TRIBE OF JONATHAN NO. 1

TRIBE OF JONATHAN NO. 1. As the result of a temperance meeting held at the DUBUQUE CITY HALL in January, 1877, the organization was formed when one hundred forty of those in attendance signed the pledge. The "brothers" rented Kistler's Hall on Main Street near 10th with money raised through subscriptions and entertainments given by ladies "friendly to the cause." At the hall, a reading room and library was established. (1)

One of the conditions of active membership was that the applicant had been a "toper" himself and would always be ready to aid those equally unfortunate. (2) In 1878 the Ladies Temperance League of Dubuque appointed a committee of two ladies from each church to visit the families of members of the Tribe of Jonathan "to look after their immediate needs." (3)

The first officers were J. K. McCreery, president; E. M. Newcomb, vice-president; John S Murphy, secretary; and A.H. Stuart, treasurer.

Frequent meetings of the organization occurred through 1881.

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Source:

1. "Dubuque County Before 1880," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, November 12, 1933, p. 2

2. Ibid.

3. Drummond, Mrs. A. A. "History of the W. C. T. U. of Dubuque," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, February 29, 1920, p. 3