patiently turned the dial, till at last the lock yielded and the door opened. Had the difficulty not yielded to his skill and patience the door would have had to be taken to pieces and destroyed at a heavy expense to the owner. CHAPTER XI.-PART 2. Iowa City's School History-Churches-Secret Orders--Local Societies-Bands--Clubs, etc.. etc. In Chapter VI, Part 2, will be found some account of the earliest efforts made in Iowa City towards establishing educational institutions, such as the "Mechanics' Academy," the "St. Agatha Seminary," the State University, etc. The following compend of waymark points in the history of the city's public schools was compiled for this work by D. W. Wood, Esq., from the official records: July 14, 1853-The city council organized a school district of Iowa City, and by a committee appointed by the council put into operation the city public schools. They employed two principals and two assistants. The principal of the male department was H. W. Lathrop, at a salary of $450 per annum; the principal of the female department, $250, and the two assistants, $150 each. They rented the "Academy" building, (now Mercy Hospital) for a term of five years, at a rental value of $250. May 1, 1854, Samuel Spurrier was employed as principal for $400 per annum; a Miss Christy at $200; Miss Cornelia Wilson at $185, and Miss Lydia Lanning at $150. Fune 12, 1854.-A committee from the council visited the public schools and reported a roll of forty-six scholars in Mr. Spurrier's room; thirtyfour in Miss Christy's room; thirty-two in Miss Wilson's department, and forty-three in Miss Lanning's room. Fanuary 1, 1855.-The city council levied a tax of one per cent on all taxable property in Iowa City for school purposes. February 16, 1855.-The public schools were closed by order of the city council and the people requested not to hold any public meetings, on account of the small-pox having broken out in the public schools. They appointed Dr. Stone for the first ward, Dr. Sanders for the second ward, and Dr. Morse for the third ward, to vaccinate all persons needing vaccination. September 3, 1855.-Iowa City voted on the question of issuing $20,000 bonds to build school houses; 161 ballots cast, 115 for the loan and fortysix against the loan. August 11, 1855.-Iowa City council passed a resolution donating $5,000 towards erecting a building for a deaf and dumb asylum. June 16, 1856.-The city council authorized a school house to be built in each of the three wards in the city, of uniform size, and not to cost over $3,000 each. In 1857 three public school houses were built at a cost of $8,125 each. They were not all completed until 1858, and cost several thousand dollars more than the contract price. May 22, 1858.-The city council passed the following resolution: Resolved, That though doubts have been expressed in regard to the constitutionality of the school law, yet not deeming this council the proper tribunal to decide this question, we think it our duty to acquiesce in said law, aud yield the power over the public schools of the city to the board of school directors recently chosen by the people; and the city treasurer is hereby instructed to deliver the school money in his hands to the treasurer of the Iowa City school directors; and the school committee of the city council is hereby declared dissolved. At the spring election of 1858 the people chose a board of school directors, and had some trouble in getting the city council to surrender the control of the city schools into the hands of the school board. Some claim that they did not until 1859, but the record shows differently. Public schools of Iowa City pass under the school board May 6, 1858. The first record of the school board of Iowa City has the name of N. H. Brainard, president; P. S. Van West, vice-president, and Daniel Branch, secretary. The first thing they did was to employ J. H. Goodrich as principal of the third sub-district for ten weeks, beginning May 10, 1858, at a salary of $500 per year; and passed a resolution making forty-four weeks a school year, and he was in fact the first superintendent of public schools in Iowa City. Mr. F. L. Child was employed as principal of the fourth sub-district. The board divided the Iowa City school district into four sub-districts. May 7, 1858.-The board passed a resolution to take measures to establish a school as soon as practicable for the colored youth of the city. May 7, 1858.-A. Hart presented his bond and it was approved as treasurer of the school board of Iowa City. We copy the following from the records of May 7th: Voted, that A. Hart have an order from directors drawn on city treasurer for all funds, books and other documents legally coming into the possession of said A. Hart as treasurer of Iowa City school district, under the present school law. May 31, 1858.-Jesse Bowen appeared and took his seat as sub-director of district No. 2, and J. T. Turner as sub-director of district No. 4; and there being no one chosen for sub-director of No. 3, the vacancy was filled by the board appointing J. P. Wood. June 2d Meeting.-E. C. Lee appeared and took his seat as director of sub-district No. 1. On motion: Resolved, That the colored children be instructed to attend the schools of their respective sub-districts until objections be urged by the white families sending to said schools; and that the secretary be instructed to inform such colored families of this arrangement. June 5, 1858.-The president read a communication from common council through the city attorney, Rush Clark, in reference to making an agreed case to be submitted to the supreme court for the settlement of the following question, viz: First, on the constitutionality of the present |