George Weare
The
first bank in Sioux City was a tin box about the size of a cake box. George
Weare brought the box with him to Sioux City December 26, 1855. At the time of
his arrival from Cedar Rapids with the tin box with $1000 dollars in gold, Sioux
City consisted of 6 log cabins! Three or four feet of snow covered the ground.
Theophile Bruguier
Theophile
Bruguier was the first white settler on land that would become Sioux City. He
was born on August 31, 1813 in a small town near Montreal, Canada and was
educated to become a lawyer. Soon after he had begun to practice law, Bruguier
became engaged to a young French girl, Marie. Just before the marriage, she
became very ill with cholera and died. A grieving Bruguier left Canada to begin
a rugged life as a fur trader/interpreter with the American Fur Company in St.
Louis. He was sent to Fort Pierre, Dakota Territory, arriving there January 1,
1836. Bruguier could speak English and French, and he quickly learned the Dakota
language of the Sioux Indians.
War Eagle
Wambdi
Okicize is commonly known as War Eagle. He was born in either Wisconsin or
Minnesota around 1785. His Indian name means "Little Eagle" but whites always
referred to him as War Eagle. This is odd because all through his life War Eagle
sought to keep peace. He even left his home tribe the Isanti (sometimes referred
to as Santee) to avoid a battle as to who was to become chief.
Reverend George Haddock
It
was a dark and stormy night. Reverend George Haddock was returning the carriage
and horses to the Jerry Merrill Livery stable at the corner of Third and Water
Street when he noticed a group of men standing watching him. The time was 10:15
p.m.. Reverend Haddock and a fellow minister had been visiting Greenville, a
town 2 miles east of Sioux City. They had been looking to see if the town was
violating the state liquor law.
John Peirce
One of the most colorful figures in Sioux City history, John Peirce was born in
Pennsylvania March 17, 1840. He came to Marion, Iowa, at the age of 21. There he
married Alice Granger.
Soon after his marriage, Peirce joined the Sixth Iowa infantry and fought in the
Civil War. In April of 1862, Peirce lay seriously wounded on a battlefield, a
severe wound to his chest. A confederate surgeon passed by him, saying that
Peirce could not be helped. According to the often-told story, Peirce opened his
eyes, raised up on his elbow and said, "Like hell I'm as good as dead! I'll
still be alive when you Johnnies are licked."
Mary Wilkins
Even in it's infancy, the citizens of the town realized the need to start a school to educate the children. Local businessmen pledged money to run the school for the first six months. On April 26, 1857, the new teacher arrived on the first steamboat of the spring season, the Omaha. Mary Wilkins, a nineteen year old from Keosauqua, Iowa became the first teacher. The salary for her first term was fifty dollars per month. She lived with a married couple she had met on the steamboat.
Edwin Peters
Edwin
Peters (1836-1917) was an early Sioux City promoter, developer and speculator.
He is perhaps best known for developing and promoting the area of the city known
as Morningside.
Peters was born on a farm in Pennsylvania October 23, 1836. He graduated from
the National Law School of Poughkeepsie, New York when he was just 21 years of
age. After a move to Niagara Falls, he spent a year with the law office of A. P.
Floyd. Then, in 1861, President Lincoln appointed Peters to the position of
deputy United States Marshall. Later, he was commissioned Deputy Collector of
Customs at Niagara Falls. While in Niagara Falls, Peters married Sarah Scott and
also developed a growing interest in insurance and real estate.
Leo Kucinski
"Lets make music together." Leo Kucinski (1904-1998), long time Sioux City conductor, educator and musician often spoke those words in his efforts to bring the best possible music to the people of Sioux City. In his long career, he exposed thousands of school children to the finest music, nurtured a little orchestra into a superb symphony and brought extraordinary music to the community of Sioux City.
Stella Sanford
Stella Sanford was born Stella Wolf in New York on November 10, 1900. She was educated in the Ethical Cultural Schools, experimental institutions based on Felix Adler's philosophy of "deed not creed". The schools began with a free kindergarten for children of the New York City slums and then grew to include high school and teacher training. The students all received scholarships from the sponsoring organization. When the schools enlarged to include the children of the sponsoring group, of which the Sanford family was a part, Stella attended. "Always, however, 40 percent of the pupils must be on scholarships," Sanford recalled.
Dr. Agnes Eichelberger
Sioux City's first woman doctor, Dr. Agnes Eichelberger (1864-1923) devoted her life to the care of women, children and infants. Known for her generous heart and great kindness, the pioneering Dr. Eichelberger brought quality maternity care to all women of Sioux City, regardless of financial status.
prev page |
next page  |
