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Subject: The Pennsylvania House - State Officers
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 06:47:12 EST

HISTORY OF DAVENPORT AND SCOTT COUNTY
VOLUME 1
CHAPTER 36

THE SALAD COURSE

THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSES

The multiplicity of hotels bearing the name of the Keystone state has been
puzzling to late comers to Davenport. The first Pennsylvania house, which was
opened in 1850, was situated on Second street west of Main and was fairly
popular in early days, suffering several enlargements. The next Pennsylvania
house was a much more pretentious affair and was located on the corner of
Fourth and Iowa streets near the Burtis house. This Pennsylvania house was of
stone and five stories high, had a frontage of 64 feet and a depth of 130 feet,
boasting 120 rooms. One of the features of this hotel was a well, 150 feet
in the solid rock which cost $1,000. The third Pennsylvania house was on
Iowa and Third streets, northeast corner, an unpretentious affair which was
razed to make way for the Y of the elevated road. Another early hotel on Third
street east of Perry street had a curious history. It was first a convent,
then a dwelling, then a hotel, the Worden house, afterward the Ackley house,
and the American house, and finally was incorporated with the Central house to
make the Downs hotel, now the Saratoga.

STATE OFFICERS

Among the officials of the state government who have resided in Scott county
have been Ansel Briggs, the first governor, Nicholas J. Rusch, Matt Parrott
and Benjamin F. Gue who have served in the chair of lieutenant governor. W.
C. Hayward is the present secretary of state, and there never was a better
one. John Herriott was treasurer of state and A. S. Kissell superintendent of
public instruction. Judge James Grant served as speaker of the house of
representatives in 1852. William S. Coles was the first state binder, and later
Mr. Parrott held that office. J. H. Harrison served on the state pharmacy
board. George Metzgar was custodian of pubic buildings and property. Drs.
Henry Hatthey and George E. Decker have been members of the state board of
health. Charles Francis is engineer to the board of health. Dr. R. J. Farquharson
was secretary of that body from 1881 to 1885.
The first temperance society was organized in 1838 after a series of
addresses by Rev. Asa Turner. Rodolphus Bennett, the first mayor of Davenport, was
its first president.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Davenport Lyceum which met in Pere Pelamourgues' church was an important
factor in the social life of early days. The critical editor of the Sun
deplores the level of its divinations and comments: "Our Lyceum is becoming the
subject of ridicule to many persons in our village. No subject, they say,
can be discussed but such as will tickle the fancy of weak females. Our
Lyceum, it is true, converts what should be a hall of science into a room to
panegyrize the ladies; and indeed, we have heard the most fulsome eulogies passed
upon their character in order to acquire the approving smiles of those
present. If courtship is a science, then indeed is our Lyceum a most excellent
school."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A. H. Davenport of LeClaire used to tell of calling upon Major Gordon, one
of the incorporators of Davenport, to borrow some money. "Help yourself, said
the major, pointing to an inverted tub in the corner of the room. Mr.
Davenport lifted the tub and found his friend's available wealth, some fifty or
sixty dollars.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1849 a river improvement convention was held in Davenport in which four
states and one territory were represented. One resolution recommended a plan
of improvement devised by Major Robert E. Lee, and asked that he be given
charge of the work on the rapids.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From August 1, 1856, to the close of the year 1857 over 1,300 houses were
erected in Davenport; two miles of street were macadamized, four and a half
miles of gas main laid, 250 street lamps erected and twenty miles of sidewalk
laid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An unpleasent condition occurred in 1858 when the city council provided by
ordinance that certain offices in the fire department be filled without direct
vote of the firemen. The latter rebelled, refused to attend fires and held
meetings of protest. The council was firm. Mayor Sargent was almost mobbed
when he appeared at a fire but was protected by the same firemen who had been
unfriendly. After that matters quieted down and peace reigned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scott county was constituted December 21, 1837, from the counties of Dubuque
and Cook, with a little from Muscatine county.

Debbie

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