Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
IOWA IRON WORKS
IOWA IRON WORKS. Major participant in Dubuque's BOAT BUILDING. The firm of Rouse, Dean & Company, an iron foundry and machine shop, was established in March 1852 on the corner of Ninth and Washington STREETS. It later became known as Rouse & Dean.
On April 15, 1880 the firm of Rouse and Dean was dissolved with the retirement of H. Rouse. C.B. Dean, William Hopkins, and J. McMurchy carried on business as Dean, Hopkins, & McMurchy. This firm was renamed the Iowa Iron Works. The 1858-1859 Dubuque City Directory listed Washington between 9th and 10th
The 1880 through 1890-91 Dubuque City Directory listed the company at the northeast corner of 9th and Washington.
The company employed sixty men in 1880 in the manufacture of movable and stationary engines, heavy steamboat work castings, and columns for buildings. The workforce earned about $3,000 per month and the sales of the company reached $75,000 annually. Around 1882 the company moved its manufacturing to the northern bank of the ICE HARBOR.
In 1882 the Iowa Iron Works began to build for steamers what was called the "featherwing wheel," which entered the water straight and left it straight; it was first put in the steamboat "Vixen" and proved a success. (1)
In April 1904 the Iowa Iron Works sold its equipment to a new boat company organized by Captain John F. KILLEEN. The DUBUQUE BOAT AND BOILER WORKS became one of the most important builders of ships in the United States.
Boats Constructed by the Iowa Iron Works
Clyde 1870
W.M. Hopkins 1871
J.G. Chapman 1872
Ida Patton 1884
J.K. Graves 1885
Jeanne Hopkins 1888
Cherokee 1888
Ferd Herold 1890
Reliance 1890
Joy Patton 1891
L.E. Patton 1894
Windom 1896
Charles H. Organ 1897
Ericsson 1897
William K. Kavanaugh 1898
L.S. Thorne 1898
Betsy Ann 1899
Annie Russell 1902
SPRAGUE 1902
Pelican 1902
Robert E. Carr 1903
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Source:
1. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-26-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml