Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-08-04
FISHWAY EXISTS IN BONAPAR7E DAN

line which is said to be planned from
Burlington to Bonaparte.
Present Time for Action.
Kirk Meek, when asked about this
rumor, said he knew nothing of it, but
he volunteered the information that
the scheme could easily be carried out
and that the power thus obtained
would be sufficient to do the work re-
quired. Should this be done and re-
sponsible people in Bonaparte say that
it surely will, quoting prominent Bur-
lington capitalists as their authority,
the Bonaparte dam will become more
than ever a fixture and the hopes that
fishermen have fondly cherished of
having it destroyed, allowed to go to
ruin, or pierced with fishway at any
rate, will doubtless go "a 'glimmering. J"
the present is, then, the critical time
in the affairs of the famous dam,
and ii the sportsmen do not act now
their silence will doubtless be taken
as submission to the march of pro-
gress and the power of money and sci
ence.
Something of History.
This phase of the affair brings the
matter to the legal points and the
question as to whether anything can
be done. This involves the history of
the dam, which is the history of the
town of Bonaparte and also of the
Meek family, the dominant personal
tiles in the town.
The history of Bonaparte is
tho hintnrv Of - fo,
and from Attorney C. L. George,
who has made his home in Bonaparte
since 1851, a representative of the
Courier learned many facts leading UP
to the existence of the dam as well as
interesting notes regarding the early
days of the Des Moines river and the
country through which it passes.
The Meek Family.
AS early as 1884. when Iowa was lit.
tie more than virgin country, hardy
family left the more civilized state of
Michigan and journey westward and
southwark, finally settling at Bonaparte
then steamboat landing and little
trading center. The head of the party
was William Meek, ST., and he was ac-
companied by his sons. William Jr
Isaiah. Robert and Joseph. In Michi
gan the Meeks had conducted a grist
mill and when they reached the point
in Iowa where they thought best to
cast their fortunes they naturally turn.
ed to the business of which they knew
the most.
The First Dam.
The senior Meek secured the ferry
privilege and the right to the water
power from the present site of the
dam to a. point mile up the river. He
erected a primitive mill and built a
brush dam across the stream. He then
started ferry which was used for
years to carry people back and forth
across the river.
At first the mill was indeed prim.
tive affair. 1t was little more than a
corn crusher," but the proprietors
maze good living and had somethine
to spare. Farmers for many miles
around Bonaparte- would make thei,
way to the place to have their corr
made into meal and the business pros
pered.
Grist and Wooden Mills.
Finally, after some hard wears nj
conscientious labor the establishment
was enlarged and a big grist mill was
erected on the banks of the Des
MONIES. 1t too, was run with water
power and it's fame spread far and
wide. Not only did the Meeks do the
regular business of the old pioneer
grlst mill but they also added another
feature which caught the eyes of the
farmers, wives and added many shek
els to the Golfers of the thrifty mill
ers. Ihls was the addition of roll
cards, machines which made the WOO
INTO large cards, or pieces ready fol-
the wheel.
me settlers came from all over the
southern and eastern parts of the
state, and 1T was no uncommon sight
according to the story told by the men
who We're then boys. to see the levej
land above the mill dotted thickly with
FARMERS wagons, waiting for thar
turn at the MILL They came as far
away as Cedar Rapids and Des
Moines on the north, and from Mis-,
souri, points on the south.
Sheep raising was then big indus.
try In Iowa, and the farmers would
after shearing time, load their wa.
CONS, nearly always two to each
farm, with wool for the mill. third
wagon would be loaded with cooling
utensils and eatables and the fam.
iiy would also be slowed there. Then
the long overland drive from the
farms to the mill would begin. II
would often take days to reach the
town and when the party would drive
into Bonaparte there would be MANY
wagons there before them.
Waiting For Turn.
Then would begin weary wait for
the turn at the mill. This was ex-
pected, however, and the families
from a distance would come prepared
to live away from home for months
II need be. The mill at these seasons
ran night and day but even then the
demand for work SO far exceeded the
capacity that the farmers sometimes
remained in camp tor from four to
six weeks, waiting for their turn.
When the wool was carded it would
either be sold or returned to the
farmers wives for use in making
clothing. The prices received were
good. for the wool was valuable. and
the farmers would leave much in the
stores OF the little town, which was
the Ynacra for cboppars ,,e +l,.t 49,.